Fall 2012 Issue 3

C YNIC THE VERMONT

SULLIVAN OUTLINES GOALS

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UVM CRIBS: REDSTONE APARTMENTS

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STUDENTS CATCH THE CAT$CRATCH FEVER?

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ART HOP FASHION SHOW

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The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883 w w w . v e r m o n t c y n i c . c o m

T h u r s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 2 – Vo l u m e 1 2 9 I s s u e 3 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

Bailey/Howe’s going cashless

VT. SHARES WINDJAMMER TITLE WITH UNH

No coins to print, copy

By Lauren Giery Cynic Correspondent With cash and coins no longer needed, library printers now rely on another kind of currency: Cat$cratch.

As of this August, the only means of paying for printing and copying at either the Bailey/ Howe or Dana Medical Library is

by UVM’s prepaid debit account for students.

The sudden switch comes down to the fact that neither library had enough staff members to handle the staggering amounts of cash coming in, said Angus Robertson, director of access services at Bailey/Howe Library.

“It’s a problem for us to be handling such a fortune of cash,” Robertson said. “The staff was constantly handling money — we had to make the change.”

Previously, cash and coins had been, without a doubt, the most popular means of paying for printing, copying and scanning by students in the UVM libraries, he said.

Both libraries’ staff found itself in need of a cash handling system that is amenable to the best practices possible for the libraries, Robertson said.

It costs students $3 to add money onto their Cat$cratch at a $20 minimum; however, students and library-goers can also purchase a generic CATcard from a machine at the front of the li-

brary, Robertson said.

These one-use CATcards cost only a dollar and give students the full dollar of printing, he said.

In the past, these cards cost $5 for just $3 of printing.

“The staff was constantly handling money. We had to make the change.”

Angus Robertson Bailey/Howe library staff The libraries have also lowered the cost of black and white printing or copying from 10 cents a page to only 5 cents and have made scanning free of charge, making the UVM libraries home to the cheapest printing and copying in the Burlington area, Robertson said.

Junior Colin Bradley is an upperclassmen with neither Cat$cratch nor points and said this has deterred him from using the library as a resource.

“I don’t even print here anySee CATSCRATCH on page 4

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MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

Junior midfielder Jonny Bonner defends the ball from a Niagara player in their double-overtime tie with the Purple Eagles Sept. 9. Vermont won one other game and was named co-champions of the Windjammer Classic with New Hampshire. They are currently in fifth place of America East.

Cook not cooked by small fire

By Becky Hayes News Editor UVM’s CatAlert system warned students of a fire caused by a minor electrical fire that evacuated Cook Physical Sci-

ence building at 1:30 p.m. Sept.

12, officials said.

“No one was hurt,” said Sgt. Jim Phelps of UVM Police Services. “They aired on the side of caution, pulled the fire alarm

JONATHAN POLSON The Vermont Cynic

Burlington Police investigate: Two victims of theft downtown

and called Burlington Fire Department.”

About 100 students crowded around the evacuated building and said they did not know what was going on.

Five minutes after the CatAlert was sent campus-wide, everyone was allowed back inside the building and a new alert told the community that the fire had been put out.

Junior Scott Scribi said he thought it was reasonable for the University to send out an alert because the system does not warn students often, but he also believed the incident wasn’t going to be a big deal.

“I was a little surprised, but not that concerned or anything because there was a similar alert last year and it didn’t turn out to be anything,” Scribi said.

By Becky Hayes News Editor An unidentified male approached two victims in the College and South Williams Street area at 2 a.m. Sept. 8 and demanded their property, according to a UVM crime advisory report.

“No weapons were displayed and no one was injured,” the report stated.

The Burlington Police Department is actively investigating this incident by searching for the suspect, described as white with a thin build, approximately 5-foot-6-inches and wearing a baggy black sweatshirt.

UVM police take the opportunity to encourage students to

Students evacuate the Cook Physical Science building as firetrucks arrive to campus due to a minor electrical fire Sept. 12.

NEWS 1-5 Vermont Yankee remains hot topic

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ARTS 6-7 Ceramic masterpieces on display

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LIFE 9-10 — Buff up your gym tactics

DISTRACTIONS Transportation and travel crossword

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OPINION 12-13 We all need computer etiquette

stay safe by traveling in groups, stay in well-lit areas and always be aware of their surroundings.

With this being the fourth crime report in two weeks, some students, like first-year Nina Ferrari, have found the news kind of interesting.

“I have always been told Burlington is a safe place,” Ferrari said. “But I am not too worried.”

Burlington police request that if anyone has information on this case, please call 6582700.

More crime in our weekly Crime Log on page 2

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SPORTS 14-16 NFL picks week 2

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NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Crime log

By Lauren Drasler Staff Writer

Sept. 6, 7:17 p.m.

A student reported that their backpack had been stolen from a classroom in Votey Hall. The student said that they had left the backpack in the classroom accidently. After realizing it was missing, they returned to get it and found that it had been stolen.

The backpack contained notebooks and books. This case is still an open incident and no one has been identified as the thief.

Sep. 7, 12:22 p.m.

An officer reported that a construction sign was found in U-Heights South 1. It was a damaged one-way street sign, and after talking with students in the residential hall, it was discovered that the sign had

originally come from Massachusetts.

3:03 a.m.

Students reported that an uninvited and unidentified person walked into their dorm room in Jeanne Mance Hall.

The person initially did not leave upon request, but eventually agreed to leave.

Prior to exiting the room, the intruder stole one of the student’s water bottles. UVM police are working to identify this person.

Sept. 8, 1:03 a.m.

Graffiti was reported in Coolidge Hall. The graffiti was on both the first and second floors and was drawn on message boards and doors. Male genitalia were depicted in the graffiti drawings.

1:40 a.m.

A student was found to be in possession of hallucinogens, specifically mushrooms, in Richardson Hall. The student will face criminal charges. Officers took 1.43 grams of the substance and it was found that although the student had the drugs, he/she had not taken any.

Sullivan outlines goals Staff Council hears from new president

By Keegan Fairfield Senior Staff Writer Covering everything from online courses to football, President Tom Sullivan addressed UVM’s Staff Council at their first monthly meeting of the academic year Sept. 4.

After taking a photo with the 30-member advisory board, Sullivan pledged a spirit of cooperation and transparency in his dealings with the University’s staff.

“I thank all of you for whatever success there may be in our team efforts,” he said to the council.

Sullivan then provided an overview of the broad objectives that he and his administration will pursue during his tenure as president.

He cited core themes that will guide his presidency, including enhancing the quality and excellence of all aspects of the University, and increasing affordability and access to education.

With regard to staff issues specifically, Sullivan said his priorities would be investing in new positions, increasing the size and scale of graduate programs and establishing beneficial human resource policies.

Sullivan fielded questions from the council after his remarks, discussing topics such as online courses, salaries and athletics.

Increasing the number of online courses would make education more accessible and bridge the technological divide between generations, Sullivan said.

“Students learn differently, and we have to be aware of that balance and blend them,” he said. “Each generation learns differently.”

Revenue generated from an expanded online presence would also allow UVM to address the higher student-faculty ratio, which has grown from 14:1 to 17:1 over the last decade.

“I think we have a real chance of taking [the] platform we already have and making it robust,” Sullivan said of UVM’s current online education opportunities.

When pressed on staff sala-

ALANNA FREEDMAN MAHNKE The Vermont Cynic

President E. Thomas Sullivan addresses the UVM Staff Council at their meeting Sept. 4. The meeting provided an opportunity for the council to pose questions for the president to answer. ries, Sullivan said offering competitive rates is essential to the success of the University, but he said he would need to look further into the data before getting specific.

“Investing in human capital simply has to be our priority,” he said. “Without talented staff, we wouldn’t have our students.”

Part of the meeting was dedicated to UVM’s role in recreational activities for students.

Sullivan praised the emphasis that UVM places on outdoor education, citing the TREK program as an example of impressive student leadership.

As for the varsity football and baseball teams, however, which were cut years ago as cost-saving measures, Sullivan said he doesn’t expect their return any time soon.

“It’s just not going to happen,” he said.

Staff council member Floyd Vilmont said he thought Sullivan seemed tactful and sincere, but he hopes the new administration will make good on their promise to take care of UVM’s staff.

“I had the good fortune of sitting in on the faculty senate meeting and President Sullivan said three times that he would try to push faculty wages to the national standard,” Vilmont said. “That’s fine, but you can’t neglect the staff. Simply put, it’s discriminating.”

Vilmont said that he also objected to a rising trend with higher education institutions in which money becomes the central, if only, focus.

“This is Vermont, not corporate America,” he said.

ALANNA FREEDMAN MAHNKE The Vermont Cynic

The UVM Staff Council listens to President E. Thomas Sullivan as he answers questions and speaks to the council at their meeting in the Livak Ballroom on the fourth floor of the Davis Center Sept. 4.

N EWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

3

Vermont Yankee remains hot topic

By Ben Plotzker Staff Writer Almost 40 years after it was built, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant is still a topic of heated debate for legislators and citizens alike.

Over the course of a few months, legislators have sought to legally shut down the plant and protestors rallied the streets.

On Sept. 11, Entergy, Vermont Yankee’s parent company, fired back.

Entergy filed a new lawsuit in federal court against Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, Gov. Peter Shumlin, and Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Taxes Mary Peterson for a tax levy that Entergy is calling “unconstitutional,” VTDigger. org stated.

Entergy seeks to overturn an electrical generation tax that charges Vermont Yankee $0.0025 per kilowatt-hour and raises roughly $12.5 million in annual state revenue, according to VTDigger.org.

Over the summer, political figures like Sorrell supported legislation to overturn a January ruling that allowed Vermont’s only nuclear power plant to continue operation.

On June 11, Sorrell filed a court brief that supported Vermont’s appeal of the Entergy Vermont Yankee case, which resulted in the continued operation of the power plant.

Supporters of the brief were from the National Conference of State Legislatures and nine states: New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire and Utah, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

This document backs Vermont’s appeal against Judge J. Garvan Murtha’s landmark decision to continue the operation of Vermont Yankee, and it shows support for decommissioning the nuclear plant located in Vernon, Vt. Act 160, the measure used by Vermont legislators to decide the future of Vermont Yankee, was reversed by Murtha’s decision on the grounds that it pre-empted Vermont Yankee’s enterprise, which he found illegal.

“Although Act 160 sets forth a non-pre-empted purpose consistent with decades of Vermont energy policy, the district court nevertheless engaged in the ‘pointless’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ exercise of ‘attempting to ascertain [the legislature’s] true motive,’ which the Supreme Court has rejected,” the brief stated.

Sorrell has been working to shut down Vermont Yankee during his time as attorney general and said that he has been listening to the concerns of Vermonters for years.

“The district court’s approach in this case sets a troubling precedent that could chill legislative participation and debate,” he said.

With an upcoming election for Sorrell this fall, the Vermont Yankee issue has become an important part of his platform.

“Vermonters deserve to have a say in their energy future,” he said.

In addition to Sorrell’s work in the legislature, there were multiple protests at the entrance of the plant this summer.

Protesting the power plant is nothing new — Vermont citizens have rallied for and against Vermont Yankee since it opened in the 1970s.

The Shut It Down Affinity Group displayed their 20th effort since December 2005 to shut down the plant, according to VTDigger.org.

The affinity group staged a “die-in,” in which they chalked the outline of their bodies at the entrance of the nuclear plant to express the health hazards that they believe pose a threat to their community, VTDigger.org stated.

Deb Katz of the Citizens Awareness Network, a group that organizes nonviolent action to shut down Vermont Yankee, has worked for 20 years to get the word out about decommissioning the nuclear plant.

“Entergy believes it is above the authority of the state and anyone else. We believe the court will eventually be in favor of Vermont,” Katz said. “We believe Murtha made the wrong decision.

It’s an issue of states’ rights; the issue of economics, liabilities and environmental choices belongs to the state.”

Katz suggested that Vermont Yankee could meet a similar fate to Fukishima, a Japanese power plant that was destroyed in 2011 following a tsunami and earthquake.

“Vermont Yankee is seemingly 150 miles away from Burlington, which does not make it feel real,” Katz said. “Tokyo is 150 miles from Fukishima and has definitely been affected by its partial meltdown.”

Junior Matt Chickanosky said he did not know much about the nuclear plant.

“I had not heard much about it until it was a hot topic in the 2010 elections,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD WATTS

The Vermont Yankee Power Plant sits in its current location in Vernon, Vt. Legislators have sought to legally close the plant.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY DUBACK

Lieutenant Larry Magnant (right) of UVM Police Services delivers a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser to Sheriff Kirk Martin of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in Newport, Vt Aug. 27.

UVM cops hand over keys Man in tractor wrecks seven Orleans cruisers

By Ayla Yersel Cynic Correspondent As if he were driving a tank, one Newport farmer used his tractor to roll over seven patrol cars owned by Orleans County officers this summer.

Eighty-five miles away, a lieutenant at UVM police services decided to extend a helping hand.

To assist the officers in replacing their damaged fleet, UVM police donated a vehicle of its own to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in Newport, Vt., Lt. Larry Magnant of UVM Police Services said.

“As you can imagine, losing seven patrol cars created a huge liability for the Sheriff’s Department in carrying out their patrol responsibilities and services to their county,” Magnant said.

The episode drained the resources of six local police departments, so five other police organizations stepped in to volunteer their own vehicles, he said.

As it happened, one of the

loaned cars from another police department had to be returned the same day the UVM cruiser was donated, making the delivery and timing of the donated vehicle all the more significant, Magnant said.

UVM police had already been planning to replace a patrol car because their vehicle replacement schedule had mandated that they replace a new patrol car during the summer or fall of 2012, he said. “[Orleans Police] had a tremendous need for a police car that they could immediately put to use — we had one that we were going to be getting rid of,” Magnant said. “It seemed like a perfect match.”

After installing a mobile radio, registering the car and applying the Orleans decal, the former UVM police car was equipped and ready for the Orleans department to use, according to the Newport Daily Express.

The incident necessitating the donation involved Newport resident Roger Pion, who was

upset over being charged for marijuana possession and resisted arrest in July. Pion drove his tractor over five cruisers, one van and one unmarked police vehicle, according to ABCnews. com.

Orleans officers were not alerted to the incident until a neighbor dialed 911, but were unable to chase Pion because all their available vehicles had been destroyed, according to CBSnews.com.

Some students said they were unaware of Pion’s tractor tantrum.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” sophomore Rachel Markey said.

Sophomore Allie Cunningham said she agreed that Pion’s stunt was bizarre, but also questioned whether it was UVM’s place to donate a car of its own.

“It’s great that UVM officers are so willing to help, but given the University’s finances we should probably be careful about extending resources to other police departments,” Cunningham said.

Campus artists bring their best

By Nick Shigo Cynic Correspondent President Sullivan will soon get the chance to see what UVM’s creative side has to offer.

The Honors College and the Office of the Vice President for Research are working in conjunction to host a Student Scholar Poster Competition to honor the Installation Ceremony of President Tom Sullivan.

Students submitted posters depicting their current area of study Sept. 10 to be judged by a panel of 15 volunteer faculty members from six different colleges, according to the Office of the President’s website.

The administration wanted to find a way to showcase the research, scholarship and creative works of students at Vermont’s sole research university, said Domenico Grasso, vice president for research and dean of the Gradu-

ate College.

“We looked to models around the country and found that the University of Virginia had held a student poster competition for their new President’s Installation Ceremony and thought the idea would fit well at UVM,” Grasso said.

Entries will be judged on many criteria, including creativity, innovation and impact of the work on society, the website stated.

There will be one winner, chosen from a pool of five finalists, in each of the five categories: Arts and Humanities; Food Sciences and Environment; Health and Biological Studies; Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering; and Social Sciences, Education and Business.

The winner from each category will be formally recognized

by President Sullivan at his offi-

cial Installation Ceremony Oct. 5, and will receive a prize of $250.

Any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or medical program was eligible to enter the contest.

While it is still early in the year, and many new students may be adjusting to college life, some, like first-year Guthrie Stoltzfus, show that they are up for the challenge.

“I hope that my poster represents the global perspective that UVM holds as foundation for their education,” Stoltzfus said.

The posters will be judged and available for online viewing between Sept. 11 and Sept. 21, and students can view the submissions in the Maple Ballroom at the Davis Center during the final judging period, starting Oct. 3, according to the website.

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NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Prof. makes headlines Brian Sprague researches hormone use

By Kevin Santmaria Staff Writer A UVM professor has discovered that the number of women who use hormone therapy is on the decline.

Brian Sprague, assistant professor in the Office of Health Promotion Research, made national headlines for his discovery that the number of women who use post-menopausal hormone pills continues to drop.

“We were curious to see if there were any rebounds.”

Brian Sprague Assistant professor ALEX GOLDBERG The Vermont Cynic

Junior Allie Sullivan uses catscratch to print at Bailey/Howe Sept. 7. The library does not allow students to use cash to print.

CAT$CRATCH

Libraries only allow Cat$cratch for printing, copying and scanning ...continued from page 1 more,” Bradley said. “It’s almost like the University is trying to just monopolize on ‘buy our Cat$cratch and points’.”

Despite the grumblings of some students, the library staff said they have gotten remarkably few complaints for such a major change of policy.

“I think it is a better system because it’s probably kind of annoying for [the library] to deal with all the coins and whatnot,”

junior Makena Whitaker said.

Robertson asserts that the switch from cash to Cat$cratch is far from an inconvenience. There are 140 shops and restaurants within the Burlington area, both on campus and off that accept UVM’s prepaid card.

“We’re hoping people will voice their opinions [on switching from cash to Cat$cratch],” said Robertson. “We’re trying to make this transition as smooth as possible.”

Check out Cynic Video’s coverage of this story at youtube. com/CynicVideo or vermontcynic.com/video.

After an initial study in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative concluded that the risk associated with hormone therapy — an increased chance of chronic disease and breast cancer — did not outweigh the benefits.

Shortly after, the number of post-menopausal women taking hormone pills saw a sharp

ERIKA COLBERTADO The Vermont Cynic

Assistant professor in the College of Medicine Brian Sprague poses in his office in the University Health Center Sept. 10. decrease.

Sprague and his team said they thought this was a dramatic short-term decline and decided to research what has happened in the 10 years since then.

“We were curious to see if there were any rebounds,” Sprague said. “Did the news of the story get old?”

Sprague discovered that about 22 percent of women over the age of 40 were taking hormones before the Women’s Health Initiative. A year after the study came out, the number of women using hormone therapy dropped to 11 percent.

Today, a decade after the initial study, only about five percent of women take hormones, he said.

“Declines in hormone use were observed among all ages, races or ethnicities, education, and income groups investigated,” the study stated.

Some clinicians suggest hormones may still be useful in low doses, but there is still a lot to debate, Sprague said.

More females for farming

UVM program supports women in agriculture

By Sarah Leidinger Staff Writer A UVM program guiding female farmers to economic independence is just a small part of a national movement that has been rapidly growing.

The U.S. Census on Agriculture recently announced that the number of farms owned and operated by females has increased by 29 percent between the years 2002 and 2007, according to Agriculture Weekly.

The Women’s Agricultural Network, a group that provides education and technical assistance geared to the needs of women farmers, is one of the programs that has helped female Vermonters overcome the challenges of breaking into the male-dominated profession of farming, the UVM website stated.

“For the 10-year period from 1997 to 2007, the increase [in female-owned farms] was an astounding 46 percent,” AG Weekly stated. “Arguably, there is no other traditionally male-dominated vocation that is experiencing such a rapid increase in participation by women.”

As the number of femaleowned farms grows, so does the number of crops produced by women, which may soon

overcome that of traditional factory farms, according to AG Weekly.

“It is conceivable that ... females who are already producing close to 75 percent as much food as the giants in the industry will someday very soon be producing more food for the nation than all the factory farms out there,” AG Weekly stated.

“Many of the women that we work with did not grow up on farms and are not familiar with the requirements of a farm business.”

Mary Peabody Director of Women’s Agricultural Network The Women’s Agricultural Network began in 1994 with a grant from the USDA Farm Services Agency and since then, the number of women in the program has grown steadily, said Mary Peabody, director of the network.

“Many of the women that

we work with did not grow up on farms and are not familiar with the requirements of a farm business,” Peabody said.

On average, the Agricultural Network helps and provides education to 200-250 individuals through classes, hands-on education, workshops and personal mentoring, according to the UVM website.

“We are able to help them understand the rules and regulations that apply to agriculture as well as able to introduce them to the many resources available,” Peabody said.

During its 17 years of operation, the network has grown to fit the needs of a variety of women in different levels of knowledge and experience, she said.

“We have learned that many women feel more comfortable learning and asking questions in groups where the other participants are also women with similar needs and experiences,” Peabody said.

Junior Ashley Moore said she believes increasing the connectivity of women involved in farming is a good thing.

“I think it’s great that likeminded women sharing similar values and similar passions can get together and learn and teach each other valuable skills in the farming business,” Moore said.

ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

This Week in Live Music

SARAH STICKLE

Friday

Burlington’s local music scene brought to light

Sept. 14

Grand Point North Festival 10 p.m.

Downtown, waterfront

Friday, Sept. 14: Grand Point North Festival, Day One. Gates at 4 p.m.

If you’re still wondering who Grace Potter is and what all the hype is about, now is the time to find out. Friday kicks off her second annual Grand Point North Festival on the waterfront.

Day one will feature guests such as Dr. Dog, the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the popular local band Heloise & the Savoir Faire, who combine electronica, pop and soul for your listening pleasure.

The main attraction of the festival for many is Grace Potter herself. She and the Nocturnals have been taking the national scene by storm after breaking out of Vermont several years back. A rock band at heart, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals know how to put on a show better than most with their energetic, loud and innovative sound. Potter’s voice is one that you want to hear really let loose.

Saturday, Sept. 15: Grand Point North Festival, Day Two. Gates at 3 p.m.

Tickets are sold-out for day two of this killer festival, so I’ll keep it short. The Avett Brothers are going to be here – enough said. If you did manage to snag some tickets, local acts Bob Wagner, Gregory Douglass, Bow Thayer and Waylon Speed are all worth checking out earlier in the day.

Sunday, Sept. 16: Rebecca Padula at the Bee’s Knees.

7:30 p.m.

The Bee’s Knees, located all the way out in Morrisville, Vt., is a haul to get to, but if you have the means, Rebecca Padula’s whiskey and honey voice will make it worth your while.

She is one of the most respected musicians on the Vermont music scene: her lyrics are beautiful, her style is relaxed and old-timey with a hint of rock ‘n’ roll and her voice is to die

ARTScalendar

Tuesday PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAMS + HIRAKAWA

Grace Potter poses in a garden. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will play at Grand Point North Festival on the waterfront, Sept. 14.

Wednesday, Sept.

19: Dwight Ritcher Trio with Dave Grippo and ThunMonday, Sept. 17: derbird Research at Bob Wagner Trio at Nectar’s.

9 p.m. 21+.

Red Square.

7 p.m. 21+.

New York City-based singer/ for. She draws from apparent influences Merle Haggard and Pete Segar, but it’s my personal theory that she had a pretty big Black Sabbath phase at some point in her life.

Bob Wagner, aka Ginger Moses, is keeping it hot at Red Square on Monday nights.

I’ve mentioned Wagner in previous issues, but again, he’s fantastic. A little-known fact about Wagner: He was a drummer before he was the melt-yourface-off guitar player he is today.

Listen for his impeccable sense of rhythmic style in his bluesy-rock guitar playing while you enjoy his tastefully chosen covers, soulful lyrics and powerful, yearning voice.

songwriter Dwight Ritcher, of Dwight and Nicole, rules. This killer lineup is a great reason to not write that paper you really should finish – or start.

This Wednesday is the third in his four-week residency at Nectar’s in Burlington, and every week has been phenomenal so far.

Seeing that Ritcher is joined by renowned saxophonist Dave Grippo, you should expect an indie vibe with clear blues and soul roots.

Thursday, Sept.

Tuesday, Sept. 18: 20: Kat Wright and DJ Craig Mitchell at the Indomitable Red Square.

Soul Band at Radio 10 p.m. 21+.

Bean. 11 p.m.

If you don’t know Craig Mitchell, I hope you’ve been in Burlington for less than a year.

The best DJ on the scene, Mitchell treats DJing as a real art, unlike many of the bozos who just push buttons on their laptops and make too much money for it.

Burlington’s house music extraordinaire, Mitchell is a real musician and it comes through in his choices as a DJ. This guy is worth hearing.

Yep, I’m highlighting Kat Wright again. It’s because by the time Thursday rolls around, you should be dancing into the weekend to some classic soul music and, if you’re of age, a Switchback. This is the place to be.

Sept. 18

Exhibit Opening – Oceanic Art and the Performance of Life 9 a.m.

Fleming Museum VibeSquaD 8 p.m.

Higher Ground Ballroom

Wednesday Sept. 19

Painting Party

6 p.m.

Davis Center Atrium

5

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ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Ceramic masterpieces on display

‘An outgrowth of nature’ celebrates work of Toshiko Takaezu

By Madeleine Gibson Staff Writer A dozen sculptures by Japanese-American artist Toshiko Takaezu are on display at the Fleming Museum’s Wolcott Gallery until Sept. 12.

“[...] our thought was that since the work is evocative of nature and Takaezu was also fond of poetry, we would pair the two to create a quiet and contemplative space.”

Aimee Marcereau DeGalan Fleming curator Inspired groupings of Takaezu’s vessels are coupled with poetry from Buddhist nun Otagaki Rengetsu.

Takaezu’s unique ceramic forms are an artistic inquisition as to where the line between functionality and sculpture exists.

The pieces were gifted to the Fleming Museum by Takaezu two years ago and have finally debuted in an exhibit.

“I have been wanting to share them ever since [they were given], but especially since the artist’s

passing,” Fleming curator Aimee Marcereau DeGalan said.

Takaezu was no stranger to UVM’s art department.

“There were two reasons she thought of the Fleming,” gallery attendant and UVM senior Shawn Connolly said.

“She came to campus in the late 1960s as an artist-in-residence, and Hoyt Barringer on the art faculty was a former student of hers.”

Barringer encouraged Takaezu to consider the Fleming as a repository for her earlier works and later pieces from the remainder of her career.

“In terms of the actual design of the show, our thought was that since the work is evocative of nature and Takaezu was also fond of poetry, we would pair the two to create a quiet and contemplative space,” DeGalan said.

Takaezu’s fascination with Zen Buddhism is evident in her work. The viewer is invited to see the influence of this culture’s worship of nature in each of her vessels.

The words “From dawn to dusk, Spending the day, Gathering clay: Surely Buddha would not Think this a trifling matter” are written on the entrance wall, opening up to the first piece “Brown with Drips.”

The glazes are showcased brilliantly, brushed on the canvases of porcelain and stoneware surfaces.

“They become more like paintings,” Connolly said.

ERIKA COLBERTALDO The Vermont Cynic

Glazed stoneware by Japanese-American artist Toshiko Takaezu sits on display at the Wolcott Gallery in Fleming Museum Sept. 2. The pieces were gifted to the Fleming Museum by Takaezu two years ago.

Smaller forms are reminiscent of the shells and waves forming on the Pacific waters of her homeland, Hawaii. Others are large and seemingly dense; Takaezu’s ability to craft such a variety of sizes on the pottery wheel is confounding.

Although a majority of the vessels are symmetrical with the characteristic “nipple” closure at

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“An Outgrowth of Nature: The Art of Toshiko Takaezu” will close with a gallery talk by Barringer.

The exhibit highlights Takaezu’s closed-form ceramic style and encourages artists to challenge the boundaries of what defines their craft.

UVM students receive free admission to the exhibit.

Music review

Wash Spot Laundromat 207 Riverside Ave, Burlington Next to Newton’s Carwash ½ mile from UVM

the top, a few stand out for their deviation from this structure.

One of the “Tall Stoneware” forms is pushed in at the side, revealing a thin matte glaze of rust.

The “Folded Form, Dark Glaze” is wild with red-blues and a metallic sheen. Its belly gives way to deep folds that might have easily been discarded by a different artist.

DILLON BAKER

The xx evades sophomore album slump Few debut albums have taken over the music industry quite like 2009 effort “xx” by British band The xx.

Between going platinum in the United Kingdom, winning the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for best UK album, being featured in seemingly every other commercial and receiving millions upon millions of YouTube views, “xx” created a massive wake in the contemporary music scene.

Being ordained as one of music’s most exciting new bands is a huge accomplishment, but these early achievements left many wondering – myself included – how The xx could follow up and build upon such a success.

Well, after what was undoubtedly a three-year whirlwind for the young band, The xx finally released their sophomore album “Coexist” on Sept. 10 to legions of hungry fans and

expectant critics.

The album certainly cements their status as one of the most talented and attentionworthy bands currently making music, though some of the sense of discovery and excitement toward their incredible sound is understandably missing.

The first and most noticeable difference starts not with the music but with the album cover. The band is no doubt highly self-aware, as the cover encapsulates much of what is different on their new album.

The xx chose to keep their debut album’s template of a singular X contrasting with a vacant background, but this time inverted the background to white and colored the inside of the X with a surreal twist instead of the minimalist black and white of the original design.

Like the cover, the basic template of “simple beat, delicate vocals, distinct moments of silence” remains the same, but they have no doubt refined their style to a more colorful and varied place.

Minimalism is a key word in describing The xx, and this album serves only to reinforce this style. The main difference lies in their use of new instrumentation – such as steel drums on the album highlight “Reunion” – and more club style beats.

The precise guitar riffs that highlighted their debut has taken a backseat to producer Jaime xx’s genius and delicate yet powerful beats, along with extensive use of bumping bass.

This isn’t to say that the guitar

is entirely missing. Instead, it is used in a more focused and rewarding manner of highlighting the crescendos of many of the best songs on the album.

The album certainly cements their status as one of the most talented and attention-worthy bands currently making music [...].

The vocals remain as perhaps the most infecting part of The xx. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim’s voices perfectly interplay with both each other and the music. Indeed, the music without their voices, or their voices without the music, would be lost. The desire and feeling of loss behind both of their voices perfectly accentuate the melancholic beats as well as their reflective lyrics.

While the style of “Coexist” is not much of a change or innovation, sometimes the question needs to be asked if that is what is always necessary. In the case of The xx’s impeccable and transcendent musical style, it’s difficult to say more of the same is in any way a bad thing.

This is a fantastic album with almost nonstop gems, and while the shadow of expectation looms large, The xx is, not surprisingly, comfortable in the darkness.

SP ECTACLE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

7

Spectacle a look through the lens Models showcase designs from more than 20 different local clothing designers as part of the STRUT! fashion show hosted by Seven Days and the South End Art Hop, Sept. 8.

PHOTOS BY Michael Chaucer-Torello

8

life

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Buff up your gym tactics

By Kevin Pelletier Columnist Are you new to UVM, or just new to working out at UVM’s fitness center? Well, the Gucciardi Fitness and Recreation center is available to all UVM students.

Your UVM ID will grant you access to the weight room, resistance machinery, cardio equipment and indoor track.

Health and Fitness As a returnee or newcomer to the fitness center, you may find it frustratingly busy at certain times of the day. I can tell you from experience that 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. is a time of peak traffic, and that lunchtime is also quite busy.

First and foremost, I think it is essential to have your workout routine planned before you arrive at the gym. As a beginner it may be difficult to have in mind exactly what equipment you intend on using, but the better the idea of what you plan on doing, the smoother things will go.

People who come in to work out without a clear idea of what they are going to do end up looking around, seeing most of the equipment in use and quickly becoming discouraged.

If you know what you intend to do, you can hone in on that piece of equipment.

If you plan to use a cardio machine, you will have to

sign up on one of the boards.

But if the machines are in use, there is always plenty of room to run on the track.

If you want to work in the weight room or on a piece of resistance machinery and what you need is being used, simply ask to “work in” with the person using it. If they are doing supersets, ask how many sets they have left, and you should be next in line when it becomes free.

The thing about lifting weights and using resistance machinery is that the equipment you want to use is almost always in use at any given point in time, but due to the nature of that kind of exercise, the equipment is never in use for too long.

Exercise will keep you healthy both physically and mentally, so do not let a frustrating experience at the fitness center deter you.

The hours of operation for the fitness center during the academic year are as follows: Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to midnight; Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight.

Hop into The Pool Website aids meetups

By Lydia Horne Staff Writer At The Pool is a new website designed to help connect like-minded people based on “pools” they enter — groups of people with similar interests.

The program matches you with other users based on four criteria: location, history, interest and intent.

At The Pool describes itself as the host of a party and connects people based on information users enter online.

The site works best at places that already have a community, making universities the best place to try the Pool.

Last week, At The Pool was launched to the UVM community. Because of its size and diversity, UVM is a target school for At The Pool expansion.

A beta test was initiated at the University of Connecticut last spring, and 1,500 students promptly joined.

Tom Benneche, who helps with marketing efforts for the site, described UVM as the “perfect place to launch a forward-thinking site.”

One UVM student, however, does not feel she needs a website to make meaningful contact.

“You meet people who are interested in the same things as you,” first-year Shannon

Esrich said. “For example, if you’re into working out, you’ll meet people at the gym. You don’t need a computer.”

First-year Connor Johnson thinks the site could be a positive thing.

“Sometimes you don’t go to things because you don’t have people to go with. [With At The Pool] you don’t have to worry about that,” Johnson said.

While there is always a risk to entering a Web-based relationship, the outcome may be surprising to some.

“Obviously not everyone you are matched with will become your next best friend, but from my personal experience in using the site, the connections can certainly last,” Benneche said.

At The Pool users are also encouraged to post the results of their meetups online, on the site blog.

The blog is a way for At The Pool developers to measure rates of success, as well as for potential users to get a better understanding of the program.

For more information, visit atthepool.com.

Class questions climate

By Molly Koch Staff Writer

Interested in illustration?

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Crazy about

cartoons?

Join our Illustration section! No experience necessary.

Contact Jenna Bushor at cynicsketches@gmail.com.

UVM’s new Climate Action Seminar: Responding to the New Normal, is an environmental science course introduced to promote education and awareness of climate change and extreme weather patterns that have begun to emerge with increasing regularity.

Faculty sponsors Amy Seidl and Cecilia Danks and seminar instructor Rachael Beddoe are using this seminar series to engage the community to face climate challenges that have become concerns of the present rather than of the future.

“This is an exciting series that we hope will stimulate discussions across campus about response to climate change through adaptation and mitigation, with an underlying theme of campus sustainability at UVM,” Beddoe said.

Interested in

PHOTO?

Central topics of the course include the “new normal” weather conditions and extreme weather events, like recent record-breaking global temperatures, wildfires and Hurriane Irene, that require adaptive responses.

Sponsored by UVM’s Clean Energy Fund, the seminar will also touch upon strategies to reduce carbon emissions and how to move UVM’s carbon footprint closer to a neutral level.

The seminar features wellknown speakers from sectors of state government, nonprofit organizations and academic departments who will help the Burlington community and UVM students find ways to build a culture of response to climate change.

UVM is committed to a “Climate Neutral Pledge,” which requires preparation for a changing climate.

The office of sustainability, the forest and carbon commu-

nities research group and the environmental program started the seminar series in an effort to meet this pledge.

According to Beddoe, UVM will be making important decisions about meeting the climate neutral pledge, so the climate action seminar series will give students an opportunity to learn about carbon offsets and provide some feedback regarding which offsets are most appropriate.

“We need an entire generation of climate and sustainability-literate professionals,” Beddoe said. “Climate change is the biggest problem to face mankind ever, some would say. It’s imperative that we not ignore the difficulties, but embrace them as a united front.”

For more information about the Climate Action Seminar: Responding to the New Normal, contact seminar instructor Rachael Beddoe at rbeddoe@uvm.edu.

Come to The Vermont Cynic Photo Meetings Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in the Handy Family Room, or contact Natalie Williams, the Photo Editor at cynicphoto@gmail.com for more information.

LI FE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

9

UVM cribs: Redstone Apartment edition Cynic gets up close and personal, takes peek inside student housing

By Thomas Rogers Staff Writer With UVM’s newest housing addition, the Redstone Lofts, it might be easy to overlook what has been lying on the edge of campus for years — the Redstone Apartments.

“What people should remember is that the apartments do feel roomier and all expenses are included.”

Tyler Conway Senior

The Cynic decided to take a tour of the complex and see what the interior was like.

“The Redstone Lofts are so nice, and because of that, I believe they’ve been taking away some of the [Redstone Apartments’] business,” Tyler Conway, senior and former resident of the apartments, said.

“What people should remember is that the apartments do feel roomier and all expenses are included.”

All costs including water,

heat, electricity and Internet are included in the rent for the apartments, which is often cheaper than the average offcampus option without these amenities.

The complex is also serviced by the UVM Shuttle, which cycles through the campus every 10 minutes.

“The biggest perk for me living here is that all the buildings I need to get to are so close, especially for technically being off campus,” senior Sarah Pietryka said.

Pietryka lives in a flat at the end of the Redstone Apartments complex, which is defined as a one-story double with a living room, kitchen, dining room and full bath.

Walking through the front door of Pietryka’s apartment, one can see a mahogany fourperson table decorated with placemats and candles, which convey a domestic atmosphere, as well as a kitchen set off to the right of the hallway.

All kitchens in the Redstone Apartments standardly come with a stove, oven and full refrigerator.

Past Pietryka’s kitchen is the living room, furnished with couches, a coffee table and a 50-inch flatscreen TV. Across the living room there is a sliding glass door, which leads to a lush lawn shared by the whole complex.

Two bedrooms and a full bath are found off the living room.

Pietryka’s bedroom lets in plenty of natural light with three windows, a full wall closet and a desk on the left side.

Although the flats are the ideal setup for a double, there are benefits of having a twostory apartment as well.

“All two-story apartments come with two bathrooms split between four people — much cleaner than sharing a communal bathroom with 20 people on campus,” Conway said. “The coolest part though are the balconies in every quad apartment, which are perfect for relaxing outside in the springtime.”

Although alcohol is permitted on the premises, and most students living in the apartments are of age, they are still under the jurisdiction of campus police.

“The apartments are still owned by UVM, so the campus cops do still have the ability to come write you up,” Conway said.

Conway said that residents should be aware of who their neighbors are and keep the noise to a reasonable level.

“If I had to tell students considering living in the apartments one important thing, it would be to keep in mind how many expenses add up living off-campus after rent itself,” Conway said.

WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic

Senior Sarah Pietryka shows her front room in the Redstone Apartments, Sept. 12. Pietryka lives in a Redstone Apartment flat.

10

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE VERMONT

C YNIC

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ADVISER Faculty Adviser Chris Evans

S.T.A.R.T catching robbers, criminals This weekend, the streets were teeming with police bringing underage student drinkers to justice. The daylight hours, however, have been much more rowdy and with a lot less justice.

Between Sept. 3 - 9, 13 robberies have been reported in the downtown Burlington area. Few criminals, however, have been brought to justice.

With all of the police out at night, it seems a few clever crooks have figured out that Burlington is an open playground by day.

We at the Cynic are all in favor for police enforcement when it is absolutely needed. Unfortunately, the police are slightly out of balance with the current situation in Burlington.

While 62 noise violations is an impressive stat for the cops to point out, 13 robberies is not. Not sure about you, but the Cynic would gladly put up with a little more noise during the weekends versus the fateful phone call of “Dude, where is our TV?” While the rise in blatant criminal activity in the Queen city may disturb some, it is the inadequate police presence by day that is the most troubling. Is the very safety of our downtown homes being threatened by the directing of funding to stopping parties on the weekend?

We at the Cynic have a theory: Catching criminals and busting burglars is tough work, involving costly investigations and long hours. Busting UVM students as they drink on Fridays is comparably much easier – most kids aren’t carrying weapons and instead pay the police large fines for getting busted.

One officer on the S.T.A.R.T Task Force told WCAX that, “We just want to let the kids know that we are out there.” We Cynic’s would like to see officers send the same message to the criminals, who are probably stealing our couch as you read this.

We are not advocating for the police to stop their weekend patrols, but we have a feeling that their party-busting efforts are taking more resources that should be directed toward Burlington pre-sunset.

An acheivable balance will create a safer Burlington and... wait, can I help you? Yes this is my computer, why? .3t.sdg b5-6

COLUMNISTS

We all need computer etiquette ing, and soon the horror began.

The screens, once unassumingly blank, morphed into a tornado of shifting faces. The lady sitting in front of me flew from Facebook to Etsy to YouTube in seconds. The gentleman on my left checked Twitter and played Minecraft.

BIANCA MOHN

The hallowed hall of Marsh Life 235 witnessed a crime on Thursday, Sept. 6. Ten criminals were spotted leaving the building, MacBook Pros in hand.

They are wanted for the following charges: general misconduct and severe distraction in the classroom.

One hour and 15 minutes earlier, I entered the scene of the crime. Room 235 was its normal self, with people streaming into the classroom and awkwardly squeezing through the rows to sit with friends. Notebooks were opened, pens were found, and the professor began the lecture.

It was then that things got ugly. Finding myself surrounded by people using laptops instead of notebooks, I had hoped that the iridescent glow would not be distracting. How very wrong I was.

Less than 15 minutes into the lecture, my computer-bearing neighbors abandoned note tak-

Were these students so consumed in their own little worlds that they never considered how their Internet surfing habits would affect those around them?

My eyes tried to look at the chalkboard and at the computer screens at the same time. The result – massive distraction and a mounting headache.

Were these students so consumed in their own little worlds that they never considered how their Internet surfing habits would affect those around them?

And really, why go to class if all they did was goof off?

After surviving this crime of classroom etiquette, I researched

whether this aberrant behavior was normal. Indeed, a Harvard Business Review study found that 62 percent of screens open during class have nothing to do with the course itself.

That means only 38 percent of students with laptops are using them for class related purposes. This is bad news for the student who is easily lured into the distractions of the Internet, and also for everyone around them.

Taking notes on a laptop is fine. Word documents by themselves are not distracting – it’s the changing of screens and flashing images that drive those trying to pay attention in class to insanity.

The classroom is a shared space – we must remember to be considerate in what we do and how it influences others.

If you take a laptop to class, be polite by sitting in the back rows. Most of all, please limit the amount of time allocated for perusing the Internet.

And if anyone sees these computer-distracting criminals on campus, feel free to give them a stern glare and a piece of your mind.

Bianca Mohn is a sophomore business administration major.

She has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2011.

DISTURBING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE WOMEN OUT THERE WHO DON’T HAVE A CHOICE, AND THEY MUST GO TO WORK AND THEY STILL HAVE TO RAISE KIDS.” - Anne Romney reflecting that not all women can have the privilege to stay at home in her speech at a Republican gathering in Stamford, Conn., in April 2012.

crevans@uvm.edu

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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OPINION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

11

COLUMNISTS

Should students be catching the Cat$cratch fever?

JEFF AYERS

The printer in the Cynic office has been giving me fits lately.

I can’t seem to string together the correct combination of curse words to make the error light quit flashing. Am I kicking it too gently? Do I need to insult its mother more?

At any rate, the inconvenience recently forced me into Bailey/Howe to fulfill my

printing needs, and I was able to experience first-hand the new Cat$cratch-only era.

As a rule, I don’t like to pay for printing. There are too many free options available — the Allen House, the Business school, the Cynic office, and your roommate’s printer — to make printing in the cramped quarters of Bailey/Howe worthwhile. On this particular occasion, however, I was already late to class and the library was on the way.

For those of you who don’t know, the library no longer accepts coins. Or – if you’re a firstyear – the library used to accept coins. Instead, printing must be purchased with prepaid cards.

Coupled with the change to prepaid cards is a reduction in cost from 10 cents to 5 cents a page in black and white. The

switch was made because the library staff was tired of dealing with mountains of coinage.

I was delighted with the new method. I don’t have Cat$cratch because I have a debit card and having both seems dumb. Thankfully, the University provides the option of purchasing a generic CatCard with a dollar’s worth of printing power, so I could enjoy the low prices without having to obtain a Cat$cratch account.

After sliding my dollar into the slot of the CatCard machine and retrieving the thin piece of plastic it spit back, I was off to the printing station. One swipe of the CatCard later, I was the proud owner of three freshly printed pages of “Tantric Sex for Beg…” uh, I mean a reading reflection for chapter three of “Technical Communication.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The police are not our enemy

Dear Editor,

Splashed across the cover of last week’s The Vermont Cynic read “Police to bring the heat,” and, as a result, students’ disgust and dismay echoed through campus. However, we are all forgetting that the police are not our enemy — it is not us against them — they are simply here to protect us.

Imagine campus, and the surrounding neighborhood, without the Burlington Police Department.

Since arriving at school this year, the UVM Department of Police Services sent four alerting emails notifying students about robberies, physical assaults, and a sexual assault. Surely students

would not feel nearly as comfortable walking around at night, whether inebriated or sober, without the cops patrolling.

As upperclassmen, many students become jaded to the party culture around them.

Hearing of people making risky decisions like driving under the influence or being taken to “detox” becomes less scary, and, sadly, more laughable.

But first-years, who for years have watched television and movies portray wild college scenarios, most likely do not have the experience to smartly deal with problematic situations.

Students need to compromise more with what the police are asking of them. Compared to the police presence at other universi-

ties, the BPD are being fair and lenient: They are not asking students to stop having fun, just making sure they are doing in a safe way.

With the stress of school, everyone needs to unwind, and the police know this. Although the tickets and disciplinary actions may seem to be stopping the fun, the police are simply trying to keep the relationship between the town and the University harmonious, and the students on the right track to success.

Sincerely, Emily Mack Class of 2015

Understanding diversity at UVM Dear Editor, I’ve come to notice in my brief time at UVM how important “diversity” is to the school, the state and, indeed, the country as a whole. As many academics here will claim, diversity is essential to the success of any institution.

Columnist Joe Klein once said on the subject, “Diversity has been written into the DNA of American life; any institution that lacks a rainbow array has come to seem diminished, if not diseased.”

Yes, any successful modern university embodies these essentials: motivated students, caring and willing professors and a suitable quota of minorities.

Mind you, diversity to liberals doesn’t mean diversity of thought, perspective and ideology. Rather, liberals care only for diversity that is literally — that is, as opposed to metaphorically and not how Vice President Biden uses the word — skin deep.

The use of this magic buzzword, being in no shortage of supply here at UVM — it’s in the induction pledge, for crying out loud! — carries with it nothing less than a degree of carefully hidden bigotry under the false guise of tolerance, another word liberals love to parrot, but, alas, has been horribly perverted by well-meaning progressives.

Those who chant this word

like some magic spell intend to convey the false belief that people should be judged according to the color of their skin, that things would be better if we gave people preferential treatment because of their physical appearance.

If schools so desperately care about diversity, they should stop the morally reprehensible practice of judging people by the color of their skin Defenders of this buzzword and its practices, like affirmative action, might argue that giving preferential treatment to a minority race would, in turn, promote a minority culture, thus enhancing the overall academic experience of any institution.

They may be right, sometimes, but often not.

For instance, would the children of Barack Obama, who are schooled in an affluent private school, and parented by Ivy League educated parents, offer a culture distinguishable from that of northeastern, white liberals?

Probably not. In fact, they prob-

ably have more in common with northeastern, white liberals than with African-Americans in rural Alabama.

Race is not always indicative of a unique cultural perspective.

Moreover, to make presumptions based on race is actually racism, even if you call it by a euphemistic term like affirmative action. It pains me to say, but the distinction between those who would bestow preferential treatment to a particular race for laudable social purposes and those who would do so for disgusting, racist ones escapes me.

If schools so desperately care about diversity, they should stop the morally reprehensible practice of judging people by the color of their skin. Instead, they should promote diversity of opinion and perspective, characteristics so often and sadly overlooked.

Noted columnist and economist Thomas Sowell once said, “The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department.” To paraphrase a great man, it’s about time we judge people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

Sincerely, Joey Brown Class of 2016

The whole process took about a minute. My only complaint is that I am now obligated to return to Bailey/Howe for 85 cents worth of printed pages, or else forfeit that small fortune forever.

But honestly, the new policy is a win for everyone. The library staff can stop doubling as accountants, and students are able to print at half the cost of years past.

I still don’t advocate Cat$cratch as a whole. I find it silly to open a debit account with the University that can only be used at a small percentage of Burlington establishments. You are tying yourself into spending X amount of dollars at those specific places, where if you just use the debit card from your bank you have complete freedom of choice. And I still think people

who consistently pay for printing are suckers.

But for those with a strange attachment to giving UVM all their money – or for those with no other option – the “no change” change reduces the cost to students and frees up the library staff. I just hope the library takes the next logical step and allows debit cards, along with Cat$cratch, to be used at printing stations.

Jeff Ayers is a senior english major. He has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2009.

GOP disregards the American people Dear Editor,

Over the course of the past few years, it has become increasingly apparent that the Republican Party and its platform are incompatible with the American people as a whole, and with an America that strives for progress in the 21st century.

Just this past month at the Republican National Convention, Republicans revised their party platform and adopted the most right-wing agenda it has ever had in its history.

While a considerable amount of Americans are calling for greater access to health care, comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway toward citizenship, women and LGBT equality, student loan reform and economic relief, the Republican Party on the other hand seems to be going in the complete opposite direction.

On health care, the Republicans have stated that they stand firmly against, and would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This, in effect, would turn back the clock to a time when children would be kicked off their parents’ insurance plans, as they become young adults. It would also bring back a time when insurance companies would deny patients with pre-existing conditions, along with a wide range of other issues involving coverage.

The GOP also has distanced itself from immigrants, particularly Latinos, by championing English to become the national language, and supporting policies such as “self-deportation” and voter suppression laws, and opposing the DREAM Act. They have, as well, added into their platform their complete opposition to a woman’s right to choose an abortion, even in cases of rape and incest.

Also, they have reaffirmed their stance on marriage as being between only one man and one woman, while at the same time denying same-sex couples marriage equality and benefits.

Finally, the GOP wants to end federal student loan programs, which college students deeply rely on to receive an education.

In its place, the government would channel money to banks so that they could administer private loans to the students.

All of this and more would be an enormous step backward for the country, and it would have negative repercussions on many different aspects of our society.

America cannot afford such extremism. The American people must do all they can to ensure that the progress that has been made in the recent years will be preserved and enhanced.

Sincerely, Zachary R. James Class of 2014

Quick Opinions

Arielle Botwell Speed walking past someone who is speed walking can get awkward.

Bianca Mohn

To the people who hand out flyers aggressively in the Davis Center, I will never want your flyers!

Illustration by Andrew Becker

12

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

ADVERT ISEMENT

D I S T RAC T I O N S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Transportation facts Two men in 1930 drove in reverse nonstop from New York City to Los Angeles and back. The entire trip took 42 days to complete.

An automotive company in China has developed a full-sized remote control car. The Su Rui Sedan, a family sized car, has the ability to enter remote mode. The remote range is 33 feet and can instruct the car to start, stop, go backward, turn left and right and turn on the air conditioning. The max speed in remote mode is 1.2 mph.

Hoverbike technology is real. According to Popular Science, the aerospace company Aerofex has created a bike powered by fans that moves in a likeness of a bike. It has been tested up to 30 feet high and at 15 mph. The company plans to use this technology as a platform to develop hover drones, though, which means there won’t be any hoverbikes on the market anytime soon.

Project Hexapod, a project to build an 18-foot-wide, two-seater, six-legged, 4,000 pound robot, has been fully funded on Kickstarter. The robot, dubbed Stompy by the builders in Somerville, Mass, will only cost $65,000 to build and will be able to move at 2-3 mph while carrying up to 1,000 pounds.

In 1839, a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan. invented the first pedal bike as a personal means to get around. He attached cranks to the rear wheels and then connected the cranks to the pedals with rods. The entire contraption was very heavy. However, this was the basis of all pedal bikes to follow. He unfortunately did not think to patent his invention, and soon after others were copying his design and selling the clever invention.

&

Popsicle Stick Glider

by Hilary Delisle

Materials: 5 Popsicle sticks Markers/paints (optional)

This May marked a world record occasion as the first solar powered ship, the Turanor, completed its around-theworld trip in 585 days. According to CNN, this $16 million vessel, roughly as heavy as a whale and 30 meters long, is equipped with enough solar panels to cover two tennis courts.

Transportation

13

Directions: Pinch the end of 3 stacked Popsicle sticks (continue to hold like this until the end of the project).

Spread apart the top and bottom sticks in opposite directions to form approximately 30° angles with the center stick. Weave a 4th popsicle stick through these 3 sticks, going over the top stick, under the middle stick, and over the bottom stick.

Be sure to position this stick at about the halfway mark on the middle stick. Similarly, weave the 5th stick through, going under the top stick, over the middle stick, then under the bottom stick. Keep this stick closer to the ends of the original 3.

Decorate as you wish.

ANSWERS to last week’s crossword: The World of Science Across 3. Global Warming 4. Plate Tectonics 6. Entomology 7. Bunsen Burner 9. Nobel 11. Newton 13. Evolution 19. Inertia 20. Thermodynamics 23. Hydrogen 24. Mitosis 25. Sodium Chloride 26. Hibernation

DOWN 1. Hemoglobin 2. Paleontology 5. Brontosaurus 7. Bubonic 8. Aorta 10. Einstein 12. Genome 13. Electron 14. Light 15. Stress 16. Periodic 17. Humerus 18. Helicase 21. Photosynthesis 22. Bill Nye 23. Hertz

Travel Crossword

by Hope Olszewski

Across 6. A popular form of transportation on UVM campus.

8. Go to the ___________ to catch the train.

9. Nautical measure of speed.

10. Traveling together in one vehicle to save gas and help the environment.

11. Your ___________ _______ is what allows you to get onto a ship or plane.

15. This piece of luggage must fit in your overhead compartment.

16. Traveling across one of these will get you over a body of water.

19. An underground method of transportation.

20. The British term for vacation.

22. A late night flight that gets you to your destination by early morning.

23. Car service that charges by the distance it takes you.

DOWN 1. What visitors of other countries or cities are considered.

2. A place to stay while on vacation.

3. A form of identification needed to enter other countries.

4. Traveling in an automobile for a long distance as a form of vacation.

5. Put all my clothes in your __________________.

6. This is where you retrieve your checked luggage at an airport.

7. The amount of time between two connection flights.

12. Name of a cross-country railroad system.

13. Economy class.

14. Bon ____________!

15. A luxurious ship people vacation on.

17. Replacement for maps.

18. _________ Buses are often preferred for long distance travel due to their comfortable interiors and onboard restroom.

21. You may get this when you travel through time zones.

14

Sports

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

The college football mix-up

Will andreycak

Despite the fact that there wasn’t a matchup between ranked teams in week two of the college football season, there was no shortage of upsets, holy crap moments, Penn State further incinerating the heart and soul of their fan base, and thrilling finishes. Let’s take a look at the week that was.

Penn State is ‘Ficken’ up, and they are ‘Ficken’ up bad After losing an emotional battle at home to Ohio in week one, Penn State had a great opportunity to rebound against Virginia down in Charlottesville.

The Nittany Lions played well, but were let down repeatedly by 19-year-old sophomore kicker, Sam Ficken. Ficken missed three of his first four field goal attempts — including a 20-yard chip shot — and had an extra point blocked before he was called upon to kick a would-be game winner from 42 yards with virtually no time left on the clock.

Imagine the weight on this kid’s shoulders as he prepares to take this kick. Not only does he have the memory of three missed kicks prior to this one burning in his mind, he knows that this kick would give fans that have endured a heartbreaking year for the ages some happiness.

I’m not a Penn State hater and I am certainly not a fan of their program, but as I sit lazily in my living room recliner, my internal conscience is rooting for Ficken to make the kick as if he were kicking in the Super Bowl for the New York Jets. As he waits for the ball to be snapped, I audibly repeat to no one in particular, “Come on man, just put it through.” I get up out of my chair and put my hands on my head, tugging at the roots of my hair for this kid.

The ball was snapped, the holder managed to get the ball down, and Ficken pulled it left.

Call it karma, call it bad luck, call it coincidence — Penn State is in a bad way right now.

Surely Penn State students will use ‘Ficken’ as a swear word for years to come.

Two shockers for teams that finished in the top 10 last season There were two scores that made your mouth drop in week two. First there was Arkansas’ inexplicable defeat to University of Louisiana Monroe. The win was Louisiana Monroe’s first win over a ranked team since 1994. The Razorbacks lost star quarterback Tyler Wilson to a head injury in the first half, but an SEC team ranked No. 8 in the country should be able to defeat a team from the Sun Belt Conference with or without their starting quarterback. The worst part about the loss is that had Arkansas been able to beat ULMonroe, it would set up a top-10 matchup with Alabama next week. The shine from that game is now gone.

Just as bizarre was No. 13 Wisconsin’s loss to a bad Oregon

State team. Preseason Heisman candidate Monte Ball was bottled up for just 61 yards on 15 carries and Wisconsin was only able to score once in the 10-7 loss to the Beavers. There is cause for concern here for the Badgers as they were only able to defeat Northern Iowa by five points in their week one opener.

Wisconsin better figure it out offensively or a year filled with promise could end in Big 10 mediocrity.

Heisman Hopefuls 1. Matt Barkley — Quarterback, USC Barkley gave no reason to knock him off the top of the Heisman ladder as he threw for 187 yards and achieved a career high six touchdowns in the Trojans’ 42-29 victory over Syracuse.

2. Geno Smith — Quarterback, West Virginia West Virginia was idle in week two but Smith’s week one performance was impressive enough to keep his Heisman hype buzzing. Smith will get another chance to put up videogame numbers when West Virginia takes on an overmatched James Madison team this weekend.

3. De’Anthony Thomas — Running back, Oregon Thomas is the Oregon doit-all back and he has put up eye-popping numbers despite sharing the backfield with Kenjon Barner. In two games this season he has racked up 247 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers despite touching the football a total of 18 times — that is efficiency at its finest.

NFL notes:

Week One

By Jake Bielecki Staff Writer

Complaining about the replacement refs is trendy, but it’s fair to say they were subpar on opening weekend.

The point of Peyton Manning’s hurry-up offense is to catch the defense off guard, not the refs.

After quick-snapping the Steelers with 12 men on the field, Manning took a shot on third down and missed a deep pass to Demarius Thomas. However, refs missed the 12th man and the Broncos had to punt.

Questionable judgment on pass interference was a problem all day, especially in the Patriots game. To be fair, that’s always been a tough call. The Seahawks game held the worst instance of poor officiating. The refs awarded Seattle an extra timeout and looked like confused deer in the headlights doing so.

The Patriots’ front seven looked great against the Titans. We can debate how elite running back Chris Johnson is right now, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Lloyd and Brady missed on what should have been a touchdown early in the game, but the newly acquired receiver will make everyone’s life easier.

It will be nice to see Tom Brady dip his back shoulder and not expect 5-foot-9-inch

Deon Branch waiting on the other side.

What a game for Stevan Ridley, who looked better than any Pats back for quite a while.

Consistency will be the key for the tailback. He’s looked great in spurts before, only to fall out of the gameplan in following weeks.

A rushing attack that can close out games would add a key dimension to an already outrageous offense.

It’s amazing what the Patriots are doing with the tight end position — they really only need two receivers at this point. Obvious quote of mine for the week, “A knee to the face will slow anybody down.”

I like Ryan Tannehill as a player, but the situation is awful. I wouldn’t have thrust my rookie quarterback into the fire on a bad Dolphins team with mediocre options in the passing game.

If they start with Matt Moore and stink, they could call on the rookie with tempered expectations.

It’s a Colt McCoy or David Carr situation where it would take a great quarterback to change the culture; not enough emphasis is placed on environment when it comes to grading young quarterbacks.

Athlete profile of the week The weekly recap

By Josh Aronson Staff Writer

#3 Scott Kisling, Men’s Soccer

By Colin Hekimian Staff Writer

Class: Junior Position: Defender Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.

High School: Liberty High School

Previous accomplishments: While attending Liberty High School, Kisling was named to the Colorado Springs All-Metro League Team and the All Denver Post Team. He was a three time all-state selection.

Kisling earned

Boss of the week:

NSCAA/Adidas Academic All-American honors as a senior and was a two-time MVP and captain.

Accomplishments at UVM: Kisling was named the America East Men’s Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Catamounts to a 1-0 victory against University of Rhode Island.

Kisling scored the only goal in the game, and his defense with one man down helped the Catamounts keep the lead.

He played in nine games during his freshman year, and started all 16 games during his sophomore year.

In 2010 Kisling made the America East Academic Honor Roll.

Robert Griffin III “RGIII” Quarterback for the Washington Rednecks RGIII shined Sunday in his professional debut in a 40-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints. After being drafted second overall in April’s draft, Griffin proved his worth taking over the Redskins, who last year finished 5-11.

”

Griffin threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 42 yards.

Griffin looked like a seasoned veteran showing composure and matching punches with Drew Brees. Next week the Redskins travel to St. Louis to face the Rams.

Quote of the week

I feel it’s as hard for him as it would be anybody to get mentally, totally committed in the ballgame. And he’s reached his innings limit. So we can get past this and talk about other things for a change.

”

- Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson on starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg who is done for the season.

Goat of the week:

Sam Ficken Kicker for Penn State University In a 17-16 loss to Virginia, Penn State sophomore kicker Sam Ficken went 1-5 on field goals.

Ficken missed from 20 yards, 42 yards, 40 yards

and 38 yards, including the game-winning kick with one second remaining in the game. He also had an extra point blocked. Penn State falls to 0-2 in the year.

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

NFL Picks Week 2 Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

After their disappointing loss to San Francisco on Sunday, the Packers will try to mount a comeback in the short week when they welcome the Bears into Lambeau. Chicago is coming off an impressive win, though, beating the Indianapolis Colts and Andrew Luck and spoiling his NFL debut. Chicago’s defense came up with three interceptions to go along with three sacks.

Brandon Marshall looked great in his Bear debut, catching nine balls for 119 yards and a touchdown.

In their loss to the 49’ers, Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense looked good, but they struggled in the running game and became one-dimensional as the game progressed. What held the Packers back was an ineffective run defense that struggled to stop F r a n k Gore.

Chicago has two solid running backs in Matt Forte and Michael Bush, who combined for three total touchdowns in week one. Green Bay will get their first win of the season at home in Lambeau.

The Picks: JK: Green Bay, ME: Green Bay, WA: Green Bay, CH: Green Bay , JA: Green Bay, JB: Green Bay

Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick and the Eagles barely scraped by Cleveland in week one to get to 1-0. Vick threw four interceptions but was able to drive the Eagles 91 yards for the game-winning score.

Baltimore on the other hand looked outstanding against Cincinnati on Monday Night Football.

The Ravens debuted their nohuddle offense and Joe Flacco looked like a different quarterback.

He looked confident throwing the ball, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron showed he was still able to integrate star running back Ray Rice despite a decrease in his touches per

game. On the defensive side the Baltimore defense limited a talented Bengal offense, even without Terrell Suggs, and put pressure on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. Philadelphia will put together a solid season and likely make the playoffs, but after week two they will be .500. Baltimore will spoil the Eagles’ home opener.

The Picks: JK: Baltimore, ME: Baltimore, WA: Baltimore, CH: Baltimore, JA: Baltimore, JB: Baltimore

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers So much for no offense in New York. After looking inept for much of the preseason, in their first regular season game the Jets got offense — a lot of it.

By Jeremy Karpf Senior Staff Writer

Each we winner ofek, the Cynic Spo matchup some of the wee rts staff will predic Mike Eatos. The participantsk’s most anticipa t the Aronson n, Will Andreyca are Jeremy Karpted and Jake k f, Bielecki. , Colin Hekimian, Josh

Mark Sanchez picked apart a supposedly improved Bills’ defense in rout to their 48-28 victory. Jeremy Kerley and Stephen Hill each caught two touchdowns and the Jet defense got three interceptions, including an Antonio Cromartie pick six.

One concern would be Darrelle Revis’ minor concussion. With the new concussion treatment protocols in effect in the league, we will have to see if the stud cornerback will be able to suit up.

Pittsburgh will be out for vengeance after having their opener spoiled by Peyton Manning, and should be able to stand toe to toe with the Jets’ D. I predict a win for the Steelers in their home opener.

The Picks: JK: Pittsburgh, ME: Pittsburgh, WA: New York, CH: Pittsburgh, JA: Pittsburgh, JB: New York

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49’ers Illustrations by Stephanie Feinberg

15

Despite both being 1-0, these two teams took quite

divergent routes in earning those victories.

Whereas the 49’ers went into Lambeau Field and defeated a Packers team that lost only one game in the 2011 regular season, the Lions barely beat the St. Louis Rams, a team that only won two games. It took a pass from Mathew Stafford to Kevin Smith with 10 seconds left in the game to ensure the victory.

Smith looked good as the signature back for the Lions and Calvin Johnson had an incredible catch, but overall the Lions did not separate themselves from a struggling Browns team. The 49’ers excelled on all sides of the ball. They are too strong on both sides of the ball and roll in their home opener.

The Picks: JK: San Francisco, ME: Detroit, WA: San Francisco, CH: San Francisco, JA: San Francisco, JB: San Francisco

16

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Vt. shares Windjammer title with UNH

By Taylor Feuss Staff Writer

The men’s soccer team hosted the Morgan Stanley-Smith Barney Windjammer Classic this past weekend on their home turf at Virtue Field. Competing against Vermont for the championship were the Niagara University Purple Eagles, Central Connecticut State Blue Devils and the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.

“Last weekend we wilted a little bit and we folded. This weekend we didn’t.”

Jesse Cormier Head coach of UVM men’s soccer The tournament opened Friday afternoon with New Hampshire and Niagara facing off. After 110 minutes of play and two overtimes, the score was left at a tie of 0-0.

Later that same day, the Catamounts competed against Central Connecticut for their first game of the weekend. Vermont dominated over the competition, earning a final score of 2-0.

Both of Vermont’s goals were made during the first half of play.

The initial goal was by sophomore Jesse Scheirer, who knocked a header in off a pass from team-

MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

Junior midfielder Beau Johnson carries the ball up the field in the Windjammer Classic game against Niagara Sept. 9. The Catamounts tied Niagara and went on to share the tournament title with UNH. mate Zach Paul. Vermont’s second goal came when first-year Danny Childs knocked a long pass to senior captain D.J. Edler in the last two minutes of the first half. This was Edler’s first goal of the season.

With a solid line of defense, the Catamounts kept the Devils out of the net and off the board for the rest of the game, ensuring the win for the men in green and yellow.

Sunday started off with a shutout of 2-0 from New Hampshire over Central Connecticut.

The win earned the Wildcats a

number three spot overall in the Classic.

The final game of the tournament took place Sunday afternoon as Niagara and Vermont faced off for the championship.

The back and forth game resulted in a scoreless tie after doubleovertime, with the teams sharing the title spot of the tournament.

The first half was a back and forth battle between the two teams, neither of which was able to score. Vermont made multiple close shots on Niagara’s Brett Petricek, outshooting the Purple Eagles 6-4 in the first half.

With 20 minutes left to go in the second half, Vermont’s Jonny Bonner took a shot on Petricek, coming close to reaching the back of the net. However, the ball was too far out and rolled just inches shy of the goal.

Five minutes later, Vermont came the closest to scoring a goal yet. A pass from Childs to Edler looked promising, but Niagara’s Petricek made the save.

Tensions between the teams erupted as a fight broke out among the players with just 10 minutes left in regular time. Vermont’s Salvatore Borea and Niag-

ara’s Callum Willmott were both presented with yellow cards.

One minute later, Edler made another attempt on the goal; however, the kick went too high over the goal.

As the clock began to count down the final two minutes, the ball remained circling around the Vermont goal.

With a shot from Niagara’s Jack Welsh, the ball ricocheted off a player and skyrocketed into the air. Everyone present held their breath waiting for the ball to return back down. Upon striking the ground, the ball was cleared

by Vermont’s defense and the clock struck zero.

Throughout the first overtime each team made only one shot, neither one successful. The game was then forced into a second overtime where fouls became all too common with yellow cards being presented to Vermont’s Edler and Joe Losier. The game finally ended with a save from Vermont keeper Conor Leland, who was later named the MVP of the tournament after racking up nine saves over the weekend.

Head coach Jesse Cormier thought his team performed significantly better this weekend than in their last set of games.

“Last weekend we wilted a little bit and we folded,” said Cormier. “This weekend we didn’t.”

Leland went on to be named the National Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.

The Catamounts will be back on the field on Sept. 14 and Sept.

16 as they venture to Cornell and Colgate.