Issue 17 - Volume 135

THE VERMONT

CYNIC Jan. 22, 2019

vtcynic.com

University program fosters recovery

Best thrift stores in Burlington

UVM is home to the only oncampus substance abuse recovery center in Vermont.

Here are the most affordable ways to refresh one’s wardrobe for the new year.

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Time for a new Women’s March 3 / Self-care as a trend 4

Campaign calls for Arabic class offerings Julianne Lesch jlesch@uvm.edu

Seize the snowy season | Page 7 SAM LITRA/The Vermont Cynic

First-year Donny Hicks makes the most of the cold Jan. 20 by strapping on his skis and grinding down the rail outside the Davis Center.

Although the snow can be frustrating, UVM students always find ways to have fun in the frigid weather.

Women’s March calls for change and unity Anna Kolosky akolosky@uvm.edu

On a frigid Saturday morning, a crowd of over 700 braved the 7 degree cold to protest in Vermont’s capital.

The front lawn of the State House in Montpelier was packed with crowds who stood in support of women and marginalized communities for the Jan. 19 Women’s March.

Ben & Jerry’s employees asked passersby to name a woman who inspires them in exchange for cookie dough pint slices.

March-goers were also encouraged to be “reborn” by walking through a giant cloth vulva, and those who did were rewarded with chocolate vulvas from local chocolatier Nutty Steph’s.

Some people held signs protesting issues, like reproductive rights, while groups like Planned Parenthood collected signatures.

Amidst the hum of the crowd, activists like Kiah Morris, Melody Walker Brook and Amanda Garces took turns discussing their individual purposes for speaking on the stagee.

facebook.com/ thevermontcynic

The speakers came from various backgrounds and spoke out against specific issues.

“Political courage is the ability to push forth policy that is responsive to the people’s needs, regardless of its consequence,” Morris said.

Morris also said that as a woman, and specifically as a woman of color, her courage must work towards the eradication of issues of race, gender inequality, class inequality and the promotion of our human and civil rights.

In addition to Morris’ call to action, Abenaki speaker Walker Brook condemned various injustices such as anti-Semitism and racism. She also urged the crowd to help destroy hateful thinking and promote positive action.

Garces echoed this with her speech. She focused on exposing the struggles of migrants and the abuse they face when seeking a better life.

Garces went through a list of immigrants who lost their lives attempting to cross the border, and stated her fear about their stories being lost or forgotten.

Despite a message of acceptance and respect, the Women’s

@vermontcynic

MEREDITH RATHBURN/The Vermont Cynic

Protesters pose for a photo Jan. 19 in front of a plush vagina at the Montpelier Women’s March. Various organizations participated, marching in support of women and marginalized communities.

March is currently facing allegations of anti-Semitism, according to a Jan. 19 Vox article.

The criticism began in February 2018 when Women’s March co-chair Tamika Mallory attended an event where minister Louis Farrakhan made anti-Semitic remarks, according to the article.

Mallory visited UVM in March 2017 with Women’s March co-chair Bob Bland.

UVM students who attended the march in Montpelier thought that the Women’s

@vermontcynic

March did a good job having a wide array of people appear at this year’s event.

“I was really impressed by the diverse group of speakers,” sophomore Paloma Wallace said. “I really wasn’t expecting to hear so many different people speak, especially in such a white state.”

Sophomore Becca Turley added that she enjoyed the number of issues that were discussed such as disability, mental illness and gender identity.

youtube.com/ cynicvideo

A UVM student is fighting to bring Arabic back to campus since no formal classes have been taught since 2017.

Khalid AlMubarak, a continuing education student and native Arabic speaker, is now offering tutoring opportunities on campus for students to learn Arabic.

UVM lost its only Arabic professor in 2017, according to a September 2017 Cynic article. Since then, there has been a great interest among students to continue learning the language, AlMubarack said.

Last year, AlMubarak started a campaign called Bring Back Arabic where he and other students met with Bill Falls, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to discuss the need for Arabic on campus.

UVM has reached out to universities like Middlebury College to try and contract a professor locally, without success, Falls said.

Currently, there are no confirmed courses in Arabic, although the University is still in the process of searching, he said.

“Since late November of last year, SGA passed a resolution urging the University to reinstate the teaching of Arabic,” Falls said.

Over 350 students signed a petition for the Bring Back Arabic campaign in support of the initiative, which was backed by SGA, AlMubarack said.

“I don’t think it’s a good look for UVM to be disregarding Arabic,” said sophomore Hannah Arafeh, a member of Bring Back Arabic. “We already have an issue with diversity on this campus, and I think that stretched to diversity of languages and culture.”

Having an Arabic program can help students both professionally and intellectually, history professor Bogac Ergene said.

“It’s not necessarily only an intellectual investment on their part. Many students consider this as a professional investment, too,” Ergene said.

Disclaimer: AlMubarak has previously written for the Cynic.

www.

vtcynic.com

NEWS

2

The Vermont Cynic

Jan. 22, 2019

Program builds home for recovery Sawyer Loftus swloftus@uvm.edu

Get the full story at vtcynic.com Photo

Slideshow: Civil rights walk-through UVM’s Department of Student Life held an educational civil rights walkthrough Jan. 17, featuring a visual history, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Sports

Men’s soccer player drafted to MLS Men’s soccer forward Geo Alves, a senior, was drafted in the third round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft Jan. 14 by D.C. United, according to UVM athletics.

Culture

At UVM, one woman is working to build a community around students who identify as being in recovery from drug use.

Amy Boyd Austin, the director of the Catamount Recovery Program, has been working since the group was founded in 2010 to include students in recovery in the University community, she said.

CRP is the only on-campus collegiate recovery program recognized in the state of Vermont, according to the Association of Recovery in Higher Education.

A collegiate recovery program is a college or university-provided organization that works to integrate a college education and a recovery program so students don’t have to choose one, according to CRP’s website.

CRP is for students in recovery from substance use and those taking a break from substance use as well, she said.

“It’s a place that you can connect with other people who are doing other things and value something other than partying,” Boyd Austin said.

She is a former president of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, the only group that represents collegiate recovery programs and communities, according to its website.

Boyd Austin said more than 50 percent of the participants in

Image source: UVM

Amy Boyd Austin is the director of the Catamount Recovery Program and has been working there since the group’s founding in 2010. CRP is for students in recovery from substance use and those taking a break from substance use as well.

CRP are there for opioid addiction, as previously reported in a Jan. 15 Vermont Cynic article.

Jane, an undergraduate student at UVM who did not want her identity shared, said she came to UVM specifically because of CRP. “I think it’s one of the oldest college recovery programs in the country, and that’s why I came here,” Jane said. “They’ve been around for a while so they must be doing something right.”

Jane started using opioids when she was 18 and heroin

when she was 20, she said.

“I was at Northeastern University when [my addiction] really took over. I had to drop out,” Jane said. “I’ve been homeless and lived in a tent for a while, been to jail and rehab.”

At UVM, she has been living in a healthy and comfortable environment, she said.

“I think that if I didn’t have CRP and all the support that I’ve gotten from this program, I don’t know where I would be,” she said. “I wouldn’t have applied and I wouldn’t be in college.”

Vermont attorney general helps lead hands-on class Cullen Paradis csparadi@uvm.edu

Sophia Venturo sventuro@uvm.edu

Sudent group holds benefit concert The UVM a capella group Hit Paws and nonprofit organization Team Heart joined forces the night of Jan. 19 at Southwick Hall to present a charity concert.

Podcast

Local mysteries: Robert Hoagland This week’s episode explores the disappearance of Robert Hoagland, a 50-year-old father from Newtown, Connecticut who vanished in 2013.

SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, appreciates Boyd Austin’s work with CRP and the effort she makes to support the recovery community.

“I know Amy’s done a ton of great work around promoting the destigmatization of that identity,” Foley said. “It’s a great thing to say UVM has because we’ve got people trying to do everything they can to help students.”

Students can apply to CRP on its website or be referred to the program, according to the group’s website.

The Vermont Consumer Assistance Program, based at UVM, gives students a chance to work directly with economic law in Vermont.

Since its creation in 1981 as a resource for consumers and understaffed legislators, CAP has worked closely with the University and students to handle conflicts between consumers and businesses.

The class, taught with help from Vermont’s Attorney General Thomas Donovan, offers students work experience in their offices, said Charity Clark, the attorney general’s chief of staff.

Jay Ashman, founder of CAP and professor emeritus of consumer law at UVM, started the program after the previous consumer advocacy program moved to Montpelier.

When offered the opportunity to return and collaborate with an economics department, Ashman was eager to expand consumer law courses. The new program became CAP, he said.

The program receives most of its funding from the attorney

SAM LITRA/The Vermont Cynic

A worker at the Vermont Consumer Assistance Program takes a call Jan. 18. Students can work for CAP by mediating disputes between businesses and consumers and spreading information about scams in the Vermont area, all for class credit. general’s office, but as its staff grew in size, the University provided most of the manpower.

“Each of the two parties got a lot of bang for their buck, and when students put it on their resume it always stood out,” Ashman said. “It was service learning before the term service learning was popular.”

The attorney general’s office also relies on the program’s alumni to fill job positions after college, Clark said.

Enrolled students spend

eight hours a week mediating disputes between businesses and consumers, spreading information about scams in the Vermont area and documenting changes in business practices that might lead to new legislation, Clark said.

“Students are very close to the action of consumer law here in Vermont,” Clark said.

Senior Maria Gamache took the class to build experience before law school.

“The class is almost an in-

ternship,” she said. “It could lead to opportunities either at CAP itself or associated work in the attorney general’s office.”

James Mooney ’18, who now works for CAP, said he found the experience to be a good entry point for a career in law.

“I wanted to go into law and CAP allows me to work with lawyers, attorneys and the attorney general right out of college,” Mooney said.

Kathryn Pfefferle ’18 also praised the career building aspect of the class.

“At CAP, students learn real time conflict resolution and other skills very marketable to employers,” Pfefferie said.

“I took the class one semester, was hired the next, promoted after that and now I’m supervising students.”

Aside from work experience, CAP directly affects the community.

CAP’s internal records show around 15,000 calls per year from consumers, with up to $18,000 recovered for a single case, Clark said.

Student work was essential for legislation passed last year to address a surge in fraudulent leases for credit card readers that targeted local business, Clark said.

The Vermont Cynic

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EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Greta Bjornson editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Ben Elfland newsroom@vtcynic.com

OPERATIONS Operations Manager Sorrel Galantowicz operations@vtcynic.com Marketing Daniel Felde

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 vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Sabrina Hood sports@vtcynic.com Video Jordan Mitchell 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), Sam Litra (Photo), Liv Marshall (Copy), Caroline McCune (Layout) Copy Editors Lindsay Freed, Dalton Doyle, Isabel Coppola, Luke Zarzecki, Allyson Cook, Hadley Rawlins, Zoe Sheppard Page Designers Lindsay Freed, Meilena Sanchez

ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu

OPINION

3

It's time for a new Women's March Staff Editorial

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his past Saturday, Vermonters gathered in Montpelier — and in capitals across the nation — for the third annual Women’s March.

The march was first conceived in the light of President Donald Trump’s 2016 election win. It’s well-known for being a symbol of resistance and unity, but it has also proven to have its fair share of controversies, most specifically centered around anti-semitism.

Some leaders of the Women’s March — including Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour — have expressed support for Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader who, in his past sermons, has called “powerful Jews” his “enemy,” called Jews “satanic” and said that “the false Jew will lead you to filth and indecency.”

How can the leaders of the Women’s March, an event that claims to bring people together in the name of improving lives and achieving equality, stand behind a man who spews this hate and excludes so many marginalized groups?

A unity statement written by the leaders seems like a hollow promise knowing their connections to Farrakhan.

It reads, “We must create a society in which all women — including Black women, Indigenous women, poor women, immigrant women, disabled women, Muslim women, lesbian, queer and trans women — are free.”

These words are inspiring, but they also noteably leave out the mention of Jewish women, and they mean less knowing they were written by women who admire and associate with Farrakhan.

Debbie Wasserman Shultz, a Jewish congresswoman, wrote in a Jan. 19 USA Today

MEREDITH RATHBURN/The Vermont Cynic

Protesters sit atop the stairs of the State House in Montpelier at the Jan. 19 Women’s March. Protesters held signs for issues like reproductive rights and groups like Planned Parenthood were present. op-ed that she would not be marching in this year’s event.

“While I still firmly believe in its values and mission, I cannot associate with the national march’s leaders and principles, which refuse to completely repudiate anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry," she wrote. "I cannot walk shoulder to shoulder with leaders who lock arms with outspoken peddlers of hate."

Wasserman Shutz’s stance reveals the problems with the Women’s March. The concept is great — we support the movement toward equality and denounce Trump’s sexist remarks and past treatment of women — but the reality isn’t so clean and uncomplicated.

Damage control has been attempted; Carmen Perez, a Women’s March leader, extended an invitation with her column “Jewish Women Should Join Us at the Women’s March, Despite Our Mistakes,” which she wrote for The Forward, a Jewish publication, and Mallory and Sarsour have

met with a group of rabbis, according to a Jan. 18 New York Times article.

Despite these efforts, the march has continued to splinter. As of this year, the event has split into two competing marches in both New York and Philadelphia. The Women’s March Alliance, a deviation from the Women’s March event, advertised its opposition to anti-Semitism and provided an alternative form of activism.

The two events illustrate the division within the group itself — all participants are envisioning a better future for women, but they can’t seem to unite in the name of this vision.

All of the controversy has taken away from the original purpose and intentions of the march — to inspire women and to enact change. It’s time for a new form of activism and a new approach. We shouldn’t discount the Women’s March; it brought together millions to empower women in the time when we needed it most.

But that moment has

passed and it’s time for a new one, without the controversy plaguing the Women’s March and its leaders.

We can appreciate the March for its ability to energize and organize so many activists, but we also need to hold onto this energy and use it for a more inclusive wave of activism, one that lifts up everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

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.

Correction

The Jan. 16 staff editorial incorrectly stated that Hunger Free Vermont is funded by the Department of Children and Families. Twenty percent of their funding comes from state and federal grants, with 80 percent from investments of individuals, businesses and private foundations. The Cynic regrets this error.

Residential Life works to decrease campus drug use Letter to the Editor Since the establishment of the President’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, we have worked tirelessly with campus partners to provide a collaborative response to substance use and abuse among the student population.

The Department of Residential Life is committed to addressing health and safety concerns impacting our student body, including the issue of heroin and opioid use on-campus. Specifically, the department has: Launched awareness and informational campaigns outlining the impact and costs of substance use and abuse.

Dedicated significant staff and resources towards engag-

ing students in the halls proactively through the implementation of Learning Communities.

Updated policies and protocols to reflect our values and the severity involved with substance use.

Increased our response time to conduct and policy violations, including cases involving alcohol and other drugs Continued our efforts to support students in recovery via the Catamount Recovery Program.

Established two Learning Communities requiring students to abstain from substance use and encouraging behavioral change.

Since these changes were implemented, we have seen the percent of students living in halls charged with alcohol, can-

nabis and other drug violations decrease from 19 percent to 9.2 percent in the past seven years.

From 2016-17 to 2017-18 we experienced a 29 percent decrease in conduct cases involving alcohol, cannabis and other drugs forms.

Moreover, our students have reported a higher level of satisfaction and higher retention rates, particularly those involved in Learning Communities.

UVM police services reports receiving no calls for service or interventions on campus involving or resulting in the discovery of heroin.

However, we remain vigilant and responsive while also asking for the support of all community members in seeking resources and help for in-

dividuals struggling with any form of addiction.

As a relatively open campus, we are not insulated from the presence and actions of individuals within and outside of the UVM community seeking to bring drugs or other substances onto campus.

We also encourage ourselves to step up and inform the appropriate individuals of any suspicious activities.

We applaud the Cynic's attempt to cover an important and serious topic and appreciate the opportunity to offer our insights, responses and data on this matter.

Respectfully, Rafael Rodriguez

OPINION

4

The Vermont Cynic

This year, do self-care for you Izzy Abraham isabraha@uvm.edu

New year, but with the same old issues

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id-way through January, many people have New Years’ resolutions dictating their daily routines and choices.

By opting to work out more frequently, eat a healthier diet or cut back on alcohol and drugs, many people are picking up self-care, a significant pop culture trend.

However, I want to throw a new idea into your mind, full of new resolutions: self-care really is a balance, and it looks different for everyone.

Many self-care subscribers have started to embrace skincare routines, workout regimens and creative eating practices.

For many, adopting these new habits in order to achieve goals and focus on the self is quite beneficial.

The whole process of selfcare appears shiny and bright, as consumers seem to immediately transform physically and emotionally after using a product.

Yet, people devoting time and money to self-care must realize that today’s popular, advertised, shiny version of selfcare is a trend, nothing more than a conception of popular culture.

And because of this, it’s presented and marketed to peo-

Ari Kotler akotler@uvm.edu

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VALENTINA CZOCHANSKI

ple in very specific, profit-conscious ways.

The skincare routines advertised to relax the face may not relax the mind, and adhering to a new diet plan that may have worked for someone else may not ensure success for everyone.

And let’s not forget, all trends die eventually.

For students, taking care of our minds and bodies is extraordinarily important.

A little self love goes a long way.

If we feel we are supposed to exfoliate our problems away, we’re not going to help ourselves, strengthen our minds

and bodies or increase our happiness.

The reality of self-care is that it’s not always fun. It’s not always shiny or packaged. And it doesn’t always smell good.

Peel-off masks are not the golden rule of self-care.

True individuality is each person embarking on their own self-care adventure.

They’re each going to have a remarkably different journey.

It might be fun for one person — getting their nails done, going to the gym, getting a new piercing or playing basketball with some pals.

But it might be less fun for another — going to thera-

py, changing eating habits and reaching goals.

It’s OK if it’s not always fun.

In 1988, the words of the African-American lesbian writer Audre Lorde became a rallying cry: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

If you’re taking care of your mind and your body, you’re practicing self-care in its purest form.

Izzy Abraham is a sophomore English and sociology major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.

Hopelessness shouldn’t be part of the news Henry Mitchell

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hdmitche@uvm. edu

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ver winter break, I received a 23andMe kit.

I thought I would just spit in a tube and wait for my ancestry results.

Apparently these kits include a lot of warnings about life, including your risks for untreatable diseases.

“Learning that you have a genetic risk factor for a disease can be difficult and it is important to think about what this type of information could mean for you,” 23andMe’s customer care page states.

When I looked into additional reports for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, it told me the following: “Some of the reports below are about serious diseases that may not currently have an effective treatment or cure ... If you tend to feel anxious or have ever been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, you may have more emotional difficulty with these reports.”

At first I was confused as to

Jan. 15, 2019

why people would want less information, but I realized something.

I was afraid of unavoidable diseases that could cut my life short, the same way I actively avoid reports of genocide and terrorism around the world.

In my mind, I had nothing to gain by learning about the atrocities people faced when there was nothing I could do about it.

I can track my representative’s campaign finances, which will help me decide my vote in the next election.

However, me discovering that President Donald Trump hosted a banquet of greasy food

is probably not as useful.

There’s an endless stream of less newsworthy articles, with every news outlet covering whatever is currently trending, whether it’s important or not.

Trump invited the Clemson University football team to the White House Jan. 14, where they celebrated their NCAA championship with piles of burgers.

Photos were shared and it went viral. Everyone was laughing at Trump’s lack of class and thought about whether athletes should be eating fast food.

It’s a unique event to take place, I can appreciate that, but

leave the jokes to social media.

Otherwise, we get pieces like the Jan. 15 Washington Post article where a journalist uses photographic evidence and price charts to calculate the quantity of fast food present and its cost.

To remind you, our government is shut down, Brexit is ripping the British Parliament apart and climate change still isn’t a universal fact.

But sure, let’s break down how Trump ordering a ton of burgers will cause “democracy to die in darkness,” to paraphrase The Washington Post’s slogan.

Feel free to enjoy whatever nonsense comes out of our government, but please remember that newspapers are supposed to give us the truth, not entertainment.

For your own sake and that of anyone trying to stay informed, try limiting how much “breaking news” you consume.

Henry Mitchell is a sophomore political science and economics major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.

hat a year it’s been.

President Donald Trump, white supremists and the super-rich remain in political marriage and control our government.

Migrants, fleeing violence caused by the U.S. and its allies, are being hunted and trapped in cages by border security agents.

Black people are still routinely surveilled, seized, sent to modern-day gulags and often slaughtered by the police.

The working-class are pounded into dust for terrible wages by corporations, and Silicon Valley tech ghouls get rich making cool apps.

Finally, humanity nears its end as death by climate change grows ever closer.

However, there is no time to be depressed. We must come together in the new year with hope, haste and a hearty bowl of political revolution.

What better way than some radical New Year’s resolutions.

Let’s try to do the following: Our culture of mass incarceration has terrorized communities and destroyed millions of lives. Let’s reform our police, free hundreds of thousands of inmates from unjustified incarceration and end private prisons.

We must end the bipartisan foreign policy consensus of perpetual war and mass killing.

Let’s put an end to the U.S. war machine by vowing never again to unilaterally invade sovereign nations, topple democratically elected leaders and prop up brutal dictators.

There is no justification for children in our country to grow up poor. Let’s provide free, universal health care and education, end hunger, poverty and homelessness.

Every worker, regardless of age, social background or education level, deserves a decent wage. Let’s create and defend a set of national unions, so every worker has the power to demand good wages, workplace conditions and paid leave.

Climate change is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. Let’s transform our energy system by transitioning towards a 100 percent renewable energy economy.

Let us resolve to do these things and more.

Ari Kotler is a junior political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2019.

The Vermont Cynic

Jan. 22, 2019

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CULTURE

6

The Vermont Cynic

Jan. 22, 2019

Cheap Thrills:

A culture writer’s guide to the best thrift stores in Burlington Anna Kolosky akolosky@uvm. edu

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ith spring semester just beginning, it’s hard enough to pay for expensive textbooks, much less find new clothes that won’t break the bank.

That’s why, on one chilly Tuesday afternoon, I decided to search Church Street for the best bargains and clothing selections. Here’s what I found.

TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic Sophomore Jonathan Barte tries on a pair of $12 sunglasses at Downtown Threads. The store has the budget-friendly option to choose clothes from a trunk and fill your bag with them for just $5.

Downtown Threads The first stop on my search is located in the heart of Church Street, located above the jewelry store Tradewinds. Downtown Threads’ bright, vibrant turquoise walls pair well with the quirky vibe and unique clothes this store has to offer.

They have a large selection of jeans, shirts, dresses and shoes, plus some vintage clothing as well. Although it’s a bit on the expensive side, a bit of digging helped uncover some great clothing options ranging from $5-10.

Additionally, Downtown Threads has the option to fill a bag with clothes from a trunk for $5, a great option for anyone on a budget.

Sophomore Paloma Wallace said that she enjoyed this store’s selection of sweatshirts and dresses and appreciates that they offer fun and funky items as well.

“I like going there when I want a certain item,” Wallace said. “Like a cool Hawaiian shirt or a neon windbreaker from the 80s.”

For those who are interested in more than just clothes, Downtown Threads also sells work by local artists. Merchandise includes stickers, magnets and pins.

With its central location and variety of items, Downtown Threads is definitely a place to visit for anyone looking for great finds at reasonable prices.

TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic Barte checks out at the cash register at Dirt Chic on Main St. Most of the clothes at Dirt Chic are under $20 and are from popular staple brands like Express or Gap.

in conclusion Overall, the stores I went to had a lot to offer college students shopping for clothes on a budget — especially Battery Street Jeans with its bin of free clothes.

Although farther away from Church Street, Dirt Chic and Battery Street Jeans both had a great variety of clothes at low prices. Downtown Threads is a great place to check out for its convenient location and statement pieces.

TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic Junior Alina Parker digs through a chest of t-shirts at Battery Street Jeans, located at 115 College St. Battery Street Jeans has a $5 rack located outside the store, which draws in ambitious thrifters every day.

battery street jeans At my second stop of the day, I was immediately drawn to the $5 rack of clothes outside of a store filled with a variety of vintage sweatshirts and t-shirts.

When I walked in, I saw that it was overflowing with chunky sweaters and jackets, making Battery Street Jeans the perfect place for all of your winter clothing needs. The store also boasted a wide selection of t-shirts, flannels, dresses, jeans and shoes.

A majority of the clothing costs as little as $5, but some of the bigger, heavier coats could cost anywhere from $60 to $80. For the quality, though, I thought that these options were cheaper compared to other retail stores.

In addition to clothes, Battery Street Jeans sells used records, VHS tapes, video games and books.

For anyone looking to support local artists, this shop sells original prints by Burlington artists like Nikki Laxar and Dug Nap. Between Laxar’s colorful prints of animal drawings and Nap’s hilarious Vermont-centered paintings, there’s something interesting for everyone to find.

After purchasing two greeting cards with Laxar drawings and a skirt for $18, Battery Street Jeans is definitely worth checking out.

Dirt chic After a cold walk from campus, this shop was a welcome sight. With tall windows showing off unique outfits and folk music playing in the background, Dirt Chic was definitely a relaxing spot.

The store boasted a large selection of clothes, from women’s and men’s to maternity and children’s. All size sections were labeled clearly, making it easy to find your size right away.

“We really run the gamut as far as demographics,” owner Anya Huneke said.

“We kind of cater to everyone, and we try to make everyone feel like they’ll be able to find something.”

Hueneke also said that the store has four half-price sales that each last anywhere from one to two weeks. The sales happen at the beginning of each season, and occur throughout the year.

Most of the clothes I found were prices as less than $20 and from popular staple brands like Express or Gap. They also had $5 sections for a number of items such as dresses, jeans and scarves.

“I think it’s a particularly good place to shop because it’s community-oriented,” senior Maud Mayer, an employee, said. “When people bring in clothes that we’re not interested in for selling, we have good connections with local service organizations.”

Dirt Chic is interested in helping out smaller organizations such as Shalom Shuk and 52 Kids, Mayer said.

Shalom Shuk is another thrift shop dedicated to helping the underprivileged and the local community, while 52 Kids empowers Ugandan children through education.

Dirt Chic is an excellent place to shop because of their wide variety of affordable clothes and involvement in the community.

The Vermont Cynic

Jan. 22, 2019

CULTURE

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This winter, venture through the snow Bridget Higdon cynicculture@ gmail.com

T

he Green Mountain state is looking pretty white right about now, and it’s only going to get snowier.

Take a drive down Route 89 and you’ll see a white-capped Camel’s Hump, snow-covered barns and tree branches encased in ice.

Vermont is without a doubt my favorite place to spend the winter. Since I was in middle school, my family would drive six hours from northern New Jersey to spend our weekends skiing in the Green Mountains.

Although the snow is frustrating when it needs to be shoveled from your front steps or brushed off the roof of your car, it’s also immensely beautiful and incredibly inviting.

This semester, avoid cabin fever by grabbing a pair of snowshoes or skis and take advantage of all Vermont has to offer.

Here are some places to enjoy the snow less than an hour away from campus.

Although each of these places provides rentals on site, students and faculty can also rent winter gear from the Outing Club, which offers snowshoes, poles, backpacks and more.

Catamount Outdoor Family Center The Catamount Outdoor Family Center is located less than 20 minutes from campus in Williston. The COFC began as a cross country ski center in 1978 but has now grown to include other winter activities such as snowshoeing and sledding. The trails can even be used for fat biking, a kind of off-road cycling on a bike with oversized tires.

With 50 acres of property and a 20-mile trail network, the center provides plenty of space for outdoor discovery and appreciation.

Trail fees and rentals are reasonably priced and half-day passes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing cost only $15.

If you have your own headlamp, go at night and spend only $9.

Since 2005, the COFC has been operating as a non-profit, so you can be sure your money is going to preserving the land for the future.

Trapp Family Lodge The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe was the first cross-country ski center in the country.

The original lodge was opened

by Maria and Georg von Trapp in 1950, and their son Johannes opened the ski center in 1968, according to the lodge’s website.

Snowshoe rentals are $25 and cross-country packages are

SAM LITRA/The Vermont Cynic Two UVM students use storage bin lids to slide down a makeshift snow hill on Athletic campus Jan. 20. Avoid cabin fever by grabbing a pair of snowshoes or skis and take advantage of all that Vermont has to offer. $30. While skiing or snowshoeing at the Trapp Lodge is more expensive than other options, at $25 for a full day pass, its scenery is not to be missed.

For beginners on cross-country skis, the Sugar Road loop is the perfect place to start. If you are on snowshoes, hike up to the chapel on Luce Hill.

Blueberry Lake Located in the Mad River Valley, the Blueberry Lake Cross Country and Snowshoeing Center is only 45 minutes

from campus.

Handwritten signs and a wood stove greet you when you arrive at the center, and the entire place has a comfortable and cozy feel.

All of Blueberry Lake’s 11 trails are groomed regularly.

With most trails winding and twisting through the woods, you’ll be sheltered from blustery winds. Day passes and rentals are both $16.

On your way back to campus, make a stop at the Warren Store. The small general store is

self-proclaimed “almost world famous” and offers sandwiches made to order, local specialty foods and plenty of hot tea and coffee.

Whether you’re a skiing extraordinaire or just looking for a scenic place to spend time with friends, there are plenty of local opportunities.

Bridget Higdon is a senior English major. She has been the Culture Editor since January 2018, and has been skiing since she was six.

SPORTS

8

The Vermont Cynic

Jan. 22, 2019

Swimming & diving celebrates grads Stephan Toljan stoljan@uvm.edu

UVM women’s swimming and diving team hosted the University of Rhode Island Jan. 19 for their last home meet.

Each senior was congratulated by Athletic Director Jeff Schulman. They were also presented with a bouquet from head coach Gerry Cournoyer and posed for pictures.

The meet began shortly after the ceremony with the 200yard medley relay, which earned UVM second and fourth-place finishes.

Senior swimmer Katrina Posnick posted a time over 10 seconds faster than the second-place finisher in the 1,000yard freestyle.

The next event in the meet was the 200-yard freestyle, again featuring Posnick, as well as junior Sophia Smith and junior Maddy Kovacs.

Smith swam to victory in the event, posting a time of 1:57.25, with Posnick finishing in fourth and Kovacs in sixth.

After watching the second and third events, first-year Nick Nestro said that he didn’t understand the order of the events.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me to put the 200-freestyle right after the 1000-yard freestyle,” he said. “[Posnick] just

View the slideshow online at vtcynic.com STEPHAN TOLJAN/The Vermont Cynic

A UVM swimmer pushes through her butterfly stroke in UVM’s swimming and diving meet against University of Rhode Island Jan. 19. Despite first place finishes by senior Katrina Posnick, junior Morgan Montgomery, first-year Kendall Ware and senior Julia Degregorio, URI beat UVM 175-125. swam 1,000 yards and now you make her get back into the pool and swim more?”

The swimming continued for another five events, with first place finishes posted in the 100yard backstroke and the 200yard butterfly by sophomore swimmer Kendall Ware and senior swimmer Julia Degregorio.

Diving, which began after the 50-yard freestyle, started

with the 1-meter dive.

Senior diver Ashley Branagan finished in third place with a final score of 216.44. Sophomore diver Emily Murphy finished fifth with a final score of 173.47.

First-year Maddie Spear said that she enjoyed watching the diving events.

“The swimming is impressive, but the diving is the coolest

thing to watch,” she said.

Junior swimmer Sierra Sexton swam to a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle, posting a time of 0:54.47.

UVM’s next first-place finish came in the 200-yard backstroke where junior swimmer Morgan Montgomery posted a time of 2:09.77 to win the event.

Senior swimmer Haley Gula placed second in the 200-yard

breaststroke.

Even with the efforts of all of the swimmers and divers, including another first-place finish by Posnick in the 500yard freestyle, URI beat UVM 175-125.

Following the meet, Cournoyer said that he knew the day’s matchup was going to be difficult.

“I knew going into it based on some of the injuries we had and some of the kids who are no longer with us from the first semester that this was going to be a really tough meet,” he said.

He also said that URI performed at a high level during the meet.

“URI really stepped it up,” he said. “When we beat them [in an event], they would score enough points to make up the difference.”

Cournoyer also said that URI was a team that had come prepared.

“We had to be perfect today, and very seldom are you perfect this time of the year,” he said.

This meet came after a 23169 loss to Northeastern University Jan. 12.

“Last weekend was really rough,” Cournoyer said. “Our girls really showed up today. To see all the fans, the pep band was here — it was the right way to send our seniors off.”