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The Cynic spends time with ROTC
CYNIC
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The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883
W e d n e s d a y, O c t o b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 – Vo l u m e 1 3 0 I s s u e 8 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t
Showdown Government
Shutdown halts research Student busted for
Silk Road purchase
Lauren Drasler Staff Writer
Jill Vaglica Staff Writer
In a college town, it can often be too easy to forget about the outside world. But one event that caught the attention of students and faculty at UVM was the government shutdown. On Oct. 1 the federal government shut down after Congress failed to agree on a budget plan for 2014. This is when all non-essential services were put on hold for a period of time between November
LORENA LINERO The Vermont Cynic
Vice President for Finance and Administration Richard Cate speaks about the affects of the government shutdown on UVM Oct. 9.
Although thousands of individuals around the country have not been able to go to work and have seen their ben-
lot of federal funding, but we don’t depend on it from one day to the next.” Cate said that money from loans and grants should not be affected unless an individual is applying for either of these resources during the shutdown. If that’s the case, he said, they might see a delay in their funding.
very many consequences. “We have the resources to keep going,” Vice President for Finance and Administration Richard Cate said. “There won’t be very many effects from this shutdown unless it was permanent. We do get a
“During this time, anyone who is using federal money will see a delay in being paid,” he said. “But the University is keeping track of what’s being used and the government will just pay a little late. If the government were to say they would never send more fed-
See SHUTDOWN on page 4
As the government crackdown on the Deep Web’s underground drug market broadens, the investigation had hit closer to home for some UVM students before it even began. Sophomore Sid Hammer, 20, of Montpelier pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor possession of LSD, MDMA (Ecstasy) and oxycodone at the end of last month, all which were allegedly purchased off of the stated. After receiving reports of smells of burnt marijuana, Police Services later found an array of drugs, drug paraphernalia and a large sum of money, according to the report. Hammer, it turned out, had been part of the Silk Road, using Bitcoins— Silk Road’s currency— to purchase drugs and distribute them to other peo-
ple, including UVM students. Last May, ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle on programs such as PRISM, XKeyscore, and Tempora Internet surveillance programs, which target both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens. Since then, the federal government has continued and expanded its Internet surveillance programs, prompting many web users to look for ways to shield their activity from digital watchdog programs and those who operate them. Although the Deep Web allows users to access valuable information that would otherwise be hidden from the public eye, it’s also a hotspot for users to organize drug trades, arms deals and even hire hit men. Launched in 2011, the Silk Road became the Deep Web’s largest underground drug mar-
See SILK ROAD on page 4
Emerge Vermont focuses on increasing women in office
1916 *
First woman was elected to congress
VT 40%
CO 41%
LA 12%
AZ 36%
SC 12%
7
Sasha Kedzie
Women in Legislature
OK 13%
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Number of female UVM SGA Presidents
80
Number of years SGA has run
States with the highest/lowest percentage of women serving in state legislature
nCSL.org women.vermont.gov
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