Vermont Cynic Spring 2013 Issue 21

The Vermont

CYNIC

BSU FASHION SHOW PAGE 6

The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883

Sadness, no Madness for Cats T h u r s d a y, M a r c h 2 1 , 2 0 1 3 – Vo l u m e 1 2 9 I s s u e 2 1 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

Taylor Feuss Sports Editor

JONATHAN POLSON The Vermont Cynic Senior guard Trey Blue (center) reacts with his teammates after the loss to Albany in the America East championship game at Patrick Gym March 16.

Ales rumors laid to rest Staff Report

See AMERICA EAST on page 13

Melvin’s murder: the story BEN PLOTZKER

See BEAVER on page 3

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAGUE O’CONNOR A beaver frolicks in Centennial Woods last year. Beavers are under threat due to traps set the physical plant that resulted in a beaver death.

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N EWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Spires initiatives bring debate

Opinions mixed on research initiatives four years later Danielle Kaidanow Cynic Correspondent Lauren Giery Assistant News Editor

In 2009 the University launched the Transdisciplinary Research Initiative (TRI) to advance UVM as a premier small research university.

Members of faculty and administration as well as students are now giving their perand downfalls.

With the creation of the TRI or “The Spires of Excellence,” the University decided to increase research in three speFood Systems, and Neuroscience, Behavior and Health. about because of two thoughts, said professor and Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies Domenico Grasso.

First, UVM is a relatively small research university in comparison to its peers, he said.

“If we were going to do signame for ourselves we would have a challenge in front of us because often times scale correlates with reputation and then with productivity,” Grasso said.

Second, problems in so-

ciety are rarely contained to one discipline, therefore the University wanted to capitalize its excellence in a variety of departments to tackle the most pressing problems, he said.

“If we do this well we will be bringing resources to the University, we will be bringing notoriety to the University which will be good for the undergrad, graduate, and faculty as well,” Grasso said.

One drawback is that the University has not been able

In her opinion, TRIs have taken away from the humanities.

“The way I see this is as taking away from the undergraduate experience in order to fund the graduate experience,” Youngblood said. “I don’t think that’s right because UVM is primarily an undergraduate institution.”

“UVM doesn’t have enough money to get these programs up and running.”

to TRIs in comparison to peer institutions, he said.

Four years later, UVM is funds toward these programs without doing so at the expense of other departments, situation.

“There are institutions that have been able to invest hundreds of millions of dollars,” Grasso said “We just don’t have those resources, we’re doing the best we can with what we have.”

Professor of history, Denise Youngblood said she thinks TRI is a good idea but the problem is that it is an unfunded mandate at the University.

“UVM doesn’t have enough money to get these programs up and running,” Youngblood said.

Denise Youngblood History Professor dinsky said she does not think tion to pursue this initiative.

“Financially UVM is in a crunch and when you have new initiatives you have to put said. “Other institutions like Stanford put millions and at UVM there is about $50,000 for each spire.”

Vice President of Finance and Administration Richard vestments from the provost

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for the initiatives comes from a number of different places it does not appear as one number in the budget.

“I don’t see this as some bringing more focus on research across the different colleges and schools.”

Professor of religion Richard Sugarman said he thinks the TRI initiative is a part of a huge national trend.

“It’s not just UVM,” he said.

“My understanding is that the governor of Vermont is apparently strongly encouraging students by giving them incentive to study in these areas [STEM].”

However, Sugarman said he thinks pushing students too far with technology and research classes is a mistake.

“There is a crisis between the easier route of technology, not in it of itself a bad thing or a good thing,” he said. “Technology has to be in the service of something higher than itself, better than itself.”

On the other hand, senior Tenley Burlingame said she wishes more of her classes could be integrated between the sciences and arts.

Burlingame, who double majors in Dietetics and Nutrition and Food Sciences, expressed discontent for her

classes being listed as sciences courses despite dealing with social sciences and humanities, such as psychology, human cultures and social work.

Each spire has a Steering viding leadership and cultivating cross-campus collaborations and transdiciplinary research teams and projects.

Behavior and Health steering committee, Dr. Rae Nishi said “I believe the mission of [the Neuroscience, Behavior and Health steering committee] is to enhance undergrad education and training in cross-disciplinary studies,” Nishi said. idea of transdisciplinary is not just science-based.

“The spires include notion basic sciences all the way to how people make their choices – it inherently incorporates natural and social sciences,” she said.

Even so, professors and students alike are split on their views of the “Spires of Excellence”.

“I don’t even know about these ‘spires’, maybe they’ll change in a year,” Sugarman said. “I think you’d be better off sticking to the time tested ideas, authors and texts.”

UVM considers adding semester to school year Lauren Giery Assistant News Editor UVM is currently in the process of becoming a trimester school.

President Thomas Sullivan outlined his ideas for enhancing the quality and affordability of UVM in his Strategic Action Plan.

Among these considerations is the expansion of UVM’s curriculum to three semesters in order to optimize the use of University facilities, technology assets and shared services, Sullivan said.

To do so, the University is considering expanding the current summer school program to allow students to attend full-time during the summer, he said.

“An expanded summer school curriculum will give both students and faculty greater choice in schedules,” Sullivan said.

Both the SummerU and study abroad course offerings would expand, said Sullivan.

As a result, Sullivan said he believes tuition could be reduced in the future.

However, the University is still early in the process and consultation of implementing a three-semester system.

In addition, the president’s Strategic Action Plan also addresses the possibility of Jterms, classes offered over the winter break, to maximize the

University’s facilities.

A three-semester curriculum would also present more opportunities for students to graduate earlier, Sullivan said.

First-year Sophie StokerLong said she is an advocate of expanding the University’s curriculum to three-semesters.

“I think offering an extra semester over the summer dents here,” she said.

Stoker-Long said she has met multiple super seniors at UVM, and believes a curriculum with more course offerings would assist students in graduating on time.

“Those who take time off from school or have a rough semester are permanently setback,” she said. “I think expanding the curriculum would help so many students graduate on time, or even early.”

First-year Heidi Harris is considering declaring a double major in business in addition to her molecular genetics major which would normally take “If I could have the option of taking an extra semester over the summer, ideally I could still graduate in four years,” she said.

Sullivan said he expects to receive recommendations for this project by fall 2013.

N EWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

BEAVER

3

Lethal traps killed a beaver studied by environment course at UVM

...continued from page 1 when the school started to expand and there has not been a beaver problem since then.

The location and use of the pond is a common misconcep-

O’Connor gave me a better sense of what goes on in his own outdoor classroom.

“The gate is always un-

barbed wire fence surrounding the man-made pond. People walk their dogs off leash around

walked in the numerous times to see the activity of the beavers. I have even gone into the beaver lodge to see that two muskrats

them getting in.

To have the head of communications accompany us on this visit to the pond was surprising.

When previous media groups

Chiarelli said the traps were tampered with and eventually stolen from the sight. Police services said that because the case

Corredera said he was the one who spoke directly to reporters instead of physical plant employees like Chiarelli. It seemed to me that Corredera’s main purpose of tagging along was to keep Chiarelli from giving UVM a poor image or to avoid accidentally releasing misinformation. tennial lost a resident.

-

Lack of Transparency Teage O’Connor is a faculty member in the UVM environmental program and taught a course called Natural Environclass that studied Melvin.

The beaver’s death came as a surprise to O’Connor and his “It’s unfortunate that Melvin “The community and many people I bring into the woods were

CRIME LOG Lauren Drasler Staff Writer

March 11 5:29 p.m.

A report came in about a person throwing plastic water bottles onto the roadway between University Heights and Main Street. When a police he/she found one water bottle on the road. After speaking with numerous people in the area no one was found to be causing any more trouble.

11:22 p.m.

Hall staff in Marsh Hall contacted Police Services after smelling an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm

tenths of a gram of the drug.

March 12 6:14 p.m.

Hall staff in Wright Hall contacted Police Services after discovering three road signs in the building. The signs included a no parking sign that limit sign that belonged to the city of Burlington and a Chittenden County Transport Authority (CCTA) bus stop sign.

All the signs were returned to their rightful owners after being turned in.

the investigation without ever O’Connor was on the top list of possible suspects because of police said they did not link him to the crime.

Hubert said he does not mean to paint the physical plant but Centennial Woods is a very special area for so many people in the Burlington community. natural history and charisma that exists in these woods is as-

beavers to leave because of the lack of food in that habitat at this

Green Mountain Animal Defenders (GMAD) stepped in to give the University proper mitigation strategies and the traps were quickly removed by the hired trapper.

A meeting took place

are exploring the idea of install-

licensed wildlife rehabilitator. They discussed future plans of the retention pond. Lori Keppler of GMAD pro-

O’Connor said.

Senior Sam Hubert took O’Connor’s course and said he is also upset with the University’s decision to set lethal traps that killed one in the colony of beavers living in the woods. “[UVM] planned on killing

Traps have an 84 percent failure

we basically raised hell once we

do not like the noise of running water.

The resolution de-

March 13 4:41 p.m.

A report came in about vandalism outside Coolidge Hall. discovered that someone had spray painted an exterior camera monitor on the building. No one has yet been

10:22 p.m.

Hall staff in Jeanne Mance Hall called in an odor of marijuana. Once police arrived and parent that alcohol was also ingrinder and 6.7 grams of marijuana from the students.

March 15 1:22 a.m. noticed a group of Middlebury students attempting to break into the math building on campus located at 16 Colchester Avenue. One student was charged with burglary and dividuals were charged with trespassing. According to the Middlebury students they and were simply “looking for

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Best Management Guide.

Environmentalists Step In

a game camera to a tree near the pond in order to study the beavers. The camera was taken down by physical plant employees and handed over to the police.

“I watched the footage when they took the camera and I could

a really special relationship with

termined by the group was to let the beavers stay in the pond and see what they do come spring.

Relocating beavers to a new location before a winter season is not recommended because of ping is a common practice by

known as a “beaver

beaver deceivers have a 97 percent

pler said. The beavers will work until the water

in the retention pond once the beavers leave.

“The community and many people I bring into the woods were supportive of the beavers.”

Teague O’Connor Professor

Life

Reel talk with a catfish Sharing is caring Devin Karambelas Managing Editor Chas Truslow really likes snowboarding videos.

But where most enthusiasts might stick to just watching them, this Champlain College senior went beyond that— and transformed a compulsive interest into a viable blog with a devoted following.

Chronicles, an online repository of open source snowboarding videos that Truslow creates and updates by himself.

As the blog launched in 2009, Truslow decided the snowboarding world needed more footage documenting the kind of riders he and his friends wanted to see.

“There was a point where all the websites wouldn’t post videos of younger kids and the content was always just pro’s,” he said. “But it seems like a lot of the younger kids are the ones that are the most progressive and made the best videos, in my opinion, yet you would never see them on any other sites.”

And while his blog may not be able to compete with the volume of edits that larger sites like Vimeo and Transworld feature, the videos that Truslow deems worthy of reposting are selected with a different criteria in mind.

“It’s more about a feeling,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll post videos where the tricks aren’t, like, amazing, but it’s more about kids who clearly like to snowboard and giving them attention that they normally wouldn’t get.”

Four years after he started tle that pays homage to Truslow’s alcohol-induced alter ego his friends called “the cat600 followers on Facebook and Instagram, reaching an audience beyond what Truslow said he could have ever expected.

“Having a following is pretty weird,” he said, laughing. “The majority of it is people that I don’t know, which I think is pretty cool…it’s weird that it’s kids all over that I’ve never met. I’ll meet people and it will come up.”

Possible web fame aside, running a blog isn’t all that

ISABELLA BROWNE LORCHER

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Champlain College senior Chas Truslow speaks about his video glamorous. Truslow said he wakes up every morning at 8:00 a.m. to scour the latest in snowboarding edits on Vimeo and other accounts that he checks religiously throughout the day by phone or laptop.

This is on top of attending school, working at Sugarbush as a parks crewmember and posting social media for Salomon Snowboards.

And with zero ad revenue, it is unlikely that Truslow will ever make a dime off of a blog he spends so much time updating.

“I’ve gotten a few offers to get paid to post ads but I’ll never do that,” he said.

“It’s kind of a labor of love, I guess.”

Still, if the time comes to keep the blog up and running, that time looks a long way off.

He said the site is currently undergoing a total redesign that has a cleaner look, more features to handle multime-

dia streaming and even an online store that will sell Caticles may have a tough time reeling in those who don’t ride or share Truslow’s passion for snowboarding, keeping the blog small might be exactly the point.

“One of the things I think about is how [snowboarding] connects so many people,” he said. “It’s a worldwide community, but it’s a lot smaller than what people may think.”

The formula for snowboarding video sites is actually pretty simple: snowboarders just like watching other people snowboard, Truslow said.

“There’s something about watching it all the time,” he said. “It’s what they love. And it’s not necessarily because it’s a really good video or anything, there’s just something about the experience of watching someone do something you love to do.”

Check the site out at www.

I don’t have to remind anyone that living on campus is expensive: there’s the initial housing cost, the meal plan, and if you’re lucky enough, there’s the cost of parking your car. Cars that may sit day and night in parking lots, all the while costing their owners approximately $350 a year.

But now there’s hope for those who think this price is exorbitant, or who don’t have a car of their own. CarShare Vermont gives students an easy and affordable transportation alternative.

Back in 2008, founder and executive director Annie Bourdon started CarShare VT. I sat down with Alicia Taylor, the program manager for this three-women business, who explained exactly how CarShare runs.

Taylor said that when a new member joins they are given their own key fob. This key fob activates when the member books a car and allows the member to enter and start their assigned vehicle.

CarShare Vermont has Priuses to a pickup truck.

Best of all, rather than having all the cars parked in a central location like most rental services, CarShare strategically parks their cars all over the city in designated spaces.

Members are also provided with prepaid gas cards.

Instead of paying the initial buying cost of a new car, as well as upkeep and gas costs, members pay a membership fee of $30, a low monthly fee (ranging from $5-$15), and a small fee per hour of car use.

But—and here’s the best part—UVM pays student members’ monthly fees and there are two cars already parked on campus by Morril Hall and the Redstone Lofts.

Sophomore Olivia Taylor believes that not enough students take advantage of the service.

“It’s a cheap and easy way to run errands or go out for dinner,” Taylor said. She also mentioned how useful it is to be able to make a reservation for any time of day or night, as well as for any trip length.

Alicia Taylor said that for car sharing to work, there needs to be an effective public transportation system already set up as well as a certain amount of population density. Burlington, a small rural city, has a good bus system compared to many other rural towns in the area. And, it is the most densely populated city in Vermont.

But CarShare Vermont is in the process of studying the viability of their business in towns Burlington such as Montpelier, Essex and Hinesburg that are sigers are hoping that people who live in more rural areas will soon have access to a car sharing organization to accommodate their transportation needs.

With less cars means less of an environmental impact.

Car sharing is a no brainer.

AUSTIN GRANT The Vermont Cynic

CarShare Operations Manager Rebecca Van Dyke works in her of-

The best of SpringFest/FallFest a look back

Soulive

R.E.M.

B.B. King

1971

1978

Grateful Dead

1986

The Roots

1990

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Photos Courtesy of B.B. King, Grateful Dead, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, University of Maine, Wiz Khalifa; photo by Alexa Algios

2003

2010

Wiz Khalifa

2012

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

5

Alum greets film industry with fresh project Out of Burlington and into Los Angeles, alum Will Trowbridge is trying to tell a story about Hollywood life in twenty minutes through “This Party Off Mulholland” Johnny Sudekum Life Editor Francesca Parnham Life Editor For those who have watched HBO’s The Wire, fans know that its sense of gritty drama and realism reel viewers in with an iron grip.

Writer Alex Thompson and UVM alum Will Trow-

Party Off Mulholland,” that is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.com.

Graduating just three termined not to waste time and dedicating four years to ment as well as founding the to get out of Burlington.

“Burlington is a tough “This Party Off Mulhol-

said. It tells the story of a sec-

video on Kickstarter.

“It tells a story that noThompson, who studied

thinks they have a realistic chance in meeting their goal.

script from Chicago while mont. “He wrote it completely separate from me, then sent it along and asked if I wanted

things that could happen,” he said. “Kickstarter works in mysterious ways.”

When the project is completed, they plan to enter the

said. Naturally, he hopped on derway.

around the country including

“It tells a story nobody else is telling.

It’s a badass film.”

Alex Thompson

Writer

Thompson sent the completed script to Delaney Williams, a featured actor in the series. He was immediately drawn to the idea and had plenty of recommendations to offer as well.

Their Kickstarter page currently in its pre-producThompson said their goal is

a “colorful and cautionary tale,” according to the pair’s

in order to cover all expenses

Tommy’s Column

deciding it was a good idea to start an essay over after wast-

two scoops of Phish Food.

The pain of realizing I could have totally messed up my grade in that class started TOMMY GAMBINO

As UVM students we face a great challenge every single day.

A decision harder to make than when David fought Goliath, except this time there’s no slingshot.

Helpless we stand in the Main Street, asking ourselves, “Do I get Ben and Jerry’s today?”

Many students do their

the powers of Ben Cohen and But do we ever pay attention to its chemical effects?

Happiness is a release of the neurotransmitter SeroEating Ben and Jerry’s creates a Serotonin release like having a good time at a party.

In other words, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is a good, quick release from a stressful day and can make that shitty Today, I severely messed up on a midterm exam. After

of the way there so far. None-

I calmed down and put everything into perspective. It was a moment of zen, if you will.

However, we must renutritional facts— after all, too much ice cream, just like In a single pint of Ben and Jerry’s Dave Mathews Magic Brownie Ice Cream, there are Now, we all know that when you sit down with a carton of B & J you can’t just not eat the whole thing. Personally I like to cut the carton open and lick the sides. Waste not want not, folks.

Of course, healthy or not, a good treat from time to time And our favorite God-like duo always have something new up their sleeves. In fact, it was reGreek Frozen Yogurt” would With the releases of “Americone Dream,” “Midnight Snack” and “Cannoli”

in New York City and Telluride in Telluride, Colo. The team is set to shoot in May. Even with all the growing with faculty who inspired him at UVM. and I consider her my menmakers studying at UVM: “Get out of Burlington!

There is some opportunity mers you really have to look elsewhere and get a hold of ter college. You can’t just say said. “That’s not enough.”

To support “This Party on Kickstarter: http://www. kickstarter.com/projects/ alexthompson/this-partyoff-mulholland.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE

Filmmaker Alex Thompson poses for a photo. He is working on a

Catholic Center tackles sex Molly Miller Cynic Correspondent the norm on college campuses, long gone are the days of “going steady” and engaging in monogamous relationships.

In an effort to help stucance of love, UVM’s Catholic Center has wrapped up its ries aims to promote strong emphasizing the separation ity.

-

“I think there’s a lot of confusion in college culwhat love is,” Director of the Casual sex is prevalent on college campuses as students constantly question themselves and their actions during early adulthood, he said.

According to a study conEngland of Stanford Univercent of college men and women reported having one or year, USA Today reported.

But given what the term “hooking up” can entail, it

“From a research perspective, a hookup is a sexual interaction that can happen one or multiple times with someone that you are not in a committed relationship with,” she said. “That’s something that research and UVM students support.”

Though hooking up seems life, Gonzalez suggests that students tend to exaggerate the sex lives of their peers.

“We know that on a college campus, people overestimate the amount of sexual partners people have and how often they have sex,” she said.

“Beauty comes and goes, but the beauty of the spirit stays forever.”

Quinn Parker First-year

from the National Center for Health Statistics, the perally increasing.

Whether or not college hookups are on the rise, Center still feel that many something when it comes to love.

Students sometimes feel lives in ineffective ways, like drugs and alcohol, Schno“If people on campus are hurting or feeling empty or unloved, there’s a reason for that,” he said. “And no amount of sex, drugs, alcohol or entertainment, is going to made for eternal love.”

The Catholic Center hopes to guide students on this journey to love and inner happiFirst year Quinn Parker attended a few of the Freesaid many people he encounters place too much importance on physical, rather than “Beauty comes and goes, stays forever,” Parker said.

First year Caitlyn Irving agreed.

“I think people are confused. [Students] have no idea what love is or what relationships are for,” Irving said.

Though the journey to love can seem challenging at life-long process.

“It’s one thing to understand this, it’s another to live demand that you’re honest with yourself and that you’re not afraid of looking inside and seeing what you may

6

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ECTAC LE

Spectacle a look through the lens The Black Student Union and the Fashion Club hosted “This is Our World,” an annual fashion show held in the Grand Maple Ballroom March 16. The executive board of UVM’s Real Beauty Campaign made an appearance at the show.

PHOTOS BY Michael Chaucer-Torello

ARTS UVM alum band Kloptoscope on the rise writing process. We’ll go to practice and one of us will

Erin Kelley Staff Writer Kloptoscope is truly a homegrown band. An on-therise electronic rock group, Kloptoscope was formed in UVM graduates.

The band consists of Adam Elias (drums), Nick Donnely (guitar/synthesizer), Brendan Filkins (bass/ sample), Zack Drummond (saxophone/keys) and Anthony Gibbons (guitar/percussion).

Their genre-fusing sound is something special, and can perhaps be best summed up in one simple word: fun.

The Cynic sat down with Kloptoscope to talk about their unique sound, what the recording process is like and what’s coming up next for the band.

The Vermont Cynic (VC): How and when did Kloptoscope form?

Anthony Gibbons (AG): First it was Adam and me with a couple other people from The Edd [local Then Flip [Brendan Filkins] and Nick joined in.

Zack Drummond (ZD):

that and start adding onto it songs just seem to naturally VC: ZD: Well for me this was started playing with these ally liked it and continue to lot of The New Deal and Loence.

BF: My name is Brendan and Umphrey’s McGee is my so many wonderful things. many different ways.

“I think some of the cooler stuff we do is combining two different genres.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDAN FILKINS

Brendan Filkins

Bassist

Adam

Elias

ly formed at that show.

VC: How do you describe Kloptocope’s sound?

BF: cooler stuff we do is combining two different genres. Not necessarily going from one to mix them and push their boundaries.

ZD: riety is a result of our song

(AE): -

keyboard, too. From there what we are today.

Brendan Filkins (BF):

ZD: Dec. 27 [2012] at Club Rebel in New York City

VC: Kloptoscope is curThe Malah is a pretty good example of our type of genre, porate a similar set up. When we get weird, Shpongle is def-

way they concoct their jams.

What has that process been like for you guys?

ND: really cool to be in a studio instead of, you know, some rickety basement with crappy electrical circuits where we’re getting lots of feedback. thing with really high quality ing able to really examine our

that we continue to do so.

AG: played guitar in a band before

parts more.

VC: some of your most memorable shows?

Nick Donnely (ND): My name is Nick Donnely Biscuits [all laugh]. That’s

wound up opening some doors for us in terms of future gigs in the city. We really impressed the promoters by the time we went on.

BF: Another show that was really memorable for us was when we opened for Kung Fu down at Nectars. ken since, but they told us that that show set a new record for attendance at Nectars. That was a great night.

VC: up?

BF: We do, but we can’t like us on Facebook, we’ll be sure to tell people as soon as

we can!

VC: Where do you hope that Kloptoscope will be three years from now?

ZD: to be on the circuit and doing

VC: So any last comments?

ND: We just want to thank anyone who’s helped us get to this point so far. Thank you to all of our awesome fans, and the whole Nectars’ gang has been really great.

Be sure the check out Kloptoscope at Nectars this Saturday, March 23, with Mushroom Cloud and What’s Good. Go to www. vermontcynic.com for the full interview.

Circa Survive and Minus the Bear hit HG stage been friends for a while and wanted to do it together.”

Although both bands fall under the category of indie rock, each band has their own sound and fan base, resulting in what felt like two separate concerts.

Tour” incorporates part of the titles of each band’s most recent from Minus the Bear and “Vio-

PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRCA SURVIVE

Members of the Philadelphia alternative rock band band Circa Survive pose for a photo. They performed at Higher Ground March 14.

Jess Schwartz Senior Staff Writer or gathered at Higher Ground

last Thursday to hear co-headferent sounding sets.

-

Following Now, Now, the tour’s opening act, Circa Suring with “Act Appalled,” a throw turna,” released in 2005.

The crowd screamed and threw their bodies together, scattering mosh-pits throughout the crowd to songs such as ference Between Medicine and

2007 album, “On Letting Go.” Fans stopped moshing and we last through the winter,” the and clap in unison for another “Juturna” throw back.

Later in the set, Anthony Green said, “We’re going to slow it down now,” and the band played “Suitcase” from their most recent album “Viothe stage, so did a large amount of their fans, opening the room the Bear fans.

“Once Minus the Bear started playing, you could feel an the crowd,” sophomore Grace went from screaming and pushMinus the Bear introduced a more experimental atmosphere

to the night following Circa Surcals from the band’s lead singer, Jake Snider, mixed with impresand drums, the band jammed together to bring a sense of funk The crowd cheered on the band as they played songs from each of their albums includSunrise” from “Menos El Oso,” released in 2005, as well as According to the excitement were, “My Time” and “Secret Country” from “Omni,” released in 2010.

Minus the Bear ended their set with the crowd begging for more, cheering on after the band had left the stage.

8

A RTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Signal kitchen upgrading “We have the importance of people coming to a show, and then we want them to watch the videos that people have spent so much time making,” Calabrese said. “That’s why we’re pushing

Devin Karambelas Managing Editor Equal parts music venue, production house, art gallery and recording studio, Signal Kitchen has the unique ability to host shows then share the live experience through its media platforms.

The problem is, the current website is not equipped to handle all of the content co-owners Alex Lalli and Dave DeCristo actually have.

“Right now less than 20 percent of the audio and video from live performances in the 2012 season is on there,” he said.

For the solution, Lalli and DeCristo enlisted the help of two graphic designers, Champlain College senior Christopher Norris and freelancer Rex Calabrese in January to work on an entirely new web platform.

Lalli said it will feature a cleaner design and major improvements in how audio and video content can be streamed.

“We’re constantly designing new things,” Lalli said. “Some of our favorite companies are upgrading every year and investing millions of dollars in their websites. We want to be a part of it.”

But for Lalli, DeCristo, Calabrese and Norris, this project isn’t so much about building a web page as it is a hub for all of Signal Kitchen’s events and content.

While Signal Kitchen’s versatility might be the venue’s biggest asset, it has also presented a design challenge to Calabrese and Norris.

“We’re making the viewing and listening experience as painless as possible.”

Christopher Norris

Graphic designer

“SK is in the market for a cutting edge look, but given their really diverse shows and audience we have all sorts of people coming to the website,” Calabrese said. “The young people are driving this market, but they also have really classy shows for older crowds so they can’t be too cutting edge.”

He said the team is using Wordpress with their current website, but that they are also doing their own coding.

Fortunately for them, a larger trend in the cyber world that has seen users switching to better browsers makes it easier to support Signal Kitchen’s new

media platform.

“There’s now no reason to limit yourself, at least from a style or media perspective, because at least 80 percent of your users are on Chrome or Safari,” Calabrese said. “Those can support a lot of new features.”

And since the venue is only about a year old, a website overhaul might be coming at the right time.

“We’re building a site that we can really grow with and that’s the important thing,” Norris said.

With only three people working on a site that demands the kind of multimedia and design features Lalli and DeCristo want, it has taken a few months to get it right.

But when they do, Calabrese, Norris and Lalli said it’s going to be worth it, especially because it will be fully integrated with SoundCloud and TicketFly. “This system is one that’s going to make everyone’s lives easier,” Norris said. “We’re creating things to make the viewing and listening experience as painless as possible.”

Lalli said the site is slated for completion sometime in early April. Even if the process could have been expedited by hiring an outside source, working hands on with local graphic designers just made more sense for the venue’s brand.

“I wouldn’t do it any other way,” he said.

This Week in Arts: March 22-28 Catch some originals

by Brett Hughes as well as some classic Honky Tonk covers. Guests change on a weekly basis–sometimes it’s just Brett, sometimes there are six people on stage with him. The music, though, is great every week.

SARAH STICKLE

This Week in Arts highlights upcoming events at UVM and in the Burlington community. Sarah Sickle provides her recommendations for local concerts.

Friday Mar. 22 Zack DuPont and Pat Melvin On Tap Bar & Grill, 5 p.m.

Make it an early night with this divine duo. Zack and Pat do some of the most interesting duo arrangements possible with just two voices, an acoustic guitar and an upright bass.

Stripped down and simple, these guys just play good music.

Saturday Mar. 23 Roy Vega Marriot Courtyard Lounge, 8:30 p.m.

TUFTS SUMMER SESSION 2013 PREPARE. EXPAND. DEVELOP.

School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering

THREE SESSIONS: MAY 22–JUNE 28 | JULY 2–AUGUST 9 | MAY 22–AUGUST 9 go.tufts.edu/summer

College and Pre-College Programs Day & Evening Classes Affordable Tuition Outstanding Tufts Faculty Online Courses

You know him and you love him. Ray Vega is one of the biggest jazz names in this day and age, and he’s also, coincidentally, a UVM professor. Don’t miss out on hearing this phenomenal trumpet player’s work for free right here in Burlington. I’m serious when I say that people pay for music in other towns, guys. Embrace it.

Sunday Mar. 24 Saloon Sessions with Brett Hughes Radio Bean, 2 p.m.

If you’re looking for good food, tasty coffee, free WiFi and a low-key afternoon with some live music thrown into the mix, this is your spot. Radio Bean transforms from an anything-goes bar to a quiet coffee shop on a daily basis.

Monday Mar. 25 The Black Atlantic Signal Kitchen, 9 p.m., 18+, $8 Reminiscent of The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons, this Holland-based band’s dark sound is innovative and carries a depth that merits more attention than it’s currently getting.

The Black Atlantic utilizes dark chord progressions and subtle drum lines that contrast shrill, dissonant guitar lines and a voice that could take over singing for Coldplay without most radio listeners noticing.

Tuesday Mar. 26 Justin Levinson Radio Bean, 8:30 p.m.

Fresh off a tour with Aaron Carter (yes, really) Justin Levinson is bringing his tasteful pop songs to the Bean. Levinson’s songwriting manages to force listeners into pensive thought about past relationships without depressing everyone in the room. That’s a talent.

Catch this upbeat songster for free on a Tuesday night; his stage presence and musical ability never fail to disappoint.

Wednesday Mar. 27 The Eames Brothers Band Red Square, 7 p.m., 21+ The Eames Brothers are a renowned blues band in the Vermont area fronted

by Ralph and Seth Eames.

Bob Dylan, The Band, Ray Charles and Dr. John, these boys have been playing together for 18 years and have the recognition: they’ve shared stages with Trey Anastasio and Grace Potter several times.

a rts

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Joffrey Ballet impresses

The Cynical Listener

Madeleine Gibson Assistant Arts Editor Hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts,” which pany to appear on television, perform at the White House, visit Russia and the only one to grace the cover of TIME magazine, it could be said The Joffrey Ballet was over-

AIDAN DOLBASHIAN

‘Amok’ a success

at the Flynn.

The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudAmerica with its company, audiences, and repertoire, which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces, and contemporary works,” each playbill wrote.

The 57 year-old company currently based in Chicago performed Kurt Jooss’ expressionist anti-war piece “The Green Table,” Christopher Wheeldon’s “After the Rain” and two other contemporary works on March 16.

“The Green Table” was Joffrey, the founder of the company, had ever seen.

A German expressionist movement inspired by the death all wars result in, the movements are more abrupt and lyrical than a classical ballet.

Eerie, mustached and bearded masks clung to the world leaders as they arrived at a green table to declare war. Each movement displayed a new emotion: anger, agreement, excitement and frustration.

In almost every scene Death awaits the dancers mourning lost soldiers in the home. He is a tall dancer, body covered in white paint and adorned with black strips of leather giving the illusion of a Day of the Dead-inspired skeleton.

Timeless in its anti-war message, the themes at play are obvious and less abstract, leaving little for the viewer to contemplate except for the consequences of war.

“After the Rain” (2005)

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA FIALA

Joffery Ballet dance members perform on a stage. The Joffrey Ballet formed in 1956 and performed at the Flynn Center March 16. received a boisterous standing ovation and praise from the crowd.

Christopher Wheeldon’s work is an emotional blend of the classical and contemporary, the abstract and the narrative.

Three couples explore the tensions, exhaustion and satisfaction relationships can offer us. Dressed in a steely gray, the movements were reblack backdrop.

Part II delved deeper into the theme of relationships. It featured a woman dressed in pale pink and a bare-chested partner, which enhanced this act’s intimacy.

A series of elaborate partner lifts speak to the rigorous training each Joffrey dancer has under gone.

Every movement, from impressive leg rotations en pointe to lengthier lifts in Part II, was a consistent re-

and depression. ends it with Ray, triumphantly raising her voice for the

HOLLY TRANTHAM

A ‘finale’ review This week’s episode of “Girls” marks the end of one of the most narratively choppy seasons for a comedy in quite a while.

To be honest, it’s sometimes hard to know whether we should still be referring to the show as a “comedy” when it’s been dealing with such dark things as Hannah’s OCD

She realizes it’s more than her want of Ray to have actual ambition; it’s become burdensome to be the only thing in the world he actually likes.

While we feel sorry for Ray, we have to notice that at the end of the episode, when Shoshana starts making out with an adult male blonde in a bar, that she’s actually the be in the best place of any of the Girls.

With Marnie and Hannah, the theme for the episode could very well be manipulation. Marnie once again thinks she’s dating a guy with whom she’s just ca-

minder of the human body’s potential strength and grace.

A closer look at the dancers reveals glistening beads of sweat streaming down heaving chests. It is as though every muscle in the dancer’s body being used can be seen from beyond the red curtains of the stage.

Despite the very serious attitude attributed to ballet, The Joffrey Ballet mesmerized the audience with a diverse array of arrangements.

Families with children and season ticket holders were an active part of the performance; pushing forward in their seats, laughing at the jester-like movements of “The Green Table’s” world leaders and tearing up at Victoria Jaiani’s talent in “After the Rain.” ton, The Joffrey Ballet did not disappoint.

ing her consistent delusions born out of vanity.

She manipulates Charlie semi-publicly into proclaiming his love for her, undoubtedly because he’s become successful. Had he done this last season she would have found it humiliating.

When she later goes to check in on Hannah, I fully expected her to blabber to her massively bent-out-of-shape “best friend” about her new luck in love, but thankfully she didn’t.

Hannah tries to generate empathy from everyone in her life—a diminishing number of people—in lieu of actually writing her book over which she will be sued if she doesn’t turn in some pages.

Hannah’s dormancy is

9

I have grown to become weary whenever the term “supergroup”—a band composed of musicians who have achieved fame through their own respective bands—is thrown around in today’s music scene.

What makes a band successful is the chemistry that exists between all of its members culminating into a cohesive and unique sound. This is not often the case for most supergroups, many of which end up sounding like imitations of the bands from which their parts are derived.

However, sometimes the parts are pieced together just right, and something truly novel is created. Atoms for Peace, an electronic “supergroup” consisting of Thom Yorke (Radiohead vocalist), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist), Joey Waronker (Beck/R.E.M. drummer), Mauro Refosco, and Nigel Godrich (Radiohead producer) seems to have achieved just this on their debut album “Amok.”

“Amok,” released Feb. 25, stands on its own as a singular piece of work. Of course ber of the group can be heard throughout the nine tracks, but each song as a product is wholly unique.

The second single from the album, “Judge, Jury and Executioner,” gives you a good idea of what the band has achieved. Percussive handclaps coupled with a simple yet catchy bass line in alternating measures of 4/4 and 3/4 create an undeniably dance-inducing groove.

At various points throughout the song, the entire rhythm section drops, and the listener is left suspended in Yorke’s hypnotizing falsetto.

“Ingenue” is another track

only

exacerbated

by

her

to desecrating her own hair, which she attempted back in episode two, but this time Adam doesn’t get there in time to stop her.

When he does come rescue her at the end—a trope I have a feminist critique of, but let’s be real, this girl needs some rescuing—in a beautifully shot running sequence complete with Adam’s all too familiar shirtlessness, it’s hard to feel like the heroism placed upon him is completely deserved.

I would rather have Hannah found solace in one of the other Girls. The show is at its best when they’re together, which sadly hasn’t happened for a while now.

But it does say something

that stands out. The intro features two distinct synth riffs, one high and one low, which seem to call and answer one another. Percussive accents fall like raindrops over an understated yet driving drumbeat.

One of the catchiest songs on the album is “Stuck Together Pieces.” Flea immediately grabs a hold of the listener with an aggressive bass riff that holds like a heartbeat throughout the entire track, save for the end where it is abruptly removed, and synthesizers pour over a muted and spacey guitar line.

My favorite track from the album is the opener, “Before Your Very Eyes.” The song opens with a frantic guitar riff and fast-paced cymbal work.

Yorke enters shortly after with soothing, drawn-out vowith the instrumentation.

About halfway through, the guitar part gets pulled and is replaced by a choppy, but bouncy, synth line.

As the song draws to its conclusion, Yorke’s vocals come through like distant sirens in the background, creating a haunting echo effect and adding another dimension of aural evolution to the track.

For me, it is this level of musical progression that makes the album so outstanding. You can hear each member of the group working outside of their comfort zones as musicians, yet still producing incredibly layered tracks that display all of the subtleties and nuances that only these artists can provide.

With “Amok,” it’s easy to say that Atoms for Peace has moved past the “supergroup” label and its traditional trappings to something much cleaner: a great band.

that she felt safe enough to tell him about her past troubles with OCD, and that he not only remembered but also recognized the resurfacing.

Like Hannah was once telling her therapist, I don’t know whether Adam is the best person in the world or the worst.

After the horrendous episode with girlfriend Nat last week—who is still with him, not the best.

Which is one thing to love about “Girls”: we don’t know what to think about anyone.

With a third season already in the works, perhaps the only thing we can expect view of the characters.

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE VERMONT

CYNIC

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Mike Eaton

cynic@uvm.edu

802-656-0337

Managing Editor Devin Karambelas

cynicnewsroom@gmail.com

News Katy Cardin

Opinion

UVM’s identity crisis

If the University goes further with an initiative to focus on the three “Spires of Excellence”— complex systems, food systems, and neuroscience and behavioral health— we hope that the quality of these programs are not at the expense of others.

This University is becoming increasingly well known as a research institution. The graduate programs based

cynicnews@gmail.com

Opinion Jacob Lumbra

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Sports Taylor Feuss

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Arts Dillon Baker

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Life Francesca Parnham Johnny Sudekum

these three spires are some of the University’s strongest areas, are popular in the professional world.

However, one of the things that makes UVM so great is that we are more than a research institution.

The University has appealed to so many people in that it can be a prominent liberal arts col-

COLUMNISTS

GM crops are next to divest

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Multimedia Natalie Williams

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Layout Aviva Loeb

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Copy Chief Elizabeth Bengel

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Illustration Jenna Bushor

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Enterprise Becky Hayes

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Web Emma Murphy

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Social Media Natalie Slack

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STAFF Assistant Editors Lauren Giery, Madeleine Gibson, Walker Sultzbach, Phoebe Sheehan, Mackenzie Jones, Alex Goldenberg, Colin Hekimian, Matthew Blanchard

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Copy Editors Autumn McNabb-Schoch, Sammie Ibrahim, Joe Tomlinson, Emily Bartran and Ayla Yersel

OPERATIONS Operations Manager Victor Hartmann

graduate students with degrees in engineering who have also had strong course loads in the humanities so that they know not only how things work, but what they mean.

Dennis Clougherty, chairman of the physics department, told the Burlington Free Press in 2009 that while the administration termed this initiative “invest and grow,” a fellow professor of his has referred to it as “dismantle and grow.”

In a world that has become increasingly dictated by techniniques, this seems reasonable and it is understandable why the country as a whole is moving in this direction.

Yet UVM has abandoned principles that were seemingly inherent in the character of this institution — a diverse education in both the sciences and humanities that prepares students for more than just their future jobs.

And while supporters of the spires claim they are transdisciplinary, we hope the administration understands that spires are not the only guiding principles for a future UVM education.

On a positive note, President Tom Sullivan said in his early days as president that he would look to expand these spires to include the environment and humanities.

To borrow an expression from religion professor Richard Sugarman, we at the Cynic think this is necessary in order for students to make not just a living, but a life.

JOSH GACHETTE

Currently, University students are unwillingly implicated in funding one of the most deplorable human rights abuses on the planet.

It is called the Genetically thus far lead to the suicides of, according to the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, 125,000 farmers.

Third-party estimates put the toll at upwards of 200,00 casualties. spective, that equates to nearly 1,000 deaths per month — a single death every 30 minutes.

India’s post-independence poverty left the country in a vulnerable state. The Indian government agreed to allow tiorganism industry — its largest company called Monsanto — to sell their new seed creations on the subcontinent.

The International Monetary Fund rewarded the country with huge loans during the 1980s and 1990s for its willingness to open its billion-person-strong consumer pool to Western industries.

In 1997, the Indian government lifted farming subsidies.

The cost of cotton production skyrocketed, especially when GM cotton was introduced because it required expensive pesticides and herbicides.

Since their introduction in

2002, GM seeds have consumed 17 million acres of India’s farmland. Falling short of the “magic seed” label they are given by manufacturers like Monsanto, they commonly fail.

Mother Nature and the seeds’ shortcomings merged to form the worst possible case scenario — crops that require double the amount of water in a two-year period of subpar rainfall.

As a result, many GM crops have simply withered and died, leaving the farmers with crippling debts and no means of paying them off.

After one to two hours of painful writhing and vomiting, the agriculturist dies and his debt is passed to his next of kin.

Traditionally, when crops failed, farmers could still save seeds and replant them the following year. But, GM seeds have that the resulting crops do not produce viable seeds of their own. So, farmers have to buy new seeds each year.

The price gouging is appalling: £10 for 100 grams of GM seed, compared with less than £10 for 1,000 times the quantity of more traditional seeds.

With such dismal prospects, hundreds of thousands of farmers have committed suicide by drinking GM insecticides and ter one to two hours of painful writhing and vomiting, the agriculturist dies and his debt is passed on to his next of kin. Of-

ten times, children must forego schooling in order for a family to pay the debts back.

Our educational institution currently holds at least $1.09 million in Monsanto public equity stocks according to the University’s Combined Portfolio Holding by Country report as of Dec. 31, 2012.

In 2009, Ron Herring, professor of agrarian political economy at Cornell University, insinuated that concern for the farmers is culturally patronizing: “The peasant is constructed as vulnerable to crafty representatives of the market economy, as well as simple and gullible.”

What he fails to understand, however, is that outrage over the current trend comes from respect for the farmers’ dignity – not from a sense of Western supremacy. We have the moral obligation to be concerned over the plight of impoverished farmers a hemisphere away; if not for the simple fact that Monsanto’s business model has been ecopling for farmers in and out of the United States.

The University of Vermont has a noble history of studentdriven divestment campaigns.

We dropped our relations with apartheid-connected companies in 1985. More recently, students have spearheaded efforts to cut ties to other environmentallyunsavory companies.

Our investments are a more meaningful indicator of our school’s principles than any administrative talking point. We must now ask if we will choose the convenient yet morally repugnant option of continuing to back a company responsible for such human agony. I would like to think that the choice is clear.

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Editor’s Notes:

Public Relations Manager

Vice President of Finance & Administration Richard Cate who will then have the option of presenting the proposal to the board of trustees investment subcommittee.

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Advertising Manager Liza Battaglia cynicalads@gmail.com

ADVISER Faculty Adviser Chris Evans

crevans@uvm.edu

Another article in last week’s paper titled “UVMtv wraps up its time in the DC” did not include a second email sent by Director of Operations and Event Services Allen Josey to UVMtv President Max Landerman clarifying that the club’s adviser, Chris Evans, had not made the decision to move UVMtv out of their space in the Davis Center.

Unsigned editorials officially reflect the views of The Cynic and its staff. All 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. Send letters to cynicopinion@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COLUMNISTS

A plan in cigarette etiquette It’s nothing to spit at

BIANCA MOHN

Banning tobacco products on campus is a growing trend among U.S. universities. The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation reported in 2013 that over 1,000 colleges have banned smoking on campus.

However, just because other universities are joining the antismoking movement does not mean that UVM should do so blindly.

UVM does have a smoking problem, but the problem is less the smoking itself and more the lack of etiquette involved with smoking.

Surprisingly, the majority of the UVM student population does not smoke. A 2009 study conducted by UVM found that three percent of students smoked cigarettes on a daily basis.

While a minority of UVM students smoke, those who do certainly make their presence known on campus. From the sheer quantity of cigarette butts on the sidewalks to the disregard of the 25-foot building distance

rule, many smokers make a poor impression.

As a nonsmoker, I am rarely bothered by seeing students smoking on campus since it is a relatively small group. What does bother me is the lack of respect that some smokers show toward fellow students and the campus itself.

As a college known for its environmental and social awareness, the amount of students who discard their non-biodegrounds is alarming.

Before resorting to prohibiting tobacoo products on campus, there needs to be an effort to change the smoking culture.

Most student smokers would not throw candy wrappers on the ground, yet they practice the same technique with their cigarette butts.

A surprising amount of smokers nonchalantly smoke while walking to class and make no effort to blow smoke away from others.

UVM’s smoking problem comes down to basic manners.

Smokers must be considerate while walking to class, respect the 25-foot distance rule and dispose of cigarettes properly.

There is an art to smoking

respectfully, and unfortunately many UVM smokers have yet to acquire it. But does that mean that all cigarettes should be banned? Not now, at least.

Before resorting to prohibiting tobacco products on campus, there needs to be a substantial effort to change the smoking culture. To begin, more cigarette disposal receptacles are desperately needed to reduce the pollution on campus.

Secondly, the rule of smoking 25 feet away from buildings needs to be closely enforced.

Lastly, a campus-wide campaign discouraging students from smoking in general, and if they do, to smoke respectfully, would be much appreciated by nonsmoking students.

Not all smokers are bothersome, and by this age we have earned the right to make this personal decision. But when our decisions begin to impact the cleanliness of campus and the quality of air, changes need to be made.

The University should launch a two-year campaign to change the smoking culture, and if cigarette butts and smoking near buildings are still major issues at the end, then perhaps the tobacco ban should be reconsidered in the future.

The mention of a tobacco ban should serve as a wake up call to some smokers that unless habits are changed, the consequences could be severe.

Smoking restriction praised

NEAL DRAPEAU

Every time I step outside, I prepare myself to take a deep breath of fresh Vermont air.

My enjoyment is soon cut short when, reliably, a group of smokers will be standing nearby.

Secondhand smoke infringes on the right of students to avoid exposure to harmful substances. Despite the attempt to reduce smoke exposure by creating smoke free areas of 25 feet around buildings, secondhand problem on campus.

The current UVM policy on outdoor smoking states that smoking is permitted “in areas more than 25 feet away from building entrances...” Even if this were properly enforced, it would still mean that smokers are allowed to smoke anywhere on campus-walkways, benches, bus stops, etc.

Just look at the Bailey-Howe Library, where enforcement lacks. At any point during daylight hours there are about 15 people right outside the doors smoking cigarettes. I counted seven signs that clearly indicate “NO SMOKING,” all of which seem to have fallen by the wayside.

My point of mentioning this is not to have the rule enforced.

Doing so would simply mean forcing the wall of smokers 25 feet further, a surprisingly short

and inadequate distance. A theoretical solution to this problem is to increase the distance requirement away from buildings.

But the way I see it, is that there is simply no place on campus far enough away from people that secondhand smoke won’t be detrimental.

At other colleges with campus wide smoking bans already in place, the results are quite positive. The most obvious benwon’t have to breath in harmful secondhand smoke while traveling on campus. This is perhaps the most important and intended outcome of a smoking ban.

This result will remain given that the ban is enacted.

There is simply no place on campus far enough away from people that secondhand smoke won’t be detrimental. uct of smoking bans is a reduction in the rate of smoking.

While the primary intent of the ban is not to control students’ lives, a ban would inadvertently dissuade people from smoking, even off-campus.

Looking at the case of Indiana University, the rate of smoking among students dropped 22.4 percent just two years after implementing a campus wide smoking ban. This means that 3.7 percent of Indiana University’s entire student population stopped smoking. If these same percentatges were reproduced

at UVM, it would mean that 485 out of 13,100 students here would give up smoking. Those are 485 lives made longer and healthier.

The University of Kentucky likewise found that hundreds of students began enrolling in tobacco cessation programs subsequent to a campus wide smoking ban.

The decline of smoking in such cases has been attributed to a change in smoking culture, belief that smoking is unacceptable.

In fact, at both of these universities the bans were very loosely enforced, suggesting that students stopped of their own accord. The creation of a ban seems to have a substantial about smoking, greater than tobacco education programs alone.

Even with the ban in place, those still adamant about smoking are in no way trapped or punished. They still have every legal right to smoke on city streets and sidewalks, adjacent to or away from the UVM campus. This being said, the majority of schools with bans have been quite lenient with enforcement. If UVM were to follow suit with this trend, it might mean that smokers could smoke anywhere during off peak hours without trouble.

Looking at the big picture, a smoking ban seems like a win-win situation — people are spared from secondhand smoke, and healthier attitudes regarding tobacco are spread around campus. It’s an arrangement with marginal cost, and maxi-

Dear Editor,

Just the other day, while I was walking to class, I watched a fellow UVM student spit toward the Rally Cat statue, and then continue on his somewhat melancholy way. in general to be disgusting. It’s tractive and nasty habits to have, right next to smoking and not bathing on a regular basis.

Second of all, how rude! Perhaps one of the biggest and uncivilized insults to give a person these days is to spit in their face.

What may be even worse than spitting on a person is spitting on an institution of school pride.

Maybe I’m overreacting. I do not quite understand the context of this person and therefore do not know whether this action was harmless or malicious. But either way, it’s a lesson in two fold.

One, it serves as an example of what I believe to be the decline of social etiquette. This is unfortunately I have plenty of examples and experiences from this school and other students.

People in general have yet to understand and remember what it means to respect yourself, others and the space around you.

From my own experience, this can be. With my previous with her leaving a mess in the kitchen or living room and not cleaning up until weeks later.

Not only was this rude, but

it was disrespectful to the space I had paid for equally and put time and effort into maintaining.

Obviously our standards of living were different, but the rudeness didn’t stop and continued into other aspects of living together. It was not a situation I enjoyed or would like to be in again.

But this is also not the only example I have of people around me who are disrespectful and rude to everyone else. The point being, it’s becoming a habit of a large population of students to be rude to others.

Secondly, it’s an example of perspective. Students especially don’t seem to care what others and shortsighted.

The way we perceive our identity is based in how others think of and demonstrate it to us. It isn’t always what you do, but how others perceive it.

In the real world not every student has the time to stop and explain themselves, and since you won’t always get a second chance.

This culture of rudeness needs to stop. These attitudes can translate into the larger outside world. I bet that people have lost jobs, even friends over this attitude. It’s probably not going to change that quickly, but do keep in mind, spitting is never okay.

Sincerely, Erica Smith Class of 2013

Faith is your answer Dear Editor,

In the opinion section of the Feb. 20 edition of the Vermont Cynic, an article was published called “Guarding Faith” in which the author spoke about her tension between believing some things that her Catholic faith taught, yet also struggling to believe others.

As a cradle Catholic, I also went through a similar struggle when I was in college and I found much of what the Church taught out of date, inconvenient and unreasonable.

However, the reason I thought this way was because I was never taught the beauty of why the Church taught what it did regarding morality and doctrine, and sadly, most of my formation and understanding of the faith was at grade school or at best, junior high school.

Therefore, in facing the more complicated questions that the University setting invites us to ask, in terms of my faith, I was intellectually uninformed and unprepared to actually confront the many questions our culture raises that challenge a religion that is so counter-cultural like that of the Catholic Church.

Due to the gap in my formation between what the Church teaches and the reasons why, I became bitter and resentful towards the Catholic Church, or rather, towards who and what I thought the Catholic Church was.

The Renowned Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, once said, “I have

never met someone who actually hates the Catholic Church. But I have met thousands of people who hate what they think the Catholic Church is.” That was me.

To the author of “Guarding Faith,” and to anyone else struggling with tension between the faith they were raised with and what their views are now, I encourage you to not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

So often in college I rushed to conclusions that were uninformed and unfounded because I never went any deeper than my 6th grade understanding of God and my faith.

When I was invited to go deeper, to seek out respected authorities who could authentically teach me the why behind the what of the Catholic faith, I was humbled to realize how much I misunderstood the faith my parents, grandparents and much to give me.

I wish I had recognized that I did not have the correct understanding of the Catholic faith and how much I needed to learn before I went through my period of tension and confusion.

Before dismissing or disregarding your faith, I encourage — discover the why behind the what — so that whatever decision you freely make with regard to religion and faith, the decision may be a rightly informed one.

Sincerely, Fr. Jon Schnobrich UVM Catholic Center

12

D I ST R ACT I O N S

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

This week in

Ages Distractions: Middle 1066 to 1485 Illustrations by Laurel Saldinger

It’s a Jungle Out There

By Hope Olszewski, Staff Writer

Across 4. Bird with rainbow beak 5. Black and white mammal found in the forests of Asia 7. Striped Asian cat 9. Long maned cat 10. Dense wet forests

Down 1. Known for their ears and tusks 2. The largest snake in the world 3. Similar to a leopard but much more powerful

made of fronds and leaflets 15. The largest of the primates 16. Itchy insects 17. Marsupial often mistaken for a bear 19. Reptiles who are closely related to extinct dinosaurs

Amazon 6. Black and white striped 8. Only mammal able to 11. Amphibian who transition from water to land 13. Slow moving tree mammal 14. Known for its long neck 18. These little critters

Answers to last week’s crossword: Around the World

6 credits in 6 weeks?

Really.

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8. Taj Mahal 9. Antarctica 10. Colosseum 14. Beijing 16. Ivory Coast

AMERICA EAST

Sports Cats fail to defend America East title, fall in first round of alternative postseason

...continued from page 1

“We just didn’t have enough tonight but I’m proud of my team, we had a great season and we’ll be back.”

John Becker Head Coach

CYNIC VIDEO www.vermontcynic.com/video www.youtube.come/CynicVideo

Bottom: Junior forward Brian Voelkel works to ignite a fire in his teammates before the America East Championship. Vermont hosted the matchup against the University of Albany Great Danes March 16.

Top: Junior forward Clancy Rugg faces off for the basket against Albany’s first-year guard Peter Hooley in the America East Championship game March 16.

PHOTOS BY NATALIE WILLIAMS

14

S PO RTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 , 2013

Four years of Cats’ greatness WILL ANDREYCAK

The seconds on the clock continued to tick away and waves of searing disappointment washed over me as they did. Three seconds. The realization of opportunity lost. Two life as an undergraduate student. One second. The realization that this would be the last time. Zero.

As the University of Albany very own Patrick Gym, I was hunched over with my hands on my knees, eyes staring at the worn wooden bleacher below me. To think that it would end like this; in this building, on this court, in front of this crowd.

For a few hours after I left the gym, I was angry at what had transpired on the court.

UVM played uninspired — and at times lazy — basketball in a game where a victory would secure a bid in the NCAA tournament. It is tempting to vent about the lack of offensive adjustments, the inexcusable and consistent lack of defensive rotation, which led to several Albany

weak-side baskets, the careless turnovers and the 54 percent effort from the free-throw line.

But after stepping back from the situation, my disappointment in witnessing my last UVM basketball game as a student tion. The shirts that were given out prior to the game detailing men’s basketball’s “decade of dominance” are telling.

While UVM has achieved unparalleled success within their conference in the last decade, the four years I have been a student — 2009-2013 — have been concentrated with even more on-court accomplishments.

The program’s resume since 42 overall record, a 49-16 record in America East Conference play, two conference championships and an NCAA tournament victory in 2012.

While a victory over Albany last Saturday would have dramatically enhanced that resume, the body of work is undeniably incredible. While men’s hockey has consistently disappointed since 2009 — after reaching the Frozen Four in 2008 — the men’s basketball program has In 2009, then-senior Marqus Blakely led Vermont to a 25-10 record and a birth in the NCAA tournament after defeating Boston University in the America East Title game. In that nationally televised game, Blakely threw down one of the

most thundering tomahawk dunks I have ever seen. UVM has never had a player as athletic and exciting as Marqus Blakely and I feel fortunate to have seen him play wearing a Vermont uniform.

While Blakely wowed the UVM community with his explosive athleticism and highlight real dunks, the leader of the next two Catamount teams was a player of the opposite mold.

Unassuming, tall and lanky, forward Evan Fjeld stepped into the leadership position beginning in 2010 and led the Catamounts to a 23-10 record that season.

After failing to reach the conference championship game in 2010, Fjeld led Vermont to a 24-12 record in 2011. That year, Vermont navigated its way to the conference championship game held at Stony Brook University. I was at the game as a fan that day and was treated to the greatest sports memory of my life, as the UVM fans in attendance stormed the court and celebrated with the team after

they upset top-ranked Stony Brook.

Fjeld led Vermont to a rare victory in the NCAA tournament game a few days later — albeit a play-in game — before losing to top-seeded North Carolina in the next round. I will remember Fjeld fondly for his gritty-inside play, basketball IQ, phenomenal moustache — of course — and his perseverance. That perseverance which was so beautifully evidenced in 2009 when Fjeld delivered a stellar performance in the America East Championship game just days after the passing of his mother Susan.

Entering my senior year, I expected much from this year’s team. And despite the disappointing ending, the Catamounts achieved yet another 20 win season and hosted an America East Championship game in Patrick Gym. I have never heard that building so loud and there were times when the thunderous chants of “UVM, UVM” made the hair on the back of my neck stand.

I am sad that I will never again stumble out of bed on a Saturday morning and go watch a UVM basketball game. These are the things you lament when the mortality of your undergraduate life becomes clearer on the horizon.

But I do know that the future for this team — next year and beyond — is a bright one. John Becker is leading this program in the right direction and hope-

fully the administration will invest in its future as well with a new arena.

Last Saturday I was angry that my four years as a student watching this team couldn’t be capped with a conference championship and a third birth to March Madness in the last four years. But I have since grown nostalgic and appreciative of all that I have witnessed. Without question, it has been a pretty damn good run.

More than anything else I am thankful. I am thankful for this team and this program. I am thankful for all the players, for the coaches, for Patrick Gym, for the worn wooden bleachers, for the friends who supported the team with me and for the Burlington community who so adamantly did the same.

We have room for only so many memories in our life but I know that those provided by our basketball team will hold places

S PO RTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

15

First-years move up to DI Jake Bielecki Staff Writer In order for you to read this article it had to be researched, written, put through three

where between a full and partpects of their college experience sider non-negotiable. Outside

the page, exported to the print-

-

newspaper rack.

-

ished product often requires an arduous process and college athabout two hours. If you don’t

helped their transition to UVM athletics. First-years enter the -

“Going to prep school at

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic Junior Chris McCarthy goes after the puck against Concordia Oct.6.

ic experience at UVM is creating great relationships and being able to feel like you are apart of

Cats’ loss ends year Atwood, who transitioned

no surprise that athletes reguall the lifelong friendships that to their craft.

First-year basketball player -

Region high school to the DI ranks, was not afforded this experience. guard, Atwood said. “The pace

experience at UVM so far has been getting the chance to play

basketball, he said. “Usually I

-

First-year hockey goalie Bro-

week, and that’s if we’re play-

year and I always look forward hours per week in-season and 8 hours per week in the off-sea-

College.

how great of physical condition

“During the season we prob-

athlete. college is going be tough because -

-

Colin Hekimian Assistant Sports Editor

The

second-seeded -

The Eagles scored 4 unanswered goals before Matt White buried a goal in the third. Bos-

to sweep the best-of-three Hockday 4-1. The loss ends the Catain Hockey East).

On Friday, the Cats rallied in the third, scoring twice to be within a goal.

Fifth-ranked Boston College -

in the best-of-three Hockey East ing the Boston College forwards, Whitney, Gaudreau, Mullane, and Arnold off the scoresheet

ing penalty on Connor Brickley, -

during the power play.

The -

In the third period Matt White scored a goal assisted by ed the puck past Boston College

Boston College opened the found the rebound and slapped the buck under the crossbar.

McCarthy won a puck battle in the left corner and centered the puck to White inside the left circle. McCarthy then had a clean to the left.

utes of the third period, senior forward Ben Albertson scored a

points this season. Brody Hoff-

assisted by Brett Bruneteau.

Junior forward Matt White

-

skated across the blue line with a step on the defense. White waited before shooting the puck on the high blocker side on Mil-

thought we took a lot of steps kids played hard. We took a step

skater in desperation to try and the clock, Johnny Gaudreau slid

-

in the loss, while Milner posted

nal round this season, Sneddon -

goal. of the year on Saturday, Sneddon appeared disappointed and NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic First-year Ethan O’Day charges the basket in Vermont’s 53-49 loss against the Albany Great Danes March 16.

“I think our guys had to learn

tally tough and in the second

16

S PO RTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 , 2013

Lax looks for a turn around The weekly recap Josh Aronson Staff Writer

As Vermont’s men’s lacrosse team approaches conference play, we took a look at the team’s success thus far this season and what lies on the road ahead with the goal of an America East title in sight.

“Every year is the same thing,” said head coach Ryan Curtis. “The expectations are high, excitement is high, and this year is no different.

The men’s team started the 2013 season 0-3 with loses to number ten Colgate, Providence and Dartmouth.

But since then, the Catamounts have improved, going against the Bryant University Bulldogs, followed by their second this past weekend against the Wagner University Seahawks.

In their faceoff against Bryand ultimately won the game 6-5 in overtime with a goal by senior captain Drew Philie.

Against Wagner, Vermont again relied on Philie, who netted a career-high 7 goals in a rout, 15-6.

The Cats lost 12-10 to head coach Ryan Curtis’ alma mater Virginia, however it remained close throughout, with a 10-10 tie with less than 5 minutes to play.

When the teams competed last season, the day ended with a blowout win for Virginia, 16-10. Vermont showed vast improvement this year and

Josh Aronson Staff Writer

Boss of the week Miami Heat

ALEXA ALGIOS The Vermont Cynic Sophomore Makoa Kaleo battles against the Sacred Heart Pioneers March 17, 2012. The game endedi n a 12-11 win for the Catamounts.

whistle. Using this game as another learning experience, the Catamounts look to improve to a win when they see the Cavaliers again next year.

“Moose” Muscara has had a very promising year entering into each face off for the Catamounts.

However Muscara suffered a torn ACL against Virginia, a game in which he was winning a majority of the faceoffs.

“Moose was having a great year, he was getting pushed hard in practice and was able to gain

said. “It will be tough to replace him, but I think our team will rally around it and continue our recent success.”

This weekend the Cats travel to Sacred Heart in their second-

to-last game before they host the Stony Brook Seawolves March 30th in the conference opener.

“The more we challenge ourselves out of conference the more prepared well be for conference,” said Curtis.

When the teams met last year, junior attackman Connor MacNamara was set up by Michael Connors and lifted the Cats in a St. Patrick’s Day thriller winning 11-10. The Cats are poised to make a run at a conference championship this season and will look to senior leadership to complete this task.

“We have a great group of seniors, we’ve had two returning captains which is pretty rare, Drew Phillie has been the captain since his sophomore year which is even more rare,” Curtis said. “We’ve had our juniors and new players take on leadership rolls as well.”

The Heat have won 23 straight games and has been dominating teams in the process.

Their most recent victims, the Boston Celtics gave the Heat all they could handle Monday night, but with 10 seconds left, LeBron James hit a game winning jumper and the Heat escaped on the road 105-

”

103. Miami is 10 games away from tying the NBA record set by the Los Angles Lakers back in 1971-72.

While many people believe breaking the record is a real possibility, the Heat will have to take it one game at a time and keep their eyes on the real prize, back-to-back NBA Championships.

Quote of the week

This season has been great so far and I’m happy with my wins at Torrey and Doral.

Something nice that’s happened off the course was meeting Lindsey Vonn. Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating. We thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy. We want to continue our relationship, privately, as an ordinary couple and continue to compete as athletes.

”

Tiger Woods, on his relationship with Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn