Issue 9 - Volume 134

BOT PROTEST

THE VERMONT

Cynic OCT. 24, 2017

More stories online Sports: Fantasy football picks Who to start, who to bench and who to wait on while you put together your team.

Sports: Women’s hockey recap Tied with 12 seconds left in the game, the Cats fell to UNH Friday in overtime.

Life: 5k for sexual assault awareness College Undergrads Not Tolerating Sexism partnered with a national nonprofit to host a 5k Oct. 14.

Life: The transfer student experience Transfer students across campus discuss the joys and difficulties of showing up late.

Multimedia: Cat Chat––Smoking on campus UVM community members talk about how the smoking ban has––and has not–– changed campus.

INSIDE :

Get the full story at vtcynic.com

ALEK FLEURY/The Vermont Cynic Sophomore Drew Baker and first-year Bella Federico, members of Student Climate Culture, protest at the board of trustees meeting Oct. 20 in the Livak Ballroom.

Updates from board meetings

Staff Report

The UVM board of trustees approved new construction projects, academic programs and software purchases at its Oct. 20 and 21 meetings.

Staff Report

New Construction The board discussed plans for future building projects concerning McAuley Hall, 439 College St., and the Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex.

The board approved a $3 million renovation for McAuley Hall.

The 1958 residential hall, which has uninsulated glass windows and slate walls, will be renovated with an insulated window system, said Bob Vaughan, director of capital planning and management.

Tom Gustafson, vice president for University relations and administration, said UVM Hillel will likely be moving into 439 College St. next year.

The Burack Family, longtime donors to UVM, gave the University money to convert the space, Gustafson said.

Although the plan is tentative, construction could start as early as summer 2018, Gustafson said.

donors and alums can watch basketball or hockey games and 96,000 square feet of student recreation space, said Colleen McKenna, the project’s architect.

All renovations of the athletic complex are scheduled to be completed by 2022, the board reported.

Athletic Complex Update The board approved spending $1 million on the next phase of funding for the Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex.

The current estimated cost of the complex is $80-85 million, said David Rosowsky, University provost and senior vice president.

The board expects to raise $30 million from private donors and has already secured “north of 5 million,” said Shane Jacobson, president and CEO of the UVM Foundation.

Renovations will include a “victory lounge” from which

Diversity Update During public comment, BSU President sophomore Harmony Edosomwan addressed the board and asked for wider recognition of the experiences of students of color on campus.

“We’re tired of all the bullcrap, to be frank,” she said.

Wanda Heading-Grant, vice president for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, presented the diversity annual report to the Committee on Educational Policy and Institutional Resources.

She discussed diversity and identity centers, which aim to build inclusivity and give

Let’s Talk Month aims to destigmatize sex

OPINION

3

Students demand divestment

(Above) Trustee John Bartholomew overlooks the Forbush Natatorium Oct. 20 during the board’s tour of UVM’s athletic facilities. (RIght) Men’s basketball head coach John Becker gives a tour of the team’s locker room Oct. 20.

PHIL CARRUTHERS/ The Vermont Cynic

Self-care: a remedy for self and others

LIFE

5

students a voice.

Heading-Grant said the shift in public policy has shifted the way UVM operates. The Black Lives Matter flag and the implementation of non-gendered restrooms are two examples that Heading-Grant noted.

“We acknowledge that UVM still has work to do,” Heading-Grant said.

Academic Update The board approved the purchase of a new advising software, the creation of two minors and one Master’s BOT Continued on page 2

Basketball court renamed for former coach

SPORTS

6

Student activists called upon the board of trustees to divest from fossil fuels in a silent protest Oct. 20.

While the budget, finance and investment committee met, Student Climate Culture and Young Progressives entered Silver Maple Ballroom with signs demanding fossil fuel divestment.

The students stood without talking and raised their signs when the board spoke about the University endowment.

The protest came after SGA passed a resolution last week backed by three student environmental advocacy groups.

“Divestment is not something [the board] can continue to sweep under the rug,” said junior Jack Doane, president of Student Climate Culture.

The resolution, which the SGA passed Oct. 18, demanded that UVM divest from the top 200 companies who contribute the most to carbon emissions as indexed by the Carbon Tracker Initiative.

“We want to talk about divestment as a cooperative thing,” said senior Emily Daroga. “Because the divestment movement at UVM has been at a standstill for a couple of years, we’re here to show that students care.”

This resolution was sponsored by Will Corcoran, the chair of the committee on the environment.

Young Progressives member junior Drew Baker said the students were “lining Silver Maple Ballroom to employ their voices as students and to generate a conversation.”

The group wanted to ensure UVM upholds its commitment to sustainability, Baker said.

Wu-Tang Clan’s saga continues on new album

ARTS

7

NEWS

2

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 24, 2017

UVM hosts Translating Identity Conference University provides space for 15th year for gender, sexuality and identity discussion Kassondra Little Senior Staff Writer

“It's an amazing space for literally anyone, whether people are coming to learn about gender and identity expression or sexuality expression and how these intersect.”

- Sophomore Jordan Ciccone

Participants in the 2017 Translating Identity Conference gathered at the Davis Center to learn about issues affecting the transgender community.

The conference returned to UVM for its 15th year and was held Oct. 14.

TIC is organized to support the transgender community and the expression of gender identity, according to the conference’s program.

This year, the keynote speaker was Chris Mosier, United States Olympian who was the first out trans-athlete to make the U.S. national sprint duathlon team.

“The reason why I am out and visible as a transgender man, as a transgender athlete, is because I want to be the person I wish I had when I was younger,” Mosier said in his speech.

Since he was a child, Mosier felt that he always identified as an athlete and as a competitive person, he said.

When Mosier won his first triathlon. However, he began to feel his identity was at odds with his sport, he said.

Mosier delayed his transi-

A “Me Too” banner hangs outside of Living Well in the Davis Center Oct. 22. The banner, posted by Students Advocating Sexual Empowerment, provided an opportunity for students write about their experiences with sexual assault.

PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic

Students organize in Slut Walk Lauren Schnepf Assistant News Editor Students carrying signs congregated around the Waterman green for the Womyn of Color Coalition “Slut Walk” Oct 22.

The students walked from the Waterman building to Harris Millis while yelling chants like, “Yes means fuck me, no means fuck you.”

The Slut Walk promotes body and sex positivity and brings awareness to issues of sexual injustice, according the event’s UVM Bored page.

“No more sexual violence, no more victim blaming, no more derogatory labels, and no more gender inequality,” the page stated.

About 11,000 college campuses provide annual crime data with an overwhelming majority of schools certifying that in 2015 they did not receive a single report of rape, senior Angelica Crespo said in a speech to the crowd.

“I hate women being viewed as objects because we’re so much more than that,” junior Alanna Reader said.

The Slut Walk was founded at a college in Toronto, Canada when a police officer told a group protesting sexual violence that if they did not dress up as sluts, maybe they would not get raped, sophomore RiRi Stuart-Thompson said.

“With sexual violence permeating our college campuses and victim-blaming at a disgusting high, it’s time to put the power back in our hands,” she said.

UVM students have also been raising awareness around sexual violence through the “Me Too” movement.

Following accusations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, people across the U.S. have been posting “Me Too” on their Facebook and Twitter accounts to raise awareness of sexual harassment and assault.

Students Advocating Sexual

Empowerment posted a banner with the words “Me Too” outside of Living Well in the Davis Center. Students wrote about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault, according to an Oct. 17 Facebook post by senior Z McCarron.

“This isn’t about showing perpetrators and disbelievers how large this issue is,” McCarron stated, “rather this is about showing survivors and victims they are not alone.”

Sophomore Tali Friedman said the issue of sexual violence should not need to be published online to be taken seriously.

“It angers me that it takes such a massive social media movement to draw attention to such an important and poignant issue,” she said.

Friedman said the problem with this movement is that it doesn’t emphasize enough the fact that men and trans people can be and are victims of sexual harassment and assault, too.

tion for a year in fear of losing his ability to compete, he said.

The conference included seminar sessions that addressed issues like “Trans-Inclusive Health Care: Beyond the Basics” and “Making Systems that Work for Trans People Too.” In addition to supporting transgender individuals, TIC is also open to those who identify as cisgender and want to learn about how to grow as allies.

The conference included an on-call counselor through Counseling and Psychiatry Services, free and anonymous HIV testing, a self care space and a youth space for the entire day of the event, according to the program.

“TIC is unique in the way that it brings together hundreds of people who are passionate about trans identities, issues and rights,” said Emily Howe ’15, Office Manager in the Office of Student and Community Relations.

Howe first attended the conference in 2013 as an undergraduate, she said.

Now, she is on the planning committee and presented at the conference.

“The representation and visibility that comes from this

event is just incredible to see,” Howe said.

Sophomore Jordan Ciccone attended the event and praised the environment it created.

“It’s an amazing space for literally anyone, whether people are coming to learn about gender and identity expression or sexuality expression and how these intersect,” Ciccone said.

In addition to being an Olympic athlete, Mosier also founded Transathlete.com, which is a resource for trans-inclusive policies in athletics, according to his website.

Mosier is the vice president of program development and community relations for You Can Play, an organization focused on safe inclusion in all sports, according to his website.

“Part of my activism is waking up everyday. Part of my activism is being my authentic self and letting people get to know me...and see that I am a normal person,” Mosier said.

Those who are interested in helping plan TIC 2018 or would like to volunteer or present at the conference next year should email tic@uvm.edu, Howe said.

BOT Continued from page 1

$200,000 is “worth it.”

The board of trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the software.

program and changes to summer tuition, room and board and meal plan fees.

The Committee on Educational Policy and Institutional Resources voted unanimously to approve a new minor in law and society, a new minor in emergency medical services and a new Master’s program in exercise and wellness science, citing “a large amount of student interest.”

Alexander Yin, director of the Office for Institutional Research, presented to the committee his office’s newest data tool for enrollment and diversity data: the Catamount Data Center.

The tool allows anyone to look at how diverse our student body is, and, according to Yin, would eventually include the faculty and staff on campus as well.

In addition to presentations on diversity and action items, the Committee on Educational Policy and Institutional Resources received a presentation on new advising software.

Stacey Kostell, vice president for enrollment management, and Rosowsky presented the software.

This software, which would cost $200,000 annually, would allow advisers to see which students are at risk academically, schedule meetings with their advisees and contact advisees quickly in case of emergency.

The software would cost roughly $20 per student, Kostell said.

As the software is designed to improve retention and graduation rates, Rosowsky said the

Tuition The University has received $265 million from tuition costs this year.

Tuition has increased 3 percent over the last 60 years.

The University plans to charge $62,500 per year for an out-ofstate undergraduate degree eventually, President Tom Sullivan said.

At the meeting, Sullivan said he does not want to raise tuition exponentially.

Faculty union contracts In the meeting’s final hour, the committee of the whole unanimously passed every resolution on the consent agenda.

During a closed, executive session, the board of trustees discussed contract the ongoing contract talks with United Academics, the UVM faculty union.

Both parties declined to comment on the result of the contract talks.

UVM’s faculty union United Academics has been in a deadlock with the University over a contract dispute about salaries since Sept. 11.

The standstill follows the end of the previous three-year contract June 30.

The next meeting of contract negotiations will be Oct. 25, according to Tom Streeter, UA president and sociology professor.

The Vermont Cynic The Vermont

CYNIC EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Erika B. Lewy editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Olivia G. Bowman newsroom@vtcynic.com OPERATIONS Operations Manager Ryan P. Thornton operations@vtcynic.com Advertising Manager Cole Wangsness ads@vtcynic.com Distribution Manager Brittnay Heffermehl distribution@vtcynic.com EDITORIAL Arts Benjamin Elfland arts@vtcynic.com B-Side Margaret Richardson bside@vtcynic.com Copy Chief Mariel Wamsley copy@vtcynic.com Life Izzy Siedman life@vtcynic.com Multimedia William Dean Wertz media@vtcynic.com News Greta Bjornson news@vtcynic.com Oddities Healy Fallon oddities@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Social Media Liv Jensen socialmedia@vtcynic.com Sports Eribert Volaj sports@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com Layout Lily Keats layout@vtcynic.com Photo Phillip Carruthers Max McCurdy photo@vtcynic.com Illustrations Genevieve Winn illustrations@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Henry Mitchell (Opinion), Bridget Higdon (Arts), Locria Courtright (Sports), George Seibold (Copy), Lauren Schnepf (News), Katie Brobst (Life), Aaron Longchamp (Web) Page Designers Kira Bellis, Kyra Chevalier, Tiana Crispino, Lindsay Freed, Carly Frederickson, Natasha Geffen, Sasha Hull, Caroline McCune, Katie Rearden, Grace Ross, Chloe Schafer, Meg Stevens, Isabelle Vogell, Helena Weisskopf Copy Editors Isabella Abraham, Brandon Arcari, Anna Colfer, Michelle Derse Lowry, Lindsay Freed, John-Luke Giroux, Rae Gould, Sabrina Hood, Sophia Knappertz, Claire MacQueen, Jacob Potts, Greta Puc, Meline Thebarge ADVISING

3

“Me too” demands change

S

Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu

OPINION

Oct. 24, 2017

Staff Editorial

o many “Me toos” on social media this past week have made us think long and hard. Too many people have been affected by sexual violence; the number of posts is unfathomable.

And as post after post of “Me too” appears on social media, survivors of sexual assault are reminded regularly of their own trauma.

For some, it has seemed to be a step in the right direction toward raising awareness of sexual assault. The toxicity of an environment filled with misguided conformity and the fear of speaking out has forced too many victims into silence.

This movement brings to the forefront, once again, how widespread and widely accepted assault is.

We spoke out when Bill Cosby was charged with the assault and rape of dozens of women.

We spoke out when a recording of our president alluding to the assault of women was released.

And, when Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual assault, we spoke yet again out of painful routine. Sexual assault and harassment have become normalized. How many times do we have to re-open the conversation until we can make change?

The campaign also raises the question of how we define sexual assault, opening thought and discussion regarding where we expect to draw the line. How do we as a society define sexual assault for both prevention and recovery purposes?

We stand with people who are trying to bring awareness to the cause, heartened by those who feel brave enough to share their experiences.

While it’s frustrating that this conversation is being opened and re-opened ad nauseum, at least the conversation is happening publicly: on campus, in online communities, in families and amongst friends.

This conversation was one

GENEVIEVE WINN

that used to be kept quiet. Survivors dealt with shame, anger and guilt on their own––or not at all.

How do we move forward?

Social media campaigns against social inequities are often intense and short-lived.

If we don’t take action after thousands of “me too” posts, the movement becomes nothing more than surface-level or superficial social justice.

We must continue the conversation about assault, check each other’s language and behavior and safely intervene.

While social media is a powerful tool toward change, it is only a means to an end. When it comes to an issue as serious as sexual assault, it takes active effort from whole communi-

ties to truly make a difference.

See something, say something, and then do something.

Staff editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. Signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so.

The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community.

Please limit letters to 350 words. The Cynic reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@vtcynic.com.

CORRECTIONS An Oct. 10 Cynic article “UVM Students organize racial justice forum” took a quote from sophomore Harmony Edosomwan, president of the Black Student Union, out of context.

The article stated that Edosomwan said the University broke an agreement with students by responding to the list of demands in a campus-wide email. The article should have stated that the students demanded a response from the University within 24 hours. The University said the campus-wide email was a direct result of the student leaders’ request.

Edosomwan’s quote was in reference to a different dispute and was reported out of context. The Cynic regrets this error.

An Oct. 17 Cynic article “Diversity courses are reevaulated by Faculty Senate” quoted sophomore Jamie Benson, SGA chair of academic affairs, as saying that reevalution was a result of the SGA working with the Faculty Senate. Benson’s quote should read that the reevaluation was a result of identity groups and the SGA working with the Faculty Senate.

The Cynic regrets these errors.

Let’s Talk Month aims to destigmatize sex Matthew Hagberg

O

ctober is Let’s Talk Month, a monthlong campaign run by Planned Parenthood to get parents and their children talking about sex.

Nearly 82 percent of parents reported talking to their kids about sexuality, according to a 2014 Planned Parenthood survey. However, that same study states that only 60 percent discussed birth control methods.

We are in dire need of a new way to discuss sex. The U.S. still has some of the highest teen pregnancy rates for a developed nation, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

According to the Center for Disease Control’s latest study, there are nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections every year, and about half of those infected are between the ages 15 and 24.

But how do we fix this problem? For starters, have a more well-rounded sex education in schools.

The Guttmacher Institute states that only 26 percent of young women are taught how to say no to sex. In addition, less than 5 percent of queer teenagers feel like their sex ed

GENEVIEVE WINN

lessons adequately covered LGBTQA-related topics.

The same study states that of the 72 percent of public schools that require sex ed, around three quarters teach an abstinence-only approach.

By learning comprehensive sex ed instead of abstaining, teenagers will be less likely to have an unplanned pregnancy or catch an STI. A study by the AIDS Research Institute showed comprehensive sexual education greatly reduces the risk of contracting AIDS and increases correct condom usage.

Secondly, change the way we think about sex. Many people feel shame or guilt after a

sexual encounter.

This is because we are constantly bombarded with what is acceptable when it comes to expressing sexual desire.

Instead of criticizing the way people have sex, we should celebrate our sexualities as a fundamental aspect of what makes us human.

Plus, by reducing the stigma around sex, the doors open to discuss contraceptive methods, LGBTQA-related topics and, most importantly, consent.

Young people will feel more comfortable talking about sex if they think no one else will judge them.

Parents and their kids

talking about sex can be more important than just learning sex ed in health class. Staying informed and doing research can provide a more comprehensive discussion.

Planned Parenthood has an extensive amount of research and resources about sex for both teenagers and adults.

Read them, consider donating to Planned Parenthood and, of course, stay safe.

Matthew Hagberg is a firstyear political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2017.

OPINION

4

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 24, 2017

Debate ammunition in favor of gun control

A

Madeleine Cary

The problem of mass-shootings cannot and should not be equated with mental illness. Combining these two conversation only distracts from the objective of the pro-gun and anti-gun arguments.

brief list of stupid things and misleading arguments that delay and detract from any productive conversations on gun violence in our country and my responses to them:

“We have to protect ourselves against terrorists.”

When a man of color commits a mass-shooting, he is automatically deemed a terrorist.

A white man murders kids with an assault rifle at their elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

People sitting down to watch Batman in a theater in Aurora, Colorado are shot and killed. Young people who were enjoying a country music festival in Las Vegas lost their lives.

In all of these cases, the shooter is assumed to be “crazy” and “a lone wolf.”

It seems that our country is reluctant to put white people in the “terrorist” box, but anyone who slaughters innocent people is a terrorist.

“In this Constitution, I have the God-given right to my guns.”

When that document was published the founding fathers were carrying muskets, not AR-15s. They were also riding in carriages and fighting the British. Times have changed, in case you haven’t noticed.

“Guns make us safer.”

There are 12,000 gun homicides annually in the United States according to Everytown for Gun Safety, based on a five-year-average of data from the CDC. For God-knows-what reason, individuals who have been found guilty of domestic violence can still buy firearms.

Every month, 50 American women are shot to death by their spouses or partners. The presence of a firearm in a situation of domestic abuse makes a woman five times more likely to be shot and killed, states Everytown for Gun Safety.

On average, 93 Americans are killed by a gun every single day. That number includes seven children and teens.

“Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.”

While you are technically correct in your observation that guns are human-operated, there is no point to them except to kill. People are killing

MEREDITH RATHBURN

people with a one-button killing tool. Why would we make hand-held, one-button killing tools available to the general public?

“What about knives?”

What about them? Before you try to make this argument, think of your chances of survival in a mugging against someone with a knife versus someone with a pistol.

“It’s not about guns, it’s about mental health.”

We would like to think that

anyone who could murder a bunch of people cannot possibly be of sound mind.

I think that our tendency to equate these two issues -- violence and mental-health -- is a result of stigma and of our desperation to separate ourselves from anyone who would commit an atrocity like a mass-shooting.

However, the truth is that only 4 percent of the violence in the U.S. can be traced back to mental illness according to a June 2016 Atlantic article.

“It’s a big public health op-

portunity to limit access to guns,” said Jeffery Swanson, a psychiatry professor at Duke University.

Among people who’ve attempted suicide, 90 percent do not try again. But guns are the most common method of taking your own life, and of the people who use guns to attempt suicide, 85 percent die.

Mental health is a red herring -- an illogical fallacy -- in the gun debate. Intentional or unintentional, this seemingly irrefutable argument is merely a diversion tactic.

“Thoughts and prayers to Newtown, Aurora, Las Vegas, Orlando, Columbine, Ohio…”

Shut up. Now is not the time for thoughts and prayers.

It’s time for action.

Madeleine Cary is a junior English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since 2017.

The great divide: a look into polarization in politics Henry Mitchell

T

he American public has increasingly migrated toward either end of the political spectrum.

And this is exactly what we all wanted.

In the U.S. we tend to idolize the endless struggle of good vs. evil to show off how “good” we are.

Previously, the “evil” role was filled by the USSR, but that disappeared and we had to find a new target.

So we turned to our next best thing: the struggle between liberalism and conservatism.

We took any event worth covering and started pushing our ideologies onto it in an effort to appear the most patriotic.

After the Oct. 1 shooting in Las Vegas, gun control became the main concern for both Democrats and Republicans, as it decided which party was to blame and who would have to give up one of their key positions.

NFL players kneeling during the anthem became a debate between the typical “Liberals don’t respect our mil-

itary” and “Conservatives are hypocrites and racists” arguments.

During Hurricane Harvey, Democrats enthusiastically pointed out how conservative Sen. Ted Cruz had negatively regarded the Hurricane Sandy relief bill, yet begged Congress to pass one for his home state of Texas.

Meanwhile, Republicans had to maintain their position that the three devastating hurricanes within the span of two months had nothing to do with climate change.

Even President Donald Trump momentarily ditched the Republican party on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals situation, which was seen as a win for Democrats with a potential return to bipartisanship a distant ideal.

We’re all on debate teams, keeping score of who got the most points and determining the most patriotic winner.

And now we can denounce our fellow Americans for not living up to our true values and culture from the comfort of our own homes.

Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and other social outlets have all become platforms to

LUCAS HILTZ

gain followings with those who share our identity and then attack our enemies without having to actually talk with anyone.

Once we’ve verbally assaulted our helpless opposition via clever tweet or snarky Facebook comment, we turn to our politically-aligned celebrities to brag about our victory and have a nice celebra-

tory chuckle.

Liberals favor revered leaders like Sen. Bernie Sanders and late-night talk show hosts such as Stephen Colbert or Jimmy Kimmel. Conservatives bow down to the like of Trump, Breitbart founder Steve Bannon and Infowars host Alex Jones.

These leaders then make their jokes and the endless cy-

cle of pats on the back is perpetualized.

But with any luck, both parties will grow tired of ceaseless fighting and go back to mutual tolerance of one another and shared hatred of other parties.

Henry Mitchell is a first-year political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2017.

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 24, 2017

LIFE

5

Self-care: a remedy for self & others How self-love and positive relationships can combat all forms of bullying Libby Camp Staff Writer Kailey Bates Staff Writer October is Bullying Prevention Month, an important time to reflect not only on how people treat those around them, but also how they treat themselves.

People often treat others better than they treat themselves, and this can lead to poor self-image, depression and increased substance abuse, according to a 2002 study by the American Psychological Association.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reports that 58 percent of college-aged women feel pressured to be a certain weight. Ninety-five percent of people with eating disorders are of ages 12-25.

Sophomore Noah Luis Rappel is one of many students working on his own body positivity.

“I struggle with self-esteem and my body image because it is so easy to compare myself to others,” Rappel said.

“Depending on my weight and how I look a particular day, [my body image] can dictate how much I eat.”

Though self-love is an internal practice, there are outside factors, such as the constraints of the fashion industry, that influence students’ abilities to feel good about their image.

“The biggest struggle with my personal body positivity is the lack of attractive clothing available in my size range,” junior Starrkeisha Cobb said.

The majority of clothing in the U.S. is available in a narrow size range, and “you’d be hardpressed to find any brand that caters to anyone who wears above a [size] 12,” according to a Feb. 2014 Refinery29.

SAMANTHA GRAHAM

There are a variety of approaches students use to be more confident and comfortable in their bodies.

Cobb combats the lack of clothing options by finding shirts that fit and then cutting them in figure-flattering ways, Cobb said.

Sometimes the best selflove comes in the form of loving others, Rappel said.

“It makes me feel good to focus on issues that are bigger than myself,” he said.

“I can spend my time making a difference in the world instead of using my time being fixated on how I look.”

There are plenty of things the UVM community as a whole can do to promote body positivity, Cobb said.

“UVM students can sup-

“Loving yourself and taking care of yourself is not the easiest thing to do ...

Understand that it’s work, but if you’re willing to do the work there’s freedom in it.” port body positivity by coming to the Slut Walk and by complimenting everyone no matter what their style is,” Cobb said.

“Everyone dresses perfectly for them, not for anyone else.

“We all must embrace that.”

The UVM Slut Walk, hosted by the Womyn of Color Coalition, took place Oct. 22 in front of the Waterman building, according to the UVM Program Board.

Likeminded women marched in an aim to “put the power back in students’ hands and respect back in names, bodies and minds,” the event description said.

Rappel also supports the Naked Bike Ride tradition at the end of each semester, he said.

It’s a way of encouraging fellow students to embrace their bodies and to show how proud they are of their naked and vulnerable features, Rappel said.

Students have the power to change how people feel about themselves, and they can do so much to make people feel comfortable in their own skin, he said.

Building empathy with others helps to foster a positive attitude about the self, Rappel said.

“I know I am not alone with my inner conflict,” he said. Appearances of happiness don’t always mean a happy person, Rappel said.

Bullying doesn’t always occur within the self, said Jeffrey Rettew, associate director of the Wellness Environment and counselor at Counseling and Psychiatry Services on Redstone campus.

Relationships are important to one’s health and well-being, he said.

“We developed a new pillar in WE called ‘We Relate,’” Rettew said. “Through our events, we talk about how you can build up positive relationships with romantic interests, roommates [and] even professors.”

Bullying looks different in college compared to high school and middle school, he said.

“It most often occurs in roommate disputes,” Rettew said. “Conflict arises because roommates assume the other knows what they want out of the relationship.”

“People coming from different histories of relationships have different expectations, and these aren’t expressed.”

TALIA KNUTSEN When disputes happen, ResLife aims to help roommates better understand what each party wants, he said.

“People want an opportunity to be heard,” Rettew said.

“Given the political discourse of this country, cultivating positive relationship skills is more important now than it’s ever been.”

The Step-Up bystander intervention program teaches students what to do when they see bullying.

The organization provides an online guide to facilitate conversations about bystander behavior.

“Oftentimes we see bullying, bias and injustice or alcohol abuse and we get stuck in groupthink,” program coordinator Anne Valentine said.

“We assume that because no one else is doing anything, we shouldn’t either. We’ll rationalize away any responsibility in it.”

The Step-Up program is having a positive effect on the student body by helping students identify direct and indirect ways to interrupt harmful situations, Valentine said.

“People are recognizing why they didn’t do something in the past, and [they] have more information and self-awareness now to make a difference,” she said.

Both Rettew and Valentine said students should make use of counseling services on campus.

“Going to counseling doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you,” Rettew said. “This is a resource that is beneficial to anybody, regardless if you have a huge, diagnosable problem or not.”

Students must practice self-care, Rettew said.

“Maybe instead of spending two hours at the gym, you go for a 30-minute walk,” he said. “Thirty minutes of exercise will do more for your mind and body than using that time to study for an exam.”

Self-care and self-love can be tough under stress, Valentine said.

“Loving yourself and taking care of yourself is not the easiest thing to do,” she said. “Understand that it’s work, but if you’re willing to do the work there’s freedom in it.”

Whether it’s battling self hate, getting into a dispute with someone or witnessing bullying on campus, there are many University resources students can use to help practice care for self and others.

SPORTS

6

Men’s soccer reaches top spot Will Santacroce Staff Writer The men’s soccer team pulled ahead early Saturday night and never fell behind, defeating the University of Maryland, Baltimore County 3-1.

The win took the Cats’ overall record to 9-6 and their conference record to 4-1.

Head coach Rob Dow tied the record for most wins as a rookie coach Saturday as well, but he gave all credit to his team last night even after they had the week off.

“They were ready to play tonight,” Dow said.

In the fourth minute, junior forward Justin Freitas scored his first goal of the night off of an excellent set-up from sophomores forward Geo Alves and midfielder Dani Rovira.

Freitas said the team “spent a lot of time this week doing some finishing.” It showed.

On the 20th minute, UMBC defender Jon Bell scored the equalizer, but it took the Catamounts less than 30 seconds to retake the lead.

It was Freitas yet again who, coming off a long ball from sophomore defender Ivan Arnason, managed to put it right above the keeper into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, Alves scored with an assist from sophomore midfielder Dadi Baerings Halldorsson. Alves celebrated his ninth goal of the season with an impressive backflip.

The second half was all defense for the Catamounts, as UMBC’s attacks were stopped again and again. This all went along with Dow’s gameplan.

“We are being productive early,” Dow said. “We’re getting goals in the first half, and our defense is already so strong

The Vermont Cynic

Basketball court to be renamed Maddie Allen Staff Writer

Junior forward Justin Freitas dribbles between two UMBC players Oct. 21. Freitas scored twice in the game, carrying the Catamounts past the Retrievers 3-1.

OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic they’ve been able to close out games.”

Dow said scoring early gives the team confidence, which is why Dow wanted to see the strikers shooting early. With 11 shots in the first half alone, the team did just that.

With only three more games in regular season, the pressure is on the Catamounts to finish strong.

“Every game is a big three points,” Freitas said. “We want to be league champions this year.”

Vermont travels to Boston, to face Northeastern University today and Dow said he hopes to see more of what he saw on Saturday.

Vermont will play their last

home game of regular season Saturday against Binghamton University. “[Binghamton is] always tough,” Dow said. “When they come here they are ready. So we gotta be ready.”

Vermont is tied with the University of New Hampshire for No. 1 in America East standings. Both teams have two conference games to play.

UPCOMING GAMES Oct. 24 at Northeastern University Oct. 28 vs. Binghamton University

Wash Spot Laundromat

Oct. 24, 2017

UVM athletics has announced the main basketball court in Patrick Gym will be renamed in honor of former men’s basketball head coach Tom Brennan.

The naming ceremony will take place Dec. 11 when Vermont hosts Siena College.

Brennan coached at UVM for 19 years, leading the team to four 20-plus-win seasons and 264 wins.

“My favorite memories would be the two championship games we played here,” Brennan said. “The Northeastern win had very special significance because I knew it was my last game.”

Brennan is the all-time leader in both wins and games coached at UVM. He was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. “[He] was really responsible for laying the foundation for what has become one of the top mid-major basketball programs in the country,” athletic director Jeff Schulman said.

“He is an incredible champion of the University of Vermont.”

The push for the renaming was led by former men’s basketball player Barry Stone ‘56. Stone and his wife made a leading gift which launched the effort to rename the court and build the new Multipurpose center, Schulman said.

Along with the renamed gym, the fundraiser started by the Stones will fund a new multipurpose center, which will be an $80-85 million renovation of the UVM health and recre-

ation facilities.

“The amount of space dedicated to health, wellness and recreation is going to be five times the size of what we currently have,” Schulman said.

The multipurpose center will also include a new events center for men’s and women’s basketball games and a transformational renovation of Gutterson Fieldhouse. Health and fitness centers will be upgraded across campus, Schulman said.

“The upgrades to Gutterson Fieldhouse will preserve the character and energy of a truly iconic college hockey facility,” Schulman said, “[but] upgrade it in terms of the spectator experience, student spectator experience and the student-athlete’s experience.”

“It’s so satisfying because when I was 8-50, I wasn’t thinking about getting a court named after me,” Brennan said.

Early in Brennan’s career the team struggled, but he spoke about the team and staff that stuck with him through that time.

“We knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight, but people just stayed with me,” Brennan said. “When we got really good, which we did at the end, it was for the whole state.”

Patrick Gym will become a recreational gym for all UVM students with Tom Brennan’s name on center court, Schulman said.

“When I stand up there Dec. 11, I am going to see many, many people who stuck by me,” Brennan said.

OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS/WK 207 Riverside Ave, Burlington

Next to Newton’s Carwash ½ mile from UVM

Will match any value put on Wash Card OVER $20.00 and up to a $50 Match See website for details MUST EMAIL EACH TIME FOR THE MATCH TO BE MADE TO YOUR WASH CARD. High Extraction Washers = Less Dry time 8 Load Washers $11.42 5 Load Washers $7.11 3 Load Washers $4.25 2 Load Washers $2.75 Wash-Dry-Fold Service FREE Wi-Fi Accepts Credit and Debit Cards thewashspot.com Email. clean@thewashspot.com

The 2017-18 women’s basketball team. Their season kicks off at Dartmouth Nov. 10.

Photo courtesy of UVM Athletics

Women’s Basketball Preview Locria Courtright Assistant Sports Editor After a difficult first season, the women’s basketball team prepares for its second season under head coach Chris Day. The Catamounts finished with a 9-20 record in 2016-17.

Last season, key players such as senior guard Sydney Smith and junior forward Candice Wright missed significant time with injuries.

But a new season provides new chances and a new start for the team and the head coach.

“I’ve been calmer and more patient when things don’t go right within the program, particularly when practice starts,” Day said.

Vermont improved defensively last season but the offense struggled, averaging 55.4 points per game, the second

fewest in America East.

Day credits part of this to last year’s injuries and lack of depth. However, he stressed the need for improvement.

“We need to score,” Day said. “Our goal is to get to 60 points; with our defense, if we hit 60, we win.”

The team brings five newcomers to the team this year.

Day said he has been impressed with the newcomers so far and feels the team has much more depth and versatility than last season.

“The [first-years] have done a really good job of fitting in,” Smith said. “Their playing styles fit exactly what we were looking for and what we needed.”

Vermont opens the regular season Nov. 10 at Dartmouth College.

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 24, 2017

ARTS

Student makes noise in Burly music scene Allie O’Connor Staff Writer

Senior Kristi Blow practices guitar on the Waterman green Oct. 18. Blow, a singer-songwriter, will be performing at Radio Bean Nov. 5.

AUTUMN LEE/The Vermont Cynic

The Burlington music scene is a welcome environment for musicians, whether they are new bands just coming together or established solo acts.

Behind a voice that frequents the downtown music scene lies an incredible passion for music emboldened by emotion, lyrical honesty and a trusty guitar.

“There’s a ton of talent in the Burlington music scene, and I love to see the variety,” senior Kirsti Blow said. “It’s a really inclusive environment that I’m happy to be a part of.”

Blow has been deeply involved in music since growing up in Glens Falls, New York, she said.

“Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she said. “My dad was a big Deadhead, so I grew up loving classic rock.”

While Blow has been influenced by countless artists since she was young, she cites Neil Young as her favorite songwriter.

“His songs are so powerful both as social commentary and an individual expression,” Blow said. “There’s an art to walking that line.”

Blow has been a passionate writer since she was young.

She picked up the guitar at age 15 and each song she wrote became a new story she could tell.

Her voice draws on her own experiences to create sincere emotional depth, she said.

“Writing has always been an emotional outlet for me and songs are kind of a poetic extension of that,” Blow said.

She’s written songs ranging from “Free,” a calming description of her grasping for

7

“peace of mind,” to the sadder “The Highest Shelf,” a ballad about missing someone deeply. When not writing, she records covers of other artists’ songs.

She’s covered the late Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as well as Mazzy Star’s “I’ve Gotta Stop” and Pierce the Veil’s “Hold On Till May.” “I think UVM is a great environment for aspiring musicians and artists,” Blow said.

“Burlington as a whole is brimming with creativity, and there are plenty of outlets and platforms to share ideas both in and outside the University.”

It isn’t easy to get your music out there as a new musician, she said.

“The best advice I could give to an aspiring musician is to just put yourself out there,” Blow said. “Everybody fears rejection, but people are usually a lot more open than you think.”

“Just making that call or showing up to an open mic is the hardest part,” she said.

Blow said she isn’t quite sure where she’s going to end up after she graduates.

She currently has two communications internships – one at the Center for Research on Vermont and the other at the Northeast Organic Farming Association – and hopes to continue work in her field while pursuing her love of music.

“I would love to make an album someday, and I hope to release an EP in the near future with some of my more recent songs,” Blow said.

Blow’s music can be found on her Facebook page, YouTube and Soundcloud. She also regularly performs in Burlington venues such as Radio Bean, the Light Club Lamp Shop, The Monkey House and ArtsRiot.

Wu-Tang Clan’s storied saga survives on new album

I

Dhalia Maleh

t’s time for mumble rappers like Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty to move over because Wu-Tang Clan is back.

“Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues” is an album here to remind everyone who truly runs the rap game.

Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group made up of MCs and DJs, began in the early ‘90s. RZA, the group’s main producer and a highly acclaimed rapper, would come to be considered commander-in-chief of this legendary ensemble.

The Clan has a lot pride for their home city of Staten Island, New York and never ceases to remind us.

In the song “If Time is Money (Fly Navigation),” rapper Method Man asks the listeners, “Don’t you know the history? I’m from the city of stopand-frisk me.”

The sound of the album is a combnation of the group’s old-school hip-hop style with contemporary beats.

The clan has made themselves relevant to a new generation of listeners while staying true to their poetic bars.

Unlike current rap music, “The Saga Continues” sees no use for adlibs in the background. After all, adlibs are meaningless if you’ve got “bars better than Willy Wonka” like Method Man claims in the song “Hood Go Bang.”

The album’s first song “Lesson Learn’d” has a chorus that

will make any head nod along.

More of Wu-Tang Clan’s iconic skits are sprinkled throughout the album.

The vignettes include a story of a drug dealer, black women seizing their independence and RZA reminding us in “Saga” that the fight for black justice is far from over.

A difference in Wu-Tang’s musical dynamic is prevalent in the album. Older songs used to be a cypher-like experience where every rapper spits a few bars.

In “The Saga Continues” group seems less cohesive than they had on earlier albums. Their mission statement, though, which can be heard in “Why, Why, Why,” is still all about unity.

“We come to unite people - every color, every race,” featured rapper Swnkah said, adding that they believe this unity is possible through the power of music.

To younger generations, Wu-Tang Clan is associated with “old-school hip-hop,” which has become more of an accessory for Forever 21 shirts than a genre of music.

So the questions arise: will the girls and boys who buy the shirts with the group’s picture on it listen to the album? And will they even know what saga is continuing?

Dhalia Maleh is a first-year public communication major.

She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2017.

Wu-Tang Clan’s new album, “The Saga Continues.” This is the Staten Island-based rap group’s seventh album, the first in three years.

Photo Credit: @WuTangClan/Twitter

8

ARTS

The Vermont Cynic

Oct. 24, 2017

THIS WEEK AT UVM

OCT. 26

Five of the Eyes @ Radio Bean. 11 p.m.

Free.

Portland prog rock band fuses funk, Latin for a unique sound.

OCT. 27

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: An Interactive Movie Experience @ D.C. Maple Ballroom. 9 p.m. Free.

The cult classic will be playing as a part of the UVM Program Board’s Fright Week.

OCT. 28

Candy Shoppe @ all floord of the D.C. 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. Free.

Clothe yourself in creepy costumes and head over to the Davis Center for a night full of candy, crafts, games and more.

OCT. 29

Black Kids with Surf Rock is Dead @ Higher Ground. 8 p.m., $10 in advamce, $12 day of show Black Kids “genrehop” band will be playing with Surf Rock is Dead.

OCT. 30

Funk N’ Patch @ outside the first floor of the D.C. 12:30 p.m.

Free.

Gather for pumpkin, live music and cider with band The Tins.

OCT. 31

Zach Nugent’s Disco Dead @ Nectar’s.

10 p.m.

Come see Nugent’s re-creation of a Grateful Dead albumalong with disco infused classic Grateful Dead.

See full descriptions online

SUPERCUTS STYLISTS DELIVER CUTS WITH AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL SO YOU FEEL READY TO GO. THE GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER 570 Shelburne Rd South Burlington, VT 05403 802-651-1000

CLEAN. SHARP. READY.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK WEEKNIGHTS UNTIL 9PM

supercuts.com