Vermont Cynic Fall 212 Issue 2 by Vermont Cynic

A FIRST-YEAR’S GUIDE TO UVM

BTOWN LOCAL MUSIC SCENE MORE BOOKS CREATE SPACE ISSUE

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C YNIC THE VERMONT

20TH ANNUAL ART HOP

The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883 w w w . v e r m o n t c y n i c . c o m

T h u r s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 2 – Vo l u m e 1 2 9 I s s u e 2 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

Library out of room Professors not pleased By Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor

ERIKA COLBERTALDO The Vermont Cynic

Police cars line the parking lot of the Burlington Police Department parking lot Sept. 2. The University and the police department have partnered to increase weekend patrols in response to resident concerns.

Police to bring the heat Undercover police, liquor enforcement arrives Sept. 7 By Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor It’s that time of year again when college students take to the red cup-littered streets for a night on the town, but this time the police may not be too far behind. This weekend, students can expect to see the increased presence of Burlington police as another law enforcement agency called the Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team (S.T.A.R.T) hits the streets. S.T.A.R.T is an initiative formed by Chittenden County police officers, liquor control and the DMV in which law enforcement volunteers dress in civilian clothes and raid house parties in Burlington’s student populated hill section every other month. “We’re going to Burlington (Sept. 7) because it’s the beginning of the school year and all the kids are out,” said Sgt. Caleb Casco of the Hinesburg Police Department and member of S.T.A.R.T. In addition to S.T.A.R.T., the University decided to partner with the Burlington Police Department (BPD) to increase weekend police patrols last February, allowing the presence of six to eight patrols in response to concerns voiced by Burlington residents. “These patrols are really about safety,” Community Relations Director Joe Speidel said. “Students have rights and responsibilities and these patrols are a way to address that.” Director of Student Affairs Tom Gustafson agreed with Speidel and said that while the majority of UVM students are not responsible for disruption downtown, the few who are tend

NEWS

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Class of 2016

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to give the University a bad reputation overall. “This isn’t a punitive measure,” Gustafson said. “But 36 students were either suspended or dismissed last year and maybe more policing could prevent that.”

“We’re going to Burlington because it’s the beginning of the school year and all the kids are out.” Sgt. Caleb Castro Hinesburg Police Dept. As the Cynic previously reported, the patrols cost around $35,000 per semester to maintain, and administrators said they would use community response and data — the number and types of violations given — as benchmarks to determine the trial program’s success. Officer Andi Higbee of the Burlington Police Department said this past weekend from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 resulted in 62 noise incidents compared with 54 in 2012 and 59 in 2011. Higbee said that while he thought the increased police patrols had a successful first run because of the higher number of contacts made, he did not expect to see a dramatic change in noise complaints yet. “There’s not a decrease in noise yet because it is so new,” he said. “We don’t expect to see an impact yet.” As for residents, some feel it

LIFE 4-5 — Enviro-nerd finds beauty in composting

may be too early to determine how effective the patrols will be. “There were police patrols this weekend?” asked Jay Williams, a middle-aged man who lives on Bradley Street. “You could have fooled me — I didn’t see them.” Williams said he believed See POLICE on page 2

Special crime report Sept. 3 4 a.m.

UVM police found several vehicles that had been broken into in the Patrick Gym parking lot around 4 a.m. on Sept. 3 according to an email sent out by UVM Police Services. Two unidentified white male suspects were seen in still pictures on surveillance cameras entering the garage at 3:22 a.m., wandering around and entering cars on the first and second levels of the garage. The first suspect is heavyset in his 20s, wearing a dark colored baseball hat, a dark colored fleece jacket, jeans and sneakers. The second suspect has a medium build and is also in his 20s, wearing a dark colored baseball hat, a dark colored fleece or sweatshirt, light colored shorts and sneakers. “These robberies are a UVM police case,” Burlington Police Lt. Larry Magnant said. “I don’t have much information on them because they are still open. No arrests have been made yet.” More crime on page 2

DISTRACTIONS 6-7 The world of science crossword and facts

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ARTS 8-9 Animal Collective rewinds

The racks are stacked at Bailey/Howe. As UVM’s enrollment outpaces its resources, the Bailey/Howe library has decided to transition five percent of its printed journals to an electronic format. “So we’ve got this box called Bailey/Howe and we’ve known for a while that we were going to be in a space crunch,” Dean of Library Mara Saule said. “We receive nearly 15,000 new books a year and we’ve had up to 8,000 people in the library on any given day. We have students sitting on the floor or going to the top floor of the Davis Center to do their work.” With the library’s general collection shelves filled to over 80 percent capacity and special collections filled to almost 90 percent, storage concerns have cul-

minated in an initiative known as the JSTOR Withdrawal Project that would place dozens of academic journals on the web. Once it goes into effect this fall, the withdrawal project will discard any print journals in Bailey/Howe that can be found online through JSTOR, an online archive that holds digitalized back issues of academic journals. UVM currently subscribes to about 2,000 scholarly journals, down from around 4,000 subscriptions a few years ago, Saule said. With JSTOR, she said that students and faculty are able to access 50,000 titles. While there may not be any loss in actual content or images, some members of the UVM community feel that there is something irrecoverable in the shift of the format itself. “The printed page is still See LIBRARY on page 3

University gets serious about solar production By Ben Plotzker Staff Writer The UVM horse farm on Spear Street just got an upgrade in the alternative energy department. UVM unveiled 134 solar panels, which were installed over the summer onto the roof of the Ellen A. Hardacre Equine Center in a ceremony Aug. 29. Starting this month, the solar panels will produce an average of 100-kilowatt hours of electricity per day to support 8.5 percent of the farm’s energy needs, University Communications stated. “The establishment of the solar panels is what typifies Vermont and what we are,” said Tom Vogelmann, dean of UVM’s College of Agriculture and Life Sci-

ences (CALS). “The 100-kilowatt array can support five to six medium sized homes.” The total price of the solar panels was $135,990, Sustainability Director Gioia Thompson stated in a press release. “With the Clean Energy Fund supplying $80,250 of the total, an incentive grant of $55,740 from the Clean Energy Development Fund made up the difference,” Thompson said. Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Chuck Ross said roughly eight or nine years from now, the University will see a return in the investment they made on the panels. See SOLAR on page 3

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Rubenstein school Ph.D. student Rebecca Pincus cuts the ribbon in front of the new solar panels at the Equine Center Aug. 29.

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OPINION 10-12 What’s with all the shootings?

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SPORTS 13-16 It’s football time: Jake’s Take

NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Crime log By Lauren Drasler Staff Writer

Aug. 29 10:42 p.m. Marijuana, alcohol, a pipe and a grinder were taken from students hanging out behind the Catholic Center in the line of trees. A UVM Police officer was on patrol when voices were heard coming from the direction of the woods between South Prospect Street and the Catholic Center. The officer went to investigate and found 21 people. About 1.3 grams of marijuana were confiscated from the students as well as two bottles of liquor.

Aug. 31 4:36 p.m. A bike was reported stolen by a student from the bike rack outside Simpson Hall. The bike had a lock cable system that went missing as well. UVM police believe that the lock system may have been cut, as this is usually the case when the lock is missing too.

Both the bike and person who took it have not been found.

7:17 p.m. There was a report of a neighborhood dog running loose on Redstone Campus. This dog had been sighted on campus before, and the police had previously picked the dog up on a different occasion. After the report came in from Redstone Campus, the dog was picked up by Police Services and its owners were contacted.

Sept. 1 9:14 p.m.

POLICE

Downtown patrols increase, funded by the University

...continued from page 1 most of his neighbors, many of them college students, were generally respectful and were not disruptive enough to require police intervention. “For the most part they’re okay,” he said. “They’ve got to have some fun after all; they can’t just crack the books all the time.” Drew Thomas, a Burlington resident who is not in college, said he also didn’t notice any heightened police activity last weekend and that added patrols seemed punitive.

“I’m always skateboarding around at night and I didn’t see anything too unusual,” Thomas said. “I think it’s probably going to get a lot of kids kicked out or lose their financial aid.” Sophomores Taylor Hannan and Sarah Ross said they had heard of and been in attendance at a few parties that were broken up by the BPD, but that this was to be expected on the first full weekend of the year. “The cops went about it in a respectful manner and to my knowledge no students were handed violations or breatha-

lyzed,” Hannan said. Some residents said they believed the police patrols were necessary, but questioned how influential they would be. “I live on a pretty busy street and there’s always noise on weekends,” said Kelly D’Angelis, a mother of two. “There’s a line between having fun and being disrespectful and some students cross it a little too frequently.” “I’m glad the BPD are doing something, but I’m not sure if it will be very effective,” she said.

A student reported that someone near the Living/Learning Center was stalking them. However, the person that was suspected of stalking turned out to be a student who was visiting a friend and was simply in the same place as the student who reported being stalked.

Robberies, assaults plague town

Sept. 2 1:13 a.m.

A non-UVM affiliated male reported being robbed and assaulted by two males on the path behind the Catholic center on campus Aug. 31 between 9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. The victim has non-life threatening injuries. No weapons were used in this assault. The suspects are both white, college-aged males with slender builds and are between 5-feet7-inches and 5-feet-10-inches in height. Both were wearing jeans, boots and oversized Tshirts; one suspect’s shirt was red and the other suspect was

A person who is not a student was charged with a felony possession of marijuana when 64 grams of marijuana were confiscated. This person was also issued a trespass notice because he/she was found with the drugs in University Heights South while visiting student friends.

By Katy Cardin Staff Writer

Aug. 31

9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

wearing a flat-rimmed, dark colored baseball hat. The lack of information on the cases is because they are still open and can’t be discussed yet, Burlington Police Lt. Larry Magnant said. Sophomore Rachel Kayser said this crime makes her feel extremely scared because the assault only took place at 9 p.m. and she is already nervous walking around campus late at night. “And sometimes it doesn’t even offer security when you walk with other people, especially if you’re only with girls,” Kayser said.

Sept. 2

3 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. Two victims walking alone

were robbed between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Sept. 2 in two separate but related crimes around the areas of North Union, Pearl, Loomis, Isham, Green and Hickok streets. The suspect is a white, slender male between 5-feet8-inches and 5-feet-10-inches wearing dark colored clothing. The suspect is believed to have committed both crimes. The male showed a weapon but no one was injured. Property was taken in both cases. To avoid these kinds of incidents, sophomore Sydney Allard said she tries not to walk alone downtown at night. “I at least try to walk with one other person in case something like this happens,” Allard said.

If students have any information on these crimes, they are encouraged to call UVM Police Services at 656-3473 or by anonymously texting TIPS to 847411 Keyword: UVM.

N EWS

LIBRARY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 2012

Journals to be tossed and put online through JSTOR

...continued from page 1 unsurpassed as information technology,” classics professor Jacques Bailly stated in an email. “There are many things I can do with printed pages that I cannot do with e-texts, such as quickly scanning many pages.” And to some extent, Saule agrees. “In some cases, the journal itself is a cultural artifact,” Saule said. “I certainly understand the value of print, and for those subjects where print is significant, we will keep those journals on our shelves.” UVM already operates two offsite storage facilities for its printed inventory on East Avenue and in Williston, and both are basically full, Saule said. What’s more, neither is particularly accessible nor environmentally protected from unintentional damage. “If we were to take out all the print files that appear on JSTOR, it would be about 5,000 linear feet,” she said. “That could free up enough space for another goodsized study area.” Bailey/Howe is currently undergoing a Feasibility Study and Master Plan that will see the renovation of certain parts of the library, as well as provide for a modest addition. But Saule said she believes the students, not the books, come first at a university library, and questioned whether or not UVM was charged with the same pres-

ervation mission found at, say, Harvard or the National Archive. “Our preservation is of Vermont materials,” she said. “If we didn’t save those, they’re nowhere, while JSTOR has a huge repository of all kinds of academic documents that is both reliable and protected by a strong backup system [called PORTICO].”

“So we’ve got this box called Bailey/Howe and we’ve known for a while that we were in a space crunch.” Mara Saule Dean of Library Classics professor John Franklin is not exactly swayed by that argument, however. “I think it’s rash to say that we’ll have access to these journals in 30, 50 or 100 years,” he said. “We don’t know how an energy crisis could effect JSTOR, or even politics — it’s a nonprofit now, but it could pass into private or governmental control.” Even more distressing than the JSTOR issue at hand is how Bailey/Howe is preparing to define its role for the future, Franklin said.

“Saule may not think that an archive is what UVM is supposed to be, but we are the state’s flagship library and we’re supposed to be a premiere research library,” he said. “We need to decide what we want to be. We can’t give college services at the expense of resources, and we can’t just count on a dozen major universities.” To get their point across, Franklin and other faculty members formed a committee and sent a letter to Saule objecting to the inferior quality of JSTOR documents and the recent reduction of the reference section on the ground floor to accommodate more study tables. Saule said she thought professors reserved the right to have access to whichever journals they needed, and said that all faculty departments will have the opportunity to save whichever journals they would like to. “It’s not the library’s place to decide what goes,” she said. Sophomore Chris Schneider said that he believed actual texts were easier to work with when researching, but what is more concerning is what happens when an original source goes viral. “There’s a problem with censorship,” Schneider said. “All of these journals can be updated, and patch notes in the text coding shows how alterations are made all the time to Web pages and Web content.”

Once a UVM student, now CEO of an international company, Charlene Begley can teach business students a lot about success. As part of the Dean’s Leadership Speaker Series, alumna Charlene Begley, president and CEO of GE Home and Business Solutions, will speak to students Sept. 18 at the Davis Center. Begley’s resume includes numerous leadership roles at GE Home and Business Solutions, a division of General Electric, which traces its beginnings to Thomas A. Edison, who established Edison Electric Light Company in 1878, according to GE’s website. “Ms. Begley has contributed a large part of her success to the education she received right here at the University of Vermont School

of Business Administration,” said Dean Sanjay Sharma of UVM’s School of Business Administration. Begley told Sharma that she didn’t fully appreciate UVM during her time here, but later realized she couldn’t have asked for a better education, Sharma said. “We are extremely excited to have her come back to campus to talk to our students,” he said. Sharma also hinted at what students might take away from her speech. “Ms. Begley has always stated that she approaches every job the same way she would approach a class — by asking questions,” he said. “She has said that she tries to understand the entire process, how things work and the technology.” Business School senior James Denton said he is excited to hear Begley speak.

SOLAR New panels intalled on farm roof ...continued from page 1

Student turned CEO to speak By Amanda Wassel Staff Writer

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Chuck Ross speaks to attendees at the Equine Center Aug. 29.

“I think the Dean’s leadership series is a great way to get students inspired about their careers and see how successful people started after college,” Denton said. “We have a rare chance to ask the current CEO of GE questions on what we can do now to start off on the right foot.” Junior Patrick Halfmann is also looking forward to Begley’s speech because he believes her success reflects the distinction that the Business School has recently earned. “The visit demonstrates the accessibility of the school’s alumni base and showcases its role as a resource for current students,” Halfmann said. “Dean Sharma has been very successful in bringing prominent alumni back to campus, and I urge all students to take advantage of their professional wisdom.”

“This is what we need at universities to push for sustainable energy,” Ross said. “By the time we have 9 billion people on this Earth, we will be in a bad position if this doesn’t go on more often.” Kirk Herander of Vermont Solar Engineering, the company that installed the panels, was able to increase the original estimate of 80 panels to the final number of 134. “The equine center’s roof, which is typical of many roofs found on Vermont farms, required no extra reinforcement to bear the weight of the panels,” Herander stated in a press release. The idea of the solar panels on the roof of the horse farm arose from a UVM Equus class, a hands-on horse management course, in 2009, led by Josie Davis, the associate dean in CALS. One of Davis’ students, Rachel Cadwallader-Staub ‘10, brought up the hypothetical question: “How could we make the equine center greener in a way that would have a lesser impact on the

animals?” Caldwaller-Staub then suggested the construction of a greener horse barn that could give back energy, and it was this idea that she submitted to the Clean Energy Fund (CEF) in 2009. The CEF gets funding from all UVM students, according to the CEF website. Every student pays a $10 fee each semester to establish new clean energy projects. This fee brings the fund to about $225,000 and has allowed the CEF to finance 21 projects to date, the website stated. The CEF lets students submit ideas in the fall semester on the UVM Office of Sustainability website, which later gets voted upon and presented before the CEF board. “The solar panels on the horse farm are a great use of my $10,” junior Mark Camilleri said. “There’s a reason I came here and the Office of Sustainability has framed that very well. I’m glad that the carbon footprint of my campus has been slightly reduced because of the good this school does.”

Class of 2016 brings highest SAT scores in University history By Ted Levin Staff Writer

UVM’s Class of 2016 seems to be bigger and better than ever. This year, incoming firstyears make up about 23 percent of undergraduates, with 2,438 enrolled as of Aug. 13, according to information provided by Beth Wiser, director of admissions. “The new students we are welcoming this fall, both first-year and transfer students, represent some of the strongest prepared students graduating from high school or changing universities this past year,” Wiser said. Out of the 10,170 total undergrads, the Class of 2016 has also scored higher on their SATs than any other class. As a matter of fact, this year’s

total median score of 1783 is the highest average in UVM history, according to an official press release made by the school. The Vermont students who chose UVM this year are some of the best students in the state, Wiser said. “In addition to what they bring to the classroom, our new students bring rich and unique experiences and interests that make UVM such a welcoming and interesting community of students,” she said. “Apparently we’re awesome or something,” stated first-year Lauren Flournoy on the Class of 2016 Facebook page. “Better not look at my reading and writing scores,” replied firstyear Cody Vickroy.

Other students, like sophomore Jessica Hale, said the fact that they have the highest SAT scores in UVM history suggests all students should have high expectations for themselves. “But not too high because we all know that [most people] come into UVM as an individual and leave as a stoner — I’m an exception,” Hale said. Some students, however, said they were not impressed with the title bestowed upon them. “I ... didn’t like the idea that we were the most talented class because we had the highest SAT scores, just because I don’t think SAT scores and talent are inherently related — or at all,” said first-year Caroline DeCunzo. Once again, the majority of

new students joined the College of Arts & Sciences, making up 53 percent of the total class, according to documents released by the office of admissions. This surpassed the numbers of the next-largest school — Engineering & Math Sciences — by over 1,000 students. Diversity, commonly perceived as a weak point at UVM, has also seen a rise in recent years with over 10 percent of the incoming class identifying as African, Latino, Asian, and Native American, consistent with last year’s previously record-breaking numbers. “The school seems a lot more diverse than last year,” Hale said. “It just seems like with such a large class you’re going to get lots

A look at the class of 2016:

2,438 students

33% 70% 96%

top 10 % top 25 % top 50 %

Average SAT score

592 Math 597 Writing 594

Critical Reading

Source: Office of Admissions

LIFE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 2012

Students experience Olympics abroad Trip overseas provides cultural exposure, first-hand look at London By Kevin Santamaria Staff Writer London offered an eventful and dynamic summer for two UVM students who were there to see the Olympics in person. Junior Yolanda Ngarambe and senior Alex Judge met up in Ngarambe’s native country, Sweden, flew on Ryanair, which Judge dubbed “the cheapest airline in Europe,” and then made the short flight to the United Kingdom. Transportation costs were a concern to the two college students, but getting around was not as pricey as they first anticipated. “Transportation could be purchased in a weekly bundle for reasonable prices and it made it very easy to get everywhere we needed to be,” Judge said. “[London] was definitely an expensive place to go, but hey, Europe is Europe; the reason they are so skinny is because food costs so much over there.” According to the pair, London was similarly priced to other European cities despite the steep cost of local souvenirs resulting from the Olympic festivities. Once they finally touched down in London, they were able to enjoy the city’s spectatorfriendly venues to see everything from the changing of the guard at

Buckingham Palace to the official road-cycling course that meandered through the streets. Both students waited at the course an hour and a half before the riders were scheduled to come through, which allowed them to see one of the first medals awarded at the games.

“The Olympic Mall was sensationally busy, filled with athletes from all countries.” Alex Judge UVM Senior

“The intensity of the riders was downright frightening,” Judge said. “It was a tangible example of their desire for Olympic gold.” As both Ngarambe and Judge were ticketless, getting into the Olympic Park was not an option, but that did not keep them from experiencing the cultural diversity that the quadrennial celebra-

tion offered. “The Olympic Mall was sensationally busy, filled with athletes from all countries,” Judge said. Highlights from the trip included meeting Julius Mutekanga, a Ugandan 800 meter runner who ran for Long Island University, seeing members of China’s women’s basketball team and attending a party celebrating 50 years of Jamaica’s independence that was sponsored by Puma. Despite the fact that the party included celebrities of Usain Bolt’s status, Judge said the atmosphere was “relaxed” and “the people were a lot of fun.” “There was food to eat, entertainment and tons to do,” he said. Regardless of whether visitors had a ticket, London still offered great opportunities for spectators to enjoy the game with British hosts. “The Brits were very excited about the ceremony and it was fun to hear and see their reactions to the queen being presented,” Ngaraombe said. “We were so close to the stadium where it was held, we could actually see the fireworks in the sky that were shot out at the end of the ceremony,” she said. Both students said they appreciated being able to watch the Opening Ceremony at a local bar with the home crowd.

Wash Spot Laundromat

OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS/WK 207 Riverside Ave, Burlington Next to Newton’s Carwash ½ mile from UVM Will match any value put on Wash Card OVER $20.00 and up to a $50 Match with student I.D. See website for details • High Extraction Washers = Less Dry time 8 Load Washers $10.39 5 Load Washers $6.19 3 Load Washers $3.54 2 Load Washers $2.14 • Wash-Dry-Fold Service • FREE Wi-Fi (bring your laptops) • Accepts Credit and Debit Cards • Clean and Air-Conditioned thewashspot.com Email. clean@thewashspot.com 802.862.6100

STEPH HAYNES

Enviro-nerd finds beauty, practicality in composting The word “compost” can often make the average person immediately cringe at the thought of rotting food scraps. The word may even be followed by other words such as “disgusting,” “smelly” or even — and perhaps the most feared by a compost enthusiast — “repulsive.” As an Eco-Rep at UVM, I will admit that I have had my fair share of difficulties with my own compost, like the time when I had a swarm of fruit flies living in my tiny MAT dorm room. And, this past summer when I had to scoop two-day-old coleslaw into the Cook compost dumpster with my bare hands. These were times when I may have used the abovementioned words to describe compost. But despite its challenges and its smell, compost should not be feared. It is a beautiful process.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX JUDGE

Junior Yolanda Ngarambe (left) and senior Alex Judge pose in front of Big Ben in London. They went to the Olympics this summer.

Soil grows our food and then our food scraps are formed back into soil that will be used to grow more food — a perfect closed circle. To an enviro-nerd like myself, compost is purely awesome. Mold is just as powerful as it is unsightly. I love to tell anyone that is interested, which I admit may be few, that in my own personal compost, I once saw an army of mold conquer a full-sized carrot and split it open to invade its insides. Despite its kick-ass properties and practical uses, many students still carry a negative connotation with the name “compost.” Erica Spiegel, an Eco-Reps program advisor and the UVM recycling and

solid waste manager, suggested at our Eco-Rep orientation this past week that we should consider renaming compost “food recycling” in order for students to associate it with “recycling,” a word they will undoubtedly recognize and associate with positively. Whatever we call it, compost is here to stay. According to UVM’s recycling and waste management program, in an average week we divert about nine tons of food scraps from landfills. With new signage all over campus and increased promotion in resident halls, these numbers will only increase in the coming year. Can’t you smell that smell? It’s the smell of change.

COMPOST

LI F E

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Scan your finger: gym access granted

New vein reader uses infrared light to open fitness center turnstiles By Erin Focone Assistant Life/Features Editor Biometric finger scanners might be the new solution for students who frequently forget or lose their CATcards. Tim Lewis, associate director for campus recreation, thought of the idea when trying to find a way that would grant students access into buildings without having their CATcards.

The finger-reading technology uses near-infrared light through a camera to identify each student’s unique veins. Lewis said he felt more comfortable that he made the right decision about the project when he saw the positive response coming from faculty and students. “I am excited to admit we couldn’t be happier with the scanners,” he said “They have performed to our expectations through the first few weeks of school.” Local company Vermont Systems Inc. is in charge of constructing the project and partnered with the developers of Biometric scanners, M2SYS: Accelerated Biometrics, whose president, Michael Trader, is a UVM alum. The scanners are installed in the Patrick Gym, where students can register their ‘identity’. Nicole Todd, assistant director of campus recreation has seen a positive response thus far. “From what we’ve seen this first week of the semester, the students, faculty and staff have been really excited about the scanners,” Todd said. “Aside from the ‘wow factor’ that comes

“Aside from the ‘wow factor’ that comes with new technology, it allows an alternative way to access the facility.” Nicole Todd Assistant director of campus recreation “Because there is only one other school in the nation that we could find utilizing biometric finger vein scanners, we were nervous about the functionality and ease of using this technology,” Lewis said.

JAMIE LENT The Vermont Cynic

Students Jace Curtis (left) and Laura Guttmann demonstrate how to use the biometric scanners at the Gucciardi Fitness Center Aug. 31. The scanners will allow students access to facilities without ID cards. with new technology, it allows an alternative way to access the facility.” The scanner will take two to five minutes to register a student’s identity in the computer. Once the student has registered it will only take two seconds to

scan into the gym. Junior Rachael Haab was optimistic about this new technology. “I feel like it’s a lot better because you don’t need your CATcard, which makes going to the gym easier,” Haab said.

Additional locations for the scanners will be coming soon. For more information on the Biometric scanners go to www. uvm.edu/~recspts/facilities/ biometrics.pdf.

Top 10 Tips: A first-year’s guide to UVM

“Don’t wear your CATcard around your neck attached to a lanyard. You automatically stand out as a freshman.” — Stephanie Rogers, sophomore

“Don’t be afraid to get involved and join clubs because that’s the best way to meet people.” — Alana Benson, sophomore

“Go to class; it’s a waste of money to skip.” — Chase Vaughn, sophomore

“Get to know your R.A.” — Samantha Mankin, junior

10.

“Get outside and enjoy the Vermont fresh air.” — John Butler, senior

“There are a lot of movies that portray college to be one big party. Don’t be afraid to do what you like and not just follow how college is showed in movies.” — Michelle Leung, senior

“Find a healthy balance between academics and exploring Burlington.” — Ann Nguyen, senior

“If you eat at ‘The Grundle’, bring Tums.” — Elliott Casper, sophomore

“Respect the police.” — Joe Resnik, junior

“Say hi to people. Everybody here is nice and wants to make friends.” — Blaise Sullivan, sophomore

COMICS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Weird Science

• Oxford University is conducting a study to determine the existence of the Yeti, according to The Daily Mail. They are doing this through DNA analysis of hair and teeth samples of cryptids, which are unknown animals such as the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot.

• Researchers are exploring a new method to fight global warming: man-made clouds. According to The Daily Mail, they want to shoot salt water into the skies above oceans to create clouds that could potentially reflect the sunlight and cool the earth. • The term nerd was first used by Dr. Seuss in his book, “If I Ran the Zoo,” in 1950. • According to a study done by researchers of the University of St. Andrews, sperm whales sleep in a vertical position. Videos of this phenomenon have appeared online and have trended on Reddit. • There have been a series of vandalism cases this summer at a Canadian excavation site. Time reports dinosaur fossils were smashed beyond salvation.

ANSWERS to last week’s crossword: What do you know about Vermont? ACROSS 2. cabot 3. sullivan 4. windsor 6. champ 9. gold 11. montpelier 15. echo

16. fourteenth 18. freedom and unity 19. Green Mountain 20. Ira Allen 21. Bailey Howe 22. Canada 23. Camels Hump 24. Ethan Allen DOWN 1. Sullivan 3. Ben and Jerrys 5. Sugar Maple

• The Tokyo Institute of Technology has created a prototype swimming robot. This “swumanoid” can freestyle crawl, do the backstroke and the butterfly. It may be a very long time, however, before these robots are swimming on their own. • A team of Chinese scientists is working to improve the shelf life of bananas. According to Popular Science, this is being done through the creation of hydrogel spray made out of discarded shrimp shells. Spraying the banana would slow it from absorbing oxygen through its peel. This new idea is still a work in progress, but this may one day be a household item.

7. Maple Syrup 8. Fleming 10. Mt Mansfield 12. Catamount 13. Vergennes 14. fifth 17. Hermit Thrush 19. Green 23. Coolidge

Ooblek

Materials: 2 cups of cornstarch 1 cup of water 3 drops of food coloring (optional)

Directions: Combine cornstarch and food coloring in a bowl. Once the cornstarch and food coloring are fully incorporated and you are fully satisfied with the color, slowly mix in water. Why it is fun: Similar to quicksand, Oobleck can be both a liquid and a solid. As you play with it, notice how it hardens at a quick poke yet envelops your hand if you ease into it. The fast application of pressure forces the cornstarch particles together, while slow movement allows the particles to move apart. Because its substance classification is dependent on pressure, it is referred to as a non-Newtonian fluid rather than a liquid or solid.

COMICS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

ACROSS 3. The warming of the earth’s atmospheric temperature 4. Theory that builds upon the concepts of continental drift 6. The study of insects 7. A laboratory instrument consisting of a vertical metal tube connected to a gas source that creates a flame 9. The inventor of dynamite as well as the namesake for a prestigious prize 11. He defined the three laws of motion 13. Natural selection or “survival of the fittest” 19. The tendency to remain at rest or move in a straight line 20. The study of how energy works in a system 23. Oxygen and two _____ atoms make up the chemical formula of water 24. Process by which a cell splits the chromosomes in its nucleus into two separate sets 25. The scientific name for table salt 26. The term for animals going to sleep for the winter

The world of science

DOWN 1. A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen 2. The study of dinosaurs 5. Dinosaur known to scientists as the Apatosaurus 7. Plague known as “The Black Death” 8. The largest artery in the body 10. German scientist who defined the Theory of Relativity 12. The collective word for a set of genes 13. A negatively charged atomic particle 14. Visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum 15. The measure of force acting upon a body 16. The ____ table of elements 17. Your “funny” bone 18. Enzymes that can separate strands of DNA 21. The process that plants use to convert energy from the sun’s light into chemical energy for themselves 22. Known as “The Science Guy” 23. A unit of frequency, which is the measurement of cycles per second

Science Jokes Two atoms are walking down the street. One atom says to the other, “Hey! I think I lost an electron!” The other says, “Are you sure?” The first replies, “Yes, I’m positive!”

Two chemists go into a restaurant. The first one says, “I think I’ll have an H2O.” The second one says, “I think I’ll have an H2O too.” He died. A neutron walks into a bar and asks how much for a drink. The bartender replies, “For you, no charge.”

Why are chemists great for solving problems? They have all the solutions. What do you do with a dead chemist? Barium How many biologists does it take to change a light bulb? Four. One to change it and three to write the environmental impact statement.

Camp Morning Wood by Scott Womer

Pickup Lines You must be made of Uranium and Iodine because all I can see is U and I. Are you a carbon sample? Because I want to date you. Are you copper? ‘Cause I’d like to Cu again.

Sources: www.coolscience.org inorganicventures.com www.jokes4us.com The Big Bang Theory www.quickmeme.com

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ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

This Week in Live Music

ARTScalendar First Friday Art Walk 5-8 p.m. downtown Burlington

Friday Sept. 7

SARAH STICKLE

Burlington’s local music scene brought to light Thursday, Sept. 6, The Amida Bourbon Project and Mildred Moody at Summervale

The Wombats 7:30 p.m. Higher Ground Ballroom

Tuesday Sept. 11 Second Annual UVM Staff Art Exhibit 12 p.m. Davis Center, fourth floor

Wednesday Sept. 12

Poetry Jam Open Mic Night with Dug Nap 8-11 p.m. BCA Center, second floor

AER 8 p.m. Higher Ground Showcase Lounge

The lineup includes two of Burlington’s best musicians, Aya Inoue and Scott Mangan. Inoue has toured nationally and internationally as a solo artist and with her band The Amida Bourbon Project, most often accompanied by lead guitar player Matt Harpster. Her raw lyrics are full of depth and match her alluring voice, while Harpster’s bright, vivid guitar leads provide a perfect contrast. These two will be appearing with their full band in the final installment in the Summervale series for the year before they go on a recording break for an undetermined amount of time. With a special opening set by innovative singer/songwriter Scott Mangan and his band of incredibly talented – and attractive – band-mates thrown into the mix, this is going to be a night you don’t want to miss. The show is free and open to all ages with refreshments available for purchase. The music starts at 5:30 p.m., leaving you with time to start your weekend after the show.

Friday, Sept. 7, Art Hop line-up at Signal Kitchen For those of you who have never experienced Burlington’s Art Hop, take this opportunity to do so. This year, in addition to all the incredible visual art that you can view for free all down Pine Street, they have a killer music lineup at the Signal Kitchen on Main Street for free, wholesome fun. At 6 p.m., Zack duPont brings his one-of-a-kind voice and guitar picking style. You can’t compare Zack to anyone: He is simply excellent in a way that he has innovated on his own. At 7 p.m., Lowell Thompson takes the stage with his driving melodies and a voice that combines whiskey and honey to please even the most intense haters of country music. Later, local celebrity Heloise Williams takes the stage with the Savoir Faire at 11:30 p.m. Self-classified as an electro/pop/soul band, these guys make you want to rage.

SARAH STICKLE The Vermont Cynic

Aya Inoue sings with The Amida Bourbon Project at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival on the waterfront Aug. 11.

Saturday, Sept. 8, Barbacoa at Signal Kitchen Another showcase put on by the Art Hop, Barbacoa is guitar-slayer Bill Mullins’ project. Musically intricate and upbeat, this instrumental group has as much rock influence as it does surf. Yet another free, all ages show. Barbacoa goes on at 10 p.m., with more wonderful bands before and after their set.

Sunday, Sept. 9, Maryse Smith CD Release with Zack DuPont at Signal Kitchen Well, Signal Kitchen will just be making a killing this weekend. Aforementioned Burlington music favorite, Zack DuPont, has started an unfalteringly tasteful listening room series. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., is available to all ages and costs $10 at the door. DuPont will open up for local Honky Tonk queen Maryse Smith. With a growing reputation, a voice that combines the styles of Gillian Welch and Regina Spektor to beautifully accentuate her style and strong instrumental arrangements behind her, this may well be a night you brag about being a part of two years from now.

Monday, Sept. 10, Bob Wagner Trio at Red Square Bob Wagner is the guy everybody wants to be, or wants to be in a band with. As a musician he is talented, versatile,

hardworking, and all-around excellent. Wagner’s music touches on everything from country to blues and rock. On a side note: His nickname is Ginger Moses. You’ll get it when you catch him at Red Square at 7 p.m. for free. This one is 21+, but it’s worth hovering in Red Square’s alley if it’s nice enough for them to play outside.

Tuesday, Sept. 11, Ellen Powell Trio at Red Square Plain and simple, Ellen Powell is good. A respected jazz bassist in the music scene, she surrounds herself with musicians such as Tom Clearly and Steve Wienert. All three are music professors at colleges in surrounding areas. If you’re looking for some solid jazz at no cost to you, this is where you want to be. The show is 21+, free and starts at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 12, Aer, David Dallas, Jacob Es at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge Many of you are thoroughly acquainted with both Aer and Jacob Es, so I’ll make this brief. These guys put on an awesome show every single time. Giving hip-hop a good name, this show could easily sell out, so you want to get your tickets now at highergroundmusic.com. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

ARTS

Music review

DILLON BAKER

Animal Collective rewinds

MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

An attendee views art at last year’s South End Art Hop Sept. 9, 2011. The Art Hop will be held between Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 this year.

SEABA hosts 20th art hop Pine Street comes to life By Lilly Xian Staff Writer The South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) is putting on its 20th South End Art Hop from Friday, Sept. 7 to Sunday, Sept. 9. Artist studios and local businesses around Pine Street will host the three-day event and display the artistic creations of over 500 participating artists. The Art Hop will also host a lineup of musicians at Signal Kitchen on Main Street. This year’s performers will include local acts Zack DuPont and Lowell Thompson. UVM junior Arline Weaver said she attends the Art Hop every year. “I love the music,” Weaver said. “There are always a lot of local and new musicians and they’re usually around to talk to and hang out with after they perform.” On each day of the Art Hop, events such as glass casting demonstrations, the art of henna, beer tasting, wood fired pottery and live jazz music will occur, along with several specialty events on Saturday. Nancy Stone and Janet Fredericks are among the Vermont artists whose paintings will be exhibited, and Emily McCracken will display her chocolate sculpture works at Lake Champlain Chocolates. Strut!, the Art Hop fashion show, will present the cloth-

ing designs of more than 20 local designers. Two runway shows, admission priced at $12, will take place in a tent behind the Maltex Building at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

“There are always a lot of local and new musicians and they’re usually around to talk and hang out with after they perform.” Arline Weaver UVM Junior Kid’s Hop will be presented as a special event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bookmaking, beading and kite making are among the many crafts workshops that will be available. As a collaboration between businesses in the South End Arts District, the creative minds of the Burlington region and the sponsors and volunteers contributing time and funds to the event, the Art Hop brings together all members of the Burlington community to appreciate and showcase the talent and innovation of the population.

Over the past 10 years, few bands have been as consistently great, unique and, perhaps most notably, divisive, as the Baltimore-based group Animal Collective. Their newest album, “Centipede Hz” – released on Sept. 3 – is the latest in a long line of psychedelic noise-pop that has captured the alternative music scene. There are few bands that are so revered by their fans and at the same time written off by their detractors. Showing Animal Collective to a new listener is often a painful experience: reactions typically range from “This is really…interesting” to, “What the hell is this? It’s just noise!” Admittedly, I was no different when I was first introduced to their entirely matchless style, more confused than anything at the cacophony of noises assail-

ing my ears. Slowly but surely, however, the beauty hidden under, in, around, on top of, inside of, flat-out everywhere in their sound took my ears prisoner to their psychedelic, and yet incredibly humanistic world. Suffice to say, this band is important to me and their newest release was awaited with a little more than bated breath.

“Centipede Hz” is much more attuned to their early garage noise efforts [...] For some, this may be a treat, but for others perhaps a slight disappointment “Centipede Hz” is a sometimes messy, sometimes glorious step back into the past compared to their highly regarded and much more accessible previous album “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” “Centipede Hz” is much more attuned to their early garage noise efforts, such as “Here Comes the Indian,” than their more recent albums. For some, this return to the past may be a treat, but for others perhaps a slight disappointment. Of course, simply categorizing their albums as such is a disservice to a band of Animal Collective’s caliber.

There are many fantastic moments on this album, and their trademark creativity is at full steam. Songs such as “Applesauce,” “Monkey Riches,” and “Today’s Supernatural” pulsate and crackle with chaotic psychedelic beats and noises, while Avey Tare’s emotional vocals serve as your twisted guide through the soundscape. The lyrics are as profound as ever in their simplicity and reflect the band’s age and maturity. Existential confusion and the difficulties of navigating relationships remain the centerpiece issues: “Two human beings/I’m upset, you’re upset, what’s to be done?” Avey Tare groans on highlight track “Mercury Man.” Indeed, Avey Tare’s fingerprints are everywhere on this album, while Panda Bear – the other primary singer/ songwriter who serves as the ethereal, spiritual counterweight to Avey Tare – seems conspicuously absent. While I love Avey Tare, the beautiful, out-of-body moments of Panda Bear’s songwriting, as well as his soft and comforting vocals, are sorely missed. Certainly, “Centipede Hz” is a good album, and one that is well worth a listen. I’m sure, as often happens with Animal Collective, that I will grow to appreciate it even more. For now, however, it is hard to include it as one of their greats.

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

What’s with all the shootings? THE VERMONT

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The past few months the world has been slammed with shootings one after the other — all nonsensical acts of violence occurring from one corner of the Earth to the other. Statistically, as of 2007, 10.2 out of every 100,000 people were killed by firearms across the United States, including accidental shootings, suicides, acts of self-defense, as well as crimes. While this may not seem like a very large number, the amount of attempted shootings this year is tipping the scale. Most recently in the news was the shooting in France this past Wednesday. The gun attack left four dead in a remote woodland park in the French Alps. While the crime scene has been sealed and remains untouched, the police are still looking into the matter and have not determined the unfolding of events, or the identity of the shooter. Early this summer was the infamous Dark Knight shooting in Aurora, Colo. in which 12 people were killed and many more injured. Two people were found shot to death Tuesday evening in a Sycamore hospital room; it is unclear as to whether the victim’s deaths were self-inflicted. Another notorious shooting this summer was the killings at the Empire State Building. A 58-year-old man pulled out a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and shot a former employer, resulting in 16 rounds of gunfire shot by the police, further wounding 9 bystanders. What we can derive from all this violence is that there is in fact a problem. Certainly America needs to wake up to gun violence, but the world needs a dose of reality as well. These shootings have all been senseless, but the first problem to address is whether or not we can figure out what will work to make the violence stop. Secondly, if we do manage to figure out what will work can these plausible solutions be implemented legislatively? It’s been proven time and time again that creating new laws doesn’t erase the problem — it’s redefining societal habits and commonalities that bring about change. Gun control legislation won’t stop mass murder. Passing a law is one step, but utilizing it and enforcing it is another. It remains to be seen if a uniting force will redefine violence and show Americans that no, it is never okay to kill humans with a gun.

COLUMNISTS

More books create space issue in their field, and curriculums that stay abreast of current research, we need to be receiving these current texts. Furthermore, as we recently left behind an era that saw large expenses — ahem, Fogel’s parachute, ahem — funded through even larger increases in admissions, there are a ton of students, all of whom deserve a chair in the library.

JEFF AYERS

Burn those books! OK, OK, so maybe they’re journals, and maybe we’ll just recycle them. But either way, it’s time to clear some space in the library. The recent controversy over whether or not to chuck thousands of print volumes of various academic journals – all of which are fully accessible through JSTOR – has some professors in a tizzy, while librarians plead their case from underneath piles of overflowing texts. I stand with those librarians, particularly Mara Saule, who laid out the Bailey/Howe “space crunch” in “Library Out of Room.” “We receive nearly 15,000 new books a year and we’ve had up to 8,000 people in the library on any given day. We have students sitting on the floor or going to the top floor of the Davis center to do their work,” Saule said. This is a problem. As a university that prides itself on having professors who are active

The recent controversy over whether or not to chuck thousands of print volumes of various academic journals — all of which are fully accessible through JSTOR — has some professors in a tizzy, while librarians plead their case from underneath piles of overflowing texts So what do we do? The University could build a new addition to the library, at what would most likely be an astronomical cost to students via tuition hikes. Or we can start to make intelligent decisions about what to keep and what to

throw. The library has already announced its plans to consult faculty when deciding what gets the heave-ho, so the project should be in good hands. It is also important to remember that UVM is not the only place possessing the journals in question. Most are distributed nationally, or at least regionally, so we would not be destroying the last print copy of anything. John Franklin, a UVM professor, argued that “it’s rash to say that we’ll have access to these journals in 30, 50 or 100 years.” He thinks threats ranging from an energy crisis to a government takeover could render these texts inaccessible through JSTOR. Well, an energy crisis is a possibility. But so is a fire in Bailey/Howe. The future is a fun canvas, because you can paint whatever catastrophe you want onto it. The problem at hand is not one of ideology – print versus digital — but rather pragmatic in nature. We need more space, so let’s make more space. I still prefer buying paperbacks, while my Kindle sits, unused, in a drawer. But when my bookshelf overflows, I get rid of some books. Jeff Ayers is a senior english major. He has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2009.

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DISTURBING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“THE METHOD OF CONCEPTION DOESN’T CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF LIFE.”

Paul Ryan defending his position that there should be no excuses for abortion, referring to rape as a “method of conception,” August, 2012

Chris Evans

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OPINION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

COLUMNISTS

Lance Armstong, tested once again Even though he was the winner, the second and third placed cyclists’ samples should have been subjected to the same treatment. I agree with Armstrong when he said that the whole ordeal has been “an unconstitutional witch hunt.”

BIANCA MOHN

Lance Armstrong has won the Tour de France the same number of times that the average UVM professor has: zero. On Aug. 24, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USDA) announced that it was stripping Armstrong of “all competitive results from Aug. 1, 1998 through the present,” which includes his seven Tour de France victories. The USDA assembled witnesses who were prepared to testify that Armstrong used prohibited substances, performed blood transfusions and created a conspiracy to cover up his infractions. Armstrong’s decision to dismiss the case and thereby not challenge the accusations in court, gave the USDA an opportunity to do what it had tried to do for years: revoke all of Armstrong’s victories. Lance has never failed a drug test. As one of the most tested athletes in the sport, not once has he been convicted of testing positive. So here’s my question: How can you convict someone without having physical proof of drugs in their bloodstream? To be clear, I do believe that Lance used performanceenhancing methods, but the fact is, so do the majority of cyclists. As drug expert Dr. John Hoberman said, “longdistance cycling has been the most consistently drug-soaked sport of the 20th century…the Tour [de France] is a virtual pharmacy on wheels.” All of the major drug convictions in recent years have been in a timely manner: the athlete hops off the bike, a couple days later he/she is off the podium. For Lance, old blood samples from decades ago have been tested time and time again to find traces of drugs, especially as the detection technology has changed. This is a blatant double standard.

So here’s my question: How can you convict someone without having physical proof of drugs in their bloodstream?

As per Tour de France tradition, if the first place winner is disqualified, the second place winner receives the yellow jersey. Where will Lance’s seven yellow jerseys go if the USDA successfully redistributes them? The 1999 Tour yellow jersey would go to Alex Zulle, who had been convicted of using the blood-boosting EPO drug. The 2000, 2001, 2003 jerseys would go to Jan Ullrich, and the 2002 jersey to Joseba Beloki, both of whom were involved in a massive drug investigation in Spain. The 2005 jersey would go to Ivan Basso, who recently returned to cycling after a two-year doping ban. Is this really what the USDA considers to be a just and fair solution? They were all on drugs, and Armstrong still crossed the finish line first. The question becomes, what do you do when a sport is saturated in performanceenhancing drugs, most of which are more technologically advanced than the testing mechanisms? Do you make drugs legal for a more even playing field? At the very least, by putting this expensive and time-consuming scandal behind him, Lance can now focus his efforts on raising money for cancer awareness and start a new chapter in his career, drug free.

Bianca Mohn is a sophmore business administration major. She has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2011.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UVM’s Active Minds club collaborates with PostSecretU Dear Editor, [Insert a secret you feel comfortable sharing here.] That is not something I would normally admit to someone I am close with, let alone everyone who is reading this, but I have a feeling I am not the only one with a secret. This month, Active Minds at UVM is distributing notecards across campus and asking everyone to share their secret anonymously as part of Active Minds’ PostSecretU program. Completed postcards can be returned to Living Well, Davis Center Info Desks, Baily/ Howe Library, ALANA Student Center, Women’s Center or the Allen House by Oct. 10 so that they may be included in our exhibit opening. PostSecretU is a community art project sponsored by Active Minds, Inc. and Frank Warren, creator of the popular PostSecret blog. Our program will create an open and safe forum on campus for students to express secrets, regrets, fears, desires, hopes, dreams, and hidden acts of kindness, talents and confessions. The display will be a visual representation about the issues we all face. We hope that PostSecretU will bring people together and allow those who have felt isolated or alone to connect to a larger group and realize what they are feeling is

not actually odd or shameful. What Mr. Warren and other Active Minds’ chapters have found over time is that many of the secrets submitted talk about mental health issues. Why is it that we feel our mental health concerns, struggles and experiences must be kept inside and can’t be shared with others? Stigma plays a role.

If people were to talk openly about the mental health issues they are facing we might all feel less alone.

We know that one in four college students struggle with a diagnosable health disorder, but at least two-thirds do not seek help because so many of the stereotypes and sentiments we encounter each day tell us that doing so is weak or shameful. If people were to talk openly about the mental health issues they are facing, we might all feel less alone. Putting it on a postcard is a start; it allows you to get it out. It allows for

an indirect conversation about that secret that you might find healthy or a relief. Active Minds at UVM intends to break the silence surrounding our inner struggles through PostSecretU and wants to let everyone on campus know that their thoughts and feelings matter and we are ready to listen. PostSecretU is our chance to speak up together! I hope that seeing the secrets of all those around you gives you the courage to share your secret. Active Minds at UVM will be working throughout the year to let those struggling know they are not alone and to connect you to resources and safe spaces to share what you’re holding in and get help and support for your struggles. PostSecretU is just starting the conversation. Join me and share your secrets between Aug. 31 and Oct. 10. Don’t forget to return them to Living Well, Davis Center info desks, Baily/Howe Library, ALANA Student Center, Women’s Center or the Allen House by Oct. 10 so that they may be included in our exhibit opening.

Sincerely, The Active Minds at UVM leadership team

“War on Women” is becoming a manufactured problem Dear Editor,

As an ardent follower of the upcoming 2012 election, I am dismayed by the tactics used by Democrats to criticize their opponents. Among them, a popular refrain is that Republicans are waging an alleged “War on Women.” The allegation is that conservatives and Republicans supposedly love nothing more than to disenfranchise women. It is important to understand how Republicans are supposedly waging this war. First, Democrats argue that Republicans support a “wage gap” between men and women. Denying the obvious trends in work habits between men and women — like the fact that women often leave the workforce when they have children, that women work, on average, fewer hours than men, and that women enter lower paying fields than do men — liberal Democrats, Nancy Pelosi among them, have endorsed the Fair Pay Act. One might take Pelosi seriously if she didn’t pay her female staff members 27 percent less than her male staff. Discrimination? Or just the disparities in work habits between men and women? I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Second, Democrats argue that Republicans want to rob

women of their ability to receive an abortion. Though it is true that Republicans wish this to be a state issue, and would support limiting the conditions under which a woman may receive an abortion, nine men and women prevent the states from making choices afforded to them by the 10th Amendment. This is the real issue. On a different note, Democrats have refused to denounce sex-selective abortions, of which females are frequent targets, particularly in China, showing that discrimination against women is appropriate so long as the result is an abortion. And last, Democrats assert that Republicans wish to restrict a woman’s access to contraceptive medicine. Nonsense! This was a pathetic attempt to attack Republicans for their criticism of the individual mandate of ObamaCare. This was never a war on women, as Sandra Fluke and her army of sympathizers assert, but a war to discern who should pay for every American woman’s contraceptive medicine. From Fluke’s posh enclave in Georgetown, did she forget that oral contraception was available at her local Walmart for $9 a month? It is not uncharacteristic of liberals and Democrats to resort to identity politics. I

would argue that the Obama administration is the greatest purveyor of such politics. Look on their website and you will find a category for every demographic which tends to vote Democrat. But Democrats have pitted man against woman, class against class and race against race, even to the point of manufacturing issues using bogus emotional rhetoric. It is imperative that every American reject identity politics, as they serve only to distract us from the real issues plaguing our nation: a national debt nearing $16 trillion, an unemployment rate at 8.3 percent, a GDP at 1.7 percent, and the growing threat of a nuclear Iran. If voters buy into identity politics, and ignore the issues crippling our economy, we may very well slip into an even deeper national decline. We need to focus on the real issues. Sincerely, Joey Brown Class of 2016

OPINION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

A UVM staff union could benefit the entire community Dear Editor, On Sept. 18 and 19, a historic election will take place at UVM. Half of the University’s staff — between 780 and 1,600 staff members — will vote “yes” or “no” to form a union. This is the largest union organizing campaign to take place in Vermont in many years. What’s more, it is one of the largest union elections taking place in the country this year. If things go well, the 800 members of the staff will have their chance to vote for a union next year. University Staff Union in affiliation with the NEA, the state’s largest union, has worked for more than two years to bring an election to staff. On Sept. 18 and 19 if staff vote “yes” for the union and “yes” for USU-NEA, the entire University will benefit, including students. Students deal with the staff every day. We are the people you go to with questions about your financial aid. We are the folks who manage the book collections at Bailey/ Howe Library. We are the clerk who runs the cash register at the book store. We are the residence hall directors and the administrative assistants in your professors’ departments. If you work at the University, your supervisor is most likely a staff member. The staff is the only group of employees on campus who aren’t unionized. Professors are unionized. Police are unionized. Custodians and maintenance employees are unionized. UVM staff are the only remain-

ing “at will” employees of the University. We can be fired at any time, and our working conditions and benefits can be changed abruptly and without our input. We cannot negotiate our working conditions – we have them imposed on us. For most of us, UVM is a good place to work. But good working conditions are not a guarantee. Just ask the staff member who worked at UVM for more than 25 years and was let go only months before she could retire. Ask the UVM staffer who fears for his job because his supervisor is demanding and unreasonable. Their stories are not exceptional. Staffers who feel powerless cannot do their best for you. Staffers who have no say in their working conditions won’t be able to stick their necks out for you. They keep quiet and they don’t take chances. But what about rising tuition?, you might say. To keep tuition low doesn’t the University need to cut benefits, salaries, and positions? These are hard financial times. Don’t budgets need to be trimmed?, you might ask. Recent events make it clear that UVM’s budget problems are not due to a lack of money, but because the money is appallingly mismanaged. Last year UVM executives hired a new business dean and his spouse for salary and benefits of more than $800,000 a year. Englesby House, the UVM president’s mansion, is in the midst of more than a million dollars of renovations. Last year, as Daniel Fogel left the presidency in disgrace, he was

presented with a $600,000 farewell check and a cushy faculty job in the English Department with a starting salary of $185,000 a year. The incoming president Thomas Sullivan had a cadre of lawyers and advisors to help him negotiate a starting salary of $417,000. Staff salaries and benefits are not the reason for rising tuition. The problem is a proliferation of University executives and former administrators with exorbitant salaries and bonuses who line their pockets with your tuition money. What we are seeing at UVM is the “corporatization” of the University. Staff members want the same opportunity as Fogel and Sullivan were given to negotiate our salaries, benefits and working conditions. Every other UVM employee was given this right of collective bargaining — faculty, police, maintenance personnel and custodians – all except for staff. If staff members have “a seat at the table” when their salaries, benefits and working conditions are being discussed, they will be able to do a better job for you. We will be able to collaborate with University administrators to strengthen our contribution to the University and make UVM a better place to work and a better place to go to school. Sincerely, Michele Patenaude Michele Patenaude works at the Bailey/Howe Library and has been a UVM staff employee for six years. She is on the leadership team of University Staff UnionNEA.

Quick Opinions . . . Jeff Ayers

Arielle Botwell

“Procrastinating laundry is difficult to do when you have to wear two different outfits a day due to the dramatic weather changes from morning to night.”

“I think there is a mass conspiracy to take my money, which is driving the use of iClickers. I can think of no other explanation for a piece of cheap Chinese plastic and a AAA battery to cost $40.”

Roxy Powell “This time of year it’s easy to tell where people are from. Southerners will bundle up, while true Vermonters wear shorts.”

Elizabeth Bengel

Bianca Mohn “Tourists always look so surprised when you bike past them on the Burlington bike path. I mean, it’s called a bike path for a reason.”

“On Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, MTV announced that the upcoming sixth season of ‘Jersey Shore’ will be the network’s last… Say what you will about the reality series, the program’s influence has undeniably dominated American pop culture over the past few years, to the extent of introducing its own vernacular, including “GTL,” “Grenade,” and “Smush,” all of which are, for better or worse, now commonly used expressions.”

Sports

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

The weekly recap

College football mixup shifted back to where it belongs. Here are a few thoughts from week 1:

By Mike Eaton Sports Editor

Boss of the week:

USC is back and it is great for the sport

Andy Roddick

Even though he lost, he’s certainly made America proud. Since 2000, Roddick has provided us with much entertainment and a serve that was always fun to watch. In 2003, he became the youngest American to hold the world No. 1 spot since computer rankings started in 1973, and the first

since Andre Agassi to hold that spot for a full year. Now he’s putting a last effort in to finish off his career strong and, in my opinion, he’s already made that point. At age 30, after losing in the round of 16 on Sept. 5, Roddick retired and joined the ranks of the best American players to ever play the game.

Quote of the week

“ Tell Peyton I need a job

- Donte Stallworth to Broncos’ running back Willis McGahee after being released from the Patriots’ roster

”

Goat of the week: Lance Armstrong

As innocent as he sounds and as much as I would love to believe his “the USADA case is tiring me and my family out and that’s why I’m not fighting it” excuse, Lance Armstrong is a doper. It’s hard to justify why such a fan-friendly and easy to root for guy would juice, but we’ve seen it before — you can reference Big Papi. The thing that pisses me off is that Armstrong won’t admit it. At least Papi ad- mitted to and apologized for it; Armstrong is just making excuses. He’s a goat for tarnishing the hope and will be a champion for a generation’s worth of kids, losing any sort of credibility as a professional athlete by playing innocent and denying it. He has, however, created and operated an amazing charity, and his ability and success in helping people cannot be denied.

WILL ANDREYCAK

Never in my lifetime has an offseason of any sport — be it at the collegiate or professional level — dragged on for so long and in such a painful fashion. In fact, college football has been bogged down in the last several years by controversial off-the-field attention. Prestigious programs such as Ohio State and USC were slapped with sanctions that included postseason bans, the resignation of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino after an affair with a young woman who worked in the program, the best defensive player in the country — LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu — was kicked off the team for multiple drug incidents and, worst of all were the heinous details that emerged about the Penn State cover up. All of this occurred as the very landscape of division-one collegiate athletics was being broken up and pieced back together in the form of massive conference realignment. That’s why when the season officially kicked off Aug. 30 everyone took a deep sigh of relief as all of the distractions, controversy, and sad facts of the Penn State scandal took a back seat to America’s greatest game. The national discourse that surrounds collegiate football has officially

For the last two years USC has played virtually meaningless games as they were sanctioned by the NCAA for recruiting violations. After quarterback Matt Barkley surprisingly decided to come back for his senior season, the talk about a potential USC national title exploded, so much so that many began questioning if the hype was exaggerated. But on the first play from scrimmage in USC’s opener against Hawaii, Barkley connected with Marqise Lee for a 75-yard touchdown pass — the tone for the season had seemingly been set. The energy at the Coliseum was undeniable and it was back for the first time since the Pete Carol era. USC is alive and well and they should be in the national title picture this year and many years beyond. There are certain schools that need to be good in order for college football to be at its best; USC is one of them.

More bad news for Penn State

New head coach Bill O’Brien has been as graceful as possible in handling the transition from the Paterno era at Penn State. He has earned major accolades for balancing the respect for the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s tragic crimes and for promoting the Penn State brand. The Penn State program has

projected a sense of unity and togetherness that has frankly been overwhelming and emotional. Let’s not forget these players and the new coaches had nothing to do with past transgressions. Despite the positivity that O’Brien and others have successfully projected, this program has suffered a crippling blow in terms of talent and it will take years to recover. In losing their first game of the season — to a quality Ohio team — we were reminded about the effects a four-year postseason ban can have. Penn State will have difficulty recruiting and retaining talent for years to come.

Heisman Hopefuls 1. Matt Barkley — Quarterback, USC The preseason favorite, Barkley threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns in the Trojans’ 49-10 blowout of Hawaii. 2. Le’Veon Bell — Running back, Michigan State The 6-foot-2-inch, 244 pound junior racked up 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 44 carries in the Spartans’ 17-13 win against Boise State. 3. Geno Smith — Quarterback, West Virginia The dark horse candidate for this year’s Heisman, Smith shined up West Virginia’s Big 12 debut with a monster performance. He completed 32 of 36 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns, and added 65 yards on the ground with another score. That’s nearly 400 yards of total offense with five touchdowns.

athletetweets First day of class at #UVM & no idea where to go #feellikeafreshman #helpanirishladout

Jonny Bonner

Junior midfielder for UVM men’s soccer @jonnybonner8

freeze pops in the dormmm #lifeisgood

Jack Leclerc

Sophomore quarterback for UVM club football @Cpt_Jack_

We regret to inform our fans that Derek Jeter will miss the rest of the season with sexual reassignment surgery. He promises to come back stronger than ever in 2013 as Minnie Mantlez.

New York Yankees

Twitter hack of the Official New York Yankees Twitter Page @Yankees

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Vermont drops two in weekend series By Julia Dwyer Assistant Sports Editor

The UVM men’s soccer team traveled to Michigan to play a pair of games on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2. Vermont matched up against University of Michigan in the first game of the weekend. Michigan began the scoring in the 23rd minute with a header from senior Latif Alashe off of a corner kick from first-year Luke Coulson. In the 33rd minute, Coulson earned his first goal of the season and gave Michigan a 2-0 lead. Vermont was unable to convert any of their offensive attacks into goal opportunities, but held Michigan in scoring until the 87th minute. Junior T.J. Roehn made the final goal of the match, giving the Wolverines a 3-0 victory at fulltime. “There were some solid performances out there by some guys, but we need all 11 on the field to play well to be successful against a team like Michigan,” Vermont head coach Jesse Cormier said in a University of Vermont Athletics press conference. “We made three errors and were punished for them. We still have a lot of work to do and we are clear on what we need

to work on, but I believe we are moving forward and making improvements.”

“There were some solid performances out there by some guys, but we need all 11 on the field to play well to be successful against a team like Michigan” Jessie Cormier Vermont head coach The win moves Michigan to 1-1 while the Catamounts fall 1-2 overall. On Sept. 2, men’s soccer faced the Oakland Grizzlies in Rochester, Mich. Despite the fact that the Catamounts edged a 6-2 advantage in shot attempts in the first 45 minutes, the half remained scoreless for both teams. The one and only goal for the game came off an assist from Oakland first-year Shawn Claud Lawson to senior Kyle Bethel in the 46th minute. Vermont could not answer

back with a goal for the remaining second half and the Grizzlies finished with the win, 1-0. “Unfortunately we made things harder on ourselves this weekend,” Cormier said in a University of Vermont Athletics press conference following the game. “We had too many lapses and we could not finish. We had 15 shots against Oakland and only three were on frame. We have to be better than that to be successful.” The win improves Oakland to a 3-0 record while Vermont falls to 1-3. The Catamounts will return to play Friday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 9 on Virtue Field where they will host the 22nd Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Windjammer Classic. The tournament features Central Connecticut, New Hampshire, Niagara and UVM. On Friday, Niagara will face New Hampshire at 1:30 p.m. and Vermont will face Central Connecticut at 4 p.m. On Sunday, Central Connecticut will play New Hampshire at 11 a.m. while Vermont will play Niagara at 1:30 p.m. NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Midfielder Noah Johnson heads the ball in the game against UMBC Oct. 29, 2011. Men’s soccer lost 3-0 to the University of Michigan Aug. 31. They are set to play on Virtue Field Sept. 7 and Sept. 9.

It’s football time: Jake’s preview of each division AFC North: Ravens Bengals (Wild Card) Steelers Browns

JAKE BIELECKI

AFC East: Patriots Jets (Wild Card) Bills Dolphins The Patriots will run away with this division. As Will pointed out last week, the Pats’ schedule is as lax as the gentle folk who patrol the amphitheater. They also upgraded their defense through the draft and added a much needed isolation receiver in Brandon Lloyd. Oh, and they were already 13-3 last year. Tim Tebow replaces Mark Sanchez after a slow start, and the Jets make the playoffs. For the second straight season, the credit wrongfully goes to Tebow. The Bills are relevant but still a few pieces away from contention, and Miami will battle admirably for next year’s No. 1 overall pick. The tail end of a historic defense and the beginnings of legitimate offense will carry Baltimore to a Super Bowl championship.

Cincinnati shakes up the AFC North hierarchy and edges Pittsburgh. Big Ben is playing hurt for much of the season and it will show in his performance. The Browns have a losing season, but an encouraging one, and enter 2013 with some hope.

AFC South: Texans Colts Titans Jaguars Houston wrapped up the division handily and won the franchise’s first playoff game. Andrew Luck bested Peyton Manning’s rookie campaign, and the Colts veterans, specifically Reggie Wayne and the pass-rush, still had some left in the tank. Chris Johnson rebounds from 2011 but doesn’t sniff his gaudy 2009 performance. If the Titans outperform this ranking, it comes on the back of their young but talented passing attack. The Jaguars remain the Jaguars. I’ve learned to not bet against Peyton Manning; the Colts dropped eight wins from 2010 to 2011. If the supporting cast can keep up with Peyton’s demands,

this is the team to beat.

AFC West:

Broncos Chiefs Chargers Raiders

If you were to place a bag over the Chief’s head (quarterback), their other assets are certainly worth a long look, and could eventually persuade me to take a plunge. San Diego needed to fire Norv Turner two years ago – that’s all I have to say about them. A lot has to go right for the Raiders to contend. Carson Palmer completing passing to the same colored jersey and Darren McFadden staying healthy are both key and iffy, but there’s talent here. The Eagles are a boom-orbust team, but I don’t envy teams that play them when they’re clicking. The addition of DeMeco Ryans will be huge for a defense lacking in the linebacking core last season.

NFC East:

Eagles Giants (Wild Card) Cowboys Redskins Philly represented the NFC in the Super Bowl while last year’s representatives sneak into the last playoff spot. If the Cowboys were healthy, I’d still probably

prefer the Eagles and Giants, but it’d be a lot closer. Robert Griffin III will change the culture in Washington; every team in this division could win eight games.

NFC North:

Packers Bears Lions Vikings Adding Brandon Marshall was the best move of the offseason. Cutler and Marshall were extremely productive together as up-and-coming players in Denver and should be able to improve on that with added experience. Even so, the Packers are still the cream of the crop in the North. The offense will once again be great and the defense should rebound to some degree. I normally root for the Lions but something tells me not to this year. The lack of maturity and struggles against top teams last season turn me off. The Vikings will at least entertain despite being a not-so-good team.

NFC South: Falcons Saints Panthers Buccaneers Atlanta is stacked offensively and still boasts a solid defense. If they miss the playoffs without suffering significant injuries, it’s

on Matt Ryan. I feel the loss of Sean Payton is being overlooked as he both designed and brought in the correct players for a great offensive scheme. The receiving core lacks depth as well and the Saints narrowly missed the playoffs. Cam Newton is great once again, but the Panthers are still a year from serious contention. The upgrades around Josh Freeman should elevate his game to a young Joe Flacco level.

NFC West:

49ers Seahawks Cardinals Rams I think the 49ers will come back to earth a bit, but there’s a lot to be said for having the best defense in football. Seattle is an interesting team. With the addition of Russell Wilson, I like them better than San Fran offensively, but their defense doesn’t match up. Arizona, please get Larry Fitzgerald a quarterback. They should have one-upped the Redskins’ offer for RG3. Another wasted talent is Steven Jackson. Will the lack of team success keep him from the Hall of Fame?

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Cats fall again, prepare for home turf By Taylor Feuss Staff Writer The women of the UVM field hockey team have gotten off to a rough start after losing their fourth consecutive game on Sept. 1. The Catamounts traveled to face the Brown University Brown Bears on their new field hockey field, but were unable to come up with their first win of the season. The final score was left at 3-2 in the Bears’ favor. At the start of the clock, Vermont’s Colleen Slaughter took charge and raced the ball toward Brown’s unattended goal. Her shot to the corner hit the post, however, and rolled away from play. Soon after, Vermont junior Maddy Ostrander earned the team’s first goal. The goal, assisted by teammates Alana Izzo and Whitlee Burghardt, came about a half an hour into the game off a penalty corner shot. It was not only the first of the game but also the first of Ostrander’s career. Vermont’s triumph was short-lived — not a minute later, Brown’s Maggie Brady came in to tie the score 1-1. Brady’s goal came off a previous attempt on Vermont that was saved by goalkeeper Stephanie Zygmunt. As the ball rolled toward the

JONATHAN POLSON The Vermont Cynic

Junior forward Colleen Slaughter dribbles the ball down the field Oct. 7, 2011. Vermont will play the Quinnipiac Bobcats at home Sept. 9. goal line, Brady knocked it in. Neither team scored for the next 15 minutes of play. Ten minutes into the second half, Vermont’s Taylor Silvestro shot on Brown’s goalkeeper Shannon McSweeney and scored off of a rebound. The Catamounts held onto their slight lead of 2-1 for another

20 minutes after Silvestro’s goal, and seemed to be on their way to their first win. All Vermont needed was to hold onto their lead for just a few minutes more. However, with about five minutes left in play, Brown’s Haley Alvarez intercepted Vermont’s clearing attempt and went on to

sink it into the back of the net, bringing the score to a tie of 2-2. Shortly after, Vermont had their ball intercepted once again by Alvarez, who passed it up field to teammate Hannah Rogers. Rogers broke the 2-2 tie, winning the game for the Brown Bears with just two minutes left in regulation.

Vermont will be back on the field Sept. 9 at noon when they host the Quinnipiac Bobcats in their first home game of the season.

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Each week, the Cynic Sports staff will predict the winner of some of the week’s most anticipated matchups. The participants are Jeremy Karpf, Mike Eaton, Will Andreycak, Colin Hekimia, Josh Aronson and Jake Bielecki.

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By Sen