Issue 9 - Volume 135

THE VERMONT

CYNIC Oct. 23, 2018

vtcynic.com

Library name change

DC breakdancer

A UVM committee has voted in favor of removing former UVM President Guy Bailey’s name from the Bailey/Howe Library.

The Davis Center atrium is Jae Baker’s favorite spot to dance on campus, and it’s where students often see him.

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Parkland students 2 / Bike co-op 4 / Parents’ Facebook 5

FULL STORY ON PAGE 4

Bus driver found responsible for pedestrian injury Sawyer Loftus swloftus@uvm.edu

A UVM police services investigation has found a UVM bus driver at fault for hitting a woman who was crossing the street.

The bus driver, Linda Fountain-Provost, was given a ticket for failing to stop for someone in a crosswalk and severely injuring Susan Shaffer, according to a Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles report.

The DMV report indicated that Shaffer was taken to the hospital by ambulance for “suspected serious injury” and that Fountain-Provost was “inattentive” while driving.

A DMV inspector examined the bus and found nothing that would point to a mechanical malfunction, according to the report.

Dashboard footage revealed that Shaffer was nearly twothirds of the way across the crosswalk when the bus ran over her foot, causing her to drop to the ground while the bus continued to move, accord-

facebook.com/ thevermontcynic

ing to a UVM police services report.

“I started screaming ‘stop, stop,’ and I was banging on the bus,” Shaffer stated in a UVM police report interview. “When the bus stopped … I saw my leg and my foot were on the grass and I looked up and I could see that my bones were exposed.”

In the report Shaffer stated that as she was about to step on the curb from the crosswalk she could see the bus but assumed it would stop as she crossed the street.

As she continued to walk, it was clear the bus was not going to stop. That’s when she was struck by the bus, getting “pushed” and “pulled” under the tire, according to the report.

Fountain-Provost stated in an Oct. 20 text message exchange that she had been driving busses for the last 30 years and will most likely never drive one again.

“I would only ask two things: that you emphasize that it was an accident and that I signed a non-disclosure agreement that doesn’t allow me to comment,”

@vermontcynic

Students respond “I don’t feel particularly safe; I’m not going to stop going near buses, but it’s disconcerting.”

- Maddie Cross, First-Year

ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic

UVM bus driver Linda Fountain-Provost failed to stop for a Susan Shaffer at a crosswalk, severely injuring the pedestrian.

Fountain-Provost stated. “This is a tragedy, and I hope that it is emphasized that way.”

Shaffer isn’t the only victim in this accident, Fountain-Provost stated.

The accident impacted her emotionally and has changed her life forever, she stated.

“My heart physically hurts because I can’t do anything to help this woman,” she stated.

@vermontcynic

“I don’t sleep well; I have nightmares. I stay at home. I have incredible anxiety.

“I’ve changed. Thirty years of my life and someone was hurt. I didn’t see her ... and that will haunt me as long as I live.”

Read the rest online at vtcynic.com/bus

youtube.com/ cynicvideo

“[I feel unsafe] as a pedestrian, because they’re obviously not looking well.”

- Shannon Meyler, Junior

“I have been caught behind the bus sometimes.

I heard that they changed the routes, so maybe that will help.”

- Jennifer Barclay, Senior

www.

vtcynic.com

NEWS

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The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 23, 2018

Activists speak on gun reform Sawyer Loftus

Get the full story at vtcynic.com News

Candidates meet and greet on campus Students were given the opportunity to ask questions to gubernatorial candidates Christine Hallquist and Trevor Barlow Oct. 17 in Brennan’s Pub & Bistro.

Culture

Students gather for Slut Walk Students in tube tops, overcoats, overalls and dresses gathered Oct. 20 in front of Waterman to participate in UVM’s annual Slut Walk.

Culture

swloftus@uvm.edu

Three survivors of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida visited Burlington during their book tour to give advice to young gun reform activists.

Activists and survivors David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and Alex Wind made a stop Oct. 19 at the First Universalist Church in Burlington as part of their “Glimmer of Hope” book tour.

The book, “Glimmer of Hope,” recounts the story of the March for Our Lives movement and the events following the Feb. 14 shooting, according to the publisher’s website.

The book was written by the founders of March for Our Lives, including Hogg, Wind and Gonzalez.

The group’s message for young people: go out and vote.

“Every time that a younger person doesn’t vote, we are decreasing the impact of our voices in this country,” Gonzalez said. “Every time you vote … you’re getting a direct say in your government, and if you don’t vote you can’t complain, because you didn’t try.”

People of all ages overflowed from the pews onto the floor. The event was moderated by Kesha Ram ’08, a former Vermont state representative.

Ram began by reading the names of the six victims of Vermont mass shootings in the past decade.

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic

Parkland shooting survivors Alex Wind, David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez speak Oct. 19 at the First Universalist Church in Burlington as part of their “Glimmer of Hope” tour.

“That is the reason that we are here today, folks, is that we are losing Americans to gun violence,” Ram said. “Especially our young people.”

Hogg began the night by articulating the feelings of many gun reform advocates.

“The way I like to describe our work is in the same way as the people that advocated for safer cars and safer roads weren’t anti-car or pro-car,” Hogg said. “They were pro-people-not-dying.”

Hogg and the others urged young people to go out and be politically active by voting, registering others to vote and en-

gaging in thoughtful political conversations.

“The biggest thing we’re advocating for is students ... to walk out and vote,” Hogg said.

One of the biggest takeaways Hogg wanted young people to have from the evening was that they don’t need to wait to be empowered.

“On Feb. 14, we didn’t all of a sudden gain power, we realized that we’ve always had it,” Hogg said. “The only difference was that we stopped waiting for somebody else to stand up against violence and injustice in our country.”

First-year Katelyn Key said

Board to vote on Bailey/Howe name drop Sawyer Loftus swloftus@uvm.edu

Students eat, dance and celebrate culture Two dark passages lined with mock candles and multicolored cut outs led the way to the Alianza Latinx present their annual Noche de Cultura.

Podcast

Investigating the pit on Athletic campus Students living on campus may have noticed the giant pit in front of HarrisMillis Residence Hall and wondered how long it will be there and what its purpose is.

she was glad the survivors came to Vermont to talk about gun reform.

“The biggest takeaway from tonight is realizing that regardless of whether you are registered as a Democrat or Republican, these are issues that we’re facing today,” Key said.

First-year Paige Bissaillon said it’s easy to feel weighed down by the divisive politics of today.

“It seems like a hard time in America, so it’s easy to feel disenchanted with politics,” she said. “But still … I think that events like this give me some hope again.”

A UVM committee has unanimously voted in favor of removing former University President Guy Bailey’s name from the Bailey/Howe Library.

The renaming committee released a report Oct. 16 detailing their recommendation to remove Bailey’s name.

In March 2018, the board of trustees created the Renaming Advisory Committee, charged with looking into Bailey’s role in the UVM eugenics movement, according to an Aug. 13 email to the UVM community.

Concerns were first raised

by UVM social justice group NoNames for Justice in March 2018 after learning that Bailey was more deeply involved with the eugenics movement, according to a March 22 statement from the group.

Professor Jackie Weinstock submitted a proposal to remove Bailey’s name after finding evidence that Bailey was much more involved in helping to fund the eugenics movement at the University, she said.

“What I ended up finding was that Guy Bailey actually wrote the official application

ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic

The Renaming Advisory Committee voted in favor of removing former UVM President Guy Bailey’s name from the Bailey/Howe Library. The committee released their decision Oct. 16. to get the expanded [eugenics] survey,” she said in a May 2018 interview.

Weinstock said she looked to student group NoNames for Justice as inspiration for her role in the renaming process.

“I would give credit to the NoNames for Justice … for serving as the main impetus to get me even aware of the issue and researching it,” she said in the interview.

“It was just a way for faculty to participate in this moment of change that the students had

really created an opportunity for.”

Weinstock said that she is pleased with the committee’s decision to approve her proposal and that it’s a victory for NoNames for Justice.

Senior Z McCarron was part of the group that initially demanded the renaming of library and Perkins Hall September 2017, they said.

“It’s the first time that this university is officially acknowledged this was wrong ... This institution is recognizing the op-

pression and pain that it has caused,” McCarron said. “I was sitting in class reading the Seven Days article and I just started crying.”

The eugenics movement gained popularity in the 1920’s and was “the quest for human betterment through selective breeding,” according to the UVM web page on eugenics history.

The movement, which Bailey contributed to, led to the systemic sterilization of over 60,000 Americans identified as mentally disabled or belonging to marginalized groups, according to Associate Professor Lutz Kaelber’s website about the movement.

SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, said that the decision to remove the name reflects the power of student voice.

“This demonstrates the strength of the student voice on campus. people frequently forget how strong students are here, students don’t have as big of a say elsewhere,” Foley said.

The full board of trustees is expected to vote on the committee’s recommendation during their yearly meeting Oct. 25 to Oct. 26.

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Issue 9 - Vol.

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EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Greta Bjornson editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Ben Elfland newsroom@vtcynic.com Operations Manager Sorrel Galantowicz operations@vtcynic.com

EDITORIAL Copy Chief Sophia Knappertz copy@vtcynic.com Culture Bridget Higdon cynicculture@gmail.com Features Caroline Slack cynicfeatures@gmail.com News George Seibold news@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts Chloe Chaobal Kim Henry vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Sabrina Hood sports@vtcynic.com Video Ruby Bates video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com Social Media Peter Hibbeler socialcyniceditor@gmail.com Illustrations Holly Coughlan illustrations@vtcynic.com Layout Kyra Chevalier layout@vtcynic.com Photo Alek Fleury photo@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Allie O’Connor (Culture), David Cabrera (Podcasts), Nickie Morris (Sports), Sawyer Loftus (News), Lee Hughes (News), Kian Deshler (Features), Caroline McCune (Layout) Copy Editors Elise Becker, Luke Zarzecki, Izzy Coppola, Zoe Sheppard, Fallon Clark Page Designers Lindsay Freed, Stephanie Hodel, Meilena Sanchez, Sarah O’Brien

ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu

OPINION

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Don’t wait to speak up

VERMO

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Oct. 23, 2018

Staff Editorial

T

he survivors of the Parkland shooting came to speak Oct. 19 in Burlington. While addressing a crowd gathered in the First Universalist Church, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and Alex Wind spoke about the importance of activism.

These individuals, although only 18 years old, have already formed March for Our Lives, a national movement promoting gun control. Their perseverance and energy prove the power and impact of youth activism.

We live in a world that tells young people they can’t make a difference, that to be impactful we have to wait until we have the credentials and experience.

But Hogg proved this idea wrong.

“We didn’t all of a sudden gain power, we realized that we’ve always had it,” he said.

On our campus, activism is alive and thriving. Just a few weeks ago we had a walkout to protest the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Last year, protests and demonstrations for social justice coursed through campus.

The Parkland speakers serve as a reminder to continue this activism and speak up.

A

JULI BADICS

They also reinforce the power younger generations hold.

It’s easy to post a video on Facebook or to share an article on Twitter to reinforce your political views. But, as Hogg, Gonzalez and Wind show, stepping away from the screen and into the streets is the real way to achieve change.

Just recently, after campus protesters called for the University to remove the name “Bailey” from Bailey/Howe Library, the board of trustees has been recommended to do just that.

Successes like this have one clear message: Activism works, and we have to stay alert and keep fighting for causes we believe in.

Staff editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. 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.

Use your anger to fuel activism Letter to the Editor

T

hree weeks ago, almost 1,000 students walked out of classes to protest the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, to support heroes Christine Blasey Ford and Anita Hill and to stand with survivors of sexual assault.

We stood to oppose the political threats that Kavanaugh poses – the erosion of abortion rights and further assaults on immigrants, queer people, people of color, unions, etc.

We stood to oppose the culture of disrespect, abuse and disenfranchisement of oppressed people, women in particular, that led to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.

We know that this culture exists at UVM, too.

Now that Kavanaugh is on the Court, I think it’s fair to say that oppressed people everywhere are furious.

It isn’t like we didn’t see it coming, but it hurts to see how little we matter to those in power. The patriarchy may have won this round, but the fight isn’t over yet.

Kavanaugh’s appointment is not a testament to the thoroughness of the FBI’s investigation or a lesson that the thousands of people who

Mental health is a long-term investment Letter to the Editor

HOLLY COUGHLAN

The Vermont Cynic

took to the streets to stop him weren’t working hard enough.

It’s a reminder that in a system that ignores oppression and that prioritizes profit and the reproduction of its own power structures over human life and dignity, our only power lies in our own hands.

Right now a lot of people are saying the only thing to do is get out the vote. I don’t think that’s enough.

When we won Roe v. Wade, it wasn’t because of liberal judges or a liberal establishment.

It was the direct actions of thousands and thousands of people across the country demanding the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies.

When we exercise our power and take to the streets or walk out of classes and work, we can impact how the law itself is read.

Change comes when we unapologetically demand our rights. Change comes when we take up space and disrupt the status quo.

To everyone who is furious today, the struggle continues in every major decision this Supreme Court makes.

Our fight must be loud, proud and in the streets.

Scarlett Moore is a junior geography major. She a dedicated feminist and activist.

s someone who was diagnosed with a high-functioning mental illness during early adolescence, I really expected to be overrun with resources in college to handle my feelings and ultimately leave that part of my life behind.

Yet, I have seen a frightening institutional trend at UVM: apathy towards struggling students, unless of course a student’s mental health interferes with tuition dollars.

When I sought a Student Accessibility Services accommodation last year, I was told by the staff that I “wasn’t disabled enough” to receive an accommodation and to try again next year.

Some of my professors have been more than willing to help accommodate my health, while some professors have only offered to drop one exam grade for every student in the class, meaning that I have the same level of support as someone who may have been too intoxicated the night before to study.

I also pay nearly $80 a visit for psychiatry services through UVM, as well as having to pay for medication out-of-pocket because my state insurance doesn’t apply in Vermont.

I was referred to off-campus counseling because Counseling and Psychiatry Services, didn’t offer “long-term support options,” according to an Oct. 18 Cynic article. This presents another struggle for students that can’t afford private services nor have the means of transportation to an off-campus location.

The only time I felt myself being “supported” by UVM was when one of my peers filed a CARE form, which is a counselling request students can submit on behalf of a friend, regarding my health.

I was immediately put into a meeting with an assistant resident director, given an option to schedule regular meetings with them to ensure that I was indeed alive and whisked away with a list of emergency call lines and strategies.

It’s really sad to see the lack of progressive approaches UVM takes to manage mental health among its students and instead only takes action when a crisis is in the picture.

Best, Sara Klimek ’20 UVM RSENR ’20 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant UVM Environmental Program

CULTURE

4

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 23, 2018

FallFest attracts fans, makes new ones Allie O’Connor aoconno8@uvm.edu

Kelly Duggan knduggan@uvm.edu

Fog swirled through the streams of blue and purple lights, illuminating the instruments and equipment on the stage. Students cheered as silhouettes emerged on stage.

UVM Program Board’s annual FallFest concert took place Oct. 19 at the Patrick Gym. This year’s show opened with student band Father Figuer, followed by Frankie Cosmos and headliner Dr. Dog. “I’m excited to see what tonight is like,” first-year Shannon O’Kelly said before the show began. “I wasn’t going to come ‘cause I didn’t recognize the bands, but I thought I’d check it out and have a good time with friends.”

In recent years, FallFest has hosted hip-hop headliners such as the Ying-Yang Twins and Vince Staples.

Junior UPB member Cole Frangiosa typically works on operations for UPB, but for the concert he was put on crowd control.

“I think tonight’s been pretty successful,” he said. “We didn’t sell out, but attendance is around 2,000.”

While UPB member Sean Brewer, a sophomore, didn’t know the exact attendance of this year’s event, he mentioned that they’d sold out in previous years.

Father Figuer, comprised of juniors Erin White, Elise Albertini, Caroline Franks and Charity Beckert, kicked off the night with a few slow, personal songs.

Several fans in the center of the crowd cheered wildly for individual band members, draw-

PATRICK LANGLOIS/The Vermont Cynic

Doctor Dog bassist and singer Toby Leaman steps away from the mic to shred at this years FallFest Oct. 19 at the Patrick Gym. The show opened with student band Father Figuer, followed by Frankie Cosmos and headliner Dr. Dog. ing grins and waves from the musicians.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Franks said in between songs, tuning her guitar and looking out at the steadily building crowd. “There are so many people to talk to.”

Some students in attendance, though unfamiliar with Father Figuer’s music, were excited to see what they had in store.

“We’re definitely here for the experience, even though we haven’t heard of them before,”

first-year Jillian Rathman said.

First-year Caitlin Covello said she didn’t need to know the music to have a good time.

“I know a ton of people who didn’t want to come since they didn’t know the band,” sophomore Charlotte McCarthy said.

“Obviously it’s exciting if you know them already, but I’m just as happy discovering a band and experiencing something new.”

Frankie Cosmos was on next, dazzling students with her vocals and singer-songwriter charm.

Students were still entering the gym as a layer of fog enveloped the stage. Dr. Dog’s set began with a pounding drum beat and uproarious cheers.

“Welcome to Catamount country, folks,” vocalist Scott McKinnen said. The audience swayed and head-nodded to the Philadelphia-based band’s neo-psychedelic sounds. Each track escalated into a sing-along chorus.

“Dr. Dog killed it,” Brewer said. “They have such great stage presence. They know how

to keep a crowd entertained.

They’ve got it all.”

Blue-shirted members of UPB, including senior Emily LaFleur, could be spotted throughout the gym and in the lobby, as well as in the area designated as the “ChillZone,” a quiet room where students could rest during the event. Free water and snacks were available to anyone who needed a break.

“We’ve been trying to cater to all different needs,” LaFleur said. “But this is the most dancing I’ve seen at a show.”

“Halloween” sequel continues where original left off hmmckenz@uvm. edu

T

he boogeyman is back.

Four decades after the original slasher film was released, another “Halloween” has hit theaters.

Written and directed by David Gordon Green, the film stars Jamie Lee Curtis,who returns to her debut role as Laurie Strode. But this is not just another lifeless installment to an outdated horror movie series.

The film follows Laurie, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress after the first film’s events, as she readies to protect her family from Michael Myers, a crazed serial killer who escapes institution-

ing something new can make this “Halloween” feel cluttered, stretching the narrative thin.

“Halloween” takes all of the very simple, economic elements of the first film — a drowsy suburb, a creepy holiday, a silent man stalking the neighborhood at night — and excites them, metabolizes the terror in ways that I suspect resulted from the filmmakers wanting to modernize the franchise.

Even the classic opening title sequence is lifted for this retelling but it is curiously sped up, glossy, literally breathing life back into a long dead JackO-Lantern.

Read the rest online at vtcynic.com/spooky

Hunter McKenzie is a senior English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2018.

MEREDITH RATHBURN

Hunter McKenzie

alization and returns to Haddonfield, Illinois.

Choosing to ignore all of the sequels, there were seven of them as well as a remake and a sequel to the remake, this iteration pays most of its attention to the legacy of the first film and, as expected, streamlines it, making for a surprisingly deep film filled with moments of nostalgic greatness, while also mostly standing in the shadows of its more efficient predecessor.

The film is fascinated by its own mythology: the camera roams over Michael when it isn’t loosely recreating the more famous shots from the original film. The signature score, which original writer and director John Carpenter contributed to, creeps in from the background and stabs in at all the right spots.

But having to deal with both tasks of paying respect to legacy while also establish-

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 23, 2018

CULTURE

5

Dancer hopes to keep UVM weird Genevieve Winn gmwinn@uvm.edu

Kassondra Little klittle2@uvm.edu

Jae Baker ’17 saw breakdancing for the first time in a movie trailer when he was a kid, he said.

“I remember it was a headslide, and I just thought that was so cool,” he said. “I had to learn how to do it.”

Baker graduated from UVM with a degree in French and a minor in Italian studies in 2017.

He works for UVM Event Services and at the DoubleTree Hotel in Burlington, but in his off time he continues to dance on campus, as well as with his local dance crew.

Baker said he was initially inspired by street performers.

He practiced the moves he saw whenever he got home.

He has mastered some moves himself, to his own soundtrack. “[Breakdancing] is my passion, that’s pretty clear. It’s a huge part of me ... I found this whole culture behind it … I found friends, opportunities and like-minded people that I can enjoy it with.”

Baker became known for dancing in various locations around campus, senior Sarah Lubic said.

“He’s like a UVM staple,” Lubic said. “He has a few hot spots and everyone knows who he is.”

The Davis Center atrium is

KASSY LITTLE/The Vermont Cynic

Jae Baker ’17, playing beats through his speaker, break dances in his favorite spot on campus Oct. 12, the Davis Center atrium. “I don’t consider this a performance. I just practice … [People passing by] are not my audience,” he said.

Baker’s favorite spot to dance on campus, he said, and it’s where students often pass by him as he practices. “[This space] is weird. It has a specific personality to it. I look for that. I love the acoustics,” he said. “I have come to appreciate the floors in here, which is something weird that happens when you’re a dancer.

“I don’t like studio spaces, they feel too confined, they feel like a classroom.”

But while some may view his dancing in the Davis Center as a performance, he disagrees.

“I don’t consider this a performance … [People passing by] are not my audience,” he said.

“This is my personal time and I should be able to enjoy it my

way.”

Senior Jess Figgie said she recognizes Baker as a familiar face around the Davis Center, where they both work.

“I only know him through seeing him on campus,” she said. “I believe that he is a great dancer and has a right to showcase his skills.”

Baker said coming to UVM

felt like college in the movies, but that it has changed a lot since his days on campus.

“I love UVM, but it’s lost a lot of the funkiness it used to have. I miss my weird UVM,” Baker said. “A lot of people have told me I kind of keep the weird alive, which I’m thankful for.”

Rentals, repairs and more available at bike co-op Dominic Portelli dportell@uvm.edu

Tucked away in a forgotten corner of campus, a muggy, unfinished basement room is littered with tools, grease and dilapidated bicycles.

Two green sandwich boards along Carrigan Drive guide students into Hills Agricultural Sciences’ parking lot entrance where they find UVM Bikes, a volunteer bike shop run entirely by students.

Staff is there from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, ready to help anyone who walks through the door with anything from changing a flat or adjusting brakes on a campus bike, to overhauling a mountain bike for a day on the trails.

The co-op also allows students to rent bicycles for the entirety of the school year.

“The last two years we’ve had more rental bikes than ever,” coop President Connor Smith, a senior, said.

As a result, the University granted the co-op a workspace extension this past summer.

The co-op has almost tripled in size, Vice President Luke Knisley, a senior, said.

After being shut down seven

years ago due to overcrowding in its original location in the Davis Center loading dock, the coop disappeared from campus.

Since its rebirth nearly five years ago, UVM Bikes has continued to grow driven by a few passionate students and faculty.

This year’s expansion was met with increased structure, including the creation of club officers.

“Before, [we were] devoting time to making sure there was a staff here,” Smith said. “Now we have the time and resources so that we can do other things that just improve the experience.”

Operating on a basis of free labor and wholesale parts pricing, volunteers work several hours a week without any form of pay. Smith and fellow volunteer Ethan White, a junior, said there’s something else that keeps them coming back to help.

“When I first started working here, it was kind of terrifying because I didn’t know much about working on bikes, and yet I still kept coming back,” Smith said. “It was something about just learning something every time you’re here.”

Volunteers are often happy to teach anyone who wants to learn, be it a student geting their

DOMINIC PORTELLI/The Vermont Cynic

Bike Co-op President Connor Smith, a senior, and Bike Co-op volunteer Nate Ryan, a sophomore, work on fixing the gears of a bike at the volunteer, student run Bike Shop on Carrigan Drive Oct. 18. bike fixed or a faculty member on lunch break.

“I don’t get many chances to teach people, but this is definitely one of those chances,” White said. “It’s very satisfying to share.”

Members of the co-op have learned not everyone wants to get their start as an amatuer bike mechanic.

“At the end of the day, we

can only be here,” Smith said.

“We can’t force people to learn.”

Such self-selection of engagement plays a crucial role in the co-op.

“In a day full of chaos of being a college student, to be able to fix something, or at least make something better, is really cool, and that’s why I think this space attracts a lot of similar people,” Smith said. “Not ev-

erybody is interested, but when we do get that one person that is, it’s really cool.”

While renovations have transformed and improved the way the co-op operates, its culture holds strong.

“It’s about fun and providing kind of a family,” Smith said.

“It offers a comfortable space to feel connected on campus.”

6

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The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 23, 2018

The Vermont Cynic

FEATURE

Oct. 23, 2018

UVM Parents & Family Discussion Group Private Group About Discussion Announcements Members Events Videos Photos Recommendations Search this group

7

Mike Hurley

1 hr via mjhurley@uvm.edu

W

hen students feel the urge to share their concerns about college life, they might log-on to the student-run meme page Make UV Groovy Again.

They might wonder, though, where their parents go when they have a burning question about UVM or who they talk to when they feel like sharing any number of UV Groovy thoughts and ideas.

It’s quite possible that they’ve found their way onto the UVM Parent & Family Discussion Group on Facebook.

“My parents are on there,” first-year Molly Swiencki said. “My dad usually sends me funny things [from the page].”

Charming photos of Burlington captioned by subtle reminders of gaps existing between both generations and cultures are posted on the page.

In one post, parents marvel at the sentiments expressed by sticky notes displayed on dorm room windows.

“While visiting UVM it was nice to see the students supporting each other with messages across from each other. It’s a big adjustment for parents and students!” a parent who posted multiple photos of post-it messages in Central Campus Residence Hall wrote.

Other parents are eager to share their experiences exploring Burlington culture.

“This maple creamy/ee was the best thing I ate all weekend in Burlington!” posted one enthused UVM mom after trying the beloved dairy dessert for the first time.

Some parents just want to share their joy upon being reunited with their students.

“Made it up to see my schmoopy this weekend ... so happy!” one parent posted along with a smiling photo of her and her

son. “He really seems settled and happy (!?!?) and it is so freakin gorgeous [in Burlington].”

These endearing interactions demonstrate how social media has allowed family members, both instate and out-of-state, to observe and cherish the delightful customs of UVM culture.

In some ways, the group functions as a sort of secret club for parents.

In order to join, a prospective member must answer two questions to prove that they belong to the parental demographic of the group.

The first asks whether or not they are parents or guardians of a UVM student. The second asks for their student’s graduating year.

“Please note: this group is for parents and guardians of UVM students. It is not intended for students,” is stated after the latter question.

Much of the knowledge contained within this archive comes from UVM alumni, as well as Chittenden County locals like Mark Bullock, who serves as one of the page’s moderators, alongside fellow dad Mike Rubinstein.

“We take our jobs very seriously. Our goal is to leave a legacy that lasts long after our own kids graduate.” Bullock said.

Both fathers have managed to utilize their skills as former IBM employees as a means of innovating the forum.

Working with the page’s ten administrators — some of whom run the official pages of the University of Vermont and the UVM Wellness Environment — the two moderators share a deep sense of purpose in what they do for the community as a whole.

Over the past year alone, the group’s population has grown exponentially. When Rubinstein and Bullock began as moderators,

a mere 900 parents and guardians occupied the page.

As of Oct. 21, the group boasts 2,219 members.

Bullock and Rubinstein have noticed that family members tend to join during certain times of the year, namely during orientation and at the beginning of a new semester.

“In May, June and July, we sometimes get 30 new members in one day,” Bullock said.

Considering the increasingly widespread use of the forum, he reflects fondly upon the wholesome atmosphere that has been cultivated therein by doting moms, goofy dads and other invested family members.

“It’s a really great community,” he said. “There’s rarely anyone who will judge you, and more often than not, there’s always someone there to offer help.”

One parent expressed her gratitude for the maintenance of the group.

“Thank you to University of Vermont and the moderators of this page for supporting a forum for parents to express and address concerns, share information and provide support!”

In response, UVM’s official page commented “We’re happy to hear it!” with a smiling cat emoji.

With the page receiving an average of nine new posts a day, the UVM Parents & Family Discussion page sustains itself as a light-hearted space where Catamount family members can connect with each other by learning about, laughing at and loving all things UV Groovy.

Mike Hurley is a junior English secondary education major. He has been writing for the Cynic since Fall 2018.

VALENTINA CZOCHANZKI

SPORTS

8

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 23, 2018

Field hockey loses after defense fails Ashley Miller Ashley.E.Miller@uvm.edu

The UVM women’s field hockey team took the field against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats for an Oct. 21 game.

Intermediate showers of light snow sprinkled from the clouds, but the Catamounts’ fans endured the winter chill.

“Even the ice hockey rink is warmer,” said Michael Marra, sophomore forward Taryn Marra’s father. “But it’s worth it to watch these girls play, and I don’t think the cold will affect their game.”

The Catamounts went into Sunday’s game after recently qualifying for America East’s postseason tournament, which will be hosted by Stanford University in California, according to UVM athletics.

The Catamounts kept steady possession of the ball in the first half, resulting in two corner attempts within the first 10 minutes.

“I wish we had been able to execute on some of the early corners that we earned,” head coach Kate Pfeifer said.

The Wildcats were able to eventually score towards the end of the first half.

Vermont finished out the first half with the ball in their offensive end.

In the final two minutes of the first period, junior midfielder Rachel Phillips made the only UVM goal of the game.

“They look great coming out

ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic

UVM sophomore Claudia Cottier shields the ball from University of New Hampshire first-year Isabelle Danahy as she runs down the line in UVM’s 2-1 loss Oct. 21. of the first period,” senior spectator Cat Green said. “I’m really happy they got a goal to tie it up. I feel like if they went into the second half down, it might have affected them mentally.”

The second half opened with the Wildcat’s hitting from the corner, but Vermont sophomore goalie Sierra Espeland successfully blocked their shots.

The Catamounts used this momentum to take the ball up the field through a succession of linked passes.

Pfeifer said ball handling improved this season.

“Over the season we have grown, but what’s most noticeable is the way we can possess the ball and move it up the field,” Pfeifer said.

UNH gained control and carried the ball to Vermont’s net for an unassisted goal.

UVM regained possesion of the ball and carried it down, resulting in a missed goal.

In the last four minutes of the game, the Catamounts called for timeout and pulled their goalie, subbing her for an extra player on the field.

Vermont’s one-man advantage allowed them to travel to UNH’s goal.

UNH successfully kept UVM out of their defensive end, running down the remaining seconds, causing UVM to lose 2-1.

The Catamounts’ next game will be 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at University of Maine.

UVM soccer hands Stony Brook first conference loss Stephan Toljan Stephan.Toljan@uvm.edu

Fans bundled up in hats and warm jackets to watch men’s soccer Oct. 20.

The UVM men’s soccer team defeated Stony Brook University, who is ranked first in the America East Conference.

The win improved UVM’s record in the America East Conference and marked the first conference loss for the previously undefeated Stony Brook.

The conference standings for UVM are now 3-2, with the overall season standing at 10-5.

Sophomore defenseman Jonathan Bryant scored within the first 90 seconds of the game, giving the Catamounts a 1-0 lead.

Bryant said that he did not see the ball until it was right in front of him.

“I didn’t even see it until it was coming at me,” he said.

“Then I just flicked it into the goal.”

Stony Brook fought hard to close the gap for the rest of the first half. In the middle of the half, Stony Brook tied the score at 1-1.

Twelve seconds before half-

time, junior midfielder Jon Arnar Barddal received a long pass and scored giving UVM a 2-1 lead.

Sophomore Carlie Reen said that the first half of the game had been very energetic, but that it was cold in the stands.

Three close saves, made by sophomore goalkeeper Nate Silveira, helped to maintain UVM’s lead during the second half.

Bryant said that the team knew the second half would not be easy.

“We knew the second half was going to be a battle,” he said. “Communication was key.”

The Catamounts came close to a third goal when senior forward Geo Alves received a long pass and drove to the net.

Alves got past the goalie which drove many fans to their feet, but the ball collided with the top part of the goal, keeping the final score at 2-1.

Head coach Rob Dow said the team won this game due to hard work at practice and training during the week. “[The victory] is a testament to a hard week of training for the team,” he said. “I’m proud

STEPHAN TOLJAN/The Vermont Cynic

Junior Jon Arnar Barddal cuts past a defender in the UVM men’s soccer victory against Stony Brook University, the No. 1 ranked team in the America East Conference Oct. 20. The team won 2-1. of the boys.”

Dow also said that this victory was important to the team, since it puts them in a better position for the playoffs.

In regards to their upcoming game next week, Dow said

he wanted to keep the same energy going.

He said that it is important that the team remains united in the coming games.

“We need to continue with focus and concentration,” Dow

said, “It’s mission critical.”

Their next game is 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 at the University of Connecticut.