Issue 9 - Volume 136

THEVERMONTCYNIC THE Issue 9 - Volume 136 | October 22, 2019 | vtcynic.com

Safety concerns go unaddressed

■ A look at the engineer working on the intersection Maryann Makosiej mmakosie@uvm.edu

Sawyer Loftus news@vtcynic.com

STEPHAN TOLJAN/The Vermont Cynic

Pedestrians cross Main Street at the corner of University Heights, Oct. 19. The intersection is among the busiest in Vermont.

■ No plans, budget or timeline in the works for “unsafe” intersection despite student calls Maryann Makosiej mmakosie@uvm.edu

An intersection deemed unsafe by students, UVM and the city of Burlington still have no definite plan or budget to be fixed despite concerns dating back to the 1960s.

Thirty thousand cars per day and 1,300 pedestrians per hour pass through the University Heights-Main Street intersection according to a preliminary report provided by Burlington.

SGA, UVM and Burlington Department of Public Works officials met Oct. 16 in a UVM

conference room to discuss preliminary solutions and results from a safety study conducted by the city, said sophomore Aidan May, an SGA senator.

This is not the first time a study has been conducted to gather data about the intersection, said Chapin Spencer, director of public works.

However, no definite plan, timeline or budget has been established to address the safety concerns, said Jim Barr, director of UVM transportation and parking services.

“There are a lot of moving parts, and we want to do it

■ Student journalists barred from

meeting regarding intersection updates Sawyer Loftus news@vtcynic.com

Two student journalists were barred from attending a meeting between Burlington public works officials, UVM officials and SGA representatives, Oct. 16.

The Cynic, along with a student journalist in the developing community news service, were told by UVM and Department of Public Works officials that they were not allowed in the meeting.

The meeting was held in a UVM conference room. Its purpose was to give an update on what the city plans to do to address concerns with the University Heights-Main Street in-

tersection that students in the spring called unsafe.

Prior to the meeting, Joe Speidel, director of local government and community relations for UVM, told the Cynic in a phone call that members in the meeting would prefer the Cynic not attend.

When the Cynic attempted to enter the meeting, they were barred by Speidel, who left the reporter standing in the hallway.

When asked whose decision it was to exclude journalists from the meeting, Speidel did not answer the question.

“Does it really matter?” he said.

Sophomore Aidan May, an SGA senator at the meeting,

right,’’ Barr said. “It is getting more expensive to do these things.”

According to the preliminary report, some ideas to improve the intersection include increasing traffic light length, incentivizing use of other crosswalks and infrastructural changes.

A 12-hour study was conducted last spring by UVM students to assess the intersection.

The study was part of a class taught by Richard Watts, director for the Center for Research on Vermont.

Students, like senior Zack Flaherty, deemed it unsafe, Flaherty said.

“I think the safety of the intersection is definitely lacking,” Flaherty said. “I regularly see both pedestrians and vehicles not following rules of the road.”

said the thought behind not letting student journalists in was due to the meeting being just preliminary.

“It was just a preliminary meeting and the rationale was that the officials did not want to be held to ideas just because they were reported on,” he said.

DPW spokesperson Rob Goulding said the department did not view the meeting as an “open meeting.”

“This meeting was a presentation of preliminary findings by the City to a working group that included University members, not a public meeting,” he said.

SGA President Jillian Scannell, a senior, said in a statement to the Cynic the removal of student journalists was upsetting.

“I, unfortunately, couldn’t make today’s meeting but was

The class found the intersection to be a “high crash” location and aimed to draw attention to the serious concern for student safety, Watts said.

“People run red lights because they’re frustrated,” Watts said. “Lengthening the timing of the lights...makes it safer for us pedestrians but slower for cars.”

As a result of the student study, the class suggested all the lights turn red at the same time to allow pedestrians to use the whole intersection to walk.

May, Barr and Spencer said that changing the intersection, whether through adding crosswalks, widening existing ones or changing the timing of lights, has potential for serious congestion downtown.

Public input will be sought in November or December.

Burlington’s lead engineer on the University HeightsMain Street project is the same person who led a recent street upgrade program that cost the city millions.

The engineer, Laura Wheelock, was the chief engineer on the city’s “Great Streets” project which cost $4.9 million.

Wheelock did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The project focused on improving pedestrian access and city infastructure along St. Paul Street in downtown Burlington, according to the project’s website.

The city started work on St. Paul Street Aug. 25, 2018.

The project was not completed until more than a year later in early September 2019.

However, Burlington’s DPW announced that work would again be needed to address complaints from drivers, according to a Sept. 17 press release.

“Following careful evaluation by our engineers and project designers, we are proposing modest, but impactful changes to widen the reconfigured geometry of this intersection (focused on the southern crossing) and to ‘chamfer’ the granite curb to make it less sharp,” the release stated.

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic

A closed door stands between journalists and accessing a meeting regarding public safety, Oct. 16. All press was barred from the meeting, said Joe Speidel, director of local government and community relations for UVM. upset to hear that student reporters were removed,” the message stated.

Richard Watts, the lecturer for Vermont Media & Politics, where the original student data and demand for change came from, also sat in on the meeting.

Watts stated in an Oct. 16 email he was disappointed that student journalists were not welcome.

“In general, it is always better to side with more transparency rather than less,” the email stated.

NEWS

Police Chief remains on leave Emma Pinezich epinezic@uvm.edu

The head of UVM Police Services remains on paid leave for the third consecutive month, without any explanation of why from anyone, including the police chief herself.

Police Chief Lianne Tuomey has been on indefinite leave since July 11, according to UVM spokesperson Enrique Corredera.

Last year, Tuomey was the highest paid UVM police officer with a base pay of $124,441, according to the UVM 2018 List of Base Pay. If her current salary is the same as last year, Tuomey has made $31,110 while not working over the last three months.

The University, UVM Police and Tuomey have all declined to explain why she is on leave, or whether her leave of absence is voluntary or involuntary.

“I’ve been gone because I’ve been dealing with some personal stuff, so I really don’t think that it’s any of your business,” Tuomey said.

When asked when she will return to UVM, Tuomey hung up the phone with no response.

Tuomey’s leave came three days after a team of accreditation assessors visited UVM Police July 8.

UVM Police sought this validation from the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies voluntarily, Corredera said.

Zoe Stern zstern@uvm.edu

SAWYER LOFTUS/The Vermont Cynic

UVM Police Officer Kariym Azeez walks towards the UVM Police Services building, Oct. 20. Azeez is one of 19 officers who have been operating without Chief Leanne Tuomey for the past three months.

Corredera said that Tuomey’s leave was not related to the visit, according to a Sept. 10 Cynic article.

Both Corredera and UVM Police have declined to explain why Tuomey is on leave or when she will be back.

“There is no change in status,” Corredera stated in an Oct. 16 email. “The chief remains on leave. The University does not discuss individual employees.

Therefore, I cannot provide any details about the type or nature of the leave.”

Acting Police Chief Tim Bi-

lodeau similarly said that he could not comment on a specific employee’s absence. Bilodeau said that he has not been in contact with Tuomey.

While the police chief remains absent, UVM Police continues to work to recruit more employees as they have struggled with understaffing in recent months.

“We’re diligent in how we prepare for recruitment and retention, and we are doing really well and are really active with our recruitment campaign,” Bilodeau said.“We feel good about

where we are with that right now.”

UVM has not had full staffing in six years, according to a Sept. 16 Cynic article. UVM Police’s website has a job listing for a police officer that has been up since August 2014.

After Tuomey went on leave in July, Bilodeau moved from his position as deputy chief to acting police chief. No one took Bilodeau’s position.

Meaning, UVM Police is down one deputy chief, with no replacement in sight.

Here’s why UVM’s time piece can’t tell time Irene Choi ichoi2@uvm.edu

It is a brisk fall afternoon at UVM. The Ira Allen clock tower stands tall against the blue sky, its bells ringing as students hurry to their next classes.

The time is 3:23 p.m. The clock reads noon.

Currently, all four sides of Ira Allen Chapel’s clock tower have different times displayed, none of them correct.

Maintained by the UVM Physical Plant Department, which takes care of all maintenance on campus, it has been incorrect for around six months, Plant Director Sal Chiarelli said.

Maintaining the clock is a difficult and complicated task, he said.

“The time varies according to the weather because it is pendulum-driven,” he said.

“When the pendulum heats up, it gets a little longer, and when it gets cold, it shrinks a little bit.

There’s an adjusting nut to use.

It’s a constant battle to keep the time correct.”

Because of these discrepancies, the time must be adjusted multiple times a year.

Going up to fix the clock itself is also a hassle, Chiarelli said. Fifty years ago, work-

SGA looks at tax break for FSL

ZOE COLGAN-SELLERS/The Vermont Cynic

The clock tower of the Ira Allen Chapel stands in front of a background of cloudless sky, Oct. 5. The clock currently does not keep the correct time because of mechanical issues. ers could hoist themselves up to the clock face with a simple rope. Nowadays, maintenance is much trickier.

“To get to the top safely from the outside, you have to get a crane and you have to block off traffic,” he said. “It’s a distraction to campus.”

The clock will be seeing technological improvements in the future. The Physical Plant Department is currently working with the UVM Historic Preservation Program to modernize the clock’s mechanics while maintaining the tower’s histor-

ical integrity.

Chiarelli said they will be working on changing the clock to a computer-based system so the time will be more accurate.

“Everything on the outside will stay exactly the same,” he said. “Then hopefully we’ll only have to go back up there once every five years.”

Students themselves aren’t very affected by the clock. Many haven’t even noticed the incorrect time senior Chris Nuckols said.

“I live in Essex, so I’ve been in Burlington my whole life and

never noticed,” he said. “That’s hilarious. That’s to show how observant people are.”

Senior Juniper Nardiello-Smith said that she never noticed because she simply doesn’t use the clock to check the time.

“I just genuinely can’t read those clocks incredibly well so I just look at my phone,” she said.

First-year Skyler Grimes said that she never noticed the clock, but she did notice the questionable ringing times of the bells.

“It wasn’t gonging at all when we first got to school,” she said. “Now it’s been gonging all the time and it won’t stop. I guess I’m just confused.”

Ira Allen Chapel itself has an extensive history. It was named after Ira Allen, the founder of UVM and a founder of the state of Vermont, according to the 2011 University Green Area Heritage Study by the Historic Preservation Program.

The chapel was built in 1925 and in the 1950s a carillon and bell were added. A new carillon was added in the 1980s.

For now, it seems that while the clock remains in disrepair, the clock tower will continue to stand against the blue sky, proudly gonging away at 3:23 p.m.

The vice president of SGA and an SGA senator are exploring the possibility of returning SGA senator fraternities Aidan Doherty and sororities back to property tax-exemption status in Vermont.

The state bill which overturned their tax exemption status was passed in 2014 and took effect January 2017, according to the bill.

Before being removed from the tax-exemption list, fraternity and sorority houses were tax free for more than 100 years, according to an October 2015 Cynic article.

SGA Vice President Owen Doherty and SGA senator Aidan Doherty are exploring bringing back tax exemptions for UVM FSL. Alpha Gamma Rho, one of the largest single property lots in Burlington, pays almost an estimated $30,000 in taxes, which are paid by student fraternity dues, Aidan Doherty said.

Both Owen and Aidan Doherty are in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and say working on the resolution is not a conflict of interest.

“We are elected to represent students and for our own views and experiences, including what organizations we are members of,” Owen Doherty said. “My fraternity does not own a home and this tax has never and likely will never affect myself or any organizations I am apart of.”

When asked about what the resolution will do, Owen Doherty stated there is no current resolution in the works.

“This project is still in the beginning stages and right now we are just gathering information and details, so the scope is still being defined,” Owen Doherty said.

The cost of property taxes for all FSL houses combined is an estimated $350,576, according to a February 2016 Cynic article.

The taxes coming from these properties is not a significant amount for the state, Owen Doherty said.

“The total amount of property tax that these houses are paying contributes like 0.06% of the Vermont state budget on total taxes they’re taking in,” Owen Doherty said.

The thought process for state officials was that Vermont doesn’t have a vibrant FSL community, Adian Doherty said.

Legislators didn’t feel the need to allow for a tax break with such a small population in Vermont.

NEWS

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STEPHAN TOLJAN/The Vermont Cynic

Members of the Abenaki Tribe and Burlington community participate in Indigenous People’s Day celebrations, Oct. 15. Two Abenaki Chiefs, Chief Don Stevens and Chief Roger Longtoe Sheehan, as well as Lt. Governor David Zuckerman and President Suresh Garimella, were present at the event.

UVM celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day Ella Ruehsen iruehsen@uvm.edu

Chief Don Stevens and Chief Roger Longtoe Sheehan stood at an altar with sweet grass and a pipe for the Oct. 15 healing ceremony. They had not performed ceremony on this land for decades.

The Abenaki have been in Vermont for thousands of years, but are not a federally recognized tribe.

Additionally, Abenaki and all other indigenous tribes of Vermont are not offered free college tuition in Vermont, said Lacey Sloan, UVM professor of social work and member of a Midwestern tribe called Osage.

“What I would like to see is Abenaki kids here at our university. I want to see them in our classes,” Sloan said. “The fact that we don’t have free tuition for local Indigenous kids is unfortunate. In Maine, they go to school for free.”

For the last three years Vermont has acknowledged Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an additional term for Columbus Day. But Oct. 14, 2019 marked the first official celebration in Vermont of Indigenous Peoples’ day.

On Oct. 15, UVM held a commerative event in an attempt to rebuild relationships with Vermont’s indigenous population and to reflect on the University’s and state’s lack of recognition, Sloan said.

“This is about trying to make those connections between UVM and local indigenous people stronger,” Sloan said. “Chief Don Stevens is passionate about helping his people and helping others understand Abenaki ways, and that this land has been occupied by Abenaki people for ages.”

This year the event was organized by lots of individuals took it upon themselves to come together and work on it.

However, the University is interested in managing the event from higher up in future years, Sloan said.

(CENTER) Two participants drum onstage during the Indigenous People’s Day celebrations, Oct. 15.

(CLARA MARTORANO/The Vermont Cynic) (LEFT) An Abenaki banner waves in the breeze. (CLARA MARTORANO/The Vermont Cynic) (RIGHT) Abenaki Chief Don Stevens introduces the healing ceremony before performing it. In addition to the celebrations on the Andrew Harris Commons, there were workshops in different places around campus. (MAC MANSFIELD-PARISI/The Vermont Cynic) Maddie Henson is a firstyear and an SGA senator who helped to organize the event.

She belongs to the Haida, Tlingit, Blackfoot and Cherokee tribes.

“I never really explored my indigenous identity until the last couple years just because it has been whitewashed out of me, the language and the culture,” Henson said. “It was easier to deny the identity and live in a white society than to live between two worlds.”

In the 1930s, UVM was re-

sponsible for funding and driving the eugenics movement that targeted the Abenaki among other groups.

The eugenics movement was seen as a movement for social progress and to better society in the early to mid-twentieth century, largely through involuntary sterilizations of people deemed inferior.

UVM professor of zoology Henry Perkins was involved in Vermont’s eugenics movement.

He took a sabbatical in order to develop a plan for “community

development” through eugenics and sterilization in Vermont in 1927-28. From 1931-34, he served as the president of the American Eugenics society, according to the UVM website.

“The eugenics movement was very devastating to the Abenaki people, but on Tuesday, the chiefs performed a healing ceremony, blessing the land and hoping to pave the way for stronger relationships moving forward,” Sloan said.

Former UVM President Tom Sullivan issued an apology

for the University’s role in the eugenics movement at UVM in a letter sent to the University community June 21.

“I believe it is appropriate to state unequivocally that the Eugenics Survey of Vermont (1925-1936), supported by UVM on its campus, contributed to the stereotyping, persecution, and in some cases, state-sponsored sterilization of members of certain groups,” the letter stated.

But in Vermont, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was not formerly used to celebrate indigenous cultures.

It was a day to celebrate the so-called discovery of America

by Italian mariner Christopher Columbus, history professor David Massell said.

“If there is a right of discovery it most certainly belongs to indigenous people who crossed the Bering Land Bridge as many as 14,000 or 15,000 years ago,” Massell said. “If we are going to have a holiday celebrating this event, credit should be given to Indigenous Peoples of America.”

The new holiday title is a positive change in that it paves the way to better the relationships between the state of Vermont, UVM and the local native peoples, because those relations have not always been positive, Massell said.

“Where UVM is concerned I know there is considerable resentment in the Abenaki community for the University’s sanctioning of and support of eugenics and sterilization movement from the 1930s forward,” Massel said.

For the University last year to extend support and solidarity to the local Abenaki through the events held Oct. 15 was a positive thing, he said.

As a professor, the most important contribution to make to mending relations with indigenous people is to teach courses that focus on their history and cultures and to teach them as well as possible, Massell said.

OPINION VERMO

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Cynic to Chief Tuomey: what’s your 20?

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EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Bridget Higdon editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Alek Fleury newsroom@vtcynic.com

OPERATIONS Operations Manager Tim Mealey operations@vtcynic.com Marketing Daniel Felde cynicmarketing@gmail.com Distribution Manager Dariel Echanis

EDITORS Copy Chief Liv Marshall copy@vtcynic.com Culture Sarah Robinson cynicculture@gmail.com Features Greta Rohrer cynicfeatures@gmail.com News / Sports Sawyer Loftus news@vtcynic.com sports@vtcynic.com Opinion Mills Sparkman opinion@vtcynic.com Podcasts David Cabrera vtcynicpodcasts@gmail.com Social Media Sam Litra socialcyniceditor@gmail.com Illustrations Noah Zhou illustrations@vtcynic.com Layout Kyra Chevalier layout@vtcynic.com Photo Stephan Toljan photo@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Kate Vanni and Meilena Sanchez (Layout), Dalton Doyle (Copy), Allie O’Connor (Culture), Emma Pinezich (News), Bailey Samber (Photo) Copy Editors Will Keeton, Caroline Jagger, Zoey Webb, Kelly Turner Page Designers Stephanie Hodel, Ed Taylor, George Weed

ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu

Staff Editorial

F

or the last three months, UVM Police Chief Lianne Tuomey has been on paid

leave.

Deputy Chief Tim Bilodeau has been acting in her place. No one has been hired to take the deputy position, leaving UVM Police short on leadership.

The University, to put it plainly, has not been forthcoming in providing reasons for Tuomey’s absence.

UVM spokesperson Enrique Corredera said that Tuomey was not suspended.

But he could not say anything about the nature of the leave, according to an Aug. 7 VTDigger article.

On a brief phone call with the Cynic this week, Tuomey said she’s been dealing with personal matters.

The Cynic believes in respecting individual privacy and is not in the business of speculating. We are not a tabloid or gossip magazine. We are not the paparazzi.

UVM should be proud to have a female police chief in a world where that is still rare.

As a fellow organization with female leadership, we’d like to give her the benefit of the doubt.

But when an individual

NOAH

takes on a position as public and as important as police chief, questions and scrutiny comes with the territory.

Three months is a long time to be away from a job.

If the New York City police chief was away from work for an unspecified reason for the same length of time, people would ask questions, and those questions would not go unanswered.

Going to college is already an uncertain and challenging experience.

Many of us are away from home, living in a new state surrounded by new people.

We rely on our campus police

ZHOU

officers to keep us safe, so when the police chief goes missing, we might feel a little less secure.

In addition, the mere fact that the police are not being transparent with the public is a problem in and of itself.

The police as an entity are demanding our respect and trust when serving us.

UVM law enforcement have an immense amount of power on campus and we students are allowing them to have that power. However, this is a twoway street.

If the police demand respect and trust from us, we must demand trust and respect

from them. We must demand transparency.

The University community deserves to know where Chief Tuomey is because her absence affects us all.

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.

Organize UVM to share divesting proposal Letter to the Editor Sarah Sciortino, UVM ‘22

T

he climate movement has been gaining necessary momentum over the last few weeks.

Climate science doesn’t lie, and people are increasingly acknowledging the urgency of climate change.

One of many institutions that are a part of the growing climate crisis is the University of Vermont.

UVM prides itself on being a “green school,” with green roofs, a bikeshare program, upon other initiatives funded by the University’s Clean Energy Fund.

However, the elephant in the room is that UVM has part of our massive endowment invested in fossil fuel industries. How could a university be so widely considered “green,” and “sustainable” while investing in the very industry that is destroying our planet?

University Treasurer Richard Cate, leader of sustainability and climate action at UVM and vice president of finance, said “When a student says they’re not going to drive a car anymore and they’re going to ride a bicycle, they’ve actually done something . . . they’re reducing the amount of oil that is needed” according to an Oct.

NOAH ZHOU

1 Cynic article.

Individual action is important, but institutional change is vital. The time for climate action is now, and it’s in the best interests of everyone at UVM, in Vermont and the world to make big changes.

The University can’t greenwash their way to Princeton Review’s list of “Top green schools” anymore.

Expecting returns from the very industry that is killing the planet we all share is nothing short of hypocritical.

A new club on campus called Organize is tackling the issue of fossil fuel divestment and will be present at the Oct. 25-26 board of trustees meeting. The day that the divestment proposal will be

discussed is not yet known, but Organize’s presence will be acknowledged regardless.

If the proposal is accepted, it will be a monumental moment in UVM’s history. If the proposal is rejected, we will not rest. There is no time to rest.

Every movement needs to start somewhere, and rejection of this proposal will only drive us. Climate action can’t wait, and neither can we.

With four years until every undergraduate at this university has graduated, we need to act now. If rejection awaits us at this board meeting, direct action will ensue.

This month we attempt to go through the process of proposing a well-written

proposal while being as diplomatic as possible in the face of crisis.

We cannot afford to take our time as a student body or global population.

Student power and mobilization can manifest in a variety of ways. Right now, Organize has a few student leaders and some dedicated members. If everyone who attended the climate strike were involved, our demands for change from UVM would be more powerful.

We will be powerless only if we keep telling ourselves that we are. UVM’s administration doesn’t want to be held accountable for their irresponsible and unsustainable investments, and they want us to feel powerless.

If we want true change, it has to come from change in the institutions perpetuating and funding the escalation of climate change. The only way to stop these institutions is by mass-mobilization.

At this point, it’s not a numbers game; we have the numbers among us, but we must be dedicated and willing to step up to the plate and demand tangible action.

Follow Organize on Instagram @organizeuvm and sign the divestment petition if you’re affiliated with UVM at go.uvm.edu/divest.

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OPINION

Give public transit back to the public Chris Harrell crharrell@uvm.edu

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ny good, self-respecting Catamount carries three items with them when they leave their house: an autographed picture of Rally Cat, a flask full of Vermont maple syrup and their CATcard.

I’m kidding about the first two, of course, but even if you don’t live in a dorm or eat at the dining halls, your CATcard carries benefits wherever you go in Burlington.

UVM students get unlimited access to Green Mountain Transit, covering Chittenden county and much of central and western Vermont, but the working public does not.

My unlimited access helps me visit my friends in the Old North End and avoid having to hike up the Main Street hill to get back from downtown.

I also visit stores like Target and Goodwill that are a bit out of walking range or even use their connector routes to explore the state, with buses going to Middlebury, Montpelier and beyond.

But I can’t help but feel a bit guilty thinking about my privilege in comparison to the working people of Burlington.

I get to hop on the bus anytime I want at no direct charge to myself, while watching working people, who rely on the bus, pay for fare entrance each time they enter the bus.

Of course, we’re not riding “for free.” Students pay $120 a year in transportation fees in our tuition to help fund this benefit, according to UVM’s Student Financial Services.

MCKENNA BLACK

This cost helps cover both GMT and the UVM shuttle service that operates around campus, which isn’t available for non-students.

Even though we benefit from both of these services, we pay drastically less than the general public does for GMT access.

If you’re not a student at UVM or Champlain College, bus passes can cost $40 a month, or $480 a year, according to the GMT website. This is four times more than we as students pay.

That’s not an insignificant amount of money, and for the working class in Burlington, $480 can be the make or break on whether they can pay the rent or feed themselves and their families.

Transportation can be a huge barrier to finding good employment. Increased access to public transit improves economic outcomes for communities, while decreased access

can lead to them falling behind, according to a Jan. 18 Transport Policy article.

Public transit should embrace its status as a public resource for any and all who need it. For the less fortunate, transportation to and from work can make all the difference in the world.

If you’re well-off enough to afford a car or a bus pass, you can take advantage of the great opportunities in our city and state. If not, your job opportunities are limited by your ability to walk to work.

For the disabled, not being able to walk to work can prevent employment altogether.

The average Burlingtonian’s commute to work is around 18.5 minutes, according to the most recent data from the US Census. Commutes in Essex Junction and Colchester can be even longer.

Someone without a bus pass might be forced to walk to work, and when winter

comes, that walk could be in below-freezing conditions.

It’s unacceptable that the working class of our city are forced to risk hypothermia to get to work if they can’t afford a bus pass.

Most of GMT is already largely financed by a combination of state, local and federal money. Only $2.3 million of GMT’s $16 million dollar budget comes from rider payments, according to the January 2018 GMT Board of Commissioners’ agenda.

By contrast, the legislation currently debated in Montpelier to tax cannabis sales is expected to raise at least $4-$8 million in its first year alone, according to Vermont General Assembly bill S.54.

We as a city and as a state should be able to afford the expense when GMT offers bus service to nearly half of the entire state’s population.

Providing comprehensive public transit, free at the point

of access, allows for every member of our community to contribute the most they possibly can without ever having to worry if they can afford it.

We have the opportunity in Burlington to demonstrate that free public transit is not only possible, but beneficial to the well-being of the people.

Not to mention that encouraging people to use public transit dramatically reduces our carbon footprint.

Regular buses are already a huge step above cars, but GMT is taking it a step further by starting to replace their fleet with electric vehicles.

A green, equitable transportation system should be the goal of every class-conscious and environmentally oriented member of our community.

Chris Harrell is a senior political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2019.

Mental health care will start with the next generation Lucy Gilbert lagilber@uvm.edu

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e need to teach our youth to take care of their mental health in order to end the stigma around talking about mental illness.

One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and one in six U.S. youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, according to a September 2019 National Alliance on Mental Health article.

The best way to help young people is by treating mental health the way we treat language, cognitive and physical development.

We need to equip young students with skills they need to deal with their mental health while also destigmatizing it.

In order to do this, we need to train elementary teachers

on mental illnesses and how they can encourage healthy behaviors.

Teachers giving occasional assignments where students write in a journal about how they are feeling that day could help students to learn how to openly express their emotions.

If kids don’t know how to express their emotions, the risk of long term consequences such as underperformance in academics, higher risk of substance abuse and physical violence, according to a February 2018 Greater Good of UC Berkeley article.

More providers in schools who can detect early signs of vulnerability to various mental illnesses set the child, caretaker and schools up for success by adapting to children’s needs.

For example, if a student is having anger issues, punishing them with harsh verbal discipline will actually lead them to worse mental health and behavioral problems, according to a Jan. 1 Harvard

Health Publishing article.

Instead, the article suggests adults should set clear limits, maintain consistency, have predictable and clear consequences for breaking the rules and reinforce good behavior.

Teachers should also be aware of behaviors and warning signs of serious concerns, such as a student who displays intention to harm themselves or others.

It’s important for teachers to look for these signs, not just parents. Kids spend the majority of the year in school, and therefore teachers have a lot of opportunities to spot struggling students.

Teachers are reliable adults who can help kids live a more successful and healthy life.

Some people argue that working with students on their mental health would be coddling and would lead to them to be unable to take care of themselves in the long term.

It is necessary for kids to

have age appropriate talks about emotional and mental well being because not talking about it or addressing it until high school can be detrimental.

My school district didn’t talk about mental illnesses until I was in high school.

By that age, students are likely to have only seen or heard of mental illnesses second hand.

Students then have a stigmatized idea of mental illness and may not be able to understand their mental health issues, accept them or ask for help.

Helping the next generation with their mental health is essential to creating a happier and healthier future.

Lucy Gilbert is a first-year undeclared major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2019.

KYLEE WILLETTE

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OPINION

When “you time” takes a toll on time Izzy Abraham isabraha@uvm. edu

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indfulness is entering the mainstream as trendy, cute and healthy, but being mindful can be a chore to those with busy routines.

It’s no wonder that because of this, most people monetize the invaluable benefits of mindfulness.

Not only are people brushing over the value of mindfulness, but many are also in a rush to make mindfulness a quick half-hour block in their busy schedule.

In these ways, being mindful is becoming more and more of a task no matter the motive behind going through with it, rather than being a beloved part of one’s identity.

Narrowing in on college students, we have, well, college.

While some students prioritize mindfulness, it takes a backseat for others.

College students go to class, might have sports practices or work 15-20 hours a week. We might have two parties to go to on Friday night or have told our buddy we could go to a movie on Thursday.

And due to whatever internal or external pressure, all of these commitments tend to come before sitting down to reflect on one’s own personal

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habits and demeanor.

Furthermore, practicing mindfulness by meditating or resting is often more mentally challenging than fulfilling social obligations, placing it lower on the to-do list.

In an alternate universe, there would be ample time to

sit and reflect in regards to how we operate ourselves everyday.

It is quite important that college students especially have the time and space to focus only on their beliefs, habits, ideas and actions.

Rather than students forcing mindfulness as a chore

into their routines, it seems an appropriate safeguard to allow a day to be away from schoolwork and wage-work, and to give oneself just one day to reflect.

After having one of these days recently for myself, I found it relieving to unload the

weight of being mindful.

I narrowed my goals and worked to clear the clutter of the mind. With the sometimes shaky mental health of college students in mind, it felt empowering to do some spring cleaning in my head.

Mental health cleansing benefits are well-documented in psychological research studies.

Consistent mindfulness and self compassion lead to higher long-term psychological wellbeing, according to an April 2012 Journal of Positive Psychology research study.

With this research in mind, it is vital to distinguish what truly is helpful for one’s one mind.

Buying overpriced essential oils to diffuse may not heal the mental bruises a difficult week or lasting trauma leave behind.

What is more important to give to yourself is the priceless gift of mindfulness.

Making the time to sit down and develop mindful practices like meditating, journaling or just thinking about yourself and not about schoolwork can do a world of good that rushed meditation apps or buying a material treat can’t.

Izzy Abraham is a junior sociology major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2018.

There is no primary candidate in the 2020 primaries Henry Mitchell hdmitche@uvm.edu

T

rying to follow along with politics doesn’t mean we know what we’re doing.

Listen, I’m sure that Democrats have the primary all figured out with their candidate assured to win with a clean track record and excellent policy platform.

Now all that’s left is figuring out how to deal with the garbage that is the Electoral College, and 2020 will be a nobrainer.

I’ve been a political science major since I got to UVM two years ago, and I like to consider myself politically informed.

But in all honesty I’ve had a hard time keeping up with the primary.

The issue I have is whether I should support the candidate I think is best, or whether I should go for the candidate others think are best, thereby increasing popular support for that candidate.

I want to trust my own interests and judgement in how I want to vote, but it seems rational to assume that other

people know more than I do and are thus better informed in their selection.

After nearly eight months of campaigning, it’s very difficult to be equally informed on all the Democratic candidates.

There are currently 19 candidates, according to a Sept.

20 New York Times article.

This high number makes me think people are just supporting their preferred candidate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Having a preferred candidate usually means you follow politics to some extent and your candidate has traits and policies that appeal to you and your peers.

But at some point, I’d argue you have to consider how far

NOAH ZHOU

your interests really go.

The Republican Party has been successful in modifying personal interests in favor of keeping the conservative base together.

Sure, some conservatives have been openly critical of the president, but overall President Donald Trump has had one of the most stable approval ratings, 40%, of any recent president, according to an Oct. 20 FiveThirtyEight poll.

Ironically, Trump’s primary victory was probably the closest he’s come to fulfilling the ideals of democracy.

Voters vocalized their support, despite him not being a favorite of the party establishment. After he won, Republicans stuck with him

through the general election.

This is what Democrats contend with. No matter which candidate they choose as the frontrunner, that 40% of voters who approve of Trump will side with him again, according to the same FiveThirtyEight poll.

I know that with our current problems, it feels like we need a strong president who will enact climate change policy and reduce firearm violence, regardless of which party controls Congress or the courts.

We all want the immediate change that will solve our problems, but that simply doesn’t work with the support of only one party. Trying to force action by bending the rules is dangerous.

Precedent is crucial for

our country. I think we often forget how frustrating it was for former President Barack Obama to have his plans stopped by Congress, only to wish that anyone would restrict Trump’s executive domination.

But that’s assuming the front runner will be a centrist.

I’m optimistic about the success of Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren on the campaign trail.

Should they win, then I will preach the same message to more moderate voters.

Consider the bigger picture of your interests. Do you want to reduce economic inequality and expand public goods, or do you just hate criminals and immigrants?

I know it sucks to hear people preach about unity and “doing it because the alternative is worse,” but that just comes with living in a democracy.

So I guess what I’m saying is, former Vice President Joe Biden for president 2020.

Nah, just kidding. That would be ridiculous.

Henry Mitchell is a junior economics and political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.

CULTURE

Behind the scenes of FallFest’s lineup Kellyn Doerr kdoerr@uvm.edu

Princess Nostalgia, 99 Neighbors and Coast Modern have already left the stage of FallFest 2019, but there’s more to these performers than the set they gave on Saturday.

Coast Modern, a duo hailing from the West Coast, consists of members Luke Atlas and Coleman Trapp. The duo said they were excited to meet and impress the students of UVM, whether they are fans or not.

“That’s our favorite mix of people because we have to work a little harder to win some people over,” Trapp said. “At first they’re usually confused, but by the end, they’re getting twisted with the OG fans.”

Coast Modern has only released one album among a slew of hit singles and a mixtape, but with the promise of a new year comes the hope for a new album.

“There’s an avalanche of new music just waiting to bust off that snowy mountain, if you get my drift,” Atlas said.

UVM’s own Princess Nostalgia took the stage before Coast Modern.

Senior Lili Traviato, whose stage name is Princess Nostalgia, said she still has the same passion she had for music from when she first stepped foot on campus.

Now she has performed in front of her peers, classmates and strangers, but even with her newfound fame, she continues to appreciate where she’s come from.

“I’ve always had faith in the fact that hard work yields results, so it’s validating, but

MADDY DEGELSMITH/The Vermont Cynic

Coast Modern plays to an almost sold-out crowd. UPB’s FallFest took place Oct. 19 in Patrick Gym and featured the indie duo as well as Burlington’s own 99 Neighbors and Princess Nostalgia. not surprising, to bear witness to the fruits of my labor,” Traviato said. “The creative process requires that we push our boundaries and make room for the awkwardness that growth entails.”

Traviato said she gets a lot of inspiration from the art scene in Burlington.

“The scene is small enough to quickly learn the lay of the land but big enough that there’s always something interesting going on,” Traviato said.

Burlington locals 99 Neighbors also ripped up

the stage this past weekend.

The group consists of nine main members. Sam Paulino, HANKNATIVE, Swank, Somba, Aidan Ostby, Jared Fier, Juju, Cal Rawlings and Shane Kaseta.

“A lot of us grew up seeing concerts at UVM’s fall and spring shows so for us to be one of the main acts is pretty surreal,” Paulino said.

“Hometown shows are always fun and having it on campus makes it guaranteed to be wild.”

Recently, Somba said the group moved to Chicago to pursue their music closer to

where the action is.

“It’s a great change of pace to be in a big city,” Somba said. “There’s a million new influences. Part of our label is also based here so having them close by is a huge help.”

99 Neighbors started off playing venues like Higher Ground but have since moved on to performances like Rolling Loud, Made in America and Lollapalooza.

“It’s still the same group of friends traveling and doing our thing,” Hank said. “And our heroes are becoming closer to

being our peers.”

99 Neighbors has only released singles since they’ve started making music, but they continue to polish their sound.

“We have some more new music to show everyone and then we’re taking some time to focus on the quality of the music,” Swank said.

FallFest took place Oct. 19, but it’s safe to say that this was not the last stage we will see these artists perform on.

Literary magazine hosts reading at downtown venue Sabrina Fiore sjfiore@uvm.edu

Student poets walked onto the stage, stood straight in front of the glitzy golden curtain, faced the audience and began to speak.

Light Club Lamp Shop hosted an evening of poetry reading Oct. 14. The Gist, UVM’s literary arts magazine, was the featured act.

UVM students involved with The Gist performed original poems, several published in the most recent volume of the magazine.

Senior Seth Wade is coeditor-in-chief of The Gist alongside senior Chris Soychak.

“A long time ago the journal used to come here pretty regularly, and we wanted to come here and be more involved in the community,” Wade said.

“We had an event like this last year, and we’re hoping to make it a semester event.”

The night began with an open mic for Burlington community members to share their work, followed by The

Gist’s spotlighted artists.

Wade read his short prose poem “Oh No, It’s Me, Your Resident Advisor, And I’m Already Asking How You’re Feeling.” Junior Aiden Blasi read “Weapons of Class Destruction” and The Gist’s poetry editor Keana Moreau, a senior, read her poem, “Secret Code.”

Sophomore Alicia TebeauSherry, prose editor for The Gist, shared her history of writing poetry leading up to her work with The Gist.

“I’ve always stuck with it through all of my education, taking different creative writing classes that got me more focused on poetry,” TebeauSherry said.

Different writers practice different writing methods, and Wade said that it can change every time.

“It’s a state of flow and experimentation, and I’m just feeling it and going wild with it,” Wade said. “Or, it’s very intense and chaotic and grueling. It’s very one or the other.”

Senior Lauren Sky also

Image courtest of THE GIST

(Left to Right): Senior Lauren Sky, senior Sunny Nagpaul, junior Aiden Blasi, sophomore Alicia Tebeau-Sherry, senior Keana Moreau, senior Chris Soychak and senior Seth Wade pose on stage at the Light Club Lamp Shop, Oct. 14. discussed the taxing nature of writing.

“I usually write when I’m in a bad mood,” Sky said. “It’s usually 4 a.m. in my room with all the lights out. I go to sleep on it, and then look at it again in the morning and try to edit it when I feel better.”

Sky performed other poets’ work at the poetry reading and

shared how the experience differs from sharing original writing.

“It feels like you’re connecting with the person who wrote it, and you’re connecting with the audience,” Sky said.

“It feels like you’re becoming friends with the person who wrote the poem. You can help them share it with other

people.”

The evening also gave Blasi a chance to share excerpts from a self-published novel titled “Ophelia: An American Dream.”

“The first draft took four months, and then another year of editing and putting the whole piece together,” Blasi said.

By partnering with Lit Club at the Lamp Shop, students have the chance to present their work to a fresh audience, Wade said.

“We’ve always loved partnering with places like the Lamp Shop, just to really share and celebrate the students’ work out in the community and connected to the greater Burlington arts scene,” Wade said.

Wade also reflected on the future of The Gist after he and Soychak step down as coeditors-in-chief.

Wade said that leaving is bittersweet, but they are looking forward to next year’s leaders.

“We’re really excited to pass it on to more than capable hands,” Wade said.

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Boys Cruise brings more than music Emma Adams eadams5@uvm.edu

The four members of Boys Cruise knocked one another to the floor and kicked in synchrony as they performed songs from their first album, “Jerry.”

Sophomores Jake Flaherty, Joey Krouse, Jackson Halus and Jake Moran go by their stage names Johnny Clarke, Joey Rolo, Jack Parker and Jake Scott, respectively.

Boys Cruise formed in September 2018. However, they consider April 20 to be their first official performance, as it was Krouse’s first time performing with the group.

The 13-track album “Jerry” was released Oct. 4. The album is sprinkled with UVM influence, such as the song titled “McCann I Come In?” in reference to the Trinity campus residence hall.

“Our parents traveled around a lot, performing in the circus,” Halus said. “It definitely influenced the live show with the theatrics and acrobatics, being physically very high off the ground and trying dangerous things, controversial things.”

Boys Cruise doesn’t limit their performance to only singing. Instead, they engage their audience with skits, fake blood, boxing matches and choreographed dances.

“We push the limits. Clothes come off often,” Halus said.

“We married someone to a rat on Valentine’s Day last year [on stage].”

Flaherty said that their dynamic presentation makes

ZOE COLGAN-SELLERS/The Vermont Cynic

Members of Boys Cruise perform during the Abolish ICE concert Oct. 18 in the Davis Center. The band’s new album is available on music streaming services or can be digitally purchased on Bandcamp for $7. their performances memorable and fun to watch.

“We are 19,” Flaherty said.

“We are serious in the sense of doing it, but we are not serious in the sense of taking ourselves too seriously.”

Halus said their onstage antics sometimes rubs the crowd the wrong way, however.

The band said they would describe their sound as “snow pop.”

“It’s jippy and bright, but we also try to make it hard and interesting,” Flaherty said. “It’s

easy to listen to, so it’s pop in that sense.”

The group takes inspiration from their own lives. The rat on the cover art of their album is a tribute to a deceased street rat, named Jerry.

Junior Andrew Salerno is the artist who designed their album cover.

“I wasn’t aware it would end up being the album art,” Salerno said. “They asked me to add the rat to the couch painting, and then that became the album cover for ‘Jerry.’ They trusted

me, which was awesome.”

Krouse said they told Salerno, “We need a rat, he’s gonna be really sad.”

They cited their inspirations to be all types of animals, P!nk, “No Scrubs” by TLC and whatever’s on the radio.

Going to UVM has also greatly impacted their artistic style and presentation.

Boys Cruise performed at the Abolish ICE Concert Oct. 18 at the Davis Center.

As the band performed, “YuGi-Oh!,” the anime cartoon was

projected behind them as they jumped and kicked in unison.

While “Jerry” is generally upbeat, the songs also reflect the insecurities of being a young adult.

“But I’m young and dumb, and she is kind and still not mine,” Flaherty sings in “A Stupid Song for Stupid Me.” Boys Cruise’s music is available on streaming services.

“Jerry,” their new album, is also for sale on Bandcamp for $7.

“Joker” evokes sympathy for the ultimate anti-hero Evan Peck empeck@uvm.edu

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roar of laughter erupts from a dimly lit comedy club. As the comedian sets up the next joke, one distinct high-pitched cackle inappropriately isolates itself from the crowd.

This sad and lonely man with no sense of humor is soon to become known as the infamous villain, the Joker. The movie “Joker,” released Oct. 4, follows his horrific descent into madness.

The real horror in the film derives from the cognitive dissonance, or moral conflict, we feel upon the realization that we are rooting for an antihero that represents some of America’s most feared political topics: terrorism and gun violence.

Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the “Clown Prince of Crime” tells the origin story of Arthur Fleck, a man who is broken by

a society that does not value the needs of its underprivileged citizens.

Fleck makes a living as a hired clown, aspires to be a famous comedian and suffers from depression and an uncontrollable laughing condition.

Any hope of becoming a standup comedian is crushed by the criticism of those he

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admires.

Even Flecks’s own mother asks, “Don’t you have to be funny to be a comedian?”

Upon the realization that his attempts to do good are useless, he is confused and hurt. Arthur acts out in selfdefense when he is harassed on the subway, and his violent actions gather support from an underground anarchist political

movement.

For the first time ever, he is noticed.

From the first scene, I was already emotionally attached to Fleck. His entire life, he believes that he exists to make others happy, yet not only does he struggle to have any personal connection to anyone, he is consistently abused.

Nobody listens to Fleck’s cries for help, not even his own therapist. He has to explain to her, “You don’t listen. For my whole life I didn’t know if I really existed — but I do. And people are starting to notice.”

This is reminiscent of the motives of perpetrators of gun violence. People that cause these horrific acts of mass violence are people like Fleck, who go unnoticed.

“The worst part about having a mental illness is that people expect you to behave as if you DON’T,” Fleck writes in his joke journal.

I found myself craving justice for Fleck through his violence and chaotic destruction against Gotham City.

However, from the beginning of “Joker,” Phillips provokes an empathetic view of someone so broken down by society, that when he reacts, you just feel a release.

This, as a viewer, causes a moral dilemma, and strikes me as being a most powerfully horrifying realization upon noticing my emotional involvement as the film progressed. The ability to create this highly political subplot is one of the film’s greatest strengths.

Through its entertainingly blurred depiction of reality, “Joker” takes something undoubtedly terrible and makes it digestible to an audience that ends up praising the protagonist’s goal.

Overall, “Joker” provides a psychological ride all the way up to Fleck’s unsettlingly telling last line: “I’m just thinking of a joke. You wouldn’t get it.”

Evan Peck is a junior film and television studies major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2019.

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SPORTS

10 years later, no sign of DI baseball Hayley Rosen hrosen@uvm.edu

You could hear a pin drop after the 48 UVM Division I baseball and softball players were informed their teams were being cut in 2009.

After suffering from the 2008 recession the UVM athletic department had to make $1 million in cuts. This included cutting the varsity baseball and softball teams, each of which had budgets of $500,000, said Jim Carter, former UVM varsity assistant baseball coach.

“There was a lot of backlash, especially from alumni,” Carter said. “[They] led a charge and I led a charge.”

Carter formed Bring It Back in 2009 as a result of the backlash from various current players, notable alumni and the general student body with the goal to reinstate the men’s varsity baseball team.

Bring It Back is still active in bringing back the varsity baseball team.

Some of their notable documented accomplishments include multiple television and radio appearances, five meetings with the UVM athletic department, over 70 general meetings to date and most notably, approval to become a 501(c)(3).

Being approved as a nonprofit was critical to the group’s development. By becoming a

LUKAS DRAUGELIS/The Vermont Cynic

Junior Pat Brennan throws a baseball in midair during a club baseball practice, Oct. 17. Brennan is one of the 18 members of the team, according to UVM Clubs. nonprofit, the group is now tax exempt and donors can write off donations, Carter said.

While the group has had many successes since its establishment. They are now at a standstill due to the frustration of many amuni with the UVM Athletic Department, Carter said.

The reason for this plateau is because the University refuses to give any money to support the Bring It Back movement, Carter

said.

As a result, outside companies and individuals are hesitant to donate large sums, as they feel the sport will not ultimately be supported by the school, Carter said Right now, the nonprofit needs to come up with an endowment of at least $1 million to open the door to the prospect of reinstating the team, Carter said.

This amount has been sig-

nificantly reduced from the $15 million endowment the previous athletic director, Bob Corran, originally told Carter would be needed. If this were to happen, baseball would be the only UVM team being endowed.

While the organization has made their voices heard on campus and beyond, athletic director Jeff Schulman said that there are no imminent changes coming to the varsity offerings.

“There are a lot of challenges

to bringing back baseball. There are obviously some financial issues, and there are also weather issues. Also, we also need to make sure that we are equitable in our opportunities for men and women,” Schulman said.

If a baseball team were to be brought back, that would open approximately 30 more roster spots for men. Therefore, in order to remain in compliance with Title IX, 30 roster spots would also need to open for women, he said.

Title IX is a U.S. federal law that states that no person should be excluded from participation in or discriminated against under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance on the basis of sex.

Therefore, UVM Athletics would have to create 30 more spots either through reinstating the softball team or by adding roster spots to various existing women’s teams, he said.

Schulman was promoted to athletic director in 2016, but he was working in the department in 2009 at the time of the programming change.

He said he has had several conversations with Carter and other members of the Bring it Back movement, and he admires their work.

But Schulman said bringing back the baseball program is not on the radar.

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FEATURE

Exploring the local food in UVM’s dining halls George Weed gweed@uvm.edu

A small truck steered around the corner and backed into the loading dock. In its refrigerated compartment, 1,500 pounds of diced potatoes sat alongside cases of local produce.

This week’s shipment arrived at UVM from Intervale Food Hub, a Burlington-based food distributor. According to the Food Hub’s purchasing manager, Keith Drinkwine, the organization is committed to connecting local farms with buyers ranging from households to institutions.

“We work with about 20 different farms within a 50-mile range to aggregate and distribute the food they produce,” Drinkwine said. “UVM is our largest wholesale account.”

As a large public university, UVM needs to dedicate a substantial amount of time and resources into the food options on campus.

Since 2008, the Real Food Challenge has been helping to structure how universities rely on sustainable food. According to UVM’s website, UVM signed the Real Food Campus Commitment in 2012.

According to the Real Food Challenge website, RFC aims to divert 20% of university food budgets nationwide towards local and community-based, fair, ecologically sound and humane sources.

Marissa Watson, UVM Dining sustainability manager, said that these distinctions help UVM and its food service provider, Sodexo, effectively support producers that promote ecological, economic and social sustainability.

“I think the RFC has helped

BAILEY SAMBER/The Vermont Cynic

(TOP) Intervale Food Hub employee Dylan Zeitlyn picks kale in a field at the Food Hub, Oct. 15.

(BOTTOM) The Food Hub purchasing manager, Keith Drinkwine, stands in front of the Intervale Food Hub truck, Oct. 15. Last year, through Vermont First, Sodexo spent $2.8 million on local products, such as those provided by Intervale. us to not only support local farms, but also organic and fair trade farmers,” Watson said. “It is a really tangible and effective way to improve not only our personal health, but the health of our communities.”

According to the Real Food Calculator, UVM’s 17 Sodexo locations, including dining halls and restaurants, passed 26% Real Food in 2018.

Though UVM has made apparent progress with their food sourcing in recent years, the definition of “local” food may be different than the average student would think.

According to the 2018 Real Food Guide qualifications, produce can be defined as local if it is sourced within 250 miles of the buyer, and the individual farmer must make less than $5

million a year.

For meat, dairy, eggs and baked goods to be considered local, all production, processing and distribution facilities must exist within a 500-mile radius of the end consumer. The company or cooperative must also make less than $50 million a year.

Cities such as Detroit and Washington, D.C. might not be considered local to Vermonters, but they are still within the limits of this food radius.

David Conner, an economics professor at UVM who specializes in the economics of sustainable food systems, said this tendency to attach personal definitions to “local” comes from exposure to consumer markets, rather than a broader look at the local agricultural

landscape.

“When people think of local farms, they think about who they see at a farmers market,” Conner said. “They probably don’t think of a commodity dairy farm as being local, because [large farms] don’t sell to local markets.”

While personal definitions of “local” may help small farms to create positive associations in direct markets, Conner said these associations do the opposite in wholesale markets, where small vendors have to compete with larger companies who also label their food as local.

Small farms simply do not have the scale to meet the need of an institution like UVM, though having a large university as a consistent buyer can

provide unmatched financial security, Conner said.

Though a 250 to 500-mile radius may seem to change the meaning of “local,” this distance is much less than the average mileage that the typical American food product travels from farm to table. The typical distance is 1,500 to 2,500 miles, according to a 2002 Worldwatch Institute study. “[Sodexo is] buying a lot of local food, and making a significant contribution to the agricultural economy and the working landscape,” Conner said. “I truly believe that their hearts are in the right place. They are dedicated to this.”

With his experience working with local food and at the Intervale, Drinkwine said choosing local means being able to meet the person that grows your food.

“It is about being able to shake the hand of the person who grew your food and ask them questions, or trusting them enough not to need to,” Drinkwine said.

This, he said, makes 26% Real Food an impressive figure.

Campus Executive Chef Brandon Williams said UVM is making significant progress in the right direction, and he attributes the movement’s success to his team, but also to students.

“None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the students,” Williams said. “I encourage students to engage more, and pay closer attention to what you are eating,” Most importantly, he thinks students should ask questions and take the time to figure out what “real food” actually means.

Illustration by KATE VANNI