Issue 10 - Volume 137 by Vermont Cynic

THE CYNIC Est. 1883 | Issue 10 - Volume 137 | November 3, 2020 | vtcynic.com

Alumna for Lt. Gov. Don’t vote for Kanye Molly Gray ‘07 reﬂects on her political awakening at UVM as she sets her sights on the Statehouse PAGE 2

One Culture writer’s take on the problem with celebrities and celebrities in politics. PAGE 11

KATE VANNI/ The Cynic A ballot counter for Ward 7 passes early ballots onto his partner who feeds them to the ballot counting machines Oct. 29 at 4:30 p.m.. Working in teams of four for each Ward these volunteers tally the ballots in a system that ensures none of the ballots are fraudulently handled.

UVM alumna runs for Lieutenant Governor Tulley Hescock Assistant Feature Editor

For Molly Gray, Vermont always seemed to call her back, no matter where she went. Gray, born in Vermont and raised on her parents vegetable farm in Newbury, Vermont, graduated from UVM in 2007. Thirteen years later, she’s running as the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. In an interview with the Cynic, Gray reﬂected on her time at UVM, where her political awakening took place. Her interest in politics began during the summer of her junior year at the University of Vermont when she interned for Senator Patrick Leahy. Her senior year she started working for Peter Welch as his executive assistant, moving to Washington, D.C.. “I had never left Vermont, I mean, talk about a farm kid in way over her head,” she said. Gray majored in political science and international relations. Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin taught Gray during her time at UVM. Kunin said she taught Gray in her “Women in Politics” class, and now proudly endorses her former student. “I believe she is very bright and committed, and is proud to be a native Vermonter, and cares deeply about the state,” Kunin said. When highlighting the importance of the Lieutenant Governnor’s role, Gray referenced Kunin’s tie-breaking decision involving a bill about reproductive rights during her term as Lieutenant Governor prior to State Governor. “It matters who we have in the position like the Lieutenant Governor’s ofﬁce when it comes to protecting the fundamental rights of Vermonters,” Gray said. Others at UVM also saw strong qualities in Gray. Athletic director Jeffrey Schulman worked in the department when Gray was on the UVM ski team. He remembers her as a positive leader. “She was a model student athlete… she had the respect of everyone,” Schulman said. After spending some time away from Vermont, she came back in 2011 to study law at Vermont Law School, Gray said. Gray wanted to apply her knowledge of human rights to the local levels in Vermont after her years working across the state and serving as assistant attorney general. “Again and again I started seeing basic inequity in access to housing, in access to childcare, in access to broadband and for me it kinda raises questions,” Gray said. “If we are going to keep a generation here in Vermont, or bring a generation back, or bring a new generation

MAC MANSFIELD-PARISI / The Cynic

Courtesy/Molly Gray

TOP: Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, Molly Gray, stands with a group of supporters on the corner of Marshall Ave. and St. George Rd. in Williston, VT, Oct. 30. LEFT TOP: Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, Molly Gray, speaks into a microphone. LEFT BOTTOM: Molly Gray sits in front of a large sign that reads “Molly Gray for Vermont.” RIGHT: Molly Gray leans against a truck with a “Molly Gray for Vermont” sign on it. in, we have to address the constellation of issues and opportunities that are going to make Vermont a place to live and thrive.” Now with the 2020 election day looming, Gray is hoping to combat these inequities through the position of Lieutenant Governor. “The reason I got into the race is because of the demographic challenges,” Gray said. She described the role of Lieutenant Governor as having three main parts. The ﬁrst is to preside over the senate, the second is to be the tie breaking vote within the senate and lastly, to step in as the role of Governor in case something is to happen to them. “I think the Lieutenant

Governor’s ofﬁce and platform is uniquely placed to continue to address systemic racism as it exists,” Gray said. Gray said she will make sure the voices of individuals who are most greatly impacted by oppression are prioritized during conversations about criminal justice and racial justice reform. In relation to this reformcentered platform, Gray believes that there needs to be conversations on demilitarizing the police. Drawing on this point, Gray also mentioned discussing the possibility of prohibiting certain weapons in places that need investments in social systems and mental health support. Gray hopes that her efforts have a lasting effect, no matter

the outcome on Nov. 3. “Most importantly I hope that this campaign has sent a message to women and girls across the state that government is accessible, that participation is possible, and that the government represents all of us,” Gray said. “I think we have so much work to do to have the voices of underrepresented groups heard in state government.” Despite her passion for policy, Gray said she did not vote in previous elections, including the 2016 election. “I was young, and I didn’t have a plan to vote,” Gray said. In reﬂection of Gray’s voting history, she encourages young voters to make a plan to vote, emphasising that Vermont offers same day registration.

Gray wants young people who may choose to abstain from voting to understand that they are the future. “We absolutely need your generation at the table, demanding climate action, demanding action on racism,” Gray said. Gray said that this participation is especially important in a state like Vermont, the whitest state in the country. “We have a lot of systemic issues,” she said. According to Gray, this election is monumental. “Your vote is your voice, it gives you the opportunity to participate in democracy and shape it at a local level, the statewide level and shape it at the national level.”

NEWS & SPORTS

UVM alumni face off in Vt. governor’s race Lilly Paige Cynic News Reporter Two UVM alumni are facing off head to head in the race to be Vermont’s governor Nov. 3. Incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott is trying to keep his spot as current Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman, a Democrat/ Progressive, wants to move up the ladder. Scott, who was first elected as governor in 2016, has been a state and national leader in his response to the coronavirus in Vermont, but Zuckerman said he thinks it’s time for change.

David Zuckerman (Dem/Prog)

Inspired by Senator Bernie Sanders to get involved in politics during his days at UVM, David Zuckerman decided to challenge Scott for the Governor position this election cycle. Zuckerman, who has been the Lieutenant Governor for the state for the last four years alongside Scott, said in an interview with the Cynic his platform emphasizes the climate crisis. “If we invest in climate jobs, that will create opportunities for students,” he said. “If we expand broadband across the state into more rural areas, that will affect job opportunities for students all tackling the climate crisis.” Zuckerman spoke at an Oct. 23 climate strike, organized by UVM students and Burlington

community members, where he called on Vermonters to vote for advocates of climate mitigation in the upcoming election. Zuckerman said three things he is campaigning on are the climate crisis, social injustices and economic injustices. He said the climate crisis leads to economic hardships that are felt more intensely by people and communities of color and people of lower economic status. “We need to make sure that we tackle a lot of other racial and social injustices throughout our whole system of government from how grants are created and disseminated,” he said. “And the different policies and criminal justice and law reforms we can make there.” Zuckerman, who said he has spent 25 years working to reform cannabis laws in Vermont, said cannabis reform revenues could be used to help students in state colleges in Vermont. “Now that we finally have a tax revenue system that’s going to be implemented over the next couple of years, we can use some of [the cannabis reform] revenues to help future students have more affordable state colleges in Vermont,” he said. “That affects young people quite a bit.”

Phil Scott (Republican)

Elected in 2016, Scott is running for a third term on a platform that prioritizes

Photo Illusration by SAWYER LOFTUS

COVID-19 recovery and relief. Jason Maulcci, Scotts campaign manager and a UVM grad, said Governor Scott wants to make Vermont more affordable and attractive to younger people to keep them in the state. “The governor has talked about how important it is to make the state more attractive for young professionals to start their careers, start a family, and stay,” he said. This includes investments in childcare, higher education and affordable housing — an issue central to his 2016 campaign. “We need to focus like a laser on making Vermont more affordable so we can reverse our downward demographic

trajectory and bring more people and keep more people in the state,” he said. “That’s definitely an area the governor will focus on, other than the COVID response.” Malucci said right now the pandemic is Scott’s top priority. “We are heading into the winter, heading into the fall and tough times ahead,” he said. “The Governor keeps reminding folks we have to stay vigilant, not let our guard down, not let pandemic fatigue set in.” Malucci said 2020 has been a year where everything is unexpected. “You just have to be ready, we just have to be ready for the unexpected,” he said. “You never know in this day and

age what the days are going to bring.” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Scott decided to not campaign in person, starting his campaign later than others. Maulcci said he doesn’t think there is another governor candidate running a campaign like Scott’s. “When he announced his re-election in May, he made it clear that his priority was going to be governing, doing the job that Vermonters elected him to do, not campaign,” he said. “I wasn’t brought on until labor day.”

Students join national push for no class on Election Day Emma Pinezich News & Sports Editor UVM students are taking part in a nation-wide campaign calling on universities to give students, faculty and staff time off for Election Day to increase voter accessibility. Time Off To Vote is a non-partisan movement founded by Every Vote Counts, that works to ensure voters have the time they need to vote on Election Day, including at universities and businesses across the country. Campbell Streator, the executive director of Every Vote Counts, said the Time Off To Vote campaign started around a year ago and has been gaining steam ever since. “[We’re] really trying to capture the voice and power that young people and students have in reaching out to their future employers as the kind of next generation of workforce saying, ‘hey, we’re your future talent, we care about time off to vote. And our future employers should too,’” Streator said. UVM Junior James Tedesco brought the movement to UVM when he founded UVM Votes last fall, advocating for UVM’s Student Government Association to sign Time Off To Vote’s

open letter written to future employers asking them to give off paid leave for two hours on election day. “That signature is only from SGA, so it’s not from the administration...it doesn’t actually signify that there will be an internal change,” Tedesco said. “But I think there are some more concrete steps which needs to happen to move that agenda forward.” Although UVM gives students the day off for Vermont Town Meeting Day in March, classes have not been canceled because in-person voting is available all day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3, according to UVM spokesperson Enrique Corredera. “Additionally, all Vermont residents can vote early or by mail,” Corredera said. “There is no need for a day off.” Some professors have taken the issue into their own hands, canceling their classes on election day to encourage students to vote. CDAE Professor Dan Kirk canceled his classes on Tuesday because when people have the chance and time to participate, communities can attain a more aligned and representative democracy, he said. “We see how when people

have the chance and time to participate, pressing and persistent issues are illuminated and come sooner to the forefront,” he said. “Vermont always leads by example and we have the opportunity to do so, again, here.” Kirk said since UVM cancels classes on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day to provide space and time for the community to participate in the democratic process, they should do the same for presidential elections. Although UVM will continue to hold classes Tuesday, Tedesco and other activists have been working to make voting more accessible in other ways to increase voter turnout at UVM, which has historically been lower than the national average at college campuses. “UVM Votes is focused on making the voting experience as easy as possible for the students of UVM,” Tedesco said. “And that’s an interesting problem, because we have both in state and out of state students.” Tedesco said education is at the forefront of the campaign, but municipal reform is necessary as well, pointing out that on-campus students should be able to vote on campus instead of downtown at the public library, the current polling place

SAWYER LOFTUS/ The Cynic

The Burlington Ballot box sits on Main St. Nov. 1, two days before the 2020 election takes place. Vermont voters have until Nov. 3 to get their ballots in to be counted. for Ward 8 residents. Every Vote Counts helps students on campuses organize to push for reform, but Streator said there are some barriers for campuses, including required number of teaching days and bureaucratic rules. “Schools can sometimes be a little bit slow moving to adapt,” Streator said. “And especially with public schools, that’s where the things like required number of teaching days can be a little bit trickier because funding requires it.” Streator said the organization has had some success stories in various universities across the country, especially as the election nears. “I think we’ve seen campus-

es in a very public election year be more open potentially than they might have been in the past, to taking on a bigger role in civic engagement work on campus and people looking to capitalize on that and set a precedent for the future,” he said. Streator said he hopes the movement’s momentum continues even after election day. “Vote in this election, get excited about it,” he said. “But also recognize that if you’re voting for the first time or thinking more about being civically engaged more than you ever have before because this election has been in everyone’s face, don’t let that energy die down.”

NEWS & SPORTS

Student political groups keep focus local Lila Cumming Cynic News Reporter Despite a hotly contested national election that has Republicans and Democrats gearing up for a showdown, politically affiliated student groups on UVM’s campus have decided to shift their focus to state politics. UVM College Republicans, College Democrats and UVM Progressives have used their groups to bolster statewide races and educate their members about their respective issues. But all three have not officially endorsed a single presidential candidate. “I would say we have a variety of opinions, definitely some who support the president and some who don’t think he’s adequate,” said Danielle Courcelle, president of College Republicans. UVM College Republicans is a SGA-recognized club with 22 active members that aims to promote conservative values. However, Courcelle said not all of the members agree on their political beliefs. “I’m very proud of our club because it’s not all conservatives, there are libertarians, we have a couple Democrats who are actually a part of our club.” Courcelle said the group instead focuses on creating a space for students to have discussions and voice their opinions because they don’t get to do it in the classroom. “I think Republicans tend to be painted as evil,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter what you actually believe, if that’s the party you affiliate yourself with then you don’t have a say.”

Senior Owen Doherty, president of the College Democrats, said he’s noticed the stigmas that surround UVM students who tend to express more conservative views. He said that’s part of the problem on UVM’s campus. “I think a major issue with UVM in a lot of ways is that, much like our national level, it’s very polarized,” Doherty said. “People who have certain political identities, whether it be moderate or Republican or whatever it may be, don’t feel like they can speak up in their classes.” UVM College Democrats’ 50 active members have been motivated by the election to get more involved. Doherty said that his club has also not officially endorsed Joe Biden nor Donald Trump, but has been focussing instead on how local politics impacts UVM students. “People have waited four years for this moment, I know I have,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of people that have never voted before that have decided to vote this year or have sent in a ballot.” On the Republican side, Courcelle said similarly that the club’s prioritization of policy over party affiliation allows their discussions to focus on distinct issues. “We try to place emphasis on local politics because it’s really easy for students to get involved in the state of Vermont and it’s really important that students know how the state legislature works,” Courcelle said. The other major party affiliated group on campus, the UVM Progressives, has also leant their group’s students to

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Cynic A UVM College Democrats poster hangs from a Davis Center bulletin board Nov 1. The poster advertises an “election night watch party” that will happen in the Davis Center Green Tent. local politics and activism. “We really try to be activists before anything else,” said Sarah Sciortino, president of UVM Progressives. “As important as

local politics are and as much as they help advance our goals… change really happens through activism.” The club has recently been

spending their time phone banking and gearing up for the next Burlington mayoral campaign in March.

Professors foster atmospheres of political respect Irene Choi Assistant News Editor Despite deep political divides both nationwide and on campus, UVM faculty members are trying to create respectful and open spaces for students to discuss divisive topics in classrooms. As a historic presidential election quickly approaches, political views remain a polarizing topic at UVM, a school rated as one of the most liberal in America, according to the Princeton Review. Although a UVM policy on political engagement prohibits UVM employees and students from endorsing or opposing a candidate for public office on behalf of the University due to IRS regulations, faculty have been prioritizing an open discussion environment in the classroom that is respectful to everyone. UVM Spokesperson Enrique Corredera said UVM must follow the political engagement policy because of its standing as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, according to an Oct. 30

email. Professors do however have some leeway when it comes to teaching in the classroom. A UVM policy on academic freedom allows faculty to have political discussions with students in class for the sake of “intellectual growth.” Universities deal with “new [ideas] that may be full of explosive power,” the academic freedom policy stated. “Inevitably they will be called dangerous by the timid and short-sighted... [but] the real danger would appear only if the flow of such ideas should cease,” the policy reads. Academic freedom is crucial for allowing faculty to have the freedom to teach their classes in whatever manner they see fit, even if entering political territory, said Alex Zakaras, associate professor of political science. “Faculty shouldn’t have to worry about someone reprimanding them for teaching something that’s controversial or not popular with the administration or government,” he said. “This freedom is critical for us to be able to fulfill our ed-

ucational mission to help students learn and grow.” For Zakaras, however, making sure in-class conversations on political topics remain civil and respectful is more challenging than it has been in the past. “A lot of students are angry and frustrated with our political climate. It can be difficult to create conversational spaces that feel inclusive to everybody, now more than ever,” he said. “That being said, mutual respect is a baseline we as a faculty really emphasize.” Deborah Guber, associate professor of political science, said in an Oct. 29 interview that though her classes focus more on empirical data and facts than political opinions, having a respectful classroom environment is also very important to her. “I want to be sure that students feel safe and that they can express something if they want to,” she said. “But I will rein them in if they wander too far into personal opinion, or I may provide balance by playing the role of devil’s advocate.” Other academic subjects

KYLE ELMS/ The Cynic

The Waterman building stands on the corner of South Prospect Street and College Street, Oct. 30. Waterman’s primary function is to hold offices for UVM administration and academic departments. are closely entwined with politics and current events, such as business, stated Rocki-Lee DeWitt, professor in the Grossman School of Business. “It is impossible to teach business without some consideration of political processes and government as they relate to business effects,” she stated in an Oct. 28 email to the Cynic. “But I will not share my person-

al political beliefs in the classroom.” The goal of creating an atmosphere of dignity and respect for students is still important, she stated. “Overall, I am much more interested in making sure that students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences with me and their classmates,” DeWitt stated.

NEWS & SPORTS

UVM students cast early ballots for Biden Paige Fisher Cynic News Reporter UVM students, able to vote in their home state or in Vermont, have been mailing in their ballots, dropping them off in downtown Burlington and anxiously awaiting in-person voting this Tuesday on Election Day. The Cynic spoke to students dropping off their ballots at voting locations outside City Hall, the Fire Station and the Department of Public Works and students on campus that voted absentee in their home state. Here’s what they had to say about why they voted and their experience deciding how to vote:

Eli Cowart

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Senior Eli Cowart confidently walked up to the ballot drop-off box in front of City Hall to cast his vote for Joe Biden. “I think the past four years have not gone great for American politics and I think another four years of that would put the country into an even deeper hole than usual,” Cowart said. He said the current political system doesn’t give third parties a chance of winning, which forced him to decide between the two major candidates. In his social circles, Cowart said he doesn’t have in-depth conversations about politics “other than just echochamber complaints.” Cowart said social media has encouraged people to vote who wouldn’t otherwise, but young people might be less likely to vote because they don’t think their individual vote has significant influence in the election. Cowart also said young people might not vote because they are “generally just more lazy, or at least that’s the stereotype.”

Rebecca Vassilenko

First-year Rebecca Vassilenko resorted to voting in Vermont after a frustrating experience applying for an absentee ballot in her home state. Vassilenko said she requested three absentee ballots to vote in Pennsylvania, but none of them were received. She eventually decided to register to vote in Vermont so that she could still participate in the election, although it wasn’t the way she wanted to. “It sucks because I live in Pennsylvania, which is a swing state,” Vassilenko said. She said that the difficulty she experienced with absentee voting has tainted her impression of the validity of this election. “I really feel like this could be like a tight election,” said Vassilenko. “And I know a lot of my friends back at home are having trouble getting their

ballots as well.”

Nola Farrell

While many students have been voting early in Vermont, Sophomore Nola Farrell voted by mail in Washington, a state that has used automatic mail-in voting for years. Farrell said she thinks it’s extremely important that students vote in this election. “I think that students have a very unique perspective on where the country is at right now,” Farrell said. “I also think getting involved young can kind of set up a lifetime of involvement.” Farrell said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the election and that quarantine caused people to be more politically active online and to encourage others to vote. “We’re coming up on the reelection of a very unconventional president who’s been different than what we’ve seen ever in the past,” said Farrell. When asked who she voted for, Farrell responded without hesitation. “Heck yeah I voted for Biden,” she said. “I despise Trump with my entire being.”

Pearl Stuart

First-year Pearl Stuart said she’s been excited to vote since she was a little girl, and that her vote for Biden was based on certain issues she feels would be at jeopardy with the reelection of Donald Trump. Stuart said the issues that concerned her most were “rights to abortion and rights to gay marriage, which are things that are being, you know, a little bit tested, and then of course coronavirus.” Although she is from Vermont, Stuart opted to vote by mail so she didn’t have to go to Montpelier to vote in-person. Stuart also said social media has a positive influence on young voters, which she hopes will impact the outcome of the election. “I’ve seen everywhere there’s been a lot of like pushes for young voters,” Stuart said. “every celebrity I see post something about going out and voting so I think it’s a positive influence.”

MARY MCLELLAN/ The Cynic

Kelly Manley

Junior Kelly Manley also voted by mail this election, something she said she’s used to since she usually votes absentee for New York. Manley said she wasn’t nervous about her ballot being received, but she wasn’t confident that her vote would be counted in a secure way by President Trump. Manley said her perspectives on climate issues, women’s rights and LGBTQ rights led her to vote for Biden, and that the coronavirus also had an influence on her decision. “We’re in the middle of a

MARY MCLELLAN/ The Cynic

Courtesy/ Rebecca Vassilenko

TOP: First-year Pearl Stuart poses for a photo on the 3rd floor of the Davis Center, Oct. 28. MIDDLE: Senior Eli Cowart poses for a photo after dropping his ballot off in the ballot box outside of City Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 28. BOTTOM LEFT: Sophomore Nola Farrell poses for a photo outside of Henderson’s Cafe in the Davis Center, Oct. 28. pandemic, which has in fact impacted myself, and everyone else in a lot of different ways,” Manley said. “And looking at the current administration’s response to that was

unacceptable.” She said her friends at UVM do talk about politics frequently, but they all usually have the same beliefs. “I feel like we’re in kind of

a bubble in Vermont, because we’re typically more liberal and progressive,” Manley said. “And I feel like sometimes I forget that the rest of the country might not feel the same way as we do.”

Cyber criminals attack UVMMC

SAWYER LOFTUS/ The Cynic UVM Medical Center President Dr. Stephen Leffler answers questions from the media outside the medical center Oct. 29. Wednesday, UVM Medical Center and UVM Health Network’s data systems shut down in light of a confirmed cyberattack. emails or by unknowingly visiting an infected website. UVM Chief Information Officer T. Simeon Ananou, told students in an email Thursday morning that because of recent ransomware attacks, students and other UVM community members should take steps to ensure their information and accounts are secure. “The University of Vermont, University of Vermont Medical Center and the Larner College of Medicine are working together to minimize the risk posed by these attacks,” Ananou said in the email. At a press conference Thursday, UVM Medical

Center’s President Dr. Stephen Leffler said he couldn’t confirm whether or not the attack was a ransomware attack. “I’m the president of the hospital and I have received no requests for ransom,” Leffler said. UVM Spokesperson Enrique Corredera said in a statement to the Cynic that the University has no indication they were also attacked. “The message we sent this morning was to urge members of the UVM community to be vigilant in their computing habits, especially in light of news reports about ransomware attacks,” Corredera stated. “At

this point, there is no indication that the outage at the medical center has had any impact on UVM computer systems.” Leffler said work is still being done to determine just how widespread the attack was throughout the medical network which stretches across Vermont and into New York State. But, it doesn’t seem that any private information was accessed, he said. “At this point, we are still investigating what’s been impacted. We have no information that any patient information has been impacted, but we are still doing that investigation,” he said.

Major Jackson to leave UVM next semester Sabine Foerg Cynic News Reporter Nicole Hardy Cynic News Reporter

After 18 years at the University of Vermont, University Distinguished Professor Major Jackson is heading for a warmer climate and new challenges. Nationally acclaimed poet Jackson has announced his departure from UVM, after establishing himself as a tenured faculty member and University Distinguished Professor over the course of his 18 years at the school. Jackson plans to leave UVM for a position at Vanderbilt University next semester. Now, starting a new chapter of his career, Jackson reflected on his time and accomplishments in Vermont and what motivated him to leave the University he’s taught at since 2002. “What drew me was the graduate program. I don’t have a graduate program here at the University of Vermont,” Jackson explained. “I am attracted to a residential graduate program and creative writing. It’s been a dream of mine.” Although proud of the many accomplishments he’s amassed during his time at UVM, Jackson said he still finds himself hungry for new inspiration.

Migrant Justice settles lawsuit Alek Fleury Managing Editor

Emma Pinezich News & Sports Editor Sawyer Loftus Editor-in-Chief

A confirmed cyberattack against the University of Vermont Health Network, that caused most of the network’s digital systems to shut down, has not impacted the University, according to UVM officials. The attack, which happened Wednesday, was confirmed Thursday morning by UVM Health Network officials in a statement. Wednesday night, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency issued an advisory, warning of an uptick in “ransomware” attacks against healthcare providers and shortly after national media outlets including CNN and NBC reported on what appears to be widespread ransomware attacks that targeted hospitals across the United States. “CISA, FBI, and HHS have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers,” the CISA advisory stated. Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, designed to deny access to a computer system or data until a ransom is paid, according to the CISA. Ransomware typically spreads through phishing

NEWS & SPORTS

With that in mind, Jackson said he largely made the decision to go to Vanderbilt in a bid to embrace change and grow as an artist. However, Jackson said that’s not the only thing that drew him to the Tennessee school. He’s also looking forward to the community of writers that await him. “I feel a deep kinship with my peers on faculty there, and know their work,” he said. “I’m already entering into an established community of writers with a long history.” Jumping into such a talented program, Jackson said he’s excited for the fresh start, and the potential impacts it will have on him as a writer and teacher. “It feels like I’m young, and I’m hungry again to impact the next generation of writers, and to wipe the slate clean and start fresh,” Jackson said. He hopes this change will bring his artistry to new heights and motivate him to look at his writing through a new lens. “Taking a new job, new colleagues, a new environment makes me want to write with a greater sense of purpose and be accountable to myself as a writer,” he said. However, this was not an easy decision for Jackson, who said he has formed strong

Image Source UVM bonds to the UVM community. “UVM has been enormously supportive of my writing life and my career as a writer. I had, in addition to that, support over the years, which I owe to previous deans and former presidents.” Jackson said the University was prepared to make him an offer that would retain him. However, he felt the offer at Vanderbuilt was an undeniable opportunity, and thought accepting UVM’s offer would be insensitive, given the financial cutbacks on employee salaries and layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an Oct. 27 Cynic article, UVM’s faculty union and the administration have reached an impasse after UVM cut faculty salary and benefits to compensate for a $10 million deficit brought on by the pandemic.

“I felt it was not an opportune time to engage in those discussions, when my friends, peers, who are nontenure track record, or who are lecturers, were negotiating for their own positions at UVM,” he said. “I just felt as though that might have been a little callous and unethical so I decided not to do that.” Jackson said he’s sad to leave faculty members he’s formed strong relationships with over the years. While in Vermont, Jackson has formed unforgettable connections in the UVM and greater Burlington communities, and will depart with fond memories of his time here. “I have dearly beloved colleagues,” Jackson said. “I can’t even call them friends, they’re like family. So this was a tough decision.”

Members of Migrant Justice took to the streets of Burlington, marching down Church Street to celebrate the settlement of a lawsuit with the U.S. agency in charge of immigration enforcement. Migrant Justice, a grassroots organization of dairy farmworkers in Vermont that fights for immigrant’s rights, walked, settlement in hand, from their office in Burlington to the federal courthouse, ending a two year battle with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The suit, filed in 2018, stated that ICE and the Department of Homeland Security allegedly engaged in an operation surveying, harassing and targeting the organization’s members and leaders because of their proximity to the group, violating their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly. “Stop the raid, stop the fear, immigrants are welcome here,” chanted the group of nearly 80 people as they marched down Church Street. Plantiffs Enrique Balcazar, Zully Palacios and Victor Diaz joined Migrant Justice as plaintiffs in the suit, all in deportation proceedings after having been detained by ICE. The settlement includes an agreement not to deport the plaintiffs, allowing them to remain in the United States and obtain work permits. In addition, ICE will pay $100,000 to be divided among the three. After ICE targeted Balcazar for weeks, watching his house and his car, he was held in detention for 11 days. “Finally in March of 2017, I was arrested alongside Zully Palacios as the two of us were leaving the Migrant Justice office,” Balcazar said. “When I was brought into prison, the ICE agents laughed, making fun of us, saying ‘here, we brought you a famous person.’” During the rally, a man attempting to drive through the street protestors were blocking, opened the door of his car, pulled out a machete and threatened the protestors with it. The protestors moved out of the way, made a path for him and he dangerously sped through them. No one was hurt or hit. “What we saw just now is a clear example of what happens when the people rise up to defend their rights,” said Migrant Justice member Thelma Gómez after the man sped off. “Not everybody is going to like it, but we can’t be scared and we can’t retreat. We have to continue forward defending our human rights,” Gómez said.

OPINION

E ST

NIC

THE V

Don’t give up on reproductive rights

MONT CY

18 8

3 | IS SU

0 E 1

EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Sawyer Loftus editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Alek Fleury newsroom@vtcynic.com

OPERATIONS Operations Manager Katherine Izadi operations@vtcynic.com Distribution Manager Inquries email cynic@uvm.edu

EDITORS Copy Chief Will Keeton copy@vtcynic.com Culture Sarah Robinson cynicculture@gmail.com Features Greta Rohrer cynicfeatures@gmail.com News & Sports Emma Pinezich news@vtcynic.com sports@vtcynic.com Opinion Gabby Felitto opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts David Cabrera vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Layout & Illustrations Kate Vanni layout@vtcynic.com Photo Bailey Samber photo@vtcynic.com Digital Media Mills Sparksman cynic@uvm.edu Assistant Editors Ellie Scott & Mac Mansﬁeld-Parisi (Layout), Cole Fekert & Izzy Pipa (Illustrations), Irene Choi (News), Hayley Rosen (Sports), Emily Johnston (Opinion), Sophia Venturo (Culture), Jacob Goodwin (Podcasts), Kyle Elms (Photo), Tulley Hescock (Feature) Page Designers Will Guisbond, Maggie Adams Copy Editors Catie Segaloff, Eryn Heiken

Staff Editorial

n a country where many women already have limited access to reproductive rights, the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court has solidified the fears that lurk in the back of every woman’s mind. She stands as one of nine on the court as the last nail in the coffin of decades of judicial rollback on women’s rights— no longer a need to speak in hypotheticals, women should be scared. Barrett, an unapologetically pro-life and anti-gay judge, joins four other conservative Supreme Court justices on a bench of nine, solidifying the court’s right-leaning majority. Even though Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago, republicans, like Amy Coney Barrett, have been fighting tooth and nail to reverse the decision ever since. Now, they quite possibly could do that. As we write this staff editorial, we have to acknowledge the Cynic’s editorial board is made up of two white, cisgendered men and one woman. For this piece, we asked two editors, both women, to write about what the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett meant for them, and why her confirmation might be even scarier than the reelection of Donald Trump: As women, we are terrified. Late into the hours of Nov. 8, 2016, Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States. We all remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. We remember what we were wearing. We remember the first person we texted. We remember the dreadful drive to school the next day while we cried the whole way because we were so sad and scared. Over the last four years, another moment stands out, that we, as women, will simply always remember. We won’t forget where we were when we heard Ruth Bader Ginsberg died. We knew that whatever fears we had at 4 a.m. Nov. 8 four years ago as we laid awake in bed grappling with what might come in the years ahead, had been, quite literally, confirmed. We looked silently into the

eyes of our best friends, we texted our moms with shaking hands and when the news had ﬁnally set in, we wondered about doctors appointments and the dwindling pills in our pack. On Oct. 26, Amy Coney Barrett was conﬁrmed to the United States Supreme Court and while Republicans have tried to paint her as a worthy candidate to succeed the brilliant Justice Ruth Bader Gindsburg, we should be scared. Amy Coney Barrett’s track record on abortion access as a judge, and her vocal opposition to abortion as a private individual, worries us for our future. And we hope that any individual reading this who does not have a uterus understands what we mean by “our future.” Our health is at stake. We use birth control pills so we won’t be doubled over in pain for a week out of each month, and we rely on the Affordable Care Act to access women’s health for mammograms and breast cancer treatment. Forcing women to carry a fetus to term against their will is a violent attack on our bodies and human rights and will change the trajectory of our lives until the day we die in a way we had no say in. Our lives are at stake.

Just because women don’t have access to abortions doesn’t mean they won’t ﬁnd a means to get one. We know that there are people without uteruses that will read this and roll their eyes. They will call us dramatic, hysterical, moody and god forbid, PMSing. But we have reason for concern. Barrett is behind the gavel that decides whether the Affordable Care Act stays or goes. The ACA allows women equal access to health coverage and forbids insurance companies from denying patients due to pre-existing conditions like breast cancer. It also requires more healthcare plans to cover contraceptives with no out of pocket costs. While Barret has said that she doesn’t think Griswold v. Connecticut, a landmark Supreme Court case legalizing contraceptives, is “in danger of going anywhere,” she has voted in favor of abortion resitrctions. In many states, the line between birth control and abortion may not be very clear. What do men need to do right now to protect those of us with a uterus? Listen to us.

Hear what we are going through and don’t invalidate it. When we talk about our real fears about losing birth control access, don’t make gross jokes about women’s periods and laugh off pregnancy scares. Educate yourself. Take the time to learn about women’s reproductive health and why things like birth control and abortion are not optional. And ﬁnally, vote for candidates who support women’s health. Stop saying you don’t follow politics that closely because “it just doesn’t affect you.” Before you go to the polls to cast your vote, think about how the candidate you’r voting for will affect the women in your life.

Staff editorials ofﬁcially reﬂect the views of the editorial board, which includes the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and Opinion Editor. 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.

IZZY PIPA

OPINION

Political involvment shouldn’t be a trend Meg Trogolo Cynic Columnist

olitics isn’t a form of entertainment or something to ignore. It’s instead a chance to decide who determines the circumstances of your life and the lives of those around you and choosing not to take politics seriously is a luxury most cannot afford. This year’s marches against police brutality in Burlington illustrated this perfectly. During the last week of August, UVM students filled Battery Park, Pearl Street and Church Street, spending equal amounts of time chanting protest slogans and taking photos of the crowds in awe. Almost two months later, the size of the marches that are still taking place are a fraction of what it was when it was fashionable for UVM students to participate. They’re now mostly made up of committed activists and mutual aid volunteers. Those marches were intended to protest the actions of three Burlington Police Department officers and call for them to be fired. Two of them, Cory Campbell and Joseph Corrow, are still employed with the department. The only UVM students I see marching now are people who have been there the whole time, who have already committed to using their presence to advocate for justice. Otherwise, the trend has come and gone. Every political decision impacts lives, this is part of a government’s function. A city government impacts the dayto-day experiences of that city’s residents. A nation’s government impacts its citizens’ major choices. All of the names on your ballot, affect what happens to your community. However, they will affect some community members more than others. According to a Sept. 30 Washington Post article, economic crises such as the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic hit people of color, low-income people and uneducated people the hardest. Employers are less likely to offer jobs to these groups when the economy is coming out of a recession. In addition, ongoing inequality means that these groups already experience other types of adversity, such as racism and poverty, even when there is no recession. Every resident of Burlington, from students, to immigrant parents, to wealthy business owners, to people who are forced to sleep on the sidewalks, are all part of the same community. We all live in the same city, and that means our lives are all tied together. There is a story that I’ve heard about the anthropologist Margaret Mead being asked

COLE EFKERT what she considered the ﬁrst sign of civilization in a society. Supposedly, her answer was a bone that has been broken and then healed, as this is proof that another person took the time and energy to help the injured recover. Caring for each other is

what makes us human. That includes all of us, no matter how much money we have, what culture we come from or what walk of life we ﬁnd ourselves taking. America is currently seeing a fascist movement that would rather this not be true. Even

before President Donald Trump was elected four years ago, he was disparaging immigrants, women, transgender people, disabled people and anyone else he deemed undesirable. That was only the beginning. In 2017, a right-wing domestic terrorist used his car

to kill a woman during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA. In 2018, reports surfaced of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers abducting and separating Latino families and starving people who sought political asylum. This year, after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police officers, Americans from all backgrounds took to the streets to protest against police brutality and institutionalized racism. Trump called those protesters “thugs” and threatened state-ordered violence against them, tweeting on May 29, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” According to CBS Miami, that phrase was first made famous by Miami Police Chief Walter Headley in 1967 in reference to his department’s crackdown on majority-Black neighborhoods. I personally witnessed multiple drivers shouting Trump’s 2020 campaign slogans, harassing protesters and attempting to run over traffic volunteers during this fall’s Black Lives Matter protests here in Burlington. Trump also promised during a 2016 debate to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision that established access to abortion as a constitutional right. The only people who are unaffected by this government’s actions are those who are insulated by the privilege that their skin color and economic status gives them. If you are white, wealthy and well-educated, it’s easy for you to make a few comments about the election, maybe vote and post your “I Voted” sticker on Instagram, and simply leave your political activity at that. No matter who becomes president, governor or state representative, your world will keep turning and your daily life will be much the same as it is now. Taking advantage of that position in society by staying out of politics and paying little attention is one of the most selfish and cruel things a person can do. Voting because it’s a trend and forgetting about politics after the election is not enough. As members of a community, it is vital that we take care of and look out for each other, especially when some of us are directly threatened by both other civilians and by the government itself. Don’t just go to the polls. Join mutual aid organizations. Speak in the public comment sections of city council meetings. Donate to local relief and bail funds. Get to know your neighbors, and care about them too. Keep going after Election Day. Do it for each other’s sake, and do it for your own sake.

Meg Trogolo is a seinor data science major. She has been a Cynic since fall 2017.

OPINION

Don’t just give up after the election. Fight! Jordan Spindel Cynic Columnist

ELENI PAPPAS

his week is one of the most important in recent memory. It is the week in which millions of ballots are counted from across the United States to determine our public officeholders. This will help determine where the path for change goes in this country. But if you want change, you must first realize that it isn’t bound to elections alone. If you are “settling” for someone in an election, they will make less progress than you desire of them. This concept highlights the fact that change is most bound to what we do and how we use our voices to signal our desire for change. The most prominent way it seems that change is advocated for is by rallying and protesting. Protests are an outlet of anger and demand. While it is okay to feel disappointed if something doesn’t go one’s way, such as your preferred candidate losing an election or a favorable policy proposal being implemented, you can turn that feeling into a call to action. If you can’t expect others to make changes on their own, you should try to advocate for change yourself. The Black Lives Matter protests of the past several months are a prime example of this. They showed just how much we wanted Black people to be treated as equally as others. Hundreds of thousands of people marched, made signs and rallied for their cause so their voice may be heard by companies and politicians. In some cases, letting their voices be heard has led to some real change. For example, New York City set aside about $1 billion from their police department budget into social and human service

work after BLM protesters complained that it was overfunded. Another example is how after the Parkland shooting, the rallying cry for gun control was so strong that it convinced Florida’s government, traditionally pro-gun, to establish background checks and raise the minimum age for buying firearms. Not letting one’s voice be heard can have significant consequences. For example, lack of participation in political primaries led to the presidential nominees in both major parties being very unlikable in 2016 and arguably 2020 as well. While protesting can have great effect, another way to make change is to study, volunteer and have careers that directly advocate for change. A lot of change is not caused by governments, but by businesses and nonprofits, so being part of those is naturally helpful. Facts like this are why I want to work in the field of conservation. This started with volunteering, which is a less intensive yet still powerful tool for change. My years volunteering for the Wildlife Conservation Society showed how much of an impact volunteers can have. I was able to teach thousands of people about animals and conservation through running activities in the Central Park Zoo. Many of them left with a newfound outlook on the world around them. Volunteering can also be done for politicians themselves. Congressional interns and campaign volunteers are vital for determining how politicians vote and how well they perform their duties. They also can use these opportunities to learn what exactly the lives of politicians are like and can use it as a stepping stone to become politicians. While volunteering is very productive, careers have the additional benefit of bringing in

an income. This allows it to be less of a side-gig and more of the primary focus of your life. Through something like this, you can put all of your eggs in one basket while also making a living. An example of careers having an impact is in the field of combating climate change. Jobs in related industries, especially renewable energy, are growing faster than ever. This, combined with public opinion is causing companies to invest more and more into clean energy projects and less in fossil fuels. Other careers that have impacts include nursing, social work, humanitarian work and STEM. These jobs fall within the core of making change, directly impacting the issue you are advocating for. Some careers can also directly fuel protests and activism themselves. One man who has proved this right is Bill Nye. After becoming a household name from his namesake science show in the 1990s, Nye has used his position as both a scientist and an entertainer to fuel movements such as the March for Science and the 2019 Climate Strikes, rallying millions of people behind his causes. Through careers as well as volunteering, you are able to have a strong voice and feel personally responsible for what happens rather than feel like a small part of a large movement. At this moment in history, we are at a crossroads. With what is arguably the most important election of our generation out of the way, we must move forward and keep on fighting for what we believe in. Whether elected politicians support or oppose our goals is one aspect of this fight, but being a driving force of change ourselves is the real power that we possess. Jordan Spindel is a Junior evironmental science major. He has been a Cynic since spring 2020.

ELENI PAPPAS

CULTURE

Scanned PDFs of the Cynic’s Issue 12 Volume 133 paper from 2016

Election snapshot: Trump wins 2016 Alek Fleury Managing Editor

On Nov. 14, 2016, when Volume 133 Issue 12 of the Vermont Cynic hit the stands, the front page headline read “Trump Triumphs: Campus Unites.” What’s filled in the following pages of this special elections issue, paints a picture of the aftermath of a tumultuous election year, an unexpected turn of events and

a campus dealing with many new questions. The singular photo on the front page depicts students holding lit candles, some crying, on the now Andrew Harris Green, during a Nov. 9 vigil for students in support of other students. “How many of you are scared? Well, I am not. It sounds weird but looking at us standing side by side, if we love and love absolutely, we have nothing to fear,” then first-year Manza Campaz said.

Underneath the photo the headline reads “Students find swastika emblazoned on Trump sign.” That article tells the story of a graffiti swastika, spray painted on a Trump sign, found three buildings down from Hillel. “[The sign] made me feel terrified and nauseous,” said then sophomore Isabelle Schechter, who found the sign Nov. 9. “It was like a punch in the stomach about this reality we are facing.”

The issue contains three Letters to the Editor and five op-eds, some hopeful, some in disbelief, some cynical. Page 10 and 11 was dedicated to a double truck, highlighting quotes from community members responding. “I couldn’t help but cry,” said then sophomore Akila Ho-Young. “I have a bunch of emotions. I’m not quite sure how to channel them. There is hope when things seem hopeless.” In that issue’s staff editori-

al, the then staff emphasized how we, as a culture and country needed to focus on coming together. “How lucky we are to live in a place where so many of us possess the same value of humanity, even at a time when some fear our own humanity may be challegenged,” the editorial states. As the country approaches its next election, facing four more years or Trump or not, the Cynic stands ready to cover the aftermath.

CULTURE

Don’t vote for Kanye Connor Adams Culture Staff Writer

e look towards celebrities for inspiration regarding culture and the arts, but when it comes to politics celebrities cause problems that can manipulate voters. Kanye West is one of the most important celebrities in politics today and for good reason. Not only is he a cultural icon of the 2000s, but he has an immense amount of money and influence on America’s markets. He is also running for president in the 2020 election. None of these are good reasons to listen to what he says. His ludicrous amount of money is vastly different than that of the majority of the American people and holds unpopular views that mostly only benefit him. Even though Kanye doesn’t really have any electability or influence on the electorate, the GOP sees him as a major political tool. The GOP believes that by putting Kanye on ballots in battleground states like Wisconsin that they will siphon votes away from Joe Biden because he will take away the Black vote. However, Black voters don’t vote for a candidate just because they are Black. Many Black voters recognize that both parties put on the image of actually supporting racial justice, but when Democrats or Republicans are actually in office they do very little for the Black community. Kanye isn’t the only celebrity that the GOP has taken advantage of with vast differences from the American people. Popular Hip-Hop artist 50 cent recently endorsed Donald Trump, most likely due to Joe Biden’s tax plan, which only affects the extremely wealthy. 50 cent is voting for Donald Trump, probably because he wants to keep his vast amount of wealth. The GOP may also think that 50 cent’s endorsement helps win support of Black voters, but just like Biden’s taxes, this doesn’t impact the majority of Black voters. The only reason why the GOP thinks that this is effective is because they don’t see the difference between 50 cent and the majority of Black people, they only see skin color. This further cements the GOP’s racist identity politics and their

ignorance of the wealth gap between working people and the 1%. The GOP’s racist election tactics also occurred with other celebrities like Ice Cube, another popular Hip-Hop artist that has a vast amount of wealth and influence. Within the last month, Ice Cube reached out to the Trump administration seeking support for his “Contract With Black America.” The contract seeks to “increase access to capital in black communities,” and it’s already been absorbed into the administration’s “Platinum Plan.” All the GOP wants from these wealthy Black celebrities is an increase in Black voter support. Economic differences aren’t the only thing separating celebrities from the general populace either. Social differences make up a great amount of divergence, and Kanye plays into this idea more than any other celebrity because of his candidacy. With every ballot that Kanye is put on and every vote he receives, it gives him delusions of grandeur in his already extremely prosperous life. His ego is so massive because of all of his success and he’s more concerned about himself than the American people. This isn’t to say that generally successful people don’t have egos either, but that Kanye’s is to the extreme with his outrageous behavior. Another celebrity who has been in the limelight with Kanye in recent memory is Joe Rogan. Rogan hosts a popular podcast called “The Joe Rogan Experience.” It garners millions of listeners every time a new episode is released. He also shares just as much similarities with the majority of his listeners as Kanye does with the American people, making $30 million a year according to Forbes Magazine. In one of his most recent podcasts, Rogan talked with Kanye about his place in politics where they both went further into their delusions about reality. Kanye repeatedly talks through the podcast about how he was told by God to run for president or about how all of the world is secretly against him. He even stated that he is afraid to go to hospitals because someone will kill him, like what he believes happened to Bob Marley or Brandon Lee. Clearly this isn’t someone that people should vote for or believe in. Rogan’s support of

these celebrities raises questions about Rogan’s motive regarding his podcast. He is willing to take advantage of extremely delusional people so he can make money off of his podcast, while also spreading Kanye’s propaganda. However, Rogan claims that Kanye is merely “misunderstood” and that he is a genius, comparing him to someone like Elon Musk, who is extremely problematic in his own right. This puts Rogan’s own mental state and judgement into question with the misinformation he spreads and believes in. Although spreading Kanye’s ideas isn’t what makes Rogan dangerous alone, his podcast puts “alt-right” commentators on a pedestal to millions of gullible listeners. In the past Rogan has interviewed “altright” media personalities like Gavin McInnes, Alex Jones and Ben Shapiro. Rogan even claims to have great friendships with these perpetrators of altright fake news. Rogan’s podcast reaches millions of ordinary people everyday. This isn’t just endorsements by 50 cent or Lil Pump, but an actual establishment of celebrity politics that impacts the general electorate. This podcast also spotlights the very celebrities that are a problem with social and economic politics. None of these celebrities live in the reality of the everyday American and have no right to tell the country who to vote for. One of the great constants among all of these variables is someone like Kanye West, who represents all of the problems with celebrity politics. He is a billionaire with private interests separate from those of the American people, and his social beliefs are born out of conspiracy theories. Kanye’s chaos only gives the GOP a greater advantage in the election year. They can take advantage of him using racist identity politics to manipulate state ballots and further cement their goals of voter suppression. To stop the problem of cultural disinformation through celebrities or the political institutions that promote them, people need to fact check their favorite celebrities and acknowledge the fact that celebrities have no authority over their political decisions. Connor Adams is a sophomore English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2019.

IZZY PIPA

CULTURE

Students explain why they didn’t vote

Often the Cynic asks voters why they voted, but what about the group of people that didn’t? Or what about the students and community members that did vote, but begrudgingly? The Cynic created a survey to capture this underrepresented group. The following are some of their responses. “Both major party candidates have caused irreversible damage to the people. Biden is an unapologetic architect of American mass incarceration that disproportionately affects BIPOC and a war hawk who strongly supported the illegal Iraq War that murdered over 100,000 Iraqi civilians. He’s pushed for cuts to Social Security and Medicare throughout his career in the Senate and his healthcare plan still leaves tens of thousands of Americans to die each year from lack of healthcare, while also still allowing insurance companies to withhold life-saving treatments from sick Americans in the name of additional profit. Trump, on the other hand, is a fascist who doesn’t believe in democracy and who doesn’t care about the deaths of over 200,000 Americans from COVID-19. Every law and executive order he’s signed into law has been to the detriment of the American people collectively, and particularly to all minority groups.”

“There’s no point. Biden’s not going to fix anything any more than Obama did or Trump would. The country will continue to value the economy and profit over human life, the environment will continue to deteriorate because we can’t slow our consumption and won’t enforce change. This country doesn’t value what is important, so what the fuck does it matter? Same happy meal, different toy.”

“Voting for Trump in a blue state has little effect.”

“I was unable to vote as I never received my mail-in ballot or the reissuement ballot from Ohio. Basically nothing I could do about the situation unfortunately.”

“The two main candidates are both idiots but voting for anyone else is as good as not voting.”

“Due to weird complications, I am a Massachusetts resident with a Connecticut driver’s license living in Vermont. I could not vote in Vermont or Massachusetts. My family is against mail-in voting, so when I requested my mail-in ballot to my home in Ct., they threw it out. I was unable to go vote in person in Ct., and therefore could not vote at all.”

“This election is rigged. Regardless of political orientation, there will be large amounts of upset and riots from both sides. I choose not to side with either Biden or Trump or the libertarian candidate due to their lack in morally guided decisions. I will not support a corrupt party, I will not help incite rioting post-election and I will not be a member of a voting society that is so divided to the point of unrest.”

“I’m an out-of-state student and got really confused as to where and how to vote, either at home or here. I kinda wanted to but I think it’s too late now.”

“If Vt. was a swing state I would vote for Biden. However, it’s not, so realistically my vote means basically nothing. I don’t like either candidate because of how polarizing they are, and I know no matter who wins, they will divide the country even further apart than ever. And I don’t want to be a part of making that happen.”

ELLIE SCOTT