THE VERMONT
CYNIC Feb. 5, 2019
vtcynic.com
Program to offer safe rides home
Life with seasonal depression
A program in its beginning stages would allow students cab rides home for a subsidized fee.
For some students, the short days are the most devastating aspect of winter.
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Racism in alt culture 7 / Women’s basketball win 11
Trustees come together to decide University’s future New policies lead to decline in enrollment Image source: Facebook
Lindsay Freed
First -year Connor Gage, of Little Falls New York, died over the weekend. He was found the morning of Feb. 2 in the snow in a parking lot off North Winooski Avenue.
lafreed@uvm.edu
UVM is seeing a slight decline in student applications after taking steps to make the University more competitive and adding a fee to its application process. The number of undergraduate students applying to UVM has dropped by 16 percent since 2015, Provost David Rosowsky said at the Feb. 1 board of trustees meeting. The drop in applications is partially due to the University eliminating free applications for out-of-state students in 2015, which was done in order to increase the “quality” of the applicant pool, Rosowsky said. “We’re continuing to see a higher quality student,” he said. Despite the added cost for out-of-state applicants, the University is determined to lower its acceptance rate and the rate of students who enroll after being accepted, Rosowsky said. The acceptance rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 68 percent, and the next goal is 66 percent, he said. There is growing competition with other schools, such
First-year student found dead in snow Lee Hughes ehughes7@uvm.edu
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
First-year students walk down Main Street Aug. 26 on their way to the University green at convocation earlier this year. The number of undergraduate students applying to UVM has dropped by 16 percent after UVM took steps to add a fee to its out-of-state applications. as the State University of New York System, which has lower in-state costs than UVM’s price for out-of-state students, said former student trustee Caitlin McHugh, a junior. Out-of-state tuition for the 2018-2019 school year is $40,176 for two semesters for
a full-time student, according to the UVM website. Cost-wise, UVM looks like a private institution for its outof-state students, board chair David Daigle said. “We better have a value proposition for our out-ofstate students,” Daigle said.
“Our sticker price is too high [and] our discount price is too high.” UVM also has to compete with other universities for a shrinking pool of students, said Stacey Kostell, vice president for enrollment management, at the Feb. 1 meeting.
Trustees deliberate on new student-based initiatives Lee Hughes ehughes7@uvm.edu
Student-led projects were up for debate at this year’s Board meetings. Board members followed up on efforts to provide rides back to campus for students through SGA and efforts to address food insecurity on campus, proposing a variety of funding options which Foley and SGA can consider to fund these projects. Daigle said the Explain the Asterisk campaign, which aims to make transcripts explicitly state when a student has been dismissed from school for sexual assault, is legally tricky. “We don’t need to get into it here, but I think you understand there are some very complicated legal implications involved with that movement,”
TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic
Chair of the board of trustees David Daigle and President Tom Sullivan speak at the final session of the board of trustees meeting Feb. 2. Campus leaders, including SGA President Ethan Foley and Joseph Campbell, Graduate Student Senate president, confronted decisions to determine the future of the University. he said. “This particular movement has some tricky flaws.” Foley said the goal of the support is to make the logistics
and situation for students as comfortable as possible. “Anything we can do to make it safer is what we’re go-
ing to do,” he said. There are stress fractures in universities around the country and at UVM that are becoming more apparent every year and need to be addressed, such as the rate of tuition increase, said David Daigle, chair of the board. “Together, we have to set UVM on a sustainable, student-centric course,” he said. Daigle outlined a new strategic process intended to begin upon the arrival of the new University president, following the conclusion of Sullivan’s term this summer. SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, gave the board an overview of SGA’s main projects, including support of Explain the Asterisk, the hurricane relief fundraiser raffle and the ongoing Safe Ride Home and Rally Cat’s Closet and Cafe initiatives.
A first-year student died unexpectedly over the weekend. Connor Gage of Little Falls, New York, was found the morning of Feb. 2 in the snow in a parking lot off North Winooski Avenue, according to an email sent by Annie Stevens, vice provost of student affairs Feb. 3. No exact cause of death has been confirmed by the Burlington Police Department, but they don’t believe foul play was involved, according to the email. The cold weather was deemed a contributing factor to Gage’s death, according to Stevens’ email. Burlington Police Department believes that the sub-zero overnight temperatures over the weekend were a factor in Gage’s passing, according to the email. Gage, who was a neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, was part of the Wellness Environment and a member of the WE Mentor Program in the South Burlington school district. A campus gathering is being planned for Gage, according to the email from the University. A specific date has not been set. If any students are in need of support following these events, they are encouraged to contact UVM’s Counseling and Psychiatry Services at (802) 656-3340. The Employee Assistance Program, also called Invest EAB, is available at (802) 8643270 or toll free at 1-866-6609533 for employees if they are in need of support.
NEWS
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The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
Petition calls for better campus food Lindsay Freed lafreed@uvm.edu
Get the full story at vtcynic.com Podcast
Local mysteries: Melanie Melanson
In this episode of Local Mysteries, podcaster David Cabrera talks about a teenager who vanished from a high school party in Massachusetts in 1989.
Sports
Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl After two thrilling league championship games, the New England Patriots and L.A. Rams headed to the Super Bowl. Here’s what students thought.
Sports
Slideshow: Penguin Plunge fundraiser
If walking out into ice cold temperatures isn’t enough of a shock, try jumping into Lake Champlain. The 24th annual Penguin Plunge took place Feb. 3.
Opinion
Students should vote in local elections
Senior Carter Neubieser, a former city council candidate, lays out three reasons it is important for students to vote in Burlington elections.
A petition calling for higher quality food and an overall better dining experience is being circulated by students. The petition, which currently has over 1,000 signatures and is circulating on change. org, asks UVM to provide better food, along with more convenient dining hall hours, said first-year Conley Reiter, one of the petition’s authors. Reiter and co-author Shannon Thornton, a first-year, started the petition because they think the food options given to students in the dining halls don’t reflect what was promised to them when they applied to UVM, Reiter said. “We were promised these farm-to-table foods were going to be locally sourced,” Reiter said. “It was going to be, this is this great dining experience for the Wellness Environment, really for all students, too. We found that just really isn’t the case.” Students with dietary restrictions, such as vegetarians, vegans and people with allergies, have trouble finding food that adequately meets their needs, Thornton said. When Thornton went to WE’s welcome program at the beginning of the year, she was given high-quality vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals, such as vegetarian curry, that she said she hasn’t been able to find since, Thornton said. “I really miss those now,” she said. “Now I walk into the dining hall on a regular day and I see chicken cutlets [and] hamburgers and all I really get to eat every single meal is fries and a veggie burger.” They have also heard of is-
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
First-years Conley Reiter and Shannon Thornton authored a petition calling for an overall better dining experience at UVM. The petition currently has over 1,000 signatures and Reiter and Thornton are looking to set up a meeting with UVM Dining. sues with cross-contamination, which can be a problem for students with allergies, she said. Since circulating the petition, Thornton and Reiter are currently looking into setting up a meeting with UVM Dining to talk about their concerns, said Melissa Zelazny, resident district manager for UVM Dining. UVM Dining tries its best to work with students who have dietary restrictions to find them food alternatives, said Annie Stevens, vice provost for student affairs. As for the quality of food advertised to students, the meals provided to students at orientation and during family weekend is the same quality as what
are set out during the rest of the year, Stevens said. The difference between orientation and the school year is that orientation is two days at a single dining location, but UVM Dining has to plan for 18 different locations over the nine months of the school year, she said. “That’s why we have a variety of options — so students feel like they have different places to go,” she said. Concerns over the quality and availability of food on campus is something SGA has been working on this year, said sophomore Aidan Doherty, chair of the SGA Student Action Committee. Doherty’s committee is in
the process of setting up focus groups to talk with students about their complaints, he said. “UVM hypes itself up to have this amazing new dining experience, especially in Central, but in actuality, you get the same Grundle fries,” Doherty said. “It’s not what students are paying for.” Students hear about different dining options available on campus at orientation, but UVM Dining can’t provide those options in one facility, said Dennis DePaul, associate dean of student affairs. “If you’re only eating in one facility, it’s going to be hard to find that breadth of options,” DePaul said.
University president admitted to NCAA committee Cullen Paradis csparadi@uvm.edu
President Tom Sullivan has been appointed to the Infractions Committee of the NCAA. The committee oversees the Association’s various member organizations and ensures that guidelines are followed and punishments assigned for violations. Sullivan’s term began Jan. 23 and will last through 2021, according to a Jan. 23 press release. Sullivan has consistently served with the NCAA in the past, including a 2016 appointment as vice chair of the Division I Presidential Forum, the press release stated. “I welcome the opportunity to continue to lend my professional expertise to the NCAA as it works to encourage and support the success of our student-athletes at colleges and universities across the coun-
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
President Tom Sullivan attends the board of trustees meeting Feb. 2. Sullivan was recently appointed to the Infractions Committee of the NCAA.. try,” Sullivan said in the release. The NCAA Board of Directors chooses a candidate from a variety of fields. These include coaches, administrators and members of the public, said Greg Christopher, the current NCAA Division I Infractions Committee
president. “Tom’s experience as a nationally recognized lawyer, university president, provost and law school dean will bring perspective to the committee,” Christopher said. “We look forward to utilizing Tom’s legal and higher education expertise
as we decide cases.” The NCAA oversees many parts of college athletics, from organizing championships to setting guidelines for recruiting and practice hours, said Jim Plumer, women’s ice hockey coach. “We’ve been part of the NCAA since before I came here seven years ago,” Plumer said. “We’ve had infractions, but we’ve never had a reason to disagree with their policies. “He values the fact that we also emphasize the academic aspect of our student athletes.” SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, said that SGA isn’t involved in decisions of such appointments, but he feels that Sullivan is a good fit for the position. “President Sullivan has been great,” he said. “On a personal level, Tom is a great guy and cares about students.”
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
NEWS
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Students push for safe transportation Julianne Lesch rmhalper@uvm.edu
Zoe Stern zstern@uvm.edu
SGA is looking to bring safer alternatives for students returning home late at night in order to combat potential dangers. Safe Ride Home is a campus ride program in its beginning stages. It would allow students to call a cab within a four-mile radius of UVM for a subsidized fee, three to five times a semester, said senior Maeve McDermott, chair of SGA's Committee on Legislative and Community Affairs. This program would be financed through small fees billed to students, said senior Charlotte Malling, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. “It would be a small fee, of a dollar probably," Malling said. "A dollar per semester per student. "That plays into a huge pool that would support this program, and then each student would get three to five rides each semester.” In the past, there was a push for programs like Safe Ride Home by 2015 to 2017 former SGA Vice President Tyler Davis '17, McDermott said. McDermott and Malling picked up the effort in fall 2018 to push for the creation of the
program. “I think it would be a much safer option getting around Burlington," sophomore Delaney Sullivan said. "You wouldn’t be as worried about getting into an Uber alone or rather walking if your phone died and you couldn’t get in contact with somebody.” Safe Ride Home has support from campus groups such as the Center for Health and Wellbeing, the Wellness Environment, Student Affairs, the Prism Center, Residential Life, Inter-Residence Association and the Graduate Students Senate. Nearly $15,000 for the program has been raised through SGA's online fundraiser, Malling said. Before the plans can be finalized, Safe Ride Home must go through a University required process, a request for proposal. A request for proposal allows for different cab companies to offer different deals and UVM will pick the deal that works best for them, McDermott said. Students would access these subsidized rides by swiping their CATcards once in the cab, Malling said. Only one swipe would be needed per ride. Currently, UVM offers the off-campus bus, with late-night weekend buses, which travels around the different campus-
Photo illustration by SAM LITRA
SGA is planning to begin a program to bring more safe alternatives for students returning home late at night. Safe Ride Home would allow students to call a cab within a four-mile radius of UVM for a subsidized fee. es and makes a loop down to Church Street. The late-night weekend bus stops running at 3 a.m., said Jim Barr, transportation and parking services director. “The goal of this program is not to replace a bus or be the new late night bus," McDermott said. "The goal is completely different in that it is a safe ride
home. You’re going from point A to point B.” The Safe Ride Home initiative would allow students to get to streets that buses don’t access and to do so on demand, Barr said. “I’d feel safer if these were University-sponsored because you’d know that it was a safe
way to get home and back to campus if you were far away,” Sullivan said. No formal start date has been set, McDermott said, as a request for proposal must be done and the increased fees must be passed by the board of trustees.
New programs become available across disciplines Zoe Schemm zschemm@uvm.edu
Zoe Stern zstern@uvm.edu
Starting next fall, two new majors, one new minor and three certificate programs will be offered in various colleges after UVM’s board of trustees approved their creation. These programs include a Bachelor of Arts in dance, a Bachelor of Science in anthropology and a minor in reporting and documentary storytelling. They also include certificates in community music: organ, religious literacy and integrated health & wellness coaching. The new programs, called “innovative and creative” by trustee Jodi Goldstein, are an attempt to generate new interest in the University for prospective students and could potentially increase enrollment, according to meeting documents. The certificate in integrated health and wellness coaching is designed to give students experience in the health care field. It has surpassed the expected enrollment number of 15 students and is now at 25, board member Laura Almstead said. The interest in these pro-
grams was based on student surveys and the number of enrolled students in related minors, Almstead said. The certificate in integrated health and wellness coaching is especially versatile because it works across disciplines, connecting the College of Nursing and Health Sciences with Continuing and Distance Education at UVM, board documents stated. The diversity in scheduling and subjects that these programs allow appeals to students like first-year biology major Bryce Williams. Williams said her major does not cover topics that she wished it would. “I had a lot of interests coming in, but not a lot of majors [to choose from],” she said. “More programs at UVM could help me better understand what I want to do with the rest of my life.” The new certificate program allows students to approach these subjects in their own ways, gaining necessary credentials even if their major is too rigorous to allow a double major or minor, Almstead said. The classes will also help students train for the certification exams for becoming an integrative health and wellness
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
Members of UVM’s board of trustees gather Feb. 2 in the Livak Ballroom in the Davis Center to discuss relevant issues at the University. The board decided that in fall 2019 two new majors, one new minor and three certificate programs will be added in various colleges. coach. “[It will] offer students an opportunity to provide them some credentials that are transcriptional in an area of growing employment,” Almstead said. These programs also allow for cross-disciplinary integration in terms of whether or not students can double major, Provost David Rosowsky said. “I think that one of the most exciting things that started the attraction is between data sci-
ence and ‘X,’ where ‘X’ is just in the domain of the social sciences at UVM. For example, big data and anthropology,” Rosowsky said. Most of the majors discussed at the board meeting Jan. 31 have unique qualities, Almstead said. The dance major that was approved is the only B.A. dance program at a public university in the state of Vermont, according to the proposal submitted to the board of trustees.
The certificates in community music and the minor in documentary storytelling both have a large impact on the community, Almstead said. The certificate in community music could help revitalize a dying music industry in Vermont, Almstead said. The new B.S. in anthropology will focus on the scientific and quantitative side of anthropology as a compliment to the B.A. in anthropology that is already offered. The minor in reporting and documentary storytelling in the College of Arts and Sciences will include capstone internships allowing students to apply what they have learned to make a tangible product, Almstead said. The documentary storytelling minor's internship is intended to directly connect students with their area of study. “The main goal of this program is to provide students a foundation in both practice and theory with communicating stories in journalism and non-fiction writing, as well as documented video and digital media,” Almstead said.
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Feb. 5, 2019
We need safe and affordable rides Staff Editorial As college students, we rarely think of a night out as a life or death situation. But all too regularly, we are proven wrong, most recently by the death of first-year Connor Gage, in an incident the Burlington Police Department attributes in part to freezing overnight temperatures, according to an email sent by Annie Stevens, vice provost for student affairs. Coupled with assaults, four of which occured during the first two weeks of December 2018, and suspicious activity on or around UVM’s campus sent by UVM police services, such events illustrate the need for greater resources for students returning home at night. SGA has proposed the Safe Ride Home program, which would provide students free rides home within a four-mile radius, paid for by a small student fee at the start of the semester. The program, which is spearheaded by student groups and funded by an online petition, allows students the convenience of an Uber without the negatives that may make students hesitate. When every penny counts — as is the case for many college students — the cost of an Uber can be daunting. On top of that, an Uber forces passengers into a car
HOLLY COUGHLAN
with a stranger and can therefore offer only so much security. UVM’s program has the po-
Given the regularity with which students find themselves victims over the course of a walk home, the University ought to take some responsibility for the safety of their students. tential to put drivers through a more rigorous process of approval.
SGA’s program can forgo the potentially lethal hesitations that come with ordering from ride sharing apps in order to ensure students make decisions on account of their safety, not their wallet. Though it may seem like coddling to expect the University to keep students who chose to go out safe, it is unrealistic to expect people to stay inside, despite weather warnings and their best judgement. Given the regularity with which students find themselves victims over the course of a walk home, the University ought to take some responsi-
bility for the safety of their students. Safe Ride Home could be the first step toward the University providing the safety its students require.
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.
As 2020 comes, hold candidates to higher standards
Video Jordan Mitchell video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com
The Vermont Cynic
Emily Johnston ejohnst2@um.edu
I
n the era of #MeToo, it’s not easy to forgive someone who has tolerated sexual misconduct. Ever since Jan. 2, when I read about several of Bernie Sanders’ staffers being accused of sexual harassment on CNN, I have begun to doubt whether or not he is a good candidate for 2020. The New York Times reported that several women on Sanders’ 2016 campaign spoke about how they felt sexually harassed and had pay disparities that were never addressed. While the accusations are not being launched at Sanders himself, it’s worrying to hear that Sanders’ campaign was not safe for women. Several female employees reported being forced to sleep in the same quarters as men they didn’t know and were paid less than men for doing the same job, according to a Jan. 3 Time magazine article. O’Meara Sanders, the senator’s wife, told Time magazine in January that she and
SOPHIE SPENCER
her husband were not aware of these claims during the 2016 campaign and that upon hearing about them, they placed safeguards for his 2018 Senate campaign. Sanders has dealt with this scandal by using lack of preparation and constantly traveling as excuses for not knowing about harassment. “Of course, if I run again, we will do better next time,” Sanders said to CNN. It is too late to do better. As a woman who “felt the Bern” in 2016, I am struggling to find that same momentum for his probable run in 2020. If he was unaware of the
sexual misconduct and mistreatment of women on his campaign in 2016, it raises questions about what will go under his radar as president. His strides to correct his campaign’s mistake of not protecting against sexual harassment in 2016 are promising, but with tough competition, this scandal may sway my vote somewhere else. I know that Sanders’ campaign exploded in just a few short months. However, the neglect to provide means to report misconduct is unacceptable — someone who cares about his staff would make sure they are
safe. The fact that he only apologized when news of the scandal became public makes me question his image as a good guy standing against corruption. It sounds to me like this scandal was never supposed to get out. This scandal is an inconvenience for his campaign that his staff hopes will disappear in a couple months. I want to elect someone who will try their best to protect all people of all identities and foster spaces where discrimination does not exist. I thought that Sanders was that person, now I am doubting him. For 2020, I am currently supporting Cory Booker. Being from New Jersey, I know that he wants the same future I do, such as criminal justice reform. After the disappointment of Sanders, I am ready to embrace Booker.
Emily Johnston is a sophomore environmental science major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
OPINION
7
There is no right way to be alternative Gabby Felitto gfelitto@uvm.edu
A
s a former emo kid, I’ve noticed white people are poster children for alternative subcultures. This prevents society from acknowledging people of color in the alternative scene. Society’s image of those who follow subcultures isn’t inclusive. Many alternative icons are white like Lydia Deetz from “Beetlejuice” and Slipknot. This amount of white representation within the community causes the exclusion of many alternative POC, especially women. Dana Dillipede, blogger of “Dining with Dana,” says society doesn’t permit black women to express themselves in ways they want to, putting them in boxes. Musician Alicia Gaines said her classmates expected her to like rap, not metal, according to an October 2017 VOX article. Laina Dawes, the author of “What Are You Doing Here? A Black Woman’s Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal” realized she wasn’t into the riot-grrrl scene because it was for white women, according to a May 2013 Bitch Media article. White women with feminist values have not realized how race affects the experiences of women of color. This is not just a problem for WOC, either. As a whole, stereotypes
prevent POC from exploring styles, especially “white” ones, convincing them it’s not meant for them. If POC don’t stick to stereotypes, others will think they’re “trying to be white,” especially in their racial communities. Trying new styles shouldn’t cause someone to sacrifice race. Paleness is also an alt stereotype. Designer Bianca Xunise said whiteness is valued in goth culture, according to an October 2017 VOX article. This causes many POC to feel unwanted in the communities in which they’re trying to find acceptance. Musicians of color aren’t taken as seriously as white bands in metal, preventing them from getting contracts, Dawes explained in a September 2017 PSmag article. Companies see whiteness as prefered, causing them to sign white bands. Also, since whiteness is perceived as attractive, musicians will gain larger followings. This further prevents POC in the alt scene from having representation. Subcultures are made for people who feel outcast by society. There shouldn’t be racial restrictions because it’ll further exclude people who already feel like misfits.
Gabby Felitto is a first-year CSD major. She has been writing forwriting for the Cynic since fall 2017.
JULIA BLISS
It takes two parties to throw a government shutdown Ian Nathan inathan@uvm.edu
T
he recent government shutdown showed the true face of our politicians and the media. It was easy to point fingers and blame one side over the other for the prolonged shutdown, but neither side attempted to discuss viable options. Any time there was a discussion between the two parties, disagreement would arise which would then be followed by a swift silence, leading to yet another unpassed bill and another tally under days-withoutpay for government employees. Washington has two weeks to figure something out but, inevitably, egos will grow, emotions will boil and the cycle will repeat itself into another standoff. If you believe otherwise then you’re an optimist and I applaud you, but you should try to get out more. It does not help that the media is extremely divided on this topic. When sources of
news favor a political party, the validity of opinions formed from those sources are simply unapparent. CNN and MSNBC push the liberal agenda. FOX pushes the conservative agenda. Somewhere in the midst is the actual story, but very few people dig through the catastrophe that media has become in order to find it. Sure, you can blame President Donald Trump for all that is wrong in the world; CNN says it’s okay to believe that. If you’d like, you could blame the Democrats in Congress; FOX gives you permission to do so. Putting pressure on both parties should not be the last resort. The media is censoring itself in order to paint its own picture of events for the public, and it works perfectly. It takes two parties to run the U.S. government. Yet, whether you blame the Democrats or the Republicans, we have become ignorant enough to blame just one. If you truly believed only Trump and the Republicans, or
EMMA PINEZICH even just the Democrats, were to blame for the past month, then you need to rethink your opinions. Judging by posters and bumper stickers around campus, I assume most of you didn’t blame Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats, but maybe you should have. There is no reason why you shouldn’t have. To their credit, I understand why politicians on both sides of the aisle refused to cooperate. With 2020 closing in,
both parties must secure their base and adhere to the beliefs and values that garner the most votes. It’s a win-win for both parties. The Democrats explained that Republicans and the president refused to cooperate, and they continued to use emotionally-based arguments. This was similar to how Democrats emphasized the children separated from their parents at the border, to make us feel that the Republicans didn’t care about immigrants
and the American people. But this backlash was nonexistent when President Barack Obama separated immigrant families, according to a May 2018 New York Times article. Similarly, the Republicans explained that Democrats didn’t cooperate and that they didn’t care about national security. If they did, they’d want a wall. Hence, Democrats didn’t care about the American people. Yet, when the Democrats try to get a universal health care plan passed, the Republicans turn the other cheek and let Americans go without coverage, according to a December 2017 Washington Post article. Nobody likes to see children fight. But when those children wear suits and dresses and live in Washington D.C., we cheer them on. Ian Nathan is a senior political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017. He declined to have his photo taken.
CULTURE
8
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
Students celebrate religion through song Juliet Malkowski jmalkows@uvm.edu
In the center of the room, an individual raises their voice and begins to sing. Eventually, all members are singing, eyes closed, drumming on the desk and creating a song that overtakes the room. The Niggun Collective Club, started by sophomore Navah Fried and senior Alec Collins, is a gathering of students who practice niggun singing and meet at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Lafayette L102. A niggun is a melody that originated in Jewish religion. It is a wordless tune that uses musical sounds such as “lai-lai-lai” and “ya-da-dai” to create a spiritual experience beyond words. Music has always been a key part of Jewish culture. The role that music plays can be traced back to ancient texts such as the Book of Psalms, according to My Jewish Learning’s website. Fried and Collins got the idea for the club a few months ago after they attended Joey Weisenberg’s singing collective when he came to a synagogue in Burlington, Fried said. “[Weisenberg] is a leader who brings more music to Jewish prayer and the Jewish community,” Fried said. Weisenberg is the director of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and the author of “Building Singing Communities and The Torah of Music,” winner
MATT DOOMAN/The Vermont Cynic
Junior Tyler Lederer sings at the Niggun Collective Club meeting Jan. 30. The club is a gathering of students who practice niggun singing, a melody that originated in Jewish religion, a wordless tune that uses musical sounds such as “lai-lai-lai” and “ya da dai.” of a 2017 National Jewish Book Award, according to his website. He inspired the two club leaders to attend a four-day workshop in New York at the Rising Song Institute. From there, they learned how to lead similar niggun collectives for themselves, Fried said. The collective hopes to bring in new students and invite them to share their own melodies so
that people feel they are part of the community. Another goal is to inspire wellness and spiritual and mental well-being, he said. “It’s a super calming and relaxing thing to do to close your eyes and sing with people and not worry about the words because there is no sheet music,” Collins said. In each club meeting, the members sit together in a circle. After one person begins to sing,
other members jump in and join the melody. Some songs are slow, while others are faster; each song changes the mood of the room. Fried and Collins agree that the greatest takeaway from the club is the sense of calm and joy. Junior Tyler Lederer, a member of the Niggun Collective, said he wanted to get involved with the club so that he could connect to his Jewish
identity. He had experience with niggun singing on Birthright Israel, a trip where individuals of Jewish heritage visit Israel. “It doesn’t matter if you think you are a good singer, or if you’re comfortable or if you have not sung before,” Collins said. “Everyone is welcome and all you need is your voice and, however it sounds, it’s perfect and we’d love to have you.”
Pokeworks: Hawaiian cuisine comes to Church Street Allie O’Connor aoconno8@uvm. edu
L
ight wood, white walls and calm music all lend themselves to a relaxed and beachy atmosphere in a new addition to Burlington’s restaurant scene. Pokeworks, which opened Jan. 9 on Church Street, is the perfect escape from the frigid winter temperatures and blustery winds. Pokeworks specializes in “Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls,” which contain a hearty mix of rice, fresh vegetables and meat or raw fish. At Pokeworks, customers can select a meal from the list of “Signature Works,” which are poke bowls with pre-selected ingredients. They can also pick ingredients for a poke bowl, salad or burrito of their own design. I stepped up to the counter, a little overwhelmed at the vast array of unfamiliar foods. However, an employee was quick to notice my confusion and made recommendations.
I asked for shrimp and raw salmon, to which she recommended “mix-ins” of kale, cucumber, edamame, sweet onions and seaweed. After topping the bowl off with chives and the store’s signature sauce, I paid and sat down, ready to dig in. To those who might be a little weirded out by the thought of eating raw fish, take my particularly picky word: it’s really good. You can also opt for the restaurant’s cooked options of tofu or chicken. The ingredients were fresh and delicious. I got a large serving of food for a resonable price, which is pretty important for a broke college student. Depending on the ingredients you choose, bowls cost between$10 and $13. “The workers were really nice and helpful, and the food is really good,” sophomore Charlotte Lau said. “I got a good amount of food for a good price, so I’d absolutely recommend it.” Despite my unfamiliarity with poke and Hawaiian cuisine, Pokeworks was an incredibly positive experience through helpful, friendly ser-
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
The sweet ginger chicken, shiso salmon and spicy ahi tuna poke bowls are all “Signature Works” that can be found at Pokeworks on Church Street. Depending on the ingredients you choose, bowls cost about $10 to $13. vice and delightful ingredients. However, I might need to sharpen my chopstick skills before I go again. If you find yourself downtown and looking for a healthy meal, consider stepping into
Pokeworks for a little corner of paradise. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
Allie O’Connor is a sophomore English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017. She is the Assistant Culture Editor.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
CULTURE
9
“Black is the Body”
Professor Emily Bernard discusses race and inspiration in latest essay collection Sarah Robinson srobin14@uvm.edu
The author took her place behind the podium to face a crowd of friends, colleagues, students and strangers. The applause quieted, and she smiled. “I’ll try not to cry,” she said. English professor Emily Bernard is the author of “Black is The Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time and Mine.” Bernard read from her fifth and newest book at her debut Jan. 30. at Phoenix Books in downtown Burlington. The book is a collection of essays narrating her experiences as a black woman, a daughter, an adoptive mother and an educator. Bernard grew up in Tennessee and spent her childhood reading books such as “Jane Eyre” and “David Copperfield,” imagining herself in their characters’ shoes, she said. “There was just this magic about making connections with people that I would never meet [and] never would have met,” she said. Bernard said reading Edith Wharton and Nathaniel Hawthorne led her to New England for college. Eventually, she and her husband, English professor John Gennari, settled in South Burlington. “I still feel at home in the
SARAH ROBINSON/The Vermont Cynic
Emily Bernard reads from her new book “Black is The Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time and Mine” Jan. 30. at Phoenix Books. The book is a collection of essays that narrates her experiences as a black woman, a daughter, an adoptive mother and an educator. idea of New England,” Bernard said. “I don’t think I could live anywhere else.” The book features 11 essays, the first of which is a deeply intimate story about a violent attack she experienced while in graduate school that led to a long-lasting health complication that still affects her today. She made the decision to have the essay, entitled “Scar
Tissue,” the first in the book because she wanted her readers to know how vulnerable she was willing to make herself, Bernard said. “It’s also so much about storytelling and about how little control we have over the stories about us,” she said. In “Motherland,” Bernard describes her and Gennari’s complicated adoption of their
twin daughters, Giulia and Isabella, from Ethiopia. Bernard said she worries, as any mother does. “I am very conscious of them moving through the world in their tiny brown bodies,” she said. Junior Mickenzie Zadworny, an English major, said she was especially excited to read a book written by an En-
glish professor. “I love that she is including stories from the lineage of women that she is connected to,” Zadworny said. One of Bernard’s essays, “Teaching the N-Word,” has been widely taught in UVM classes. “Teaching the N-Word” addresses the complications of teaching race in literature classes and how that contributes to the discussion of race on campus and state-wide. “Talking about race in Vermont, I have found it to be largely productive and really inspiring,” Bernard said. “What I find are white people who really want to know and want to do better. And I can’t do better than that.” Friend and fellow English professor Sean Witters also teaches Bernard’s essay. “‘Teaching the N-Word’ was a guide for me in many ways, as a white male teaching race in American literature,” he said. Although the book is centered around the Black experience, Bernard wants everyone to feel invited into her writing. “I want people to feel welcome and to feel like a book that is pivoting around race doesn’t exclude you. You’re part of it,” she said. “Black is The Body” is now for sale at local bookstores, as well as on Amazon.
Maggie Rogers sings of love and fame in latest album Anna Kolosky akolosky@uvm. edu
I
woke up early Jan. 18 to Spotify alerting me of the news I had been waiting for all month: one of my favorite artists had finally released her first album. Needless to say, I spent all morning and all week listening to Maggie Rogers’ “Heard It in A Past Life” on repeat. Rogers’ new album is composed of 12 songs and includes previous singles “Alaska,” “On + Off,” “Give a Little” and “Fallingwater.” Although Rogers is known for her folksy, indie sound, she takes her debut album to the next level by incorporating more pop influences into her music. While songs like “The Knife” and “Burning” incorporate the usual sounds of nature that Rogers is known for, such as her use of bird calls in her song “Dog Years,” they also rely heavily on traditional pop beats. I found that this combination worked beautifully, as
Rogers merges her personal style with a more popular sound. Starting off her album with “Give a Little,” Rogers combines her indie singing over pop beats, talking about how we could all “learn to love each other.” Love persists as a major theme throughout her songs. “Overnight” discusses a complicated relationship over a missed love connection, and “Say It” has Rogers hitting high notes while she discusses her disbelief at falling in love so fast. Additionally, Rogers incorporates a number of songs about her struggle with fame and feeling as though she was losing herself. She illustrates this idea beautifully in “Past Life,” where she sings about how she could “feel the change a comin’” to the tune of a single piano in the background. Rogers continues this idea in her song “Fallingwater.” She alternates between belting notes and harmonizing with herself to discuss how things are “getting harder,” despite everyone telling her she
“should be so happy now.” Rogers leaves her album on a much happier note with songs like “Retrograde” and “Back In My Body,” that focus on reclaiming her sense of self. I found “Retrograde” to be especially catchy with its incorporation of snare beats, introspective lyrics and Rogers’ impressive vocals. “Back In My Body” wraps up the album perfectly as it encapsulates Rogers’ experience with anxiety with halting beats and pauses between verses. As Rogers talks about almost “running away,” she comes back to the conclusion that she is “back in her body,” or back in control of her life. Overall, “Heard It in A Past Life” is definitely worth the listen with its focus on a number of complex feelings such as love, anxiety, fear and security. Rogers expertly manages to create an album that simultaneously breaks and heals your heart over the course of 45 minutes.
Anna Kolosky is a sophomore English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.
REESE GREEN
FEATURE
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
CAROLINE SLACK/The Vermont Cynic
10
WINTER WOES SEASONAL SADNESS:
cjslack@uvm.edu
It’s a Sunday afternoon, and junior Tali Friedman opens her windows to watch an early sunset. Then, she turns on her light box, a special lamp on her wall that mimics sunlight and helps her combat seasonal depression. “Winters in Vermont can be intense,” Friedman said. “Literally, with the amount of snow, but also emotionally. “Socially, people feel withdrawn. The lack of light can be difficult. But people cozy up and pull out their sweaters.” Vermont is known for its lengthy, frigid winters. During these winter months, students take advantage of outdoor winter recreation and enjoy the snowy scenery. Senior Emily Bruggeman said she finds the harsh winters in Vermont invigorating. She enjoys the four distinct seasons in New England. “[Winter is] the necessary shift in environment to keep things truly lively and fresh,” she said. However, the lower levels of sunlight and colder temperatures take a toll on the mental health of many students. For some students, the short days are the most devastating aspect of winter. Many have schedules that require them to be most active with clubs, jobs and extracurricular activities long after the sun has set in the midafternoon. Senior Wyatt Garratt said the early nights remind him of the 2007 film “30 Days of Night,” which takes place in Alaska during a month-long period in which the sun does not rise. “Sometimes, I’m just in a fugue,”
he said. English professor Major Jackson has lived in Vermont for 16 years and relies on a series of routines that help him keep a positive attitude. “The winters at times come really strong — a lot of snow, cold temperatures, subarctic air. So I believe in soup, and I believe in lots of candles. I am totally down with the hygge [a Scandinavian concept of comfort and coziness],” he said. He also emphasized the importance of spending quality time with friends in the winter, enjoying gatherings with friends for wine and dessert, storytelling or even reading aloud works of literature about the winter season. “[I rely on] any kind of ritual or activity that helps me say ‘OK, this is not abnormal that the temperature has windchill factors of minus 21,’” he said. For many, enjoying the snowy season requires a shift in lifestyle and focus on self-care. “Sometimes I like to stay busy, sometimes I like to not have as much planned. Listen to yourself. Figure out what needs to be prioritized,” Friedman said. “Winter has always been the hardest for me, but I also feel that it can be fun or transformative, even.” For some students, the issue goes beyond dull feelings of sadness in the winter. Low levels of sunlight can
“
cause seasonal depression in some individuals, according to the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms of seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, typically appear in fall or the early winter and continue until spring begins. Symptoms include feelings of depression, low energy, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite and problems with concentration. These symptoms can be devastating and heavily disruptive to the lifestyle of those affected. Treatment for this condition can involve counselling, antidepressant medication or even light therapy — using light b o x e s that emit bright l i g h t w h i c h simulates daytime sunlight levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. These light boxes are much brighter than everyday indoor lighting and help trick the brain into thinking it’s daytime, according to an October 2015 Harvard Health article. This helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, making the days seem longer and improving mood. Thirty minutes of exposure to light therapy on a daily basis can provide symptom relief to many living with SAD. “[Light boxes] help with circadian rhythms. They make it seem like your room is lit up like it’s the day,”
I believe in soup, and I believe in lots of candles. I am totally down with the hygge
“
Caroline Slack
Friedman said. “It definitely helps when the sun goes down early.” The lamps retail for around $90 on Amazon. Those curious about the therapeutic effects of these lights can try them out in the Living Well office in the Davis Center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sofia Khanayev, a Living Well staff member, said the happy lights are specifically used for SAD. “They basically simulate the light of the sun,” she said. “They’re really helpful for those cold, dreary days.” Whether students are struggling with seasonal mood changes or have a deeper underlying mental health concern, there are many resources at UVM for students struggling during the winter months through Living Well and Counseling and Psychiatry Services. “At Living Well, we have a lot of programs that help you with selfcare. We have ‘Let’s Talk’ with Counseling and Psychiatric Services counsellors — basically drop-in consultations with CAPS counsellors — Monday to Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.,” Khanayev said. Students struggling to cope with the winter months should know that they aren’t alone. As the campus forges through the toughest stretch of the spring semester, there is still plenty of light to be found, even on the shortest days.
Photo: Junior Tali Friedman uses “light boxes” that emit bright light which simulates daytime sunlight levels to combat feelings of depression that come during the winter months. Thirty minutes of exposure to light therapy on a daily basis can provide symptom relief to many sufferers.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
SPORTS
11
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
The UVM women’s hockey team sets up on offense during last year’s Pack the Gut game against the University of Connecticut Feb. 9, 2018. This year, 1,967 fans filled the stands in the Pack the Gut game against Boston University Feb. 3.
Pack the Gut inspires energy at home Ashley Miller amille68@uvm.edu
The third largest crowd in history attended the annual Pack the Gut hockey game this month, according to UVM athletics. The challenge to break the Women’s Hockey East record of game attendance fell short with 1,967 fans coming out to see the UVM women’s hockey play Boston University Feb. 2. Two years ago, 2,136 fans attended the Pack the Gut event, according to UVM athletics. UVM ended up losing this game to Boston 7-2. Vermont currently has a No. 8 ranking in Hockey East with a
10-20-5 record, two spots below the Terriers, according to the Hockey East website. Sophomore Sarah Davis said that she was excited to go to Friday’s game. “I’m really looking forward to watching the girls tonight,” Davis said. “It’s great to be among this large crowd of supporters, you can really feel the energy.” The Catamounts started the first period with noticeable energy, mirroring the enthusiasm that radiated from the crowd, she said. First-year defense Sini Karajalainen scored the first goal in less than five minutes, giving the Catamounts an immediate
lead to start the game. Boston responded with three goals over the remainder of the period, leaving the scoreboard at 3-1 to start the second. Cecilia Curtain, a player on the Montpelier Radiers U13 club ice hockey team, went with them to watch and learn from the game. “UVM is playing well,” Curtain said. “Boston is a good team, but the Catamounts are working hard. We’re looking forward to the second period.” Boston continued to control possession and dominated play in the second by scoring two goals. Sophomore defense Anna Erickson responded to this and
was able to break through Boston’s barrier, scoring Vermont’s second goal of the game. Boston finished the third period with two additional goals, defeating UVM 7-2, in the Catamounts’ fifth straight loss, according to UVM athletics. Head coach Jim Plumer praised the energy present in the crowd. “The energy in the building was fantastic,” Plumer said. “They deserved a better effort from our team.” In the future, junior Summer Maklub wants to see more effort from UVM students to suppor women’s hockey. “The turnout was great tonight and the energy was lit,”
Maklub said. “It needs to be like this for every home game.” First-year Kyra Morrissette said that she had never attended a women’s hockey game before, but ended up having an awesome experience. “All my friends and I decided to come tonight and show our support for the team,” Morrison said. “It was a fun game, especially because of the crowd’s enthusiasm.” After this game, UVM played College of the Holy Cross and won 2-1, according to UVM athletics. The Catamounts will travel to the University of Connecticut Feb. 8 to face off against the Huskies.
Women’s basketball gains No.3 ranking in home win Nickie Morris nrmorris@uvm.edu
The UVM women’s basketball team’s No. 3 conference ranking hints at a playoff run. Women’s basketball won 52-42 against University of Massachusetts Lowell Feb. 2. UVM is 9-12 on the season with a 5-4 record in the America East Conference, according to UVM athletics. This positions the Catamounts in a tie for third place in the conference with Stony Brook University and just three wins short of tied leaders of the conference, University of Maine and University of Hartford, according to AmericaEast.com. The game began slowly for UVM, who scored just eight points in the first quarter in contrast to 11 by Lowell. All of Vermont’s points in the first quarter came from junior forward Hanna Crymble
and senior forward Candice Wright. UVM caught up during the second quarter as the Cats were down just one point. In the last five minutes of the second quarter, Vermont scored eight points and blocked Lowell from scoring any. Head coach Alisa Kresge said that she already anticipated what was needed to maintain this lead. “I got there and they pretty much already knew what I was going to say to them before I said it and were discussing the same kinds of things with each other,” Kresge said. Vermont’s offensive strategy changed during the third quarter. Crymble lead off with a layup ten seconds into the period. Wright’s layup three minutes into the period helped the Catamounts maintain their lead.
Image source: UVM
Senior Candace Wright looks for a pass in the UVM women’s basketball game against the University of Massachusetts Lowell Feb. 2. The team won 54-42. “I think we really had to just show some grit down the stretch [after the first half],” Wright said. “UMass is a tough team, so we were calm, tough and rode it out.” She scored 15 points in this
game and played all forty minutes. As a senior, Wright’s last season at UVM comes with hints of a potential playoff run for the Catamounts. Although the season isn’t
over yet, this is still an improvement from last year’s 5-11, seventh place finish. Kresge said the team takes the season one day at a time. “We really are going about it by thinking of our next game and taking everything one game at a time,” Kresge said. Sophomore guard Jose Larkins scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to give UVM a double-digit lead. “I think we’ve been really stepping up on defense and really focusing on it in practice,” Larkins said. “It really carries over into the game because our defensive gives us confidence on offense to settle in and make those shots.” UVM will play their next three games on the road and return home Feb. 16 to play Hartford in one of just three remaining home games for the season.
SPORTS
12
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 5, 2019
Penguin Plungers get cold for a cause Stephan Toljan stoljan@uvm.edu
If walking to class in ice cold temperatures isn’t enough of a shock, try jumping into ice cold water. The Penguin Plunge took place Feb. 3 at Lake Champlain. For 24 years, this event has raised money for Special Olympics Vermont, which supports athletes with disabilities in Vermont. Danny Collins, who plunged for Vermont Flannel, said the water had a paralyzing effect. “It was so cold, and we had bathrobes on that weighed, like, 75 pounds when they got wet,” he said. “I didn’t think it was going to be as bad as it was. I came up and I couldn’t breathe for the first three seconds.” Plungers, 1,200 in total, spend anywhere from 1 to 10 seconds in the water before running back up. In order for people to jump into the frozen-solid Lake Champlain, event staff melted a section of the water. Event staff directed the first groups to the changing tent, which is where plungers change out of their warm winter gear. Some plungers, like participants from Burlington Rugby, wore their team uniforms. Lindsay Hennekey, the wife of one of the Burlington Rugby plungers, has supported the
STEPHAN TOLJAN/The Vermont Cynic
Members of the Champlain Valley Union High School Penguin Plunge team run out of the freezing Lake Champlain waters Feb. 3. The Penguin Plunge has been held for 24 years and raises money for Special Olympics Vermont. event for seven years. “[The team] goes really slow; they march in,” she said. “That’s why I’ll never do it, but I like to take pictures for them.” Other plungers jumped in wearing just bathing suits, like participants from the Champlain Valley School District. Participants must raise a
minimum of $150 prior to the event in order to qualify, according to the Penguin Plunge website. Businesses who participated include Union Mutual, which raised over $40,000 for the plunge this year, the largest amount in the event’s history. Together with individual do-
nations, the event was able to raise over $500,000, said Sasha Fisher, manager of events and partnerships. Fisher and nine other SOVT staff members raised over $31,000, she said. “The Penguin Plunge is a way to support people who haven’t had the opportunity to
participate in sports,” she said. “It’s an honor to plunge into ice cold water to allow the athletes to shine.” First-year Aida de la Cruz didn’t attend, but she said that she would have plunged. “It’s just one of those things that you do once to say that you’ve done it,” she said.