The Vermont Cynic FEBRUARY 6, 2018
VOL. 134 – ISSUE 19
VTCYNIC.COM
Pat Brown to retire at end of year
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic The old Burlington City Arts building, the Memorial Auditorium, sits unoccupied on Main Street. At the end of the building is 242 Main, an arts nonprofit, which will host its final concert series Feb. 8.
Group rallies to revive venue Allie O’Connor Arts Staff Writer “Hope,” is graffitied in large silvery letters in front of the dull brick walls and dirty windows of Memorial Auditorium. The old Burlington City Arts entrance is littered with soda cans and cigarette butts From the looks of the auditorium, hope for its return to the Burlington community seems even more misplaced
than the lively graffiti. Memorial Auditorium, a multi-purpose arena and studio space, was built in 1927. Since its closing in December 2016, community members have attempted to revive its former arts and music scene. “Memorial Auditorium was a run-down, unsafe old building, but it was comfortable: it was spacious,” artist Elise Whittemore said. Her printmaking studio used to be
located there before she was forced to move. “People just wandered in occasionally to see what was going on. It felt like old Burlington,” she said. The local initiative to re-establish Memorial Auditorium as a community space and musical and artistic haven breathes a new vitality into the building, thanks in no small way to 242 Main. A youth music space that
Students fight for racial equity Lindsay Freed Senior Staff Writer Students put up posters reading “#Don’tShootUVM” around campus early Thursday morning. NoNames4Justice, a social justic group, posted the signs in response to the dismissal of a recent court case in which a student was overhead making threatening statements about students of color, the group’s Facebook page stated. NoNames4Justice was formed in response to bias incidents on campus, according to a Feb. 1 open letter posted on the groups page titled “Case Closed for White Student at the University of Vermont Who Wants to Shoot ‘Niggers.’” The flyers also read “People of color shouldn’t have to be targets, but we are living in the world where we are.” The group provided the University with a list of demands in spring 2017, and “until each demand has been addressed and met with sincerity and genuity, NoNames4Justice will continue advocating for justice,” they stated. “Students of color at the University of Vermont do not feel safe, welcomed or included,” the letter stated. #Don’tShootUVM was created to highlight racial dis-
Joey Waldinger Assistant News Editor The director of student life will retire after 39 years at UVM at the end of this year. Pat Brown has many memories from his years from “rock n roll shows at the gym to student protests on Waterman,” he said. But his most treasured memories are those of students he has worked with who have done great things after graduating, he said. His days are busy, stacked with meetings, he said. “I have a collection of meetings back to back...helping make things happen at UVM,” he said. Brown plans to stay busy. He will teach at Community College of Vermont, he said. “I’m gonna take the first six or twelve months to just enjoy it, and then figure out what the next step is,” he said.
was located in the basement of the auditorium, 242 Main taught and entertained for decades before it closed. It began as a city-endorsed project to give local teens a space to organize their own events, said James Lockridge, Memorial cont. on page 6 Watch the video online vtcynic.com/memorial
OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic
Faculty union and SGA clash over salary raises Emma Jarnagin Staff Writer
The Vermont Cynic A poster was hung by NoNames4Justice, a social justice group advocating for racial equity on campus, on a sign outside of Waterman Feb. 1. crimination on campus, they stated. First-year Kayley Noterman supports NoNames4Justice in advocating for equity on campus. “I think it’s good in all cases to speak up for the things that you think are right,” she said. “They’re not attacking anyone back, they’re not tearing other people down — it’s peaceful.” The group letter ended with a summons for all students at UVM to fight racial injustice on campus. “This is a call to action for white people to actively
fight racial oppression and for People of Color to disrupt the current status quo, speak their truth and to demand racial justice,” the letter stated. Junior Juls Sundberg said that it’s time that everyone rally to fight injustice on campus. “NoNames4Justice is advocating for an incredibly important cause, and we should all be responding to their call of action,” they said. There will be a march for racial justice on campus Feb. 26 in front of Bailey/Howe Library.
The faculty union is asking for a raise which could potentially increase tuition, said SGA president Chris Petrillo. United Academics, the faculty union at UVM, negotiates its contract with the university every three years. The negotiations will determine whether or not they will get a raise, UA president Thomas Streeter stated in a Jan. 29 email. UA is advocating for modest raises that can help keep salaries at UVM competitive, “so [faculty] do not leave UVM for institutions with better pay,” Streeter said. Petrillo said the salaries UVM pays full-time faculty are on par with or above national averages. The administration is now considering raising student fees to help pay for a proposed new $80 million dollar multipurpose center, Streeter said. “As a student, would you rather your money go to keep good faculty and smaller courses, or to pay for a basketball stadium?” he said. The argument UA is making about how the University spends money incorrectly is not fully valid, Petrillo said.
COURTESY/Tom Streeter United Academics President Thomas Streeter stated in an email that UA is asking for a 4 percent raise for faculty. The money that comes for any sort of new building is from a foundation that raises money from private donations that are designated for specific things, he said. “When receiving donations, the University does not say, ‘we’re going to build a new stadium, we’re going to shortchange faculty,’” Petrillo said. “UA is comparing things that are incomparable.” Sophomore Scarlett Moore disagrees, and said that Petrillo missed the point of the comparison. “It’s saying that the priority UA cont. on page 2
NEWS
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The Vermont Cynic
Three compete for mayor election Brandon Arcari Asst. Breaking News Editor
The Burlington mayoral election is a three-way race among mayor Miro Weinberger and challengers Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure. Mayors have a three-year term, meaning that whomever is elected will serve until current first-years are seniors. Mayor Weinberger, a Democrat, was first elected in March 2012 and re-elected for a second term in 2015, according to his campaign’s website. “Mayor of Burlington has been the best job I’ve ever had, and I have been grateful to serve in this role for the past six years,” he stated Jan. 25. A native Vermonter, Weinberger holds a degree in public policy and urban planning from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. “The top priorities of our administration have been building new housing, creating jobs and protecting the environment — issues that are directly relevant to all students, especially those with any interest in considering Burlington as home after graduation,”
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
The race for City Hall is between current mayor Miro Weinberger and challengers Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure. The election will be held Town Meeting Day, March 6. Miro stated. Miro’s administration fights for Burlington to remain a vibrant city of opportunity and a place where people from all backgrounds can make a home and career, he stated. “We want students to stay in Burlington after they graduate to start their lives here,” Weinberger stated. Driscoll is an independent candidate, with degrees in political science and sociology from the University of Montana, according to her cam-
paign’s website. Driscoll’s stepfather is U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-V.T. Driscoll served on the Burlington School Board and as part of Weinberger’s transition team in 2012, helping to set up the new structure of the government under Weinberger. “This election is about bringing people together,” Driscoll said. Driscoll has emphasized Burlington community-building in her campaign. “Burlingtonians of all walks
Getting paid to exercise in WE Brandon Arcari, Lindsay Freed, Joey Waldinger Students will be paid to exercise in a new Wellness Environment study. The study asks participants to wear chest-strap heart monitors in addition to Apple Watches that were given to students who took part in the previous WE app exercise study. Apple is funding the study, providing both the chest straps and financial incentives, according to a Jan. 24 email sent to current WE app participants by the WE Research team. “For the heart — the chest straps study — it’s actually an Apple-funded project,” firstyear Joy Vincenzo said. “So Apple is actually getting our data because they want to see the correlation between how accurate the monitors are in the watch when you actually exercise.” Vincenzo does research with Dr. Jim Hudziak, director of the Wellness Environment. The chest strap study started in January and will go until May 31. If students take part in 50 workouts during their time in the study, they will get to keep the chest strap. Students can also earn $5 for every day they work out during the study, according to the email. “That’s the only reason I’m doing it,” said first-year Ellie McGee, who is participating in the chest strap study. Students have to fill out a payment acknowledgement form every time they pick up a check, according to Jackie Ellis, the WE program coordinator for Christie Wright Patterson residence hall. The chest strap study will
pay students for exercising to see the impact of incentivising exercise on students’ wellness, Rettew stated. Apple declined to comment on the chest strap study, but has funded studies at other institutions, such as Stanford University, according to the Center for Digital Health at Stanford. The chest strap study aims to “monitor and further validate fitness tracking devices — the Apple Watch and Chest Strap” as well as examine the effect of fiScreenshots from Wellness Environmnet App nancial incentives to exercise in the The Wellness Environment app collects overall WE app information from participants about sleep, study, according exercises, nutrition, happiness and drugs. to the email. enroll in the chest strap study, In the chest according to the email. strap study, Apple will receive “The WE app study is lookheart rate data from the chest ing at the impact of an incenstrap and the watch as well as tive-based health promotion the type of exercise performed, app on the health and wellbeaccording to the contract stuing of college students,” Rettew dents sign when they join the stated. study. The three-year WE app McGee is comfortable with study is funded with a $1.8 milthe University and Apple collion grant from the Conrad Hillecting her health data because ton Foundation, Rettew stated. the studies are “100 percent The Apple watches given to anonymous,” she said. students in the first year of the No personally identifiable study were cited to be from an data will be given to Apple, acanonymous donor. cording to the contract. The chest strap study is separate from the WE app study, but only students enrolled in the WE app study are eligible to
of life, political parties and throughout the city yearn for the opportunity to engage the issues that impact their lives and their community,” Driscoll said. Culcleasure ‘05, graduated from UVM with a psychology degree. He has a master’s in urban policy analysis and management from the New School University of Public Engagement, according to his campaign’s website. Culcleasure DJs for WRUV, according to his website. “At its core, our campaign is driven by a deep appreciation of and respect for our community and unyielding solidarity with those most in need,” his website stated. His campaign has focused on reforming city government and supporting the greater Burlington community. “It is about service to the families and communities who live here, building authentic relationships and collaboration in developing solutions to the challenges we face,” his website states. The election will be held Town Meeting Day, March 6. Registered students are eligible to vote.
Feb. 6, 2018
UA cont. from page 1 of the University ought to be to invest in what directly impacts students education,” Moore said. The administration sometimes wrongfully implies that if faculty gets raises, tuition will have to go up, Streeter said. UVM could reduce costs of marketing and administrator salaries which would allow the University to “keep tuition level or reduce it,” he said. The most recent resolution of the UA contract was passed in 2016 by former SGA president Jason Maulucci and contains specific requests on how faculty should approach the publication of their syllabi and office hours, Petrillo said. These resolutions are simple, he said. To his knowledge, there has been no progress made by UA on any of the requests. Streeter met with SGA leadership last November and hopes they can meet again, he said. If UA wants more money, they should be doing more for it, Petrillo said. “They should be listening to our requests,” he said.
Administration Responds The article “Blue Penis Gate” in the Jan. 17 issue of the Cynic regarding the Wellness Environment didn’t completely portray the full story. While it did discuss students’ rights to freedom of speech/expression, it did not include a broader discussion about community values, impact and accountability. The students involved in the incident acknowledged that they acted irresponsibly. They attended mutually-agreed-upon programs to show they still value being in WE. Throughout the semester, staff had meals with the students, discussed their WE experience and stayed in touch with the students to ensure their continued engagement and success. This is what honesty, accountability and community looks like. It’s true that WE has caught the attention of many this year as the program has grown. Fitness and nutrition may be visible elements of WE, but perhaps less visible is the community’s commitment to specific values. When students sign the WE Code, they are agreeing to take on those additional responsibilities — students are rewarded for staying healthy. I commend students who confront one another or report violations of the WE Code — they made a commitment to themselves and to others. I also understand the students’ concern about freely expressing themselves and not “living in fear” of removal from their residence hall because of what item they may possess or what they may be wearing. To date, no one has been removed for this reason. However, I know that students have been surprised when approached about possessing or wearing items
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
with messages that “celebrate” or normalize the use/abuse of alcohol and other drugs, items called neuro-triggers. These items are antithetical to the values of a community based on health and wellness. No matter your perspective, it seems appropriate to reflect on their usefulness, purpose and potential unintended detrimental impact. On college campuses today, it isn’t always easy to get away from the signs, symbols and pressures of alcohol and drugs. Students who sign up to live in the Wellness Environment at UVM have committed to the values and standards of this community. Students in WE are trying to make a different choice in college and I applaud these students. As the WE program develops, constructive feedback and dialogue from WE student community members will be critical to its success. I am confident that students, faculty and staff will continue to work together to make this program the best possible experience. Sincerely, Annie Stevens Vice Provost for Student Affairs
The Vermont Cynic The Vermont
CYNIC EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Erika B. Lewy editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Greta Bjornson newsroom@vtcynic.com OPERATIONS Advertising Manager Kaysie Smith ads@vtcynic.com Social Media Sorrel Galantowicz socialmedia@vtcynic.com Distribution Manager Brittnay Heffermehl distribution@vtcynic.com PR Manager Sara Klimek cynicpr@gmail.com EDITORIAL Arts Bridget Higdon arts@vtcynic.com Copy Chief George Seibold copy@vtcynic.com Features Maggie Richardson bside@vtcynic.com Life Izzy Siedman life@vtcynic.com Multimedia William Dean Wertz media@vtcynic.com News Lauren Schnepf news@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts Chloe Chaobal vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Eribert Volaj sports@vtcynic.com Video Kailey Bates video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com Layout Eileen O’Connor layout@vtcynic.com Photo Phil Carruthers photo@vtcynic.com Illustrations Genevieve Winn illustrations@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Locria Courtright (Sports), Tiana Crispino (Layout), Kyra Chevalier (Layout), Katie Brobst (Life), Joey Waldinger (News), Addie Beach (Arts) Page Designers Meg Stevens, Lindsay Freed Copy Editors Clare Abbatiello, Izzy Abraham, Brandon Arcari, Lindsay Freed, Sabrina Hood, Claire MacQueen
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Faculty union ad deceives students
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ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu
OPINION
Feb. 6, 2018
Staff Editorial
et’s get one thing straight: for what they do, some of the best professors at UVM make nowhere near enough money. Take Rubenstein professor Trish O’Kane, who developed a program that connects young children with nature through birding. Or English professor Major Jackson, poetry editor of the Harvard Review, whose classes inspire and encourage new artists. Every student on staff has their favorite professor — we all wish they had better salaries and we support faculty efforts to raise salaries. In December last year, United Academics, the faculty union, began a campaign for a 4 percent salary increase called Open the Books at UVM. While we wholeheartedly support the goal of the faculty union, we are disappointed in the attacks the campaign has lodged against the University. We are upset with the ways that UA has misled students to gain support their cause. In the most recent issues of the Cynic, UA has run a halfpage ad meant to show how little a faculty salary increase would compare to other University expenditures. The advertisement, which the UA also put on bulletin boards around campus, is misleading. It shows how a salary increase of 1 percent would cost the University $853,000 annually compared to a $10 million costs of a new basketball stadium and $3 million to connect Central Campus Residence Hall to the Bailey/Howe library. There are several issues with how this data is conveyed. The union is not asking for
GENEVIEVE WINN
the 1 percent increase but a 4.5 percent increase. That’s more than $3.8 million. And the comparison is unfair for another more costly reason: an increase in salaries is a yearly cost. The yearly salary increases are being compared to one-time building costs. The union unfairly glosses over the intricacies of where the funding for the new athletic complex and a salary increase would come from. While salary increases would require raising tuition or firing faculty members, the multipurpose center will be funded by private donations and student fees. The graphic, which ac-
cuses UVM administrators of “shortchanging teaching and research,” does not show that there are different funding sources. And it’s not just the graphic; UA members have brought their message into classrooms. Helen Scott, an English professor, asked her students in class to support the request for a salary increase and urged them to attend an “Open the Books” campaigning event Feb. 1. UA said they’re going to open the books on the administration and finances, but their books are open. Go talk to Richard Cate, vice president of finance and treasury. The University is trans-
parent about where the money goes. Yes, we support the call to increase faculty salaries, even if it means a tuition increase. We do not support the misleading manner in which UA has called students to its cause. 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.
Celebrities are unqualified for presidency Isabella Abraham
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ollege students today recognize Donald Trump (and maybe Oprah Winfrey) as some of the first out-oftheir-mind celebrities to consider running for office. While the Trump administration is breaking new ground every day, the mind-boggling trend of Hollywood’s finest moving into national politics is nothing new. Former Senator Al Franken was a bubbly writer and cast member on the funny, political Saturday Night Live in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. He shifted his career from the stage to the Senate floor. After absorbing the national spotlight for decades, he fell from grace after a December 2017 New York Times article of sexual harassment allegations. Suave movie star Ronald Reagan was elected president before many college students can remember, but his controversial economic policy is stamped into textbooks and still has a tremendous impact on today’s economy.
He even earned the unforgettable title of “America’s Greatest Union Buster,” according to a September 2017 Washington Post article. Oprah may seem like just the powerful figurehead the U.S. needs in the White House, but this is also what many voters thought of Donald Trump. While today’s college students may not have been alive for all of the celebrities who made massive mistakes in office, the potential for history to repeat itself and effect awful consequences is far too close and dangerous for Americans to forget. History must not repeat itself. While we have tried to permit celebrities to hold political office; their trials have failed. It is counterproductive to let these mistakes happen again. This is information we should know by now. Isabella Abraham is a firstyear English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since 2018.
SHANNON O’CONNOR
SHANNON O’CONNOR
FEATURE
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The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 6, 2018
rewarding early tracks
James Gaudreault Feature Writer While winter slept stubbornly through the early days of December, my friend and I spent our Saturday scraping the icy slopes of Sugarbush. We arrived late in the morning and found the elements at the base of the mountain caught in a fierce war. The muddy earth and wilting meadows were battling snowfield troops down the slopes from their wintery kingdom. Despite the fake snow blowing from cannons, the woods and far edges of the lower trails clung to the earthen fall palettes, refusing to allow skiers more than a few icy routes down to the lift. Before we set out, we hobbled down the iron steps to pick up our ski passes, clinging to the handrail as our early season legs tripped along. After a brief wait among the few hungry enough for those scarce early winter tracks, we climbed back up the gauntlet of stairs and rode our first lift to the peak. The contrast in climate between elevations can be magnificent, especially during the first weeks of winter. In minutes, the stubborn grassland and rushing streams gave way to a
sheet of white coating the trees and wooded glades. All the energy and warmth of the base is locked in an icy cast of winter placidity. We pushed off the lift only halfway to the summit, already in a different world. Our skis’ worn edges struggled to find purchase in the ice on the first few turns. As we moved through the groups of skiers, we found that the best snow lined the trail’s edges in thin strips. After a few decent runs we turned our attention to the summit hidden above us beyond the rolling clouds. The Heaven’s Gate lift brought us closer to winter; each foot of elevation added a new layer of drift to the trees and trails below. As we rounded the peak, we were transported to a spot above the clouds. Each fir tree lining the crystalline hills was coated in its own shell, drooping under the heavy ice. Before adventuring down the more promising summit trails, I shed my skis and clambered to the top of the lift to rest and look around. In the warmer months when snowless slopes call for hiking, I have to work for every inch of altitude. Hiking demands an appreciation for the mountain views; every rock, root and stream I pass is a milestone in my
climb. I feel a certain intimacy with the rock beneath my feet. Each time the trees part and give way to the rolling hills and adjoining peaks, I have no choice but to stop and look. In winter, as I sat there on the summit, I made the resolution to sit and reflect every mountain day, regardless of the season. Later in the afternoon, our unconditioned legs wobbled. We watched others filter into the lodge to spend their paychecks on fries, but we unclipped our skis and took to the woods instead. We walked off-trail to a spot among the trees. With a stacked pile of birch tinder and dead twigs, we fired up a wood-burning stove and cooked a mountain feast. Every meal tastes better on the mountain, and this one was no different. As we ate, we discussed our adventures so far, planned a few more runs and basked in the glowing contentment that always follows a day in the clouds. The snow was sparse, the day was short, but the reward of just getting out was unmistakable.
JAMES GAUDREAULT & PJ SOLOMON/ The Vermont Cynic Sophomores PJ Solomon and James Gaudreault are always hungry for good powder days and campfire meals. Despite the icy conditions, they enjoyed their time on Sugarbush.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 6, 2018
ARTS
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“Phantom Thread” hypnotizes and charms
Oscar-nominated movie features acclaimed star and break-out actress The Cynic Cineaste Hunter McKenzie
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ilk, lace, muslin, taffeta, chiffon and satin. In every instant of “Phantom Thread,” fashion pours out of the frame and couture overwhelms the eye with bold elegance. There are crisp collars, bow ties, fine trimming, devilish coats and trailing dress trains. Fabric, and the bodies that give it shape, enchants us. I admit that when first entering the world of “Phantom Thread,” I half-expected to encounter a swooning, Oscar bait-y, old-school romance. Instead, I was met with a strange, alluring, often-funny film about secrets, sewing, obsession and the way power sways within relationships. Set in 1950s London, the film follows designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis), who makes dresses for the stars, with the assistance of his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville). Reynold’s life is disrupted by the arrival of Alma (Vicky Krieps) who becomes his lover and muse, and soon unravels his carefully constructed lifestyle. Writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson, delicately crafts a film that is difficult to pin down, a kind of whirlwind in the style of Hitchcock. This is Anderson’s first film as his own cinematographer. What is most astonishing is his ability to capture suspense where it wouldn’t usually belong in the movies: a character loudly buttering toast at the
LILI TRAVIATO breakfast table, nervous models getting dressed for a fashion show, thread weaving deliciously through fabric. Dense and engrossing, “Phantom Thread” moves along elegantly until it lags in its last half hour. It picks up and punches hard in its final moments. Day-Lewis gives a strong performance, capturing the artist with a signature ferocity. He masterfully builds a character who, accustomed to the artificiality within his own profession and daily routine, prioritizes beautiful objects
over living, breathing people. Day-Lewis announced this would be his last film in a statement issued by his agent this past June. Because of his acclaim, audiences might have been keen to focus on Day-Lewis, but it is the women of “Phantom Thread” that take over and make it worth seeing. Krieps shines as Alma — restrained and strong-willed throughout — she holds every scene she’s in. Unwavering, only a deep blush on her cheeks reveals any sign of emotional turmoil.
Claustrophobia, conflict and purpose blend together in her performance. The ultimate way in which she finds autonomy in her life with Woodcock is sublime, highlighting the film’s effort to undo toxic masculinity. Supported by handsome visuals and a tip-toeing piano score by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood — which buries itself under your skin — there is something stark and opulent about this film that is exciting and puzzling. In the way that a dress can be both beautiful and trivial,
“Phantom Thread” shows how romance can be at once hypnotizing and viciously exasperating. It doesn’t present any easy answers, but it sneaks up on you. It’s hard to shake it off after it’s over.
Hunter McKenzie is a junior English major and the writer of the recurring column, The Cynic Cineaste, in which he shares his passion for film.
Young songwriter to sing at Higher Ground on tour
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Sarah Robinson Staff Writer It takes real musicianship to set a song apart from other mainstream tunes. Burlington can expect a refreshment from cliche electro-pop next Monday. Ashlyn Willson, who goes by Ashe, a Berklee College of Music graduate, is returning to New England Feb. 12. Her show at Higher Ground is a part of her tour with San Francisco-based musician Lauv. Since October, Willson has performed with the Chicago-based duo Louis the Child and DJ Whethan, according to a Jan. 12 press release. Willson said she grew up doing gymnastics, taking piano lessons and trying all the extracurriculars her school had to offer. “I knew I loved music most in this world, but I never considered that I would do it as a profession,” she said. When college application time came around, Willson only applied to one: the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She majored in production
COURTESY/ASHE
Ashe, a Berklee College of Music grad, will perform at Higher Ground Feb. 5. She is currently on tour with San Francisco-based Lauv. and composition, specifically composing for orchestras and big bands, she said. With inspiration from musical greats like Carole King, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Nicks, Willson emerged into the world of jazz and gained international attention for her
sultry lows and fierce belting. It was when she moved down South that she developed her own distinct style. “My sound was really shaped more so when I moved to Nashville,” Willson said, “Then I started writing with Louis the Child and I met some
incredible people.” Willson sings personal lyrics in her first single, “Used To It.” “Low blows, tiptoes, you watch me walk this tightrope,” she sings. “Used To It” is about Willson’s first love in high school
and the lack of closure. “That song became my closure,” she said. The Louis the Child songs “World On Fire” and “Right To It,” both featuring Willson, are two jams that top Willson’s Spotify list . “It’s pretty difficult to dismiss her as a featured vocalist,” pop culture writer Ruth Jiang said in a September 2017 article. “[She is] is a drop of pure sunshine in pop form.” Willson’s advice to young artists is simply to work hard. “However hard you think Lorde works, or Adele works, do it 10 times over,” she said. “Work your ass off and you’ll be rewarded.” Willson also said it’s important to know yourself. “If you just want to be famous, nothing’s gonna happen,” she said. “Know your music, know your sound. “Don’t do it to get more likes on your photos.” Lauv and Willson will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at Higher Ground, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 the day of the show.
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The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 6, 2018
History faculty talk new publications Jean MacBride Staff Writer Students and faculty mingled around a long wooden table. Some flipped through the pages of freshly printed hardcover books. Everyone showed excitement and anticipation. On Jan. 26, students and faculty gathered at Alumni House to honor research published by professors in the history department. Many history department faculty members discussed their scholarship and work. They discussed the impact of the Holocaust on non-occupied countries and the work of the French bishop Giles of Rome. Professor Bogac Ergene was among those who stepped up to the podium to speak about his work. Ergene said he worked with an economist to write about the Ottoman Empire’s justice system. Ergene stressed the importance of cross-discipline work in the pursuit of knowledge. Professor Sean Field cowrote “Visions of Sainthood in Medieval Rome: The Lives of Margherita Colonna by Giovanni Colonna and Stephania” for University of Notre Dame Press. His work on disruptive noblewomen in 13th century Rome was among the recently published books honored. “It’s exciting for our whole department because it’s a nice
OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic Professor Sean Field lectures to his “Early Europe” history class Feb. 2. Field, who co-wrote the book “Visions of Sainthood in Medieval Rome: The Lives of Margherita Colonna by Giovanni Colonna and Stephania,” was honored for his publication. chance to remind students, colleagues and important administrators what we do as historians,” Field said. These events bring attention to the department’s merit, he said. “When you come into a University classroom you ex-
pect to get cutting-edge knowledge from professors,” Field said. “Not only because they’ve read the latest stuff — they have read the latest stuff — but also because they’re the ones involved in the production of knowledge.” He believes it is important
Memorial cont. from page 1 executive director of local music office, Big Heavy World. “[Teens] had a safe space that they were comfortable enough in to build community, to communicate with one another and to have a chance to see what it’s like to have an opinion and have that be okay,” Lockridge said. 242 Main focused heavily on being a safe, substance-free zone for all ages. To fill the void where 242 Main’s programming used to be, Big Heavy World is hosting a substance-free concert series. Since Jan. 12, they have run four concerts at the South End Arts and Business Association Center. The final concert in the series will be co-hosted with Friends+Family, a musician collective, and will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 8. Artists featured at the concert will include The Dead Shakers, a psychedelic rock group from Maine; The Mountain Carol, a New-York based group of synth-pop singers; and Echoer, an electronic group. “We’re always leaning into the work of making Vermont a more hospitable and respectful place for music as an important contributor to our community, economy and identity,” Lockridge said. Big Heavy World has opened its doors to artists who lost an important creative space in 242 Main, sophomore Noah
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic A car speeds by Memorial Auditorium Feb. 4. The auditorium, once a music and arts venue, has been closed since 2016. Schneidman said. “Being able to do my album release there has been amazing so far. They are super supportive of all the aspirations I have,” he said. Big Heavy World has been a strong advocate for the renovation of Memorial Auditorium. They are working to reopen 242 Main to reinstate safe music and arts programming forlocals of all ages, he said. “The city itself chose to not maintain [the auditorium], which is why it decayed,” Lockridge said. “[The city] chose to not staff it in a way that had the acumen to generate revenue to sustain it.” The city is finally recognizing its shortcomings, he said, and its responsibility to put it back together. “[Mayor Miro Weinberger] has committed to developing a plan for capitalizing on what
we’ll call redevelopment — basically bringing it up to code and to modern standards on the inside while preserving the outside,” Lockridge said. Whether the city makes an internal decision to revive Memorial Auditorium, or responds to extreme public pressure, Lockridge said he expects it to be brought back. A petition for the renovation of Memorial has garnered over 1,700 signatures, with a goal of 2,500. The petition can be found at Save242main.com. While the community waits, Big Heavy World will continue its efforts to be a fun and welcoming space through its concert series, Lockridge said. A $5 donation is encouraged at each concert. Admission is open to the public.
to spend time with faculty outside of the classroom, and also urges students to attend cultural events, he said. “Students don’t always think about those opportunities and they might learn a great deal there that might bring other things into focus,” Field said.
Sophomore Louis Augeri, who attended the history department’s celebration, said his peers should attend these kinds of events with their professors. “It’s good to see what professors are doing on the other side of the veil and not just in the classroom,” Augeri said. Sophomore Nathan Raike said joint faculty-student events are valuable for students who are undecided about their area of study. “I would recommend events like this to other students, particularly those considering history as a major or minor,” he said. “It gives you an opportunity to pick the brains of the people that write books and relevant research.” Before the end of the event, President Tom Sullivan spoke about the importance of history and the humanities to building a civil society. Sullivan has authored 11 books, according to his biography. Sullivan said students have much to gain from going to events where faculty are discussing their research. “Students can be like, ‘wow, wouldn’t I like to do that,’” Sullivan said. “I think it’s a wonderful thing, for students to have access to. “I became a faculty member largely because I was inspired by faculty when I was a student.”
The Vermont Cynic
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LIFE
Feb. 6, 2018
Lack of trash cans frustrates campus The UVM waste supervisor can count the number of outdoor trash cans on campus on one hand. And he wants to get rid of them all. Corey Berman is the waste and recycling program supervisor and made the conscious decision to abolish outdoor trash cans at UVM when he first started work in 2005. “There were these huge, unsightly, dirty trash cans all over campus that were really a headache for operations to take care of,” he said. “Then a few people in the department looking for ways for progressive waste management said ‘what if we just got rid of them altogether?’” So they did get rid of them. Other than a combination trash can near the Davis Center and a few other high-traffic areas, outdoor receptacles are a rare find at UVM, a phenomenon that adds to UVM’s visual appeal, Berman said. Combination trash cans are rectangular receptacles with separate holes for recyclables, compost, and landfill items. “People come to UVM for the beauty of the campus,” he said. “The last thing you want inhibiting a view is a big ugly trash can.”
But the principles behind the absence of waste receptacles go beyond aesthetics. “As an institution of higher education, we’re trying to make students more responsible for the waste they create,” he said. With the lack of trash cans, students often have to stuff plastic wrappers and empty coffee cups into coat pockets or hurriedly dispose of them in the nearest building. Some students don’t mind the lack of outdoor waste receptacles, such as first-year
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People come to UVM for the beauty of the campus. The last thing you want inhibiting the view is a big ugly trash can.
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Isabella Alessandrini Staff Writer
Corey Berman Waste and Recycling Program Supervisor
Zoe Hagenburg. “I don’t think there’s a negative impact really,” Hagenburg said. “It’s positive because not having a bunch of trash cans encourages reusable items.” Reusable water bottles,
Hit pause on college Lily Merriam Cynic Correspondent
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hen I was admitted to UVM I never imagined that my textbook American narrative of four years at college would be punctuated by a yearlong pause. A leave of absence is when “a student in good standing, who is eligible for continued enrollment, ceases to be enrolled and is guaranteed readmission,” the UVM website states. When I first started telling people that I was taking an leave, it was often confused with “dropping out” or withdrawing from college. But students taking a year off typically return within a four-semester time frame. Taking a leave from school is not for the careless, it requires communicating a well thought-out change in educational plans. I notified various departments at and outside of UVM, such as Student Financial Services, ResLife, my loan servicer and various advisors and teachers. I’ve been asked a lot why I decided to pause my studies. I didn’t know what I was doing, or even what I wanted to be doing. “It is common to encounter even the most successful students stepping back and wondering if it was all worth it,” the Harvard admissions and financial aid website states.
My first semester at UVM was a big, rocky transition. I realized I didn’t want a “traditional” career, like that of a doctor or a teacher, and wondered if I needed a degree. “Professionals in their thirties and forties sometimes give the impression that they are dazed survivors of some bewildering life-long boot-camp,” the website states. I had entered college without questioning it, without actively making the choice. So when I arrived, I was surprised to find myself asking the question, why I am here in the first place? I didn’t know the answer, so I left to find out what a life without a liberal arts degree looked like. I am back at UVM because I want a quality college education and because I want to expose myself to different people, opinions and experiences. Once I let UVM know I was returning for this spring semester, my MyUVM page changed from alumni back to student. When someone asks, “what year are you?” it takes a little longer than normal to explain that I’m not a typical first-year. Coming back to UVM has been somewhat isolating, but that is part of the point. I’m here to learn about people with all different experiences.
Lily Merriam is a nontraditional first year. She spent her year-off living on her own in Waterbury, VT.
EcoWare food containers and travel mugs are also hallmarks of UVM, Hagenburg said. “It is an inconvenience, but UVM students are educated enough to not litter and instead seek out a proper receptacle,” SGA President Chris Petrillo said. But not everyone is so happy with the lack of trash cans. “I really don’t see why there can’t be more combination trash cans around,” junior Emma Naprta said. “I have to walk around with banana peels and apple cores in my pockets all the time, and I think that making it inconvenient for people to compost food scraps just causes them to throw them on the ground instead.” Burnt cigarette butts litter the exterior of dorms, dining halls and academic buildings, sophomore Cameron Smith said. “I think it’s gross that UVM blindly got rid of trash receptacles and ashtrays,” Smith said. “I get that they’re trying to reduce smoking and waste, but it just results in butts on the ground everywhere.” Over the years, multiple UVM students have pushed to get receptacles without success, junior Brigitte Durieux said. Durieux and a team of other
CARRIE FINKELSTEIN students, attempted to get receptacles installed last year after learning about the harmful effects that cigarette butts have on the environment when not properly disposed of, she said. The leachate chemicals that leak out of the cigarettes
pose a direct threat to the survival of many amphibian species, Durieux said. But Berman and the rest of the custodial team won’t change their stance on trash cans anytime soon, he said.
‘Becoming’ Nepali: stupas and studies Ali Barritt Cynic Correspondent
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ver winter break I was one of 16 students travelling to Nepal that learned study abroad is not just a pursuit of education, it is a chance to become part of another culture. The three-credit travel study course in the department of community development and applied economics was led by Prem Timsina, a Nepal native and CDAE lecturer. Timsina deemed the trip a success, saying the students learned about Nepali culture through engaging with local students and teachers. “They became half-Nepali,” Timsina said. First-year Brigitte Barrett said the course let her apply skills she was learning in class to real life, and gave her a deeper look into NGO work. As a group we explored the cities of Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel. Destinations included Swayambhunath, also known as “Monkey Temple,” a historical stupa atop a hill of stairs inhabited by monkeys. Stupas are hemispherical structures used by Buddhist monks or nuns as places of meditation and ritual practice, according to Merriam-Webster. In addition to sight-seeing, five days of the program were reserved for visiting schools. Our group sat in on classes and had the opportunity to teach about life in the U.S.
ALI BARRITT/The Vermont Cynic
UVM students travel around Nepal as part of the CDAE course, Multicultural Education, Gender and Development. The course allowed students to experience the world of education and social change.
First-year Emma Bruseo said she gained a new perspective on developing countries, but cherished visiting the local schools the most. “I was truly amazed by the kids and the way they connected with one another and us in such a short time,” she said. We also participated in a Red Cross Disaster Assessment training session and got to ask Dhulikhel’s mayor questions about city government. First-year Marya Smith said the experience validated her goal to work internationally with a nonprofit. Our travels involved nearly a month of close observation of the our new surroundings, as well as participation in and
exploration of cultural practices. Senior Bela Bogdanovic said that the trip made her assess her “long-term goals” as a regional and global studies and Chinese double major. According to Timsina, the travel study will run again during the next winter session. The trip “was not only an incredible educational experience, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Posada said. “I feel very lucky to have shared it with such an amazing group of people.”
Ali Barritt is a sophomore who can’t choose between the people and the food as her favorite aspect of Nepal.
SPORTS
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The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 6, 2018
Vermont triumphs over Providence College Curt Berry Staff Writer Fights, blocked shots, power-play goals, a game winner and free chocolate made for an exciting weekend at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Men’s hockey continued their hot streak this weekend, winning a game and tying another against No. 8 ranked Providence College. After these two games, Vermont improved to an 8-155 record overall and 5-9-4 in conference play. Sophomore goaltender Stefanos Lekkas recorded a career high 46 saves Friday night and junior forward Liam Coughlin scored his seventh goal of the season, as UVM secured a 2-2 tie against Providence. The first period was all Providence Friars, but they had no goals to show for it. Lekkas saved 16 shots in the first and was able to stop a Providence power play with 9:26 left in the period. The Cats offense struggled early on, and only mustered four shots on goal in the first period. During the second period, Vermont’s offense came back to life by scoring twice. The first came from sophomore forward Derek Lodermeier at 3:05, assisted by junior forward Connor O’Neil and first-year defenseman Owen Grant. Coughlin added the second at 13:20, assisted by senior forwards Anthony Petruzzelli and Rob Darrar. The Cats had a two-goal
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
Sophomore forward Derek Lodermeier takes a shot against UMass Amherst Jan. 12. The Catamounts are 8-15-5 overall this season. lead going into the third, but Providence’s continuous domination paid off. Kasper Bjorkqvist scored his 12th goal of the season, making it 1-2. Later in the third, the Providence power play answered with Scott Conway sending the game in OT. UVM was outshot 15-5 in the period. Lekkas again saved the team in overtime. He stopped five shots and helped the team get a point for their efforts.
“I think he saved us tonight,” head coach Kevin Sneddon said. “We have got to do a much better job in our own zone. I just didn’t think we were strong enough around our net to protect Stef (Lekkas).” Along with Lekkas’ career night, the Cats were very physical on defense, and accumulated 17 blocked shots. “I feel like when we’re all playing physical, our play is much better,” Coughlin said. On Saturday night, the Cats
came back from behind three times to win 4-3. In the first period, both teams’ offenses played hard. Each side netted two goals. Vermont kept up with the Friars’ 13 shots with 10 of their own. Jacob Bryson gave the lead to Providence and sophomore forward Derek Lodermeier tied the game on a shorthanded goal at 6:09. 40 seconds later, the Friars registered a power-play goal,
taking the lead again through Scott Conway. Less than a minute later, junior forward Craig Puffer tied it up with a power-play goal. In the second period, after a Providence goal at 13:05, Puffer again tied it on the power play to make it 3-3 going into the third. With seven minutes left in the second, sophomore defenseman Jake Massie was given a 10 minute misconduct for hitting after the whistle. A Providence player was issued the same penalty. Late in the third period, first-year forward Alex Esposito gave Vermont a 4-3 lead on the power-play, assisted by sophomore forwards Coughlin and Matt Alvaro. The team’s physicality and resilience after falling behind three times in the game was key for the win. “I’m proud of how our guys went out there and fought tonight,” Sneddon said. “The game had a flavor of a playoff game.” Esposito, who scored the winning shot, led the Cats to their eighth win this season and their third home win. “It feels great winning here and it means so much to get one for the fans,” Esposito said. “They support us, and they deserve a win.” UVM heads out to the University of New Hampshire for a weekend series on Friday to try to keep the positive momentum rolling.
App rewards fans for game attendance UVM SCOREBOARD Sabrina Hood Staff Writer Catamount fans can now be rewarded for their team loyalty when attending UVM games. Fans who download the Cat Pride Club app, available in the App Store and Google play, can accumulate points when attending games that enable them to win prizes from UVM athletics, said Nora King, director of marketing and fan engagement. Members can enter raffles for prizes including scarves, season passes and day tickets to Smuggler’s Notch and gift cards to Nectar’s and Domino’s, senior Sean Bruso, a UVM athletics marketing intern said. “It’s a way to try to engage our fans to come to games as well as reward them for their loyal support,” King said. “It engages our fans.” The purpose of this app is to encourage higher attendance at games and to get more likes on UVM athletics social media posts, Bruso said. “As students become upperclassmen, it seems like they go less and less to sports games,” Bruso said. “So we are trying to find ways to incentivize the younger class that is coming in as well as the upperclassmen.” Raffling prizes that will appeal to a wider audience should help increase overall game attendance. “I think that this app is a good incentive to get people to games by offering prizes,” junior Caroline Sullivan said. One of Bruso’s responsibilities as an intern is running
Week of Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 Men’s basketball at UMBC
W 81-53 W 4-3 W 11-3
Men’s ice hockey vs. Providence
Men’s lacrosse at Mercer
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic
The Cat Pride Club app allows UVM athletics fans to see upcoming games, buy tickets and win points to buy merchandise. UVM athletics hopes the app will increase attendance. the operations of the app and configuring it so people know where to pick up their prizes, Bruso said. After the app is downloaded, fans can check into the game and earn a certain amount of points depending on the game, King said. Some games have a higher attendance rate than others, Bruso said, so points are tiered differently. Going to a women’s hockey game could earn a Cat Pride Club member 4,000 points, since those games historically have lower attendance, he said. “One thing we are continuously trying to improve is our prizes and making it rewarding for fans to come to games,” King said.
The Cat Pride Club has been around for 10 years. Before the transition to the app, fans checked in on a log, which was kept in a binder, she said. The app was created five years ago, King said. “[Getting people to know] that the app exists is the biggest challenge right now,” Bruso said. With the app, the only technology issues mentioned were location services being turned off on phones and a few glitches, King said. For the most part, fans that are using the app seem to enjoy it, she said.
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Women’s ice hockey vs. Merrimack
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Next Week Feb. 5 - Feb. 11 Men’s basketball at Albany Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Albany, NY Women’s basketball vs. Albany Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Home Women’s ice hockey vs. Connecticut Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. Home Men’s ice hockey at New Hampshire Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 7:15 p.m. Durham, NH