THE VERMONT
CYNIC Nov. 13, 2018
vtcynic.com
Protest downtown
Diwali
Hundreds gathered to protest the outing of the attorney general, as concerns over the the TrumpRussia investigation grow.
The Indian Students Association held a celebration of the five-day Hindu festival of lights Nov. 9.
PAGE 2
PAGE 7
Mental health 5 / Ta-Nehisi Coates 9 / Burlington vinyl 10
Orchesis
Story on page 8
Dining hall bugs lead to contract suspension Lee Hughes ehughes7@uvm.edu
After videos of bugs in dining hall food circulated on social media, UVM suspended a portion of its food order from a local agricultural nonprofit. Barstool UVM, affiliate of pop culture blog Barstool Sports, posted an Instagram video of a cabbage worm, which they described as a “maggot,” in a salad Sept. 27. The UVM Dining Instagram account replied that the worm was harmless, and that they shared the information with their local supplier. Barstool UVM posted a video showing a spider in a salad Oct. 16. The Intervale, a community farm organization in Burlington, was deemed the probable source of the greens. Teddy Gamache, Intervale Food Hub manager, questioned the credibility of the video, saying that there’s no evidence that the produce came from the Intervale or that the bug was not brought in for the purpose of making a viral video. “We were blown away that someone can make an accusa-
facebook.com/ thevermontcynic
tion like that,” he said. “It was almost like slander for the UVM Dining team.” Gamache described Barstool as objectifying women and showcasing alcohol use. Campus Executive Chef Brandon Williams said that after the first video, UVM paused its order of lettuce from the Intervale. UVM continues to purchase other produce from the Intervale and may resume ordering the lettuce next year, he said. Marissa Watson, UVM Dining’s sustainability manager, said that after having initially paused the order for lettuce Sept. 27, it was resumed again until another bug was reported to UVM Dining, leading to the order’s suspension Oct. 11. Since the Intervale farms are organic, they don’t use pesticides or chlorinated solutions to get rid of bugs, Watson said. Gamache said that the produce from the Intervale is washed three times before being packaged, but the lack of pesticides may allow some bugs to slip through from time to time. Williams said that although he understands why people
@vermontcynic
Courtesy of Instagram
The Instagram page Barstool UVM, a direct affiliate of Barstool Sports according to their instagram bio, posted a video of a cabbage worm with the caption “AYO MAGGOTS!” wouldn’t want to have a bug in their food, cabbage worms are harmless if consumed. If a student finds an issue with their food, they should speak to a staff member rather than take to social media in order to solve the issue most efficiently, he said.
@vermontcynic
Sophomore Ryn Stanfield said they are less likely to eat from the salad bar following these videos. Although they do not want to cause any harm to farmers, there should be more measures in place to keep bugs, particularly spiders, out of dining hall
youtube.com/ cynicvideo
food, Stanfield said. “If it’s a worm, it’s a worm, but a spider is too far,” they said. Barstool UVM declined to provide non-anonymous comment. Barstool Sports was unable to provide comment before the time of publication.
www.
vtcynic.com
NEWS
2
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
White House firing sparks protest Sawyer Loftus
Get the full story at vtcynic.com Podcast
Prime Time Cats: Diwali at UVM Of the many festivals throughout the year, none compare to India’s festival of lights. Listen to learn about this year's turnout at the event.
Culture
Business club serves as space for women Women in Business is a space where women studying business, who make up only one third of the business school, can create community.
Photo
swloftus@uvm.edu
Julianne Lesch jlesch@uvm.edu
Hundreds of people gathered in Burlington to protest the ousting of Attorney General Jeff Sessions as concerns over the future of the Trump-Russia investigation grow. At least 400 hundred protestors marched Nov. 8 from the Federal Building on Elmwood Avenue to nearby City Hall to make their voices heard to President Donald Trump’s administration. The protest, called “No One is Above the Law,” was one of 11 protests organized across the state and one of more than 900 protests staged across the U.S. Jeanne Keller, one of the organizers and a Burlington resident, said she helped organize because of the Trump administration’s interference with the Trump-Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. “Trump is taking a significant step to obstruct justice,” Keller said. “I mean, this is equivalent to when Richard Nixon tried to cover up the Watergate scandal by firing the special counsel.” The protest was planned by local Vermonters and Burlington residents but was part of a broader call to action from MoveOn, a progressive public policy advocacy group, according to the group’s website. The investigation was meant to investigate the alleged ties between Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
A protestor listens to Ryan McLaren, a staffer from Rep. Peter Welch’s office, read a statement from Welch. “If this isn’t worth standing for, what is?” said McLaren as he stood from his wheelchair. election. By 4:40 p.m. a small crowd of 13 protesters was gathered on the side of the Federal Building. In a matter of 10 minutes, the crowd grew from 13 to nearly 100. The Action Team, the group of organizers responsible for the protest, was handing out their own handmade signs in the minutes before the expected 5:00 p.m. kick off. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., the protesters began marching up Pearl Street with Burlington Police clearing the traffic ahead. The crowd turned right onto South Winooski Avenue
before continuing onto College Street and eventually City Hall on Church Street. As protestors gathered near City Hall, Marie Dunbar from Essex, Vermont stood on the opposite side of the street shouting at the protestors. “I am against the protesting of Trump. He is a president who is more brilliant than the rest of us,” Dunbar said. “He knows what he’s doing and I believe there is a real good reason why Trump fired Sessions.” Once in front of City Hall staffers from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy as well as Rep. Peter Welch’s of-
fices read statements from the congressmen. Former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin said in her speech if Trump is allowed to remove any critic, then our democracy is in trouble. “Our job is to restore a balance of power,” Kunin said. First-year Luke Fredrickson said he came to the rally because he wants a fair investigation. “It’s undemocratic, it’s un-American, it’s unconstitutional,” Fredrickson said.
Students weigh in on the Vermont midterm election Zoe Schemm zschemm@uvm.edu
Slideshow: Election night in Burlington Hundreds of UVM students walked out of class at noon Oct. 4 to join faculty and community members in protest of Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination.
Podcast
Katz of da Kulture: Mt. Rushmore Which artists are in your list of top four artists? In other words, who is in your musical Mt. Rushmore? Students discuss in their new podcast.
Through many initiatives and organizing, UVM students were motivated to vote in the elections Nov. 6. Many considered the midterms to be especially important because the outcomes determined the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. “My estimation is that over 2,000 UVM students voted in Burlington yesterday,” College Democrats President Sam Donnelly, a junior, said the day after the elections. He helped create a Facebook page for the UVM Walkout to Vote event, hosted by Vermont Public Interest Research Group and the organizers of the Women’s March. Donnelly said although the event was lightly attended, the number of students who voted was incredibly high. “Polls saw record student turnout — lines of 50 plus people for most of the day,” Donnelly said. “The Winooski polling place ran out of ballots several times.”
PATRICK LANGLOIS/The Vermont Cynic
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at the Hilton after being elected. The midterms also saw victory for Republican incumbent Phil Scott as governor and Democratic Rep. Peter Welch. Although Donnelly was glad about the number of students that voted, he was less excited about the results of the election. “I would have liked to have seen Christine Halquist win against Phil Scott,” he said. “Our state really needs to change and become a little bit more progressive if we’re gonna retain young people and do things like raise the minimum
wage.” Other students were happier about the results. College Republicans President Tommy Switzgable, a senior, found the results of the race unsurprising. “I wasn’t worried about [Gov. Phil Scott],” he said. “I helped to work on the campaign a bit and he seemed like he had everything together. He was
hitting all the constituents.” The midterms saw wins for Republican incumbent Phil Scott as governor and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch. Christine Hallquist, the Democratic nominee for governor, was defeated by a margin of 15 points, according to the Associated Press. The poll showed 23 Democratic wins for seats in the Vermont State House and Senate compared to nine Republican wins and three Independent wins. “I think the race for governor was really interesting, because many people that go to UVM think Vermont is Burlington, but it really isn’t,” Vermont native senior Mac Rogers said. “Vermont voted like Vermont, and that’s not a bad thing.” Other state positions were also filled by Democrats, including Jim Condos as Secretary of State, Doug Heffer as Auditor and Beth Pearce as Treasurer. Incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman managed to win a seat for the Independent party.
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
NEWS
3
Flag raises concerns among students Sawyer Loftus swloftus@uvm.edu
A petition that no one has claimed responsibility for, but first appeared on a Jewish student group Facebook page, has been the source of controversy for groups on campus. Following the raising of the Israeli flag outside the Davis Center Nov. 5, UVM’s chapter of J Street U, a Jewish student group that supports both Israel and Palestine, posted a petition to their Facebook page calling for the removal of the flag. “J Street U UVM opposes the University’s decision to allow Catamounts Supporting Israel to fly the Israeli flag on the Davis Center flag pole,” the Nov. 6 post stated. In the post, J Street U UVM called the raising of the flag a “politicization of a tragedy” and stated that the flag is “not a symbol of Judaism for all Jewish people.” Following a flurry of comments on the petition calling J Street U UVM “#FakeJews,” J Street U UVM removed the post and issued a statement claiming they didn’t make the petition. “That post shared a petition, which was not created by our chapter, that opposed our University’s decision to respond to the Pittsburgh attack by allowing a campus group to fly the Israeli flag from a campus building,” the Nov. 7 post stated. Senior Aaron Goren, the president of Catamounts Supporting Israel, said that he was responsible for getting the flag raised. He believes that this petition was created by members
SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic
The Israeli flag was raised Nov. 5 outside the Davis Center after the student group Catamounts Supporting Israel put in a request for it to be flown in honor of the victims mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania. of J Street U UVM. “Yes it was from J Street, not exactly sure who,” Goren stated in a Nov. 9 text correspondence. “I’m really not sure how it couldn’t have come from their chapter when it was so specific to this current situation.” In various blog posts online, some Zionist individuals and groups claimed that Students for Justice in Palestine was actually behind the petition. SJP released a statement Nov. 11 that stated they “did not create
nor endorse any petition on behalf of any individual or organization.” Goren said that when he got the flag raised he did not seek endorsement from his group but used his position as president to apply for the flag to be flown. “It was me individually, I used my position within the club, but it wasn't like a sponsored thing from us,” Goren said. “It was clearly a response to the Pittsburgh; that's what
it was for. There's no reason to make it political.” To Wells’ knowledge, the flag has no political intent and was just meant to show solidarity with the victims of the mass shooting, she said. To Goren, the petition to take down the flag was unexpected and divisive to the Jewish community on campus, he said. “That [petition] was a real shocker, that was crazy,” Goren said. “I just feel it was so divi-
sive to put this out there and it's almost suppressing freedom of expression because this is something I put up because I felt comforted by having a flag waving as a Jewish student.” Aside from J Street U UVM, Students for Justice in Palestine also released statements calling for the flag to be taken down. J Street U UVM declined to comment. J Street, the parental organization, did not respond when asked to comment.
SGA works to protect marginalized groups on campus Zoe Stern zstern@uvm.edu
SGA has passed two resolutions to show their support of transgender, nonbinary and intersex students, as well as Jewish students, in light of the national political climate. The first resolution, in support of the Queer Student Union and their funding requests, was sponsored by sophomore Carolynn Van Arsdale, chair of the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee, and sophomore Aidan Doherty, chair of the Student Action Committee. The resolution was created through the Queer Student Union’s call for support, action and expectations, Van Arsdale said. The call for action made by the Queer Student Union wasn’t addressed to SGA, unlike other clubs who have made demands before. SGA, however, still felt they should do what they could as an organization and create the resolution, Doherty said. “We responded directly in
giving ways that we can do better, things that we can do, action steps, to three or four of the six [expectations],” Doherty said. “But some of them were just not things that were necessarily in our control. We said that we supported them, but we didn’t necessarily lay out things we will do.” The goal was to try and make transgender, non-binary and intersex students feel more comfortable on campus amidst the issue of the United States government trying to define one’s gender at their birth, Van Arsdale said. The resolution states that the recent memo from President Donald Trump’s administration calling for redefining the federal interpretation of gender is detrimental to students and their livelihoods, which goes against the environment UVM tries to provide. The resolution will allow menstrual products in all bathrooms on campus and encourage Residential Life to create gender-inclusive housing in all
SAM LITRA/The Vermont Cynic
SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, speaks Nov. 6 at the weekly SGA meeting. SGA passed two new resolutions in support of transgender, nonbinary, intersex and Jewish students. of the residential communities, including two gender inclusive bathrooms in each hall, according to the official resolution document. The second resolution, sponsored by sophomore SGA Senator Brooke Stellman, a member on the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee, denounces violence, anti-Sem-
itism and white nationalism, targeting refugees, immigrants and minorities, according to the resolution. “The resolution I wrote for last Tuesday was just to acknowledge what happened,” Stellman said. “Of course there are many people that identify as Jewish and this affects everyone, so I just wanted to say
something about it.” The resolution is meant to let Jewish students know that SGA is here to listen to them and recognize what happened in Pittsburgh was an anti-Semitic attack, Stellman said. It's also meant to show that SGA is committed to denouncing violence, anti-Semitism, white nationalism and the targeting of refugees and migrants, he said. “I think that it was a really important way to recognize that while this was an anti-Semitic attack and issue, this is something far more reaching,” said Sharon Lifschutz, UVM Hillel’s assistant director. “To step up and say that this is wrong was a very important moment for those who just want to come to campus and be safe and be who they are and who they want to be.” Hillel is looking forward to building a stronger and more positive relationship between SGA and Hillel by working together to create a safer community, Lifschutz said.
OPINION
4
TH
NT
E
VERMO
13
a st
bli
sh ed
1883
1 Issue 2 - Vol.
5
C
Y NIC
E
EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Greta Bjornson editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Ben Elfland newsroom@vtcynic.com Operations Manager Sorrel Galantowicz operations@vtcynic.com
OPERATIONS Distribution Manager Harmony Edosomwan distribution@vtcynic.com Social Media Peter Hibbeler socialcyniceditor@gmail.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 Mills Sparkman opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts Chloe Chaobal Kim Henry vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Sabrina Hood sports@vtcynic.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), Sam Litra (Photo), Liv Marshall (Copy)
Nov. 13, 2018
Be conscious in giving thanks Staff Editorial
I
t’s November and we’ve made it to the final stretch of the semester. Once we hit the middle of the month, the few remaining weeks melt together in a mess of final exams, projects, readings and essays, then, finally, some rest. But, one week in particular can feel especially long — and that is the one we’re about to experience, Thanksgiving break. In the Hallmark version of events, Thanksgiving is all warm candles, crisp linens, mountains of mashed potatoes and gleaming pies. This festive scene is all enclosed behind the door of a suburban home, adorned with a classic autumnal wreath. Everyone gathers around a full table and chats, smiles, laughs. There are no arguments and everyone is happy to be there, to celebrate, to be thankful. We all know this a myth, that Thanksgiving isn’t a cookie-cutter family in coordinating sweaters with no worries. Thanksgiving can take on a variety of forms. Some of us don’t go home for the holiday, either because we’re unable to or because we choose not to. We don’t all get along with our families, or our families
HOLLY COUGHLAN don’t gather in the traditional sense during Thanksgiving. Some of us aren’t from America and the whole concept is an unfamiliar one. And yes, the holiday is a positive and enjoyable experience for a lot of people in our community. It provides a much-welcome week of rest and relaxation during a stressful time in the semester for some. But it’s important to recognize that Thanksgiving is not a universal experience. Don’t assume everyone is excited for the upcoming week, or that they are all returning to a welcoming home.
Instead, be thankful for those around you, inside and outside of your community. Give to those who are struggling right now or having a tough time. Host a friendsgiving to offer everyone an opportunity to enjoy the traditional concept of the holiday, regardless of how they normally experience it. Offer someone a ride if they can’t get home this week on their own. If you’re able, invite them to come with you if they feel unwelcome going back to their family. The holidays can be just as divisive as they are unifying,
especially in our current political climate. And remember to take care of yourself when you’re taking care of others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or let your friends know if you’re struggling during this week.
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.
Success for Democrats is daring to dream Ari Kotler akotler@uvm. edu
Video Ruby Bates video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com
The Vermont Cynic
O
ver the last month, I’ve had to watch President Donald Trump play dumb over the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, stir up hysteria about a nonexistent migrant “invasion” and promise to end birthright citizenship by executive order. So yeah, it felt good to watch Republican candidates across the country get clobbered in last week’s elections.
Nov. 6 wasn’t just a battle between political parties. For Democrats, it was also an internal struggle over the party’s identity. Wages, voting rights and Medicaid were expanded across the country. In Wisconsin, the utterly repugnant Republican Scott Walker suffered a tasty, tasty defeat at the hands of Governor Tony Evers. And in my home state of New York, Democrats now control the State Senate for the first time in over a decade. In Indiana, Joe Donnelly, a centrist Democrat who pledged to work with Trump, was handily defeated by his conserva-
Copy Editors Zoe Sheppard, Lindsay Freed, Tori Wilson, Alyssandra Calhoun Page Designers Lindsay Freed, Kira Bellis, Stephanie Hodel, Meilena Sanchez
ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu
SOPHIE SPENCER
tive, pro-Trump opponent. In Kentucky, former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath lost her race too, despite her military resume. Their uncontroversial profiles and moderate messages were useless against the reactionary, proto-fascism of Trump, and that shouldn’t surprise you. The moderate message as a whole is wholly uninspiring. Where it’s right, it’s reluctant and embarrassed to be right. Where it’s wrong, it hides behind cliches or retreats into the technical details. It doesn’t play to fears, but it doesn’t play to hopes either. It tells us that things are basically fine and asks for our vote at the same time. To be fair, moderate Democrats won aplenty Nov. 6. They won most of the House districts that Democrats flipped and won themselves a surprise governorship in Kansas courtesy of moderate Laura Kelly. In fact, many of the progressives that ran in districts that Trump won, like Kara Eastman in Nebraska or Katie Porter in California, lost their race, but only by razor-thin
margins. In Texas, Beto O’Rourke scared the hell out of slime monster and Zodiac Killer Ted Cruz and turned a red state purple. In Georgia, even Brian Kemp’s repulsively racist voter suppression tactics couldn’t stop Stacey Abrams from proving that a black, female, proud progressive can compete in the South. In victory and defeat, progressives showed us that their message is quickly catching on. There is a bigger, better reason for embracing progressive ideas. We live in a nation of deep and untold inequality. Our economic system is collapsing. The planet is dying. To solve the existential problems that we face requires profound bravery. If Democrats want to lead, they can’t resign themselves to being normal. They must have the audacity to be radical.
Ari Kotler is a sophomore political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
OPINION
5
How has social media changed us? REESE GREEN
Olivia Stafford ostaffor@uvm. edu
S
ocial media has consumed young people and has changed the way we communicate. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we are submerging ourselves into the digital world, oblivious to what is going on off our screens. Fifty-one percent of people ages 18 to 24 said that it would be difficult for them to give up social media, according to a Pew Research Center study. Social media has become the main means of communication and connection but can deter people’s authenticity. A 2018 EarthLink article explains people’s profiles as their own personal brand; we post how we want to be perceived. From what we are eating, what we are doing, who we are with and political views, each post caters to how we want others to see us. While we continue to consume that information, it is unclear if we actually care. There’s a pressure within society to look and act a certain way, and we forget it’s possible to just be ourselves. People manipulate photos to make themselves look better and overthink what they are posting because they fear it will not receive enough attention. We are communicating to advance our personal brand which in turn is skewing our reality. Social media is beneficial. It
helps companies advertise and people connect and express ideas. However, the amount of time that young people spend on it can be an issue. Seventy-one percent of 18 to 24 year olds said they use Snapchat multiple times a day, and 55 percent said they use Instagram multiple times a day, according to a Pew Research Center study. Overall, social media makes communication easy and instant: to make plans, we
don’t need to call our friends. We no longer need to talk to people for them to know what we’re doing, we can just simply post. With such a limited amount of research, it’s hard to draw conclusions regarding the extent of the impacts social media has on us, but young people’s worlds increasingly revolve around it. From how people display their lives to the connections that are easily made, social media is an important part of
today’s society. While it changes the way we communicate, we need to know it can be misleading. Social media is only going to become more prevalent and we can’t forget about the impacts it has on communication.
Olivia Stafford is a sophomore public communication major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.
UVM mental health professionals: we care about you Letter to the Editor
EMMA PINEZICH
W
e who work to support UVM students’ health and well-being continually seek ways to improve the services we provide that support students’ mental health needs. Like colleges across the country, UVM is experiencing an increase in student need for mental health and disabilityrelated support. Our Center for Health and Wellbeing and Student Accessibility Services often serve as points of entry for students seeking assistance and are working hard to provide this support. UVM, like many other universities, prioritizes urgent interventions, stabilization and short-term care. We recognize our responsibility to provide a plan of care for those needing longterm mental health services. However, we are not structured to, nor do we
assume we would be able to meet the mental health needs of all students. At times, this means that students are referred for offcampus care when their needs require more support than our system allows. This is UVM’s approach for both our mental health and medical services for students who need specialty care or additional support.
We also recognize that health and well-being means more than treatment sessions with a mental health professional. UVM is a recognized leader in offering a range of resources that we know benefit the growing number of students who take advantage of them. These include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, group support and educational and
skill building programs that are available to students. As we approach Thanksgiving break and then move quickly into the final exam period, we encourage all students to engage in healthy behaviors that are known to reduce stress and anxiety, prevent illness and promote overall well-being. Know that at a systems level and in collaboration with students, faculty and senior leaders, we are committed to continuing to engage in conversations to address current student health concerns. We will continue to work and develop ways that can better meet student needs. Harry Chen, Executive Director, UVM Center for Health and Well-Being. Chief Public Health Officer Dani Comey, Director, UVM Center for Academic Success
Evolution, as I learned in Pokémon Evolution Essay Winner Dolly Cupak
“Woah! My Caterpie evolved into a Metapod,” exclaims every kid who has ever played Pokémon Yellow. I still remember my first time witnessing “evolution.” It took me seven level-ups to gain this excitement on my brother’s Game Boy Color at the age of six. The idea of evolution fascinates me to this day. About to fulfill my second decade of life, I have invested so much time and effort into my love for biology, specifically evolutionary biology. I’ve volunteered in labs and field studies, studied for countless exams and read many peer-reviewed articles for my bio lab reports. Currently, I am trying to master the arts of “R,” a computer software program filled with codes and tools for ecology and evolution lab data. Sometimes biological science can be a handful, and I wonder how I got here. My ambitions for becoming an evolutionary biologist may have been lit by an evolving Caterpie in a retro video game, but there is more that has influenced me since. The world around us is changing drastically, from the temperatures in the oceans to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to even ourselves. With all this change, evolution can’t keep up. Our world is not an electronic fantasy where creatures change in a day to suit their needs. Evolution takes many generations, thousands of years and an abundance of resources. This has become more evident since the move for sustainability has increased. We may have dug ourselves into a deep, unforgiving ditch with our own evolution, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together and climb out. Even Charles Darwin said, “To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishing of a new truth or fact.” This importance of owning up and fixing our errors needs to be brough to the light. This task is what kindles my passion for evolutionary biology. Evolution is a beautiful thing. It occurs everywhere in our lives. It has been the driving factor that has taken our last unknown common ancestor towards being a fish to a monkey to a hominid and, finally, to ourselves. Heck, it has even turned dinosaurs into birds. Without evolution, there would be no life, just rocks in outer space. Evolution has brought me to where I am today, and it introduced itself to me through a video game. Who says video games can’t help you in real life?
6
6
HOUSE AD GET INVOLVED
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
The Vermont Cynic
Oct. 10, 2017
Associated Collegiate Press
2018 Advertisement of the Year
Fourth Place, House Advertisement Designed by Lily Keats for The Vermont Cynic
the world is made of stories
Tell Yours.
Join the Vermont Cynic UVM’s student-run newspaper
7 p.m. Wednesday Fishbowl Wednesday nights 7nights p.m ininthe the Fishbowl 2ndfloor floorofofthe theDavis DavisCenter Center(Mt. (Mt. Mansfield Mansfield Room) room) 2nd
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
CULTURE
The Indian Students Association hosted Diwali, an annual Hindu festival of lights, Nov. 9 at UVM.
7
CLARA MARTORANO/The Vermont Cynic
Diwali lights up the night Addie Beach cbeach2@uvm.edu
Dressed in brilliant crimson skirts and flowing veils, dancers smiled and stomped on stage to classical Indian music and Bollywood remixes. Down the hall, luscious curries and samosas were being prepared. The Indian Students Association hosted Diwali Nov. 9 in the Grand Maple Ballroom. It was the 12th Diwali celebration held at UVM. Diwali is an annual, five-day Hindu festival of lights. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, according to a Nov. 9 BBC article.
The goal of the Indian Students Association is to create a network for Indian students on campus and give them a way to practice Indian traditions, according to their Facebook page. Graduate student Aayudh Das, president of the Indian Students Association, said a key theme of the festival is unity. Part of what makes Diwali special is how it brings together all of India, as well as more than 10 other countries that celebrate it as an official holiday, Das said. At UVM, Diwali starts with music, dance and speeches from Burlington community members, followed by a feast of Indian food.
This year, the event featured talks from President Tom Sullivan, who also lit the Diwali candles, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Abigail McGowan and Dipa Bhattacharya ’74, one of the first Indian students to graduate from UVM. In his speech, Sullivan said diversity “is critical for the values we hold at UVM.” Jazbaa, UVM’s first Bollywood club, was one of the performance groups participating in Diwali, according to their Lynx page. Jazbaa President Keerthi Onkaram, a sophomore, said that although the club practices a range of styles, their Diwa-
li performance was more traditional. Diwali is one of the performances the club looks forward to, Onkaram said. “It’s a lot more community based,” she said. Onkaram added that Jazbaa is one of the reasons why she chose to attend UVM and it has been a highlight of her time here. “It’s kind of like home for me,” Onkaram said. Das said UVM gave Diwali a great platform. Over 30 UVM organizations were sponsoring Diwali. “Without their support, this is not possible,” he said. Last year’s Diwali drew 350
people, while attendance this year rached 400, Das said. Many Indian grocery stores in the area also helped sell tickets, he said. If anything, the event could use more promotional support from the University as it continues to expand, Das said. “We want to reach Diwali to everyone,” he said. “Everyone is welcome here.” Sophomore Kassi McTague attended Diwali after hearing abour it from the Inter-Residence Association, which helped subsidize tickets. “I would love to see more cultural events,” she said.
Group reimagines STEM research for all backgrounds Gordon Coates gcoates@uvm.edu
Anyone who has read and enjoyed a research paper probably wrote it. Communicating science effectively and beautifully is an issue that has plagued scientists since the creation of the research paper. The Natural Philosopher, a student-run online STEM publication, addresses this issue. “Science doesn’t do anything if it’s kept just for the scientific elite,” editor Nick Fontaine, a senior, said. Information remains in niche groups of scientists and does not make it to public understanding. The Natural Philosopher was founded in 2017 by Caleb Winn ’18. The mission of the monthly publication is to improve scientific literacy, according to its website. “Communication is such a critical skill and a critical part of science and no one is doing it well enough,” junior Co-president Avery St. Sauveur said.
GORDON COATES/The Vermont Cynic
Co-presidents senior Harriet Milligan and senior Avery St. Sauver run the online STEM publication The Natural Philosopher. The Natural Philosopher is dedicated to communicating science effectively. At their weekly 6:30 p.m. Wednesday meetings in Jeffords Hall, the team of editors works one-on-one with the writers to craft the best pieces possible. “Our goal is to make primary scientific literature available to everyone no matter their ed-
ucational background,” St. Sauveur said. She added that in The Natural Philosopher, students are encouraged to connect with what they are reading and employ emotion while condensing scientific papers and citing sources properly.
All of the articles are spawned from some piece of peer-reviewed literature, but they can be about any topic within the month’s theme. The last publication was on the science of climate change and how it affects humans and the planet.
Anyone from any background is welcome to write or create art for the publication, junior Riley O’Halloran said. “This year we really just wanted to get everyone,” she said. Winn is happy to see the publication has continued after his graduation. “One of our huge goals was to not have it stop at UVM,” Winn said. Along with many of the articles is a piece of student artwork. They range from hand drawn pictures to Adobe Illustrator images. All the art and articles can be found on the publication’s website, thenatphil.com. It is simple, professional, intuitive and reaches people all the way to Washington State, St. Sauveur said. Students interested in writing for the publication should attend their meetings at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
8
CULTURE
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
Artistry and variety meet at bi-annual dance show Amanda Anderson aander16@uvm.edu
Tights, flowing skirts and shorts paced and swirled backstage. The percussion of bare feet and dance shoes on the wooden floor filled the air as the crowd funneled into the Campus Rec Studio. Then the room went dark. The silence was pierced by a chant, a chorus of voices, belonging to the 19 members of the Orchesis Dance Company. It was showtime. Students, parents and community members gathered to watch the Orchesis Fall Showcase at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 10. Senior Avanna Menard is a dancer and choreographer in Orchesis. She has been a part of Orchesis for the past four years. “It’s kind of like Christmas,” Menard said, after her final show of the evening. “Show days are always one of my favorite days of the semester. We spend a lot of time together.” Orchesis embodies a wide variety of talent and personality, with members from different dance backgrounds and trainings. This student-run company choreographs, organizes and executes the entire process of a professional performance at the end of each semester, according to the UVM club sports website. Dance styles range every semester depending on what the students choreograph, according to the website. The show consisted of two acts with 11 student-choreographed and performed dances. There were also featured guest performances by Ballet Viridis, Celtic Cats and Jazbaa. Ballet Viridis is UVM’s first SGA
recognized ballet company, currently student-taught and organized, according to the UVM club sports website. Celtic Cats is UVM’s Irish step dancing club, according to the UVM club sports website. UVM Jazbaa is UVM’s first Bollywood club and their aim is to bring the culture and diversity of South Asia to the University, according to the UVM club sports website. Senior Jillian Varin came to watch the matinee showing. Varin previously studied dance at Spotlight, a studio in South Burlington. “I loved seeing all of the performers because their passion for what they were doing was contagious,” Varin said. Orchesis prides themselves on hard work and self-sufficiency, she said. “They’re a lot of work and we set all the stuff up and take it down by ourselves,” Menard said of the sound, lighting and staging equipment. Rounding out Act I, Menard’s choreography in the showcase was titled “Spirit Animals.” It was set to “The Wolves” by Cyrus Reynolds. Including Menard herself, the piece was performed by 11 dancers. “I wanted to do something that was powerful and looked intense,” Menard said. “Something where the people who came to watch think, ‘I can’t do that.’” She wanted to showcase the Orchesis dancers’ outstanding athleticism. The final showcase of the year will be held on April 13, 2019 in the Campus Rec Studio. There will be two showings. Junior Clara Behrman, the vice president of Orchesis, said she is already exctied for the next showcase. “It’ll probably be a bigger show. I’m so excited to see what everyone comes up with,” Behrman said.
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
(Top) Junior Mickenzie Zadworny ties a red ribbon around senior Meghan Driscoll’s neck for their opening number while sophomore Maya Reynolds stretches in preparation for the show. (Bottom) Sophomore Michaela Frangros performs a kick during a dance called “Reckless.”
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
CULTURE
9
Author draws crowd to sold-out Q&A Anna Kolosky akolosky@uvm.edu
In the middle of the Patrick Gym tennis courts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning college dropout stood in front of a crowd of thousands. UVM brought Ta-Nehisi Coates to campus Nov. 6 as the speaker for the first-year read. Coates was asked questions by English Professor and poet Major Jackson. Coates’ novel, “Between the World and Me,” was the book selected for the incoming firstyears to read before arriving at UVM. Written in the format of a letter to Coates’ son, the book tackles issues like racism and the construction of race. Coates is a correspondent for The Atlantic and a professor of journalism at New York University. He won the National Book Award in 2015 for “Between the World and Me.” Despite all of his success, Coates never actually finished his undergraduate studies at Howard University. “I try to get them to call me Ta-Nehisi,” Coates said about his students at NYU. “I didn’t make it through Howard, and I don’t do the whole ‘professor’ thing.” History Professor Abigail McGowan was part of the selection committee that chose to assign Coates’ book. “The process started in February 2017, and it was long and thorough,” McGowan said. “We look for something that can speak to students no matter what college they’re in.” Coates’ book was chosen because of its relevance and ability to start a conversation about
Image courtesy of UVM
Ta-Nehisi Coates speaks with UVM English professor Major Jackson Nov. 6 in the tennis courts of Patrick Gym. Coates, a correspondent for The Atlantic and a professor of journalism at New York University, won the National Book Award in 2015 for “Between the World and Me.” difficult issues, McGowen said. “In the discussion about this book, there were several things that were striking,” McGowan said. “It’s beautifully written. It’s a stunning example of how you can deal with complicated, difficult issues in ways that words matter.” Honors College Interim Dean Lisa Schnell also added that the book was chosen before student protests took place on campus. Last spring, hundreds of students protested social justice issues on campus. “The book had actually been taught in D1 classes for a while,”
Schnell said. “All of us on the [First-year Read] committee really love it, and we decided on it in winter 2017.” Coates’ talk focused on the ideas he had written about in his novel, such as the treatment of students of color in schools and the fear present in African American communities. “It’s a book about fear,” Coates said. “There was a lot of talk about anger when people talked about African American communities, but they forget about fear.” Sophomore Sarah Obimba thought that the discussion
that Coates delivered was much needed. “It made me realize just how systematic the inner city really is,” Obimba said. “I never knew kids in predominantly white schools weren’t as policed.” In addition to discussing his book, Coates imparted advice about how he manages his growing fame and how he protects himself from those that want to tear him down. “I stay off of Twitter,” Coates said. He laughed. “It became really important to control what was coming. Some things are worthless. Sometimes people
are obviously lying. My mind is too sacred to me to subject it to that.” First-year Genevieve Rossi said she loved the book. “When he was speaking, I could tell all of these things really affected him,” she said. “It really expanded my own world view.” After the conclusion of Coates’ talk, the crowd gave a standing ovation once more. “He is a voice of a generation,” McGowan said. “He, as a public intellectual, has been incredibly powerful and speaks to the power of ideas.”
Students bake challah weekly to aid in hunger relief Ameiia Dodds awdodds@uvm.edu
A small group of UVM students convenes in the kitchen of Hillel every Monday after dark. The oven light blinks, signifying go, and they start to knead, braid and bake. These students are a part of UVM’s Challah for Hunger, an organization founded in 2013. They raise money to provide hunger relief across Vermont and the U.S. by baking and selling challah, a traditional Jewish bread. “[Challah] is our holy bread, the bread we eat on holidays,” said junior Jessie Finkelstein, a member of Challah for Hunger at UVM. “It made sense to begin using that to make a difference in the everyday world.” In the fall of 2017, Challah for Hunger raised a total of $1,000 for its affiliates, according to its Facebook page. They baked over 470 challahs in five different flavors: plain, chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar, rainbow sprinkle and Kit
Courtesy of Facebook
UVM’s Challah for Hunger, an organization founded in 2013, raises money to provide hunger relief across Vermont and the U.S. by baking and selling challah, a traditional Jewish bread. In the fall of 2017, Challah for Hunger raised a total of $1,000 for its affiliates, according to its Facebook page. Kat. The money raised goes directly to the national organization Challah for Hunger, then gets distributed amongst its nonprofit partners: Hunger Free Vermont and MAZON, a Jewish Response to Hunger. Hunger Free VT and MAZON are two programs that have been involved in the fight against hunger in Vermont and
the U.S. Hunger Free VT has worked closely with Challah for Hunger for the past five years to tackle local hunger issues, said Monica Taylor, development director for Hunger Free Vermont. UVM’s Chapter of Challah for Hunger has invited Hunger Free VT to several meetings to discuss the current state of hunger in Vermont.
“UVM’s Chapter of Challah for Hunger is made up of a strong and committed group of students who come together to better understand hunger in their community and to learn ways that they can contribute to fighting it,” Taylor said. MAZON has a broader focus. MAZON’s communication manager Morgan Soloski said MAZON supports anti-hunger
and advocacy programs in communities across the U.S. and Israel. It uses its influence and resources at the state and national levels to help people who are at risk of hunger, Soloski says. Senior Zach Handelman said Challah for Hunger is a fun, inclusive and welcoming environment. “The club is always looking for more volunteers,” he said. “We love new faces. You can walk in alone or with a friend. We can use all the hands we can get.” Handelman said fighting hunger in Vermont is something we can all pitch in to help with. “Plus, challah is delicious,” Handelman said. Challah for Hunger tables in the Davis Center to sell their challah. For more information, visit its Lynx website or contact vermont@challahforhunger.org.
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
SPORTS
11
In winning season, soccer achieves honors Aryanna Ramsaran aramsara@uvm.edu
Six UVM men’s soccer players won America East honors. The team finished its season with a 11-7-1 record, giving them a No. 3 ranking in the America East conference, according to UVM athletics. Among the honor recipients were three seniors, forwards Geo Alves, Justin Freitas and midfielder Mikel Kabala. Junior midfielder Jon Arnar Barodal, junior defender Arnar Steinn Hanson and first-year midfielder Joe Morrison were also recognized, according to UVM athletics. These players earned awards including the America East All-Conference, All-Rookie and All-Academic Team honors, according to UVM athletics. The America East All-Conference and All-Rookie recipients are chosen by the eight head coaches in the America East league who can’t vote for their own players, according to the America East website. The All-Academic Team honors are voted on by a committee of administrators, according to the America East website. Head coach Rob Dow said the players were well deserving of these awards based on their performance.
“I think if you ask the guys who they would award, they would pick their teammates,” Dow said. “It was about what we expected.” UVM made it to the quarterfinals where they faced University of Maryland-Baltimore County a second time. The last time they played, Sept. 29, UVM won 3-0, according to UVM athletics. The quarterfinal against UMBC ended in a scoreless tie before the teams went to a penalty shootout where UMBC won 5-4, according to UVM athletics. “We were competing against the best teams in the country and we consider ourselves a top level team,” Dow said. “It takes experience to beat these teams.” UVM had many returning players. The team had nine seniors play their final game Nov. 3, according to UVM athletics. Alves said his favorite game of the season was when the team played Elon University Aug. 24 and won 2-0. “We played most of the game with 10 men because we had a red card 20 minutes into the first half,” he said. Junior goalie Aron Runarsson received a red card and goalie Clay Thomas, a senior, stepped in for him. “I think our strengths were that we conceded very few goals, and I thought our defense
The time is now for the Giants’ new quarterback Nickie Morris nrmorris@uvm.edu
W
ith the New York Giants’ pitiable 1-7 season record, quarterback Eli Manning’s playing time should end. Instead of Manning, Kyle Lauletta, one of the Giants’ backup quarterbacks, should start for the team. Lauletta hasn’t made an NFL appearance yet. He was drafted in 2018 from the University of Richmond, according to the NFL website. Lauletta threw 28 touchdowns in 2017 while at Richmond. And at 22 years old, “many in the Giants organization say he has what it takes,” according to a Nov. 7 ESPN article. With Lauletta starting, the Giants could prevent going into 2019 without testing another quarterback. Manning won two Super Bowls and started 210 straight games, the second longest consecutive streak by a quarterback, according to the NFL website.
Manning’s stats began falling last season. In 2017, he was sacked 31 times in 15 games. This year, he had the same number of sacks in just eight games, according to ESPN. At 37 years old, Manning isn’t in his prime. Constant sacks will wreck his body and lead to more criticism. Phil Simms still holds the Giants’ record for sacks. In the 1984 season he was sacked 55 times, according to ESPN.com. Simms threw 4,000 yards, while Manning was sub par, only throwing for 3,468 according to ESPN. The Giants’ performance is tied to Manning. In 2016, the Giants were second in the NFC East conference, according to the NFL website. In 2017, the team placed last in conference, according to the NFL website. Eli Manning has been a hero in his time with the Giants. The hardest part of being a hero is knowing when to quit. Nickie Morris is a sophomore English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.
REBECCA PORETSKY/The Vermont Cynic
Senior Justin Freitas attempts to trap the ball during UVM men’s soccer game against the University of New Hampshire. Freitas, along with five other players, was awarded with America East honors this season. was very strong throughout the season,” Thomas said. After defeating Elon, they won four more games in a row, according to UVM athletics. They won games against Northeastern University, Long Island University Brooklyn, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Central Connecticut State University, according to UVM athletics. “It’s important to go through the season and get a double digit number of wins,” Thomas
said. The team got 11 wins this year, according to UVM athletics. Dow said the team is comprised of skilled people that work towards the program’s values. “The team is a compilation of good people,” he said. “These people respect the program and have acknowledged the core values to UVM and soccer.” If a player does something wrong, the team will complete
FOLLOW YOUR
PASSIONS
the punishment together, Alves said. “We look more like a family than a soccer team,” he said. The team is practicing in postseason, along with getting rest and focusing on academics. “Our main goal was to win the conference,” Alves said. “We didn’t do that. Next year, many players will return and if they have the chance, they will accomplish that goal.”
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
AND PREPARE FOR A
A GREAT CAREER
Whatever your passion, computing has a role. CS jobs are plentiful, lucrative, creative, and satisfying!
think computer science isn’t right for you? think again! Computer Science is The Science of Problem Solving: A creative, exciting, rewarding, and fun discipline that is integral to all aspects of modern society.
“Computing is relevant to everything, from fashion and art to gaming and business and science. It’s so versatile!”
Looking for a fun elective with no prerequisites? • CS 8 Intro to Web Development • CS 21 Programming I in Python Great support for students with/without prior experience
learn more at: cs.uvm.edu
— Nikki Allen CS Student
‘19
FEATURE
10
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
Burlington T
he music scene in Burlington is thriving; there are live gigs every weekend in quirky venues from house shows to ArtsRiot. Music is a huge part of the city’s creative and cultural pulse. At the core of the scene is the presence of vinyl. Burlington boasts three record stores: Burlington Records, Pure Pop and Speaking Volumes. In recent years the vinyl industry has seen a worldwide resurgence in popularity. According to Nielsen Music, vinyl sales in the USA hit record numbers during the first half of 2018 with over 7.6 million LPs sold. “You come into a shop and see all these wonderful pieces of art,” said Ian Doerner, owner of Burlington Records. “Each one has a different story, and you can establish a feeling with these records as opposed to platforms such as Spotify.” The best-selling vinyl charts are often topped by nostalgia-inducing artists such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, evidence that vinyl sales are in part being driven by older fans ditching CDs and Spotify in favor of the format of their youth. Part of the appeal of vinyl is that it’s accessible to any age group, Doerner said, and there are records for every music taste, including modern artists. Artists who dominate platforms like Spotify have taken the opportunity to capitalize within the industry by selling their albums on vinyl. “Every year it changes a little bit,” he said. “You have a lot of college students who buy a lot of hip-hop, which has been a big trend in the last two or three years. There’s a lot of every age group, every gender.” The second best selling vinyl LP of 2018 was Kendrick Lamar’s “Damn.” The presence of Lamar and others shows there is clearly a place on the shelf for modern artists. There are many different reasons people choose vinyl, including a longing for something authentic in a musical world saturated with Hot 100 radio. “I adore old things,” sophomore Jack Alberico said. “I yearn for it in a time of SoundCloud rappers and large scale conformity. It’s a way to unplug. Everything we do now is on our phones, so having a break from that is always nice.” Yearly vinyl sales in the USA increased from 4.6 million in 2012 to 14.3 million in 2017, according to Statista, a statistics portal. If selling patterns are anything to go by, Doerner said, vinyl’s popularity is set to keep growing. “We always had a good sale point for vinyl,” he said. “But it’s only been increasing, which I think reflects the same trend going on nationally and worldwide.” Urban Outfitters has also jumped on the vinyl bandwagon, stocking stores with vinyl and selling a “vinyl record storage shelf” retailing for $79. It shows that record collecting can be based in aesthetic rather than substance.
Beth Goodwin is an exchange student from Cardiff University studying English. You can catch her spinning her vinyl of Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks.
T
TS I H
B
bgoodwi1@uvm.edu
“I wish [vinyl records] were less expensive,” first-year Rowan Hawthorne said. “It’s such a different feeling from listening to Spotify, I feel more connected to the music and it’s a lot more personable.” Serious vinyl collectors spend huge amounts of money on first presses and high-end record players, like the Sony HDW1800, which retails on eBay for $15,000. Vinyl can also be inexpensive. Burlington Records has multiple bins of records for $5 and a $1 record bin, which explains the format’s popularity within the students. But price depends on the record. “Burlington Records has every album one could ever need, and Pure Pop is very cool,” Alberico said. “Of course, the downside of living in a town where vinyl is admired means that you’ll have to drop some serious cash to get a record you really want.” Vinyl is a cherished part of the Burlington music scene. “Music is a big part of this town,” Doerner said. “For how small we are, we have so many things going on, and this contributes to the overall feeling within the town. It’s a very creative feeling.” There are often record sales in the Davis Center, and bars downtown hold nights in which the DJs exclusively play vinyl. The city’s embrace of the format explains part of its popularity. Doerner said Spotify is a convenient way to listen to music, but if you want a truly creative listening experience, a record player is worth the trouble. “Vinyl forces you to listen,” he said. “You have to make decisions, because the turntable will end and then you have to put on something else.” If the trend of the passing years continues, the popularity of vinyl is only going to rise. Vinyl has clearly made its comeback and is here to stay. It can be an affordable hobby if you’re smart about it; maybe just don’t buy an $80 stand to keep your records on. I hear Walmart sells storage boxes for cheap.
U R L
Beth Goodwin
N’S GREA O T TE G S IN
ON VINYL
CAROLINE SLACK/The Vermont Cynic
(Top) Burlington Records, one of three record shops in Burlington, is located on Church Street Marketplace. (Middle) The records in the shop are organized by genre. “You come into a shop and see all these wonderful pieces of art,” Burlington Records owner Ian Doerner said. (Bottom) Pink Floyd’s album “Wish You Were Here” can be found at Burlington Records. The best-selling vinyl charts are often topped by nostalgia-inducing artists such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
SPORTS
12
The Vermont Cynic
Nov. 13, 2018
Women’s games see fewer attendees Nickie Morris nrmorris@uvm.edu
At UVM, thousands more fans go to men’s hockey games than to women’s games. Last season, men’s hockey had an average attendance of 3,752 people per game, while the women’s team saw an average draw of 315, according to Jason Young, UVM’s director of ticket operations. This discrepancy has existed at UVM since women’s sports were first offered, he said. UVM athletics promotes both genders equally. However, Krista Balogh, the associate athletic director for external relations and communications at UVM, said that it’s hard overall to get students to attend games. “We market all sports equitably and promote all genders in the same light, but it’s an ongoing battle to get students to pay attention to ads,” Balogh said. “Students have so much going on that they may not notice anything unless they are hit in the face with free tickets.” First-year Preston Grippo said he attends many games and checks out any sport if he sees or hears about a game, but he prefers a more crowded atmosphere. “If I see a game happening or hear about one I’ll watch it,” Grippo said. “A fun game is a fun game, but there’s not as many people at the girls’ games so it’s less exciting to go because of that.” Of all sports on campus, men’s hockey regularly has the highest seasonal and single game attendance, Young said. The difference in attendance persists, even though women’s
HENRY ROOD/The Vermont Cynic
The crowd at the UVM women’s soccer game against UMass Lowell bundles up in the cold to watch the game Oct. 18. Women’s sports games at UVM have overall been less attended than men’s sports games since women’s sports were first offered. and men’s hockey had the same win-loss record last season, according to UVM athletics. Jim Plumer, women’s hockey head coach, said that the more games they win, the more people will come to support the team. “We play good quality hockey,” Plumer said. “It’s frustrating to break that gender stigma, but if we win there’s excitement around the program.” On the national scale, women’s olympic hockey is newer than men’s olympic hockey. While women’s hockey joined the Olympics in 1998, men’s
hockey was incorporated into the winter games in 1924, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation, the worldwide governing body for hockey. Plumer said he thinks there’s a bias against women’s sports in our society. “In any level below the Olympics, in women’s hockey, there’s been a bias against play quality and the perception of the quality of play,” he said. UVM political science Professor Ellen Anderson, who teaches a politics of sexuality course, thinks the difference
in game attendance by gender comes from gender assumptions that fans may not consider. “Sports tend to be disconcerting places for people to find women because they’re traditionally coded as manly,” Anderson said. “The competitions of strength, speed and agility are masculine-assuming virtues, creating an underlying distaste for women in sport.” Kevin Sneddon, men’s hockey head coach, stressed his team’s enthusiasm for the women’s hockey team. “It’s an excellent and grow-
ing sport, but the attendance is not growing at the rate the sport is,” he said. “I encourage our guys to watch the women’s games … We do anything we can to help.” Anderson said that a start to helping change the problem is acknowledging that it’s more than just going to the game with the bigger crowd. “Any individual shocked that their role in men’s versus women’s interests is significant has to do with their understanding of gender roles,” she said.
Women’s hockey loses in a shutout from Providence Stephan Toljan stoljan@uvm.edu
UVM women’s hockey lost their home game against Providence College 2-0 Nov. 11. The first period passed with multiple shot attempts from both teams, none of them resulting in goals. First-year goalie Blanka Skodova made numerous saves over the course of the period to keep it scoreless. Two back-to-back shots came from sophomore forward Kristina Shanahan and firstyear forward Theresa Schafzahl five minutes into the second period. Both of these shots were blocked by Providence’s goalie. A penalty soon after gave the Catamounts an opportunity for a power play, meaning that Providence would lose a player for two minutes. UVM was not able to capitalize on this scoring opportunity. Halfway into the second
period, Providence wrestled the puck from UVM’s offense, which resulted in a 1-0 lead. Senior forward Alyssa Gorecki was penalized for tripping, which triggered a Providence power play. Providence was unable to capitalize on this advantage. Due to a Vermont penalty in the final 30 seconds of the second period, Providence started the third period with a power play. Despite UVM trailing during the second period, firstyear Nick Nestro said he was enjoying this game. “I love going to hockey games,” he said. “They’re always really exciting, even if your team isn’t winning.” First-year Katherine Beikirch said that she was also enjoying the game. “I have never really been a huge hockey fan,” she said. “But it’s such a big sport here that I definitely want to get into it.” In addition to this power play, the third period included
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
Junior Abby Cleary skates past a defender in UVM women’s hockey game against Providence College Nov. 11. The team lost 2-0. substituting senior goalie Melissa Black in for Skodova. Black had a critical save during the third period, which helped to hold off Providence during the remainder of the power play.
Despite this save, 13 minutes into the third period Providence scored and created a 2-0 lead. Later in the third period, UVM drew another power play. This gave the Catamounts an
opportunity to shorten Providence’s lead to just one point. In the final minutes of the game, Black was pulled out in order to bring an extra attacker, according to UVM athletics. The score didn’t change for the remainder of the period, making a final score of 2-0, with Providence claiming the win. Even with this loss, head coach Jim Plumer said he was happy with his team’s performance. “We didn’t get the points, so [today’s game] doesn’t help our conference standings, but we played well,” he said. “We’re happy about playing well.” Plumer said that Providence was able to score goals when the opportunity arose, whereas the Catamounts were not. “If we got widely outplayed, I’d be concerned,” he said. “I think the way we played, the flow of the game, we know that we’re right there.” The Catamounts will play their next game 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Boston University.