N EWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011
5
This barefoot man won’t put on shoes for anyone Sophomore claims prejudice, pleads to SGA !"#/--*01#.%!+2"( Senior Staff Writer
MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic
In front of Bailey/Howe Library, sophomore and Dollar Entre prenuer Emma Allen sells jewlery made from sea glass, shark !""!#$%&'$()*&)!+$!,$-"&".!$/)0012%&"$30"&"$0"(1"4$,&$52!6$786$
A dollar is all they need, for a cause
Dollar Enterprise teaches students !"#$%%&'(#)'*+,%-. Cynic Correspondent Despite what some consider tough economic times, students are trying their hand at small business startups. The Dollar Enterprise project is part of Introduction to Community Entreprenuership, a course offered to students where they own and operate a small business. The venture covers everything from products to marketing to accounting with only one stipulation: it must be done with a budget of $1 per person. !"#$%"& '& ())*+,%-.& /+012$-3& task, Dr. Kathleen Liang, the course professor, said that she sees it as an exploration of community development via entrepreneurship. “With no resources, what are you going to do? You must create something out of nothing. You must turn trash into treasure,” Liang said. There is an eclectic mix of merchandise this semester that includes new and secondhand '44'5)-6& 25)4)(6& 7'08)(& ',/& bedazzled, hempwrapped lighters. 9#(3& #0& 3")& 45#/$23(& 13& 7)--& within the budget of a college student. Inspiration for the project came in 2005 when Liang started her entrepreneurship campaign in the community development and applied economics department. Some of Liang’s colleagues were initially skeptical of the proposal, but she said she was ready to take the department in a new direction. “I decided to do something risky, something new,” she said. Liang said her work led to the establishment of a required major course that is the only non business school entrepreneurial program in the country. Both Liang and students agree that its success is largely attributed to realworld application. She said that by getting outside the classroom ',/& ):4)5+),2+,%& 15(3& "',/& 3")& /+012$-3+)(& '((#2+'3)/& 7+3"& operating a small business, students can experiment with different approaches and learn from their mistakes. For one of the studentrun businesses, BTown Threads, which markets new and used shirts from companies such as
Easy Living Apparel and Burton ;,#7<#'5/(6& '/)=$'3)-.& (3'01,%& their table has been a substantial /+012$-3.> “Everyone has different schedules, so we encounter some situations when having a 4)5(#,& '3& 3")& 3'<-)& +(& /+012$-36?& junior Jordan Fiegleman said. “Delegating responsibility is a hugely important aspect of the project.” Since its inception, Dollar Enterprise has grown more successful, with continually 5+(+,%& 45#13(>& @'(3& ()*)(3)5A(& entrepreneurs set the record for dollar amount raised, bringing total of the project to just shy of $22,000, Liang said.
“With no resources, what are you going to do? You must create something out of nothing. You must turn trash into treasure.” Dr. Kathleen Liang Course professor
And in support of community development, all earnings from the project are donated to a 4$<-+2& ,#,45#13& #0& )'2"& %5#$4A(& choosing. This semester, many of the groups have chosen to donate 3")+5& 45#13(& 3#& 3")& 2#**$,+3+)(& that were affected by Tropical Storm Irene, which struck Vermont in August. Past recipients include the Intervale Center, American Cancer Society and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, she said. By trying to make the project as realistic as possible, Liang said she also charges each student interest on the initial loan. At the end of the project, she said she requires that each student pay back $2, which she donates to Invent Vermont @@B6& '& ,#,45#13& (")& 25)'3)/& 3#& subsidize endeavors by entry level entrepreneurs.
Sophomore David Wisotsky’s feet were dirty and naked when he walked into the Student Government Association’s weekly meeting on Oct. 4. Wisotsky is currently attempting to raise awareness on issues surrounding his “lifestyle choice” to be barefoot as often as possible. “I love the feeling of freedom associated with being barefoot,” he said in a speech at the meeting. “I would like to speak again about issues regarding prejudice and harassment faced by barefoot students on campus.” Wisotsky’s feet were planted 15*-.&#,&3")&(),'3)&8##56&<$3&"+(& voice wavered as he outlined his situation to the SGA. He has been denied service at dining halls, been kicked off buses and, on multiple occasions, had the police called after he refused to leave a building, he said. Wisotsky also said that, <)2'$()& #0& 3")& /+012$-3.& #0& receiving food from the dining halls, he had to appeal and remove himself from his on campus meal plan. C&(4)2+12&2#,05#,3'3+#,&'3&3")& Bailey/Howe Library has brought 3")&+(($)&3#&'&8'("&4#+,3&0#5&"+*> After Angus Robertson, who works at the library, asked
Wisotsky to put on his shoes, SGA Sen. Connor Burns the student refused and inquired is the chair of the Committee about his wrongdoings. on Diversity, Equity and Environmental Ethics. Burns said he wants to ensure that students on campus are safe from prejudice in all forms, “UVM doesn’t especially from the University. Wisotsky said he has been force vegans and working with Burns on drafting a vegetarians to eat legislation in support of barefoot rights on campus, meat or carry a students’ but he said that there isn’t yet a cheeseburger in their (#-+/+1)/&%5#$4&#0&($44#53)5(> “Although we aren’t a group backpacks all day.” right now, I know of a lot of barefoot students on campus,” he said. David Wisotsky Even though Wisotsky seems to gathered support in Sophomore the have Senate, many students on campus are skeptical. “I don’t have anything against it, but I think it’s weird and “I wanted to understand what unsanitary,” sophomore Kate I was doing wrong,” he said. Odell said. “There’s no universitywide policy E$3&F+(#3(G.&+(&(3',/+,%&15*& about footwear.” on the issue. Robertson then called campus He said he plans on staying police, who proceeded to inform barefoot as long as the weather him that he was in violation of permits and even has plans to “other policies,” Wisotsky said. begin his own barefoot running “They said they’re going to clinic. try to get me trespassed from the “Why should I have to library,” he said. wear something I don’t want to Wisotsky said he assumed the wear?” he said. “It’s a matter of 2#,05#,3'3+#,&"'/&1DD-)/&#$36&<$3& expression … UVM doesn’t force then he received a notice about vegans and vegetarians to eat his upcoming student conduct meat or carry a cheeseburger in hearing regarding the incident. their backpack all day.”