THE VERMONT
CYNIC Sept. 11, 2018
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Expelled fraternity returns ■ A fraternity that was removed from campus in 2011 following the discovery of a survey asking members who they would rape is coming back. Sawyer Loftus swloftus@uvm.edu
Sigma Phi Epsilon has been added to the list of recognized UVM fraternities, nearly seven years after it left campus in 2011 following a controversial leaked survey question that asked members “if I could rape someone, who would it be?” Over the summer of 2018, student club leaders in the UVM community were sent emails from national representatives asking for input on SigEp’s return to campus, said senior Ryan Beattie. Beattie is president of UVM’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity. Beattie said he had previously heard of the fraternity and its conduct, but only learned of the full context and extent through a Google search leading to a 2011 CNN article. “I felt gross about it,” Beattie said. “I felt like I had to respond [to the email], and so I did.”
Beattie replied to the email saying he didn’t feel it was appropriate for the fraternity to ever return to campus, despite all of the students involved in the incident having already left campus, he said. SigEp may have changed its ways, but the symbolism attached to the fraternity is enough to keep them off campus, Beattie said. “I believe that if Sigma Phi Epsilon were to return to our campus, it would be the administration here or Student Life saying that it’s okay to perpetuate rape culture in a threatening and dangerous way,” Beattie said. Despite concerns from some students on campus, Cristina Vega, the assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at UVM, said there are no hesitations on UVM’s part for allowing SigEp back on campus. “[SigEp] have a vested interest in this community and they believe in the values and common ground of UVM,” Vega said. “A lot of what they believe
SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic
A national representative from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity shakes hands with a prospective student at the activities fair Sept. 5 on the Davis Green. In 2011, UVM’s chapter was suspended after a survey was passed around the organization asking, “if I could rape someone, who would it be?” in is very similar to Our Common Ground.” The specific circumstances around the fraternity’s departure still remain unclear. A 2011 CNN article reported that the fraternity was removed by its national chapter. However, the departure was a mutual decision between the
University and the national fraternity leadership, Vega said. “[The decision to leave] was in partnership,” she said, “so there was a conversation with the University — this is before my time — but there was a conversation between the University and SigEp headquarters to close.”
Andrew Parrish, the strategic communications director for the national SigEp fraternity, declined to comment on the fraternity’s conduct on UVM’s campus.
SigEp cont. on page 2
Presidential search fails to attract students Lee Hughes lee.hughes@uvm.edu
SGA President Ethan Foley sent an email Aug. 13 to all 11,000+ undergraduates, opening an application for them to apply to the presidential search committee. Only four did. Of those applicants, one will join the search to find a replacement for President Tom Sullivan, who will step down the summer of 2019 to write a book and join the UVM faculty, according to an Aug. 3 email from Sullivan to the University. His decision comes after the spring 2018 semester, during which students protested over the administration’s response to racial bias incidents and called for Sullivan to resign. Receiving only four applications was disappointing, espe-
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cially because none of the applicants were people who lead the calls for Sullivan’s resignation this past spring, Foley said. Those calls were primarily organized by the social justice group NoNames for Justice, headed by students from a variety of other cultural and social justice groups. NoNames also organized the campus protests. “I by no means had to create an application for the presidential search committee,” Foley said. “I could have picked six of my best friends. “I think that if students want to complain about the administration and if undergraduate students want to see change at this University, then they should be taking the initiative when the opportunities arise.” Senior and NoNames leader Z McCarron said the group’s
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SGA president and junior Ethan Foley at the last SGA meeting of the year in May 2018. He opened up an application for students to apply to help find a replacement for President Tom Sullivan. leadership did not have the faith or the energy to apply to the search committee. McCarron said that they and other NoNames leaders felt they would not be chosen for the committee after inter-
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actions with Board of Trustees vice chair Ron Lumbra about the renaming committee this past spring. Lumbra told McCarron and other NoNames members at the meeting that he would not se-
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lect “advocates” because they are biased, McCarron said. McCarron interpreted this to mean that Lumbra would only allow people onto the committee who agreed with him and would prevent NoNames members from joining, they said. Lumbra could not be reached for comment before publication. The committee will contain one undergraduate, one graduate, one staff member, alumni, trustees and four faculty members chosen by the faculty panel, said Gary Derr, vice president for executive operations. “I just would encourage students to take opportunities when they are presented to them,” Foley said. Read the rest at vtcynic.com/pressearch
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NEWS
2 SigEp cont. from page 1 Part of the reason SigEp did not return to campus sooner was because of a 2012 sanction against the fraternity for retaliating against someone who filed a report of sexual misconduct, UVM communications director Enrique Corredera said. The fraternity was issued a five year ban in November 2012, after they agreed to remove themselves from campus over the survey. They also rented out their Main Street home to Champlain College, which now uses it for student housing, Vega said. National SigEp representatives Dylan Hanson and Ben Bowles manned a table Sept. 4 at UVM’s 2018 Activities Fest as a recognized fraternity, offering scholarship opportunities to male student passersby. In some cases, Hanson and Bowles marketed the fraternity as a new one, joining the University’s growing list, and in other cases they mentioned SigEp was, in fact, returning. At the table, Hanson and Bowles deflected repeated questions and requests for comment. “You can speak to our communications director regarding anything we are doing on campus,” Bowles said. The national fraternity has made changes that will contribute to what the UVM community could expect from future pledges, Bowles said. “Our purpose as an organization is the development of the members in our community,” Bowles said. “[We want to] instill purpose, values, perspective in their life that they can then take to the greater UVM community, and into their life after college.” Bowles said the return process to any university is lengthy, but when returning to UVM, the national fraternity was required to create a detailed plan to show how they have changed. Bowles couldn’t speak to the specifics of the 2012 case since he wasn’t on staff at the time, he said. As part of a national change of face, the fraternity voted to implement “a substance free facilities policy” for all SigEp living facilities, Bowles said. Sophomore Hunter Sattler visited the table at Activities Fest. He was drawn in by the offer of a scholarship, he said. When asked about the history of the fraternity, Sattler was unfamiliar with SigEp and their national representatives said nothing about their history at UVM, he said. First-year Alex Marohnic had never heard about the fraternity before, but stopped at the table because of the scholarship offers, he said. Bowles and Hanson never told him about the fraternity’s history on campus, Marohnic said. In three years, students will be able to live in SigEp’s Burlington home on 371 Main Street, Vega said.
The Vermont Cynic
Sept. 11, 2018
Identity centers recruit counselors Lindsay Freed lafreed@uvm.edu
LGBTQ students and students of color now have access to mental health services at two of UVM’s identity centers. Counseling and Psychiatry Services has brought in counselors to the Prism Center, formerly the LGBTQA Center, and the Mosaic Center for Students of Color, interim CAPS Director John Paul Grogan said. The idea began when SGA and NoNames for Justice talked with UVM administration about better support of underserved student populations last year, he said. “This is something that just ultimately came to fruition this semester,” Grogan said. Last year, former SGA senator Carter Yee, junior Jaime Benson and senior Isabel Stewart proposed a bill supporting hiring a counselor for the MCSC, Yee said. “This position will allow students of color to more easily access the resources they need to help them,” he said. The ability to discuss issues with a counselor who has a shared identity is critical, said junior Carter Shapiro, Queer Student Union president and
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Mary Heininger is one of the counselors that will be moving to the Prism Center as part of an effort to better support underserved student populations. “I’m very excited about it,” she said. “We don’t get asked as counselors to do much outreach.” NoNames for Justice organizer. “I’ve gone to a counselor to speak about gender issues, and they’re nice, they’re really nice, but the conversation didn’t really lead anywhere,” Shapiro said. “I had a hard time trusting what she was saying because if she’s not experiencing it, how am I supposed to believe that what she’s saying is true?”
Environmental professor retires after two decades Joey Waldinger joey.waldinger@uvm.edu
After more than two decades at UVM, professor Elizabeth “Ibitt” Wright retired Aug. 24. Wright, a professional advisor and instructor in the environmental program, will spend at least a month in a watchtower at the edge of the Selway-Biterroot Wilderness in Idaho, she stated in an Aug. 21 email to students. Wright will be working as a lookout for oncoming fires until the rain starts in Idaho, she stated in the email. “I’ve always felt like I had the best job in the state, but now it’s time for some change for me to grow in new ways and serve in new ways,” Wright said. At UVM, Wright helped students map their courseload, find internships and pursue other learning opportunities. It is these interactions with students that Wright will miss the most, she said. “It’s been my favorite part of my experience all these years,” she said. Cecilia Danks, associate professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, met Wright during her first day at UVM and the two soon became friends, she said. One of the first classes Danks taught was ENVS 151, in which students in the environ-
mental program plan the rest of their time at UVM, and Wright would frequently stop by to help, Danks said. “She was like a partner in that … she came to class, she worked with students on their resumes and helping them understand how to have a rich time at UVM,” Danks said. Senior Anwyn Darrow would often meet with Wright to discuss her plans for school and beyond. Wright was always warm and caring, she said. Though always helpful in choosing courses and other logistical matters, it was Wright’s interest in Darrow’s general well-being that left the greatest impressions, she said. “Every single time I saw her she was just like, ‘how are you,’” Darrow said. “It was so obvious that she so deeply, genuinely cared.” Wright’s time in the firetower will be only the first activity of her retirement. Wherever she goes, she will always hold dear her time with students, her email stated. “Your passions, capabilities, spirit and eagerness to learn, develop yourselves, and do good in this world in all kinds of ways have inspired me,” she stated. “I hope my years ahead will be as rewarding as my years at UVM.”
The MCSC has a long history of working with CAPS to construct culturally intelligent and sensitive mental health services that are accessible to students of color who may not be familiar with counseling, MCSC director Beverly Colston said. “If you know cultures don’t look like you, you may not be able to walk into that space and
think that you’re going to be willing to be vulnerable to work on yourself,” she said. Mary Heininger, one of the Prism Center counselors, has previously worked with LGBT students, she said. “I’m very excited about it,” Heininger said. “We don’t get asked as counselors to do much outreach.”
Video of the Week
Meeting Daphne Wells vtcynic.com/daphne Daphne Wells, new director of student life, talks about what components make up student life, what she plans on changing within the program, and why representation matters in positions of power at UVM.
Podcast of the Week Prime Time Cats vtcynic.com/AlcoholVsWeed In this installment of Prime Time Cats, hosts Kim Henry and Corey D. Dew compare the pros and cons of two of the most popular substances on campuses — alcohol and weed.
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The Vermont Cynic
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EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Greta Bjornson editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Ben Elfland newsroom@vtcynic.com Operations Manager Sorrel Galantowicz operations@vtcynic.com
EDITORIAL Copy Chief George Seibold copy@vtcynic.com Culture Bridget Higdon cynicculture@gmail.com Features Caroline Slack cynicfeatures@gmail.com News Brandon Arcari news@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts Chloe Chaobal vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Sports Sabrina Hood sports@vtcynic.com Video Ruby Bates video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com
Illustrations Holly Coughlan illustrations@vtcynic.com Layout Kyra Chevalier layout@vtcynic.com Photo Alek Fleury photo@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Addie Beach (Culture), Sophia Knappertz (Copy), David Cabrera (Podcasts), Nickie Morris (Sports), Sawyer Loftus (News), Lee Hughes (News), Kian Deshler (Features), Caroline McCune (Layout) Copy Editors Zoe Sheppard, Luke Zarzecki, Enola Mercer, Miona Fogarty, Izzy Coppola, Tori Wilson, Genevieve Rossi, Mariel Wamsey, Dalton Doyle, Alyssandra Calhoun, Kira Bellis, Lindsay Freed
ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu
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Fraternity life & rape culture Staff Editorial
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UVM fraternity passed around a survey in 2011 asking, “who would you
rape?” This year, Sigma Phi Epsilon is making an effort to return to campus. In 2012, they faced a student sexual harassment policy violation, unrelated to the questionnaire, and retaliation against an individual for raising sexual misconduct allegations. Considering the fraternity’s past, we are drawn to question, what about this particular organization attracts people to join year after year? Fraternity and sorority life on campus is intended to “set the standard for developing lifelong leaders with the ability to collaborate and advocate for justice; contributing to positive change locally, regionally and nationally,” UVM’s website states. But, when the University allows a fraternity like SigEp to come back with its history and the baggage that history carries, they are failing to adhere to the concept of “positive change” they envision for Fraternity and Sorority Life. The typical stereotype of a fraternity is a rowdy, “Animal House” style group. Fraternities historically have been, and continue to be, a breeding ground for toxic masculinity, the reinforcement of misogynistic behavior and homopho-
HOLLY COUGHLAN bic outlooks. SigEp’s dismissal sent a message that this type of behavior and conduct is not okay. Yet, letting them back on campus weakens this message. Although the parties responsible for the survey and sexual assault violations are no longer on campus, the question becomes “is the fraternity or the individuals to blame?” The fraternity is being allowed back on the conditions that they provide a concrete plan for membership development, alcohol education, risk management, gender violence and sexual harassment pre-
vention training for fraternity members. SigEp also will be placed on disciplinary probation for their first two years. Yet, these requirements are concerning; evidently basic moral values aren’t common knowledge and need to be reinforced with this plan, if it’s even effective. Sexual assault and rape are not jokes or bureaucratic issues that can be resolved by signing a piece of paper saying you won’t do it again. UVM ought to treat this as a very serious moral issue. The University has the opportunity to set an example for other universities that this kind
of toxic behavior will not be tolerated on campus. UVM has to have a firm hand in its decision making and not change its mind so easily in allowing an organization like this back on campus.
Staff editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. Signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so. The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community. Please limit letters to 350 words. The Cynic reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@vtcynic.com.
Zen and the art of ignoring the irrelevant
Social Media Peter Hibbeler socialcyniceditor@gmail.com
Page Designers Lindsay Freed
OPINION
Sept. 11, 2018
Henry Mitchell hdmitche@uvm. edu
O
n the last day of August, I was walking back from class, making pleasant conversation with a friend, when I heard him gasp. “Oh no,” he said. “What?” I asked. “Preacher,” was his only answer. Sure enough, I looked to my left and saw a man surrounded by a dozen-or-so students. We both sighed and continued in silence. It’s only my third semester at UVM and this is getting stale. Last fall, two preachers came to campus, denouncing evolution and homosexual relationships. Students were rightfully pissed, having to deal with individuals who are simply looking for a reaction by using hateful language. But there’s a reason preachers keep returning: upset students who gather around the scene are telling them they matter to us. We’re deeply offended and disgusted with their
message and we can’t help but feel the need to talk about it. And in doing so they ultimately get what they want. Of course the angry crowd of students doesn’t endorse this hateful message. That was never their goal. They just love the attention they get from showing up year after year. Despite what they say, they return because they want to feel like they’re fighting for something.They want to feel like there are people who disagree with their beliefs and need to be put in their place. They’ve probably denounced homosexuality thousands of times, and they can do it again. I understand it’s fascinating to test your debate skills with someone from an entirely different belief system, with virtually no shared ideals. However, you must realize it’s not worth your time. This problem affects many areas of our lives. News cycles constantly cover President Donald Trump and his ridiculous rhetoric while ignoring important, pertinent news. Similarly, while Puerto Rican authorities raised Hurricane Maria’s death count from
GENEVIEVE WINN
64 to 2,975, the news covered Sen. John McCain’s death, partially because he once deviated from his party to save the Affordable Care Act. Luckily, the New York Times is once again reminding us that McCain is, in fact, dead, and that he had a funeral which people attended. Oh, and by the way, 3,000 people died. But we can’t blame journalists for covering this stuff over and over. In today’s society, where 24-hour news cycles are quickly beginning to take after click-bait, their job is now to tell us news that gets the most hits. Since we care so much about what Trump says, we get
Trump news. We liked hearing about McCain’s valiant effort to thwart Trump. Therefore, newspapers made sure to track everything involving him. We care about the awful things preachers yell about on our campus. Therefore, we get more preachers coming to yell on our campus. Which means I should probably start practicing what I preach … just forget you ever read this.
Henry Mitchell is a sophomore political science and economics double major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.
CULTURE
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The Vermont Cynic
Sept. 11, 2018
Culture Staff Recommends
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new semester has begun, which means we need new ways to procrastinate. Here’s what the Cynic Culture writers are currently obssessed with and passionate about.
TV Show Sharp Objects Sarah Robinson
Jean MacBride
Sarah.Robinson.5@uvm.edu
Jean.MacBride@uvm.edu
Based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, “Sharp Objects” follows Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), a journalist in Saint Louis. When a girl is found viciously murdered, Camille goes back to her hometown looking for the scoop but is reunited with old demons along the way. The HBO limited series is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and tackles topics like trauma and violence while also exploring what home and family represent. While only eight episodes long, the series is jampacked with skillful writing and astonishing cinematography.
ContraPoints is an ex-philosophy PHD student and fabulous transgender social justice princess who mixes internet and classical culture into a fearsome postmodern smoothie. She’s witty, yet unafraid to try to tear apart what she sees as the problems of the social order (classical liberalism and the alt right get special disdain in her videos). With an unapologetically glamorous aesthetic and plenty of raunchy jokes, she’s fun to watch, too. I’d recommend starting with the The West where she deconstructs the notion of a unified western culture.
podcast dissect Hunter McKenzie Hunter.McKenzie@uvm.edu
“Dissect” — a music podcast available on Spotify, which centers each season around a single album by a different artist — shouldn’t be as good as it is. Forty minute shows that take apart popular works of music should be boring but Cole Cushna, the podcast’s creator, brings fascinating analysis. The first season spotlights Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly”, while the second digs into Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”
Alumna returns to Student Life Jean MacBride Jean.MacBride@uvm.edu
The office was bathed in sunlight. A house plant and tea pot sat on the window sill. This summer, Daphne Wells ‘06 took the office of Pat Brown as the new director of Student Life. She has over 13 years of experience in Student Life and graduated from UVM’s Higher Education Student Affairs Master’s degree program, according to a July 9 email from Dennis DePaul, associate dean of student affairs, and Annie Stevens, vice provost for student affairs. Her previous affiliation with UVM influenced her to apply for the position, Wells said. “I wasn’t really fulfilled in the position I was in,” Wells said. “I was wondering if higher education management was really for me, “I had a very candid conversation with a friend of mine about when I was most fulfilled, and I decided that it was here when I was a hall director.” Wells has always felt that the student affairs division really cares about its staff, she said. “The department is always offering opportunities for professional development and is current on what is happening in the student affairs field,” she said.
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youtube channel contra points
TAYLOR EHWA/The Vermont Cynic
Daphne Wells replaced Pat Brown as the director of Student Life at the beginning of this year. Wells has over 13 years of experience in Student Life. In addition to the benefits of the position, Wells had to consider other factors, such as how her identity would be received, she said. “I was thinking about how it might be difficult to come back to Burlington as a black women,” she said. “But I decided that I really wanted to focus on my professional fulfillment rather than personal, which will eventually come.” Ultimately, Wells decided it didn’t matter to her if she was scrutinized due to her minority status, she said. “I feel like beyond the scrutiny, my presence is a positive thing, because representation
matters,” she said. Being a person of color in an administration that is mostly white is a big deal, Wells said. For her, making sure all students feel represented is of the upmost importance, she said. Wells’ focus is on her job, and any scrutiny she might receive would be white noise compared to the work she is doing, she said. “When I come into a new space my plan is to see and observe what’s going on ... and maybe put my own spin on things,” she said. Read the rest at vtcynic.com/daphne
the female persuasion Bridget Higdon
comedy special nanette Allie O’Connor Allison.F.OConnor@uvm.edu
Many comedy specials are a form of escapism, convincing viewers to forget about their discomforts and troubles and sink into a fun, lighthearted coma. Hannah Gadsby’s “Nanette” does quite the opposite. Gadsby’s special is a radical, scorching take on modern day issues. It is also a commentary on the humiliation that is comedy itself. With incredible storytelling and genuine emotion, Gadsby forces her audience to rationalize their idea of comedy with trauma, sexual orientation, gender identity, assault and different perspectives.
cynicculture@gmail.com
When Greer Kadetsky is groped at a college fraternity party, she is angered by the system that lets the boy get away with it. Kadetsky is left feeling helpless until Faith Frank, a Gloria Steinem-like feminist icon, visits her school. Upon graduation, Kadetsky applies for a job at Frank’s magazine “Bloomer,” and is then swept up into the chaos of being a young adult in New York City. While Wolitzer has written a novel that’s about finding your own path after college, she also successfully conveys the complexity of being a feminist in the 21st century.
The Vermont Cynic
CULTURE
Sept. 11, 2018
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Addie Beach Carol.Beach@uvm.edu
Miles of lush green forests and stark mountains make up the Vermont wilderness, perfect for hiking, skiing and college. TREK is a program for UVM first-years and transfer students that takes place the week before classes and lets its participants take advantage of the state’s outdoors. Divided into wilderness and community service tracks and guided by both upperclassmen and professionals, TREK sends students on trips to encourage connection to classmates, selfdiscovery and engagement, according to the TREK website. TREK will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, and this past summer enrolled
nearly 300 students, said John Abbott, UVM Outdoor Program coordinator. “We want to provide more access,” Abbott said. “At the same time, we don’t want to dilute the experience.” In pursuit of this goal, TREK celebrated the addition of two new programs this year. The inaugural mountain biking program was designed in response to a demand for more backcountry activities, Abbott said. Junior Jascha Herlihy was a student leader in the mountain biking program this year. It was her first time leading a TREK program. Herlihy found a supportive community that reflected the best parts of UVM, she said. “Because everyone is okay with being weird in their own ways, it’s a community of respect and happiness,” Herlihy said. “I’ve never seen a community that’s so encouraging and outgoing.” Thomas Turpin was one of
the firstyears who participated in the mountain biking TREK this summer. Turpin and Herlihy both started biking as a way to supplement their off-season skiing but have since developed
“Everyone is okay with being weird in their own ways, it’s a community of respect and happiness,” Junior Jascha Herlihy said. a passion for the sport. “You have control without the simplicity of running,” Turpin said. “There’s more thought and technique.” The program was challenging at first, but Turpin quickly found support within
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the TREK community, he said. “It’s not just a way for you to meet people, but for everybody to get more connected,” Turpin said. The chance for students to push themselves in an encouraging environment is one of the biggest perks, Abbott said. “The thing that impresses me are the stories I hear back from students who were way out of their comfort zone,” he said. Although Herlihy had a great experience on the trip, she expressed a need for greater representation in the future. She said that while other TREK groups have strong female turnouts, the mountain bike program was lacking. “I wish there were more girls because it’s such a maledominated sport,” Herlihy said. “Next year, I would really like to see them make a push toward females.” TREK also hopes to make a
CAROLINE MCCUNE
TREK expands its programming in time for 40th anniversary
bigger push for identity-based groups in the future, adding that this year they debuted a new Pride group focused on LGBTQ hikers, Abbott said. “We’re trying to get as many historically underrepresented student groups to be able to participate and have that same gateway opportunity as possible,” he said. Despite the TREK program’s expansion and growth, Abbott wants students to know the community building will be the same no matter the program, he said. “The message we try to convey is, regardless of how you identify as an incoming student, regardless of your passion, regardless of what trip you do, the experience is similar,” Abbott said.
FEATURE
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The Vermont Cynic
Sept. 11, 2018
KIRA NEMETH
An inside look at the rich subculture of one of the world’s most popular role-playing games Mike Hurley mjhurley@uvm.edu
When people think of Dungeons & Dragons, their minds conjure images of dark, musty basements occupied by zealous fanboys wielding mighty cardboard swords, ancient relics gripped tightly in hands that have seen frequent battle and Cheetos dust. While this depiction, lovingly featured in shows such as “Stranger Things” and “Freaks and Geeks,” provides some insight into the sheer epicness of tabletop role-playing games, it serves only as a limited preview into a universe of monsters, spells, gods and legends. D&D is an interactive role-playing game in which players create playable characters with the purpose of exploring a fantasy world alongside their friends. This exploration typically entails solving mysteries, battling monsters and discovering treasure. The best way to witness games like D&D in their full scope is to watch them unfold in real time with real people. Here at UVM, there are several informal groups that play the game. What the fantastical novice might first discover, perhaps to their surprise, is that tabletop role-playing games like D&D are enjoyed by a diverse array of people from all over the world, according to a January 2018 GeekGirlCon.com article. Some explanations for its widespread popularity are the game’s ability to develop teamwork and leadership skills and to help players forge strong friendships. “It’s a fun way to escape from schoolwork for awhile,” junior Ariel Martin said. While comedic shows like “Fear of Girls” portray such games as alternatives to more sociable activities, they are, in fact, a means of fostering social connection in addition to creativity and critical thinking. Artists may find D&D quite cathartic in that all modes of gameplay involve designing complex characters, intriguing settings and engaging plots. The latter two responsibilities fall to the Dungeon Master, or DM, the individual who acts as “God” within the realm of the game. The DM interacts with the other players in fun and inventive ways while constructing an entire universe for their companions to explore. “The worlds people build are so well structured, but also free in terms of being
SAM LITRA / The Vermont Cynic
Michael Hurley, dressed in his special cloak, leads a game of Dungeons & Dragons Sept. 8. The game is designed to harbor the players’ creativity, and with a growing age that embraces nerd culture, the game is played by people across the world. able to go anywhere in the narrative,” Martin said. Junior Avry Eaddy-Holmes has run many games that have successfully engaged her peers. “The game takes on a life of its own,” Eaddy-Holmes said. Despite its kinky connotation, the title of DM can often bring with it certain unforeseen pressures. “Sometimes it can be difficult to rein in a group of players and to get their attention, especially when you’ve spent so long working on a story for them to explore,” Eaddy-Holmes said. Even though the group can often move off-course from the campaign, these random bursts of creative energy can often inspire hilarious, meaningful and captivating results, she concedes. “Eventually you just learn to embrace the beauty of the unexpected,” Eaddy-Holmes said. Perhaps the most compelling epiphany a player can experience is the realization that the world of elves, wizards and dragons bears a striking resemblance to our own, characterized largely by unpredictable encounters with forces we can’t always understand. Sometimes risks pay off, but other times
players are knocked down, uncertain of their ability to get back up again. And when that happens, they can only hope that their friends are there to help lift them up when they fall. For a long time, games like D&D have been confined only to certain circles and parts of the world, known only to few, and, as a consequence, widely misunderstood. But with the emergence of a new and exciting age where nerdery is celebrated and adored, “Dragon Mania” holds promise as the new cultural contagion.
KYRA CHEVALIER
The Vermont Cynic
Sept. 11, 2018
FEATURE
Pride Burlington
Residents clad in rainbow colored outfits marched Sept. 8 through Church Street for the Pride Vermont Parade and Festival. Various Burlington-based organizations, from the Fletcher Free Library to UVM’s branch of the International Socialist Organization, joined together to express their support and advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Both candidates in the Vermont governor’s race also showed up to the parade, including Christine Hallquist, who could be America’s first transgender governor if elected in early November. After the parade, spectators and marchers joined together in Battery Park for more family friendly activities. The annual parade has been a staple in Vermont’s yearly events since 1983 and further solidifies Vermont’s strong LGBTQ culture.
ALEK FLEURY / The Vermont Cynic
Everyone from the Vermont Furs to the Green Mountain Roller Derby to Vermont gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist gathered Sept. 8 on Church Street to express their support of the LGBTQ community. The parade was part of a week-long festival which featured events like a drag show at Higher Ground and a dance party for women featuring music from the 80s and 90s.
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SPORTS
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The Vermont Cynic
Sept. 4, 2018
Men’s soccer secures winning streak Valerie Courtright Valerie.Courtright@uvm.edu
UVM men’s soccer achieved a four game winning streak by defeating Fairleigh Dickinson University 4-0 Sept. 7 and Central Connecticut State 2-0 Sept. 9. The win over Central Connecticut State allowed the Catamounts to take this year’s Peter Baldwin Classic Tournament title. Vermont hosts the Peter Baldwin Classic every September. Peter Baldwin ’68, former men’s soccer player, graduated as UVM’s all-time top scorer, according to UVM athletics. The Catamounts began the FDU game with an early scoring attempt five minutes into the game by senior forward Trevor Colazzo. The Knights’ goalie Jahmali Waite blocked multiple scoring attempts from junior midfielder Jon Arnar Barddal and senior forward Geo Alves. Waite couldn’t keep the Catamounts out forever, though. Ten minutes later, sophomore midfielder Dadi Baerings Halldorsson kicked the ball down the field to Alves, who scored, giving UVM a 1-0 lead into halftime. Early in the second half, Barddal passed to senior forward Justin Freitas, who slipped it past Waite, for a score
RYAN KIEL-ZABEL/The Vermont Cynic
Senior Geo Alves performs a backflip after scoring the first goal of the match in the 25th minute against Fairleigh Dickinson University Sept. 7. The Catamounts went on to win 4-0. of 2-0. Fifteen minutes later, senior midfielder Dani Rovira passed over the defense to Barddal, who kicked in the third goal. Freitas scored again two minutes later. Junior goalkeeper Aron Runarsson made five saves for Vermont in his first shutout of
the season. Waite finished the game with 10 saves for the Knights. Head coach Rob Dow praised FDU’s performance. “They’re a good team,” he said. “The score wasn’t a representation of FDU; our game plan was executed and the guys were ready.”
Dow finds the team’s early success impressive. “I think it’s been our best performance so far,” he said. However, Dow said that there’s always room for improvement. “I think we still have a long way to go to reach our goals, but the results are coming early,” he
said. Freitas praised his team for their help during the game. Rovira and Barddal gave me great passes and I did my job, Freitas said. UVM will travel to Colgate University in Hamilton, New York for their next game Sept. 16.
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