THEVERMONTCYNIC THE ISSUE 23 - VOLUME 138 | MARCH 22, 2022 | VTCYNIC.COM
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Lucille Whittier Cynic News Reporter
Ella Ruehsen Cynic News Editor
UVM athletics declined to send a courtesy photo for story pertaining to sexual violence, seven months after saying the department would not facilitate photoshoots of this nature, according to a March 20 email from Nich Hall, director of athletic communications. Hall refused to send the Cynic a courtesy photo of UVM’s head men’s basketball coach, John Becker, for a planned article about Becker’s America East coach of the year award in the context of the campus climate surrounding sexual violence, according to a March 20 email. Becker received the America East coach of the year designation March 4, according to UVM athletics, which comes after significant backlash to the men’s basketball team over issues of sexual assault allegations in recent months. The athletics department will not facilitate photoshoots for sexual assault coverage within the department, Hall said during an Aug. 24, 2021 conversation with the Cynic’s Editor-in-Chief Kate Vanni, a senior. This policy is specific to UVM Athletics but similar to other models at other Universities, he said. “[For] specific reporting on sexual assault, [...] if you were to go through me to do a photoshoot about that, we probably wouldn’t allow it,” Hall said. “Absolutely you guys should do that reporting and do the photoshoot, but, at the same time it’s kind of against our internal media policy.” Hall brought up the topic of sexual assault as a reference to recent sexual assault coverage in which protocol was not followed, but the policy could be applied to any subject, Schulman stated in an Oct. 7 email. This conversation occured less than a year after several students called for the resignation of director of athletics, Jeffrey Schulman, based on the mistreatment of sexual assault cases within the athletics department, according to an Oct. 13, 2020 Cynic article. Additionally, the department requires all athletes to report all media requests, Hall said.
“From our end, [the policy exists] mostly so we can sort of do the maintenance on it, like make sure the interview goes properly, make sure we can promote it properly,” Hall said. This includes preparing athletes for specific talking points and collecting the athlete’s thoughts to prevent them from saying something they do not mean, said graduate student Josie Larkins, captain of UVM’s women’s basketball team. Hall was present during the interview with Larkins regarding his quotes. “It’s pretty antithetical to what journalists do,” said Maleeha Syed, a reporter for Crosscut and former reporter for the Burlington Free Press. “The whole point is that you’re not promoting anything.” While Hall was always highly responsive to media requests, the administration was never particularly frank, Syed said of her previous experience contacting UVM’s athletics department. Still, these protocols are consistent with universities across the country and are subject non-specific, stated UVM athletics director Jeffrey Schulman in an Oct. 8, 2021 email. The UVM Student-Athlete Development Handbook lists “hints” for student athletes to refer to if they partake in an interview. The latest edition available online is from 2019-20. “The following are hints for dealing with the media: • Do not agree to a telephone interview unless it is arranged by the Athletic Communications Office • Do not criticize your teammates or your coaches in the media; Speak in plain English, and keep comments short and to the point.” These two bullets were included in bold text along with eight other hints. The Handbook also states interviews should be arranged through UVM Athletics’ communications office. “The image of the Department of Athletics affects the reputation of the entire University, and student-athletes play an important role in
representing the Department,” the handbook stated. “The Athletic Communications Office is responsible for presenting the best possible image of the institution and its intercollegiate athletics program.” The policy, in terms of coverage for general features, includes going through the athletic communication and broadcasting office, Hall said earlier in his conversation with the Cynic’s Editor-in-Chief. Still, graduate student Kendall Ware, who came forward about UVM’s treatment of her sexual assault case, said she was never told by any UVM administration that she could or should not speak to the press about her case. The policy of going through Hall for interviews is well known among athletes, however it is implied this policy only applies when a student is representing the athletics department, Ware said. That being the case, it’s in the athlete’s best interest to alert the athletics department regardless, for pointers or strategies to use in the interview, Larkins said. “[This policy] definitely discourages people from speaking out against [sexual assault], if they believe that there could be a consequence,” Ware said. “It also discourages students from reporting on something that students have a right to know about.” This policy, Ware said, lines up with her experience of UVM discouraging her from partaking in a formal investigation of her sexual assault case. After several requests, Hall declined to facilitate another private interview with an athlete, according to an Oct. 14 email from Hall. “With the comments from Jeff Schulman and quotes you have from Josie Larkins today I feel like you have what you need in terms of reporting on this topic,” he stated. Hall also declined the Cynic’s request to interview him, according to an Oct. 5 email. The America East Instagram account made a post on March 4 announcing Becker’s award, which received 39 comments containing criticism from members of the UVM community.
NEWS
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UVM community debates mask mandate lift Audrie Caruso Cynic News Reporter
UVM should have taken more time to prepare for the mask mandate dropping, since many community members are at risk for COVID-19 or directly involved with someone who is, said Ellie Miller, president of UVM’s faculty union, United Academics. UVM lifted the mask mandate after receiving updated guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, said Gary Derr, vice president for public safety and operations. Other factors such as UVM’s high vaccination and booster rates and its lack of hospitalizations also influenced the decision, he said. He feels very comfortable recommending that masks no longer be required and believes now is the time for this to happen. Immunocompromised people and those around them should continue to wear a mask if they feel anxious, Derr said. He doesn’t believe anyone will judge a person for continuing to wear a mask. “UVM doesn’t seem to acknowledge that in a pandemic, we’re talking about something that is socially contagious,” Miller said. People who are not directly at risk themselves but who are in a day-to-day environment
A K95 mask lies on the gravel next to a sidewalk March 17. with someone that is, such as an immunocompromised family member, are having a hard time seeking accommodations, Miller said. If professors who have vulnerable family members are not able to easily change teaching modalities, they should be able to mandate students in their classes to wear masks, Miller stated in a March 16 email. Faculty who file a modality change request will typically
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receive a formal response within one week of filing the request, according to the modality change request website. However, the Universitywide notification of the lifting mandate came only five days before the change went into effect. Professors are not allowed to require students to wear masks inside their classrooms, but are able to request that students wear them, according to a March 16 email from United
Academics. Although Miller believes there should have been a delay in the announcement, it makes sense that UVM is moving in that direction at this time, she said. “Burlington schools started to unmask a couple of days ago,” Miller said. “Given that, it makes sense that the University would move in this direction.” It may have been a better idea to transition the community to being mask optional more
gradually, determining which spaces are highly transmissible and continuing to require masks in those spaces, said senior Sam Pasqualoni, president of SGA. “It would have been more prudent to wait for a week or two to see if cases spike as a lot of students came back from spring break,” Pasqualoni said. Still, UVM showed sound judgment in waiting as long as they did to drop the masking requirements as other universities have taken this action much sooner, Pasqualoni said. It makes sense that they made this decision given the information available. It would not be surprising if people who are immunocompromised or people who care for someone who is immunocompromised feel left behind or ignored by this decision, said Thomas Borchert, president of the Faculty Senate. “Personal responsibility is insufficient, this is a public health problem,” Borchert said. “So while we all bear responsibility towards the public, it’s also a structural problem.” Health Commissioner Mark Levine said he is hopeful the pandemic is coming to an end but it will only do so if people are careful about safety and stay up to date on vaccinations, according to a March 14 Vermont Department of Health News Room article.
The Salt Mitigation Task Force announced at UVM RJ Morrison Cynic News Reporter
A group of students, faculty and staff aims to minimize salt use to prevent structural and environmental harm, according to a March 4 press release. The Salt Mitigation Task Force began in January 2020, when Lynn Wood, physical plant zone manager for the Davis and Trinity zones, noticed salt damage on buildings under her care, she said. Wood leads the care of over 100 buildings. “I see a lot of the damage that happens to the buildings,” Wood said. “I’m also very much a problem solver. So when I see things like that, I want to come up with a solution that fixes them.” Road salt undergoes a chemical reaction with concrete and metal, which causes the materials to degrade, she said. This has damaged doors, stairways, walls, pillars and steam vaults. Salt prevents snow and ice build up, splitting it into sodium and chloride and blocking water molecules from bonding to each other, said Kris Stepenuck, professor at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. When looking for ways to
MAC MANSFIELD PARISI/The Vermont Cynic Road salt lies on a path through the Waterman green March 17. reduce salt use on campus, Wood reached out to professors Courtney Giles and John Lens from the department of civil engineering, who she previously worked with regarding engineering problems on campus, to initiate this collaboration. Additionally, she reached out to Stepenuck, who previously worked around the state monitoring the environmental effects of salt on water, Wood said. Stepenuck works with the Lake Champlain Basin Project, according to their website. The LCBP aims to protect the natural environment of the Lake Champlain basin,
according to their website. After the snow melts, water carries sidewalk and road salt into bodies of water like Centennial Brooke, and downstream into Lake Champlain, where it continuously builds up, posing a danger to aquatic life, Stepenuck said. “If salt runs off into surface waters [...] it makes the water salty, which then can kill the aquatic life,” Steppenuck said. “So over time, we’re causing problems in lakes as well as streams that aren’t going to change. They’re only going to get worse the more salt that we put in the water.” Freshwater aquatic life
can’t regulate internal salt levels when exposed to salt water, frequently causing death, according to a Jan. 19, 1998 article from the Scientific American. The task force received funding from the UVM Sustainability Fund, Wood said. Additionally, Custodial Staff Member Paul Campo and Ground Manager Matt Walker assisted with implementing the project, she said. Keeping walkways safe despite the changes was the top priority, Walker said. They hoped to waste less salt while still keeping walkways clear by using more exact tools like the new HillTip salter. The HillTip is semi-automated, he said. By pre-programming it, the staff can precisely regulate where and how much salt is released, helping to ensure there is little to no excess. HillTip is a Finnish company that manufactures road maintenance tools especially for controlling ice and snow, according to their website. On top of reducing salt, Physical Plant has looked for ways to reduce its impact on structures, including putting an epoxy coating on the bottom portion of doors to reduce damage, Wood said. Additionally, Physical Plant
hopes more proactive planning can allow them to use less road salt, Walker said. Plowing before using salt reduces the amount of salt needed, Walker said. “If you’re getting close to morning time when [...] the students are moving, you don’t have as much time to plow, you’re gonna use more salt to try to melt the snow,” Walker said. “So we’re trying to be here at the right times, that’s a big step in reducing the total amount of product that we use.” Junior Nathan Claessens, a student in CEMS, got involved in the project this past February. Claessens meets every week with the group to brainstorm ideas to reduce salt use. “We’re researching other ways that we can kind of change the current infrastructure to make it almost impossible to [...] use salt,” Claessens said. “Conductive concrete is kind of what we’re focusing on right now or other sorts of walkways that would melt any type of ice.” Conductive concrete has a special rod through it that allows it to be heated, melting ice and snow on top of it. The group hopes to experiment with this next winter, Claessens said.
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NEWS
Deans renege on promised diversity training Skyeler Devlin Cynic News Reporter
In 2018, two UVM deans made a commitment to mandate diversity training, according to a March 8, 2018 Cynic article. Yet in May of 2021, the newly negotiated faculty contract did not include mandatory diversity training, said Bill Falls, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Falls and Nancy Mathews, dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, were the only deans that agreed to implement mandatory diversity training during the 2018 NoNames for Justice protests, according to the article. Both deans said they were initially unable to meet this demand because mandating diversity training was a union contract issue, according to a March 18 Cynic article. UVM’s faculty union and UVM’s administration began negotiating a new faculty contract in late February 2020 before eventually coming to an agreement on May 10, 2021, said Jane Knodell, professor of economics. Though neither dean Falls nor Mathews belonged to the administration’s negotiation team, all deans have the opportunity to fight for issues they want discussed in contract negotiations, according to a March 18 email from UVM Spokesperson Enrique Corederra. “The deans were consulted as part of the process about issues that were of importance,
The Waterman building sits on S Prospect Street. and I believe that diversity training was raised based on the expectations from the 2018 events,” Mathews stated in a March 19 email. Still, neither Falls nor Mathews chose to bring the idea of a mandatory diversity training to the negotiations, according to a March 15 email from Falls and a March 19 email from Mathews. Still, the union made progress for other diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Knodell said. When faculty are now evaluated for promotion or tenure, they have to report
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on their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in teaching. The implementation of EVERFI training on Sept. 6, 2021, was UVM’s overarching response to the demand from students to mandate diversity training in 2020, according to the Office of the Provost’s website. UVM’s newly implemented EVERFI training targets problematic workplace behaviors and helps transform all employees into active bystanders, according to EVERFI’s website. UVM faculty are encouraged, not mandated, to take part in EVERFI training,
Falls said. Eleanor Miller, sociology professor and president of the faculty union, completed the training, but does not feel mandatory diversity training is the best long-term solution, she said. Mandatory diversity training is critical because it alerts faculty to everyday aspects of the civil rights laws that offer protections for the under-represented, but research shows it does little to change attitudes, Miller stated in a March 16 email. There is little evidence that bias training is effective for
men and white employees, two groups commonly targeted for intervention, according to a July 9, 2019 article from Harvard Business Review. The best way to change the climate on campus for UVM’s BIPOC community members is to have diverse faculty at all levels of the University, Miller stated. “I speak as a sociologist,” Miller said. “If you want a good climate for a diverse population of people, you’ve got to have those people in sufficient numbers, and we don’t have that. All you have to do is look on campus. We don’t have it in the student body, and we don’t have it in the faculty or the staff.” Knodell is happy to do the training, but personally thinks it is actually more effective if the training is voluntary, she said. “I think having training be voluntary changes the feeling of the person doing it,” Knodell said. “People want to be doing the training and want to be part of it. They want to do what they can.” Falls believes there should be professional development for all faculty, staff and administrators, he stated in a March 18 email. Ideally, training would not need to be mandated because everyone would agree it is in their best interest and the best interest of the community.
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4 LTE: Elliot Ruggles’ message to UVM
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EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Kate Vanni editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Greta Rohrer newsroom@vtcynic.com
OPERATIONS Operations Manager Emma Chute operations@vtcynic.com
EDITORS Copy Chief Dalton Doyle copy@vtcynic.com Culture/Podcasts Paige Fisher cynicculture@gmail.com vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Features Liz Roote cynicfeatures@gmail.com News Ella Ruehsen news@vtcynic.com Sports Matthew Rosenberg sports@vtcynic.com
Letter to the Editor
Opinion Emily Johnston opinion@vtcynic.com
Elliot Ruggles, sexual violence prevention and education coordinator
Layout Ellie Scott layout.cynic@gmail.com Illustrations Izzy Pipa cynicillustrations@gmail.com Photo Eric Scharf photo@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Grace Visco (Opinion), Ella Farrell (Layout), Halsey McLaen (News), Catie Segaloff (Copy), Tanner Loy (Photo) Pages Designers Nicole Bidol, Abby Carroll, Molly McDermott, Maddy Thorner, Sabrina Orazietti Copy Editors Lauren Bentley, Jacqueline Kelly
ADVISING Andy Elrick cynic@uvm.edu
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ello UVM students! I am absolutely thrilled to begin my work on campus with all of you. As we all know, there have been many emotions recently about the topic of sexual violence in this community. As a newcomer, the pain of those who have been directly impacted by violence is tangible. I am encouraged by the actively engaged community of support for survivors that I see among students. So many people put energy into addressing these issues and changing the campus culture, and I recognize that it is through your hard work that I am here today. I am excited about working together to create real, long-term change by catalyzing our community’s effort. Sexual violence thrives in a culture of silence, so the biggest thing we can do is engage in the difficult conversations needed to address these issues
within our communities. Sexual and gender-based violence is not new. Yet in an age of increased digital communication and in-person isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues come to light in unique ways. In working with survivors of sexual and gender-based harm for over 10 years, I carry with me the stories of the collective resilience of survivorship as well as my own experiences as a childhood sexual abuse survivor. As such, I believe deeply in addressing the roots of violence within our culture and communities. Those roots beg the realtime questions, “How are we currently in relationship to one another, and how can we be in relationship to others as ethical as possible?” Building accountable communities and structures within our institutions is a necessary step in the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and I am proud to enter into a community that takes this accountability seriously. As one of my first steps, I would like to connect with as many community members as possible to get a nuanced picture of how sexual and gender-
based violence works here and invite you to share your perspectives with me. You can reach me in a number of ways: • Scheduling an in-person or virtual meeting through Calendly • Joining me for Open Office Hours • At Living Well: Tuesday March 29 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. • At the Prism Center: Monday April 4 10:00 a.m.noon • At the Women and Gender Equity Center: Wednesday April 5 2-4 p.m. • At the Mosaic Center: Friday April 8 2-4 p.m. I especially invite students who identify as survivors of
interpersonal harm to meet with me during the following times: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Thursday March 31 and Thursday April 7 at the WAGE Center. Sexual violence is a community-based issue so we need a communitybased approach to address it. We all have a role to play in its prevention and in responding to people who have been harmed within our communities. Let’s get to work. Elliot 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 factcheck and edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@vtcynic.com.
OPINION
Hammocking can damage UVM’s trees
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Spencer Hurlburt Opinion Columnist
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tudents set up their hammocks and lounge all over UVM campus, but hammocking causes major issues people don’t think about when setting up. Hammocks can cause massive harm to trees. Wrapping the straps around the trees can damage the bark which keeps the tree safe from weather and insects, according to the Washington University in St. Louis Hanging Hammocks webpage. Bark damage gives insects and parasites a clear passage into the tree, which can lead to tree decay. Without proper bark coverage, the tree is vulnerable to fire, wind and other weather, according to the webpage. Tying a rope or cord to the tree can also be very detrimental to wood health as it traps and chokes the tree, according to the webpage. The rope pinches off water and nutrient supply to the top of the tree leaving it more susceptible to insects and disease, according to the webpage. If a tree is too young or small, the weight of an occupied hammock can be enough to break the sapling or even uproot small trees, according to the webpage. Hammocking can be so harmful to trees that some universities, such as California Polytechnic State University, banned setting up hammocks using trees on college grounds,
WENZDAE WENDLING
according to an Oct. 31, 2015 Mustang News article. CalPoly University planned on putting in designated poles for hammockers around campus so students can hammock safely without hurting trees or other vegetation, according to the article. Hammocks themselves can also be a pain for students moving around campus. Inconsiderate hammockers may set up in a way that blocks paths, shortcuts or views of parks and green spaces. This can make a day on the
UVM green less enjoyable. There are ways to safely hammock without hurting trees. Fort Collins, Colorado updated their hammocking guidelines summer 2021 to require padding on the ropes of hammocks to prevent damage to urban forests while also appeasing avid hammockers who were upset by the hammocking ban, according to a July 6, 2021 Coloradoan article. Using nylon straps at least two inches wide, making sure a tree is healthy and of proper
size and not physically shaking the tree while setting up the hammock are all good ways to help keep trees safe and healthy, according to WashU. UVM students should follow these guidelines and hammock in a tree-safe way. Outdoor gear company Leave No Trace sells proper hammock straps specifically designed not to cause harm to trees. Their website also provides steps for properly setting up hammocks and what to look for beforehand. Outdoor Gear Exchange,
which has a store on Church Street, also sells straps that do not harm trees. Students should go to these stores to get hammock supplies. Hammocking is a great way to spend a warm sunny day, as long as students keep in mind the trees need to keep enjoying their sunny days without being hurt.
Spencer Hurlburt is a sophomore public communication major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2021.
Take mental health days when needed to recharge Emily Johnston Opinion Editor
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n alarm blares at 8:30 a.m. sharp, starting a typical day on campus. Yet, as I roll over to hit snooze, I realize I don’t feel like my usual self. I’m sluggish, overwhelmed and in need of a break. Mental health days help to recharge students so they can perform at their peak ability. A mental health day is a day to oneself, whether it be cuddling up on the couch and watching a movie or going out into nature, it’s a day dedicated to mental healing. Anxiety and depression symptoms were seen in 44% of college students and 30% of students reporting feeling depressed in the past year, according to Sept. 7, 2021 Mayo Clinic Health System article. With the burdening responsibility of maintaining good grades, obtaining internships and taking care of
oneself, college students are often swamped with tasks. Throughout college, students learn how to manage their time. Understanding when it’s time to recharge is part of that process. COVID-19 brought online learning to college campuses, which makes it easier to stay at home. However, I implore students to actually take the day off when they need a break, instead of sitting through class online. When I continue to work through poor mental health I create bad quality work, because I can’t focus on my assignments. After taking a day to focus on myself, I find that I can come back to my work with a fresh slate and thrivel. Simone Biles, a goldwinning gymnast, opted out of the Olympics citing mental health concerns, according to a July 29, 2021 CNN article. Society often pushes people to their limit, which leads to guilt over missing
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important events, but Biles’ case exemplifies the necessity of saying no. If Biles can opt out of the Olympics because she is not in the right mental state, it is okay for me to skip my lecture. Missing the Olympics does not deduct from the fact that
Biles is a top-tier athlete, and missing class does not diminish my care for my work. After spring recess, there are no more scheduled breaks, according to the 2021-22 UVM Academic Calendar. I encourage all students to evaluate their needs and
understand it is okay to take a mental health day.
Emily Johnston is a senior
environmental science major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.
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CULTURE
Campus food shelf relocates and expands
Two students choose food items from the fridges in Rally Cat’s Cupboard Feb. 23.
Miranda Degreenia Culture Staff Writer
Rally Cat’s Cupboard, UVM’s on-campus food pantry, seeks to aid a larger group of students after being forced to relocate, said graduate Malarie McGalliard, co-president of Rally Cat’s Cupboard. SGA created Rally Cat’s Cupboard in 2020 to alleviate and destigmatize food insecurity among students by supplying them with food and household essentials, said Nicole Reilly, UVM’s Sustainability & Campus Partnership manager and co-chair of the Food Insecurity Working Group. The Cupboard first opened Feb. 24, 2020 in Hills Agricultural Science Building. It relocated to the Living/Learning complex in February 2022 after the ceiling collapsed and asbestos was found in August 2021, McGalliard said. “They found asbestos all in the insulation that was in the ceiling, it landed on all the food,” McGalliard said. “All the food was compromised so we had to throw away thousands of dollars worth of stuff.” This event prompted Rally Cat’s Cupboard to offer pop-up markets in front of the Howe Library and in the Davis Center while looking for a new location, McGalliard said. “It helped us realize that we could position ourselves in areas of high traffic where students are more often and then it helps break down a lot of stigma,” McGalliard said. The success of the pop-up markets encouraged the Cupboard to pursue a hybrid model including pop-ups across campus and regular hours at the
new location, she said. “We try our best to simulate a grocery store experience for those who don’t have the ability to go and experience that,” McGalliard said. “We want everybody to have a dignified experience.” One in five UVM students were food insecure in 2016, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the University of Vermont. In the future, the Cupboard hopes to create a student garden and host pop-up events where students can learn the skills they need to cook meals, said junior Maeve Forbes, co-president of Rally Cat’s Cupboard. Reilly hopes that Rally Cat’s Cupboard can serve as a hub for the smaller food pantries in UVM’s identity centers and allow them to use the Vermont Foodbank chapter network to order items at a discounted rate, she said. The Mosaic Center for Students of Color, formerly known as the Asian-American, Latino, African-American & Native American Student Center, began an open kitchen in 2004, said Beverly Colston, director of the Mosaic Center. “We recognized there, particularly around finals time, that many in our student community would run out of points and would not have a lot of food, and at that time, we started using some of our operating budget dollars to stock our shelves,” Colston said. Over the years, the identity centers received institutional funding to expand their services and meet high needs, Colston said. “All of the identity centers are seeing high needs and see-
GILLIAN SYMOLON/The Vermont Cynic
GILLIAN SYMOLON/The Vermont Cynic Rally Cat’s Cupboard includes a variety of food options; from snacks, to canned goods, to refrigeratables. ing our food literally fly off our shelves,” Colston said. The existence of multiple food pantries on campus and the creation of Rally Cat’s Cupboard affected how UVM supports individuals who are food insecure, Colston said. “I just know that people appreciate knowing that there’s Rally Cat’s Cupboard as well as other pantries and cupboards,” Colston said. “They also know there’s more and that there’s not just one place on campus, which actually is very comforting and really holds that need a little bit more securely.” The Cupboard can be found at L/L C102 on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m,. or at their popup events in the Davis Center Atrium on Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m. To set up another time to
JOSH HARWOOD/ The Vermont Cynic A student reaches for a jar of peanut butter at Rally Cat’s Cupboard Feb. 23. pick up items email cupboard@uvm.edu or or direct message @rallycatscupboard
on Facebook or Instagram.
FEATURES
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Masala Elaichi serves BTV authentic Indian food
Masala Elaichi aims to redefine the perception of Indian Cuisine in the Burlington area, according to their website.
JOSH HARWOOD/The Vermont Cynic Masala Elaichi, an Indian Restaurant located at 207 Colchester Ave, provides authentic and affordable Indian cuisine to its customers. Sabine Foerg Features Staff Writer
The scents of Masala Elaichi, a family-run restaurant, waft from the corner of Colchester and East avenues, drawing in UVM students to taste staple dishes of India. The restaurant, previously named Elaichi, first opened in 2020 at 207 Colchester Ave. It re-opened in December 2021, featuring a new name and a renovation by owner Varinder Matri. Before Elaichi, the building housed another restaurant called India House. Matri and brothers-in-law Sikander Badhan and Priyank Shah bought the restaurant in 2020 after moving to Vermont from New York City. Matri is now the sole owner and changed the name to Masala Elaichi during his re-opening, he said.
“I added Masala to the name because people know what it means,” Matri said. “Elaichi means cardamom, masala means spice.” Many people discouraged Matri and the other former owners from opening a restaurant in the middle of the pandemic. They chose to move forward anyway and it paid off, he said. “In Corona time, nobody was opening up restaurants,” Matri said. “Nobody opened up anything. So, I thought that people would need our food.” Many Indian people live in Vermont, but there are few Indian food options, Matri said. One of his passions is helping college students and community members in need stay fed. College was financially difficult for Matri and he wants to keep others from having a similar experience, he said.
JOSH HARWOOD/The Vermont Cynic
JOSH HARWOOD/The Vermont Cynic Umbrellas hang from the ceiling of the restaurant March 18.
“My wish is that a lot of students will come here,” Matri said. “Money does not matter. [If] they come here, they’re going to eat.” UVM students come to the restaurant regularly and Matri enjoys seeing familiar faces. There are a variety of student discounts offered. Matri hopes to create a place students can rely on for affordable, delicious food, he said. “I don’t want anybody hungry,” Matri said. “That’s my wish.” The restaurant’s student discounts include a Sunday buffet for $10 each and a lunch discount including rice, two curries and naan for $8.50. “My favorite is the mango lassi,” Matri said. “Chicken tikka masala and garlic naan are the most popular [dishes].” Sophomore Rebecca Vassilenko is a Trinity campus
resident. She enjoys grabbing her favorite dishes as takeout from Masala Elaichi, she said. “I started eating there after moving to Trinity campus where the dining hall options are really limited,” Vassilenko said. “It’s a two minute walk from my dorm.” Trinity’s dining hall, Northside Dining, converted to a grab-and-go market this year, leaving students frustrated with food options, according to a Sept. 17, 2021 Cynic article. “The staff are so friendly when I walk into the restaurant,” Vassilenko said. “I know it’s become a staple for a lot of other students on Trinity.” Her favorite dishes are the tikka masala and butter naan, she said. “I usually get takeout from them,” Vassilenko said. “I love how easy it is to order online and they are really quick. It’s
great when I am not able to get back to the dorm for dinner.” Matri’s father-in-law, Suraj Mattri, worked at the previous restaurant India House until it closed in 2019 and now manages Masala Elaichi. He has been in the restaurant business for years, Matri said. “He takes care of everything here,” Matri said. “None of this would happen without him.” The restaurant has five employees including Matri’s sister and brother-in-law. They hope to hire others to take phone orders and someone to bartend, he said. They await the arrival of their liquor license and plan to build a larger bar soon. With this, Matri hopes they will stay open later and draw in more people. Once the bar opens, he plans to have a 30% off drinks discount for students, he said.
SPORTS
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WBB earns first playoff win since 2013 Lucia Gallo Cynic Sports Reporter
The UVM women’s basketball season concluded with a loss to the University at Albany in the America East semifinals on March 8. The loss ended the Catamounts’ most successful season since 2010. Vermont won 20 games for the first time since that year, hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2001 and won an America East tournament game for the first time since 2013, according to the UVM women’s basketball webpage. Members of the team also earned individual awards. Firstyear guard Catherine Gilwee earned America East’s Rookie of the Year while junior guard Emma Utterback earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team and graduate guard Josie Larkins made the Third Team. Utterback helped her grow as a player over the course of the season, Gilwee said. “I have literally gone to Emma, anytime that I’ve felt like I didn’t know how to tackle an issue as a point guard,” Gilwee said. “She’s taught me how to fend off defenders and also how to take control of the game.” Utterback said she appreciates how Gilwee’s intelligence and work ethic makes them both better players.
TYLER NACHILLY/The Vermont Cynic UVM women’s basketball faces off against Merrimack College for their first game of the 2021-2022 season on Nov. 9. “She’s worked so hard,” Utterback said. “We’re always pushing each other on the floor in practice and it pays off in the game. She’s extremely smart, has a high IQ, and I think everyone can see that.” Utterback led the Catamounts in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. She scored a career-high 25 points against the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Feb.
26, according to the webpage. “I think as a freshman coming in, my goal was to obviously help turn around a program that has a really good history at being successful,” Utterback said. “This [was] my goal since I stepped foot on this floor here, so I’m really excited that it’s coming to life.” Larkins set a single-season program record by making 73 three-pointers. Her 233 career
three-pointers are No. 2 in school history, according to the webpage. Head coach Alisa Kresge praised Larkins and graduating seniors guard Sarah Wells and forward Abby Settelmeyer. “I think the three of them are just incredible human beings and worked their tails off to help this program, and more importantly, what they do in the locker room to keep the spirits
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up on tough days,” Kresge said. Vermont finished the season with a 20-11 record and a 13-5 record in America East play. In the America East quarterfinals, they defeated Binghamton University 7365 for their first conference tournament win in nine years, according to the webpage. Sophomore forward Anna Olson said she was especially happy for the seniors to win their first playoff game. “It’s great to get a first playoff win for the seniors especially,” Olson said. “They’ve been here four or five years and haven’t won a playoff game, so winning it for them was just so exciting.” In addition to Utterback and Larkins, Olson averaged 12.3 points per game and junior forward Delaney Richason averaged 9.8 points per game. “It’s my third year here and obviously, our record this year is a lot better than it was my first year,” Utterback said. “I think a lot of us are really brought in. We put in the extra time and extra work and it’s really paying [off].” With four of five starters returning including three of UVM’s four top scorers, the Catamounts will look to build on this season’s success and contend for an America East championship once again.