Vermont Cynic Spring 2014 Issue 27

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The Vermont

Get to know the artists of SpringFest

CYNIC

See the feature on pages 6-7

The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883

W e d n e s d a y, A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 – Vo l u m e 1 3 0 I s s u e 2 7 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN POLSON AND BECCA ASDAMS

Still no taxes on Greek houses Cory Dawson Video Editor UVM’s Greek community can breath a little easier now that the possibility of losing their houses may be over. “We’re really relieved that at least for now we won’t have to put more effort into that,” said sophomore Lauren Giery, president of sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. Vermont’s House Ways and Means committee officially voted, on Monday, to remove language from the bill that would remove property tax exemption given to the property owned by fraternities and sororities at UVM, according to WCAX. The bill, S.221, which is making its way through the

Vermont legislature, would have made all Greek life houses at UVM no longer exempt from property tax as of July 1. “The presidents and our members were blindsided by the bill,” Giery said. Greek life houses have previously been exempt from property taxes due to the fact that the houses are owned by housing corporations that are nonprofits,” said junior Ty Williams, president of fraternity Phi Gamma Delta. This isn’t the first time such ideas have been presented. Removal of the tax exemption has been included in past bills in the past as well, the last time being 14 years ago. “The issue has come to the surface maybe four times since

I’ve been at UVM,” said Pat Brown, director of student life. “I think it’ll be intersesting to see where it goes.” Tim Ashe, senate finance committee chairman, introduced the bill March 15 and said he believes the cost is “fair,” and that it would cause Greek life members to now pay about $160,000, according to a WCAX article April 20. The Cynic reached out to Ashe for comment, but he was unavailable before print. The Cynic has also independently calculated the final property tax amount for the 10 properties owned by the Greek organizations at UVM. Both the Tax Expenditures Report and the Cynic used property values provided by the

grand list’s data. “My assumption is that they [property values] are reasonable,” Vickery said. The Cynic found that the collective property taxes for all Greek properties would be more than $265,000, as opposed to the Tax Expenditures Report estimate of $160,000, which was cited by Ashe. The Cynic’s exact findings can be viewed at www.vermontcynic.com. “That would not surprise me,” State representative Kesha Ram said, when asked about the $105,000 disparity. The report draws data from three different organizations. The joint fiscal office, the state tax department and the municipalities.

Somewhere between those three organizations “things are going to get lost,” Ram said. “To me, that’s all the better reason to make sure we have the right data before we make a decision,” she said. Various members of the UVM Greek community said this is an “overwhelming expense,” and may have forced them to sell their houses. They also said that it would be “impossible to justify raising dues or rent to pay for the houses,” Williams said. “These houses are the life and blood of our organizations, and they’re the main reason we exist as groups,” Williams said. Whether the loss of houses would eliminate UVM Greek

See GREEK LIFE on page 2

Keep off the green please Aidan Dolbashian Arts Editor Though it may feel as if spring arrives late in Burlington from year to year, it always seems to roll around just in time for SpringFest. Each year, crowds of students and local residents alike converge to take part in this University tradition. However, if students want to ensure that this year’s show stays outside, they need to remember one thing: Keep off the grass. The UVM community is urged to keep from walking across the Chittenden-Buckham-Wills green, the concert’s outdoor location, until April 26, according to a statement from Kelsey Jonat, on the event’s Facebook page. Jonat is the director of production for the University Program Board, which is hosting the event. The more the green is Like us on Facebook

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walked on, the muddier it gets. If the terrain is too muddy by the day of the show, it then becomes less likely that a stage can be safely constructed on the outdoor site, Jonat said. In the meantime, students are asked to use sidewalks bordering the green to prevent such an occurence. The show’s tickets are cur-

rently sold out. However, the University Program Board will make the decision April 24 on whether or not the event will be held outdoors, according to the SpringFest Facebook page. If it is, more tickets will be released. So, if you still want a ticket, make sure to keep off the green.

ALEXA ALGIOS The Vermont Cynic

Students dance at SpringFest April 21, 2012. The University Program Board will announce if the event will be outside April 24. Follow us on Instagram

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WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic

Junior Braden Winslow performs at the Battle of the Bands in the Davis Center Feb. 8. Winslow is a member of the band Binger.

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