Vermont Cynic Fall 2012 Issue 6

UVM START: IF THE GLOVE FITS, GET SKIING

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AMENDING THE SIG EP MESS

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THIS WEEK IN DISTRACTIONS: ANIMALS

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C YNIC THE VERMONT

BEATS ANTIQUE

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

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T h u r s d a y , O c t o b e r 4 , 2 0 1 2 – Vo l u m e 1 2 9 I s s u e 6 | B u r l i n g t o n , Ve r m o n t

“I really feel in terms of the overall layout and environmental design that it could win some architectural awards down the road.”

Redstone Lofts: Visionary look or poor design?

page 6

Larry Williams Redstone Lofts co-owner

Enrollment misses target

381 fewer students chose UVM this year, officials not worried

Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor

Chris Lucier’s job is to predict the behavior of 18-year-olds.

At least, that’s how he would describe his position as vice president of enrollment.

Lucier said he uses current student trends to ensure that UVM hits its student enrollment targets — though the numbers aren’t always a sure bet.

“Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong,” he said.

The Fall 2012 Enrollment Report showed that the numbers of students enrolled change considerably from year to year, he said.

There are 381 fewer students at UVM this fall than last year, according to the report.

With out-of-state tuition at $49,135 per year and in-state students paying $28,463, any sizeable decrease in the student body might seem like a substantial loss in revenue for the school, but that wasn’t the case, Lucier said.

“The first-year class is only about two percent smaller,” he said. “Within enrollment management, that means you’re okay.”

In terms of revenue, Lucier called this year a success due to

JONATHAN POLSON The Vermont Cynic

Students eat food and study in the Davis Center Marketplace dining area Oct. 3. While 381 fewer students enrolled in UVM in the 2012 school year, some feel there is still a crowded feel on campus. greater numbers of out-of-state students and an increase in family incomes, which pose less of a burden on financial aid.

Beth Wiser, director of admissions, said that the yield of out-ofstate students remained steady,

and UVM’s situation was indicative of a national trend.

“We know that there are fewer students in the markets which means that we will see some declines in enrollment,” she stated in an email.

Still, there were 2,742 firstyear students last fall and 2,655 first-year students this year, according to enrollment data. So how do Lucier and his colleagues See ENROLLMENT on page 3

Graduates, alumni welcomed Katie Cardin Assistant News Editor UVM’s annual Homecoming weekend will take place in areas around campus and the city of Burlington Oct. 5-7.

Over the course of the weekend, 3,500 guests are expected to attend, said Sarah Wasilko, assistant director of alumni associations.

“All academic units have open houses this year, including the medical program which last year didn’t,” Wasilko said.

The newly formed Student Alumni Association will help with the events by giving historical walking tours, she said.

Traditions from years past include the Green and Gold brunch, which celebrates the alumni of classes 50 years and older. It is also the fifth anniversary of the Davis Center and the 40th anniversary of the environmental studies program.

The registration fee is $5 per student, $10 per adult and $25 per family, which will cover most admission fees for the weekend’s events as well as provide discounts to various venues downtown, according to the University Communications website.

Other events include free admission to a men’s hockey game, the annual a capella concert, lectures, a tent party and a class of 1957 reception.

First-year Tommy Rella said he is happy to be able to see his parents again and partake in the events on campus.

“I’m pretty pumped — I haven’t been to a college hockey game before, and I love hockey and so do my parents,” Rella said. “I am excited to do things with them.”

Parking lot full of holes Stephanie Santos Cynic Correspondent They paved UVM and put up a parking lot. But this lot is designed to help the environment, not harm it.

The University’s first porous-surfaced parking lot was established this summer as an environmental endeavor and research tool for students, Director of Transportation and Parking Services Jim Barr said.

Barr joined Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineers, Inc. to pioneer the approximately $300,000 project that is located

NEWS 1-4 ‘The bottom line’ on tuition hikes

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behind the Trinity campus.

Barr said he had to work without piping on the Trinity campus and so the project’s total cost was much less than what it could have been.

“If I had put in all the storm drains and connections to the storm ponds, it would have cost an excessive half a million,” he said.

The parking lot serves as a great contribution to environmental sustainability, he said. It was skillfully engineered to make water and waste more easily disposable.

“The water now goes straight

LIFE 5-6 — SPECTACLE 7 A look through the lens Ski pass diaries: at Beats Antique where to shred

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into the ground without collecting and going along drain pipes and down into erosion banks,” he said. “Debris and wastes won’t sheet across and enter the environment: they are vacuumed up and then we dispose of them that way.”

This project was a long time coming for Barr. He said he wanted to do something new and environmentally conscious instead of slabbing asphalt down all over campus.

“To me, that’s just not the way to move forward our whole phiSee PARKING on page 3

ARTS 8-9 — Inside the mind: Wolfgang Gartner

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM BARR

Construction workers build a new porous-surfaced parking lot located behind the Trinity campus. It was a $300,000 project.

OPINION 10-11 Transportation and travel crossword

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DISTRACTIONS 12 Crossword: It’s a jungle out there

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SPORTS 13-16 Cats extend streak in conference win

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NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

‘UVM Start’ups: If the glove fits, get skiing Kris Fiore Cynic Correspondent Three students hope to change the sport of Nordic skiing by hand.

The group, consisting of senior Kyle Weidman, professional skier Skyler Davis and senior Dave Bernstein, is involved in an entrepreneurship project that they said will revolutionize Nordic skiing in North America by innovating and re-engineering the current glove market.

Called StacItUp, the venture is already a trademarked name and a registered Limited License Company, Weidman said.

After less than two years of working on the project, the company has a goal, a business plan and as many as nine professional athletes ready to try their product.

Money is the greatest current obstacle in creating a prototype glove, an investment that Weidman said could cost as much as $6,000 to build.

It is a problem that the trio hopes will be alleviated with the help of UVM Start.

The founders of StacItUp are creating a video to put on the alumni crowdsourcing website as a way to try and gain monetary support from UVM graduates.

The StacItUp team wants to raise enough money to build a prototype that can be tested by Nordic skiing athletes as early as this winter, Weidman said.

Worn for hours at a time at the highest possible level of competition, their glove must be

both functional and practical, he said.

“If you could be outside because your fingers don’t hurt because they’re so cold, you can train longer and you can be better,” Weidman said.

As an established professional skier sponsored by Fischer skis, Smith Optics and Powerbar, Davis has noticed the poor quality of gloves for years, Weidman said.

Once Davis connected with Bernstein and Weidman, they decided that there was a realistic possibility to make a glove that could meet their expectations.

“I’m more passionate about this than I have been about anything in my life. Sometimes I’m hanging my head and I’m sick of it and I just want to throw it in the garbage, but I always come back to it.”

Kyle Weidman Senior Weidman and Bernstein said they hope one day to see Davis represent StacItUp on the biggest stage the world has to offer.

“We want Skyler Davis on the podium of the Olympics

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Senior Dave Bernstein dicusses the role of elasticity in the development of a glove for Nordic skiing in the StacItUp office Sept. 30. StacItUp seeks to use the UVM Start program to fund its prototype. saying, ‘this glove made me better,’” Weidman said.

While Davis and Weidman currently own the company, they share the passion of the workload and the anticipated glory of the success evenly with Bernstein.

“I don’t want to be higher up than [Bernstein],” Weidman said. “We’re all teammates making an awesome company together.”

Weidman describes his role

in the company as being an idea formulator and crisis manager, while Bernstein handles the engineering aspect of the project.

Bernstein combines his knowledge of mechanical engineering with his experience as a skier, and is currently researching materials for the StacItUp glove and analyzing the problems with the current gloves on the market.

“At the beginning stages, you want to take it slowly, look at all

your options and figure out ‘how can we improve everything we want to improve?’” Bernstein said.

The project is a lot of work, but Weidman said he is very devoted to StacItUp. “I’m more passionate about this than I have been about anything in my life,” Weidman said.

“Sometimes I’m hanging my head and I’m sick of it and I just want to throw it in the garbage, but I always come back to it.”

N EWS

PARKING ...continued from page 1 losophy and expansion,” he said.

“I really wanted to do something other than the standard.”

Students will not experience an increase in tuition or costs with this new addition, Barr said.

“I was lucky enough to do this out of our internal budget,” he said.

Barr said he partnered with the College of Engineering for this project so that it could be used as a research tool for students studying porous concrete. “[Professor Mandar Dewoolkar] and I chatted about it; I found a product, and then I helped fund the academic research part of it,” Barr said. “So this is going to serve as a research tool for the students for at least the next three years.”

Dewoolkar, associate professor and civil & environmental engineering program head, ex-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

plained the distinctive qualities of the lot.

“The Trinity parking lot is first of its kind in Vermont,” Dewoolkar stated in an email. “It is half traditional and half pervious concrete, but the pervious part is made of removable slabs. These slabs can be lifted and cleaned as part of maintenance.”

Some engineering students will analyze the sensor measurements installed within the lot and relate their findings to maintenance practices, he said.

“A preliminary plan for the instrumentation was developed by a team of civil and environmental engineering seniors as part of their capstone project,” he said.

Graduate student Ian Anderson worked with Barr this summer on the project and expanded on Dewoolkar’s plans.

“The main focus of the study is to monitor the movement of water through the system,” he said.

ENROLLMENT ...continued from page 1 account for those students that get accepted to UVM but decide not to attend?

“Instead of using a three-year model, we look at the behavior of last year’s class, which is a good predictor but not guaranteed,” Lucier said. “I think there’s a degree of accuracy expected, but remember, we’re trying to predict the behavior of 18-year-olds.”

There was one area in particular where enrollment and admissions received a bit of a surprise, Wiser said.

The College of Nursing is only supposed to have 75 first-year students for accreditation purposes, but this year 102 students who had been admitted decided to attend UVM, she said.

“We had more students inter-

This fall, 381 fewer students came to UVM ested in nursing say yes to us at a much higher rate than has occurred in any of the past years of nursing applicants,” Wiser stated.

The University responded to the significant jump by putting a plan in place that maintained the required student to instructor ratio, she said.

While student enrollment has increased by about 27 percent over the past decade, the size of the faculty has increased by 13 percent, according to the report.

Some people, like professor David Shiman, said that in light of this trend, a smaller undergraduate population might not be a bad thing; it might, in fact, even be necessary.

“If this institution wishes to offer a rich undergraduate experience in a welcoming environment, we must hire more faculty,”

he stated in an email. “And slow, halt or reverse the undergraduate enrollment trend.”

Students like sophomores Sarah Gibson and Derek Neal said they felt UVM was at capacity, and that 381 fewer students on campus hardly seemed to make a difference.

“That number is barely a drop in the context of how many students go here overall,” Neal said.

“And in terms of housing, the University is already overcrowded, considering how many forced triples there are.”

Gibson said she agreed.

“I think fewer students is a good thing because UVM should focus on bringing its academics to a caliber we hold ourselves to,” she said. “To do that you need less students so that faculty members can do their jobs better.”

Greek Life reviewed Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor Greek Life went under the microscope Sept. 25-27.

The Coalition Assessment Project (CAP), a national program that assesses university Greek life organizations, sent four representatives to evaluate UVM’s eight fraternities and five sororities.

They assessed areas in which UVM Greek Life is successful, and those where it can improve.

“This type of assessment mirrors the visit that happens when an institution is reviewed for accreditation, but far less intensive,” said Pat Brown, director of student life.

The CAP is conducted in four phases and typically costs between $4,000 and $8,000, depending on the number of Greek organizations and how

Crime log

By Lauren Drasler Staff Writer

Sept. 26 9:44 a.m.

A student called Police Services about an attempted fraud case that occurred via email. A person who is not a student contacted the student about tutoring services and was sent a check.

The check was written out for more money than the tutoring services would cost.

Police were able to determine that this was a scam to get money from the student by having them cash a bad check.

Sep. 27 5:05 p.m.

A student reported being harassed via text message in University Heights. The student said that his ex-girlfriend had been sending him annoying and harassing messages after their breakup. It was

many CAP representatives are sent, the CAP website stated.

For UVM, the three-day review process cost $8,000, and was paid for by the president’s discretionary fund, said Tom Gustafson, vice president of student and campus life.

The Gender-Based Sexual Violence Task Force had recommended last semester that Greek Life should be given a thorough review after Sigma Phi Epsilon was de-chartered last year, stated Annie Stevens, vice president for University relations and campus life, in an email Sept. 20.

Brown said the assessment team is likely to return a report sometime next semester. From there, a Greek Life committee will read the report and develop short and long term goals accordingly.

determined by Police Services that this incident did not rise to the level of a crime, as the text messages were described as more annoying than threatening.

11:18 p.m.

Hall staff reported an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room in Austin Hall. The police arrived and knocked on the suspected room’s door.

Either no one was there or no one came to the door.

Sept. 28 11:07 p.m

A person called Police Services from the Living/Learning Center saying they heard screams that didn’t sound good coming from the direction of U-Heights. When police arrived on the scene, nothing was found in the area.

Sept. 29 12:22 p.m.

On a routine patrol, a police officer spotted a student smoking marijuana outside McAuley Hall. Upon investigation, a pipe and 6.25 grams of marijuana were taken from the student.

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Growing campus: Total Student Enrollment 2002-2012

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NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

‘The bottom line’ on University tuition hikes Keegan Fairfield Senior Staff Writer With college debt a concern for many, one Vermont lawmaker has jump-started a campaign to help struggling students and their families.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch announced legislation to curb rising college tuition costs at UVM Sept. 24.

Welch described the College Cost Reduction Act as an essential step toward economic recovery during a speech in the John Dewey Lounge on campus.

“This is absolutely critical to revitalizing our middle class,” he said.

The rate of college tuition hikes, which have risen 1,120 percent in the past three decades, is unsustainable, Welch said.

“Wherever they’re going, they’re graduating with debt,” he said. “That’s the bottom line: it’s the business model that doesn’t work.”

If passed, a taskforce composed of representatives from government agencies and higher education institutions will make recommendations to President Obama of unnecessary and cumbersome federal regulations to do away with, Welch said.

“Some of the things that Congress has made the higher education community do are very expensive and not beneficial to better education outcomes or lower taxpayer expense,” Welch said.

After the recommendations are made, the president will have six months to present legislation to Congress. If approved, the Secretary of Education will establish enforced guidelines for colleges to curb tuition costs or pay a fine.

Joining Welch were Claudia Abbiati, a senior studying communication disorders and linguistics, and Chris Lamotte, a father of three whose eldest son is a sophomore at Champlain College.

“Paying for college has been such a struggle.”

Claudia Abbiati Senior Abbiati said that even as a full-time student, she has had to work two jobs in order to finance her tuition and living expenses.

“Paying for college has been such a struggle,” she said.

And with plans to attend graduate school, Abbiati said she continues to worry about how she will afford the cost of her education.

“It’s a constant anxiety, and I just don’t know when it’s going to stop,” she said. “And knowing that there will be even more money that I’m going to have to look for — it’s frightening.”

Lamotte said that the estimated $80,000 his family will spend on his son’s education amounts to more than he spent

KELSEY WOOLEY The Vermont Cynic

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch speaks about new legislation called the College Cost Reduction Act which aims to curb rising college tuition costs in the John Dewey Memorial Lounge in Old Mill Sept. 24. on his first home.

“With my middle son getting ready to start this process as well, it is somewhat staggering to think about the loans, the debts and the costs that will be incurred in the next few years,” he said.

Welch said wstories like Abbiati’s and Lamotte’s are all too common across the nation.

“Congress has been dysfunctional,” he said. “Congress has contributed to the problem, and we’ve got an obligation to contribute to the solution.

College tuition has risen...

1000% between 1978-2012 over 800% between 1978-2012 8% between 2011-2012 over

National data. Source: Representative Peter Welch press release

LIFE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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UVMers step up, strut at stiletto walk

By Lydia Horne Cynic Correspondent H.O.P.E. Works, a group dedicated to ending all forms of sexual violence, sponsored Burlington’s first annual Stiletto Walk Sept. 29.

The event started with the reasoning for name of the walk.

Cathleen Wilson, executive director at H.O.P.E. Works, shared her thoughts.

“We are making a statement that sexual violence affects a range of people that fill a range of shoes in our society,” Wilson said. “[The Stiletto Walk] was meant to be a fun, unusual kind of fundraiser that would draw a younger crowd and would be awarenessraising.”

Participants in the walk were encouraged to wear whatever shoes they chose as they marched up and down Church Street.

While many donned stiletto heels, footwear ranged from Converse sneakers to military boots.

H.O.P.E. Works sponsored the Stiletto Walk out of a response to the dramatic increase in the number of incidents of sexual assault nationwide.

“Last year the agency served 686 survivors of sexual violence, marking a 60 percent increase from the previous year and a 30 percent increase from the average number of survivors served by the organization over the past five years,” Wilson said.

The organization offers services to victims of assault, such as chat lines, support groups and educational initiatives.

Several UVM groups attended the event. Alpha Phi Omega, a coed fraternity, attended the Stiletto Walk as a team for the service opportunity.

The Black Student Union (BSU) also attended with several members as a community outing. Senior Farah Albritton was excited about BSU’s involvement in the event.

“We’re starting to work into the community and get more involved, so [the Stiletto Walk] is one of our first events of the year,” Albritton said.

Other members of the UVM community also supported the event, including a group of nurses who work in the Fletcher Allen emergency room, all wearing a uniform of animal print scrubs,

Life is Good

JOHNNY SUDEKUM

Ski pass diaries: where to shred

The barrage of ski and snowboard company stickers plastered onto everything and anything on campus can only mean that the hardest decision for UVM students is on the horizon: which pass should you get?

While Big Ten students have football and Ivy Leagues have academics, UVM students have the winter season: a three-month period dedicated to endless shralping, shredding or whatever you may want to call it.

Just as with R.E.M. and Sublime, all good trios must eventually come to an end – the once glorious Triple Major ski pass is now history.

The trio disbanded after last winter, but in turn there are a multitude of options.

Jay Peak, the former powerhouse of the Triple Major, now offers a solo pass as well as a pass with Burke. Although Jay Peak is almost two hours away, it redeems itself as being one of the largest hills in the East with great glades.

Another new duo of the season is Smugglers’ Notch and Bolton Valley. Smuggs

offers a low-key experience compared to resorts like Jay Peak or Stowe. They are more about the experience on the hill, not at the waterpark.

Bolton, the closest of the bunch and only 30 minutes from campus, isn’t the largest mountain but is perfect for quick ski trips that don’t fill the entire day. Another redeeming quality is the night skiing, offered every Thursday and Friday.

The much-loved Stowe pass continues to offer students great skiing at one of the largest ski resorts in the East.

The one downfall to this pass is its appeal: everybody and their mom gets this pass and the lift lines are worse than the line at Brennan’s.

The local-oriented side of Sugarbush, Mount Ellen, offers a solo pass as well as a pass teamed with Mount Lincoln, the other half of Sugarbush.

For the skier looking for ski days spent almost entirely off trail, Mad River Glen is the place for you. While it is solely for skiers and only has a handful of snow blowers, this hill offers rugged terrain and is home to the famous single chairlift.

This pass can be bought with Mount Ellen and Lincoln.

Moral of the story: find friends, find passes, go ski and have a blast. Life is good.

ALICIA ACCETTA The Vermont Cynic

Stiletto Walk participants walk down Church Street to protest sexual violence Sept. 29. H.O.P.E. Works sponsored the first annual Stiletto Walk in response to increased incidents of sexual assault nationwide. heels and neon leggings.

Several UVM alumni were also in attendance, including Cathy Tremblay, class of 1985.

“My husband is on the board of H.O.P.E. Works, so we like to participate in events that end violence against women,” she said.

Learn more at www.hopeworksvt.org.

Little Italy commemorated

By Katie Alexander Cynic Correspondent The Vermont Italian Club (VIC) will host a festival at the Burlington City Hall Oct. 6 commemorating the Little Italy of Burlington’s past with Italian history, food and pride.

Little Italy prospered in Burlington around Battery Street and Pearl Street at the turn of the century until the urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 1960s.

Through urban renewal, the city of Burlington bought entire blocks of Little Italy to tear down and resell.

VIC was formed in 1983 to recognize the old community and reclaim some of Vermont’s Italian heritage.

President of the VIC Adele Dienno explained the struggles Vermont-based Italian-Americans faced during this time.

“Burlington said it was a slum and they had to tear it down,” Dienno said. “Part of our club’s original mission is to keep our heritage alive.”

Through the process of urban renewal, dozens of complexes were destroyed and more than 140 families were displaced.

Terri Burrell, VIC board member, shared the difficulties her own family faced.

“We got so little for our homes and had to relocate,” Burrell said.

The only businesses still in business from the era are Merola’s Store and Bove’s.

Today VIC seeks to revive the spirit of the Italian people and honor their contributions to Burlington, according to the VIC website.

The festival is an occasion to inform, remember and celebrate the culture.

Last year the celebration of Burlington’s Little Italy included the dedication of an official state marker commemorating Burlington’s old Italian neighborhood. This year’s celebration will include the revealing of an additional five signs placed at the approximate boundaries of the neighborhood.

There will be a slideshow of family photos of members, dating back multiple generations, and a wide array of food to purchase.

“It’s Italian,” Dienno said.

“You can’t go away hungry.”

Homemade cannoli, biscotti and pizzelli will be for sale, as well as Bove’s Meatballs and Open Hearth Pizza.

“We just want people to look historically into heritage as being valuable,” Dienno said.

When I finally suck it up and drag my huge piles of laundry to my friend’s washer and dryer down the street, I make sure that I use minimal energy when washing my clothes.

The Eco-Reps are working to continue their “green laundry” campaign this semester and there are a few simple changes that students can make in order to save energy while doing the much-feared task of laundry.

• Set all of your loads to a cold wash, regardless of color.

Let’s face it: Most college kids don’t sort their laundry anyway.

In the dorms the cold-water option is labeled as “bright colors.”

However, it doesn’t matter what the heck colors you put in there – “bright colors” just means that it is washed with cold water.

Using the cold-water option eliminates the energy needed to heat up warm water. It also ensures that a late night pizza stain won’t become a permanent part of your new shirt.

• Don’t overdry your clothes either. Most dryers are timed for a full hour, but 45 minutes is generally long enough to dry all of your clothes effectively.

• You can also limit your energy use by washing and drying full loads, cleaning out the lint filter and even pinning your clothes outside to dry.

• Finally, don’t forget to recycle your detergent bottles properly.

When you finally brave washing that pile of clothes lurking in the corner of your room, remember that clean laundry can also be green laundry.

Eco-Rep Column

STEPH HAYNES

Clean laundry goes green Laundry. The very word can send students – myself included – into a state of dread at the thought of lugging their three-week-old pile of soiled and stained clothes down to the washing machines, especially for those of us living off-campus.

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LI F E

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Lofts: Visionary look or poor design?

Architect, co-owner explain exterior design after mixed reception

By Thomas Rogers Cynic Correspondent The exterior design of the newly built Redstone Lofts has raised questions and eyebrows across campus.

In a recent survey given to UVM students, 85 percent of respondents answered that the Redstone Lofts are “hideous.”

In reaction to this criticism, both co-owner and architect of the complex are insistent that the right move was made.

“We’ve been hearing the mixed reviews regarding [the

What is your opinion on the exterior design of the Redstone Lofts?

86% of students responded ‘they’re hideous.’

72% of students think the Lofts are a disruptive eyesore in the context of other buildings.

2012 Vermont Cynic survey of UVM students

Lofts’] appearance,” a member of the Redstone Commerical Group and co-owner of the complex Larry Williams said.

Williams said that the intention of the design was to push the envelope.

“We understand that it doesn’t look like other buildings on campus,” he said, “but I really feel in terms of the overall layout and environmental design that it could win some architectural awards down the road.”

The Redstone Commercial Group, a commercial real estate agency based out of Burlington, was brought to UVM in 2010 to develop and manage the project on campus under a long-term ground lease.

Advancements by the company to develop the Lofts commenced in April 2011, and concluded in July, according to the New England Real Estate Journal website.

“I really think that an indication as to whether or not the project was successful is to take a look at how many students want to live there,” Williams said. “We reached maximum leasing capacity in no time for this year and are well on our way for the same outcome next year.”

Some students still question the inspiration behind the exterior design.

“A student may ask, ‘Why are these colors arranged in this pattern?’” architect for the Redstone Lofts, Alain Youkel, said. “The offset panels are primarily blue,

ERIKA HURTH The Vermont Cynic

Sophomores Kate Hutchens (left) and Jennie Hill sit on top of the “Flying Diaper” outside of Redstone Lofts Sept. 28. Some students have criticized the appearance of the newly built Redstone Lofts. gray and white in order to complement the skies we have here in Vermont, and this pattern reflects the direction of modern architecture. [. . .] The red brick buildings are simply non-descript and out of date.”

When asked if this progressive approach to the exterior design was appropriate in comparison to the surrounding red brick buildings, 72 percent of survey participants answered that the Lofts are “a disruptive eyesore.”

“I would say that buildings

like Waterman and the Billings library are what give UVM its beauty and character,” sophomore Michael Reardon said. “I wish [Youkel] could have found a way to model his design off of buildings like these while still maintaining his modern approach.”

Julia Hattem, a junior living off-campus, said she realizes that architects are influenced by new styles of development. Despite this, she said that Vermont buildings should maintain their more

classic appearance.

“The Lofts have such an ugly exterior, and it’s a shame because it takes away from what a great job they did on the inside,” she said. “The red buildings are what define Vermont, and architects should keep this in mind.”

More information on the Lofts can be found through the New England Real Estate Journal at www.nerej.com, Redstone Commercial Group at www.redstonevt.com and Youkel Architecture at www.youkel.com.

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SP ECTACLE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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Spectacle

a look through the lens

American experimental group Beats Antique, featuring producer and belly dance performer Zoe Jakes, brought their music and theatrics to Higher Ground Sept. 23. Singer/songwriter Lynx (top right) opened for the group and joined them during the show for collaboration.

PHOTOS BY Erika Colbertaldo

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ARTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Inside the mind: Wolfgang Gartner

By Aidan Dolbashian Cynic Correspondent

Over the course of just a few years, Wolfgang Gartner – the stage name of producer and DJ Joey Youngman – has become a prominent figure in the house music scene. As an ambitious artist with an innovative sound and unmatched work ethic, his recent success in the music world should come as no surprise.

His 2011 debut album, “Weekend in America,” caught the immediate attention of house music fans everywhere with songs such as the distorted, beat-driven “Spacejunk” and the infectious “Illmerica” with its adrenaline-pumping bass and suspenseful breaks.

As a preview of his upcoming show at Higher Ground this Saturday, Oct. 6, the Cynic interviewed Youngman to find out exactly what drives him to write, produce and perform some of the most innovative dance music being created today.

The Vermont Cynic (VC): What inspired you to pursue the writing of electro-house music?

Has this always been the type of music that you wanted to write?

Joey Youngman (JY): I’ve always written house music since I started making electronic music in 1993. It’s taken many forms over the years. Some of my songs get put into the “electrohouse” category because these subgenres seem to be necessary

for people to find music they like these days. But it’s all still house music to me.

VC: What types of influences do you draw from when writing your music?

JY: These days I try not to “be influenced,” which sounds a bit strange, and it’s probably impossible, but I at least try. I don’t want my music to sound like something else. And if you’re getting influenced by other music, it’s hard for that not to happen. I actually try and go back and listen to my older music, and just think, “How can I make this better and take it to the next level?”

VC: What does your creative process entail?

JY: Sitting down in the studio, spending a few hours making a really solid drum loop, then going from there, whether it be a bass line, chord progression or just some weird sound that sparks everything.

VC: Why do you write music?

What do you feel the main purpose of your music is?

JY: It’s the only thing in life I ever really had any strong desire to do, besides sex and food. No clue why. It’s just the only thing I ever got motivated about. Now it has morphed into something more complicated, where I have an obligation as an artist to do something at a higher standard, not just for me but for the people listening, and to continually

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHELSEA LAUREN

DJ Joey Youngman, also known as Wolfgang Gartner poses for a photograph. Wolfgang Gartner is set to play a show with Pierce Fulton, Popeska, Chris Pattison & Justin R.E.M. at Higher Ground Oct. 6. push the envelope.

And of course I make a living off of it and touring, which adds a whole other dimension – making a living off art and your passion, and maintaining your artistic integrity instead of following the trends that are guaranteed sure shots. You have to make the next trend. Then when everybody jumps on it, you move on and make the next one.

VC: At what point are you satisfied with your work?

JY: There comes a point in the creation of a song where I know

whether or not I’m going to finish it. And that decision is just based on my standards of what I’m willing to put my name on.

If I decide I’m not going to finish it, it goes into the trashcan. This could be three or four days into it, too. Once I decide it’s a definite winner, then I dive headfirst into making it the masterpiece I want it to be. And when it’s finished, I know it’s finished.

I just know.

VC: What is your favorite aspect of performing live?

JY: Those moments where the

crowd and I are one unified mass of bodies jumping up and down because whatever I’m playing at that moment moves us all so strongly, and we all react to it the same way. It’s when I feel like I’m one of them, not when I feel like I’m the guy on stage above them or separated from them.

Read the complete interview at www.vermontcynic.com, and see Joey Youngman perform as Wolfgang Gartner at Higher Ground, Saturday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Fleming hosts poets

By Lizzy Schimenti Staff Writer UVM’s Fleming Museum hosted its first reading of this semester’s Painted Word poetry series on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

The poets highlighted were Cathy Park Hong and Neil Shepard. Hong has three published books of poetry: “Translating Mo’um,” “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Engine Empire.” Hong’s work in “Dance Dance Revolution” won her the Barnard Women Poets Prize.

Neil Shepard, alumnus of the University of Vermont, has published four books of poetry: “Scavenging the Country for a Heartbeat,” “I’m Here Because I Lost My Way,” “This Far from the Source” and “(T)ravel Un(T) ravel.” Shepard is currently working on a fifth book, “Vermont Exit Ramps.”

Hong began with selected poems from her most recently published work “Engine Empire.” The book is divided between three settings: the American West during the Civil War, a contemporary Chinese megacity and the near future.

Hong explained how she likes to play with invented settings, and how this particular book captures her personal vision of what the information age will become.

Later, Hong shared two lipograms – poems that use only one-syllable words – from “Dance Dance Revolution.”

Hong’s terse pronunciation made for a unique performance.

Hong explained how she finds much of her inspiration through reading and watching films. She is fascinated by the present and the future and said she likes to write about what’s happening now. Since Hong teaches as an assistant professor at Sarah Lawrence College throughout the year, she collects ideas and stores them until the summer when she has time to write.

Shepard gains much of his inspiration from traveling. Growing up, Shepard led a somewhat nomadic lifestyle, always hitchhiking to different places. However, Shepard said that it wasn’t until his junior year of college that he actually traveled outside of the country.

His semester abroad at Oxford truly opened his eyes to the world. After college, he took a year off to travel and later lived for a year in Paris. Shepard credits his wife, who is a linguistic anthropologist, with having initiated many of their trips.

Shepard shared selected poems from “This Far from the Source,” which is a book of travel poems. The book he is currently working on, “Vermont Exit Ramps,” will be deeply rooted in Vermont and thus will resonate much closer to home.

The next poetry reading will take place Oct. 31 and feature work by Brenda Shaughnessy and Jon Woodward. For more information, stop by the Fleming Museum or visit the Painted Word poetry series page on the Fleming Museum’s website.

ARTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

The Cynical Listener The album deftly manages to strike that rare balance of maintaining Flying Lotus’ signature sound while at the same time employing this ambitious thematic basis in every song.

The jazzy, relatively mellow tracks flow together as top-notch featured artists like Erykah Badu and Thom Yorke supply ephemeral vocals that dig into the deepest notches of your brain.

Unlike his previous and much more dance-oriented album “Cosmogramma,” there are really no climactic songs on this album that could be considered singles.

Instead, the album sinuously oscillates and breathes to create a hypnotic structure that’s difficult to escape.

Indeed, the lack of natural starting and ending points and the seemingly never-ending succession of creative beat after creative beat makes it almost impossible to have the musical ADD I’m admittedly prone to with less cohesive albums.

The lack of climactic songs doesn’t mean there are not some particularly excellent songs on this album. “Phantasm” is an almost perfect example of the dreamy soundscape throughout the album.

Laura Darlington’s whispered, smoky vocals twist and combine with Flying Lotus’ smooth and expansive production to create a blissful four minutes.

“Heave(n),” “The Nightcaller” and “me Yesterday// Cored” are a few other standout songs to listen for.

Close your eyes, pump up your headphone volume, lie down and surrender to “Until the Quiet Comes.” It might just be a dream come true.

DILLON BAKER

Flying Lotus’ latest album dives into the dreamland There are few experiences that we as humans know so little about than our dreams. They frighten us, provoke us, entertain us and, perhaps most often, confound us.

We all have them, yet no one can really say why we do. It’s a topic singular in its universality and straight up strangeness.

It’s easy to see why musicians and artists have always been attracted to dreaming and sleeping.

Plenty have tried to represent and capture dreams in their work, with varying degrees of success.

One of those artists, experimental producer Flying Lotus, has attempted just that in his latest and highly anticipated album, released Oct. 2, “Until the Quiet Comes.”

“Until the Quiet Comes” conjures up images and thoughts of that time right between sleep and consciousness. Dreams and thoughts start to intertwine as reality begins to fade and the unconscious takes over.

This is the space where “Until the Quiet Comes” takes place.

ARTS

calendar

Friday

Oct. 5

First Friday Art Walk 5-8 p.m. Free Downtown Burlington How I Learned to Drive 7:30 p.m. $7 for students Royall Tyler Theatre

Saturday

Oct. 6

Wolfgang Gartner 8 p.m. Sold-out Higher Ground Ballroom Homecoming A Capella Concert 8 p.m. $5 for students Ira Allen Chapel

Wednesday

Oct. 10

Presentation: In Love and Struggle: The Art of Thornton Dial 6 p.m. Free Fleming Museum

9

Transcending barriers

Panel discusses women’s role in theatre

By Madeleine Gibson Senior Staff Writer

On Oct. 19, the stage at the Royall Tyler Theatre was occupied by a row of American women for the UVM panel Women in Theatre: Transcending Barriers.

The women occupied a variety of theater production roles: lighting, direction and playwriting.

Keynote speaker Paula Vogel, playwright of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and current UVM production, “How I Learned to Drive,” also joined the panel. Professor Lynn Greeley of the UVM theater department moderated the conversation.

Greeley introduced the afternoon’s topic by presenting nationally collected data suggesting that women are underrepresented in artistic endeavors.

The panel attempted to shed light on the roots of this bias, give advice to young female playwrights and discuss what change is required for equality in theater.

“I was raised in a household where I was told I could do anything,” said Melissa Lourie, the artistic director of Middlebury Actors Workshop. “But as the producing director at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, I was subordinated in my ability to share a vision [by the male director]. ” Lourie was never asked back

after her first production at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.

In more than 20 years, the theater company has produced only two plays directed by women.

Lourie suggested that the men in her Shakespeare play were uncomfortable being led by a woman.

“There exists a set of social constructs at work that value men in leadership over women.”

Gregory Ramos Theatre director

Gregory Ramos, this season’s director of “How I Learned to Drive,” sees two reasons for the bias against women in theater.

“The first reason is that there exists a set of social constructs at work that value men in leadership over women,” Ramos said.

“The second is that predominately artistic directors are men.

They are selecting shows that are of interest and relevance to them.”

It was argued that if more women were playwrights and directors, the material and concepts chosen for production

would be diverse and appeal more to the interests of young women.

“Theater flourishes when we are not Darwinian … when we collaborate,” Vogel said. “We should be asking ourselves, how do we make sure that every voice has expression in our field, that they don’t have to wait to be heard.”

All agreed that only so much change can be accomplished by a theater company.

The lack of funding and endowment of theater by government programs was also perceieved as detrimental.

Vogel encouraged those in the audience connected with local theater organizations to develop outreach programs to young women writers in high school.

“Success in theater is defined by commercial success ... there are no representations of artistic success,” Vogel said.

“At the end of the day it is dominated by commercial and financial enterprise, run by men,” Ramos said. “So I think that our job as teachers is to encourage the new generation of women to become those playwrights, those CEOS, those directors.”

UVM’s production of “How I Learned to Drive” will conclude after three performances this weekend. UVM students receive discounted tickets at $7 per ticket.

10

Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE VERMONT

C YNIC

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Brent Summers cynic@uvm.edu

802-656-0337

Managing Editor Corrie Roe

cynicnewsroom@gmail.com

News

Becky Hayes

cynicnews@gmail.com

Opinion

Peyton Rosenthal

cynicopinion@gmail.com

Sports

Mike Eaton

cynicsportseditor@gmail.com

Life/Feature Hannah Ullman

cyniclifeeditor@gmail.com

Arts

Natalie Slack

cynicartseditor@gmail.com

Web

Kathleen Murray

vermontcynicweb@gmail.com

Photography Natalie Williams

cynicphoto@gmail.com

Copy Chief

Jasmine Hughes

cyniccopyedit@gmail.com

Illustration

Jenna Bushor

cynicsketches@gmail.com

Video

Jonathan Polson

cynicvideo@gmail.com

STAFF Assistant Editors

Devin Karambelas (News), Katy Cardin (News), Kelsey Callahan (Photo), Walker Sutlzbach (Photo), Julia Dwyer (Sports), Erin Folcone (Life), Dillon Baker (Arts) and Jacob Lumbra (Opinion)

Senior Photographers

Alexa Algios, Michael ChaucerTorello, Max Landerman, Jamie Lent and Jonathan Polson

Page Designers

Danielle Bilotta, Dakota Sloop, Aviva Loeb, Alana Luttinger, Joelle Dyer and Tyler Molleur

Copy Editors

Autumn McNabb-Schoch, Elizabeth Bengel, Sammie Ibrahim, Joe Tomlinson, Emily Bartran and Ayla Yersel

OPERATIONS Operations Manager Victor Hartmann

Enrollment dropping not that much of a problem The numbers are in: there are less first-year students on campus than last year. And doesn’t campus just have that “empty” feeling? Yeah, we don’t think so either.

Even with a two percent drop in enrollment, we at the Cynic feel our campus getting a bit “swarmy.” Now, don’t take this the wrong way: having a big, healthy campus community definitely has its perks. We just are still trying to get used to sharing the same barbell with two other students at the gym at the same time – it doesn’t work that well.

Wherever you go, it’s no shocker that our campus is at capacity.

So while it may be tough on the budget with 381 less tuition checks coming in, we are most excited about the lack of 381 potential slow-walkers on campus sidewalks.

The office of enrollment management has been pushed the past few years to let more students flood into the University to bring in more money – a push caused by one of the founding principles of Fogelnomics.

With a new administration, we believe Sullivan has a unique opportunity to look at the enrollment numbers and realize that the sky is not falling with two percent less students.

The enrollment office said they are confident that this year’s drop in students will not affect revenue, which is all the confirmation the administration should need to finally turn their attention to the quality of life on campus.

Accepting less students will finally help balance the student to instructor ratio.

Student enrollment has increased by about 27 percent in the last decade, while faculty has lagged behind at an increase of 13 percent.

The next time UVM faces financial hardship, we challenge the administration to seek more creative budget solutions rather than turning to old faithful: let more kids pay us more money.

And in turn, students will feel at peace with a campus that seems a little more roomy and a little less zoolike.

cynicoperations@gmail.com

Distribution Manager Kyle DeVivo kdevivo@uvm.edu

Advertising Manager Victor Troiano cynicalads@gmail.com

ADVISER Faculty Adviser Chris Evans

crevans@uvm.edu

COLUMNISTS

Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s image is still heavily misinterpreted is or what he’s done. Most likely, they behold Che as some cool revolutionary from somewhere who looks great on a T-shirt.

This perception of Che by his modern admirers is merely a heavily whitewashed image.

There is a substantial disconnect between Che’s ideology and the ideology that liberals supposedly endorse.

JOSEPH BROWN

I recall reading back in March about a new and surprisingly popular fad in Thailand called “Hitler chic.” Put simply, participants of this fad adorn themselves with Nazi uniforms, swastika armbands, jack boots and other iconic Nazi attire.

Though this disturbing fad wasn’t popularized with malevolent intent, it still shows an abysmal ignorance of one of history’s worst butchers.

Shocked? Don’t be. Whether Americans realize it or not, they see this sort of thing here every day.

I’m referring, if you couldn’t guess, to one of Latin America’s most notorious thugs, Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Indeed, much like Hitler chic in Thailand, many Americans, too, honor a despotic, socialist murderer with a profound affinity for sending dissidents — nearly 1,900 — to the firing squad.

Nearly everyone has seen Che’s face on a cheap T-shirt worn by some left-wing radical, a poster in a college dorm or even on a coffee mug.

But those who display his image probably don’t know who he

Nearly everyone has seen Che’s face on a cheap T-shirt worn by some left-wing radical, a poster in a college dorm or even on a coffee mug. But those who display his image probably don’t know who he is or what he’s done.

Indeed, with ideology that supposedly supports our freedom of speech, liberals don’t seem to have a problem praising a man who tortured and killed lovers of democracy and capitalism in his notoriously bloody prison camp, La Cabaña.

And with an ideology that supposedly supports the rights of gays, they seem to forget or ignore that Che built concentration camps for homosexuals, one of which had a sign posted

out front, reading, “Work will make real men out of you.” This sounds similar to the sign on the front gate of Auschwitz, which read, “Work sets you free.” However, you certainly wouldn’t wear a shirt with Hitler’s face on it.

And with an ideology that prides itself for supposedly being on the forefront of tolerance and justice, liberals don’t seem to mind that Che believed that trials were, “an archaic bourgeois detail.”

Mind you, those that Che refused a just trial weren’t murderers or thieves – they were people who simply didn’t agree with him.

After all, Che remarked, “If any person has a good word for the previous government, that is good enough for me to have him shot.”

And for those who argue that Che was a saint in service of the poor, they seem to ignore that he butchered many poor Cubans alongside the rich. Yeah, what a saint. Unfortunately, this fad has extended far past left-wing ideologues. The other day, I saw a child with Che’s face on his shirt that read “little rebel.”

If liberals would like to popularize revolutionaries, they should promote those who extended freedom and liberty, not those who crushed it.

Unfortunately, the faces of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin are popular enough only for currency.

Joseph Brown is a first-year political science major and has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2012.

DISTURBING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“MAYBE SHE IS JUST BECOMING THE FAT BITCH SHE WAS BORN TO BE.” - Kelly Osbourne of Christina Aguilera during a segment on E!’s Fashion Police

Unsigned editorials officially reflect the views of The Cynic and its staff. All signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so. The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community. Please limit letters to 350 words. Send letters to cynicopinion@gmail.com

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OPINION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

COLUMNISTS

Amending the Sig Ep mess a tremendous uprising of anger and disbelief that was reported on extensively by local, national and even international news sources. The question was — and remains — disgusting, hateful and inexcusable. The author of the question displayed incredible ignorance, severely misogynistic tendencies and a need for help.

JEFF AYERS

The Vermont chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was cleared last week for the crimes of perpetuating rape culture and misogyny, though it may be cold comfort for its former members.

In a mass email to the UVM community, Thomas Gustafson synthesized the findings of a nine month investigation into a single line former Sig Ep brothers already knew was true: “Sig Ep as an organization was not found responsible” for the deplorable question that ignited a firestorm last December.

The question read: “If I could rape anyone, who would it be?” and was written by an individual member of Sigma Phi Epsilon on a questionnaire that he then accidently sent to his T.A. Quickly, the story was circulated among feminist groups on campus where it generated

But the question was the act of an individual, and was not the fraternitywide survey it was reported to be.

But it was the act of an individual, and was not the fraternity-wide survey it was reported to be.

So if the Sig Ep brothers knew the question was the work of an individual and not a reflection of their views and practices as an organization, why didn’t the general public have that information?

The answer is a complete lack of transparency on the part of the Sigma Phi Epsilon National

Fraternity. The national governing body quickly swept in and silenced the UVM chapter, ending any chance for self-defense.

Then they made an equally swift decision to cut ties with the young men by closing their chapter, leaving them to absorb the blows of massive public outrage — alone.

In a matter of days, the young men at Sig Ep lost their charter, their brothers and, for some, even their house. They were dragged through the mud and cast as supporters of rape, women haters who supported the very worst values of a patriarchal society.

Now, an email sent to students and faculty did address the fact that the former fraternity may have committed other infractions. The matter remains under investigation and there are few details. These infractions could end up being reprehensible, or they could amount to nothing. We simply do not know.

But based on the available evidence, for the last nine months these young men have worn a mantle they did not deserve. We owe them an apology – a sincere one.

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

An open letter to the US penny

BIANCA MOHN

Dear U.S. Penny, Let me begin by saying that this is nothing personal. I am quite found of your cheerful copper color, the nostalgia you hold for the past and the fact that you were once used to buy 5 cent Coca-Cola.

But times have changed.

Your clamor in my pockets and backpacks and wallets is not charming. My floors, desk and miscellaneous jars protest at the intrusion. You have become a burden, Mr. Penny, and it is time for you to go.

Permit me to review the reasons for this dismissal.

2012 marked a new low point in your history as a member of the U.S. currency. Production costs rose to 2.41 cents per

penny, which we both know is hardly satisfactory.

With copper and zinc prices rising, the U.S. government made it illegal to melt you and your friends. What is the penalty for this you ask? Five years in prison – as if we don’t have enough people incarcerated.

Then came the move from businesses to stop accepting you as actual money. Vending machines and toll booths no longer welcome your presence, and quite frankly, neither do I. Mr. Penny, you and your compatriots are not even shipped overseas to U.S. military bases. For the past 30 years, the Department of Defense has abolished the use of pennies at these bases, since you are “too heavy and not cost-effective.”

Let me ask you one question, Mr. Penny. What is the meaning of your existence?

Being “endearing” is not enough. To quote the great economist Greg Mankiw, “The purpose of the monetary system is to facilitate exchange … the penny no longer serves that purpose.”

Our New Zealand friends have the right idea. They eliminated 1 cent and 2 cent coins in 1989, and stopped making 5 cent

coins in 2006. Even Canada got rid of the penny in 2012, and is expected to save taxpayers about $11 million annually.

Consider this Mr. Penny: a quarter today has less buying power than a U.S. penny did in 1940. Inflation has been your foe and it has triumphed.

The one ally you do have is the Obama Administration. In yet another instance of flagrant idiocy, Obama’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal has asked for more flexibility in U.S. minting, which would allow a switch from making pennies with costly zinc to materials that are less expensive.

Mr. Penny, you have had a long run. You have witnessed the transactions of the first televisions, cars, cameras and countless other purchases. You have served our nation well.

It is time to call it quits. Fear not, President Lincoln will be remembered in our $5 bills that we love so dearly.

Enjoy retirement.

Sincerely, Bianca A. Mohn Bianca Mohn is a sophomore business administration major.

She has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2011.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Recognizing Obama’s real policies Dear Editor, In “GOP lacks recognition for effort,” Joseph Brown claims that President Obama removed the work requirements from the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. This claim is patently false.

This is what happened: a half-dozen states, some with Republican governors, asked for

more flexibility in their decision to grant assistance to people in need. The purpose was to experiment with ways to provide jobs to welfare recipients and to reduce the amount of federal paperwork and bureaucracy. The Obama administration agreed that the states would have flexibility in managing their welfare rolls as long as it, “produced 20 percent increases in the number

of people getting work.”

This work requirement canard has been repeated ad nauseam by Mitt Romney since August. It has also been demonstrated to be a lie by numerous fact-check organizations. It’s time to put this falsehood to rest.

Joseph A. Sullivan East Brunswick, N.J.

11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The real issue with the indie anti-Muslim film Dear Editor, I am writing in regards to your staff editorial in the Sept.

20 edition, entitled “Outraged about films,” concerning the film “The Innocence of Muslims” and the backlash it has incurred throughout the Islamic world.

I would like to emphasize a brief point you made that merits more attention. That is, that at least four people have been killed over this film. That is “killed,” as in K-I-L-L-E-D, murdered. Not injured, not maimed, not psychologically scarred, but killed. Four individuals’ lives have been prematurely terminated as a direct result of someone’s offense to a film.

If you haven’t seen this film yet, I encourage you to do so – a cursory YouTube search will get you there.

With horrible acting, worse writing, crappy green-screening and sets that look like the inside of a wet cardboard box, it is the best unintentional ironic romp of the season.

To any sane man it is obvious that this film was either made by a) a child or b) a cognitively stunted adult. That is, unless one is a cognitively stunted adult, and, dare I say, the Islamic world seems to be boasting a fair deal of cognitively

stunted adults these days. Note: “cognitively stunted adult” here refers to an idiot.

And while I am aware that the brunt of the protest levied against “The Innocence of Muslims” is not in regards to its message but rather concerning its depiction of the prophet Mohammed, which is clearly prohibited in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an, that doesn’t make the protest any less idiotic or irrational.

Living your life by the teachings of a 1,300-year-old book, written by a group of zealous, warring, irrational men, is neither intelligent nor relevant in today’s rational world, and it most certainly does not give one the freedom to end another’s life in response to one’s personal offense or creed.

In summation, freedom of speech is a highly protected right for good reason. It grants the ability to dissent and opens a discourse on topics which otherwise may stay closed due to public opinion, keeping the people from recessing into cultural bigotry and ignorance. You don’t have to like what I say, but that does not give you the right to kill me for saying it.

Sincerely, Tony Yasi Class of 2014

Vt. not so liberal after all Dear Editor,

When I told my friends at home that I would be transferring to UVM, their initial responses were pretty much the same: “You’re going to listen to Phish and smoke so much pot!”

As a Long Islander, that is generally the preconceived notion that people have of the “green” state of Vermont, as well as categorizing maple syrup as a beverage and constantly quoting “Super Troopers.”

However, when I got here, I was surprised to learn that this supposedly ‘liberal’ state was not so liberal after all. Yes, it does enforce the importance of composting and has shoeless-guitarstrumming-hippies on Church Street, but the laws pertaining to marijuana are just as strict as they are back in New York.

Despite many construed beliefs, cannabis and hemp products are not legal in the state of Vermont. To my amazement, marijuana is not even decriminalized in Vermont, and yet it is in the conservative city of Boston, Mass.

Since this is a pro-cannabis, pro-hemp town, one would assume that Burlington, Vt. would take the stand in legalization, not just for going along with its liberal ideologies, but to better the economy.

In Katy Cardin’s article “The story on pot, legalize it or not,” the citizens will be able to voice their opinion on this matter on the Nov. 6 ballot.

I agree with Max Tracey, an interviewed city councilor, that I would like to see Burlington as a forerunner to blaze the trail on this issue. Vermont is a very agricultural state, and was hit

rather hard from the recession in 2008; therefore, the implementation of legalization will ensure a boost in the state’s economy.

To say that marijuana has been given a bad rep over the past few decades is an understatement. Americans have been led to believe that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug that causes lung cancer and is a ‘gateway’ to harder drugs.

Many people draw a parallelism between marijuana and being lazy or dirty. However, our society is very open to alcohol consumption despite its very harmful consequences.

However, when I got here, I was surprised to learn that this supposedly ‘liberal’ state was not so liberal after all.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC), more than 37,000 annual deaths are related to alcohol consumption. What is the number of deaths from marijuana annually? Zero.

I have first-hand experience with the effects of alcoholism and how harmful it can be on a family unit. Therefore, I believe the laws of our society should not be so obtuse and be more flexible in the use of cannabis and hemp products.

Sincerely, Alexandra Crivici Class of 2015

12

D I S T RAC T I O N S

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

This week in

Distractions: Animals It’s a jungle out there

By Hope Olszewski

ACROSS 4. See you later, _____________.

5. Spotted and produces milk.

7. The nation’s bird.

9. Black and white lover of bamboo.

12. Associated with vampires and dark caves.

15. One of these was recently seen on campus.

17. Not actually a bear, but a marsupial.

18. Determines how soon spring will come.

19. A toothed sea mammal known for frolicking in the waves.

20. This animal slithers.

21. Mimicking bird.

23. Known for its male pregnancy.

25. Often hides in its shell.

Answers to last week’s “Fall” crossword Across 2. Cornucopia 4. Orchard 8. Halloween 10. Costume 11. Pilgrims 14. Acorns

Camp Morning Wood by Scott Womer

DOWN 1. Messenger bird.

2. Known for building dams.

3. Stores water in its hump(s).

5. Lizard that changes its skin color to the environment.

6. UVM’s mascot.

8. A nighttime dumpster diver.

10. Man’s best friend.

11. Vermont’s state animal.

13. Dancing red shellfish.

14. Likes eating bananas and swinging on trees.

16. Cartoon character Arthur.

22. Its sharp claws are good for scratching things like couches.

24. Has a cackling laugh.

15. Rake 16. Orange 20. Sweater 22. Cider 23. Scarecrow 24. Hayride Down 1. Harvest Moon 3. Thanksgiving 5. Jack o Lantern

6. Autumn 7. Yellow 9. Equinox 11. Pumpkin 12. Scarf 13. November 17. Red 18. Leaves 19. October 21. Apple

Color and tweet your unicorn @vermontcynic (The best one will be chosen to win a free hoodie)

FUN facts Bats can live up to 20 years.

Cat whiskers are used to determine whether a space is big enough for the cat to fit through.

Giant Arctic jellyfish have a tentacle length of over 118 feet.

Large penguin populations are located in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and South Africa.

By Jenna Bushor

Sports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

13

Cats extend streak in conference win

By Julia Dwyer Assistant Sports Editor The men’s soccer team traveled to Baltimore, Md. to take on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in their America East opener on Sept.

29.

The Catamounts made two late goals, lifting them from their 0-1 deficit to a 2-1 victory.

“We were executing the game plan, but sometimes we lost sight of that and hit a few bumps,” said Vermont assistant coach Rob Dow at an Athletic Communications press conference following the game.

Dow served as the head coach for the game as Jesse Cormier was on a one-game suspension following a red card in a previous match at Quinnipiac.

“We made the most of 90 minutes and capitalized on opportunities,” he said.

The first half of play remained scoreless. In minute 60, Liam Paddock of UMBC netted a loose ball goal, putting his team up 1-0.

UVM tied the score in the minute 83. First-year Charlie DeFeo capitalized on a corner kick from teammate Jonny Bonner to earn his first career goal.

A minute later, senior Joe Losier gave the Catamounts a 2-1 advantage. UMBC was unable to answer in the last seven minutes of the match and UVM

MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

Sophomore Jonny Bonner fails to get the ball past a Niagara defender in the tie Sept. 9. Vermont is tied for first in America East. picked up its first America East win, extending its unbeaten streak to six games and breaking UMBC’s three-game unbeaten streak.

“We were executing the game plan, but sometimes we lost sight of that and hit a few bumps.”

Rob Dow Assistant head coach Vermont men’s soccer

“All the credit goes to the guys for being tough on the road. They’ve played five straight games away from home and got it done again with another result,” Dow said.

Vermont is 4-3-3 overall in the season while the Retrievers fell to 4-3-3 with a 0-1 record in league play.

Junior Conor Leland finished the game with eight saves. He ranks 11th among the Division I leaders in save percentage and is 15th in the country in saves per game.

Vermont returns home to host a conference game against Hartford on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

Junior Beau Johnson heads the ball in the tie with Niagara Sept. 9.

The Catamounts will play six in-conference games starting Oct. 6.

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S P O RT S

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

NF L notes: Week Four

MICHAEL CHAUCER-TORELLO The Vermont Cynic

The men’s cross-country team competes together in a meet Sept. 11, 2011. Vermont finished in the top 12 at the Paul Short Invitational Sept. 28. They will compete in the New England Championships Oct. 7.

UVM finishes in top 12

By Josh Aronson Staff Writer On Sept. 28 in Bethlehem, Pa. the cross-country team finished in the top 12 out of 40 schools in the Women’s Gold 6k on Friday at the 39th annual Paul Short Run. The women weren’t the only team that impressed; the men’s team finished 11th out of 33 teams in the Brown 8k event.

Senior captain Kirsten Weberg, who placed 46th overall with a time of 21:18, and firstyear Alicia Clark, who was not far behind with a time of 21:25 and 55th overall, led the Lady Cata-

mounts. The women’s team finished with 383 points.

“I’d like to acknowledge Dylan Souder for an outstanding performance and Alicia Clark for racing extremely well in her first really big collegiate meet,” head coach Matt Belfield said in an Athletic Communications press conference. “To be close to Stony Brook and UNH at full strength is encouraging as we move forward.”

On the men’s side Souder led the team with a time of 25:57, which earned him 25th overall.

He was followed by senior Ethan McBrien who clocked in a time of

26:21 and was 46th overall.

Rounding out the top were first-year Thomas O’Leary (26:37) and juniors Aaron Szotka (26:45) and Fletcher Hazlehurst (27:16), who led the men’s team to a total of 335 points, just seven away from a top-10 finish.

The Catamounts have a quick turn-around, traveling to Westfield, Mass. Oct. 7 to compete in the 2012 New England Cross Country Championships.

The women’s 5K is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m., while the men’s 8K begins at 2:15 p.m. at Stanley Park.

By Jake Bielecki Staff Writer

The Patriots’ assault of the Bills’ defense is nothing new, but this past week they took a new approach. A balanced attack featuring more runs than passes wore down an overhyped Bills defense — that allowed 48 points to the Jets, yikes — without Brian Waters and Logan Mankins.

The threat of the run opens up play action and the Pats have highlighted on it so far. They don’t look in sync with it yet, but we have to believe that with Tom Brady they’ll figure it out. The run/ play action game will allow the Patriots to drain the clock without taking their foot off the gas at the end of games.

New England’s front seven continued their strong play, holding Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller to 62 yards on 21 carries. The Patriots’ secondary, which is still too big, can focus its attention on limiting the big play because of the other great play up front.

LeSean Mccoy still makes me feel funny things when he runs. The Eagles offense is at its best when he’s the focal point, allowing Vick to remain upright and monitoring turnovers. If the Eagles can avoid said turnovers and limit sacks, they have tantalizing talent and are a threat to beat any team.

Desean Jackson’s touchdown was a how-to on route running. Peering over his inside shoulders while feinting a pass down the seam allowed him separation when he broke to the corner — a solid example of how Jackson has improved since entering the league.

I can’t get enough football, but I’m not on-board with the constant flux of Thursday night games. Football is a violent sport and three off days before a game simply isn’t enough time to prepare and recover. Predictably these games have been sloppy.

These games also distract me from productive things I could be doing and I already have Sunday and Monday nights for that.

It was fitting that Sunday night’s game was heavily influenced by the zebras even with the real refs back. No

beef on the Ramses Barden call that took the Giants out of Lawrence Tynes range, but the Giants got there thanks to a questionable defensive pass interference call just before.

Let this be a reminder that in the NFL there will always be bad calls; football is a really hard game to officiate. From my perspective, the replacements needed to go, but the Golden Tate incident was blown out of proportion. Monday night football, game ending play, storyline of replacement ref built in. Go figure.

Seattle is my team this year. I think Marshawn Lynch is the unstoppable force we allude to when speaking of immovable objects. There are three Pro Bowlers in the secondary and the defense is savage, especially playing behind their home crowd.

Eventually they will need to stop playing to “not lose” with Russell Wilson, but it makes sense to do so now.

The NFC West is very much improved when compared to teams of recent memory. The Rams are respectable, dare I say the Cardinals and Seahawks are pretty good, and the 49ers are great. The NFC as a whole is like the Western Conference in the NBA. And, like the East, the AFC only has a few teams you need to take seriously.

Interesting stuff in New York as running back and return specialist Joe McKnight is transitioning to corner in on the absence of Darrelle Revis.

McKnight wasn’t thrilled by the decision, claiming he hasn’t played bumped uglies with receivers since high school. Perhaps Rex Ryan is onto something as McKnight hasn’t done much at running back since high school as well.

I’m in the process of backing off the Lions. Calvin Johnson remains the man, but they have so many knuckleheads and they lack professionalism.

The Vikings on the other hand are making moves. Christian Ponder has developed quickly and they have two of the league’s most dangerous playmakers in Harvin and Peterson. Vikings > Lions in 2012.

Lastly I’d like to proclaim my disdain for Madden ‘13.

Why would you ever do away with the fantasy draft?

Wouldn’t seeing your salary cap when trading, as it has been for years, be helpful?

Pretty ripped about this. First world, unmotivated college student problems.

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

NFL Picks Week 4

By Will Andreycak Senior Staff Writer

New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers After a brutal loss last week, the New Orleans Saints are 0-4.

I predicted that the Saints would win last week against the Packers because I thought Drew Brees, with his back up against the wall, would simply will it so.

Brees certainly did his part, throwing for 446 yards and three touchdowns, but Saints’ kicker Garrett Heartly missed a wouldbe go-ahead field goal with less than three minutes to play.

A record of 0-4 is a record of 0-4, but the Saints’ average losing margin has been just five points including an overtime loss.

The losses haven’t come at the hands of the NFL’s elite teams – only their loss to the Packers could be considered such a loss – but the Saints have been close to figuring it out all season.

My bet is that at home under the lights of prime time, the Saints – finally – get the job done against a worthy opponent in the 3-1 San Diego Chargers.

The Picks

New Orleans: Will, Jeremy, Josh and Colin San Diego: Mike and Jake

Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Vick finally secured the football for 60 minutes in the Eagles’ divisional win against the Giants last Sunday night.

Not surprisingly, since he became the Eagles’ starting quarterback in 2010, Philadelphia is 9-2 in games in which Vick does not throw an interception.

This week Philadelphia has to travel to Pittsburgh, where they will square off against a desperate Pittsburgh team that has won four straight games coming off of

Scoreboard: Will Jeremy Colin 6 - 10 Mike 7-9

8-8 Josh 11 - 5

9-7 Jake 8-8

bye-weeks in the last four years.

If any team needed a week of rest, it was the banged up Steelers, who have been trying to cope with injuries to their two best defensive players – James Harrison and Troy Polamalu – and their most effective weapon in the rushing game – Rashard Mendenhall.

If the three of these Steelers can play, and according to head coach Mike Tomlin, it sounds like they will, I like a Pittsburgh team that is fighting desperately to stay relevant in the AFC, especially at home.

The Picks

Philadelphia: Colin Pittsburgh: Will, Mike, Jake, Jeremy and Josh

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots There was a point in the third quarter of the Patriots’ game against Buffalo last week when the Pats were down 21-7.

Before I could even consider the notion that the Patriots would drop to 1-3 and a tie for dead last in the AFC, Tom Brady and the New England offense responded with 35 unanswered points and a convincing 52-28 victory.

Let’s get one thing straight about the New England Patriots: they will be the champions of the AFC East. This fact became increasingly evident as the Pats were routing the 2-1 Buffalo Bills

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By Will Andreycak Senior Staff Writer

Each we ek, the C ynic Spo winner of rts staff w some of ill predict the week matchup the ’s most a s. The pa ntic rticipants Mike Eato are Jerem ipated n, Will An dreycak, y Karpf, Colin He Aronson kimian, J and Jake osh Bielecki.

while the New York Jets were simultaneously setting fire to whatever shred of dignity they had as a competitive football team.

Denver will be a tough test because teams that have a great pass rush have always had the best chance of beating New England. That being said, the Patriots rarely lose at home and Brady will rise to the occasion in his matchup against personal rival Peyton Manning.

The Picks

Denver: Jake New England: Will, Mike, Jeremy, Josh and Colin

Houston Texans at New York Jets The performance by the New York Jets last week against the 49ers was the worst of the Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez era.

The offense gained a total of 145 yards and the defense gave up 379 yards of total offense. Perhaps most alarming was defense that allowed a staggering 245 yards to San Francisco backs.

All Mark Sanchez has to do in order to hold onto his starting job

is play at a competent level, and the fact is that he is not at the moment. He is last in the league in completion percentage with 49.2 percent, last in the league in yards per attempt with 3.6 and last in the league in quarterback rating at 39.9.

While the Jets’ struggle extends far beyond their troubles at quarterback – like how their defense cannot physically bring down a ball carrier – Sanchez’s lack of effectiveness is glaring. It is quite possible that we are one inept performance away from seeing Sanchez benched.

Things tend to become magnified when teams play on Monday night, so this week may very well be Sanchez’s last chance to save his job. Houston enters this game playing as well as any team in the league and will likely exploit the Jets’ porous run defense.

If New York is embarrassed in prime time on national television, something major will need to change.

The Pick

Houston: Will, Mike, Jeremy, Josh and Colin

Jake,

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S P O RT S

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

The weekly recap

By Colin Hekiaman Staff Writer

Boss of the week Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds Pitcher

The 26-year-old Cincinnati Reds pitcher threw a nohitter and struck out 10 on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1-0 victory.

This is the seventh no-hitter this season and 15th in Reds’ history. Bailey rounds out a

”

strong Cincinnati Reds pitching staff also including Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos. The Reds, who are tied for the best record in the MLB, hope to carry over their fortunes into the postseason, which starts shortly.

Quote of the week

The owners can basically be viewed as the ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle. The owners own the ranch and allow the players to eat there. That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way it will be forever.

And the owners simply aren’t going to let a union push them around. It’s not going to happen.

Detroit Red Wings’ Exec. Jim Devellano The Red Wings were fined $250,000 for this quote.

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Goat of the week U.S. Ryder Cup Team

With a 4-point lead on the final day of the Ryder Cup tournament in Medinah, Ill., the U.S. team collapsed and lost to the European team 14.5-13.5. On Sunday, the U.S. team managed just 3.5 points, whereas the Europeans scored 8.5. Europe won eight out of the last 12 singles matches.

Martin Kaymer’s putt on the 18th hole put the lead to 14-13,

and then Tiger Woods missed a putt against Francesco Molinari, giving Europe the v i c tory.