The Vermont Cynic Issue 4

C ynic The Vermont

UVM Code Camp

Event returns for its third year

The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883

NEWS UVM continues Irene cleanup

1-4

ARTS

‘Games’ thwarts ‘young adult’ rap

5-7

LIFE

Inside the Queen City Ghostwalk

10-11 OPINION

What does GOP stand for anyway?

12-13 DISTRACT Camp Morning Wood

14

SPORTS Fall sports update

15-16

2

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 2 2 , 2 0 1 1 – Vo l u m e 1 2 8 I s s u e 4 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

New hours fuel late-night diners

Phish returns Proceeds from show benefit Irene victims

Page 7

Students’ requests answered

By Taylor Jones Staff Writer The Marché is the new hot spot to hit up at night, especially if you are looking for some entertainment to go with your late-night grub.

This semester, UVM Dining Services introduced new hours for several locations on campus. The Marché is now open till 1:30 a.m. on weekends, according to their website.

“I usually only come here when I’m shitfaced, so I don’t really know how much I spend, but when I do I am completely satisfied.”

Logan Bara First year “It’s awesome,” sophomore Scott Kalish said. “You go out and as you’re coming home it’s like, shit, the Marché is open; let’s go!”

The scene at the late-night Marché may be different from what occurs during daytime hours, because some students were observed meowing randomly and lying on the floor eating ice cream sandwiches.

A few students said that they

wanted coupons from Marché employees to buy lemons for tequila shots, while others only responded to questioning if they could be called Harry Potter.

“I usually only come here when I’m shit-faced so I don’t really know how much I spend, but when I do I am completely satisfied,” first-year Logan Bara said.

The satisfaction of students such as Bara is a direct result of the Student Government Association listening to input from the student body, SGA President Julian Golfarini said.

“Every time someone asks me about [late-night dining], I get so excited to tell them that it is a direct result of the SGA advocating for students with the administration and Dining Services to make it so that UVM operates on the same timetable as the students that call it home,” Golfarini said.

The SGA has been working since last year to make the hours at places like the dining halls and the library more student-friendly, he said.

The SGA also wants the students to know that they are here to achieve goals like this and improve the UVM college experience for all, Golfarini said. “[We want students to] let us know what changes they want to see on campus, what works and what doesn’t,” he said. “We want to know because we want to make it better.”

See DINING on page 2

‘Selling False Information’

Protestors battle greenwashing

By Becky Hayes, Assistant News Editor, Kiley Falcone, Staff Writer More than 40 UVM students gathered at the Catamount statue last Wednesday to walk downtown and rally outside the Burlington Hilton to protest against the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) at its annual conference.

SFI is a nonprofit organization that maintains a forest certification program, according to the SFI website.

Students and Burlington community members gathered to express their concerns that SFI is an “industry front group,” according to a press release.

Ralliers said that SFI has been “greenwashing” and deceiving consumers by promoting companies as environmentally friendly when they are not.

“SFI you’re false or fake, we don’t want you in our state,” UVM See RALLY on page 2

JON POLSON The Vermont Cynic

Junior Jon Nelson (right) gets “greenwashed” by Burlington resident Robert McKay at a rally against Sustainable Forest Inititive, downtown on Sept. 14.

MAx Landerman The Vermont Cynic

Trey Anastasio of Phish performs at Champlain Valley Exposition.

The sold-out show raised more than $1.2 million for Irene cleanup.

Rules set for spouse Changes made after scandal

By Mat Degan Cynic Correspondent University officials are hoping to better define the role of a presidential partner, and to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

In their first meeting to address procedural changes surrounding the Rachel KahnFogel scandal, the Board of Trustees reviewed a draft of a new presidential spouse policy on Sept. 12 to be adopted at their next meeting in October.

“My vision is that this document will give spouses a roadmap with boundaries and that UVM will know the same things [they do],” trustee Bill Botzlow said.

The board indicated a desire to pass the policy sooner rather than later so that those on the Presidential Search Committee can present the guidelines to prospective replacements for former President Daniel Mark Fogel.

Any position that a spouse might want to fill, volunteer or otherwise, would be subject to Board of Trustees Chair Robert Cioffi’s approval, according to the proposed policy.

The president’s partner could continue to be involved in activities and programs sanctioned by UVM but would not be “obligated or expected” to do so. For those spouses wishing to gain employment within the University, they would find

themselves bound to the same policies that govern other UVM job hopefuls.

The ad hoc committee, in a self-proclaimed “air traffic control” approach, also outlined policies that would shore up unaccounted travel expenses and limit spousal authority with regard to other university employees.

“My vision is that this document will give spouses a roadmap with boundaries and that UVM will know the same things [they do].”

Bill Botzlow Trustee “Due to his or her status as a volunteer, the partner is not, and shall not be, authorized to enter into negotiations or contracts on behalf of the University,” the document stated. “In addition, the partner shall not have supervisory authority over university employees.”

The board’s policy change followed their earlier investigation in May of KahnFogel’s relationship with former employee Michael Shultz.

See TRUSTEES on page 3

2

NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

UVM continues Irene cleanup In wake of disaster, students and faculty respond with donations, volunteer work

By Sarah Leidinger Staff Writer Students buying dinner at Brennan’s or getting coffee at the Waterman Café may have noticed the donation jars labeled “Hurricane Irene Relief Effort” at checkout.

Since Irene struck on Aug. 27, there have been and will be many fundraisers and events held by the UVM community to raise money in support of recovery efforts, said Gary Derr, vice president of executive communications.

UVM is planning on sending the fundraised money to three locations: the American Red Cross, Vermont Food Bank and Vermont Disaster relief Fund, Derr said. “[Vermont Food Bank needs] financial resources because they have the capacity to take a dollar and turn it into a much larger return,” he said.

The University has been encouraging students to volunteer for United Way of Chittenden County, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers to people impacted by the disaster, Derr said. “[Since] that first weekend when there was a critical need for emergency cleanup, there has been a lot of aid given and more is happening,” he said.

In an effort to assess the damage Irene has had on UVM faculty and students, the University made a survey to find

out how to better aid students affected, Derr said.

“Right now we have 55 people that have responded to the survey that were impacted,” he said.

“We’re kind of dealing with it on a case-by-case basis.”

“We saw whole bridges washed away, houses were half collapsed, cars were relocated into the stream by Irene. It was terrible to see.”

Vince Guy Head coach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club UVM Police Services volunteered to provide relief and support for towns that were hit hard, Derr said.

“In one of the towns there was a cemetery that was badly damaged by the flood and caskets washed up because of soil erosion,” he said.

Two police officers went down and guarded that cemetery until they could do a recovery of those caskets and appropriately manage them, Derr said.

“On Aug. 27, our town celebrated its 250th founding anniversary and on Sunday, when the flooding hit, it destroyed the historical society building with all its records of the town [and] washed away,” he said.

Some clubs on campus have organized relief efforts to do their part in helping Vermonters.

On Sept. 10, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club went to Stockbridge to help clear debris, recovery lost property, and stock the local food shelf, according to a press release.

“We saw whole bridges washed away, houses were half collapsed, cars were relocated into the stream by Irene. It was terrible to see,” head coach Vince Guy said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to help my neighbors and to show the students and community what the power of service could do,” he said.

Interim President John Bramley was heartened by the way the UVM community has been helping with the cleanup and recovery efforts to aid fellow Vermonters, according to an announcement by University Communications.

“This has been an unprecedented disaster for Vermont and it requires sustained efforts on all our parts both in the short term, but in the weeks and months ahead,” Bramley said.

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Students chow down during a midnight snack break at the Marché on Friday, Sept. 16 during its new late-night dining hours, which extend until 1:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

DINING Marché and Harris Millis are first to stay open late ...continued from page 1 SGA worked closely with Sodexo marketing assistant Jay Taylor to create a plan that worked for both employees and students, that wouldn’t cost the University much money and to address students’ desire for allnight dining.

“Students are clearly psyched about late-night, however, we are already noticing that customer volume is very low at the end of the current late-night time slot, suggesting that extending any later would be unnecessary,” Taylor said.

Overall, students and workers are satisfied with the new schedule, Taylor said.

“Despite the late nights and long hours, dining staff at both Harris Millis and the University Marché had little trouble making necessary schedule adjustments and, with a few exceptions, students have been very happy and respectful during the latenight dining period,” he said.

While the response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, there are few issues that could be worked out, Marché worker Erik Taylor said.

“Everybody loves it,” Taylor said. “Our business is really good. We could probably be a little bit better staffed, but we are handling it pretty well.”

There have also been

problems with students leaving large amounts of garbage behind for the staff to clean.

“The big drawback to it is everyone is really sloppy, like huge messes of ketchup all over the floors,” he said. “No one buses their own tables.”

There is also concern for the safety of having the Marché open so late.

“So far there haven’t been any problems with anyone being belligerent or something like that,” Taylor said. “Because we are open this late and during the weekend, I have the feeling something bad might happen, but I hope not.”

JONATHAN POLSON The Vermont Cynic

ForestEthics Organizer Adam Gaya rallies protesters at the march against SFI at the Hilton hotel on Sept. 14.

RALLY

Against industry ‘greenwash’

...continued from page 1 students chanted.

A nonprofit environmental organization called ForestEthics claimed that SFI has stated false information about their business, according to the ForestEthics website.

SFI is funded by American Forest & Paper Association and allows the use of toxic chemicals, clear-cutting and putting false eco-friendly labels on their products, according to the website.

“For more than 20 years, I’ve investigated how various industries try to greenwash their image, and SFI is probably the most outrageous case of all,” said Brian Tokar, professor of environmental studies and director of the Institute for Social Ecology.

At the rally in front of the Hilton, Tokar roused the crowd with a speech against the practices of the SFI. “Here in Vermont, we know what a greener world looks like, [and it] doesn’t involve the timber industry,” he said.

Community members

Lindsay Gillies and Robert McKay came to the rally wrapped in bath towels and used green paint and sponges to “greenwash” ralliers and make their statements against SFI ideals.

“It’s really unfortunate that another corporation is trying to use Burlington’s green image to sell their product,” Gillies said.

Doug Creighton, a forestry conservation student from the University of Toronto, was invited to the SFI conference and said that he felt the SFI is doing what it can to keep the forest a forest. “”We are really trying to keep the forest going and the only way to do that is cut them at a sustainable level,” Creighton said.

Forestry major Sean Mahoney works at the SFI and asked some of his fellow students why they were rallying against the company he represents.

“When asked that they couldn’t give me any facts,” Mahoney said. “And for the record, for those students that biked here, I biked to this conference too. I’m trying to do my part as well.”

Code camp comes to UVM

By Taylor Jones Staff Writer Students with a knack for electronics or the future technology millionaires of UVM may have spent last weekend at camp.

UVM hosted its third annual Code camp, a one day event targeted towards individuals with an interest in technology or science on Sept. 10, according to the Code camp website.

The event featured 26 different seminars that visitors could attend throughout Kalkin Lecture Hall. This year showed an increase in interest from both students and professionals, event

organizer Bradley Holt said.

“We had 158 attendees this year; this was up from 125 in 2010 and 85 in 2009, our inaugural year,” Holt said.

Code camp also had several companies who were hiring those attending, he said.

“Vermont Code Camp is a great opportunity for the local freelance developer to get out and meet other people who actually want to talk about the stuff you do,” Brian Hunter, of Hunter Creative, said.

The camp also made use of the social networking site Twitter to spread the word, Hunter said.

n ews

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

UVM faculty advises UN report Topics include ecosystems and food security

By Lauren Drasler Cynic Correspondent A UVM staff member advised a report that reaches well past the borders of Burlington.

The United Nations released a report advised by UVM Gund fellow Marta Ceroni on Aug. 22 titled “An Ecosystems Approach to Water and Food Security.”

“I got involved with this report and the U.N. as a result of my work with Bioversity International and my work with agrobiodiversity,” Ceroni said.

Ceroni had an advisory role in the report and helped to guide the authors in focusing on larger ecosystems, she said. “[We worked] toward the important aspects of building biodiversity and ecosystem services in intensive agricultural systems,” Ceroni said.

The report featured innovative ideas about the importance of biodiversity and services within larger ecosystems, she said.

“The research discusses the large potential for improvement and better management of agricultural lands for water and food,” Ceroni said.

One of the bigger topics in the report is food and water security, featuring success stories and ideas to improve availability to both, she said.

The article also deals with agroecosystems, a term coined by ecologists to remind us that we can look at agriculture as an ecosystem rather than an activity, Ceroni said.

“The research discusses the large potential for improvement and better management of agricultural lands for water and food.”

Marta Ceroni Gund fellow “In some cases, agroecosystems can be made productive and more diverse by combining important functions, Ceroni said. “For example, wetlands that are managed for

fish production and livestock grazing crop cultivation.”

Some students said they are impressed with the global reach of the work of Gund fellows.

“It’s really interesting for me to see the broader impact that the Gund Institute has on the world,” graduate student Brian Kelly said.

“I think that by having someone from [Gund] getting their voice heard is more inspiration for the work we’re doing, and it speaks to the shift in global awareness about ecological economics.”

Though Ceroni said she is optimistic about the report and feels that it is a step in the right direction as far as raising awareness is concerned, she wishes the article had gone more in-depth.

“I think if there is a followup to this report, it will need to be more zoomed-in and appeal to a different audience,” Ceroni said. “There are many in-country and on-ground organizations that can help farmers adopt the changes suggested in the report and would benefit from that level of information.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANKIE PONDOLPH The Vermont Cynic

Waterman, Aiken receiving attention New seating space, green roof to be added

By Elliot Sangara Cynic Correspondent Students who have been in Waterman recently may have seen the renovations taking place on the first floor, directly outside the Waterman Café.

UVM construction workers will be focusing a majority of their efforts on finishing the projects on Aiken and Waterman, Robert B. Vaughan, Director of Capital Planning and Management, said.

“The majority of the work is [café] seating, there’s also going to be a new water fountain that is ADA, [Americans with Disabilities Act], approved,” Vaughan said.

I am especially happy that students would have much more seating space available, as well as new furniture to utilize while dining at the Café, he said.

The idea for the renovations came after Richard Cate, vice president of finance, noticed that

students would often be sitting on the ground lining the entire hallway on the first floor due to the lack of seating, Vaughan said.

“It’s better if students are involved. They have fresh minds, new ideas and might see things that established people in the field would not.”

Tom Cohen Senior The total cost of the Waterman renovations is $139,000, he said.

Besides the Waterman construction, the majority of construction on campus is directed toward finishing the renovations to the George D. Aiken Center, Vaughan said.

“Aiken should be completed

during the semester break,” he said. “It’s a renovation, but it looks like a brand new building.”

One of the unique things about the Aiken renovation was that they used student input and projects in the design process, he said. One program had natural resource majors design and construct roof trays to be used in the building.

Some students said they agree with the decision to allow student design.

“It’s better if students are involved,” senior Tom Cohen said. “They have fresh minds, new ideas and might see things that established people in the field would not.”

“It’s good for your resume, and this school is all about student involvement so why not have the students help build things,” Cohen said. “The Natural Resource department is great about giving us opportunities.”

Crime log

3

Drugs

Marijuana was confiscated from a UVM student near Wilks Hall on Sept. 12.

Marijuana and a pipe were confiscated from a UVM student on Sept.

15 at the Harris Millis Amphitheater.

Other incidents

By Becky Hayes Assistant News Editor

Theft

A bicycle near Jeffords Hall was stolen on Sept. 14.

A wallet was stolen from an employee’s office in Waterman on Sept. 12.

A steel railing was taken from the construction site on Redstone Campus on Sept. 12.

There was a car accident involving two vehicles in the Patrick Gym circle on Sept.

13.

An open window in a car in the Converse parking lot Sept. 14 resulted in items in the car being moved around, but nothing was taken.

A student was criminally charged with domestic assault near the Living/ Learning Center and will appear in court on Sept. 20.

TRUSTEES Meeting spawns new policy ...continued from page 1 There were additional concerns of unauthorized meal costs during the couple’s tenure — $151 in total during university travel, of which Fogel has fully reimbursed the University, according to a board report in August.

The former presidential couple fostered a workplace that “negatively affected morale in the Development Office and created ongoing distractions from the pursuit of the fundraising objectives of the University,” according to the investigation.

With the benefit of hindsight, the board has proposed a system that includes a “pathway of remediation” for future spouses whose behavior might jeopardize the workplace.

“It is problem solving at an earlier stage,” said Francine Bazluke, vice president for legal affairs.

One suggestion to further safeguard against dishonesty by university employees came from board member Mark Young, who raised the idea of a university credit card for which the holder would be responsible for all payments made.

They could then present to the University receipts of their spending and, pending approval, be reimbursed for universityassociated costs, Young said.

Students said their reactions were mixed; some admitted

ignorance of the tabloid-worthy transgressions that forced Fogel to resign, while others were reproachful.

Deborah Krug, a 2008 UVM alumna and current continuing education student, said she was “outraged” at the allegations that surfaced this summer and was disappointed that in a time of high unemployment and financial struggle for so many Americans, overindulgence and irresponsibility seem to have marred the Fogel era.

“Considering our nation is in a giant recession, seeing this amount of waste and self-centered behavior from your leaders is disheartening.”

Deborah Krug 2008 alumna and continuing-education student “Considering our nation is in a giant recession, seeing this amount of waste and selfcentered behavior from your leaders is disheartening,” Krug said.

CORRECTIONS

In last week’s Crime Log, marijauna and drug related objects were confiscated from students near the Catholic Center, not in it.

In the Life section, Magnolia has re-opened to business

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NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

LGBTQA gets $18,304 grant

New program trains next generation of farmers ‘All new equipment’ fills CyberCenter

By Jordanna Goodman, Senior Staff Writer, Sarah Strohmayer, Cynic Correspondent

By Elliot deBruyn Senior Staff Writer The LGBTQA CyberCenter has received an $18,304 facelift.

The computer lab received eight new computers, a scanner, a printer and licenses for Adobe Photoshop and Pagemaker, according to a University press release.

The center received an initial grant from the David Bohnett Foundation in 2006 for $28,584.

This second grant is part of the process, foundation program officer Paul Moore said.

“We revisit the CyberCenter every three to five years,” Moore said. “We thought the UVM LGBTQA Center was great.”

Director of LGBTQA services Dorothea Brauer said this grant renewal is helping to keep the center connected with students.

“The CyberCenter is by far our most popular facility,” Brauer said.

Nelson Sears, the LGBTQA Office Manager, said the new equipment will benefit all students on campus.

“It brings up the last letter of our acronym, the ‘A.’ We’re advocates, so [the CyberCenter] is open to all students,” Sears said.

The old computers from the initial grant will be “repurposed for use by UVM’s ALANA Center, UVM Hillel and the Women’s Center,” the press release stated.

This grant is a one-time refresh grant, so the future of the CyberCenter’s funding is not

ELLIOT DEBRUYN The Vermont Cynic

Diana Gonzalez, an alcohol educator at the Center for Health and Wellbeing, uses one of the LGBTQA Center’s new computers.

The eight new computers were part of a grant given by the David Bohnett Foundation. known, Sears said.

“We will see what the future brings,” he said.

The David Bohnett Foundation, whose mission is

“improving society through social activism,” has given more than $42 million in various grants in the past 12 years.

After six months of being a student in the Farmer Training Program, students will have all the skills they need to start and sustain their own farm.

New to the University of Vermont, the Farmer Training Programs aims to train students in hands-on skill based education in sustainable agriculture, according to their website.

“We want the students to be leaders in the food systems, and through their knowledge, create new sustainable farms,” Andrea Ziga, program planner, said.

Currently, the program has 12 students enrolled in its first ever session taking place at the University of Vermont.

“I love Vermont and I saw this program so I did it,” said Danielle George, a student in the Farmer Training Program. She said that she is enjoying the program and what it has to offer.

George said that not all of the students are involved in the program because they want to be farmers. Some are in it because they want to work in the field of agriculture and food systems.

One of the goals of the program is to use all of the diverse resources available in the community to help students learn, Program Director Susie Walsh Dalso said.

“The program has a deep appreciation for the greater community,” Dalso said. “The

hands-on experience, research and classroom teaching make this a one-of-a-kind program to create the sustainable farmers of tomorrow.”

George said that the program meets five days a week — two days at UVM’s horticulture farm, two days at other, local farms and one day in the classroom or on a field trip.

At UVM’s horticulture farm, she said the students have farmed the land that started out as sod.

According to the program’s website, it is at this site where the students are encouraged to think like farmers.

At the horticulture farm, the students do a variety of tasks, including observing crops, planting crops in the field, and taking care of weeds and pesticides, George said.

“I didn’t know anything about farming before this program, but I’ve learned a lot,” George said.

On the two days that the students spend at other farms there are three farms in particular that they go to, she said. They go to Bread & Butter Farm, Intervale Community Farm, and Half Pint Farm, which is a smaller farm part of the Intervale.

Already at Michigan State and UC Santa Cruz, the farming apprenticeship program hopes to help the nontraditional students by furthering their education, according to their pamphlet.

The second session of the Farmer Training Program begins May 2 and is now accepting applications.

ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

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Exhibit takes viewers on outdoor excursions BCA and Gregory Volk bring landscapes from around the world to Burlington

By Madeleine Gibson Senior Staff Writer “Outdoor Excursions,” guestcurated by “Art in America” writer Gregory Volk, explores the adventures found in nature across the globe as interpreted by 13 international artists.

Visitors are taken from the very literal landscapes of Icelandic volcanoes to unconventional renderings of Mount Mansfield on all three floors of the Burlington City Arts Center until Dec. 3.

Originally from upstate New York, Volk started working with the BCA after receiving word of the Phish-sponsored art residency program housed in Trey Anastasio’s barn.

“He is just a huge Phish fan,” gallery manager and assistant curator Kerri Macon said of Volk.

“He volunteered, made visits [and] lectured.”

According to Macon, he made this exhibit possible through connections with artists around the world. Berlin, Switzerland, Iceland and Vermont are a few of the locations represented.

Various media, themes and styles deliver incredible takes on what excursions are to be had in our distant backyards.

Swiss artist Roman Signer has transformed the contemporary fourth floor gallery with video sculptures on each wall.

Flat screen televisions are mounted, each film creating a material confrontation with

Jonathan Polson The Vermont Cynic

New Burlington residents, Harlan and Zach, view artist Roman Signer’s display in the “Outdoor Excursions” exhibit at the BCA gallery. nature.

A double-ended umbrella is tossed and skewed by harsh coastal winds. A table is carried on the back of a river.

In a stream, Signer is shown securing a swivel office chair. As he steps away over and over again as the film repeats, the rush of freshwater spins the chair with a static current all its own. The noises of all six frames are played continuously.

“It so contrasts with the very modern, minimalist space,” BCA administrative assistant Melinda Johns said.

This idea of mobility through each artist’s focus is further explored on the second floor. In front of Brooklyn-red buildings, two ballerinas with wings fixed to each arm are filmed flying through the city.

“I love the spin … of an industrial, altruistic

environment,” Johns said of the Brazilian choreography duo and filmmaker Phil Harder. “I am most drawn to ‘Flying Lesson.’”

Loading docks and gritty street art change scenes to city parks and water.

An airborne, urban expedition is different, yet no less satiating, than Sebastiaan Bremer’s more conventional nature photography of the Swiss Alps.

Bremer makes his photos

especially exceptional with the direct application of paint. The Dutch artist creates warm light in wildflower fields at the bottom of snow-capped mountains.

“Outdoor Excursions” is mobile in each depiction of varied landscapes.

“You are auto-transported,” Johns said. From inside the studio, Volk has ripped us from our feet to the foreign canvas of artists around the world.

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ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Book review

alexa reilly

‘Games’ thwarts its ‘young adult’ rap What are you willing to sacrifice? Honestly. Let’s say the person you love most — your mom, your brother, your dog, your best friend — was about to die. Only you could save them.

What would you do?

Katniss Everdeen is willing to give everything up to save her little sister, Prim. She’s willing to take her place in the annual Hunger Games — a public government-run gladiatorial tournament.

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins is dystopian young adult fiction.

Katniss is ripped from her home in poor, coal-mining District 12 and shipped off to the Capitol, where she will be forced to fight 23 other teenagers to the death. The other contestant that is chosen from her district is the baker’s son, Peeta Mellark, who

will either become Katniss’ most dangerous enemy or her best bet at surviving.

The government is a constant source of anger, frustration and, above all, fear. To remind the working class of its control, the government of Panem subjects its people to thinly veiled demonstrations of power.

Katniss, the main character, is a strong girl — logical but emotionally relevant, and as such is a refreshing change from the character monotony of the modern young adult market.

The story is original, as are the personalities and thought processes of the characters.

More importantly, this is a book that can hold the attention span of the masses.

It is well-paced. The last 200 pages will take as long for the reader as the first hundred did. The whole book flies. Even if you aren’t much of a reader, “The Hunger Games” is a book you won’t regret starting. Collins

Katniss, the main character, is a strong girl — logical but emotionally relevant, and as such is a refreshing change from the character monotony of the modern young adult market.

knows her audience, and she writes well for them.

The flaws in this book are small and easily overlooked by the casual reader.

While the character of Katniss is original and inspiring, her narration is sometimes paranoid.

She has a tendency to over-judge and to mistrust those that are her friends. It is an intentional flaw in Katniss’s character, but one that can sometimes be annoying.

Peeta Mellark, the love interest throughout the novel, is charming but a bit useless. He spends the majority of the story either out of scene, or injured.

The upside of this is that Collins creates a subtle gender reversal: the female role becomes the protector, and the male becomes the rescued.

Despite these flaws, “The Hunger Games” is a must read.

Music review

sean hood

The Band: ‘Music from Big Pink’ is American music While America has been the source of countless new and remarkable musical genres over the past 40-odd years, including hip-hop and techno, it is hard to classify any of this output as American music.

It’s hard to classify American music as a genre at all.

In an effort to save space and time, I’m going to opt not to take this study all the way back to the fields and battles of our country’s turbulent beginnings. See, I don’t think it’s too outlandish to sum up American music within the confines of one turbulent summer: the summer of 1967, and one band — The Band.

Before the summer of ’67, The Band functioned solely as a back-up group, first for Ronnie Hawkins and later, in ‘66, for Bob Dylan.

Even before they had begun writing their own songs, these five Canadians and one Arkansan were doing a great deal to characterize America and its music.

Left to their own devices, in a house dubbed “Big Pink,” located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, they defined American music.

“We carried you in our arms/ On Independence Day/And now you’d throw us all aside/And put us on our way.” These are the first words sung on “Music From Big Pink,” The Band’s debut album.

The song, co-written by Bob Dylan during the sessions for what later became known as “The Basement Tapes,” is called “Tears of Rage.”

While those lines alone paint an assuredly American portrait, it does not end there. The singer, Richard Manuel, mourns the loss of a country, one that he has sacrificed his life for as if it were his own child.

Displaced and dejected, Manuel’s vocal performance is impossible to hear without simultaneously feeling. And that’s only the beginning.

From those first words, straight through to the last, “Music From Big Pink” depicts a mythic yet tangible country wise beyond its years.

The album seems to effortlessly build a bridge to the past and run back and forth across it. There are love stories, ghost stories, war stories and every other kind of American tale you’ve ever heard.

Not to mention the music, which — by the way — is American. It’s folk music. It’s rock n’ roll. It’s the blues. It’s gospel and old spirituals.

The combination of such diverse influences gives the album a timeless feel while the influence it has had since its release nearly 45 years ago has made it truly timeless.

To be clear, I’m not saying that American music can only be found on a single LP. What I‘m saying is something more like this: There’s American music, and then there’s post-”Music From Big Pink” music.

They revolutionized the genre. They brought all the pieces together, and they brought their creation to the forefront of popular music. They made history come alive and they made history.

Do yourself a favor — listen to The Band’s “Music From Big Pink.”

Arts Calendar

fri

Fallfest 2011 with Mac miller and The White Panda 7 p.m.

Patrick Gym

sat

Sam roberts band with zeus 8 p.m.

Higher Ground pulse prophets with soul rebel project 9 p.m.

Nectar’s (21+)

sun

greg davis presents 8:30 - 11:30 p.m.

BCA Center

wed The Painted word poetry series 6 - 7 p.m.

Fleming Museum

ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

7

Hanna Klein The Vermont Cynic

Rubblebucket lead vocalist Kalmia Traver dances on stage in front of a banner that reads “We Love Vermont” at Higher Ground in Williston on Sept. 16.

Arts community comes together for Irene relief

Benefit performances support clean-up efforts

By Jake Dougher Cynic Correspondent

Having left a trail of destruction in its wake, Hurricane Irene has done its best to unsettle residents throughout Vermont.

Yet she was unable destroy the sense of solidarity and generosity throughout the Burlington community, as suggested by the recent wave of relief events and benefit concerts that have been put on around the city.

Nectar’s and Club Metronome held a benefit concert featuring scores of acts from around Vermont that joined together for an afternoon and evening of shows on two different stages.

“Burlington is such a tight community that when something like this happens, people will hear about it and join together in amazing ways,” event MC Tito Keefe said.

A majority of the staff at the event were volunteers, including Healthy Hippie founder Taraleigh Weathers, who set up the auction and contacted all the companies about donating products.

Thousands of dollars of

merchandise were donated from companies such as Burton, Seventh Generation, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Wanderlust, Garcia’s and Tradewinds, as well as work from photographers Sam Hoffman, Brian Jenkins, Judy Fenton and Greg Gouwens.

Tickets to Fenway Park, Higher Ground and a season pass to Nectar’s were also available, yet arguably the most sought after items were two posters from Phish that had been signed by the entire band.

As noted by the auction’s curator, “every penny counts.”

When it comes to aiding those in need, each certainly does.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket sales and the auction, as well as 10 percent of the bar sales at Nectar’s went to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund — a fund that was created by the United Way of Vermont in cooperation with Vermont Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Vermont Emergency Management, according to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund website.

A number of other music and art benefits are being hosted around Burlington to support those suffering at the hands of Irene as well.

Another benefit event was put on by the Burlington Ensemble at Champlain College.

Proceeds from this event went to the Intervale Center Farmers’ Recovery Fund, which in this case, gave money to farmers whose crops were destroyed by the flooding of the Winooski River, Burlington Ensemble cofounder and violinist Michael Dabroksi said.

At $10 a ticket, the event raised $5,530 to benefit the farmers. Local artists Katherine Montstream and Bonnie Ackers also donated paintings to be sold at the event, according to Dabroksi.

Other benefit events included a Rubblebucket and Ritmo Masacote concert at Higher Ground on Sept. 16 sponsored by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and number of other Vermont businesses and a Phish benefit concert, among others.

Hanna Klein The Vermont Cynic

Audience members cheer and dance on stage as a Rubblebucket trombone player performs at their Friday night show at Higher Ground.

Max Landerman The Vermont Cynic

Phish bassist Mike Gordon plays alongside Trey Anastasio for a sold-out venue at the Essex Fairgrounds on Sept. 14.

Phish draws big crowd, raises more than $1.2M

Band plays flood recovery charity show

By Russell Zintel Staff Writer The Green Mountain Gods returned to their home Aug. 14 in an effort to breathe new life into the regions of Vermont that were ravaged by the recent deluge — the reckless child of Irene.

The Champlain Valley Exposition hosted the Phish show that was “A Benefit For Vermont Flood Recovery,” and proceeds from ticket sales, as well as additional donations, went to residents of Vermont victimized by Irene.

The immense crowd of nearly 12,000 people confirmed the event an utter success as benefits amounted to more than $1.2 million.

A golden sunset shed light on a lively preshow parking lot, which was riddled with dreadlocks, tie dye, drug dealers, tail-gaters and jungle cats — yes, there was a man in a tiger suit.

It seemed to be an archetypal cast of characters, one that could only be summoned by the likes of Phish, especially when one considers the band’s sevenyear absence from Vermont.

Many devoted fans reflected their appreciation for Phish by braving the incredibly long ticket lines, and some held their ground throughout the night.

“I waited in line for almost 14 hours,” attendee and avid Phish fan Sarah Dattilio said.

While some devotees offered mere hours of their time for the band, others expressed their years of adherence and love for the Vermont-born group.

“This is my 95th Phish concert, and my first one was on Dec. 2, 1995,” enthusiast Stephen Blackstone said.

As light began to leave the landscape, a seemingly eager crowd made way towards the stage as an energy seven years dormant was brewing.

Perhaps to the surprise of the audience, Gov. Peter Shumlin took the stage prior to

the show to speak of the state’s fortitude following Irene.

His inspiring words bred a crowd that cheered wildly, and it was apparent that Shumlin’s presence had magnified the already-present sense of unity among Vermonters and Phish fans alike.

“We are going to rebuild this state stronger than when she found us because of you,” Shumlin said.

Shumlin’s encouraging speech seemed to further foster the excitement of the already ardent crowd, as they cheered and raised their hands to the band who was assembling their formation on stage.

The crowd became a bedlam as front man Trey Anastasio’s smiling mouth crooned the words of “Chalk Dust Torture,” the opening song of the band’s three and a half-hour-long set.

It is argued that the lyrics to this song reflect some drugrelated undertones, making it very much relatable to a portion of the crowd — let’s not kid ourselves, a sizable drug scene is nearly always prevalent at Phish concerts.

The band proceeded to play tunes such as “Funky Bitch,” “Bathtub Gin” and “Suzy Greenberg” — they portrayed a fairly diverse collection of their repertoire.

After a long journey through a sonic roller coaster of jams that ranged from upbeat to slow and stark psychedelic, the crowd seemed to be in awe as comments were made about how incredible the show was, and how happy people were that they had made it there.

“It was the best show I’ve ever seen,” first year Sam Frankour said. “It was something everyone could be proud of, not just for the music but also for the cause behind it — all for the sake of the state of Vermont.”

8

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10

LIFE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Burlington tour boasts spooky spots

Queen City Ghostwalk takes visitors through the town’s legendary haunts

By Kevin Geraghty Cynic Correspondent Burlington has seen many deaths over the years, but some may still be as active as ever. While there are several graveyards in the city, they cannot seem to hold back a few select spirits that roam Burlington.

Every Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m., Thea Lewis and her husband, Roger, host a tour called the Queen City Ghostwalk of the many haunted places of Burlington.

The tour meets at City Hall Park, on the steps of City Hall.

As the clock strikes seven, Lewis walks towards the tour group in a black cloak and brings the group all around downtown Burlington.

The tour includes five designated stops: Ethan Allen Fire House While currently the BCA Art Gallery, this building is haunted by the spirit of Ethan Allen, a local volunteer fireman who was killed on the job. His spirit is still seen in the building and can be heard walking around.

One story describes the elevator moving from the fourth floor to the first floor late at night and opening to reveal no one in it.

Macy’s Department Store Supposedly haunted before it’s opening, many employees

claim to see apparitions in various parts of the store.

The building was once an elementary school and an all-girl secondary school as well as other department stores.

Sighted ghosts include a girl sobbing loudly enough to disturb workers and a man in a top hat who appears in multiple closets across the store.

Legend has it that if you listen closely enough, you can still hear the train whistle and her scream.

The Pomerleau House Built for Timothy Follett, a famed businessman in Burlington, who went bankrupt and lost the house. It was then bought by his rival.

However, his presence is still felt at the house, with workers’ objects being moved around and placed in boxes along with lights often flickering on and off.

Central Vermont Railway Station Operated for more than 100 years, this railway has seen many workers come through the doors,

Alexa Algios The Vermont Cynic

Queen City Ghostwalk host Thea Lewis (right) stops the tour group outside the Macy’s Department Store, telling the group about the several apparitions that have been spotted in the building over the years. Husband Roger Lewis (left) carries a lantern thoughout the tour on Sept. 10. and even some accidents. One instance in particular involved a young girl who recently started working at the station. She was crossing the tracks when she was struck by a moving train.

Legend has it that if you listen closely enough, you can still hear the train whistle and

her scream.

American Flatbread Company Once a building used to smuggle goods into Burlington and then a restaurant, Carbur’s, the American Flatbread Company reports various strange paranormal activity

SaraH Alexander

Eating slow, cooking cheap On Sept. 17, Slow Food USA, a national nonprofit organization that promotes good, clean and fair food, motivated people to prepare a home cooked meal for no more than $5 per person.

Slow food, opposed to fast food, is good for those who eat it, good for the farmers and workers who grow and harvest it, and good for our planet and it’s natural resources.

“This challenge is about taking back the ‘value meal,’” president of Slow Food USA Josh Viertel said in a recent press release.

The event highlighted the many difficulties people face trying to feed themselves and their family nutritious and sustainable food.

The growing cost of fruits and vegetables paired with the diminishing price of soda and

in the basement where a man committed suicide.

Waitresses complain of their skirts being lifted by a cold wind, their hair being pulled and doors closing on them, locking them downstairs. Voices are also heard echoing around the building.

junk food may be the greatest contributor to the issue. This $5 challenge provides people with the opportunity to come together, cook a homemade meal and discuss the flaws within our food system.

To get involved locally, Grow Team ONE, a community organization developing leadership through gardening in Burlington’s Old North End, hosted a harvest potluck dinner on Sept. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Chittenden Food Shelf.

“This challenge is about taking back the ‘value meal.’”

Josh Viertel President of Slow Food USA

Grow Team ONE said that the potluck was a success.

“We were so pleased to partner with Slow Food VT for this fun community event” Grow Team ONE steering committee member Jess Hyman said. “This type of potluck is really important because it brings people together through food while allowing us to play an active role in strengthening our local food system.”

li f e

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

11

Vermont farmers’ flock to market Local vendors bring food, drinks, knowledge to campus

By Hannah Ullman Staff Writer Students got a taste of authentic Vermont food on Tuesday.

Farmers’ market booths sponsored by the UVM EcoRep Program lined the walkway between the Davis Center and Bailey/Howe Library, selling everything from fresh produce and pint-sized terrariums to custom grilled cheese sandwiches and baked goods made from scratch.

One booth housed Superb Cupcakes, which sells gourmet cupcakes made in South Burlington. Superb Cupcakes makes 17 signature cupcakes and is working on making organic and gluten-free flavors too.

Owners Hannah Lenehan and Joseph Emmons said their signature Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake is the crowd favorite, a vanilla cupcake filled with chocolate chip cookie dough and topped with vanilla buttercream. Cupcakes are $3 a piece and if you’re having a midnight snack crisis, Superb Cupcakes will deliver right to your dorm. For a full menu and to create custom cupcakes

visit their website at www. superbcupcakes.com.

Another business selling their wares at the Farmer’s Market was Rookie’s Root Beer. Rookie’s can be found on draft in 27 local restaurants as well as Brennan’s in the Davis Center.

Owner Jenny Rooke uses all natural ingredients in her brews including licorice and sassafras root, wintergreen leaves, vanilla and molasses. The root beer is caffeine and corn syrup free.

LaLumiere’s Greenhouses owned by Karolyn LaLumiere was one of the booths selling freshly baked breads and cupcakes. Of her specialty products, the customer favorite is her fudge marble cupcake with homemade buttercream frosting.

She tries to use as many local and organic ingredients as possible.

In addition, LaLumiere and her family make all their pickled products by hand and use the berries from her farm to make jams. Her stand can be found at the Shelburne Farmers’ Market on weekends.

Other vendors included Geni’s Raw Vegan Foods, Terraria, French Farmhouse Crepes, The Baker’s Corner, and several UVM groups including

MAX LANDERMAN The Vermont Cynic

Students shop and chat at UVM Eco-Rep’s farmers’ market located outside the Davis Center Sept. 13.

The farmers’ market will be on campus on Sept. 28, Oct. 12, and Oct 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Slade Garden Club, UVM Eco-Reps, Feel Good and Slow Food UVM. “I’ve walked through it before. I think it’s awesome,”

BUG’n out at first ‘fest’ Bike group gathers to promote new program

By Natalie Williams Cynic Correspondent Bike enthusiasts celebrated the beginning of a new program at their first annual Bikefest last week.

The Bike Users Group (BUG) held Bikefest outside of the Davis Center on Sept. 9 in order to promote their new bike share program, Bike Shop Manager Dan Yablonsky.

“There was a good turnout,” Yablonsky said. “We worked on 30-35 bikes, sold over 100 burritos and gave out over 20 gallons of ice cream.“ The festival included free bike repairs, food, a live DJ, information on BUG’s programs

as well as bike-powered milkshakes. The event was an effort from BUG to launch their new bike share program, three years in the making, BUG founder Jesse Luca Simmons said.

“Bike Share aims to provide students on Redstone and Trinity with an easy way to get to campus so that we can have a cleaner, greener world with more bikers,” Simmons said.

“BUG currently has three bike rack hubs on campus and hopes to expand to five hubs, adding more bike racks to Athletic Campus and outside Waterman,” he said.

With 37 bikes currently

in the program, BUG aims for bike share to become integrated into the transportation plans of students, Yablonsky said.

Some students said they are critical of the program’s bikes and their practicality for getting around UVM and Burlington.

“I think that the bikes they have aren’t good for long bike rides and aren’t practical for hills since they have no gears,” first year Ryan Garvey said. “They are more of beach bikes.”

BUG has 20 donated bikes that they aim to fix up and release into the program soon, providing a variety of options for students to get around on campus, Yablonsky said.

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Senior Bike User’s Group (BUG) member Dan Yablonsky (left) shows fellow students how to maintain their bicylces outside the Davis Center as part of the the group’s Bikefest on Sept. 9.

senior Jocelyn Ferland said. “I love fresh vegetables and I wish I had more money to do my shopping here.”

If you couldn’t make the

farmers’ market this time around, it will be back on Sep. 28, Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

12

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

STAFF EDITORIAL

Would you be my neighbor?

The Vermont

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It’s 11:30 on a Friday night and you’re hanging out with friends at your place downtown. There’s a knock at the door. You answer it and come face to face with the Burlington Police Department.

It turns out your neighbors don’t appreciate Sam Adam’s “I Hate College” quite as much as you do — especially not at 100 blaring decibels.

But this isn’t a party. It’s just a few friends relaxing after a long week of studious behavior. And the “non-party” is about to rack up an expensive bill.

Noise violations are handed out like Halloween treats in Burlington, and every day is Oct. 31. But these “treats” feel more like tricks when a six-person get-together results in a $300 fine for everyone on the lease.

This is the time of year when people are settling in to new places and just starting to get an ear for what it means to be “too loud.”

The response to downtown noise should take the learning curve into consideration when dealing out punishments. For most, being a neighbor — in it’s truest sense — is a completely new experience.

A warning for first time “offenders” would go a long way toward not only reducing noise, but also improving the relationship between police and students.

We don’t want to be bad neighbors, and most people would respond well to a warning and a helpful hint or two.

But the effort needs to go both ways. Off-campus students need to take the time to learn. It is ultimately our responsibility to be a positive addition to the Burlington community, rather than a detrimental one. Finding that line between a few friends and a house party should be a priority.

It may be simpler than you’d think. Get to know your neighbor.

Give them your cell phone number to call if things get too loud.

A simple “just so you know I am having a few people tonight” could go a long way.

Although many of us only live here for four short years, our neighbors are lifelong residents or children getting ready to start elementary school.

Knowing who you live near can help you to gauge how loud is appropriate.

Otherwise, keep people off porches, out of yards and — for the love of God — close your windows.

Illustration by Cate Elliott

COLUMNISTS

What does GOP stand for anyway?

Max Krieger

Have you ever heard of the GOP? A long time ago, it used to stand for the Grand Old Party, but today it stands for so much more.

You may know the Grand Old Party by another name, “the Republicans,” however it is the GOP for a reason. Most of their constituents are old white men, thus: Grand – short for grandpa, Old – self explanatory, and finally Party — sadly no, there is not a keg.

However in recent years, the GOP has begun to redefine itself in order to stir up the public imagination and get away from their boring, alabaster norms.

For example, when former President George W. Bush was in office and allowed huge tax cuts for those making boatloads of cash, the GOP stood for Greed Over People.

When Hurricane Katrina

struck and it took a week to get aid to the victims, GOP stood for Got Other Priorities. Yet this lovely acronym seems to hold new meaning for every Republican that comes along.

When John McCain and Sarah Palin ran on the presidential ticket and wanted to “Drill baby, drill,” GOP stood for Gas, Oil and Petroleum.

In today’s Republican nominee field, GOP has more meanings than anyone ever thought possible.

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas seems to be the frontrunner for the presidential nomination, and after regaling the nation with his story of shooting a coyote on his morning run, he has gleefully defined GOP as Guns, Our Priority.

Many of the candidates want to help fix the deficit, but think that raising taxes on the bottom 50 percent of earners in the country would be more effective than on the top 2 percent, even though they make the same net amount of money.

Here, GOP stands for Gut Our Public.

The Gauntlet Of Power that the GOP race is becoming seems to be attracting many scary participants. At the recent Tea Party candidate debate, Texas Rep. Ron Paul was asked what to do if someone is in a coma but has no life insurance.

Paul answered that it is a

choice to be covered or not.

The moderator then asked if he would let him die, but before he could answer someone in the audience yelled, “Yes!” I bet the Republicans now wish they had not defined GOP as Grow Our Party and included that guy.

All in all, it seems that the GOP still has plenty of soul searching to do.

Though most GOP candidates like to think of themselves as God Ordained Politicians, the Republican voters seem to be more concerned with beating Obama than with their own values.

According to The New York Times, “Half of Republicans who plan to vote in a primary said they would like more choices.”

Ultimately, if these Grand Old Porkers want to find a decent candidate, they may have to give up their Golf, Oil and Prostitutes and try and focus on more solid issues and less on this personality contest.

At this point, maybe the GOP should just Get Out of Politics.

Max Krieger is a junior political science major. He has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2009.

DISTURBING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Just imagine sarah palin with a black stallion ripping. yeehaw!”

—Boxer Mike Tyson, commenting in a radio interview on an alleged encounter two decades ago between Sarah Palin and former NBA player Glen Rice, that is discussed in an upcoming unauthorized biography of Palin.

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 vcoped@uvm.edu.

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O p i n Io n

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

13

COLUMNISTS

No post on ... Saturday? Nope. zach despart

Neither sleet nor snow nor heat nor gloom will keep postal carriers from their appointed rounds – but an $8.4 billion revenue deficit will.

President Obama announced this week a plan to make the United States Postal Service more financially sound, proposing layoffs, office closures and an end to Saturday delivery.

Jon Stewart pointed out that the business model of the USPS

is inherently flawed — noting that “someone comes to your house, takes something you’ve written and takes it anywhere in the world for like 50 cents.” So it should come as no surprise that the postal service isn’t taking in tons of dough.

The postal service has lived through its golden years — things started looking downhill when the postmaster general was demoted from the cabinet in 1971 — but it shouldn’t be allowed to become extinct.

Getting rid of Saturday post only accelerates the post office’s slide into irrelevancy — no one wants to wait an extra two days to mail or receive something.

Instead, Congress should permit the USPS to raise rates.

Currently, it is prohibited from raising post above the rate of inflation.

I only hope that the postal service won’t disappear altogether.

If we get rid of the USPS, what civil servants’ violent tendencies will we make fun of?

It’s not called “going postal” for nothing. And who will we cast as comical antagonists and barfly know-it-alls on sitcoms?

You can’t get rid of the postal service — it’s unconstitutional, dammit! But really, it is — the postal service is one of the few agencies specifically mentioned in the document. The Postal Service is an American institution, and we should hold onto it for ourselves and our posterity.

The report the White House submitted recommended the closure of as many as 3,700 offices nationwide, many of them in rural areas — but it is in

communities like these that they are most vital. For many small towns in Vermont, post offices are at the heart of civic life.

These closures would accompany a reduction of the workforce by as many as 200,000 jobs.

Currently, the USPS employs half a million people and is the second-largest civilian employer in the country, behind Wal-Mart.

If the government is shedding this many jobs, how can it encourage private businesses to hire?

You can an all do your part.

Send a letter once in a while.

What’s that? Yes, with pen and paper. Licking the envelope is optional. And go ahead and pull a Mrs. Weasley and put 50 stamps on that sucker.

You know what the easiest way to tell someone you don’t

care about them? Send them an e-card for their birthday.

This is what everyone thinks of that: “Really, pal? You can’t spare 46 cents to write me a halfhearted message inside a card depicting a cute animal/crass fart joke on the front. Instead, I get this e-card with a video of my head pasted over a mariachi band. ” So show a little compassion for grandma and send her a nice letter once in a while, and show a little love for the folks who suffer through bad weather, unruly dogs and atrocious uniforms to get you your mail six days a week.

After all, is our Netflix going to deliver itself?

Zach Despart is a senior political science major. He has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2009.

The Board of Trustees is there for students

KESHA RAM

Dear students, I want to extend a warm welcome to the class of 2015 and to all returning students. For those of you who don’t know me, I encourage you to be in touch so we can remedy that!

By way of introduction, I graduated from UVM in 2008 and am now the state representative for the Burlington

district that includes most of the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Currently, I serve as Vermont’s youngest legislator.

This March, I was also elected by my colleagues in the legislature to UVM’s Board of Trustees for a six-year term, and want to encourage all of you to be in touch with your thoughts, ideas and questions about the University.

The reason I sought to serve as a trustee was because I deeply believe I would not be who I am today if not for my formative time at UVM, and I wanted to give back in whatever way I could.

My earliest memory of the Board of Trustees is from my first year at UVM in 2004. I had gotten involved in a lot of social justice organizations on campus and joined a large protest in

Waterman while the board was meeting.

I remember watching the trustees weave their way through the crowd and feeling very distant from them — people in fancy suits who came to campus a few times a year to make pronouncements that weren’t very relevant to my daily life as a student.

Later, when I became an active leader in the Student Government, then becoming president and chairing the Student Trustee Selection Committee, I got to know many of the trustees personally and realized my initial impression was wrong.

They were all incredibly dedicated, accomplished and generous people that valued student input and wanted to see UVM graduates achieve great things.

They diligently followed what was happening on campus and took the time to look beyond budget numbers and broad statistics to listen to stories and details and personal experiences.

I cannot imagine ever reaching their caliber, but I am honored to now serve among them.

Some come from the legislature, as I do; some are selfperpetuating, holding the power to make appointments among themselves; some are chosen by the governor; and then you have a unique privilege to promote two students as full voting members of the board.

All accounted for, it is a diverse and thoughtful group.

So please take advantage of every opportunity you have during your time here. Whether it is your peers in class or the trustees of the University, it is

up to you to engage them and make your voice heard in order to make this the kind of learning environment you want to be in.

This is especially important as we search for a new president, which is an exciting time to re-envision the future of our university, its strategic priorities and its role on a local, national and global scale.

Finally, I just want to offer my gratitude to everyone in the campus community helping with flood relief efforts in the aftermath of Irene. Please count on me as a resource if you need support for your efforts or have been affected yourself.

Always feel free to reach out: kesha.ram@kesharam.org, 802881-4433.

Good luck this semester, Kesha Ram Class of 2008

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Local fairs are anything but for exotic animals Dear editor, I’ve been in Vermont for only two years, but I can already attest to the inquisitive character of the people.

Vermonters care about their environment, about where their food comes from and they strive to look beyond the surface to see what is really happening beneath.

We need to look beyond the surface of exotic animal acts at our fairs in which giraffes, monkeys and lions, to name a few, are displayed and ask — is this ethical? Although it can be exciting standing face to face with a lion, we must realize traveling animals lead lives that are not nearly as rich as they would be in the wild.

You might think the lion pacing in the cage has more room to roam when he’s not at an event, but that’s likely untrue.

The animals are shuffled from show to show and sadly,

showing off these animals is a business; more space means more money spent.

Many of these animals were taken from their habitats at a young age and trained immediately for entertainment.

Trainers use methods ranging from fear and intimidation to more brutal practices.

If you don’t have the money to travel abroad to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats, you can still watch them on TV. It might not seem as thrilling, but you’ll actually get to see them in their environments where they display their speed, strength and true traits.

It’s a lot more educational — and definitely ethical — than watching them perform tricks for our amusement.

Sincerely, Jocellyn Harvey Green Mountain Animal Defenders intern

Quick Opinions Max Krieger My favorite thing about living in Vermont: Seeing people put on parkas and long johns when it’s 45 degrees out, then watching them cry when it hits 20 below zero.

Zach Despart Best part about the cold weather: You can put beer out on the porch so there’s actually room in your fridge for food.

Hey opinionated people! The Cynic is looking for a conservative columnist to balance out our commentary. Interested?

Shoot an email to vcoped@uvm.edu

14

DIST RACT IONS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Crossword

brought to you by bestcrosswords.com

ACROSS 1- Glass ornament 5- Staggering 10- French 101 verb 14- Corona fruit 15- One of the United Arab Emirates 16- Bad habit 17- Slang expert Partridge 18- For all to hear 19- Bibliography abbr.

20- Sheets and pillowcases 22- Tedious 23- Old Testament book 24- Courts 26- Bird sound 29- One who takes the tube from King’s Cross to Picadilly Circus?

33- Speed contests 34- Buenos ___ 35- Conductor de Waart 36- Budget rival 37- Russian range 38- Jason’s craft 39- 1980’s movie starring Bo Derek and Dudley Moore 40- Continuously 41- Santa’s aides

42- Pleasing 44- Bikini blast 45- Mex. miss 46- Clublike weapon 48- Fine fur 51- In public, it’s ladies or men 55- First name in jazz 56- Honeybee 58- Not ___ many words 59- Lots and lots 60- Foot bones 61- American space agency 62- Feminist Lucretia 63- Dutch painter Jan 64- Midge DOWN 1- Air bubble 2- Green land 3- Among 4- Announces formally 5- Hersey’s bell town 6- Governs 7- Black, in poetry 8- Seine contents 9- Cover 10- Extremely 11- Bandleader Puente 12- Some DVD players 13- Hard to hold

Cat Tales by Emma Cipriani

Wonderland by Alice Tonry

College Life by Rodney Rhea

Camp Morning Wood by Scott Womer

21- Little devils 22- Seed containers 24- Earth 25- Addition column 26- Jalopy 27- Refuge 28- Frosting 29- Either of two Chinese dynasties 30- Audacity 31- Borders 32- Perch 34- Concert venue 37- Single entity 38- Changing 40- Barbarous person 41- “From ___ according to his abilities…”

43- Oblique 46- The house of a parson 47- Dined at home 48- Thin stratum 49- Choir member 50- Ink spot 51- Drill a hole 52- Son of Judah 53- Greek peak 54- Castle ring 56- Skid row woe 57- Deserter

Sports

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

15

NFL Picks Week 3 Look, don’t listen COLUMN

Scoreboard

By Will Andreycak Sports Editor

Initials indicate the author of the pick: (WA) — Will Andreycak (ME) — Mike Eaton (JK) — Jeremy Karpf

WA ME JK 3-3

3-3

3-3

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants I hate to play the “what if game,” but I’m pretty sure the Eagles would have beaten Atlanta last weekend if Mike Vick wasn’t spitting up blood and dealing with a concussion.

That being said, the Eagles’ front seven have a lot of work to do if they want to get back on track against the Giants this Sunday.

Michael Turner averaged 5.4 yards a carry and the Falcons offensive line muscled the Eagles talented front seven. This has to be worrisome for the

— Sunday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m.

Eagles.

The Giants certainly have the ground game to run on Philadelphia and, in my opinion, that is the only way they have a shot at winning on the road.

After a disappointing ground game in Week 1, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for a respectable 109 yards in their Week 2 win against the Rams. That number, however, needs to improve.

Even if Vick doesn’t play, Mike Kafka looked great, going 7-9 for 72 yards with the game on

the line.

The reason the Eagles were projected to be so good this year was because of their depth on both sides of the ball.

That depth needs to step up here and I say it will, with or without Vick.

WA

ME

JK

New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans — Sunday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m.

Feel free to disagree, but this is the most intriguing game of Week 3 in my opinion. Houston is 2-0 and looks poised to take down an absolutely dreadful division.

Sure, their first two games were against the 0-2 Colts and the 0-2 Dolphins, but the offense hasn’t missed a beat despite little contribution from Arian Foster at running back.

Fill-in Ben Tate has been outstanding, racking up 219 yards, which ranks third in the NFL. The Saints really impressed me last week with a 30-13 rout of the Chicago Bears.

There was a lot of talk about

the Bears being a top-tier team in the NFC entering the game, but New Orleans was quick in silencing that and reminding the country just how damn good they are.

This one could be a real shootout, and a win for Houston

WA

would give them a sense of legitimacy they have never had in their existence as a franchise.

I simply haven’t picked against the Saints at home in the last two years and they continue to give me no reason to do otherwise.

ME

JK

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers — Sunday, Sept. 25, 4:15 p.m.

As mentioned previously, Chicago opened the eyes of the league with a rout of Atlanta in Week 1. But at New Orleans, Jay Cutler had a measly 42 percent completion percentage and was sacked six times. That’s classic Jay Cutler for you.

Matt Forte is quietly

WA

establishing himself as the best dual-threat running back in the NFL. In the first two weeks of the season he has racked up 117 rushing yards and an astounding 207 receiving yards out of the Chicago backfield.

Imagine Cutler without Forte?

ME

JK

The Packers are 2-0 but their defense, or lack thereof, has been well documented.

One of the most dominant defenses last year has allowed 952 yards in two games. That trend cannot continue and I don’t think it will.

With the firepower Green Bay has on offense, it is almost like the defense doesn’t have a sense of urgency yet and frankly, who can blame them?

Chicago really needs to play well in this one against their division rival, and — half because I believe it and half because I really want it to happen — I say Cutler has yet another Cutlertype game and the Packers run away with a ‘W.’

By Jake Bielecki Staff Writer

Ever find yourself wondering how NFL broadcasters got their jobs? Me too. When listening to a particularly bad commentator — looking at you, Joe Buck — I routinely spend more time disagreeing with the broadcaster, and wondering why I don’t have his job, than I spend appreciating the game.

How it happened I’m not sure, but I watched this years first Sunday Night Football affair pegging the Jets against the Cowboys on mute, and loved every second of it.

As an avid football fan who often fantasizes about coaching in the future, I will unapologetically say that this was a life-altering experience.

I was amazed at how much I had been missing. Without the volume, I was forced to actively watch the game, rather than taking the broadcasters word for what was happening.

Instead of receiving cliché observations from washed-up football players and elementary viewpoints from underqualified commentators, I gathered my own opinions and observations.

I quickly learned that the opinions and observations of viewers are often far more insightful than that of your average commentator.

While actively watching without an announcer stating for the fourth time that defense wins championships, I noticed subtle aspects of the game that are often overlooked.

From how the motions in the backfield affect the defense’s positioning, to the nuances of the receiver position and passing game and, what I felt was most interesting, player reactions and body language.

I felt I gained a superior understanding of the game of football when forced to allot my full attention to it. This is how the game that stole Sundays from the Catholic Church should be watched.

I lost a little respect for Plaxico Burress in viewing this game. Athletically, he’s nothing short of a freak. At 6 feet 5 inches and more than 230 pounds — and still fast at 34 years old — any casual, blind-inone-eye, beer-hazy fan can see he’s exceptionally talented.

Yes, Plaxico, we’d notice even without the arrogant scowls and “look what I just did” gestures.

Act like you’ve been there before.

Another player that disappointed me was Tony Romo. I’d always heard he lacked leadership qualities but never put much stock into it.

After all, the media blows everything out of proportion, especially when dealing with teams like the Cowboys.

But why is he smiling so brightly when his team is routinely missing scoring opportunities, when the Jets are coming back from a 14-point deficit and he’s throwing key interceptions like Fogel’s wife writes controversial letters?

Don’t get me wrong, Lil’ Romeo is an excellent quarterback on paper, boasting a career passer rating of 95.6.

The stats he accumulates on my fantasy team inevitably end with me praising the Lord Baby Jesus. But at the same time, this is a guy who has a well-deserved rep for coming up small when the moment is big.

Who recalls that playoff game versus Seattle when he botched the PAT hold? Or last year when he led a talented Cowboys team to a 1-5 record before missing the remainder of the season with injury?

If that isn’t enough, explain why the pedestrian Jon Kitna led the same team to a 5-5 record in Romo’s absence.

While I focused in on the images on my TV screen, Romo’s body language truly lit a fire under me.

I couldn’t imagine being his

I was amazed at how much I had been missing. Without the volume, I was forced to actively watch the game, rather than taking the broadcasters word for what was happening.

teammate and seeing that doofy, “shucks guys, we’ll get ‘em next time” grin after he fumbles the ball away at the two-yard line.

Or when he throws a ball directly to Jet’s cornerback Darelle Revis with 49 seconds left and the score tied. Might I suggest that a demeanor change is in order?

The honeymoon is over, he’s entering his sixth season as the Cowboys’ starter and has exactly one playoff win to show for it.

I’m not saying he needs to slam his helmet violently to the turf or dabble in any Dennis Rodman shit, but, as the supposed leader of his team, he might consider tossing a casual headshake or momentary glimpse of disapproval into his facial-expression repertoire.

Meanwhile, as I’m making these observations, I wonder what subject the broadcast team was killing time with before they receive their 30th commercial break.

Good old Troy Aikman and company were quite possibly rambling about the new NFL replay policy that I’ve already heard too much about.

Or maybe they were enlightening me to the fact that the season premiere of “The Office” is next week — likely the most informative part of their night.

What I do know is that I’d like to invite you all to watch a muted football game with me, and wonder what they were saying for yourself.

16

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

MEGHAN PRIOR The Vermont Cynic

Junior forward Taylor Silvestro battles a Monmouth University defender during UVM’s 4-2 loss on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Fall sports update

By Mike Eaton Assistant Sports Editor

JONATHON POLSON The Vermont Cynic

Junior defenseman Sean Sweeney, wins a header against Harvard forward Ben Tsuda in a 1-0 win on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Cross country

Sports in short

UVM is off to an impressive start on the season, as they took second place in the seasonopening home meet against Columbia and Saint Michael’s.

Senior captain Morgan Powers showed her leadership skills while taking first place overall for the women’s team.

At the Minutemen Invitational, the ladies finished second again while the men took third.

The women’s team is looking good at the start of this season, with several top-10 finishes in each meet, and Morgan Powers looking to be a strong leader.

The men’s team is struggling at the start, still waiting on last season’s top runner Connor Jennings and fellow senior John Little to make their full returns in good form.

By Diana Giunta Senior Staff Writer

UVM earns victory over Siena

In the 52nd minute, first year Jesse Scheirer of the men’s soccer team came into the game off the bench on Sept. 16 to score what ended up being the deciding goal of the game. This was Scheirer’s first career goal with Vermont.

Siena was not able to net any goals in the game, leaving the score at 1-0. This was the Catamount’s fourth shutout of the season and this win improved the team’s record to 4-1-0.

Field hockey falls to Monmouth Monmouth University defeated the Vermont field hockey team on Sept. 17, 4-2.

This ended a four-game winning streak for the Catamounts.

Vermont sophomore Colleen Slaughter scored both of the goals Vermont put on the board.

Both teams had 14 shots in the game and Vermont sophomore goaltender Stephanie Zygmunt made six saves. With the loss, the Catamounts see their record fall to 4-3.

Field hockey With a team-high of 10 points, all coming from five goals, sophomore Colleen Slaughter has helped her team to a 4-2-0 record so far this season.

As is a trend with all fall sports this year, the goalkeeper has proven to be the team’s core. Sophomore Stephanie Zygmunt is yet another UVM

goalie to sit atop the league’s best goaltenders for saves as well as save percentage. She’s stopped more than 60 shots and has above a .800 save percentage.

She and the Cats will hope to improve their fourth-place seating before conference play starts at the beginning of October.

Men’s soccer

Women’s soccer

With a 4-1-0 record so far and all four wins being shutouts, it’s fair to say that the Cats have jumped off to a good start.

Seniors Yannick Lewis and Juan Peralta lead the team with four points each — for Lewis, all four coming off of a team high two goals so far on the season.

Junior goaltender David Ramada has only allowed one goal all season — being in the net for all four shutouts — and leads America East in shutouts, saves and goals against average.

Conference play has not yet started for Vermont, but so far they’re looking impressive.

The Lady Cats are off to a 2-4-2 start before conference play begins on Sept. 25.

Sophomore Haley Marks and first year Alexandra Dezenzo lead the team in points, each with a goal and an assist.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Leiby leads America East in saves, as she’s racked up 42 on the season with a .792 save percentage.

After a rough start, Vermont will hope to improve at the beginning of conference play and capitalize offensively in front of a league-leading goaltender.

UVM athlete spotlight of the week

Courtesy of Athletic Communications

#18 Jesse Scheirer — men’s soccer Position: Forward Height: 5’10” Weight: 170 pounds Class: First year Hometown: Venetia, Pa. High School: Peters Township High School Accomplishments at UVM:

Previous accomplishments:

Scheirer scored his first career goal to lead UVM to a 1-0 win over Siena on Sept. 16.

His first career appearance in a Vermont uniform proved to be a memorable one, as Scheirer guided his team to its fourth win and fourth shutout of the season.

As a senior team captain, Scheirer scored 23 goals, including five goals during his team’s state championship run.

In the 2007 Western Pennsylvania AAA State Championship game, he scored a crucial overtime goal to place his team in the winner’s circle. He ended his high school career with 44 goals and 21 assists.

Illustration by Dana Ortiz

By Mike Eaton Assistant Sports Editor