Vermont Cynic Spring 2015 Issue 22

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CATS PREVAIL IN OVERTIME Story on page 10

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic Catamount players celebrate after a winning goal against UMaine March 5 in the Gutterson Fieldhouse.

City election lost

by UVM students Margaux Rioux

Voting day is over, and the results are in for Burlington’s mayoral and city council elections.

Miro Weinberger, the mayor of Burlington since 2012, won a second term with 68 percent of votes.

A major portion of the UVM population resides in Ward 8 and will be represented by UVM graduate Adam Roof.

Sharon Foley Bushor, who ran unopposed, will be representing Ward 1, which also has a large student population.

East District, which encompasses both wards 1 and 8, will be represented by Selene Colburn, a lifetime Burlington resident and UVM librarian.

Both student candidates, senior Carmen Scoles, who ran for East District, and junior Brock Gibian, who ran for Ward 8, were defeated, according to the annual summary report of the election put out by the city.

Only 7,865 out of 31,195 of registered voters voted.

Proposed bill may legalize possession and sale of marijuana Although marijuana possession was decriminalized in Vermont in 2013, one Vermont senator recently introduced a new bill to legalize both possession and distribution, according to a Feb. 18 press release by the Marijuana Policy Project .

The bill, S. 95, introduced

by Senator David Zuckerman, proposes the establishment of a legal market for licensed businesses to sell marijuana to adults ages 21 and older.

Marijuana would be taxed and regulated like alcohol, according to the press release.

Adults 21 years and older would be allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow at most two mature marijuana plants and seven immature plants in a secure indoor location, according to the press release.

It would remain illegal to use marijuana in public or drive marijuana, according to a press release.

Sophomore Shannon McNeil said she supports the bill.

“I think it’s an amazing idea, to vote in favor of it,” she said.

Matt Simon, New England

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political director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said his organization did have some input into the proposition. S dent that the bill will be passed this session or next year.

Regardless of personal views on the use of marijuana, prohibition is an issue that has implications for the economy, civil liberties and criminal justice, Simon said.

“

Legalization in the Green Mountain state should be looked at with legitimacy - as more than a ‘pipe dream.’

“

Jill Vaglica

Caroline O’Kane Sophomore

“Vermonters are spending about $125 million to $225 million per year buying marijuana from the illicit market,” he said.

“What we could instead be doing

JACOB HOLZMAN The Vermont Cynic Mason Tvert, communications director of the Marijuana Policy Project, discusses pot at Nectar’s Jan. 15. is regulating marijuana, allowstate-regulated Vermont businesses that pay taxes and follow regulations that require an ID, that don’t also sell heroin.”

“If the money made from taxes on recreational marijuana serves as any indication of the

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success of legalization in Colorado, then clearly legalization in the Green Mountain state should be looked at with legitimacy – as more than a ‘pipe dream,’” sophomore Caroline O’Kane said.

Naomi Vass, a UVM sophomore, said it makes sense for

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Vermonters to be able to choose whether or not marijuana should be legal.

“It should be at the state level,” Vass said. “Cops should be worrying about the heroin problem, instead of wasting resourcplant that makes them hungry.”

Wa t c h C y n i c V i d e o

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N ews

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Crime Log Committee to deal with alcohol use Feb. 19, 7:10 p.m.

A student has been summoned to court for possession of hallucinogenic drugs. After marijuana University Heights North 1, they arrived they found 7 grams of mushrooms in the student’s room. The student will be arraigned in court March 10.

Feb. 20, 3:56 p.m.

A UVM employee reported their bicycle stolen from Lafayette Hall. The employee usually keeps it in a closet in the building and uses the bike as their primary method of transportation to and from work. There are no suspects at this time.

Feb. 21, 12:31 a.m.

toxicated student in Wing Hall to police. The student seemed very sick and had been vomiting. An ambulance arrived and brought the student to the emergency room, where the student remained for a few hours before being transferred to cation center. The student’s blood alcohol level was recorded at .187. A report has been forwarded to the Center for Student Ethics & Standards.

Feb. 21, 12:55 a.m.

Police received a report of a loud party at the Redstone Apartments. Upon arrival,

David DuBrul Cynic Correspondent

In a recent email to the UVM community, President Tom Sullivan addressed the continuing alcohol, marijuana and other drug problems the school faces.

One year ago, the president emailed students with a similar message announcing the “formation of a 72-person commitstudents, parents and alumni,” for the purpose of addressing the growing problem.

“The president’s Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs was formed out of concern about the impact of misuse on student health, safety, and full engagement in University life,” Jon Porter, director of the Center for Health and Wellbeing said.

“

Yes, I think I probably misuse alcohol, and I guess it could probably kill a few brain cells, but no, I don’t really think that’s a problem.

“

By Jill Vaglica

Connor Sullivan Sophomore

The committee has come up with over 60 recommendations about how to mitigate misuse which are now under review by the President, Porter said.

There are many outcomes for the University because of this, Porter said.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARISA ROSENTHAL President Sullivan sent out an email regarding alcohol and drug abuse on campus Feb. 17. A 72-person committee made up of faculty, staff and students was created by Sullivan to address the growing problem.

These include naming the is- probably kill a few brain cells, son complex on Redstone camsue as an important one to ad- but no, I don’t really think that’s dress, committing to change the a problem,” sophomore Connor vidual nutritional and exercise community’s culture regarding Sullivan said. “It’s just part of mentoring,” misuse, using evidence-based school culture.”

This program will only interventions and measuring About 80 percent of all col- be available to students who progress, having transparency lege students will drink during choose to sign up from the inabout progress and setbacks their time on campus, and about coming freshman class of the and committing to long term half of those students take part fall of 2015, the email stated. outcomes. in binge drinking, according to “I think it’s silly that it’s In the following year, the the National Institute of Alcohol only going to be available to one President’s Committee on Al- Abuse and Alcoholism. class,” junior Kelsey Mattison cohol and Other Drugs has said In addition, the committee, said. “Programs designed to that students widely misuse and which describes itself as “fun- improve students’ lives like that abuse alcohol, marijuana and damentally invested in student should be available to everyone, other drugs at UVM, according health, wellbeing and success,” and they shouldn’t have come to the Feb. 17 email from Sulli- announced the formation of the about from an alcohol prevenvan.

UVM Wellness Environment. tion program.”

“Yes, I think I probably misThe new program, based out use alcohol, and I guess it could of the Christie-Wright-Patter-

Teach-in focuses on racial justice

considered unreasonable and listed the noise comnote that while approaching the area, he noticed people leaving, but couldn’t conthe party.

Feb. 21, 8:12 p.m. police services reporting that someone who “did not appear to be a student” had been jiggling door handles, which police believe was an attempt to locate unlocked doors. The individual was also described as possibly the individual and have not received any theft reports from Patterson Hall.

Feb. 24, 8:50 a.m.

Police received a report of an incoming suspicious package from the UVM Print and Mail Center. A package smelling of marijuana had arrived in the mailroom. The individual to whom the package had been This incident remains an ongoing investigation, and police wouldn’t comment.

RENA MEISLER The Vermont Cynic Speaker Todd St. Hill of Black Youth Project 100 and We Charge Genocide addresses the audience at the teachin event “Vermont is NOT an Exception” hosted by the Civil Rights Committee Feb. 23 in the Livak Ballroom. student population, and I think During the forum, students, JP Riedel that’s a real shame, and I’m very faculty members and local resiAssistant News Editor happy that something like this is dents were allowed to voice being held,” sophomore Adrian comments and questions to the A new United Academ- Pascual said. panelists. ics committee focused on civil This event was created by “I think it was very imporrights hosted a discussion about the recently-founded United racial justice in Vermont and at Academics Civil Rights Commit- cult conversation that all of us UVM. tee, which was “inspired by the should have, and I think it was The Civil Rights Commit- vibrant anti-racist movements great because we invited the tee hosted and sponsored the that have grown in the wake of community and not just people teach-in event, “Vermont is Ferguson and Staten Island,” on campus,” junior Roxy Chang NOT an Exception.,” Feb 23. according to the teach-in’s pro- said.

During the event, a panel gram.

“I didn’t grow up in the U.S., of UVM professors, students United Academics Civil but coming to UVM, it’s a part of and civil rights activists, such Rights Committee Co-Chair and how I come to terms with all of as Todd St. Hill from the We associate professor of English these things they talked about, Charge Genocide movement in John Gennari gave the welcom- and racism does exist and it’s a Chicago, discussed the issue of ing speech for the event. problem in the state and in the racial equality within Vermont “Unions across the coun- school,” Chang said. and UVM. try have adopted resolutions to - address what we see as a prob- speak was UVM professor of sation that should be happen- lem with justice, and our union economics Stephanie Seguino, ing more often, and I think that decided we needed to become who presented her recent study it’s a conversation that’s ignored on racial disparities in Vermont by a large majority of the UVM Gennari said.

“If blacks were 3 percent of the population, we’d expect them to be 3 percent of the drivers stopped. If they are more than 3 percent it means they are over-stopped and if you’re white and your percentage stopped is lower than your population share, it means you are understopped,” Seguino said.

Relative to their share of the population, black drivers are 80 percent more likely than white drivers to be stopped by the Vermont State Police, and in Burlington they are 76 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers, according to her report.

Sequino believes that Vermont is similar to the rest of the country. We do worse than North Carolina, Illinois and Texas, Seguino said.

“We do worse than Texas, although that may be because it’s largely Hispanic, that is the minority that is targeted, and so I’m not suggesting that we make too much out of Texas, but it’s important to recognize that in many ways Vermont is like the rest of the country,” Seguino said.

“I thought it was really great.

I mean, it was a breath of fresh air to me … and tonight I felt real communication that I didn’t think existed here in this country,” junior Nick Patyk said.

“It was great hear people actually thinking about how to change something, and again it’s great to think and talk, but obviously it needs to end in precise Patyk said.

N EWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

3

Career Center starts up job shadowing program Pablo Murphy-Torres Cynic Correspondent

said. “Some students look for a foot in the door at certain companies, some look for internship options and to make connections and some do it just to see if they are interested in a certain The program operates on a and acceptance is not determined by class or GPA, he said.

Applicants need to complete an essay and submit a resumé. job process, so we don’t want to to do,” Chase said.

Once accepted, Chase said she prepares a host.

“I kind of act like a matchmaker. I match students with ferent companies based on what they were interested in and their majors,” she said.

These hosts are scattered all over New England, New York

LUCI LOBE The Vermont Cynic Cook Physical Science Building pictured above Feb. 26. Cook will have to be torn down in order to build new buildings for the STEM Research Program that will be enacted by 2016. Votey Hall is schedule to be upgraded.

N. WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic Internship coordinator Amanda Chase discusses job shadowing Feb. 24 in the Davis Center. and even Washington, D.C. and hold positions at Buckland Consulting, Partners in Health, Facebook and Westview Investment Advisors, among others.

First-year Elizabeth Haskell spent the day with UVM alumna Caitlin O’Neill, who is the public policy manager for Facebook in Washington, D.C., and she said ideas. cially a poli-sci major, and so after doing that, I came back from break and declared [poli-sci] as my major,” Haskell said.

As she had her job shadow on a somewhat unusual day, she felt that she didn’t have enough time to see everything she needed to see.

“If I had a longer time, I would have loved to see a regular day, and to see what

Alumnus donates $1 million toward STEM project funds Caroline Alkire Cynic Correspondent

With the help of the Pizzagalli family and the Pizzagalli Foundation, UVM is $1 million closer to their funding goal for the STEM project.

“

President Sullivan is doing a terrific job in leading the university, so we have confidence in [the] initiatives that he puts forth.

“

During winter break this year, the UVM Career Center paired about 55 students with various alumni as part of their new job shadowing program.

This opportunity allows current students to follow a former Catamount to their job in order to help them get work experience.

Amanda Chase, an internship coordinator and counselor at the Career Center, designed the program as an easy transition into the job market and a stepping stone toward an internship.

James Pizagalli

The project is planned to begin this spring and the total cost is estimated at $104 million.

UVM is planning on obtaining all funding through non-debt-

producing sources, including donations.

The plan is to tear down Angell Hall and Cook Physical Science building on Central campus. The buildings will be replaced with a new building that will house laboratories, classrooms and research spaces partments.

Votey Hall will also be renovated during the process, equipping it with more up-to-date research material.

Chemistry professor Erik Ruggles commented on the initiative, believing the project to “I think the STEM building will help improve UVM’s research endeavors by promoting collaborations between faculty ments,” he said.

James Pizzagalli is a born and raised Vermonter who attended UVM for his undergraduate degree in accounting.

He founded Pizzagalli Construction Company with his two brothers, one of whom is also

a UVM graduate. Both are also former members of the UVM board of trustees.

“President Sullivan is doing in [the] initiatives that he puts forth,” Pizzagalli said.

He said Sullivan’s decision to upgrade the university’s “It is a group of curriculums that can really do a great job in preparing graduates for the technological world that they face,” he said.

“I think it’s cool that students at UVM will have access to better technology for labs and research opportunities.” Sophomore mechanical engineering student Jenna Findlay said However, Findlay said that she is not looking forward to putting up with the construction on campus for the next two years Construction isn’t expected to be complete until 2018, making it so many students will

New app launched for carpooling Emma Trainor Cynic Correspondent Carpooling for college students can now be coordinated through a new app called Wheeli.

Jean-Pierre Adechi created

Peace Corps at UVM USA-JOBS workshop With the Department of State Choose where you want to go.

Apply in one hour.

Make a difference overseas as a Peace Corps Volunteer

Tuesday, March 24 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rosa Parks Room (Davis Center 106E) University of Vermont

Peace Corps peacecorps.gov - 855.855.1961

way for college students to carpool. It is an online service that is only accessible with a college email address.

Wheeli allows the student driver or rider to choose who they carpool with based on prostudents. When looking for a ride, students specify their current location, destination and with whom they want to ride.

Wheeli calculates the cost of the trip and makes an electronic payment to avoid students having to ask for money in person.

For safety, Wheeli requires there to be a minimum of two passengers, which allows students to choose who they ride with, and gives female students the option of riding only with other females.

Adechi launched Wheeli last September at Hofstra University and Wesleyan University.

He is now working in collaboraPhilbrick to bring the service to UVM and UMass Amherst this semester.

“I got involved because of a

I.J. IDRIZAJ The Vermont Cynic Jean-Pierre Adechi, Founder and CEO, (left) and Dylan Philbrick, mobile app creator, talk about their new app, Wheeli, in Davis Center Feb. 20. family friend who started working for Jean Pierre. I wanted to work with them because they other students,” said Philbrick.

Inspiration for Wheeli comes from Adechi’s time spent hitchhiking in Europe using a similar website.

Along with Wheeli bringing students a fun experience and the freedom to leave campus, it travel system that is environly friendly, he said.

“In today’s times, we need apps like this so we can mitigate our carbon emissions. I under-

stand some people may be concerned about safety, but realistically it’s safer than a random ride on Uber because everyone involved is similarly minded,” sophomore Nkandu Yumbe said.

Although sophomore Lucy Curell does not believe she would use the app, she said it’s a good business and she likes the idea.

The Wheeli website is available to students now, and launched yet, Adechi hopes students will be able to share ride once it is.

Life

UVM mourns loss of a professor The UVM community recently lost a long-time economics professor.

Ross Thomson, economics professor and founder of the Integrated Social Sciences Program, passed away Feb. 12.

The program is one of the four teacher-advisor programs founded in 1993, according to the College of Arts and Sciences website.

Anthropology professor and director of the ISSP, Luis Vivanco, said Thomson “was

the heart, soul, and intellectual core of the Integrated Social Science Program.”

Thomson was extremely dedicated to the program, building it to one of the most important and strong programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, said Sara Solnick, chair of UVM’s economics department.

Thomson was also a member of the economics department.

As an economic historian, Thomson studied technological change in the United States and had written “extensively” on the subject, according to the College

of Arts and Sciences website.

Solnick said Thomson was energetic, intelligent and caring.

“He was a great scholar and a really great teacher,” she said.

“

He pushed me and encouraged me to my maximum potential.

“

Kristina Samulewski Cynic Correspondent

Sophie Kwass Senior

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIA THOMSON

Ross Thomson, economics professor at UVM and founder and director of the Integrated Social Sciences Program, is pictured above and to the right. He passed away Feb. 12 due to complications from lung cancer.

“People really respected him because of those qualities.”

Thomson was wholeheartedly committed to his role as a professor of economics, spending his time connecting with his students, Solnick said.

Senior Sophie Kwass, a former ISSP student, said Thomson is the reason why she is where she is today.

“He pushed me and encouraged me to my maximum potential, which taught me so many valuable skills that I will never forget,” Kwass said.

Thomson was known by

many to go out of his way to make his students feel like they were being heard, Solnick said.

“The students loved him because he put so much enerSolnick said.

“Sometimes you can be like, ‘I don’t have time for this right now.’ But he wasn’t like that because he genuinely cared,” she said.

His character also carried into his position as founder of the Integrated Social Sciences Program which Solnick said is an important program for the university.

“It’s so important to the college because it helps to attract really good students who want that intense intellectual experience,” Solnick said.

His dedication to the program went as far as hosting annual barbecues at his house where current and former students in the program were invited, Solnick said.

The legacy of his program has left a positive impact on many of Thomson’s former students, Kwass said.

“Students--and those of us who were his colleagues devoted to this wise and gentle man,” Vivanco said.

Solnick said he was an “amazing” person.

“I think that a lot of times, when someone dies, you have a tendency to idealize them, but no — we really appreci-

ated him and admired him when he was here,” she said.

“It’s not any kind of looking back and seeing things as better than they were; he was really, really special.”

Kwass said she feels “blessed to have had the opportunity to know him and learn from him.”

Knowing your protein Thoughts dictate well-being Allison Carey

Weekly Health Columnist Protein is a popular preworkout and post-workout drink. Use this quick cheat sheet to learn more about the most popular kinds of protein.

Whey protein Milk is manufactured and separated down into curds and whey.

Twenty percent of protein in milk comes from whey, which is separated from curds and processed.

Pros: It is quickly absorbed by the body, it helps with recovery time, promotes lean muscle growth and fat loss and it is a source of added calories, if that’s your goal.

Cons: It may upset your stomach if you are sensitive to lactose. It is also an added source of calories, if that isn’t your goal.

Egg white protein It’s a complete protein that comes from separating out egg yolks and dehydrating the egg whites.

Pros: One serving provides up to 24 grams of protein and four times the amount of protein in one egg.

It is lactose-free and contains considerable amounts of vitamins A, B and D. Cons: It is one of the most expensive types of protein and egg allergies are somewhat common.

Pea protein are dried. ground up and used as a powder.

Pros: This is perfect if you are vegan or vegetarian and it is also hypoallergenic, meaning allergen friendly.

Cons: Although it contains many essential amino and shouldn’t be a primary source of dietary protein.

Soy protein Soy protein is concentrated or isolated from dried soy beans.

Pros: It improves immune function and bone health. It could also help prevent cardiovascular disease and reduce cancer risks.

Cons: Some soy is genetiAllison Carey is a senior English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

Marissa Lanoff So Psyched Columnist Right now, there may be countless thoughts swirling through your head.

These thoughts drift through our consciousness, and we often don’t give them much attention.

In this time of speculation, the thoughts themselves are not the entire problem.

Rather, the problem is the manner in which we say them to ourselves.

When it comes to ourselves, we are the harshest critics. ourselves all the time in this way, by our self-talk. Many people berate themselves —‘I’m such an idiot!’— in a very harsh way,” stated Bodhipaksa on Wildmind.com, a blog dedicated to Buddhism and mindfulness.

It is vital to ask yourself, how are these thoughts affecting how I feel?

Perhaps we critique ourselves mentally because we think it will inspire change.

However, this kind of

judgemental thinking is more detrimental than helpful.

Yes, it’s normal to be disappointed in yourself and to want more for yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to mentally abuse yourself.

Would you speak to a friend in that same manner?

“I’ve tried starting my days with the mantra ‘today’s going to be a good day’ time and time again, only to be disappointed when things don’t work out during the said.

“But I realized that even if the day isn’t perfect, saying that to myself changes my perspective and helps overall.”

But we are often too harsh on ourselves.

“What’s worse is that we usually don’t recognize that it’s even happening,” according to mindtool.com.

“Instead, we attribute our lack of success to inadequacy.

This, in turn, strengthens the negative messages we feed ourselves, and we get caught in a self-sabotaging cycle that

used because it is a good step to take before considering medication.

“Cognitive behavioral therapy works by changing people’s attitudes and their behavior by focusing on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems,” according to psychcentral. com.

Instead, replace the negative voice in your head with a reassuring and kind one.

You are more likely to listen to yourself and your emotions.

Your emotions directly relate with how you behave. around you.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a more liberated, energized and stimulated you by eradicating harmful thoughts and implementing positive self-talk.

So the next time you have a negative thought, acknowledge it, put it in perspective, and try to turn it into a nonone.

according to the website.

Today, if you were to see a psychologist about this, cognitive behavioral therapy treatment would likely be

Psychology major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

Li fe

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

5

Dancing through the night for a cause Heather Rankine Students danced into the night Feb. 20 as part of the annual Rallython event.

After a year-long fundraiser, UVM greek life partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network to host the 12-hour dance marathon.

The event took place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the Maple Ballroom in the Davis Center.

“To see it all come together is amazing,” junior Claire Giampetroni said.

All of this year’s funds will go to the Children’s Hospital at the UVM Medical Center, sophomore Claire Schwaegler said in a Feb. 11 issue of the Cynic.

“

Our hopes are to make this a tradition at UVM for years and years to come.

“

Madison McKinley Junior

“It’s nice to see everyone coming together for a good cause,” said sophomore Gaelyn Sullivan, chair of marketing for the event.

BEX ADAMS THE VERMONT CYNIC

A Rallython participant (left) interacts with Noah, this year’s champion chosen to represent the millions of children receiving medical treatment. The Rallython is a 12-hour yearly event hosted at UVM to raise money for the UVM Children’s Hospital. Rallython has raised over $32,000. appreciation for all of the room.”

“We are already planboard member Madison work the Children’s Miracle During the halfway mark, ning it for even more sucMcKinley said Rallython Network has done for her cess,” she said. “Our hopes there was a ceremony comhas currently raised over and other children. memorating all of the chilare to make this a tradition $32,000.

Morris was joined by this at UVM for years and years “All in all, I think it was year’s champion, eight-yearby illness. to come.” very successful,” McKinley old Noah.

The Children’s Miracle Rallythons are held acsaid. cros the country each year Network names a champion “I feel like we truly did and this year, $2.9 million every year to represent the an amazing job as a team to was raised over the weekend millions of kids being treatpull it all together,” she said. ed, according to their webthe treatments. for the Children’s Miracle When asked about dancing for 12 hours, sophomore site.

As for the future of the Network, according to a post Hannah Schaefer said, “You Danielle Morris, last dance marathon, McKinley on the UVM Rallython Facebook page. give yourself energy from year’s champion, spoke dursaid there will be another ing the event and voiced her all the other people in the Rallython next year.

Students to tackle race, gender and sexuality

“

Jackie Morris

I think it’s great that students feel comfortable being so open with an audience.

Race, gender and sexuality will be in focus at UVM March 13.

On this date, UVM will host the 11th annual UVM Student Conference on Race, Gender and Sexuality.

The conference will include presentations by students who submitted various scholarly papers and creative works.

These works explore the themes of the event, according to the gender, sexuality and women’s studies program.

Sophomore Christina Tsitso said she will be attending

“

time this year.

“I don’t know much about the issues being presented, which is why I want to go to the conference,” Tsitso said.

“I think it’s great that students feel comfortable being so open with an audience.”

Professor Emily Bernard is a key member involved with the conference.

Bernard works in the English department and is the interim director of the ALANA U.S. ethnic studies program.

Christina Tsitso Sophomore

Bernard said that the conference will also include a talk from keynote speaker professor Crystal Feimster from Yale University.

Feimster’s academic focus is racial and sexual violence, according to her proLYDIA KOERNER The Vermont Cynic

Professor Emily Bernard poses for a photograph in Old Mill March 9. Bernard is on the staff planning board for the 11th annual UVM Student Conference on Race, Gender and Sexuality to be held on campus March 13.

Bernard said she is on the planning committee and selection panel for the conference.

The works submitted by students are “creative, intellectual … not just scholarly,” Bernard said.

“The conference is like a performance,” she said.

“Students always come away being pleased to have their work submitted, chosen and presented. .”

Sophomore Andie Parento said she is interested in the conference.

“It’s important that the UVM community be aware and supportive of various issues regarding race, gender and sexuality,” Parento said.

“I’m excited to see what the students have to say about it.”

She is currently completing a project that focuses on rape during the Civil War, according to the website.

The conference is cosponsored by the race and ethnic studies program and the gender, sexuality and women’s studies program, according to their website.

ARTS

Refugee drummers return Allie Osorno In the midst of a brutal genocide a group of refugees, brought together by war and a common interest in music, played to ease the burden of war for their fellow countrymen.

“The Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars found music as a type of comfort, or reformed remedy,” band member Ruben Koroma said.

Sierra Leone experienced a brutal genocide during the 1990s that forced much of the population to seek refuge elsewhere.

Although the terror of war is what brought the band together, it is also what allowed them to ease much of the pain it induced Koroma said.

Not only has the band achieved fame within the music industry, but they also have a after the band, spread their story and eventually, their mission.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KISHA BARI

Members of The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars display the various instruments used in their music. After forming in the wake of war-torn Sierra The band has received various forms of support.

They appeared on “Oprah” and have welcoming fans that open up their homes for them.

They also collaborate with other foundations and anyone who is willing to lend a helping hand.

Koroma referred to the band’s style as “a West African blend of music.”

Their music varies from a type of reggae that originated in Sierra Leone, to using more acoustic instruments that can be heard on their most recent album “Libation,” Koroma said.

The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars have worked with other American artists.

“We are very open and enjoy

music” Koroma said.

“

ing fame, the group strove for their music to carry their mes-

The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars found music as a type of comfort, or reformed remedy.

“

exponent of our fame. The movie explains us and gives us the foundation of our recognition today” Koroma said. “People are touched by our music and our story”.

Since they are now able to return to their country, they have been able to expand their missions.

Their current project is focused on the Ebola crisis in their homeland.

“As we raise awareness, we’ve found that people really help,” Koroma said.

Traveling back and forth from their homeland and the United States, they have been cautious about the recent development of Ebola.

Although they cannot physically be in their homeland, they continue to work there to help aid their people as much as they can, Koroma said.

Ruben Koroma

ence in our music.”

They have worked with Aerosmith and many other artists such as Paul McCartney, Angelina Jolie and Ice Cube.

sage.

“As a group, they brought so much energy and joy to the stage. They would stop throughout the show to explain the history of Sierra Leone, and the

injustice brought down on its people as a result of war,” junior Connor Myers said.

As they have become more their music has taken multiple twists and turns.

While they maintain their traditional music, they have also been very open to new inSierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars play their next show in Montpelier, VT March 13.

They will debut their fourth album, “Libation,” which was More information about their missions can be found on their website, sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com.

Mr. Turner rating:

Film illustrates life of playboy Colin Kamphuis Arts Columnist Alcoholic, playboy, baby daddy; words one might use to describe the ill-tempered Joseph Turner, played by Timothy Spall, who is perhaps Britain’s greatest artist and the titular character of “Mr. Turner” tells the story of Joseph Mallor William Turner, a British painter active during the early 19th century. Turner was known for his use of the sea as a subject for his art and is considered one of the best romantic painters of the period.

He was also a founder of the impressionist movement, known for its unique portrayal of light. This was repeatedly hinted at throughout the movie with various references to Turner’s obsession with understanding the behavior of sunlight and its role in art.

Timothy Spall, perhaps most well known for his role as Peter Pettigrew from the “Harry Potter” series, gave a haunting performance as Joseph Turner.

With the short grunts Turner was famous for, Spall manages to convey the emotions of a man often too preoccupied with his work to engage others.

The audience is forced to listen with a keen ear so some important line or gut-

tural sound don’t go unnoticed.

Most remarkable about The

unorthodox

plot

departure from the usual Hollywood style. This is reason enough to enjoy the movie, but the visual composition of most scenes is breathtaking.

Luxurious mansions decorated with art in the verdant English countryside and galleries decked with masterpieces in the Royal Academy of the Arts leave the viewer in awe.

The colorful splendor of Mr. Turner’s environment gives the audience a deeper appreciation for beauty and art that encourages a closer connection with the artist himself.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

7

Dance duo to warm up Burlington magazine described as “an indie-pop soundtrack for almost any kind of debauchery.”

“Our live shows have always been an important part of what we’ve done,” he said.

“Anyone who has seen our

Cara Zhuang A popular indie pop power with a two-night event at Arts Riot on March 12 and 13.

Matt Johnson and Kim Schi-

ent genres we push into, from with a bit of a punk vibe. I feel

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT MILLER

They are performing two warm-up shows at Arts Riot March 12 and 13 to kick off their 2015 ‘New Glow’ tour.

The group has been gaining popularity since their formation in 2004, and UVM is no exception to their growing fanbase.

Junior Sydney Ward said she four day music festival.

“My friend is a big fan and she’s getting me into them more,” Ward said.

Despite the common notion

Senior DJ Duos’ last stand at WRUV Sandi Omanovic This spring will mark the duo’s show.

The Cash and Soul show, formerly The Cash and Pud’ show, has been providing the surrounding Burlington community with contemporary Hip-Hop, Rap, Soul, Jazz and Reggae music for over two years.

Cash, senior Cameron Kostyra, and Mr. Soul, se-

Artist: Bj the Chicago Kid (ft. Schoolboy Q) Album: Single Track: It’s true

Artist: Drake (ft. The Weeknd) Album: The Ride Track: The Ride

nior Nick White, spin their show on Friday nights from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The group informs its audience to the newest talent and up and coming artists.

The pair has done live interviews with artists such as; Tinashe and the Rapper Big Pooh.

Tune into WRUV 90.1 FM Friday nights for some of their fresh tunes.

Artist: Mick Jenkin Album: The Water Track: Dehydration

that professional life is not to be mixed with the personal, Johnto maintain both their professional partnership and romantic relationship.

“With most couples, I don’t know if it would work because it’s literally every waking second that we are together, but for us it works really well. With any of

of Matt and Kim LPs. The two have already released a single from the album, “Get It,” which Rolling Stone

able to get that diversity of what we do during our live shows on a recording.”

This experimental mindset led to the duo’s choice of Pine Street’s arts center as a venue.

Junior August Amirault recalls seeing Matt and Kim when they opened for Passion Pit at Madison Square Garden in 2012.

“They were crazy and handled the huge crowd really well,” Amirault said. “I’m excited to see what they’ll be like in this smaller setting.”

“We wanted to try out some won’t even do on the rest of the tour. There’s an energy that’s created in a spot like this that makes it very free to do any sort of weird shit you want,” Johnson said.

The concert will be held at Artsriot 8:30 p.m. March 12 and March 13.

Kanye West’s “All Day” rating:

New Kanye song is eh Lian Valera Arts Columnist

Radical and highly opinionated, Kanye West has gathered his entourage once again to deliver his new single “All Day.” The single is a part of his upcoming album, “So Help Me God.” The track presents an odd collaboration with artists Allan Kingdom, Theophilus London, and yes, Paul McCartney, The Beatles legend.

For those who are wondering who the heck Allan Kingdom is, here’s the scoop.

Originally from Canada, Kingdom was recognized by Plain Pat, an executive record producer and songwriter who has managed Kid Cudi, Alicia Keys and of course, West himself.

Kingdom’s beats are sweet feel, similar to the beats of Andre 3000, who inspired Kingdom.

Kingdom’s and other’s collaborations, however, bring nothing more than names to the table.

While some of these names are emerging and others are are deeply rooted in the music industry, their contributions ap-

Artist: Charles Bradley Album: Victim of Love Track: Strictly Reserved For you

our success, we get to share it together, and any of our failures, we get to wallow in it together,” Johnson said.

This tour promotes their upcoming album, “New Glow,”

essary.

London and Kingdom features in the track are straightforward “hype verse.”

McCartney, who is featured, adds his whistling and short guitar chords.

The lyrics were not any better than the collaborations.

The verses are poor an eccentric, typical of the new image West has developed over the years and lack of creativity when compared to earlier records such as “The College Dropout” and “Graduation.”

“

While some artists thrive when experimenting and utilizing new styles of music production, perhaps West needs to stick to the basics.

“

and illustration respectively, at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

“We were dating for a couple years before we started playing music together,” said Johnson, one of the two lead singers of the group.

This compatibility translated into the musical partnership that unintentionally formed between them.

Neither had any formal prior training in the instruments they play in Matt and Kim. “Kim had just seen a band and thought, ‘hey I just want to learn how to play drums,’ that was it. She’s such a committed person that she ended up getting a couple pieces of a drum set from a friend and just sat in her bedroom and learned,” Johnson said.

As for Johnson, his keyboard abilities were also self-taught.

“We just completely, accidentally started playing music together,” he said.

Kanye’s second album “The College Graduation” came out in 2004 and “Graduation,” his third album, came out in 2007.

Kanye’s new lyrics and tone are noticeably representative of the new “hype” rap style that has swept the rap world and is gaining the attention of rap listeners across the globe.

This new style often features short, but aggressive and

catchy verses accompanied by a trappy beat which the younger generation seems to have great pleasure in.

Ironically, the beat, produced by Charlie Heat, Diddy, French Montana and others seemed to be the only exhilarating contribution the track has to The beat is clean and simple with plenty of space to spit some serious rap.

And while yes; the beat is of value, it is not proportionate to the enormous collaboration of producers who should’ve delivered a hit by nature.

Ultimately, West’s new song delivered weak verses, an okay beat, and a whole lot names that took a whole lot of space in the credits.

While some artists thrive when experimenting and utilizing new styles of music production, perhaps West needs to stick to the basics.

Basics that have won him the loyalty of millions of listeners, a name in the industry and a net worth of $130 million.

Adding more names to the table, his new album, “So Help Me God,” is set to release May 10.

Other collaborations include 2 Chainz, Common, Rihanna, Drake and many others.

Hopefully the rest of the alper verses and whistles.

While there is not a release date for his next album, it will be his seventh and likely not his best.

8

D i st r act i o n s

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

UVM Stats of the Week

4.5

Thousand Hours Over the past week, UVM students on alternative spring break did over 4,500 hours of community service.

104 6

1.8

Overall cost for the new STEM complex will come to $104 million. UVM is hoping for $26 million in private donations, and recently received $1 million from the Pizzagalli Foundation.

The men’s indoor track team broke six school records this season, with outstanding performances in the 5K, mile, 500M, heptathalon, pole vault and distance medley.

Word Search UVM Majors and Minors Art History Dietetics Forestry Greek Mathematics Soil Science Vermont Studies Biochemistry Economics Geography Linguistics Natural Resources Speech Zoology Coaching English Gerontology Marketing Pharmacology Theatre

By Laurel Saldinger

Thousand Classes UVM offers 1,896 courses for undergraduate students. Course offerings for Fall 2015 will be released Monday, March 16.

27

Million Dollars

School Records

This week the distractions section chose to look at the news through numbers. From news to life to sports, sometimes numbers are the easiest way to see what’s going on at UVM.

37

Thousand Dollars The average Vermont college student leaves with $27,000 dollars of debt, according to the Institute on College Access and Success. Vermont schools are currently fighting for an increase in state spending on higher education.

Goalie Saves UVM men’s hockey goalie Mike Santaguida had a career high 37 saves March 8, helping Vermont to a quarterfinal win over Maine.

Opinion

Decade of dismantling EDITORIAL BOARD

STAFF EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief

In the world of higher education, few social issues are more pressing than sexual assault. If the casual observer of the media were to make a judgement, few would fault them for believing that many college campuses exist underneath the shadow of rape culture. At UVM, this culture is challenged. The 10th annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference April 9, and the Cynic is proud to celebrate a decade of this conference.

The most important reason to attend this conference is knowledge — knowledge of what exists here and all over the world that contributes to rape culture. For us at the Cynic, understanding the media’s role in covering and perpetuating rape culture is vital.

Too often does media coverage of sexual assault preserve the norms that maintain rape culture.

Many will remember the Rolling Stone article last December that profiled Jackie, the supposed victim of a gang rape at a fraternity at the University of Virginia. The article is the recipient of numerous awards, including “The Worst Journalism of 2014” by the

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Columbia Journalism Review and “Error of the Year” by the Poynter Institute.

After serious re-reporting by other journalists, it was found that the article was full of lapses in sound, sensible journalism. These errors led to embarrassing and confusing discourse surrounding the issue of sexual violence on UVA’s campus and around the country.

Among the other serious lapses in journalistic practices, the author failed to contact the fraternity brothers accused of committing the assault. Erik

Wemple, a media columnist for the Washington Post, criticized the author of the Rolling Stone piece, saying that she should have taken “every possible step to reach out and interview them, including emails, phone calls, certified letters, FedEx letters, UPS letters and, if all of that fails, a knock on the door.

No effort short of all that qualifies as journalism.”

The article and its fallout by many accounts forced a step backwards in the struggle to end sexual violence.

As students of journalism,

it’s our responsibility to learn from these mistakes. And as human beings, we all have a responsibility to learn about the forces at work that perpetuate heinous injustices.

The Dismantling Rape Culture Conference allows for this learning in a safe environment.

Registration for the event is still open, and over 200 people have already signed up.

Join us in celebrating the conference’s 10 year anniversary.

of all their identities as well as their life experiences. By only studying those with marginalized identities, those same identities are further pushed to the fringes of normalcy as being “other.”

There is not one singular way to be any identity. The way that each African- or CaribbeanAmerican identified person embodies their blackness is different, just like the ways that each Muslim exemplifies their religious beliefs or practices differs.

There is no right or way wrong to be genderqueer, pansexual or intersex.

The part of cultural competency that people often have trouble with is understanding that an identity is different for each person who claims it an equally valid.

The diversity courses, however, teach students about one idea of how a culture creates and lives out its social norms. Any divergence from those learned cultural markers is rendered inauthentic.

The taught perspective is often from that of a social scientist or academic scholar, rather those who live and breathe the culture daily.

Yes, both those the upper echelons of society and the general masses know about their cultures, but their experiences and understandings of themselves are very different.

The most problematic thing in the diversity courses is that students often leave classes with a seemingly expert knowledge on a culture when, in fact, they have learned only the superficial basics thereof. Making broad generalizations and reinforcing stereotypes may be even worse than being totally ignorant to the peoples studied in retrospect.

Diversity classes need to change in a few big ways. They need to focus on educating students about their own identities and the intersections between them. That means all abilities, classes, religions, etc. — not just race and ethnicity.

And those with normalized identities must come to understand how they are impacted as well.

Sexism is not a problem just for women, racism for people of color and classism for those of modest incomes.

Students and professors must have a stake in their edu-

cation in these classes.

Personal experience should not be left at the door, but rather needs to be brought in to each and every class. Stories, memories and experiences do matter, particularly in teaching people empathy. Classes should be discussion based with no more than 25 students in a class.

What needs to be taught is for students to see and celebrate the humanity of others. Diversity matters because it helps us connect with those who are different from us and from whom we are different as well.

We need to recognize people for who they are, not who they are imagined or constructed to be.

Students must know that normal is relative, and that stereotypes may not be false, but they are never someone’s whole story. People must learn to care for one another, both with respect to diversity and in spite of it.

As of now, that’s not something that’s being taught in our classrooms.

Rethink diversity courses Joseph Oteng Diversity is defined simply as difference, variety or a range of things.

There are few things that unite the various academic departments at UVM. All students must take two “diversity” courses. The courses are partitioned into “race and racism in the U.S.” and another covering “human and societal diversity,” both with focuses on fostering cultural competency.

Ask a student about their experience in the classes and, much like the supposed course content, it ranges greatly.

The problem with the courses is that they bring attention primarily to one type of diversity – that is, visible racial and ethnic diversities.

Diversity is in everyone. It is a cliché but it is so very important to acknowledge that no two people are the same.

People are combinations

Joseph Oteng is a senior religion major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2015.

Correction: In issue 21, Professor Raymond Vega was incorrectly credited with saying he was starting a “jazz revolution”. He did not say that and we regret the error.

Unsigned editorials officially reflect the views of The Vermont 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 opinion@vtcynic.com.

We are also committed to accuracy in all of our work. If for some reason there is an error, please send all letters of correction to cynic@uvm.edu.

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Sports

UVM advances in the playoffs The men’s ice hockey team faced annihilation at the hands of the University of round of the Hockey East tournament last weekend.

With just over four minyear Anthony Petruzzelli picked up a loose puck behind the Maine net and sent a backhand pass out into the slot.

Junior Jonathan Turk scoring the game-winner.

“Petruzzelli got it behind the net and kind of gave a nolook pass and no one found me and I just tried to shoot it through the net, as hard as I could,” Turk said.

UVM faced Maine four times this year prior to the four games by a combined score of 18 to 8.

However, head coach Kevin Sneddon recognized the challenge going into the weekend.

“It’s hard to score goals this time of year, everybody is playing such great team defense,” Sneddon said. “We’re ries next weekend.”

Both senior captain Mike Paliotta as well as Sneddon believed this time around would not be as easy as the others.

“They are not the same

team and neither are we,” they both said prior to the weekend’s series, acknowledging Maine’s performance.

The only realistic route left for UVM to return to the Frozen Four lies in winning the Hockey East championship and earning an automatic bid due to their poor record versus strong opponents.

Game one of the series started with a goal from Maine before UVM evened the score.

The Cats got goals from

“

I can still picture them holding the trophy.

“

Shane Town

Coach Kevin Sneddon

senior Alexx Privitera and sophomore Jarrid Privitera, as well as sophomores Brendan Bradley and Brady Shaw.

The Cats took game one Game two opened with a similar slow start from Vermont resulting in Maine’s Cedric Lacroix scoring only riod.

UPB event is busing students to Boston Colby Cunningham

The UVM Program Board has arranged an event where students have the opportunity to go to a Boston Celtics game at the TD Garden against the Los Angeles Clippers, with transportation included, for just $40. sold out in just three days, according to Queena Hoang, the assistant director of campus programs at UVM. The tickets went on sale Feb. 17 in the Davis Center.

UPB managed to buy 50 more tickets to give additional students a chance to attend the game.

UPB is organizing an event with the Celtics said Hoang.

Hoang, helped organize the event. Hoang said that she and members of Student Life wanted to use surrounding areas, such as Boston, to their advantage.

“Our mission is to provide that appeal to a wide population of students. Our hope for this event was to try something new, and we saw signs of success from the very start,” Hoang said.

UPB received a discounted

tickets from the Celtics.

UPB managed to lower the cost of already discounted tickets, so that students pay just $40 for a ticket that normally costs $75, including the roundtrip transportation Hoang said. a great price for this trip, seeing how it’s usually 40 bucks for just a round-trip to Boston on the Megabus,” junior Jaime Simmons said.

As a Boston native who has never been to a Celtics game, Simmons is especially excited to support her city’s team for the All 100 seats are located in the balcony overlooking the court.

Two buses will depart for Boston at 1 p.m. Sunday, March The bus will return to UVM immediately following the game.

Only current UVM students are eligible for this program, and there is a limit of one ticket per person, according to UPB. Students who are not going on the trip are encouraged to tune in to the game and keep an eye out for the UVM crowd.

For more information about this event, visit the Facebook page “UVM goes to the Boston Celtics Game.”

Senior Colin Markison tied the game later in the period with a power play goal, and Bradley also continued his scoring streak with a goal of his own, but the Cats would fall short. this time in favor of the Black Bears.

“You can’t chase the game all the time and feel like ‘hey we’re going to come back,’ Sneddon said. “We’re going to make mistakes but the goals they scored were nothing more than them wanting it more.”

The Cats would respond for game three, going up 1-0 night’s elimination game.

First-year Kevin Irwin glove side in the second perigoing into the third. half early in the third period utes to go scored again, evening the score for the Black Bears.

“Bounces happen like that, but we responded well and in overtime we played to win and that’s the bottom line,” senior defenseman and captain Mike Paliotta said.

The overtime period went back and forth.

Sophomore Michael Santaguida started all three games, making 84 saves throughout the weekend, according to UVM athletics.

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic Sophomore Trey Phillips battles a player from the University of Maine for the puck March 8 at Gutterson Fieldhouse. UVM advanced to the Hockey East

The Catamounts advance to the next round against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. UVM went 1-1 against BC this year.

The two contests against

the Eagles were decided by one goal. “I think we’re going to be a tough team to play against.” Sneddon said. “As I told them, I can still picture them holding the trophy.”

Senior tops team in points Alex Benoît Sports Columnist Over the course of a regular season in hockey, players are plagued by inconsistency, bad puck luck and, of course, injuries.

One thing is certain: numbers never lie.

Obviously one cannot just look at stats to see who the best players are; you have to watch each and every game and pay close attention.

So who is the best player this year for the men’s hockey team?

If we are talking strictly goal scoring and the intangible “clutch factor”, the numbers point to sophomore Brady Shaw.

Shaw led the team during the regular season with 14 goals, had nine assists and scored six of his 14 goals on the power play.

He was also tied for the team lead with fellow sophomore and linemate Mario Puskarich, with three game-winning goals.

Shaw has also been one of the more consistent scorers on the team, with one of the most steady point-growth rates, which is the rate of points earned by a player throughout

the season.

The obvious answer for defense would be the goaltender, sophomore Mike Santaguida.

Santaguida allows one-third of a goal less than senior Brody and has three shutouts comHowever, for skaters, senior captain Mike Paliotta has led the team from the start of the season in most statistical categories.

A players’ plus-minus can be seen as an irrelevant statistic, especially when taking into account who the player plays against and who he plays with on the ice.

Paliotta’s plus-minus ratio is on the team.

That player happens to be senior Dan Senkbeil, who plays about half of the minutes that Paliotta does each night.

“It’s tough not to vote for Mike Paliotta as the team MVP this year given that he’s leading the team in scoring as a defenseman, something that hasn’t been done at UVM since 1978,” said Alastair Ingram, men’s hockey play-by-play announcer and media contact. “He’s also as the captain and leader of the program since day one.”

Paliotta is generally the

kill units.

UVM’s power play goals and has helped the Catamounts maintain an 87.8 penalty-killing percentage.

So who is the best player overall?

Well according to the stats, the numbers point to Paliotta.

Head coach Kevin Sneddon plays a defense-oriented system.

Paliotta excels away from the puck as well as on the puck.

He leads the Catamounts in points this year with 10 goals points.

Students seem to think so as well.

First-year Zachary Hawkins agrees that Paliotta is the “MVP of the team.”

“He quarterbacks all the plays, he runs point,” Hawkins said. “He leads the team by example and makes everyone around him better.”

Besides serving as serving as the team’s captain, Paliotta also ist for the men’s hockey Senior CLASS Award.

The award is given to the player who excels both on and classroom setting.

S PO RTS

11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Former Cats prolong career Jack Estrin

For some UVM basketball players, playing at Patrick Gymnasium is just the beginning.

Recently, increasing numbers of UVM basketball players have signed to play professionally overseas.

In early February, former UVM point guard Sandro Carissimo became the fourth player ating class to sign a professional contract. Carissimo will be playing in Oviedo, Spain.

Carrisimo’s former teammates Candon Rusin, Clancy Rugg and Brian Voelkel were have also all signed professional contracts.

Rusin, the former UVM sharpshooter, plays in Slovakia, where in four games played he and shot over 40 percent from behind the three-point line.

In Luxembourg, Clancy Rugg has averaged 18.1 points the Musel Pikes.

Brian Voelkel has not start-

ed his season yet, but he will be playing for the Southwest Slammers in Australia.

These four former Catamounts join several other UVM players who are playing for professional teams around the world.

The list includes: Joey Accoui ’11 plays in Lebanon, Marqus Blakely ’10 plays in the Philippines, Taylor Coppenrath ’05 in Spain and Chris Holm ’07 plays in Japan.

Voelkel, who averaged nearly six assists per game in his senior season for the Catamounts, is hoping to use his time in Australia as a stepping-stone in his career.

“I chose to play here because me and my agent thought it would be a good place to start my career and use it as a potential stepping stone for Europe or wherever it leads me,” he said.

Although the thought of playing professionally had crossed Voelkel’s mind, it was UVM that he realized that it could be a real possibility.

“It didn’t really hit me until after the season when I started to go through the whole process, and that’s when I realized how

VERMONT CYNIC STOCK PHOTO

fortunate I was to be in this position,” said Voelkel.

In his senior year as a Catamount, Voelkel amassed nearly His passing ability and willingness to set up his teammates helped the Catamounts reach a 15-1 conference record last season.

mates, senior Hector Harold said. player,” Harold said, the Catamounts’ fourth leading scorer this season. “It was contagious a lot of the time and got me in the habit of always looking to create shots for my teammates.”

The professional success that the UVM basketball class

work ethic, not just their natural basketball talent, according to head coach John Becker.

“Most of the guys were lightly recruited out of high school, out Division I players, let alone professionals,” Becker said. “It’s a credit to the assistant coaches and players for working hard and getting better.”

-

athlete tweets

Mike Paliotta @mikepaliotta93 senior, men’s hockey ‘Can’t think of a better way to end my last game at the Gut, OT winner from Turk. Cats are moving on baby!! #BOOM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED SIMON

ROTC student athletes carry dual obligations

and my fellow ROTC cadets.

ROTC tends to be more divided by class than the track team. But both relationships involve communication and teamwork,” she said.

Simon views the relation-

two time-intensive programs.

“The army standards ask for time commitment on a bi-daily mon said. “This is a huge problem because track practices are draining and doing any more than the workouts made by coaches is too much on the body and easily burns out an athlete.”

“Meanwhile, not being with all the cadets each PT session makes one seem like they lack commitment,” he said.

A multi-event athlete for most recently took gold in the men’s heptathlon at the Amerchampionship at the Armory in New York.

“Doing ROTC while being an athlete has been the best decision I have made for my college career,” Peterson said.

SCOREBOARD Last Week WOMEN’S LACROSSE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

W

vs. High Point

L

vs. Stony Brook

W

vs. UMaine

13-11

79-77

3-2

Away 3/4

HOME 3/8

Home 3/8

Upcoming MEN’S LACROSSE

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

e

a daily commitment to doing what we love, it is a friendship.

My relationship with cadets has a profound feeling of trust and honor,” Simon said.

The cadets acknowledged

Aw ay

as well as sophomore Will Hopkins of the cross-country team.

Peterson said ROTC and varsity sports have a lot in common and notes the friendships she has made with members of both groups.

“I would say that there are ences in my relationships with

ently.

“The bond with track and

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

vs. Georgetown

H om

For few students at UVM, the job of being a student athlete is mixed with the responsibility that comes from being an ROTC cadet.

There are currently four students that both play a varsity sport and are ROTC cadets: sophomore Kyle Walsh on men’s lacrosse, seniors Heidi Peterson and Ed Simon on the women’s

Cameron Ward @CamWard11 “UVM is a special place. The support here is unlike any oth-

vs. Quinnipiac

AW AY

Freddy Fields

Emilie Cloutier grad student, women’s basketball @EmilieC_11 “Great moments are born from great opportunity.”

vs. Boston College

3/10

3 p.m.

3/11

3 p.m.

3/13-3/15 7 p.m.

-

12

S PO RTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

UVM Aikido Club considers the future Sarah Olsen

There is currently only one member of the UVM Aikido club – the president.

Senior Patrick Markley, president of the UVM Aikido club, came to UVM as a transfer said.

He came from a background of competitive martial arts, but when he heard about the Aikido club, he decided he really wanted to get involved, he said.

“Except for maybe boxing and MMA, peace is the ultimate resolution for all forms of martial arts,” Markley said.

Aikido is a non-competitive form of martial arts, Markley said.

There are no competitions, but there are seminars. techniques, Morihei Ueshiba according to the Aikido of Champlain Valley website.

“There is no punching or kicking; the movements are very circular and it’s all about blending with your partner’s energy,” Markley said.

Markley found this to be a beautiful philosophy.

George Rutherford, faculty advisor for the UVM Aikido club, agrees that it’s a unique type of martial arts.

“In Aikido, it’s just as impor-

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

tant to protect your partner as it is to protect yourself,” Rutherford said.

There are several factors for why the club is down to only one member, Rutherford said.

“We had a lot of great kids who were really involved in it, but they all graduated,” he said.

One of these factors is also a lack of recruitment over the last few years, he said.

“Whether it’s a club sport or varsity sport, you have to constantly be recruiting,” Rutherford said. campus location, he said.

The Aikido club has practices once a week for an hour and 15 minutes at Aikido of Champlain Valley, which is on Pine Street

downtown, Rutherford said.

“We had about 30 to 40 kids sign up at activities fair, but by and people realized where we’d be practicing, only about two kids showed up,” he said.

Rutherford said he has been having conversations with Leon Lifschutz, the UVM club sports out the future of the club.

He’s also been having conversations with Benjamin Pincus, the sensei instructor at Aikido of Champlain Valley, where the club practices are held, Rutherford said.

“Next fall will be a make or break semester for us,” Rutherford said.

Markley agrees that the fu-

ture of Aikido club is still up in the air.

Markley is looking for new leadership for the club.

“We need someone who is willing to take the time and effort to handle the club,” Markley said. “The future of it is conditional on that, or else it will

To someone who might be considering joining Aikido, Markley urges them to do their research and make sure they are willing to put the time into it. spiritual health,” Markley said.

“It’s all about the day-to-day development of yourself.”

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