Issue 4 - Volume 137 by Vermont Cynic

THEVERMONTCYNIC THE THEVERMONT CYNIC Issue 4 - Volume 137 | September 22, 2020 | vtcynic.com

Death to student media Letter from the Editor-in-Chief “It’s a dangerous thing to start a paper.” As I read these words etched across a March 1883 edition of the Burlington Clipper, a weekly newspaper that used to run in the Queen City, the words echoed throughout my head. This line comes at the end of a bit of news. Students at the University of Vermont, just at the top of the hill, as they used to refer to the University’s campus, had passed around a circular that month saying they intended to start their own newspaper. The editors of the Clipper added the line as a bit of parting advice for the founders of what we now know as the “Vermont Cynic.” Two months after these lines were published in the Clipper, the ﬁrst issue of what was known as the “University Cynic,” hit the stands. Run by the students of the University, the publication has continued to do so. But now, over a hundred years later, a publication created for students, run by students and written for students is under attack. Whispers of potential changes as to how the Cynic, WRUV and UVMTv would be advised ﬁrst came in July when our adviser Chris Evans, whose sole job was to be the Student Media Adviser, left UVM after more than a decade in the position. Less than a month after our adviser’s departure, Provost Patty Prelock redesigned the advising role. The redesign, made without the input or consent of student media leaders or the Department of Student Life, moves the position to the College of Arts and Sciences where a lecturer will split their time between teaching and advising three diverse media organizations in an attempt to integrate student media with the budding Reporting and Documentary Storytelling minor. Effectively, the move puts all student media and especially the Vermont Cynic’s independence at risk. When student leaders heard the initial whispers of change, we signaled our concerns, but they fell on deaf ears. By the second week of classes, the University’s forceful takeover of independent student media was complete. Our new adviser was selected without asking us, or seeking

our input or advice. We begged for weeks to meet with the Provost to explain why the specific changes to our adviser’s role would be ultimately detrimental not only to the student media organizations, but free speech and a free press as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. The biggest concern here is an illegal practice called “prior review,” which is the most specific and probable way the administration can infringe on our right to operate independently. According to Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the Student Press Law Center, prior review is the practice of school officials, or anyone outside of an independent student news publication, demanding to review content before it is

published. The scariest thought however: the power that sits just overhead of our new adviser’s head. Although repeated claims have been made that this new adviser won’t be subject to administrative pressure, it’s difficult to trust this claim when the adviser answers directly to a dean of a college. When we asked the Provost why our adviser would answer to Dean Bill Falls, Provost Prelock said it was so the adviser “wouldn’t be influenced by the faculty.” It’s difficult to see how that doesn’t work from the administrative side too. What’s stopping Dean Falls from exerting his pressure on our adviser, or the will of another upper level administrator?

Instead of working hard to meet with the students most directly impacted and concerned by these changes, the Provost instead appointed this adviser without the consent of the leaders. Perhaps the most concerning change to the position is who exactly our new adviser directly reports to in their capacity as our adviser. Their supervisor is the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Bill Falls. This is a disgusting administrative abuse of power. The adviser to the independent student newspaper, reports to a high-level administrator. Just let that sink in. I write this, because when asked what guarantees she’d put in place to protect press freedoms, such as ensuring no prior review of content by

One hundred years later, a publication created for students, run by students and written for students is under attack.

faculty, staff or administrators, Prelock responded by asking for our trust saying she had no time to read our articles beforehand. How can we trust and respect administration when they don’t trust or respect us enough to offer us a seat at the table? This reorganization at its core seeks to “greater align” the three media organizations with a stronger journalism curriculum and academic program, effectively integrating student-run clubs into academia. By bringing the Cynic closer to the administration here at UVM, they are killing our more than century-long history of independence. Think state-owned media, but the college version. But specifically, aligning the independent college newspaper with one particular school and academic program leads to the possibility of greater restrictions as to who can participate and what content gets to be published. At the Cynic, we have a robust educational system that is built on real world experience. We welcome any student from any college, degree program etc, to join. If you show up, and you’re willing to put the work in to learn, we’ll teach you. We did a quick poll of the editors before this editorial went to print, and surprise surprise, not a single one is in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Reporting, Documentary, Storytelling minor, nor did they say they wanted to be. And to say our model has been unsuccessful is flat out wrong. For years, we’ve continually pumped out quality, budding journalists, from the likes of Pulitzer Prize winner Eric Lipton in the Washington D.C. New York Times office, to acclaimed Vermont Sports reporter Austin Danforth, Aviva Loeb at the Washington Post, community news reporter Bridget Higdon who has found a home at the Colchester Sun, Mariel Wamsley at the New York Timesto Natalie Williams a dedicated journalist at the Bangor Daily News. We produce top notch journalists and have some of Vermont’s most promising up and coming journalists in our midst right now. The University’s forceful placing of a square in a round peg simply doesn’t work. Story continued on page 1

NEWS

Cynic News Reporter

Plans for the Spring semester at UVM are already well underway, but one critical question remains unanswered: will courses be in-person, online or both. A possible schedule for the Spring semester includes a start date of Feb. 1 and no spring break. The student body will also lose one week of instruction despite paying the same tuition. One major component that the resolution fails to address is course modality: whether courses will be delivered in person, online, mixed, remotely, asynchronously or some combination. Neither the Provost nor UVMStrong, a committee established in response to the impact of COVID-19 and the need to plan for 2020 operations, according to UVM’s website, accepted responsibility for the decision of course modality offerings. “Ultimately the decision about what the modalities are going to look like and whether we’re going to have an at-home option is really the decision of the Provost and/or the President,” said Dean Bill Falls, Chair of the Faculty and Academic Affairs Working Group for UVMStrong. After that, it goes back to our committee to ensure that the faculty are supported, he said. The Faculty Senate has purview over the calendar, while the Provost has purview over course modalities, he said. Faculty Senate is a body of elected representative facul-

UVM will continue mandatory COVID-19 testing for students through the beginning of November, the University announced just days before student testing was set to expire. Before UVM President Suresh Garimella announced the extension in a Sept. 16 email, weekly testing was slated to end Friday, Sept. 18 at which point UVM’s website said it would consult with health professionals to assess appropriate testing protocol going forward. “We are now moving to a time where science is telling us we need to be even more diligent in our efforts to maintain the positive outcomes we have enjoyed to this point,” Garimella stated in the email. UVM has had a relatively low rate of COVID-19 cases, reporting a 0.03 percent positivity rate among students, faculty and staff according to last Thursday’s weekly test report. This comes in well below the overall national positivity rate of 5.3 percent.

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Emma Pinezich News and Sports Editor

SGA looks to help off-campus students

MARY MCLELLAN/The Vermont Cynic

UVM students stand in a long line outside of the Davis center Covid testing site, Sept. 10. Mandatory student PCR tests are slated to continue through Nov. 1 at the earliest. ty-members with a range of academic affairs responsibilities, including passing the academic calendar which votes on the final calendar. Contradictory to these statements, Provost Patty Prelock said that UVMStrong and the FAA Working Group contributed directly to the decision of modality this fall and that they were continuing to work on it for the spring. “I want to correct your statement that the President and Provost decide course modality,” stated Provost Patty Prelock in a Sept 17 email. “The four course modalities that were developed for this semester came as recommendations directly from the UVMStrong FAA working group.” The Provost is hoping to have a full recommendation

from the FAA in the coming weeks, she said. Thomas Chittenden, Faculty Senate president and member of the FAA UVMStrong, drafted the proposed callander and said he took into account feedback from many meetings and the responses from a Faculty Senate survey, in addition to a Governor’s Order, Chittenden said. However, he did not directly include student perspectives in his decisions, other than through Vice President of SGA Peter Lally, who serves on the FAA working group. Lally said that, while he tried to represent the student body to the best of his ability, there could always be more student input. “I tried my best to take student perspectives into consideration,” Lally said. “But in my

opinion you can never have enough student perspective because the University mainly consists of students -- they wouldn’t be here without us.” Lally hopes that there will be pre-arrival testing before students return from winter break, but has not heard whether or not the University plans on conducting pre-arrival testing again, he said. The Cynic reached out to Gary Derr, VP of Operations and Public Safety and UVM Spokesperson Enrique Corredera to ask if there would be pre-arrival tests administered to the student body after winter break. In response, Enrique stated that they were still in the planning stages for spring. “This is a bit premature,” he stated in a Sept 19 email.

Students to test weekly through November Irene Choi Assistant News Editor

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THIS WEEK IN SGA

Spring plans remains unknown

Garimella’s announcement comes one day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, commended Vermont on its reopening policies in a press briefing with Vermont Gov. Phil Scott Tuesday. However, Garimella emphasized that the UVM community must not become complacent. “We know that our expectations for your behavior can lead to fatigue and a tendency to let your guard down,” Garimella stated. “The weather is changing and as the colder air moves in the tendency is to ‘hunker down’ inside, where social distancing is harder to maintain.” The UVM president also cautioned the community of the coming flu season, mentioning it four times in his brief email. “In addition, our medical experts strongly urge our students, faculty and staff to get this year’s flu vaccine,” Garimella stated. “Flu vaccines will be available to students at the testing center.” Although students pledged to get vaccinated for the flu

Despite the turmoil created by the pandemic and ongoing racial justice protests spearheaded by students, UVM’s student governing body had another uncharacteristically short meeting in the third week of classes. The Student Government Association met for the second time this semester to discuss unique issues off-campus students are facing during the pandemic. Gail Shampnois, director of the Office of Student & Community Relations presented at the meeting and asked senators to join an ambassador program to address the needs of UVM’s off-campus community. “A lot of our students are feeling isolated and lonely, and we’re not really sure where their mental health is or their alcohol or other drug issues might be,” Shampnois said. “Especially during COVID, the needs have changed dramatically for off-campus students.” Shamnois said the Office will soon send a survey to off-campus students in an effort to provide better for their needs. She also stressed the importance of following COVID rules, noting the issues her Office had over the summer with certain students and households that continued to party.

Committee Updates

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic

Markers on the floor leading to the Davis Center doors, remind students waiting on the COIVD testing line to remain six feet apart Sept. 18. upon signing the Green and Gold Promise, UVM Spokesperson Enrique Corredera said the Promise does not require students to get flu shots, but “strongly encourages it.” According to the email, the University’s expert panel will review its testing protocol again by Nov. 1 to again assess the appropriate frequency of testing going forward. As of Sept. 18, UVM has recieved 31,263 student test re-

sutls since testing began in the last week of August. In total, there have been 19 reported positive student cases, eight of which were on-campus students while 11 were off-campus. The University has also recieved 370 test results from faculty with no reported positives. Similarly, no staff have tested positive as of Sept. 18.

Committee chairs also discussed upcoming projects, including a potential look into UVMs controversial flag policy by the student action and well being committee. This policy, which only allows special events flags to fly for five days outside the Davis Center, ultimately led the University to take down its Black Lives Matter flag which was met with student outcry. Additionally, the Committee on Legislative and Community Affairs announced plans to engage more students in voting. “Something will be going out to students regarding voter registration resources and also highlighting some issues we’ve had around lack of people voting here at UVM,” said Committee Chair Aidan May. “So I’m really excited about that.” SGA’s Committee on the Environment updated the group on the Clean Energy Fund’s rebranding as the Sustainable Campus Fund in an effort to broaden the scope of the project.

NEWS

Fauci praises VT response to pandemic Lilly Page Cynic News Reporter

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious disease, called Vermont’s handling of COVID-19 some of the best in the country, at a press briefing with Vermont reporters Sept. 15. Fauci joined Governor Phil Scott’s biweekly press briefing remotely for 30 minutes Tuesday to speak briefly on the coronavirus in Vermont and answer questions from the press. Fauci, who has become a household name in the country, praised Vermont’s response to the virus. “If we do what you’ve [Vermont] been doing in the rest of the country…we can not only get through the fall and winter, but we can come out on the other end better off than we went in,” Fauci said. Despite his praise, Fauci warned Vermont residents not to let their guard down. “Even when you are in as good a shape as Vermont is, by certain things that you’ve done, don’t get careless,” he said. “I don’t expect that you will, because there’s no indication of that, but be prudent and careful in your interactions in the community.” Fauci also noted that Vermont has one of the lowest positivity rates in the country at around 0.2 percent. “I want to congratulate you and all of the officials in your

Image Source: YouTube Dr. Anthony Fauci joined Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s coronavirus press briefing Sept. 14, where he applauded the state’s low COVID-19 positivity rate. Fauci warned however that Vermont residents do not become complacent. state who have been responsible for this plan and the implementation of it in a very prudent way,” he said. Fauci said he hopes Vermont’s low numbers of cases will continue into the winter. “I don’t think you inevitably are going to have a second wave,” he said. “It’s going to be challenging as you get into the future in the winter, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to have a problem.”

Following Fauci’s appearance, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine offered praise for the University of Vermont’s “aggressive” pre-screening efforts before students made it back to campus at the end of August. “Through [students quarantining] you were able to pick out the few cases there were, including students coming from other higher risk areas, and then have the entire campus start on a lev-

el playing field,” he said. Dr. Levine also said that UVM and other Vermont colleges should remain hopeful. “On the phone call with the colleges this morning, there was quite a bit of optimism and a real sense of accomplishment by those who were on the call because they felt that they really launched the process really well,” he said. New data from the state of Vermont showed that com-

pared to other colleges across the country, Vermont college students have some of the lowest rates of COVID-19, coming in at 0.09 percent. According to last week’s testing report, UVM had a 0.03 percent positivity rate with four positive cases of the 9,567 tests conducted on students, faculty and staff. This comes in well below the overall Vermont colleges positivity rate of 0.09 percent.

Frats and sororities navigate COVID restrictions Irene Choi Asistant News Editor

For most Vermont students, summer was spent with socially distanced friends, spending time outside and preparing for the fall semester. For Ryan McCarthy, UVM senior and Interfraternity Council President, summer was spent creating important COVID-19 safety guidelines and reopening plans for all recognized fraternities to follow at UVM, with little help from the University itself. “UVM just gave us the Green and Gold Promise,” he said in a Sept. 11 phone interview. “Otherwise, I had to use my own knowledge and research on what other institutions were doing, along with recommendations from the CDC.” According to the University, however, UVM gave plenty of support and guidelines for Fraternity and Sorority Life to follow. All organizations, including Interfraternity Council and College Panhellenic Council, are following the Registered Student Organizations Plan for resumption of in-person operation, according to a Sept. 15 email from UVM spokesperson

Enrique Corredera. However, Corredera did not respond to further request for clarification on what the Registered Student Organizations Plan is. Interfraternity Council (IFC) is a national governing body for fraternities with divisions on college campuses, according to the IFC website. College Panhellenic Council (CPH) is a national governing body for sororities on campuses, according to the National Panhellenic Council website. UVM fraternities’ COVID-19 guidelines that McCarthy drafted included a two week delay to any in-person activities, meaning rush for fraternities was virtual over the past two weeks. Sororities also delayed in-person activities for two weeks, a decision that Sophia Duffey, UVM junior and president of Kappa Alpha Theta, said came from Panhellenic National, not UVM. “Panhellenic has been really helpful by providing all the resources they can find, and by just putting in an incredible amount of hours to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible,” Duffey said. Duffey said she has received some help from her UVM advi-

MAC MANSFIELD-PARISI/The Vermont Cynic The Fraternity house Alpha Gamma Rho sits in the middle of the lawn with nobody in sight, Sept. 17. UVM fraternities’ COVID-19 guidelines included a two week delay to any in-person activities. sors in understanding what expectations UVM has for her sororities, through meetings with the two FSL advisers, Cristina Vega, assistant director Fraternity & Sorority Life, and “V” Vargas, coordinator of fraternity & sorority life. “Each chapter had a meeting like going through the Green

and Gold promise and going through what the expectations are of us and just going through the new gathering sizes we have and that kind of thing,” Duffy explained. Although McCarthy also said he received support through Vega, he didn’t think it was enough.

“Simply put, it was a difficult process. I received help from my adviser Cristina Vega, but neither of us are experts,” he stated in a Sept. 17 text message. “It was concerning to not get help from upper UVM.” Neither Vega nor Vargas responded to the Cynic’s request for comment.

OPINION

Let’s be honest, testing works Alek Fleury Managing Editor

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James Madison University is a school in Harrisonburg, Virginia. To others, the school is a “ra ra” type football kind of school, known for its purple colors and the statue of a tiny James Madison standing 5 feet 4 inches. But to me, it’s where my brother goes to school. It’s also where 1,144 students contracted COVID, wreaking havoc not only on the city of Harrisonburg but also the hometowns and households of these students where they are now returning. When comparing UVM’s handling of this pandemic to other schools, it is evident that we have done a much better job. Out of the 31,263 test results received, since Aug. 7, 19 students have tested positive. Now compare that to JMU

Culture Sarah Robinson cynicculture@gmail.com

which conducted no testing at all. It ended in utter disaster. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, virtually attended a press conference with Vermont Governor Phil Scott Sept. 15. “If we do what you’ve [Vermont] been doing in the rest of the country…we can not only get through the fall and winter, but we can come out on the other end better off than we went in,” Fauci said. JMU’s student newspaper, theBreeze, wrote in a staff editorial that the University took precautions, but it wasn’t enough. “Yes, people were wearing masks. Yes, every other chair was roped off in classrooms. Yes, there was hand sanitizer everywhere. Yes, there were cleaning blocks,” the piece reads. “Despite all these efforts, the virus still spread.” One of the students who tested positive as a result of JMU’s return was my brother. To be

Features Greta Rohrer cynicfeatures@gmail.com

grandparents passed away. And now I sit here, writing this staff editorial at my desk in the Cynic ofﬁce, wondering

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what will happen to my family. We applaud UVM’s testing policy and applaud the decision to continue testing into November. That being said, what worries us are the consistent drop offs in the number of students getting tested these past two weeks. On Sept. 10, results from UVM’s second testing cycle indicated that 3,427 fewer students were tested than the week before, according to a Sept. 10 Cynic article. This trend followed us into the third week as well. Some of this most likely can be attributed to students leaving UVM, but you can’t help but think, based on the volume of these numbers, that some students have been skipping their weekly test. UVM’s testing has worked, but that success could be ﬂipped in a matter of days if students stop showing up. Go get tested. It could be the difference between life and death.

Staff editorials ofﬁcially reﬂect the views of the editorial board, which includes the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and Opinion Editor. Signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so. The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community. Please limit letters to 350 words. The Cynic reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@ vtcynic.com.

Fall in love in real life, not in dating apps Sophie Oehler Staff writer

Digital Media Mills Sparksman cynic@uvm.edu Assistant Editors Mac Mansﬁeld-Parisi (Layout), Cole Fekert (Illustrations), Irene Choi (News), Hayley Rosen (Sports), Emily Johnston (Opinion), Sophia Venturo (Culture), Jacob Goodwin (Podcasts)

cautious, my mother bought him two nights in a hotel in New Jersey before he was allowed to move into my parent’s home. He got tested as soon as he showed up at the hotel and tested negative. He then moved into my parents’ house. The next day, he heard from a friend who he had been with in Virginia that she tested positive. My brother again got tested and it came back negative. That day was my grandmother’s 80th birthday so they had dinner with her. The next day, my brother said he couldn’t taste or smell anything. He got tested one more time and this time it was positive. My family and my grandmother are getting tested and we are awaiting the results. However my mind can’t help but harken back to when we were ﬁrst sent home last academic year and I spent so many weeks not leaving my New Jersey dead-end street as some of my friends’ own

What do Tinder boys and homework have in common? They’re difﬁcult to understand, my friends usually have to help me ﬁgure them out, and I have every intention of getting involved, but usually just end up ignoring them. We’ve all had one or more chapters in our lives where we convince ourselves dating apps are the solution to our largely disappointing love lives. And in this age of technology, there are plenty of options to meet our soulmates. You’ve heard of Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, the trifecta of bad decisions waiting to happen. 3 in 10 American adults say they have used or currently use dating apps, according to a 2019 Pew Research study of 4,860 Americans. 48% of those users are between the ages of 18 and 29. Some people enjoy dating apps. They allow for a sort of disconnect between you and the other person, so even if you do end up getting rejected it doesn’t hurt as much as it would to your face. They’re

also a good way to expand your social circle and quickly connect with people who might have similar interests. Online dating does promise that you will contact someone that is interested in you. However, it does not ensure that the two users express the same kind of interest. Lots of people don’t truly know what they’re using dating apps for. Some are genuinely interested in a connection, while others are just window shopping. Dating apps perpetuate hookup culture, which is another beast in itself. There is little commitment or responsibility to the other person, since half the time both users are talking to several

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people at once, at varying levels of seriousness. This leads to ghosting, when one person ignores the other’s messages for prolonged periods of time and after several attempts at communication. And while you still can be rejected in person, you’re being rejected more often on dating apps, since you’re reaching out to more people. It’s also unrealistic to hope for a solid connection from a dating site. Thinking you’re going to meet your soulmate on Bumble is like those white girls that go to Thailand to ﬁnd themselves. It’s a sweet idea, but your journey is probably better begun in Whole Foods. While there are a few

exceptions, it’s much nicer to meet that special someone while sharing a common interest. Two of my friends met through the cross country team here at UVM. My parents met because my dad would hang out with my mom’s dog while she was TA’ing for a science lab in a no dogs allowed building. Real connections should be made organically, doing something the two of you are passionate about. In addition, Tinder isn’t exactly providing me with my daily dose of serotonin. So why am I on Tinder? Simple. I deleted Tik Tok and need something to curb my boredom, I crave attention, and I can’t date Pete Davidson in real life, so I might as well start looking for his replacement. So tell whoever you’ve been admiring from a far how you really feel. At best you get a date and at worst you get let down, and move on to the next possibility. Life is too short to not take risks and we’re too lonely to be worried about the consequences. Sophie Oehler is a junior political science and French major. She has been a Cynic since 2019.

OPINION

UVM needs to improve contact tracing Sam Jefferson Staff writer

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Two weeks ago, a student on my floor tested positive for COVID-19. They lived two doors down from my dorm. Everyone on the floor uses the same showers, toilets, sinks, door handles, common rooms and washing machines. I waited, expecting an email from UVM addressing the situation. I wondered how contact tracing worked at UVM, sitting in my room, surfing our website for answers. I learned of the COVID result as I sat in our common room, chilling, scarfing down some parmesan goldfish. A student walked into the room, and was alarmed when I explained I lived on the first floor. His eyes widened, he asked, “Did you hear about the guy who tested positive?” I had not. The following day, my roommate and I decided to self-isolate until a negative test came back. I headed down to the Davis Center and informed them of my situation. Confused, they sent me to Student Health Services for a rapid COVID test. The difference between the Davis center tests and a rapid COVID test is that the rapid test comes back in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, SHS didn’t have these tests, so they sent me back to the Davis Center. I could sense the school’s confusion and panic. I proceeded to self-isolate for the next day and half until luckily my roommate and I tested negative. I was relieved but still bewildered that we hadn’t been contacted by the school. Let’s say I did test positive for COVID, and hadn’t self isolated. In those two days I would’ve come in contact with hundreds of UVM students and professors, exposing them and their families to the virus. There’s got to be a better way to go about this. It doesn’t feel smart to leave students in the dark. With this in mind, I sent Res Life an email. That email was then forwarded to UVM Strong. Today, I was informed my email is now in the hands of Dr. Michelle Paavola, the medical director of SHS. My email asks this question: “How does contact tracing work at UVM?” I’ve called UVM Strong, SHS and Res Life multiple times throughout the week, each time being dished to one of the others. It’s a circle of confusion. I wanted to write this article informed of how CoVerified works. My goal was to help educate students on UVM’s contact tracing process. The University has denied me this opportunity. They’ve denied me this not only as a Cynic reporter but as a student concerned for my own health and safety.

Still waiting on an answer, I am left feeling uncertain how prepared my school is for the coming months. More COVID cases are inevitable, and I believe there’s a better way to handle them. According to UVM’s website, close contacts of a positive test are the only people who get notified of the COVID result. UVM’s definition of a close contact is someone who’s been within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more during the time they are considered contagious. In a UVM Microsoft Teams FAQ on August 13th, one attendee asked if students attending a class would be contacted if a classmate tested positive, as the room ventilation and length of the room could affect who is a “close contact.” UVM responded saying they were following the CDC’s recommendations for contact tracing, which didn’t include ventilation or size of the room as factors. Even if that’s true, the CDC also states, “current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials.” So, depending on if a room is used for multiple classes, students may be using the same desks and seats as many of their potentially positive testing peers. I have heard from students that some professors require students to wipe down their desks before and after class but that doesn’t solve the ventilation issue. This is why UVM’s contact tracing is flawed. SHS claims contact tracers will contact students, staff and faculty who are considered close contacts by being within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more during the time they are considered contagious. They also say if you have class or live in a hall with someone who becomes infected UVM will only notify you if you meet these parameters. This must be why my roommate, floormates, RA and I were not contacted when a student in our hall tested positive. Just because we didn’t fall under what UVM considers a “close contact” we still we’re subject to contracting the virus from our communal bathroom and common rooms. UVM should ask themselves how they’d like their students to be informed of a positive case, 18 year olds gossiping through the halls or an email from the school taking action to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I’d take the latter, and I don’t think it’s that difficult to achieve. I suppose I’ll know more once my email gets a response. If it gets a response.

Sam Jefferson is a firstyear with an undeclared major. He has been wwriting for the Cynic since fall 2020.

OPINION

Admin threatens student independence Letter from the Editor-in-Chief Story continued from page 1 With the Provost’s redesign, student-owned and operated media has been brought into the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to these changes, student media lived independently in the Department of Student Lifea way to keep our adviser neutral. At the Cynic we take particular anger with this portion of the changes, as we’re the underdog in this situation. We know you won’t always love what we write, or agree with our reporting, but the fact that we get to write and report free and unfettered by the University Administration will effectively end here. We have been asked by the Provost and Falls to just trust them and then in Fall 2021 we can all go back to the drawing board. The Cynic’s answer to that is a fervent hell no. As journalists, one of the ﬁrst lessons we learn is to not trust a source. We develop that source, work them, until we know their information is credible and they’re trustworthy. Our job as journalists is to question authority, hold them accountable and tell the stories people need to hear. In our profession, trust is a precious commodity. It’s not given lightly; it’s earned. We sit and watch, take notes and write compelling stories. At times the University doesn’t like that and it’s hard to see this move as anything but an attempt to control what we write. The Cynic is not alone. Leaders from WRUV and UVMTv have expressed their concerns over having an adviser selected and appointed for them, that has no knowledge of what their organizations do. In a statement, Katie Masterson, station manager of WRUV said she’s particularly upset that much of the correspondence and language that has been shared centralizes on enhancing the journalistic aspects of all three student organizations. “We are not journalists, nor a journalistic venture as your [Provost Prelock’s] correspondence so often cites us as,” Masterson wrote. “We are a member of the Student Media Association, an association of independent student run organizations, who celebrate the beauty of freedom of expression.” For Masterson and the leader of UVMTv Daisy Powers, the student media adviser needs to have the technical expertise to help with production. The currently appointed adviser does not have that. Powers said in a meeting with student media leaders and the Provost that UVMTv doesn’t need help making connections with other folks at UVM or the world beyond. Rather, UVMTv needs an adviser that has robust experi-

ence in multimedia production and can help with the production of their videos now. At WRUV, there’s a heightened need for the media adviser to know their stuff, speciﬁcally the ins and outs of the Federal Communication Commission’s rules that govern the public airwaves the tunes from WRUV travel through. “Associating our student-led and programmed radio station with an academic program will destroy the fabric of what WRUV is and will ultimately lead to the detriment of students,” Masterson said. “I am disturbed and astonished at the obvious failure to incorporate students in a decision about their own organizations, seeing as we are working professionals who have been successful running these organizations for the betterment of the UVM name.”

Because of hiring freeze in place at the University due to the pandemic, the Provost has said this is the easiest solution. It’s easier for them to redesign our whole advising system rather than hire someone to ﬁll a pre-existing, open position in the Department of Student Life. We are the experts here, not you Provost Prelock. When President Suresh Garimella ﬁrst granted an individual interview with the Vermont Cynic back in August of 2019, he told us his “North Star” was the student experience. “My top priority is the student and their success, which means that we should offer them the highest quality of education we can,” Garimella said. We fail to see how these changes, under his leadership, have student success in mind

when students were actively excluded from the conversation. We do not accept these changes placed on us, to restrict us. We will not be silenced or face the threat of silence. “It’s a dangerous thing to start a paper.” The student journalists here at the Cynic know the risk and take it to heart, because we have an obligation to continue pushing for answers, exposing injustices and ﬁghting for the truth. That’s what a generation of Cynic journalists have done before us, and what the generation after us will continue to do. We won’t allow the University to turn us into their propaganda, spewing phony journalism farce. What we want is clear: we want a seat at the table.

We want the administration to hire a new adviser and place them back in the Department of Student Life. We want to be taken seriously as student media professionals, as campus leaders. We want a fair and open process. We want our independence back.

“It’s a dangerous thing to start a paper.”

OPINION

Culture staff recommends: Quarantine edition Cyrus Oswald Becoming addicted to coffee

Meredith Rathburn “Fleabag”

When I was sent home from UVM, like many of my peers, I lost track of time. Night and day became confused and my online classes started to resemble one another. In this dreamlike state, I found a grounding beacon: My morning coffee. Every morning my ﬁrst thought was about coffee. I would make my coffee and drink it while listening to updates on the current catastrophes. I rode the caffeine wave through the morning every day for weeks at a time. It gave me a sense of time and rhythm, where instead of following my watch I would follow the eb and ﬂow of my high and accompanying withdrawal.

“Fleabag” is the chaos you need in your life. This natural disaster of a woman takes you on a journey through the inner workings of her hilariously inappropriate mind. “Fleabag” breaks the fourth-wall in a completely revolutionized way. Each character is so well developed, interesting, and unique. And to top it all off it features a hot priest, what’s not to love? JULI BALDICS

VALENTINA CZOCHANSKI

Allie Kolosky “OUCH!” I’ll be honest, after I saw an announcement on Twitter that Matt Watson’s first EP had been released, I genuinely didn’t know what to expect. The comedy/ gaming Youtuber is not really known for his capacity for seriousness. However, as soon as the first few notes of “Jello” began to play, I was completely hooked. As Watson’s first traditional attempt at music, “OUCH!” delivers perfectly chill bedroom-pop vibes for your mid-quarantine melancholic delight. Written, edited, and mixed completely during quarantine by Watson, the EP evokes feelings of learning to prioritize yourself, getting over someone and the dread of not accomplishing enough. With over a million streams on Spotify, the album has had a very well deserved positive reception. My favorite song on the EP is “Nokia”. This song’s hip hop flow is paired with a painful but relatable concept: coming to terms with the fact that even when you care about someone, you need to look out for yourself first.

ELENI PAPPAS

Marjorie McWilliams “Little Fires Everywhere”

Anna Kolosky - “Get a Life, Chloe Brown, Take a Hint, Dani Brown” Need a new romance story to get through quarantine after binge watching “Pride and Prejudice (2005)” 20 times? Look no further than Talia Hibbert’s iconic companion rom-com novels: “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” and “Take a Hint, Dani Brown.” “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” focuses on the titular Chloe Brown who decides to live a more reckless life after realizing how boring she has become. Enter: a classic enemies to lovers trope, depictions of healthy conversations around mental health and toxic relationships, and one buff redheaded love interest. COLE FEKERT Hibbert gives us a story that is refreshingly wholesome and saucy. Likewise, “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” follows Chloe’s younger sister, Dani, caught in the middle of a fake relationship that evolves into a very real and caring relationship. Dani’s story is just as relatable and diverse as Chloe’s, and will have you wishing for more long after you have ﬁnished.

Laura Meyer “Heatbreak Weather”

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This summer I read “Little Fires Everywhere,” by Celeste Ng and it was exactly what I needed to get through the long days. It’s lighthearted, dramatic, beautifully written, full of breathtaking descriptions and enigmatic characters. The book describes the story of the Richardson family and their new tenants, mother daughter duo Mia and Pearl Warren, in Shaker Heights Ohio. It’s a quick read and after an emotional ending to the book which caused me I NN A to dwell on it for V TE several days, I KA was extremely excited to discover the 8 episode Hulu series featuring and produced by Reese Witherspoon. While the book and the TV show differed slightly, I really enjoyed both. The show made use of Kerry Washington’s exceptional acting as Mia Warren by capitalizing on the dramatic moments more so than the book had. I felt as though the show gave me new levels of understanding of the book. I would highly recommend both the book and the tv show to anyone looking to be immersed in a compelling story.

Sophia Venturo Ppcocaine “Bitch? Did you hear what the fuck I said? Shake some ass!” In late spring, three of rapper ppcocaine’s singles “Pj,” “DDLG” and “3 Musketeers” blew up on TikTok at virtually the same time, and for very good reason. In the era of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” ppcocaine chews up that overt sexual energy and spits it out tougher and gayer. The snappy trap beats complete with snare rolls and long bass notes on each track are enough to get you up and moving after a long day of Zoom calls, but the real kicker is ppcocaine’s vocal performance. Her high-pitched, nasally voice combined with her swaggering petulance and raunchy lyrics is what sets ppcocaine apart from any person making trap music right now. It can and will infect you with that “bad-kid” energy you might be craving, even if all you’re taking is a trip to the kitchen.

JORDAN MCDERMOTT

The complexities of falling in love are expressed ever so candidly in Niall Horan’s “Heartbreak Weather,” combining his previous pop taste with a new rock sound. Horan had me boppin’ around my tiny bedroom in Northern Spain amidst quarantine. He shares the sunny feelings of new found love in “Black and White,” the stormy pain of breakups in “Put a Little Love on Me,” and the blurring fog of getting over someone in “Still.” Queue his album to recall all the phases of love; the bliss, the suspenseful fun, the pain and all the in-betweens. His mix of upbeats and downbeats will have you both dancing and crying in the club! All feels right here.

CULTURE

“We are here together, always and forever”

KATE VANNI

Alianza raises Hispanic Heritage Month flag

MAC MANSFIELD-PARISI/THE VERMONT CYNIC

(TOP LEFT): A Hispanic Heritage month flag blows in the wind on a flagpole in front of the Davis Center, Sept. 18. (TOP RIGHT): Sophomore Chastity Arredondo speaks at the Alianza flag raising ceremony on behalf of UVM’s Alianza Latina group. (BOTTOM): Senior Jaylyn Chalco, sophomore Chastity Arrendondo, senior Giovanna Rodriguez, senior Amanda Martinez, and senior Adrian Pastor stand together holding flags. Sophia Venturo Assistant Culture Editor

Students and staff convened in the Davis Center circle, chatting excitedly behind face masks and dancing with colorful sheaths of fabric. UVM’s Latinx and Hispanic identity group Alianza Latinx kicked off Hispanic Heritage month with a flag raising ceremony at the Davis Center Sept. 17. Before the flag was raised, members of the Alianza Latinx Executive Board addressed the audience. The first to speak was the club’s president, senior Adrian Pastor. “We are here together, always and forever and that is what this flag is about,” Pastor said. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and celebrates the histories and cultures of American residents whose ancestors are of Spanish, Caribbean, Central or South American descent. The date of the celebration also aligns with the anniversary of independence for several

Latin American countries. The students gathered to take photos with the Hispanic Heritage Month flag, which shows the flags of various Latin American countries. Some students carried their own flags to complement the spirit of solidarity at the event. As Pastor raised the flag, the crowd lit up, cheering and applauding. Senior Jayln Chalco also addressed the crowd, taking the opportunity to shout-out some former Alianza Latinx members that did not get their senior send-off due to the pandemic. Chalco also recognized First Year Experience Program Coordinator Isora Lithgow for her support of the Alianza Latinx student community. Senior Macarena Pelaez Salinas, former president of Alianza Latinx, said that watching the flag go up this year was a touching experience. “This is my third time watching the flag go up, and I’m a senior so it’s very emotional for me,” Salinas said. “It’s a very special moment as well because Sept. 17 is also Chile’s Independence Day. It was

beautiful.” Junior Zyakkiriah Rhoden, said that the flag raising ceremony was important to her because it symbolizes the affinity that identity groups bring to campus. “Identity groups really help me find my sense of community here. BSU and Alianza Latinx are the two clubs where I have been comfortable to be myself. As a student of color, UVM’s campus isn’t always the most welcoming, but every time I step into one of those spaces I feel wanted and appreciated,” Rhoden said. Pastor said that due to the pandemic, Alianza Latinx will be meeting remotely. “It’s Hispanic heritage month, so we are trying to do as much programming as we can that is safe and accessible, so it will be mostly virtual,” he said. Two of Alianza Latinx’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month events Cafe con Leche and Noche de Cultura, are currently in the works. Meeting times will be announced via email and the club’s Instagram, @uvmalianzalatinx.

CULTURE

How COVID-19 changed popular music Connor Adams Culture Staff Writer

The coronavirus has forced music to evolve within the walls of quarantine into an anomaly exclusive to 2020. Artists have had to ﬁnd new ways to produce their music in our socially-distanced world. Even some of the most popular artists you’ve heard have had to meet in online calls like many of us do everyday. This struggle has diluted the sense of highly-produced projects and forced artists to think in new and innovative ways. Just like these artists, we have had to ﬁnd new ways to entertain ourselves and challenge our perception of everyday life. This doesn’t mean that everything that has come out of music during the coronavirus has been good. The “Imagine” sing-along with a multitude of celebrities was cringe-worthy at best and completely missed the point of the song. There have been other less than desirable attempts to make music exciting during quarantine, mostly by other celebrities or bands trying to hold onto their relevance. Bon Jovi and the Foo Fighters have held zoom-calllike concerts that failed to engage their audiences, but perhaps that’s just low hanging fruit. On the other hand, other

bands have found new ways to innovate. 100 gecs have held concerts in Minecraft. These aren’t just simple concerts either, they are entire festivals including artists like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, and Kero Kero Bonito. These artists will go into minecraft and build entire concert venues for their fans. Not only does this take an immense amount of effort, but they also have to support servers that can handle huge crowds of fans. Speaking of Dorian Electra, they participated in virtual clubbing in the popular MMO Second Life which is a massively multiplayer online game that has its own economy and customizable world. This allows players like Dorian Electra to create their own clubs which depend on the world’s economy and avatars that wear priced clothes based on real money. Artists like Charli XCX have also released new albums during the pandemic. Her album “how i’m feeling now” is just another part of her incredible streak of music within the last few years. This album stands out as it is entirely unique to the world’s experience within quarantine. Songs like “forever” talk about the struggle of our relationships and how we maintain them even with constant separation. She describes how even if her and her partner never see each other again she will always love

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them. The lyrics use the analogy of driving together in a car to the idea of a relationship and without her partner by her side she ﬂys off the road. Driving is a constant theme throughout the album and the idea that humanity is locked inside a car strapped to the seats without control. Movement and travel is also a theme within Jeff Rosenstock’s newest album, “NO DREAM.” Released in May of 2020, Rosenstock said without the pandemic, “I feel like this record probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise.” The song “State Line” captures the feeling of not even being able to move across

state-lines to see the people we love. Throughout the song Rosenstock holds onto memories of adventures with his loved ones, but holding onto memories can only do so much. Movement is such an important part about how we conduct our everyday lives even if it is as simple as driving to our local supermarket. Songs like “State Line” and “forever” remind us of this importance and speak to our modern day suffering where we seem to be getting farther and farther apart everyday even without being stuck in quarantine. Within an age of seemingly constant disconnect we are thinking of the connections

with each other more than we ever have in recent memory. Songs like “State Line” and “forever” remind us of these connections that we used to have and how in an age of digital isolation we must be closer than ever regardless of the pandemic. Today’s coronavirus culture forces us and musicians to ﬁnd new ways to connect people across the world and remind us of our common humanity.

Connor Adams is a sophomore English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2019.

CULTURE

Dance students adjust to covid regulations Laura Meyer

Culture Staff Writer

At the start of the year, UVM dance students said goodbye to their makeshift kitchen counter ballet bars and carpeted living room floors at Zoom university, as they return to the studio with their classmates. Dance classes are in session on-campus this semester. The majority of dance classes are held in Mann Gym on Trinity Campus, while others are held at Royal Tyler Theater and Patrick Gym. Students who were once free to dance through Mann’s open space are now confined to their own 10 by 10 foot box laid out in tape. The strict measurements allow for 15 to 16 people in the studio. Masks are mandatory and doors and windows are propped open for ventilation. Dancers

are still able leap and turn across the floor and learn choreography in small groups with proper distance. Class ends early for cleaning protocols and each student is responsible for wiping down their own box. Junior Emma Askew is a dance major taking two dance classes this semester, Dance Composition and Site Performance. “It’s a little more difficult to connect with people because you can only see their eyes.,” Askew said. “It’s been hard to read other dancers.” Paul Besaw, the program director of the dance department, said staff members have been brainstorming how to safely return to the studio since April. To devise a safety plan, staff members shared floor diagrams with each other, spoke with people in charge of the facili-

ties on campus and referred to Dance U.S.A’s guidelines and recommendations for the process of re-opening, Besaw said. Julian Barnett, a faculty member of the dance department, is working together with his students to face these challenges. One of Barnett’s responses to the changes has been teaching part of class outside, giving students more space to move. Bigger changes Barnett has noticed are the higher frequency in water and breathing breaks due to sweating and breathing heavily under masks. Dancing in masks has provided challenges for some students, like senior Emma Murphy. “Especially towards the middle and end of class where we are getting more into choreography and fast paced movement, I’m breathing so heavily

I’m like inhaling my mask,” Murphy said. “But everyone is in the same boat.” As stated in the new safety rules, physical touch is not allowed. “We don’t get to come in contact with eachother and I think it’s a real hindrance,” Barnett said. “We don’t get to really feel the person’s energy, we can’t ride another person’s momentum, it’s possible through social distancing but it just feels very different.” The students are still getting to used to their new situation. “It’s very limiting, there is obviously a lot less contact which is very weird for dancers,” said Askew. Despite the hardships of readjusting to new standards, there is a sense of appreciation for the ability to practice in person. Barnett acknowledges the

challenge of returning to the classroom, but is grateful for the shift to in-person classes. “We are still moving, we are still pushing, we are still learning complex phrase work,” Barnett said. “We are still talking about art.” In comparison to dancing in isolation this past spring, students and staff are grateful to be back, even with the restrictions. “On the more optimistic side, the fact that we are able to do this safely, within the pandemic is a testament to the perseverance of the dancer and of the program,” Barnett said. Despite all the odds, the dance will not be denied, we’ll keep dancing.”

MAC MANSIELD-PARISI/The Vermont Cynic

Several dancers a part of UVM performance arts perform in class staying socially distanced in their own boxed out spaces, Sept. 17. “We are still moving, we are still pushing, we are still learning complex phrase work,” dance department faculty member Julian Barnett said. “We are still talking about art.”

SPORTS

Student athletes raise BLM flag at gym Hayley Rosen Assistant Sports Editor

A group of UVM studentathletes raised the Black Lives Matter flag without permission last week and demanded the administration implement a list of University-wide racial justice reforms. UVM Student-Athletes of Color Affinity Group raised the flag Saturday, Sept. 12 following weeks of controversy after the flag was taken down from the Davis Center pole in midAugust. “We obviously disagree with the school’s policy, especially regarding the Black Lives Matter flag,” said Skyler Nash, a member of the UVM Men’s Basketball Team. “And we felt that it was our place as student athletes to really lead on that. We felt we were on the right side of the issue, so we decided to put the flag up ourselves.” Six days later on Sept. 17, the group released a letter to the University which featured six key demands: 1. The implementation of an online implicit bias education and training module to be completed each semester by UVM students. 2. A UVM sponsored annual trip to The Legacy Museum in Montgomery with those participating in the trip being nominated. 3. Athletic Department funding the Athletics Inclusive Excellence

MARY MCLELLAN/Vermont Cynic

Senior forward Abby Cleary sits during an interview, Feb. 26. The team finished their season with a 3-1 loss against Hockey East No. 1 Northeastern University Feb. 28. Committee and creating a new position to be an ally/mentor to studentathletes of color. 4. Athletic Department positions must include at least one interview with a person of color and three SAOC members must be included in the interview process of all candidates. 5. University collaboration with the Mosaic Center and Office of the Vice President for Diversity,

Equity, and Inclusion to develop and implement annual faculty training on integrating conversations on diversity into the existing curriculum. 6. Calling on UVM to transfer control of the two Patrick Gymnasium flagpoles to the Athletic Department. Nash, the president of UVM SAOC, posted a video to Twitter on Saturday evening which featured the BLM flag

going onto a post in front of the gymnasium. “I’m hoping we can convince them that it should stay up,” Nash said in a Sept. 14 interview. “And I’m hoping the school will take further actions to continue to demonstrate that black lives matter to the University of Vermont.” UVM Provost Patty Prelock, who spoke with Nash about the flag raising and met with SAOC about their demands, told the Cynic she appreciated the

opportunity to talk with Skylar about the ways UVM can build on what it’s already doing in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. “We have had a number of meaningful conversations around the racial challenges the world faces, and we remain committed to continue our conversation to achieve our shared goals,” she stated.

Club sports cleared to start practicing with restrictions Hayley Rosen Assistant Sports Editor

COVID-19 restrictions have brought one unexpected win to UVM students: club sports seem to be functioning better than many of the athletes could have expected, and for some even more than they’d experienced in past seasons. Club sports teams were cleared to start practicing, marking a step forward since late July, when teams were given extensive COVID-19 restrictions to follow in order to begin practicing again. Despite these barriers, UVM club sport presidents expressed optimism about the upcoming Fall season. “There’s actually a lot more structure this year compared to previous years in terms of reserving space on the fields,” said Matt Davis, Men’s Club Soccer president, discussing some of his experiences thus far into the semester. In addition to providing clearer guidelines for space reservation and sanitation, UVM publicized rules to the UVM community in late July specifically about club sports this semester.

Jerome Budomo, Associate Director of Student Life, ran a Q/A webinar in which he explained the new terms for participation July 29. “I know this is not an ideal situation and you may have received some disappointing news, but we want teams to be prepared so when the season can resume athletes will be in shape and can start competing again,” Budomo said. The new restrictions echo the Green and Gold Promise, requiring masks and six-foot social distancing. Masks are not required when 10-foot social distancing is possible. Davis said the club soccer team is doing non-contact drills to comply with these rules and splitting up into small tryout groups to limit contact. Abby Bruzas, president of the Club Field Hockey team, said her team is also doing noncontact drills in response to new restrictions. Teams were also required to share their plan to follow the Green and Gold Promise guidelines, another obstacle for club sport leaders. However, the club sports presidents said the guidance from UVM was helpful in

ERIC SCHARF/Vermont Cynic

The UVM club swimming pool lays empty and still in the Patrick Gym, Sept. 17. Club sports teams are now cleared to start practicing. working back into practicing with their teams. Club Water Polo president, Annabelle Hill, said she’s felt at ease with how her team is getting established thus far and stressed the importance of being able to do at least something as a team. “This year we aren’t so much focused on bringing anyone’s water polo skills to a super high level,” Hill said. “We just think it’s important we can give our members a place where they can be social in a responsible way.”

Club Water Polo and other pool sports have had to adjust to limited pool capacity rules that caps at 12 people. While the recruiting process for the year has been somewhat different for club sports, teams are still utilizing email, social media and tabling to get new interest. Abby Bruzas, president of the Club Field Hockey team, shared that Activities Fest was helpful for finding interested players this season. “At activities fest we got around 40 signatures which

was great, and our tryouts are postponed to after October 26th so that we can hopefully have contact drills to really be able to see how these new players play,” Bruzas said. Assuming there is no spike in COVID-19 cases on campus, the club sports teams expect limitations to loosen up by the week of Oct. 26 so the teams can expand their practices. Under new guidelines, club sports were allowed to begin operating on Sept. 15.

FEATURE

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic TOP: As the sun rises in the eastern sky illuminating the Green Mountains, a hiker begins their descent down from the peak of Camel’s Hump Sept. 20. TOP LEFT: The sun rises over the Green Mountains Sept. 20 shortly after 6:30 a.m. RIGHT: Early morning hikers sit bundled up atop Camel’s Hump Sept. 20 paitently waiting for the morning’s sunrise. BOTTOM: A hiker’s boots are illumanted by the early morning sun Sept. 20 on top of Camel’s Hump, Vermont’s third tallest mountain.

6:37 a.m., 4,081 feet Greta Rohrer Features Editor

On Sept. 20, the entrance of Burrows Trailhead, enveloped under vibrant branches and leaves, remained colorless in the 4:45a.m. darkness, approximately an hour before sunrise. Moonlight gleamed on the Camel’s Hump map at the beginning of the path, the words and pictures on the wooden sign illegible to the naked eye. Before the sun could share its light, Burrows multi-hued vegetation and shining streams appeared a muted blue. Though seemingly desolate at dawn, the 2.1 mile hike is the most popular trail leading to Camel’s Hump Summit, averaging over ten-thousand visitor sign-ins since 2012, according to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation website. The crisp end-of-summer air attracts hikers during the day, but on this early morning, the temperature dropped to a less comfortable 30 degrees with a windchill of 19 degrees at the summit, according to National

Weather Services’ Enhanced Mountain Point Forecasts. Despite lowering temperatures, sunrise-hikers continue to drink their morning coffee, lace up their hiking boots and hit the road while the rest of Vermont sleeps. UVM junior Maggie Mayhew ventured up Burrows for sunrise Sept. 5. “It was super cold and windy, but the short-term discomfort is definitely worth it,” Mayhew said. “We warmed up as we got into the hike.” Mayhew described waking up at 3:00 a.m., leaving her apartment at 4:00 a.m., and arriving at the trailhead at 4:45 a.m. in hopes of making the 6:21 a.m. sunrise. “The beginning was dark, but by the middle of the hike the moon lit the trail enough where we could turn off our flashlights,” Mayhew said. On Sept. 20, the sun rose at 6:38 a.m. Every day, the time the sun rises moves later until the end of Daylight Saving Time on Nov. 1, meaning hikers can enjoy longer sleeps before their pre-daylight endeavors. “A couple of weeks ago when

we went, I was surprised at how many others hiked up that morning,” Mayhew said. “There were already several groups sitting when we arrived at the top.” Camel’s Hump also hosted an audience of people on Sept. 20. Groups sat quietly, their gazes directed at the east, patiently waiting for the fiery colors to cover the terrain. The Camel’s Hump summit transformed from a dimly lit landscape to a kaleidoscopic spectacle as the sun emerged from New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The moss, grass, shrubs and flowers sat amongst the silent climbers. All of the life on the mountain became blanketed by the sun’s orange tint. As 6:37 a.m. turned to 6:38 a.m., some visitors, barely enduring the cold air, immediately stood up and made their way down the mountain. But those who decided to stay for a few minutes longer continued to take in the beauty of the sun as it crawled into the sky.