The Vermont
CYNIC
“A UVM police officer approached the two and admitted to watching them from a security camera mounted to the northern side of the Harris Millis complex. He then proceeded to point it out.”
Josh Gachette Read the column on Page 8
The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883
W e d n e s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 3 – Vo l u m e 1 3 0 I s s u e 2 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t
Skatepark plans pushed back Seniors Devin Karambelas Managing Editor Burlington skateboarders were dealt a blow last week when Seven Days magazine broke the news that the construction scheduled for the city’s new waterfront skate park would be delayed yet again. The decision to delay construction of the park until spring came after initial bidding contracts were “a couple of hundred thousand dollars” above the budgeted amount, Director of the Community and Economic Development
PHOEBE SHEEHANThe Vermont Cynic
Resident Trent Wiseman talks about the construction of Burlington’s skate park Sept. 1. Construction has been delayed until spring.
told Seven Days. The cost of pouring and molding concrete in the winter has contributed to the project’s delay, the article stated. Mayor Miro Weinberger said he expects estimates for this part of the project to come in slightly lower during the spring. Maven skate shop owner Brendan Foster, who has been heavily involved in the development of the new skate park with his wife and Maven coowner Trina Zide, said he was neither surprised nor disappointed to hear about the delay considering the reality of the park’s cost. “We always knew that a fall start date was going to be
iffy anyway,” Foster said. “We have to do this when it’s right, and under the ideal conditions.” While he understands that the postponement of the park is frustrating, he added that the history of the park’s development is rife with delays far longer than this most recent one. “I think people are more upset that it’s just taken this long to get here,” he said. “The lawsuit is what really held things up.” The lawsuit Foster referenced happened in 2011 when Burlington resident Alison Lockwood and District 4 Coorchallenged the development of the park on the grounds that it required an Act 250 permit. The Vermont Superior Court Environmental Decision decision after Weinberger appealed, and voters eventually approved the park in November 2012, the Cynic reported. The skate park is part of a large waterfront development undertaking known as The city approved a $6 million grant toward funding the project last November, the Cynic reported last year. The skate park itself was
See SKATE PARK on page 3
Staff works to enforce smoking restriction Lauren Giery Assistant News Editor University Libraries along with UVM faculty are attempting to clear the haze and enforce the University’s policy on smoking outside of library entrances with their Breathe Easy Bailey/Howe campaign, due smoking that continues to take place outside of the library. As a part of the campaign, faculty members stood outside Bailey/Howe and handed out information on why they think the smoking ban is important as well as offered signup sheets for students to show week of school. “In order to maintain a safe and healthful atmosphere and to remain in compliance with UVM is a non-smoking institution,” according to the UniverStatement.
This policy mandates that smoking is permitted outdoors on University property in areas more than 25 feet away from building entrances, operable windows and air intakes. “Because an overwhelming number of library patrons have asked us to do something about the second-hand smoke at the entrance, we decided to launch Breathe Easy Bailey/ Howe,” Bailey/Howe program specialist Nancy Bercaw said. The goals of the campaign are to clearly identify nonsmoking areas outside Bailey/ Howe, ensure a clean-air entrance for all, especially those with respiratory issues, and raise awareness about health and environmental implications of second-hand smoke and cigarette butts, she said. “Bailey/Howe Library hasn’t changed its policy,” Bercaw said. “We’re simply attempting to bring public awareness to the existing UVM policy.” While the blue spray-paint
and thick chalk lines are a clear reminder to students that the library is not an entrance where smoking tobacco will be tolerated, some members in the community are questioning how the smoking policy will be enforced, and if the blue zone can resist Vermont’s often inclement weather.
cessful,” UVM’s anonymous student-led blog “A Little Bird Told Me” posted Aug. 27. “Will it last once downpours, blizzards and midterms start? We
See SMOKING on page 3
post ad, looking for MILF Staff Report
“UVM Seniors Seek House MILF.” This was the title of a recent Craigslist ad created by a group of unnamed UVM students that caught the attention of national news sites, and the disapproval of some University students yesterday. The full text of the ad, originally published under the “Casual Encounters” section lice Services, called “for an attractive older woman” to cook for the 10 senior males in exchange for “her pick of the men in the house to have.” By late morning yesterday, several news sites had reported on the ad including Gawker. com and the Vermont-based blog Geek Mountain State. A blogger on the latter site who goes by Andrew stated this in reaction: “Read between the lines: do work for us and us seniors get to fuck you in exchange,” he wrote. “What it shows is an utter disregard for women as people, but something to be used for pleasure.” Junior Dana Heng said she found out about the post through a friend who sent it to her that does not attend UVM. She wasn’t laughing. “If it’s a joke, it’s not that funny,” Heng said. “Yet again it’s going to give UVM a bad name when it comes to this.” Heng referred to an incident that happened in December 2011 when former UVM was forced to shut down after a controversial survey question using the word “rape” sparked local protests and national attention, the Cynic reported. There is no evidence that the Craiglist ad has any connection to UVM’s Greek community. Calling the post “offensive” and “ill advised”, University spokesperson Enrique Corredera said the administration originated with UVM students.
WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic Assistant library professor Selene Colburn speaks to a student outside the Bailey/Howe Library Aug. 26. The Breath Easy Bailey/Howe campaign handed out information on the importance of the smoking ban.
also attempting to identify the parties responsible,” he said.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
F o l l o w u s o n Tw i t t e r
Visit us online
Wa t c h C y n i c V i d e o
T h e Ve r m o n t C y n i c
@VERMONTCYNIC
@ Ve r m o n t C y n i c
w w w. v e r m o n t c y n i c . c o m
w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / c y n i c v i d e o