The Vermont Cynic NOVEMBER 28, 2017
VOL. 134 – ISSUE 13
VTCYNIC.COM
Class cuts lead to chair’s resignation Brandon Arcari Assistant Breaking News Editor Following several cuts to classes in the music and dance department, Chair D. Thomas Toner stepped down as chair Nov. 10. Three music and three art classes were cut from the spring semester, Toner stated in an email to students earlier this month. “The cuts happened to us because we have a lot of part-time faculty, and full-time faculty could not be cut at this point in the year,” Toner said. “We rely on so many part-time faculty because we try to offer a broad range of classes with top notch faculty.” Senior Mia Fishkin, a dance minor, said the cuts concerned her. “I share Toner’s view that this is completely ridiculous. I don’t see how they can justify cancelling these classes days before registration,” Fishkin said. “What if seniors need these classes to graduate with their degrees? It’s also unfair to the professors.” CAS Dean William Falls said he was saddened by Toner’s resignation.
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
The UVM Recital Hall at the Southwick Music Building Oct. 13. Music and dance department chair D. Thomas Toner resigned after College of Arts and Sciences dean William Falls announces six music and dance classes were cut. Conga/djembe, brass techniques, music history and literature II, creative dance and drama for children and ballet III were among the classes cut.
“He has been a very strong chair and college leader, and I truly appreciate his many years,” Falls said. Toner wrote to majors and
Richter court case starts a free speech discussion Brandon Arcari Assistant Breaking News Editor Following Wesley Richter’s case, the topic of the First Amendment has been prominent at UVM. Richter’s case may be part of a trend with issues of free speech on campus, according to an Oct. 26 U.S. News article. Richter, a continuing education student, appeared in court on charges of disorderly conduct Oct. 27. He is accused of making racist threats regarding African-American students on campus. State Attorney Ryan Richards said Ricther’s statements qualify as threatening behavior, and therefore are not protected speech. “There are clear first amendment issues because the threatening behavior is
solidly speech and Richter did not take any physical actions,” he said. UVM Police said they are unable to release Richter’s arrest report until the court reaches a decision on whether or not he will be tried. Senior Rachel Goldstein attended Richter’s hearing. “[I] want to send a strong message that this won’t fly on our campus,” senior Rachel Goldstein said. SGA President Chris Petrillo said that while he wasn’t entirely certain he knew exactly what was said by Richter, from what he did know, he believes it was “extremely racist” language. “It’s pretty clear that the climate on campus shouldnt be of deviciveness,” Petrillo said. “But at the end of the day, everyone has the right to a fair trial.”
BRANDON ARCARI/The Vermont Cynic
Wesley Richter sits at a hearing at the Burlington District Court Oct. 27. Richter was accused of making threatening racist remarks over the phone on campus.
minors in the department to explain the resignation. “Though I have high regard for the Dean and his team, I find the manner in which this
was done tremendously upsetting,” Toner stated in the Nov. email. “I cannot sit idly by and be construed to be even mildly okay with this.”
Toner added that he resigned over the decision about cuts, not out of anger at the Dean. “I have tremendous respect for him [Falls] and his team,” he said. “It’s just that I think this was a bad decision that has ramifications that could hurt our department, and I couldn’t continue to be a part of that.” A total of 12 of the 63 classes taught by part-time faculty in CAS have been cut, according to United Academics. UA also issued a statement Nov. 1 condemning the cancellation of the 12 courses. Six of the classes cut were in Toner’s department—music and dance—while others included a class in the theatre department on Shakespeare scene study, and others in artistic disciplines. “What UA objects to is that there has been no discussion or public admission of this policy that is forcing the last-minute cancellation of classes by CAS,” UA stated. UA said it does not preference or promote any colleges. It does support transparency in decision making and faculty governance of the academic affairs of the university, the statement said.
EPA issues research grant Ellyn Lapointe Staff Writer A grant from the EPA will fund a UVM study of algal blooms in Lake Champlain and the effects on the community. The $589,000 grant will go towards a three-year project that a team of six professors and two Ph.D. students will work on. “There are a number of impacts that the blooms have on people and the ecology of the area,” said Rachelle Gould, Rubenstein School assistant professor and lead principal investigator. Researchers will study the effects of algal blooms on fish in the lake and on the people consuming these fish, Gould said. They will also investigate the potential link between toxic algal blooms and the rates of Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) in people living downwind from the lake. This team will also conduct research that will focus on the non-material ways that algal blooms might affect human well-being, such as how communities respond to information about environmental issues, Gould said. This study will look at how the blooms affect people’s personal connections to the lake and how communities are responding to information about this issue. “These blooms prevent us from engaging with Vermont’s
NICK COLLIAS/The Vermont Cynic
The waterfront of Lake Champlain Nov. 17. A $589,000 grant from the EPA will allow UVM to study algal blooms in the lake, as well as the effects on the Burlington community.
landscape, I feel motivated to do something about it”, said Vermonter and UVM first-year Luke Beatty. The research team will catch and test fish for toxins produced by the algal blooms, and use air filters at varying distances within the lake to test for those same toxins in order to understand how toxins produced by the blooms are spreading, according to Gould. For community-based research, the team will be conducting community outreach to determine how residents have responded to past environmental issues. They will also research how community members are currently responding to information about the algal blooms, Gould said.
The research team has partnered with the Franklin/ Grand Isle Community Action Program, headed by Executive Director Robert Ostermeyer, and the St. Albans Area Watershed Association, headed by President Steve Langevin. Community-based research will focus particularly on low-income communities, as these communities are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of environmental issues such as these algal blooms, according to Gould. The grant will be used to fund materials and labor. It will also help to fund Ph.D. students and sub-awards to the two community partners, she said.