What to do on Valentine’s Day
Life as a married undergrad
From Italian date spots to luxury hot chocolate, here's how to spend your Valentine's.
Despite trends, some students have embraced tradition and gotten hitched in college.
PAGE 6-7
PAGE 8
THE VERMONT
CYNIC Feb. 12, 2019
vtcynic.com
Students rally against white supremacy 3 / Step Afrika 9
Campus remembers first-year What we know
tified that during the evening and early morning hours before Gage’s death he attended two UVM fraternities. After first responders failed to revive his body, the individual in the snow was identified as Gage and he was pronounced
dead. It was at this point that the Burlington Police Department began its investigation, Murad said. Murad said he is familiar with many claims circulating about what specific fraternities Gage was attending that evening, but would not name them. Although the Burlington Police Department does not expect to press any charges, Murad said he hopes that there is a take-away following Gage’s death. “I think there are certain things we would like to come out of this tragedy, and I think his family would like those things to come out as well,” Murad said. “Those things are a renewed promise amongst all us as neighbors that we will watch out for one another.” While the investigation is still ongoing, UVM has not yet started its own investigative process into potential student conduct violations that occurred that night, said Annie Stevens, vice provost of student affairs. UVM Bikes will hold a memorial ride to honor Gage’s death Feb. 12.
Police Department investigation, the University will conduct its own with the help of an outside investigator with a legal background, Stevens said. “We don’t have a whole lot of staff, so we sometimes hire experts to help us with different cases,” she said. The investigation would look into “any role, either individuals or organizations, played,” Director of Communications Enrique Corredera said. Cristina Vega, assistant di-
rector for fraternity and sorority life, declined to comment. Stevens did not share which fraternities were involved the night of Feb. 2. “I’ve had one conversation with Burlington Police showing that he was at one or more fraternities,” she said. Stevens did not deny the potential of the ban to become permanent in the future. “Anything is a possibility at this point. Someone has died,” Stevens said.
Staff Report
The investigation into the death of first-year Connor Gage continues as officials at the University waver on when they will be able to take action. Gage was 19 years old at the time of his death. He was from Little Falls, New York, and was a member of the Wellness Environment studying neuroscience. Gage was found unresponsive by first responders Feb. 2 in a pile of snow behind a Burlington business on North Winooski Avenue. John Murad, deputy chief of the Burlington Police Department, said that a preliminary autopsy report showed that Gage died of exposure to extremely cold temperatures, which was affected by severe intoxication. Official results regarding the level of alcohol in Gage’s body and its impact on his death are still being determined, Murad said. Although the investigation is ongoing, the Burlington Police Department does not expect to file any charges in this case, Murad said.
Image Source: Andrew Topham
A collage of photos of Connor Gage posted Feb. 10 on his Caring Bridge site by family friend Andrew Topham. Gage died Feb. 2 in a North Winooski Avenue parking lot after exposure to subzero temperatures following visits to two off-campus fraternities. “Based on what we have discovered, we do not believe there was any conduct directly related to what happened to Connor that was criminal in nature,” Murad said. Murad said that the Burlington Police Department iden-
Administrative response Staff Report
There is an indefinite ban on fraternity activity following the death of a first-year. The ban was enacted after Connor Gage, a Wellness Environment student, died after attending off-campus fraternity events Feb. 2, according to Annie Stevens, vice provost of student affairs. The University will uphold the ban dependent upon the facts of the case, Stevens said,
and its intention is to send a message to other students. Stevens confirmed that the Bur- OLIVER POMAZI/ lington Police The Vermont Cynic Department Annie Stevens, found Gage vice provost of was at one or student affairs. more fraternities the night of his death. Following the Burlington
Student response Lilly Young ehyoung@uvm.edu
On the night of first-year Connor Gage’s death, each floor in Central Campus Residence Hall, where he lived, held community circles. Jeff Rettew, Wellness Environment associate director, attended the meeting on Gage’s floor along with over 70 students. “It was awesome to see how people showed up for one another,” Rettew said. Counseling and Psychiatry Services counselors came to CCRH Feb. 9 and 10 to help students process Gage’s death, first-year Grace Rizio, a CCRH resident, said. First-year Josh Arvin, a CCRH resident, said students had to sit in the hall during his floor meeting because the room was so packed with people. Students went around the room discussing their feelings and reactions to Gage’s death, Arvin said. The meeting was an open discussion between students in an environment that made students feel comfortable to share their thoughts and connect with one other, Arvin said. Junior Alex Creighton, a Resident Adviser in CCRH, helped lead one of the community meetings with other RAs and Alex Bosch, a member of Residential Life. Creighton said that the meeting gave the residents a chance to share what they were feeling in light of Gage’s death. “Pretty overwhelmingly, people were shocked and saddened,” he said. “A lot of them were saying they need the community to come together.”
Timeline of events 10:48 a.m.
9:30 p.m. Connor Gage leaves his residence hall to walk to first unidentified fraternity.
Friday, Feb. 1
12:45 a.m. Gage leaves the second fraternity.
Burlington Police and Fire department respond to a report of a man lying in a snowbank at 294 North Winooski Ave.
Saturday, Feb. 2 Two hours later, Gage leaves for the second fraternity.
11:30 p.m.
Gage is seen on surveillance camera footage from behind a business at 294 North Winooski Ave.
Burlington Police sends out a press release stating that they are investigating the death of a UVM student.
1:07 a.m.
5:31 p.m.
NEWS
2
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
President finalist announced Get the full story at vtcynic.com News
Upcoming: United Academics protest
United Academics, UVM’s faculty union, will hold a Valentine’s Day rally and teach-in to protest cuts to faculty, increased class sizes and the presidential search.
Sports
Slideshow: Men’s hockey defeat Vermont skated to a 1-0 loss in a home game against the New Hampshire Wildcats Feb. 8, threatening their chances of making it to the playoffs.
News
Candidate gained honors and controversy Lee Hughes ehughes7@uvm.edu
After a presidential search process spent largely behind closed doors, students and faculty are now able to learn more about the sole finalist. Suresh Garimella, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University, was revealed as the sole finalist of the presidential search Feb. 4. He was the only candidate revealed to the public. David Daigle, chair of the board of trustees, said Garimella is a qualified candidate and a passionate, student-focused educator with a strong academic and professional background. “He is a very strong relationship builder. He has a demonstrated skill set in terms of building partnerships,” Daigle said. “He thinks about his ability to have an impact at the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont to, by extension, have an impact on the state of Vermont.” At Purdue, Garimella has diversified academics and partnered with companies to expand experience-based learning opportunities, said Creighton Suter, the editor-in-chief of the Purdue Exponent, Purdue’s student newspaper. “Garimella is held in very high regard among faculty,” Suter said. “He has always appeared very personable to me.” Garimella is more involved
ehughes7@uvm.edu
After being named as the only public finalist for the presidential search, Suresh Garimella will be on campus this week seeking approval to be appointed as president.
Podcast
Serial killers and Netflix dramas
Prime Time Cats discuss Ted Bundy, the Netflix show “You” and speak with members of UVM’s “One In Four” group to get more insight on the group.
with the administration and is less visible to students at Purdue, Suter said. Under Garimella, Purdue has undergone consecutive record years in research funding and has gained new worldwide partnerships, according to an email from Tim Doty, director of public information and issues management at Purdue. He has also worked extensively to expand research opportunities through the Discovery Park at Purdue and helping to start the integrative data science initiative at Purdue, Doty stated. While Garimella was vice
president for research and partnerships, a study on blood pressure in adolescents was ended early due to reports of physical and sexual assault of the participants, according to a July 2017 Detroit Free Press article. “We shut down the research study and ordered a full internal review, which was publicly released,” Garimella stated in Doty’s email. “The university acknowledged that mistakes were made regarding the study’s operation.” SGA executive officers will meet with Garimella Feb. 14, SGA Vice President Gillian Natanagara, a junior, said.
“I look forward to the opportunity to further conversations at the University of Vermont about responsible and inclusive leadership and what that means to me,” Garimella stated in Doty’s email. SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, expressed disappointment at the search committee’s lack of tranparency. “There should have been more student input directly from SGA represented on the committee,” Foley said. “There could have been, and should have been, more than one undergrad on the committee.”
Students raise concerns over presidential committee Lee Hughes
Upcoming: search finalist visits campus
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
President Tom Sullivan delivers his last convocation speech at this year’s convocation Aug. 26 in Patrick Gym. Sullivan is stepping down as president in the summer of 2019.
There is a sole finalist for the presidential search process, drawing criticism from the campus community. Suresh Garimella, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University, was announced Feb. 4 in an email from David Daigle, chair of the board of trustees. The search process began at the beginning of the fall semester, but is only now entering the public phase. Faculty and students have expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the process, which was discussed in part at a Feb. 5 United Academics faculty union meeting where the attendees planned further action on a number of topics. “We feel the need to protect the privacy of the candidates came at the expense of faculty and student input,” said UA President Sarah Alexander, associate professor of English. “It demonstrates a failure to commit to student governments.” The hybrid process includes a private initial phase of the search that results in a list of finalists who go on to a public
phase where feedback is solicited from the campus community that informs the final decision for the next president, Daigle said. It would have been possible to have gone into the public phase with multiple finalists, but the other candidates aside from Garimella did not want to be publicly looking for a new position, he said. Being comfortable with being public about this process is not the reason that Garimella is a finalist, Daigle said. “The old model of having an extended open, competitive, public phase is something that is not as popular as it used to be,” Daigle said. “There are multiple other institutions that have gone down this pathway.” SGA submitted information about their priorities for a new president and were told that they would be able to meet with the finalists, SGA President Ethan Foley, a junior, said. The plans to meet were later changed, he said. “We need to work on a strategic plan for students and a diverse and inclusive committee with a clear, laid-out process going forward with all governance groups in the know,” Fo-
Image Source: UVM
Suresh Garimella was announced as the sole finalist in UVM’s presidential search. If Garimella is confirmed, he will replace President Tom Sullivan. ley said. In November 2018, Garimella was appointed by President Donald Trump to the National Science Board, where he will inform Congress and the White House on scientific issues, according to a November 2018 Inside Indiana Business article. Garimella served from 2011 to 2016 as a senior fellow of the State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, according to his Purdue biography page. This was a partnership from President Barack Obama’s ad-
ministration that worked to promote clean energy and adaptation to climate change, according to the page. If the board decides to confirm Garimella following his Feb. 13 two-day visit to the University, he will replace President Tom Sullivan this summer, Daigle said. However, it is not guaranteed that Garimella will be confirmed by the board, he said. Garimella would not have been announced if he was not a strong candidate, Daigle said.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
NEWS
3
Image Source: UVM
This year’s commencement speaker will be Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, and first openly gay speaker since 2011. Walker has been featured in Time’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World and Rolling Stone’s 25 People Shaping the Future.
Views diverge on graduation speaker Cullen Paradis csparadi@uvm.edu
Sophia Venturo sventuro@uvm.edu
This year’s commencement speaker will be Darren Walker, the first openly gay speaker since 2011. Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, was announced as this year’s graduation speaker in a Feb. 5 email from President Tom Sullivan. Walker is the first person of color to make the commencement speech since Wynton Marsalis in 2013, and the first openly gay speaker since Billie Jean King in 2011. “There are so many things in [Walker’s] professional and personal life that align with the
University,” said Gary Derr, vice president for executive operations. “His record in social justice and the arts and humanities are things we value here.” In recognition of his philanthropic work, Walker has been featured in numerous lists of outstanding individuals. These include Time’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, Rolling Stone’s 25 People Shaping the Future, Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative People and OUT Magazine’s Power 50. Kate Jerman, director of the Prism Center for LGBTQ students at UVM, supports the University’s choice of speaker, she said. “This is really exciting for so many reasons. Not only is he
openly gay, but he’s a black man and so influential in the work he does out of the Ford Foundation,” she said. “I think there’s something powerful in the University selecting an openly queer person to take the stage.” David Beitzl, Walker’s partner of 26 years, was a UVM alumnus and died from cardiac arrest Jan. 20, according to a Jan. 26 New York Times obituary. “Their love was incredible. It kept them together for so long, and a lot has changed for queer people in that time,” Jerman said. Some students feel that with this choice, the administration is trying to present itself as inclusive in response to the mass demonstrations last year.
In February 2018, student activist group NoNames for Justice held several demonstrations, including blocking off Main Street and occupying the Waterman building. The protests were focused on how the University handled previous racial bias issues and attempted to get the University administration to sign off on a list of demands related to racial issues on campus. "The demonstrations are certainly part of it. I don’t think they would do it otherwise,” first-year Eleni Pappas said. First-year Dylan Streb said he thinks that the University chose Walker to be the commencement speaker in place of making more substantive change toward inclusivity.
“I’m totally for diversity in this school, but a person with minority identities just being our commencement speaker won’t fix that,” Streb said, “I feel that the solution to our diversity problem is deeper than just getting a public speaker.” Walker was nominated among a pool of potential commencement speakers and reviewed by the honorary degree committee made up of students, faculty and alumni, and was ultimately chosen by Sullivan. “President Sullivan has met with Mr. Walker several times at the Ford Foundation to try to engage him in our humanities program, and many alumni in the New York area are familiar with him,” Derr said.
Community rallies against hateful signs in Burlington Lee Hughes ehughes7@uvm.edu
Student groups joined community members at City Hall Feb. 8 in support of Jewish and LGBTQ communities following white supremacist signs posted on a Burlington synagogue and the Pride Center. The Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, the Pride Center of Vermont and Champlain High School were targeted between the night of Feb. 4 and the morning of Feb. 5, according to a Feb. 6 release from the Burlington Police Department. The posters and stickers read “America First” and “Better Dead Than Red” and listed the name “Patriot Front,” a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated white nationalist hate group, according to the press release. Patriot Front was founded by some of the leaders from the 2017 white nationalist protests in Charlottesville that left one dead, according to a Feb. 6 Vermont Digger article. Queer Student Union joined the protest to better connect with the Burlington communi-
ty, QSU President Carter Shapiro, a junior, said. “I am really proud to associate myself with such an incredible community that shows up for each other,” Shapiro said at the rally. “I am in awe of all of us that have the courage to be here today.” Senior Miriasha Borsykowsky, president of the Jewish LGBTQ group Hineinu, said it was meaningful for her to attend based on her connection with both communities, but it is important to remember to engage beyond just attending rallies. “I hope we acknowledge the context we’re coming from more, and we use experiences like this to remind us of what’s happening in our greater community and not just to us as individual organizations that we step outside of our spaces of comfort,” Borsykowsky said. Travis Miller, a graduate student, addressed the crowd at City Hall, calling for unity and healing. More than 100 community members joined the rally downtown at noon with posters, speeches and chants in support
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
Grace Oedel, executive director of the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Dana Kaplan, executive director of Outright Vermont, and Rabbi Amy Small hold a rainbow pride flag Feb. 8. The Synagogue and the Pride Center were targeted between Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. of those targeted. “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now,” the crowd yelled while walking down Church Street holding signs. They repeated chants calling for an end to bigotry. The posters appeared around the same time as the State of the Union address and during Black History Month, which is not a coincidence,
Miller said. “The attempt to take away from the celebration of Black History Month was challenge to keep the oppressed away from each other, but we are better than that,” Miller said. Mike Bensel, executive director of the Pride Center of Vermont, said it is important to stand up together against white supremacy and the policies coming out of the White House.
“Hate is here in Vermont,” Bensel said. “We need to stand up against each and every form,” Bensel said. Grace Odell, executive director of the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, also spoke, saying that it is unfortunate that hateful actions succeed in making people feel afraid but the solution is to stand up for one another. “When we show up for each other like this the state of our unions together is strong,” Odell said. President Tom Sullivan wrote in a Feb. 8 email to the University that UVM condemns the poster’s message and urges students to contact the UVM police services at 802-656-3473 or the Burlington Police Department at 802-658-2704 if they have any information. Sophomore Brooke Stellman, chair of the committee on diversity, inclusion and equity, said SGA opposes white supremacy. J Street U declined to provide comment. UVM Hillel did not reply in time for publication.
OPINION
4
13
TH a st
bli
sh ed
1883
2 Issue 0 - Vol.
5
C
Y NIC
E
EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Greta Bjornson editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Ben Elfland newsroom@vtcynic.com
OPERATIONS Operations Manager Sorrel Galantowicz operations@vtcynic.com Marketing Daniel Felde dfelde@uvm.edu
EDITORIAL Copy Chief Sophia Knappertz copy@vtcynic.com Culture Bridget Higdon cynicculture@gmail.com Features Kian Deshler cynicfeatures@gmail.com News George Seibold news@vtcynic.com Opinion Mills Sparkman opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts Chloe Chaobal vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Sabrina Hood sports@vtcynic.com Video Jordan Mitchell video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com Social Media Peter Hibbeler socialcyniceditor@gmail.com Illustrations Holly Coughlan illustrations@vtcynic.com Layout Kyra Chevalier layout@vtcynic.com Photo Alek Fleury photo@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Allie O’Connor (Culture), David Cabrera (Podcasts), Nickie Morris (Sports), Lee Hughes (News), Sam Litra (Photo), Liv Marshall (Copy), Caroline McCune (Layout), Sophie Spencer (Illustrations) Copy Editors Luke Zarzecki, Hadley Rawlins, Isabel Coppola, Dalton Doyle, Allyson Cook Page Designers Lindsay Freed, Meilena Sanchez, Kate Vanni
ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu
Feb. 12, 2019
It’s time to fix our fraternities Staff Editorial
O
ur campus suffered a tragic loss Feb. 2 with the death of first-year Connor Gage. Following a night at two fraternities, Gage died in the snow of a North Winooski Ave. parking lot. When a student dies, it impacts campus and our community — especially since this situation was entirely preventable. Had someone been with Gage at the time of his death, he could have gotten home safe. But this is about more than watching out for each other. Yes, we’ll all rethink walking home alone at night or leaving a party unaccompanied after too many drinks. Gage’s death is a call to look out for everyone, but it also brings up the need to reexamine campus culture. We must acknowledge the role fraternities play in our community. Not all of these organizations are bad, but their actions have created a concerning pattern which recently impacted our University with Gage’s death. How many more students will die before we fix the greek system, or eliminate it altogether?
In place of organizations that utilize “alcohol and hazing, we need to create an alternative, one that promotes the positive parts of FSL, like philanthropy and lasting friendships, but leaves behind the toxic and dangerous culture we have now.
“
NT
E
VERMO
The Vermont Cynic
Timothy Piazza, a Penn State sophomore, died the same day as Gage two years ago after a night of toxic hazing at his fraternity. That same year, 20-yearold Andrew Coffey died after attending a party at the fraternity he was pledging at Florida State University. Just last month, 18-yearold Noah Domingo was found dead in an off-campus fraternity house at the University of California Irvine. These three men are a fraction of the hundreds who have died in similar circumstances. If a fraternity is about brotherhood, Gage’s supposed
brothers should have looked out for him the night of his death. Fraternity and Sorority Life does its share of good for the community, like raising over $100,000 in philanthropy last year. But when incidents like Gage’s death occur, these efforts are overlooked in the wake of tragedy. In place of organizations that facilitate drinking and hazing, we need to create an alternative, one that promotes the positive parts of FSL, like philanthropy and lasting friendships, but leaves behind the toxic and dangerous culture we have now.
Fraternities must be held accountable, whether its internally by recognizing their own actions, or by the University. If so many deaths have been linked to these organizations, there is no excuse for them to continue to operate the way they do. 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. lease send letters to opinion@ vtcynic.com.
Students, stand up with United Academics Letter to the Editor
T
he John Dewey Lounge was packed Feb. 4 as UVM’s faculty union, United Academics, addressed the crowd of students, teachers and other community members. Two senior lecturers from the College of Arts and Sciences are not being renewed, with 10 more receiving drastically reduced hours. Additionally, many 0-level classes are having their minimum course enrollment cap raised. Theater 10, a necessarily small class with a minimum cap of 16, will have its new cap set at 60. The UVM board of trustees, the provost and the deans of CAS have told the faculty and the rest of the community that these chaotic measures are necessities resulting from a budget crisis. Yet while the classics department is shredded and our professors’ livelihoods are threatened, if not destroyed, our tuition continues to rise beyond reason and the administration continues to build a $95 million Multipurpose center. As if this weren’t enough, we were lied to when the administration claimed that a majority of the cost would be covered by donations. $65 million are projected to
be channeled from student fees and interest-bearing loans. These are but a few of the frightening facts numerous speakers presented. The meeting ended with a discussion section, where over the course of an hour members of the audience voiced their anger, as well as their enthusiasm for resisting. There was a notable atmosphere of solidarity in the room, taking root in the mutual victimizing by the administration’s decisions. One thing was made clear: mass student action is necessary if this fight is to be won. These attacks on the liberal arts by administration are a direct attack on professors, students and the University’s responsibility toward public education. One common theme in the frustrations voiced by students at Tuesday’s meeting was their feeling of being misled by UVM’s self-advertising as a university with a notable appreciation for liberal arts and sciences alike. A “public ivy,” of all places. Students from departments such as classics, languages, anthropology and more, feel completely betrayed. While we all suffer from the criminally high and continually rising tuition for both in and out-of-state students, our education is being chiseled away
LINDSAY FREED/The Vermont Cynic
Phillip Ambrose, a professor emeritus in the classics department, addresses the crowd at a Feb. 5 United Academics meeting. The UVM faculty union plans to take action against recent cuts to various humanities departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. by the profit motive of the board of trustees. While the teaching body is being cut, sacked and gutted, the administration decides to hire a “retention specialist” to improve our education. This is an issue that affects all UVM students. It’s an insult to our desire for the best education we can receive. We must make our anger and frustration heard loud and clear by the school administration. We need to be engaged and enraged. A working group of students held a meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 10 in Lafayette 210, open to all students to draft a set of demands for students to place
alongside those of United Academics. Other dates to note include the union organizing meeting called by United Academics 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 12, location to be determined, as well as a rally and teach-in noon Feb. 14 by the Andrew Harris commons. For our collective demands to be formulated as democratically and amicably as possible, as many students as possible should attend these events. Don’t sit back while the administration screws you. Take a stand alongside the faculty and claim your right to your education. Joni Chen-Zion
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
OPINION
5
How to protect those who need it most Emily Johnston ejohnst2@um.edu
T
he news of a woman in a vegetative state giving birth in Phoenix shocked America and revealed the flaws in the system of protecting disabled people. The woman, who lived at Hacienda Healthcare in Arizona, had been in a vegetative state for over a decade, rendering her unable to consent to sex. More must be done to protect the disabled. The facility has since been shut down, according to a Feb. 8 Evening Standard article. Local Arizona news source KHPO-TV reported that she was raped multiple times and that workers were unaware that she was pregnant. She was carrying a child for nine months before staff noticed. It was only once she began moaning in pain from labor that the staff realized what was wrong. A place meant to care for disabled people should not enable their mistreatment. Whether it was negligence or willful ignorance that led to this, either way it’s horrific that the facility let this happen. People with disabilities are twice as likely to be abused as able-bodied people, according to the University of Michigan Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, because they tend to make easi-
MEREDITH RATHBURN er targets. There is no way a nurse or nursing assistant could consistently and fully care for her without realizing she had no period and was gaining weight in her midsection. There are federal regulations that are meant to solve this problem. One is 42 CFR §483.15, which specifies admission, transfer and transfer rights. Forty-two CFR §483.15 was put in place to state that nursing homes are supposed to “promote each resident’s quality of life,” according to Cornell
Law School’s Legal Information Institute. Clearly, this is not being enforced. Hacienda Healthcare cannot be the only facility in the U.S. that has neglected to properly care for those entrusted to its care. There must be stricter laws for health care facilities specifically for people with disabilities such as this woman has. It is necessary to ensure a high quality of life for those who can’t ensure it for themselves. Health care facilities must
be inspected more frequently to ensure proper care for patients. There is an ongoing investigation into how this assault happened. That is not enough. This facility has been shut down, but there are doubtless more like it. That is not enough. Currently, many facilities that have repeatedly earned bad reports remain open. They should be shut down after a certain number of incidents. Instead of CEOs of the com-
pany resigning and moving on with their lives, they should be held to the standards to which parents are held. A duty of care should mean that care will happen. If these penalties for mistreatment are placed, hopefully in the future there will not be as high rate of assault on the disabled.
Emily Johnston is a firstyear environmental science major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.
Residential Adviser: one job where you can’t clock out Tori Scala vscala@uvm.edu
R
esidential Advisers do so much for the UVM community, the least we can give them in return is a substantial paycheck, and be truthful of what the job entails. As an RA at UVM, your room and board is waived. This might seem tempting to possible applicants, but once they hear the real truth of being an RA, they should rethink their decision. Junior Tyme Finnerty is an RA this school year as a part of the Wellness Environment. To no surprise, her experiences being an RA were not what she expected. “I definitely consider being an RA a full-time job,” Finnerty said. “I’m constantly thinking about the residents in my hallway and elsewhere in the building.” If the stressors of being on call 24/7 were not enough, Finnerty said she and her col-
leagues spend more than 30 hours a week doing hands-on work as well. The issue is not that a fulltime job is bad by any means. The fault rests with Residential Life for putting too much stress on college students. I can’t imagine keeping on top of my school work, extra-curricular activities and
VALENTINA CZOCHANSKI
then my full time job. If you consider what RAs do, it is a lot more than holding the inconvenient floor meeting everyone wants to skip. The average student’s room and board is near $12,492 for the entire academic year, according to the UVM website. The perk of getting this fee waived as an RA is great until
it interferes with a student’s financial aid packages. “RA compensation can affect each person’s financial aid differently,” according to the UVM Student Financial Services website. This means that for some unlucky RA’s, they may be cheated out of essential financial aid. RA compensation should not affect financial aid. Finnerty has heard from fellow students that other universities offer their RAs stipends to reward them for their work. According to Finnerty, RAs have asked for stipends through the RA council. To no surprise the RAs’ request for stipends was shot down. In my mind RAs are doing the University a favor. I certainly cannot imagine a dorm without any sort of RAs. It would be complete chaos. Amidst all these negatives, Residential Life representative Brandin Howard has apparently heard students complain for long enough to make some changes.
“For the upcoming school year, returning RAs, called Lead Residential Advisers, will receive 500 additional meal points as part of their remuneration,” Howard said. “Additionally, students will attend a student leadership conference.” I’ll take what I want from this breakthrough information, but I still think RAs should be rewarded somehow and waived room and board should not be the only perk. Along with increased pay, RAs should be told up front how many hours they will be truly working. It is bad enough that they have to endure the stress of a 24/7 job. As for what will come of the RA position in the future, we will just have to wait and see. Hopefully Residential Life hears the current RAs’ complaints and frustrations and takes a positive stance on this pressing issue. Tori Scala is a first-year political science and Italian major. She has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2019.
CULTURE
6
Valentine’s Day
The Vermont Cynic
IN BURLINGTON
L
ove is in the air. Burlington might not be known as the city of love, but despite the cold and the snow, it can still be the perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Whether you are with your partner or with your friends, you can enjoy your time together without breaking the bank. After your last class on Thursday, grab your mittens and head downtown. Take a walk or a ride on the city bus and explore all the romance Burlington has to offer. Here’s how the Culture staff suggests you spend the day.
Eat it: Restaurant recommendations Anna Kolosky akolosky@uvm.edu
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, going to a great restaurant is one of the best ways to woo your boo. If you’re looking for somewhere fancy, Sweetwaters is a casual but upscale restaurant on Church Street that serves a variety of American favorites like nachos for $11 and burgers for $14 to $17. Farther down Church Street is Leunig’s Bistro, a French bar and restaurant that offers live music and classic French cuisine. Choose an entree and a soup for $20 total every day from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For Italian fare, Pascolo Ristorante is a rustic but classy restaurant on Church Street that boasts a number of dishes from wood-fired pizza to upscale pasta dishes.
Try the fresh tortellini for $16. Or, head to Gaku Ramen, a trendy option that focuses on Japanese dishes like ramen noodle soups and rice bowls for under $20. Zabby and Elf’s Stone Soup, located on College Street, is another great choice for an affordable date. This Jewish restaurant is super cozy and has a number of veggie-heavy options like vegan clubs and salads, along with a hot bar priced by the pound. Their homemade soups and breads are not to be missed. Skinny Pancake is another great stop for a date night. Take a walk to the waterfront location, or drop by its spot in Living/Learning Center. You can listen to live music while you share a $9 Lovemaker crepe with your love or your friends.
Drink it: Lake Champlain hot chocolate Marjorie McWilliams mmcwilli@uvm.edu
It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re craving a sweet treat, either to share or enjoy by yourself. Lake Champlain Chocolates, located on Church Street, has the warm chocolatey fix you’ve been dreaming about. In addition to hot chocolate, Lake Champlain Chocolates serves drinking chocolate, which is similar, but delightfully different. While hot chocolate is typically powder-based, this drinking chocolate is made with blocks of chocolate that the
staff will melt right in front of you. You can stray from the basics with the options of Old World, Peppermint, Guatemalan, Tanzanian or Dominican Republic Drinking Chocolate. The latter three refer to the country from which the chocolate is sourced, giving it an exciting twist from your average bag of Swiss Miss. On top of this rich, chocolatey goodness you can also choose to add whipped cream, a homemade marshmallow or both. Lake Champlain Chocolates prides itself on being quintessentially Vermont, making it the perfect treat to consume in wintry weather.
Shop it: Church Street Cyrus Oswald
Do it: Ice skating Bridget Higdon cynicculture@gmail.com
Ice skating, a classic activity for couples seen in romantic comedies and postcards, is the perfect way to combine some exercise and social interaction. The Leddy Park Ice Arena hosts daily open skating hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Either walk along the Burlington bike
coswald@uvm.edu
path, or take a 10-minute drive to the rink. Show your student ID and pay only $3 for ice time and rentals. Burlington also has a number of outdoor skating rinks located in the city’s public parks. Lace up your skates at Lakeside, Battery, Calahan, Roosevelt or Starr Farm parks. Some rinks offer free skates to borrow and others offer skating under the lights and the stars.
Expensive restaurants, gifts and flowers can get boring on Valentine’s Day. To find relief from the norm, here are just a few cheap Church Street ideas that might spice your special day up. In Garcia’s Tobacco Shop, you can purchase old cigar boxes, ranging from $3 to $5, which are perfect for gifts or dorm room ambiance and storage. At Lake Champlain Chocolates, samples are normally out on the counter, no
purchase necessary. Th get all of the Valentine’ none of the investment If that isn’t sweet en fee shops a cup of whip my experience, free or p City Market also bo section to stock up on n chocolate-covered pretz pound. Finally, if you decid town this Valentine’s w make sure you put the c parking meter to shave
CULTURE
Feb. 12, 2019
his is a great way to ’s Day flavor with t. nough , in most cofpped cream is, in practically so. oasts a great bulk nonpariels and zels priced by the
de to drive downweek, Feb. 12 to 17, code LOVE in the e $3 off your fee.
7
Illustrations by CAROLINE MCCUNE and KATE VANNI
See it: the world’s tallest filing cabinet Jack Eccleston jeccles1@uvm.edu
If you’re looking for the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet, you’ll find it in Burlington on Flynn Avenue. Impress your date by explaining that this obscure office obelisk is made up of 11 separate cabinets and 38 individual drawers, according to a December 2015 Seven Days article. In the improbable event that this fact alone fails to blow their mind, be sure to mention that Burlington’s own Bren Al-
varez originally erected the tower in 2002 as a satirical comment on the layers of bureaucracy delaying the construction of the Southern Connector project, a bypass to downtown from Pine Street originally proposed in 1965. After your visit, be sure to grab a local craft beer from Switchback Brewing Co., also located on Flynn Avenue. Founded in 2002, the brewery boasts a lineup of 20 beers.
Find the rest online at vtcynic.com
Photos: ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic (TOP LEFT) The storefront of Lake Champlain Chocolates, filled with heart shaped chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries, Feb 9. Lake Champlain Chocolates serves drinking chocolate, made with blocks of chocolate that the staff will melt right in front of you. (TOP RIGHT AND BOTTOM LEFT) Sweetwaters, located on Church Street, serves American classics like nachos, salads and burgers. It offers a casual yet upscale vibe to its customers. (BOTTOM CENTER) Burlington residents walk Church Street, window shopping and scurrying into restaurants to escape the cold Feb. 9. (BOTTOM RIGHT) Pink roses, heart-shaped boxes and chocolates decorate the window display of Lake Champlain Chocolates.
CULTURE
8
d
Feb. 12, 2019
Tying knot
Mar ri
ed
an
d
e
ng
e ag
nts on campus e d stu
The Vermont Cynic
THE
Allie O’Connor aconno8@uvm.edu
LILY SHARP/The Vermont Cynic
Sophomore Ethan Welch and first-year Sandra Guyette, a biology major at St. Michael’s College, met in 2015 through a mutual friend and began dating a few weeks later. Welch proposed on Aug. 19, 2018.
When an undergraduate public communication major joined Chi Alpha, an on-campus Christian fellowship, she didn’t expect to meet her husband. The average marriage age for women in the U.S. is 27 years old and for men is 29 years old, according to the November 2018 U.S. Census. That statistic doesn’t stop some students from marrying younger. Senior Laura Beth Saaman met her husband, senior Paul Saaman, a sustainable landscape horticulture major, through Chi Alpha. The couple started dating in March 2017, and was engaged Feb. 10, 2018, tying the knot six months later. “I didn’t really date anyone in college until Paul, so I definitely didn’t expect to get married before my senior year,” Laura Beth said. “But it just made sense once I’d met him.” Her family and friends were pretty surprised, but Laura Beth said they’ve been supportive, nonetheless. “Friends who have known both of us don’t find it odd that we got married, but a lot of them were like ‘why now? why not wait?’” she said. Laura Beth said the success of her early marriage was thanks to being very intentional while dating. “We were really clear about what we wanted from the start … we weren’t just two kids trying to get married as quick as possible,” she said. There are definitely pros and cons to being in a serious relationship while in school, Laura Beth said. Since Laura Beth and Paul are both full-time students, their relationship has to work under the strain of classes, jobs and homework. “It can be a challenge to jug-
gle our responsibilities with sustaining ourselves and our relationship,” Laura Beth said. “But it’s really fun to be able to share my time with someone.” Laura Beth said that the most special part of their relationship is that they’re able to share the good times and help each other through the bad. She acknowledged the argument that they could be together without being married, and in response said marriage is a public profession of commitment that she felt ready to make. “Life is a gift, and it’s so un-
“Life is a gift, and it’s so unpredictable. No part of me would regret spending a day with him.” Laura Beth Saaman predictable, ” she said. “No part of me would regret spending a day with him.” Her advice for students looking for relationships while in college is to not rush into anything. “Some of the best times of my college experience came when I was alone, when I was able to explore who I am,” she said. “That helped me a lot to be content with who I am away from a relationship.” Once she was comfortable with herself, it was easy to fall for Paul, she said. Sophomore Ethan Welch, a student at UVM, is engaged to first-year Sandra Guyette, a student at St. Michael’s College. The couple said they agree that confidence is extremely important to a relationship.
“You have to be okay with being alone,” Guyette said. “For better or worse, anything can happen in a relationship, so you have to be comfortable with yourself.” Welch and Guyette are both from Wallingford, Vermont. They met in 2015 through a mutual friend and began dating a few weeks later. Welch proposed Aug. 19, 2018. Welch decided to get down on one knee in a local graveyard, he said. “We were on a walk and came across these beautiful blossom trees,” he said. “I had the ring in my pocket and I was thinking, ‘I know this is a bit of a weird place,’ but it was just so beautiful. I just figured, ‘why not now?’” Guyette said being engaged made coming into college less scary. “I don’t have to deal with the discomfort or anxiety alone,” she said. The couple is planning to get married after they graduate. They said they aren’t sure how marriage would change their eligibility for financial aid. College students who are married must file as independent, and list their income and assets, along with their spouse’s, as opposed to their parents’ information. This can alter their aid eligibility, according to the Office of Federal Student Aid’s website. Sophomore Keerthi Onkaram said she wouldn’t get married while in college. “I think I need to focus on bettering myself before I commit that much to someone else,” she said. Junior Joanna Santoro said she doesn’t think marriage is an inherently sacred, once-in-alifetime thing. “I would get married tomorrow and if it didn’t work out, I’d get divorced, and married again later,” she said.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
CULTURE
9
Troupe brings step dancing to campus Cyrus Oswald coswald@uvm.edu
At the kick-off to this year’s Black History Month celebration at UVM, dancers used their feet, hands and mouths to make music perfectly in time with their movements. Traveling dance troupe Step Afrika visited UVM Feb. 6. The step dancing performance was hosted by the University’s Black Student Union and the Department of Student Life. First-year Arianna Morton said she was excited for the performance. “I saw some pictures and it looked really amazing,” she said. “My [dance] professor told me it had some interesting types of dance that I probably hadn’t seen before.” Step dancing is a high energy, multirhythmic and highly percussive form of dance, performer Kiera Harley said. The art form started in African American fraternities and sororities, said performer Taquez Whitted. According to Daphne Wells, director of Student Life, UVM does not have any official black greek life. “By nature of our location and our demographics of students that we have, those organizations have not been able to come here and achieve any amount of sustainability,” she said. Black greek life is not feasible at the moment, she said. Wells said about one-third of the ballroom was filled at the event. “It wasn’t necessarily the
SAM LITRA/The Vermont Cynic
Kiera Harley of the traveling dance troupe Step Afrika performs a solo Feb. 6 in the Grand Maple Ballroom. To celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, the Black Student Union and the Department of Student Life hosted Step Afrika’s visit. turnout we had planned for, but it was still a good turnout,” she said. Wells said the ballroom typically is set up to hold 600 people, and anything could have deterred the students from coming. Wells heard about the troupe coming to Stowe and reached out to them, she said. “Seeing how it was up the road, I reached out to their booking manager to see if they were able to stop by and perform here,” she said. Wells said she thought the
performance would be a great addition to UVM’s Black History Month programming. “I thought this would be a program that would fit BSU’s interests,” Wells said. All of the performers in Step Afrika have had different dance experiences. Dancer Conrad Kelly said he has been dancing seriously since he was 18. “I’m 27 now, so that’s like nine years, but within the company some people started real early, like ballet at four, while some started later,” he said.
Sophomore Ellie Guyon and senior Simon Bupp-Chickering heard about the event from Morton and the University’s advertising. “I saw the big posters outside and thought it looked cool,” Bupp-Chickering said. Near the end of the event, the performers asked audience members to come on stage and try stepping for themselves. Both before and after the performance, three students went onstage to advertise and garner interest in creating a new step dancing team at UVM.
The students also had a table where people could sign their name if they were interested in the team. “They got a pretty good number of folks,” Wells said. The Black Student Union is putting on more events this February to celebrate the month. BSU is taking a group of 150 people to see the movie “If Beale St. Could Talk,” on Feb 14. The group is hosting an event Feb. 21 about how to study abroad as a black student, and their annual fashion show is Feb. 23.
Students seek mental health help during winter months Jean MacBride jmacbride@uvm.edu
Vermont’s dark winters, with their bluster and shadow, leave many studetns struggling with their mental health. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs in nine percent of New England’s population, according to a 2015 study by the National Institute of Health. Dr. Kelly Rohan, director of the psychology department’s Clinical Training Program, has been studying SAD since 2000. Rohan’s laboratory is currently conducting a five-year trial reveloving around SAD, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, she said. As part of the trial, 160 community adults with SAD are being treated with either SAD-tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy, or talk therapy, and followed over two years. Rohan encourages people with SAD to stay disciplined in their routines from the start of the winter season. Keeping to routines is not the same as ‘toughing it out,’
ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic
The Jacob’s House is home to UVM’s Counselling and Psychiatry Services where students can set up appointments with counsellors for their mental health needs. but is an essential way to care for yourself, she said. “So, do you have to work to do something different?” she said. “Yes, you have to catch yourself. “Keep in your routines, meet people, do your hobbies.” Rohan said it was essential to incorporate social activities into each day in order to manage SAD. “Professionals know that
being isolated can make depression of any kind worse,” she said. “Creating a sanctuary of time where you can create or learn something new can be helpful.” Interim Counseling and Psychiatry Services Director John Paul Grogan said that he’s pleased with how CAPS and other UVM programs provide resources to students with mental health challenges such
as SAD. “I think we have good comprehensive services spanning from the clinical in CAPS to the educational in Living Well,” he said. “We help students be healthy by providing opportunities to take care of themselves.” Senior Natalia Bastante was dissatisfied with her experience with CAPS, she said. “My general experience was okay, but I needed help in a crisis time [unrelated to SAD] and they could only schedule me two weeks out,” they said. Bastante said CAPs ended up unable to meet their needs. “The advice I received wasn’t great,” they said. “It kept me afloat, but I didn’t make headway on my issues until I started seeing someone off campus. “I know not every client and therapist clicks, but I didn’t know how to switch or if I could.” Senior Gwen Matthews, however, praised CAPS for helping her with her own mental health issues. “My grades were being effected, so I forced myself to go.
I’ve never liked counselors, but my therapist is wonderful,” she said. “After a session or two, she told me to go to the primary care doctor on campus,” she said. Matthews expressed her surprise at having this resource available to her. “I had to look up where the doctor even was, she said. My therapist made the appointment for me. “Everyone was very nice and understanding.” Grogan said that student health and wellbeing could improve its outreach to students “Where do I think we could improve? I think a lot of students don’t have community, or the right community or enough community,” he said. Both Grogan and Rohan said that those who are concerned about others suffering from SAD or other mental health challenges should talk to those people and express the behavior that concerns them in concrete terms.
FEATURE
10
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
&
Gathering for gratitude at the Interfaith Center Greta Rohrer grohrer@uvm.edu
Separated into four tables, Dinner and Dialogue attendees discussed gratitude, spirituality and unusually warm weather over plates of lasagna. These dinners, hosted monthly at the UVM Interfaith Center, foster an environment that sparks discourse and encourages attendees to be openminded. The Interfaith Center, located at 400 S. Prospect St., serves as a multipurpose center in which students can study, meditate and pray. The center also hosts many faith-based and student-run events. These events are a venue for open discussions regarding religion, spirituality and philosophy. Each dinner has a different theme, but this year’s overall theme is joy. The spacious interior was warmly lit the night of Feb. 7, with music softly playing. Reverend Laura Engelken, the head coordinator, welcomed each attendee as they entered. Guests enjoyed a spread of vegetarian fare along with cookies and tea. Before the conversation about gratitude began, attendees murmured about what brought people to the dinner on the brisk Thursday night. Explorations of the topics discussed at Dinner and Dialogue are often overlooked by students on campus. “I did homework in [the Interfaith Center] for a while and decided to join,” Sophomore Kristin Ketterman said. “I wanted to talk more about my beliefs, but my friends and I never really talked about it.” Ketterman’s personal experience illustrates the reason these dinners began. “[The Interfaith Center is] a place for all of us to grow and learn, speak with ‘I’ and allow others to speak as well,” Interfaith Center Facilitator Jamal Davis Neal, a senior, said. The Interfaith center provides a safe, comfortable space for all ranges of discussion, and these dinners specifically cater to those who have never spoken about such topics before. Similar to Ketterman, Interfaith Facilitator Caroline Sheehan, a senior, wanted to learn more about religions, ideologies and perspectives other than her own, which stemmed from her experiences attending church growing up. “Some words that come to mind surrounding this center
TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic
(TOP) Howe Library employee Iskandar Khan serves himself some food Feb. 7 at Dinner and Dialogue in the Interfaith Center. (MIDDLE) The sign in sheet at Dinner and Dialogue was covered in attendees’ names and religious affiliations so the attendees could be split up into diverse groups with people from different religious backgrounds. (BOTTOM) Campus Minister Rev. Joe Cotner leads a conversation among students regarding religion, spirituality and philosophy.
are security, community, gratitude and connection,” Sheehan said. Her emphasis on gratitude aligned with the attitude of the room since the discussion was rich with acknowledgments of thankfulness. Each thought was received and accepted by everyone in the room. The broad definition of the word gratitude was explored, with each person sharing their own personal perspectives on the practice and how it infiltrates in their day-to-day life. “Gratitude can only be shared authentically, and expressing gratitude is an easier way to be vulnerable in life,” senior Miriasha Borsykowsky said. Most who attend Dinner and Dialogue are UVM undergraduate students, but there are also many people from the Burlington community at the monthly dinners. Sheehan said that the diversity of religion, race and background among the guests illustrated the true “opportunity for
exploration” at the event. Once dinner was finished and cups of tea had been consumed, the mood of the event pivoted from expression to reflection as everyone gathered to the center of the room, forming a large circle. Looking from face to face, Reverend Engelken thanked everyone for coming, bringing a positive, gracious end to the event. The dinner allowed each person to share their thoughts, outlooks and questions, providing every individual to absorb unique perspectives they would never have encountered otherwise.
Other than reminding the first-time attendees of what they’re grateful for, the dinner introduced them to a new world of acceptance, knowledge, and philosophical thinking, all found at the UVM Interfaith Center. The next date for Dinner and Dialogue at the Interfaith Center is March 7. The theme of this dinner is compassion. Dinner is free, and those interested in attending can RSVP to Laura.Engelken@uvm.edu.
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
SPORTS
11
Multipurpose center sparks debates Stephan Toljan stoljan@uvm.edu
Budget cuts in the humanities have caused skepticism regarding the $95 million price tag of the Multipurpose center project. Athletic Director Jeff Schulman said the multipurpose project includes deferred maintenance, which are repairs that the University has put off. “We have $45 to $50 million in deferred maintenance,” he said. “The issues are the mechanical systems, the HVAC system and the plumbing.” Gutterson Fieldhouse and Patrick Gym were built in 1963 and haven’t been updated since, according to UVM athletics. “These buildings were built when UVM had a student population of 3,000,” Schulman said. “We now have over 10,000 undergraduates, so our needs have changed.” First-year Nick Nestro said he thinks this project is a misuse of funds. “It makes me mad. It’s not how we should be spending our money,” Nestro said. “I would rather see money spent on not laying off lecturers and professors from the humanities.” However, first-year Simon Webber supports the project. “The construction will help our recreational needs,” he
Image source: UVM
The plan for the $95 million Multipurpose center proposes large renovations to existing facilities, including the Gucciardi Fitness Center and Patrick Gymnasium. This will be the first update to the Gutterson Fieldhouse and Patrick Gymnasium since they were built in 1963. said. “I understand why people would be upset about job cuts in the humanities, but that’s the result of an increased interest in STEM fields.” The board of trustees approved funding for the Multipurpose center in November 2018. This plan includes renovations to the Gucciardi Fitness Center, locker rooms and Patrick Gym.
The gym will be renamed the Tarrant Event Center, according to a Jan. 17 Cynic article. Tarrant Event Center will make up roughly 33 percent of the complex, Schulman said. The plan includes an expected student fee of $300 to $400, Schulman said. He said the feedback from SGA has been positive. “There’s recognition that it’s time for this to be addressed,”
Schulman said. He said Gutterson will get new upgrades. “It will have new seating, a new scoreboard, new concourse, new restrooms and new audio and visual equipment,” he said. Men’s hockey head coach Kevin Sneddon said the renovations will help despite suspended access in summer 2020. “Our space right now is smaller than anywhere else in
Hockey East,” Sneddon said. “Our players have to sit on top of each other to watch film.” He said the new facilities will attract prospective players. “The recruits we’re dealing with are impressed by new facilities,” Sneddon said. “We’ll have more to bring to the table in conversations with recruits who would otherwise turn us down.”
SPORTS
12
The Vermont Cynic
Feb. 12, 2019
Basketball wins fourth straight game Stephan Toljan stoljan@uvm.edu
UVM men’s basketball team beat the University at Albany 67-49 Feb. 9. This win gives the Catamounts a 19-5 standing this season and is their fourth consecutive win, according to UVM athletics. In the America East conference, UVM has a 9-1 standing, according to UVM athletics. UVM took possession first, but Albany put the first points on the board. Junior forward Anthony Lamb quickly struck back, tying the game at 2-2. Five minutes into the game, senior guard Ernie Duncan scored a 2-point shot on the last second of the shot clock. An Albany player then drove to the net and was fouled by Lamb, which gave Albany two free-throws. Duncan later drained a 3-point shot, bringing the score to 7-8, with Albany still holding the lead. Shortly after, Vermont committed a personal foul and Albany was given three freethrows. However, these points were quickly answered by a 2-point basket by Lamb, which brought the score to 9-10. UVM obtained the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half because of Lamb’s 2 pointer, bringing the score to 13-12. After a string of personal fouls by both teams, UVM won the ball with nine minutes to go in the half. With five minutes left in the first half, first-year guard Robin Duncan sunk a 3-point shot, in-
Image source: UVM
Junior Anthony Lamb takes a jump shot up against a University at Albany defender Feb. 9. UVM won the game 67-48. creasing UVM’s lead to 18-14. This was quickly followed by a 3-point shot from Lamb, bringing the score to 21-14. Later, junior guard Everett Duncan made a 3-pointer and increased Vermont’s lead by 13 points. At the end of the first half, Vermont led 30-21. Two minutes into the second half, senior forward Samuel Dingba blocked a jump shot, giving UVM possession and garnering applause from the fans. Five minutes into the second half, UVM had increased their
lead to 16 points. Head coach John Becker said the team gained momentum during the second half. “The offence took a little while to get going, but the first eight minutes of the second half we really came out and found a nice rhythm,” Becker said. Ernie Duncan sunk a 3-point shot, which brought the crowd to its feet. Sophomore Moira Mahoney was among the fans who stood up after Ernie Duncan’s shot.
“We didn’t really need the extra points,” Mahoney said. “But when he made the shot, it was electrifying and the crowd felt it, you had to stand up.” First-year Madeline Spear also said that the shot was extremely impressive. “I’m not really a huge basketball fan, but you could tell that that was a good shot,” Spear said. With nine minutes left in the game, Lamb scored another 2-pointer. Lamb was then fouled and
sunk both freethrows, increasing UVM’s lead to 65-42. Becker said that there was still room for improvement, even with this win. “[There was] some uncharacteristic passing at the end of the first half and later in the second half where we just threw it to the other team,” he said. “We just got to tighten things up.” UVM’s next game is 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at home against the University of New Hampshire.
Men’s hockey improves in its second weekend game Ashley Miller amille68@uvm.edu
The UVM men’s hockey head coach is concerned about the team’s chances of entering the Hockey East Playoffs. The Catamounts didn’t make it to the Hockey East Quarterfinals in 2018 because they lost to University of Massachusetts Amherst 5-1, according to a March 2018 Burlington Free Press article. Vermont skated to a 1-0 loss against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats Feb. 8 at Gutterson Fieldhouse. “In all honesty, if it takes me at this point in the year to get our team fired up, we’re in a lot of trouble,” head coach Kevin Sneddon said. “I’ll say that point blank … right now.” Prior to this game, Vermont was on a four-game winning streak, according to UVM athletics. The Wildcats maintained possession during the majority of the first period. First-year Max Danielson
was concerned with UVM’s offensive presence. “The defense are doing all the work because Vermont’s forwards can’t get control of the puck,” Danielsion said. “They’re going to need to pick it up.” UNH scored the only goal of the game with four minutes remaining in the first period. The puck hit the upper crossbar of Vermont’s net and and almost went in, but quickly bounced out. The referees initially didn’t call the goal, but the Wildcat’s coaching staff quickly asked for a play review. The referees watched the play on tape and announced that UNH’s puck had successfully crossed the goal line. Burlington local Matt White said Vermont returned to the ice in the second period with an increased intensity. “They’re definitely playing better than the beginning of the game, especially in terms of their shots,” he said. During the second period, a penalty was called on UVM.
MADDY DEGELSMITH/The Vermont Cynic
Senior forward Craig Puffer pushes the puck past a defender and toward the goal in the men’s hockey game against the University of New Hampshire Feb. 9. The team won 4-1. However, Vermont was able to fend off the Wildcats offense. Vermont out-shot their opponents 9-7 at the end of the second period. Sophomore forward Bryce Misley put a shot past New Hampshire’s goalie within a minute of the third period, but
an official called the Catamounts on a high-sticking penalty. This call discounted the goal. Sneddon agreed with the official’s ruling of this play. “It’s the right call,” he said. “We had a high stick. They didn’t have possession.” The Wildcats maintained
strong pressure against Vermont’s defense throughout the third period. Sneddon said he questioned his team’s ability to play a solid three periods without getting tired. “We have to play 60 minutes all out, our style, our identity and when we do, we’re pretty effective,” he said. “When we don’t, we’re not very good and that period … we weren’t very good.” In the last seven minutes of play, sophomore forward Max Kaufman was awarded an opportunity to take a penalty shot after having his stick snapped by a UNH defenseman. The crowd cheered louder than they had all night in anticipation of a goal. Kaufman failed to shoot past UNH’s goalie. The Catamounts were able to redeem themselves after this game Feb. 9, when they beat UNH 4-1, according to UVM athletics.s UVM’s next game will be against Northeastern University Feb. 15 in Boston.