Issue 24

TOLIETS RAIN FROM REDSTONE LOFTS STUDENT ART HIGHLIGHTED IN NEW EXHIBIT

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Obama: ‘Change will come’

By Staff Report Amid the deafening claps, one member of the crowd shouted, “I love you!” in the middle of President Barack Obama’s speech.

“I love you back,” Obama said, without even breaking his stride.

About 4,000 people packed tightly onto six indoor tennis courts so that they could get a glimpse of the president, who visited campus for a political campaign event March 30. Obama was the first sitting president to come to Vermont since 1995.

Students and community members alike filled the complex hours before the president was expected to arrive in his 17car motorcade.

The line of people waiting to see the president wrapped around the back of the Patrick Gym/Gutterson Fieldhouse complex, stretching as far as the Redstone Lofts construction site by noon.

The line started to form at 7:30 a.m., when Olivia and Caleb Hoh, two Burlington students, began the queue.

“We are so excited, ” Olivia Hoh said. “I’m just excited to see the president.”

The pre-event:

Shortly before 1 p.m., Mayor elect Miro Weinberger introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders to kick off an afternoon of campaign speeches prior to the president’s.

Sanders issued an impassioned call to action, warning that America must not cede the White House and Congress to “extreme right wing Republicans.”

“We are fighting for the soul of America, and we do not intend to lose,” he said.

Vermont native Grace Potter and her band, the Nocturnals, were next to take the stage.

“It’s the honor of my life, and

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

President Barack Obama shakes the hands of students and other attendees after he spoke in the Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex March 30. President Barack Obama was the first sitting president to visit the state of Vermont in almost 17 years.

I think I can speak for all of the Nocturnals up here — it’s pretty cool to be opening up for the president of the United States,” Potter told the crowd.

Gov. Peter Shumlin brought Potter back onstage for a curtain call, eliciting explosive cheers from the crowd.

Shumlin’s speech then took a more solemn tone as he gave a moment of silence for St. Johnsbury Academy teacher Melissa Jenkins, whose body was found March 26 by police. He left the campaign event early in order to attend Jenkins’ memorial service.

Shumlin also expressed his

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

President Barack Obama speaks at his campaign event March 30.

gratitude to the president for standing by Vermont in one of its darkest moments in modern history: Tropical Storm Irene.

It is with this support that the state was able to make such a remarkable recovery, he said.

Shumlin then led the audience in singing a round of “Happy Birthday” to welcome to the stage Sen. Leahy, who celebrated his birthday March 31.

Leahy said he enjoyed sharing cake with the president and, during his speech, mentioned that the best birthday present would be the reelection of Barack Obama.

The speech:

Obama took the stage, smiling and waving to a crowd clutching scores of iPhones and cameras.

The president barely said the words, “I am here,” before he was interrupted by an uproar of cheers and clapping.

“This is a good crowd here,” he said in response to the welcome.

President Obama touched on multiple issues in his 30-minute long speech, including healthcare reform, making college affordable, equality for women and environmental initiatives.

“Here’s what I want to report: that in three years, because

NEWS 1-4 — LIFE 5-6 — FEATURE 7 — ARTS 8-9 — War commences ‘Future of Food’ focused Your senior roommate “Give You the Ghost” saves on paper the (musical) world on organic, natural food

NATALIE WILLIAMS The Vermont Cynic

Attendees watch President Barack Obama speak March 30. of what so many of you did in 2008, we’ve began to see what change looks like,” Obama said.

“Change is the fact that for the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.”

The sold-out event ended with a few handshakes from the president for those closest to the stage.

The after party:

Democratic supporters gathered at Nectar’s following the event for a reception organized

by Gen44, a part of Obama for America’s campaign that represents working professionals under the age of 40.

OPINION 10-12 Obama’s a crowd pleaser

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State Rep. Kesha Ram (DBurlington), who co-hosted the reception, said that Obama’s remarks struck the right chord for her.

“He hit the right tone — especially for Vermont,” Ram said. “He was really heartfelt and personable, and he touched on everything that the democratic base cares about.”

Weinberger, who also attended the reception, said his interactions with the president left him elated.

“It was just a few moments,

DISTRACTIONS 12 Camp Morning Wood

See OBAMA on page 4

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SPORTS 13-16 Club sports offsets their carbon output

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Occupy protestors greet the president

Rallying students and community members send mixed messages

By Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor Not even the presence of U.S. Secret Service could keep them away.

A diverse crowd of about 85 protestors greeted President Obama March 30 to draw attention to issues including the U.S. deficit, nuclear power, corporate greed, student loans and downsizing of the U.S. Postal Service.

Congregating at the corner of Spear and Main street, the protestors were a mix of Occupy Burlington members, UVM students and people who just wanted to send the president a message.

“Most folks here are actually pro-Obama,” graduate student Nolan Rampy said. “We’re not here to be confrontational in any way; we’re just trying to exercise our right to free speech.”

Rampy, a member of UVM’s Students for University Democracy, was one of several who felt that some of Obama’s campaign promises had been unfulfilled.

Among the protestors’ concerns were the Bush-era tax cuts, the acceleration of wars in the Middle East, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the government’s crackdown on protesting, according to students.

Jamie Moorby, a member of Occupy Burlingon, said that the rallying had been going well.

“We’ve created some good dialogue — some people walking into the event have stopped to talk to us,” Moorby said.

“People are waking up to the fact that [Obama’s] not all that he’s cracked up to be.”

The protestors set up tents, signs, flags and banners that included politically-charged slogans like “Sub-Prime Democracy,” “No Banks, No Bosses,” and “The Lesser Evil is Still Evil.”

Yet the atmosphere of the rally was occasionally jubilant, and the protestors’ sense of humor was evident — if inexplicable — with the appearance of a cardboard sign that read “I

shaved my balls for this?” and the chant “It’s got to be 4/20 somewhere.”

The three-hour-long rally

“We’re not here to be confrontational in any way; we’re just trying to exercise our right to free speech.”

Nolan Rampy graduate student

was not without incident, however. UVM Police Chief Lianne Tuomey told the protestors to clear the sidewalk for pedestrians, citing “imminent domain” as justification for her demand.

Jared Carter, director of the Vermont Community Law Center, was seen walking around and handing out his business card to protestors.

“We’re here to observe and make sure people’s rights are being protected,” Carter said.

“We sent out a press release to all law enforcement agencies when we heard about this event, and we urged them to respect these people and their rights.”

Carter said he had not received a response from any of the law enforcement agencies he had contacted.

Occupy Vermont had a strong presence at the rally as members waved signs, chanted slogans, took photographs and served homemade food out of a large white tent.

Arthur Hayes, a member of Occupy Vermont, said that although the movement has not been as visible as it was a few months ago, it is still in full force.

“The encampments got closed down, but they just moved indoors,” Hayes said. “A lot of us have moved back in the park to protest — May 1 is going to be huge for us.”

A nationwide General Strike has been planned on that day called “Occupy May 1” as a celebration of labor solidarity.

Emily Reynolds, another Occupy Vermont member, said that workers and students are encouraged to take the day off and “come party” with local Occupy movements.

While the Obama protests may not have attracted the hundreds of people that some protestors had said they hoped for, it did display the grassroots community activism that both Burlington and UVM have long been known for.

“We’re here to respond to instances of injustice,” senior Alex Buckingham said.

Buckingham said the “self activity of real people” is a critical part of student activism, and suggested that how students hold their political leaders accountable may be even more important than the political leaders themselves.

“It’s like that Howard Zinn quote,” Buckingham said. “‘It’s not about who’s sitting in the White House at the end of the day, it’s about who’s sitting in.’”

KELSEY CALLAHAN The Vermont Cynic

Resident Nancy Braus (center right) and graduate student David Buckingham (far right) protest Obama’s visit March 30.

KELSEY CALLAHAN The Vermont Cynic

South Burlington resident Nassy A. protests President Obama’s visit to UVM as part of the 99 percent movement March 30.

NATALIE WILLIAMSThe Vermont Cynic

President Barack Obama speaks to students and other attendees in the Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex March 30. Over 4,000 students and community members attended the campaign event held on UVM’s campus.

KELSEY CALLAHAN The Vermont Cynic

A resident protests President Obama’s visit to UVM March 30.

N EWS

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

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War on paper commences

SGA, faculty push for online course evaluations

By Kevin Santamaria Staff Writer SGA’s Academic Affairs Committee and the Faculty Senate are pushing a campus-wide initiative toward online course evaluations.

SGA requested a move from paper to online evaluations in order to decrease impact on the environment and for efficiency, according to the Motion on Online Evaluations.

If approved, online evaluations could be implemented as early as fall 2012.

The information provided by the evaluations would still be restricted to those who can currently access them and would be employed in the same ways they are now used.

Online course evaluations are already in effect in the School of Business Administration, College of Engineering and Mathematics and the College of Medicine, and are in the planning stages in the College of Nursing.

The evaluations are posted on Blackboard or similar software and are written by each college, but President of the Faculty Senate Julie Roberts said neither of these options would be suitable for all the colleges.

“That’s why a vendor would be used if it happens at UVM,” Roberts said.

According to the Educational and Research Technologies Committee, the cost of handling, printing and processing the evaluations is estimated at $67,000 per year.

Brigham Young University calculated that paper-based evaluations cost $1.09 per entry, while an electronic interface would be about $0.47, including the cost of developing a system to process the information.

But Brian Reed, associate provost for curricular affairs, said some lingering concerns

emerged at the Faculty Senate meeting March 12.

These included the potential decrease in response rate to online evaluations and how faculty may be adversely affected in performance reviews for promotion, Reed said.

Roberts said online evaluations are important to faculty, which is why professors tend to encourage as many students as possible to participate.

“Many other universites have moved to online course evaluations with good success and I think UVM can do the same.”

Brian Reed Associate provost for curricular affairs “Because they are used for reappointment, promotion, tenure and salary increases, their validity is crucial,” Roberts said.

One proposal to boost response rates was to withhold grades until a student completed evaluations, Reed said.

“This is feasible because it is possible to identify which students have or have not completed the evaluation while still keeping the responses anonymous,” he said.

Roberts suggested that another approach might be to release grades to students who have filled out their evaluations as they are entered, so that students would be rewarded for doing them promptly rather than punished for not completing them. All other grades would be released at the deadline for grade submission.

By using incentives and

monitoring the process to make sure it is working well, Roberts said they would avoid risk of upsetting faculty who depend on these evaluations for both feedback and assessment.

Reed mentioned how it was important to embrace assessment in order to promote continuous improvements.

“Many other universities have moved to online course evaluations with good success and I think UVM can do the same,” he said.

A valuable feedback mechanism that allows faculty to grow and to improve their courses and lessons is important, Reed said.

“When considered in this light, I trust students will want to complete their course evaluations whether on paper or online,” he said.

SGA senator and sophomore Riker Pasterkiewicz said online evaluations would positively affect students by allowing them to fill out course evaluations at their leisure and in a more private environment.

“It would also be beneficial to both the students and the instructor because it would not take away valuable class time that is otherwise used to fill out the evaluations,” Pasterkiewicz said.

Proponents for online interface also suggest paper evaluations are inefficient and the staff time used to process them can be costly, he said.

Completing evaluations online would facilitate the process of streamlining the information, Pasterkiewicz said.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the Faculty Senate Meeting April 9 at 4 p.m. in the Waterman Memorial Lounge to voice their opinions about the online evaluations.

Estimated 80,000 evaluations per year. The registrar estimates 100,000 registrations per year.

Paper at 3 pages per evaluations = 54 cases per year. That’s a stack of paper 90 feet high. If the pages were placed end-to-end, that’s about 47 miles.

Cost of handling, including printing and processing at 3 minutes per form = $67,000

Cost of paper and printing 6 cents per page= $16,000 Class time used for administering the evaluations at 15 minutes per student per evaluation = enough time to graduate 16 students

Source: Educational and Research Technologies Committee

Toilets rain from Redstone Lofts

By Devin Karambelas Assistant News Editor Three UVM students were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning for a vandalism spree that took place on the Redstone Lofts construction site.

Sophomores Jeff Levenson, Cameron Rivers and Zachary Schaab were arrested for unlawful trespass after UVM police responded to complaints of broken glass.

UVM Police Capt. Tim Bilodeau said that the damage was “extensive” and included sinks and toilets thrown out of windows and potential property destruction to the roof.

Although an estimate of the damage total has not yet been announced, Bilodeau said it would probably be “a lot more than $10,000.”

Annie Stevens, associate vice president for student and campus life, condemned the students’

actions and said each will be referred to both University and Burlington judicial processes.

“It is incredibly disappointing and frustrating that they would have such a complete lack of regard for someone else’s property,” Stevens said.

In the meantime, all three suspects have been arrested and the specifics of their charges will not be known until their arraignment.

MARY DONOVAN The Vermont Cynic

Spinner Place apartment complex in Winooski March 31. Spinner Place will no longer house UVM students as of next year.

Gap students to call Spinner Place home Policy change puts UVM in charge

By Mat Degan Staff Writer The doors to Spinner Place will soon be closing on traditional students hoping to live there this fall.

Under a recently negotiated master lease, UVM will soon hold the keys to the Winooski apartment complex that has housed students since its inception. This policy change will limit availability only to gap students within the guaranteed admission program.

The guaranteed admission program is designed for applicants who may be ineligible for traditional admissions but enter into a contract with the University which grants them acceptance if they study for two semesters at UVM while maintaining 3.0 grade-point average.

Of the nearly 100 gap students who participate in the program each semester, UVM will now be able to house 38 of them under one roof at Spinner Place, with additional space for a residential director.

The hope is to create a unique “learning community” and ease the transition from high school or another college, according to Beth Taylor-Nolan, assistant dean of the Continuing Education office, which sponsors the guaranteed admission program.

“The majority of [gap] students live in the community and it’s been a real challenge,” Taylor-Nolan said. “The data shows that when transitioning, it is ideal to have a learning community.”

UVM will now manage all aspects of Spinner Place, and instead of applying to live there directly through the apartment complex, interested gap students will have to send their materials to the University. Once they are accepted, the students will pay their monthly rent to UVM. “We’re really excited,” she said. “We really haven’t had any access to University housing in the last 10 years.”

Karissa DeLisle directs marketing for HallKeen Management, a Boston-based real estate company that has holdings throughout New England, including Spinner Place and other student housing.

DeLisle called the new nego-

tiation between UVM and Spinner Place a “win-win” for both parties, explaining that under the agreement a guaranteed number of students will fill the rooms at the apartment building, and the application process may now be easier for students wishing to live there.

“We’ve loved having UVM students at Spinner Place,” she said. “The relationship is still very similar.”

Asked if she had heard any criticism from the UVM student body, Taylor-Nolan said she was unaware of any negative reception to the program, mentioning that existing students at Spinner Place were offered the chance to continue their living arrangement, but most opted not to.

“It’s typically [gap students] who feel slighted in terms of access to housing,” Taylor-Nolan said, indicating that when the University’s student population ballooned in recent years, Continuing Education students were pushed out of priority housing.

Director of Residential Life Stacey Miller was also optimistic about the program, adding that traditionally Spinner Place has not been a major draw for UVM students looking for offcampus housing and that not everyone living on the designated UVM floor of the building is a current student.

In fact, Champlain College students fill the majority of beds at Spinner Place, Miller said.

“Unfortunately a lot of students didn’t want to live there,” she said. “It will help the gap students because some choose not even to come if they don’t have housing.”

Most students were indifferent when asked their impressions of the Spinner Place overhaul as it moves toward housing more Continuing Education students.

Senior Lisa Konieczny lives in an apartment downtown and thought that housing in the area is an issue, given that there are “only so many places to live,” but did not think the Spinner Place housing shift will affect too many students.

“Because it’s in Winooski, it’s less of an issue,” Konieczny said. “If [Spinner Place] was more central, then it would be a problem.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Crime log IMAGE COURTESY OF MICHELLE SMITH

A conceptual design of the Clean Energy Fund’s renewable energy solar panels at the Miller Research Farm on Spear Street. The installation of the panels is scheduled for late May.

Solar energy powers UVM

Clean Energy Fund to install panels on Equine

By Amanda Sherwood Staff Writer The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) will install renewable energy solar panels at the Miller Research Farm on the roof of the Equine center on Spear Street.

Sustained by a self-imposed student fee of $10 per student per semester, UVM’s Clean Energy Fund is designed to advance renewable energy research, education, and infrastructure on campus, according to the UVM website.

Installation of the panels will begin shortly after spring 2012 commencement in May and is projected to take two to three weeks, finishing well before the start of fall semester.

The power generated will be “net metered” which means it will be sent directly into the electricity grid, said Michelle Smith, Green Building Program coordinator.

But it will be sub-metered first so UVM knows how much electricity the panels are generating, she said.

Smith said Vermont Solar Engineering would be able to install 134 solar panels through the help of the Vermont Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program.

The program granted the University $55,740, which has allowed UVM to double the amount of solar panels and save nearly $4,000, she said.

The Vermont Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive program offers some compensation for renewable energy systems installed by Vermont Solar, Wind and Hydro Partners, according to the Vermont Department of Public Service.

The installed panels will conduct 32,160 watts or kilowatts of energy and cover essentially the entire roof of the Equine Center.

“Since CEF is student funded and went through SGA, we want students to get involved in what they’re paying for,” Smith said. “They can learn about the process first hand concerning permits, zoning and building analyses.”

Smith said that because UVM was already able to accomplish the expansion they had envisioned for the Equine Center in this first attempt, there were no definite plans to install future renewable energy systems.

Still, the CEF is looking ahead to try and make future renewable energy projects not only possible, but also easier.

The CEF has started a study in which a hired consultant will assess and analyze other potential areas on campus for the installation of renewable energy mechanisms, Smith said.

These mechanisms will not be limited to solar panels but may range from solar thermals, wind turbines and biomass.

The recommendations from this consultant will most likely lead to future proposals and future projects around campus, she said.

“Many people don’t believe that renewable energy is possible in Vermont, but it is,” Smith said. “It’s really great that this Small Scale Renewable Incentive fund is available.”

Students who are interested in marketing, media or renewable energy will have the opportunity to work with Vermont Solar and the Clean Energy Fund during the installation.

“I think it’s an interesting idea,” first-year Jonah Cantor said. “It’s a good start for a school that prides itself on green living.”

Students who want to get involved are welcome to email the Clean Energy Fund at cef@ uvm.edu.

Farming refugees’ family grows

By Amanda Sherwood Staff Writer New Farms for New Americans (NFNA), a program assisting refugees in Vermont, will expand this summer to support a rising influx of new Americans.

NFNA has existed since 2008, providing refugees with farm space to grow their own produce that is then sold to the local community.

After a successful launching, NFNA has decided to expand the number of refugees it supports from 15 to 50 this summer, program specialist Josie Weldon said.

“We will see how it goes; 50 is a good number,” Weldon said.

Last year, NFNA worked with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) to introduce a new program focusing on community supported agriculture.

The AALV’s goals are to promote equal opportunity, dignity and self-sufficiency of refugee and immigrant individuals and families in Vermont, the AALV website stated.

This program services refugees hailing from 35 different countries, according to the website.

While the AALV provides social outlets for refugees, the New Farms for New Americans program helps refugees provide food for their families and preserve their agricultural heritage.

“People do it for many reasons: the fresh food, to be with each other, to be productive and active, exercise, mental health and as a means to stay connected with their culture,” Weldon said.

Weldon insists that this program gives back to the Vermont community, bringing rich culinary culture from all regions of the world and continuing the Vermont tradition of providing fresh food and farming.

“Refugee immigrants come from well-developed agricultural backgrounds and we don’t want them to lose the gifts and expertise of their people,” she said.

Farmed goods are also sold to local restaurants and stores such as City Market, which al-

lows students and community members to be impacted by the program.

“I’ve only heard of this recently, but I think it’s a great idea and I’d imagine there would be a lot of support for this kind of program in Vermont,” first-year Kristen Parece said.

The prepared food program starts in late June and will continue into early October. Upon membership, customers will be able to purchase the food grown on these refugee farms at certain locations in Burlington and Winooski.

There are summer internships available for UVM students in the NFNA programs, primarily in helping to organize and run these farmer’s market food pickups.

“I think it’d be a great opportunity for students who are interested in agriculture and life sciences,” first-year Erin Noury said.

To get involved and learn about summer internships students can visit www.africansinvermont.org, or contact africans.vermont@gmail.com.

By Lauren Drasler Staff Writer

March 24 3:40 a.m.

There was a report of two male students with cuts from broken glass at Ready Hall.

Both had been drinking prior to the incident. One student tried to stop the other from goofing around, and both ended up breaking a window and receiving cuts. The two students were transported to the hospital to have their wounds checked. After their hospital visit, one of the students was sent to detox.

March 25 2:59 a.m.

A female student passed out in Mercy Hall due to alcohol intoxication. UVM police and rescue were called, but the student regained consciousness while the officer was there. The student was evaluated by the rescue team, and they determined that there was no need to take the student to the hospital. An officer escorted the student back to her room.

March 25 8:41 p.m.

RAs reported an odor of marijuana coming from the third floor of Chittenden Hall.

An officer was called to the scene, and three-fourths of a gram of marijuana was taken from a student along with a bong and a pipe.

March 26 12:16 p.m.

There were a series of threatening and harassing phone calls reported by the Sodexo office in Robinson Hall. The caller said they were looking for a former employee and claimed they were from a

OBAMA

non-existent federal department. The office reported four different phone calls, from four different numbers using four different names.

Each call was from the same person.

March 26 4:39 p.m.

$60 in cash was taken from a dorm room in Chittenden Hall. The theft occurred sometime between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The crime was reported to police later that afternoon.

A suspect has not yet been found.

March 26 10:08 p.m.

UVM Police assisted in a Burlington police case when they arrested a man with an arrest warrant out on him.

The man was wanted in connection with domestic assault.

He is not currently a student, but had been previously. The man was found at the Living/ Learning Center and was taken into custody.

March 27 4:39 p.m.

A car that was found in the John Dewey Parking lot was discovered to have an altered parking tag. The car did not belong to a student. The tag was a temporary visitor’s pass and the time had been altered to extend how long the vehicle could park on campus.

An officer who was walking by, spotted the tag and the car was towed.

March 27 10:47 p.m.

A student was criminally charged for possession of marijuana after an officer searched the student’s vehicle. The search, agreed to by the student, turned up 15.55 grams of marijuana, bongs, a marijuana grinder and Adderall.

Follow the Cynic on Twitter for their ride along with UVM Police.

Friday April 6 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. #CynicUVMPD

President comes to campus

...continued from page 1 but it was awesome,” he said.

“It was a great day — it was a proud day for Burlington and the state.”

The reaction:

Garrison Nelson, UVM professor of political science, attended the event and said Obama gave a great speech and was definitely in campaign mode.

“It’s March and he’s cranking,” Nelson said. “He’s basically given us the outline of the campaign — we know what it’s going to be.”

Nelson said the president’s remarks showed Obama’s concern with how the Supreme Court is going to rule on the healthcare bill.

“You can see it was preying on his mind a great deal,” he said. “So from that standpoint, we caught him at a moment when his single greatest initiative is at risk.”

UVM President John Bramley said he remembered when former President Bill Clinton came to Vermont and strolled around Burlington. Bramley reiterated that the University was not involved in Obama’s visit.

“This event is basically run by the Secret Service – there’s no flexibility,” he said.

Students offered generally positive reviews of the event.

“It was an interesting lineup between local, state and national politicians and a performance by Grace Potter,” junior Will Durst said. “I was really taken with the energy.”

LIFE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

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Panelists strive to redefine feminism

Talk calls for ‘family-friendly’ U.S.

By Johnny Sudekum Cynic Correspondent

MARY DONOVAN The Vermont Cynic

Students view the film “The Future of Food” presented by Slow Food UVM in Billings Lecture Hall March 26. A panel of faculty and community members spoke about GMO foods after the film.

‘Future of Food’ focused on organic, natural food

Slow Food UVM opens discussion on GMOs

By Erin Focone Cynic Correspondent The benefits of genetically modified foods (GMOs) and natural, organic foods is a debate that Slow Food at UVM discussed after a showing of the film “The Future of Food” on March 26.

After the film, students, faculty and community members participated in a panel discussion featuring faculty and community members.

The stated goal of this panel and talk was to emphasize the importance of good, clean and fair food. Its purpose was also to educate students on the social and political issues surrounding genetic engineering and the industrialization of agriculture.

One of the panelists, local farmer and activist David Zuckerman, was opposed to GMOs, because he said they are not healthier and will not save more people from world hunger.

“With healthier soil you produce more food,” Zuckerman said.

Another issue discussed during the panel was the control of the food supply by big corporations through industrialized agriculture and GMOs. The film outlined negative health effects GMOs can have, including potential food allergies, increased toxicity and antibiotic resistance.

UVM environmental studies lecturer Brian Tokar was opposed to these corporations.

“Most of the world still resists the growing of [GMOs],” Tokar said.

He then explained his demand for labeling GMOs. “Now is the time to reignite the concern of these companies that are producing GMOs,” Tokar said.

Some students who attended the event were knowledgeable

about the issue, while others learned about it for the first time through the film and panel.

“Before the film I thought I was in the know,” first-year Deniz Sehovic said. “I was completely unaware of how much power the corporations had.”

The discussion provided many answers to students and community members who did not know about the issues with industrialized agriculture, organic and natural food.

Members of Slow Food also shared their thoughts on the event and this debate.

“The more I learned, the more I wanted to find out,” Sebastian Downs, junior and Slow Food member, said. “I want to educate the student body on better food choices.”

For more information on Slow Food UVM, visit their page on Facebook. To watch the film, visit www.thefutureoffood.com.

Vermont community members gathered in the Waterman building on March 29 to discuss the issues women face when trying to balance work and family.

One of the panelists was Madeleine Kunin, who served as governor of Vermont from 1985 to 1991 and is releasing a book, “The New Feminist Agenda.”

Kunin opened the event with fellow panelist Joan Blades, cofounder of the website MoveOn and president of the website MomsRising. Together they discussed their views on feminism in today’s working world.

The two explained that the balancing act between work and family is not specific to this generation.

“Work and family — ‘you can do it all’ — has been an issue since the first cavewoman scrubbed the walls,” Kunin said.

Currently, the U.S. is one of three countries that does not support its working class with paid maternity leave, according to Blades.

“When people ask [their bosses] for flexibility in the office, the answer most of the time is ‘you’re fired,’” Blades said.

She explained how employees only a decade ago consistently brought their kids with them to work.

“It was convenient while also building community,” Blades said. “Now it seems as though this practice has faded and it’s more common for people to bring their dogs to their workplace.”

In an effort to respond to these issues, Blades co-founded MomsRising, which “has been working to bring together millions of people who share a common concern about the need to build a more family friendly America,” as stated on the website.

MomsRising gives mothers across the U.S. the opportunity to tell their stories, struggles and

successes in hopes of creating a cultural and political change at both the local and national scale, according to the website.

“Women need to speak up and tell their stories — that is the only way to get on an even platform,” Blades said.

“Feminism is still a hot word. Can we make feminism less toxic?”

Madeleine Kunin Panelist and former governor of Vermont Since the startup of MomsRising in 2006, the organization played a major part in creating a more family oriented nation, by working to secure paid family leave in New Jersey and Washington, as well as paid sick days in Milwaukee, Wis., according to the website.

The portrayal of feminism also came to the forefront of the discussion as Kunin expressed her interest for the new generation to “redefine feminism.”

“Feminism is still a hot word,” Kunin said. “Can we make feminism less toxic?”

Junior Jennifer Gustafson, who is involved in multiple social justice organizations, expressed what she has observed around campus in terms of activism.

“Students sometimes get annoyed with the social justice atmosphere at UVM,” she said.

Other students described feminism as being an uneasy subject in classroom discussions.

“Women and men need to see that this is something worth fighting for,” Blades said. “Not only do we have to move forward, but we have to protect what we have.”

Guest speaks on significance of five pillars of Islam

Muslim Students Association connects Islamic student community at first event this year

By Ann Cromley Assitant Life Editor The Muslim Students Association (MSA) held its first event of the semester March 29.

Founded three years ago, the club is open to any student, whether he or she identifies closely with the religion or would like to learn more about the faith.

According to club members Aya Alnamee, a first-year, and Eman Hayyat, a sophomore, the event was the semester’s kickoff event.

“The goal for our club is to create a comfortable environment for Muslim students to express themselves on campus,” Alnamee said.

Featuring traditional cuisine and discussion, the core of the MSA event revolved around a presentation by guest speaker

Sheikh Islam of the Islamic Society of Vermont.

“The goal for our club is to create a comfortable environment for Muslim students to express themselves on campus.”

Aya Alnamee First-year student Islam presented to attendees the core values and significance of

the Five Pillars of Islam and what it means to be a member of the Islamic community.

“The term ‘Islam’ is a broader term than just peace,” he said.

“You do whatever you are doing peacefully.”

The Five Pillars of Islam are the belief in the One God Allah, testimony of faith, charity, fasting and pilgrimage.

Each pillar has specific guidelines that are a religious duty to fulfill.

According to Sheikh Islam, there are two parts of the first pillar — negation and confirmation.

Negation refers to disbelief in any other god and confirmation is the belief in only the One God Allah.

The second pillar mandates daily prayer, performed five times per day at set intervals.

“There are no excuses — you

must pray [each day],” Islam said.

The third pillar of charity requires that all capable followers give money to the poor.

According to Sheikh Islam, capability is determined by one’s possession of the equivalent of currency to 85 grams of solid gold.

“The price of gold is universal, so this can apply to all currencies,” Islam said.

People who are eligible must give 2.5 percent of their earnings to charity, according to Sheikh Islam.

The fourth pillar is fasting.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims practice fasting between dawn and sunset.

The fifth and final pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

This journey is known as the Hajj and is traveled by 3 million

Muslims annually. The trip is required at least once in a lifetime, provided that the subject is physically fit and financially able to do so.

“It was great to see a community coming together to educate others about their culture. I learned a lot and I look forward to all of your future events,” said senior Will Vitagliano, vice president of SGA. The club plans to have more guest speakers and to reach out to students in college, according to Alnamee. Future dates of MSA meetings and events are not yet set.

For more information about the club, search for UVM Muslim Student Association on Facebook.

6

LI FE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Film exposes silent crisis of prisoners Center for Cultural Pluralism raises awareness of transgender issue

By Adam Roberts Cynic Correspondent “Cruel and Unusual” was a part of the Spring 2012 Social Justice Film Series that sought to highlight the struggles transgender women face.

“It’s ridiculous that these transgender people aren’t protected from employment discrimination. It’s like the government is pretending they don’t exist.”

Erik Rowan UVM Senior The UVM Center for Cultural Pluralism aired the film March 28 to bring awareness to the UVM community. Dirk Rodricks, program coordinator of the organization, hosted the event.

“There is a growing awareness about the transgender community,” Rodricks said. “It’s graphic films like this that drive the point home.”

“Cruel and Unusual” told the story of five transgender women who were incarcerated in a men’s prison, where they were sub-

LORENA LINERO The Vermont Cynic

Juniors Matt Guerrera (left) and Alan Nguyen view the film “Cruel and Unusual” as part of the Spring 2012 Social Justice Film Series presented by the Center for Cultural Pluralism in Allen House March 28. jected to rape and violence but denied medical and psychological treatment.

“The warden said to me, ‘We don’t recognize transsexual as a serious medical need,’” said Linda, a transgender woman in the documentary. “He said, ‘We’re not gonna treat you here. More than likely, you’ll wind up killing yourself.’”

After being denied estrogen therapy, Linda became depressed and attempted to hang herself in

her cell.

The women were routinely subjected to sexual abuse and violence from the guards and inmates. Ophelia, another woman in the film, said she was stabbed twice for refusing to have sex with other inmates. “[A guard] got behind me and started feeling my breasts, squeezing my nipples and patting my butt,” said Anna, one of the women from the film. “There’s nothing you can do but stand

there and take it.”

Outside the prison, transgender women often have difficulty finding employment because, according to the film, most states do not have laws prohibiting gender identity discrimination.

Linda said she would dress as a man to find jobs that she had experience doing, but when employers saw that her name on her driver’s license was Linda, they would turn her down.

“It’s ridiculous that these

transgender people aren’t protected from employment discrimination,” senior Erik Rowan said. “It’s like the government is pretending they don’t exist.”

Currently only 16 states have laws protecting transgender people from employment discrimination, according to transgenderlaw.org.

Without being able to find work, many transgender people resort to prostitution and crime for survival.

“I was prostituting from age 10 to 19,” Yolanda said, another women in the film. “I needed food, I needed shelter, I needed clothes and I had to do this.”

This type of lifestyle captures some transgender people in a cycle of crime and imprisonment because they believe they have no other way to survive.

“This film raises really important awareness,” senior Asher Sullivan said. “There’s a relatively invisible system of oppression that regularly affects the lives of the trans-identified.”

Rodricks, the host of the event, said that people were surprised by the graphic nature of the film, but that it caused them to start thinking about what is being done to help transgender people in this situation.

The next film in the Social Justice Film Series will be “Divided We Fall,” and will be shown on April 11. The documentary will highlight the prejudice American Muslims face in a post-9/11 culture.

EMMA HANSEN

Emma Hansen presents: BTV Beats

Here piggy piggy: Prohibition Pig Beer and food lovers rejoice.

The Prohibition Pig, a new pub in Waterbury, combines Southern-inspired food with beer options from around the world.

The lengthy draught list offers several selections from Vermont, and their food incorporates as many local ingredients as possible.

Waterbury businesses suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. After the Alchemist restaurant made the painful decision to not reopen due to damages, the Prohibition Pig took its place.

The new pub honors the old feel the Alchemist provided, but offers a more progressive menu and beer list.

They also offer Heady Top-

per on tap — a nod to the original owners of the space.

If you’re craving a short road trip and some housesmoked or grilled pork, visit the Prohibition Pig. And, if you’re a beer lover, this will be your new favorite spot.

Tweet us photos of your visit to the Prohibition Pig: @ cynicvideoteam

http://www.vermontcynic.com/life

7

F E AT U RE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONICA BEERS

Junior Monica Beers (left) and her housemate Meryl Caldwell at Caldwell’s home. They live together as part of HomeShare Vermont which matches volunteers with elderly or disabled community members.

Your senior roommate

HomeShare offers students inexpensive housing, chance for unique friendships

By Katy Cardin Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONICA BEERS

Junior Monica Beers (left) and her 75-year-old HomeShare housemate Meryl Caldwell at Caldwell’s downtown home.

Housemates Monica and Meryl often start their Saturdays by making breakfast together, but they aren’t the typical college matchup.

Junior Monica Beers lives with 75-year-old Meryl Caldwell in her downtown Burlington home as part of HomeShare Vermont, an organization that matches volunteers searching for affordable housing with elderly or disabled members of the community who want to remain living at home.

“Homesharing is an old fashioned bartering arrangement where someone with a spare room in their home needs a little help, such as companionship, help with meals or simply a protective presence in the home,” according to the website.

After eating breakfast, Beers and Caldwell separate and run errands or do any other activities they have planned for the day.

“There are three levels for homesharing,” Beers said. “The first one is if you want to live there for free — you do 10 hours of service for your housemate each week.”

Although living with some residents requires training, others only require doing cleaning, cooking or caring for pets, Beers said.

“Then there’s a middle group where you pay $200 a month and do five hours of service,” she said. “I don’t do any service and pay $400 a month.”

Although Beers said she prefers to live in a quieter environment, she sometimes has friends over to play Caldwell in pingpong after they have both returned home.

For students who prefer a calmer housing situation where they can focus on their studies, HomeShare can be a better and cheaper alternative than living in the dorms or in an apartment junior and senior years, Anne Cooch, a HomeShare member, said.

“We have had great luck with some wonderful UVM stu-

“It’s definitely a friendship. Sometimes it does feel like she’s my grandma”

- Monica Beers Homeshare student

dents in homesharing — many from social work, nursing and grad programs, but from other areas of study, too,” Cooch said.

“We recently added a link to our program on UVM’s off-campus housing website, as well.”

Cooch said that the only setback to homesharing is the lengthy process required to get someone matched. It can take several weeks to several months to find a good pairing.

After the preliminary application steps, HomeShare introduces potential matches and gives them the opportunity to do a trial match, which is a two-week period where the people see if living together will work out long-term.

“We write up an agreement, similar to a lease, that lists what is expected from both parties,” Cooch said. “If at any point during this trial, one or both parties do not think it will work, then the trial ends, and we continue searching for housing.”

If things seem to be working out by the end of the trial period, the match is finalized by signing an agreement.

“We will continue to check in periodically to make sure everything is going smoothly,” Cooch said.

Beers and Caldwell eat dinner separately, but when Beers is in the kitchen cooking, Caldwell sits and talks to her about her day, just as any housemates would.

“It’s definitely a friendship,” Beers said. “Sometimes it does feel like she’s my grandma.”

Previously, Caldwell lived with high school students, which forced her to play more of a mother role, but Beers said it was easier for Caldwell to live with an

independent college student like herself.

“At first it was kind of awkward to say, ‘I’m going to leave and I might not come back,’ or ‘I might come back at three in the morning’ and her having to accept that and not tell me I can’t go,” Beer said.

To finish off their day together the two like to watch “Jeopardy,” a favorite show of Caldwell’s, and yell out the answers they know at the same time.

“HomeShare is great because it is super cheap,” Beers said. “I live in a really nice house with a hot tub, pingpong table, full kitchen, and all utilities are included.”

Beers said that for the price, it’s an awesome place that just can’t be found in the Burlington market.

“Plus, whenever I’ve had a bad day or it’s an exam week, Meryl makes me cookies and we talk about silly things,” she said.

“She’s a really great housemate.”

Cooch agrees and says Homesharing is a great living arrangement where both parties can benefit from participating.

“In many cases, Homesharing becomes so much more than just a living arrangement that enables two people to meet their needs,” Cooch said.

“Many of our homesharers find wonderful friends and companions in the people that they are living with, and a great deal of satisfaction from the knowledge that they are helping someone.”

8

ARTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Student art highlighted in new exhibit About 140 original pieces on display in Living/Learning gallery

By Molly Philbin Assisstant Arts Editor Artists from the Living/Learning Creative Expressions program presented “The Tip of the Iceberg on the Cake” gallery showcase reception at the L/L Fireplace Lounge March 27.

Christmas lights brightened the exhibit showcasing more than 140 original student pieces. Much of the art in the gallery was paintings, but other work such as pastel and watercolor illustrations, photographs, and paper cranes were also displayed.

Some of the pieces were even three-dimensional.

Around 20 feathery masks decorated the wall near the entrance. Five standalone figures were set up throughout the gallery on pedestals and a couple hung from the ceiling.

Other pieces included Aidan Holding’s artwork poetry that spoke of his disdain toward outwardly affectionate couples and a detail heavy, obscurely shaped drawing that encompassed lyrics from Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”.

“There are so many different styles, even within one artist,” sophomore Ali Palin said. “It looks like 40 people did this.”

More than 70 art viewers of all ages perused the small gallery; however, there were no more than 20 people in the room at once. Live music and snacks were provided for all who attended the reception.

Many of the people present at the event belonged to or were affiliated with the L/L program. People who were not part of the program talked with the artists about their pieces and shared thoughts on the artwork.

Program member

DILLON BAKER

“Give you the Ghost” saves the (musical) world For music fans that lament the current state

WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic

Resident Rebecca Moyer views student art at “The Tip of the Iceberg on the Cake” gallery in the L/L Fireplace Lounge April 3. sophomore Reed Hanson said he was happy with the turnout of the event, even though none of his art was featured in the gallery.

“I think it turned out pretty well,” Hanson said.

Program director sophomore Emily Booker, who displayed several of her own wooden sculptures, noted that many of the pieces in the gallery were not exclusive to what students had created while a part of the program.

“There’s art in here that was made throughout the year because we’ve had monthly projects,” Booker said. “But there is also past art that people have made from

of popular music, perhaps nothing is more despised than the outbreak of AutoTune usage throughout the music world. From T-Pain to even Bon Iver’s most recent album, auto-tuning is seemingly inescapable.

So, when I tell you that Polica is the latest band to feature Auto-Tune lead singer Channy Leaneagh’s voice in every song on their debut album “Give You the Ghost,” please don’t turn the page. You’d be missing out on one of the most promising and unique bands to come along in years.

In fact, it is a band that Justin Vernon of the aforementioned Bon Iver recently christened as “the best band I’ve ever heard” in Rolling Stone Magazine.

last year, from high school or from art classes people have taken [at the University].”

According to the L/L program proposal page, the Creative Expression L/L program is composed of 10 students who aim to express their inner creativity with the students they live with.

“The Creative Expressions program allows you to express yourself through whatever art medium you want,” Booker said. “It’s great.”

The exhibit will be on display until April 6. To learn more about the event go to www.uvm.edu/llcenter/ gallery/.

Featuring two drum kits, a groovy bassist and heavily auto-tuned and the distorted vocals previously mentioned, Polica has a truly distinctive makeup and sound.

With the electronics and distortion make up much of the sound, the lyrics and song structures are deeply emotional.

Complex percussion and ominous but danceable beats rule most of the atmosphere, while Leaneagh’s pain-tinged vocals soar above and ultimately steal the spotlight. The mu-

WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic

Student art sits on display in the Fireplace Lounge April 3.

sic as a whole is an intriguing combination.

While the electronics and distortion make up much of the sound, the lyrics and song structures are deeply emotional.

The mid-album gem “The Maker” captures much of what makes Polica great.

The song is a slowburner, starting with a minimalist synth beat and a heavily auto-tuned and echoed lament of “He won’t love me like that.” Eventually, a groovy bass riff starts up and more effects are added, culminating in both drummers playing off each other to create an explosive climax.

Perhaps most impressive, the album is entirely cohesive musically and thematically without be-

Music review

ing the least bit repetitive.

Especially considering they been together for less than a year, there surely hasn’t been a debut this striking in years.

What I’m saying is don’t be afraid of Auto-Tune.

Don’t fear for the future of music — Polica is here to serve and protect.

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

ARTS

Workshop review

Arts Calendar

Friday 4.6

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOWARD WISE

First Friday with DJ Precious, DJ Llu, Myra Flynn

Higher Ground

First Friday Art Walk Downtown Burlington

Sunday Puppeteer Paul Zaloom holds his puppets. He held a show at the Flynn Center March 30.

4.8

The Pretty Reckless Higher Ground

Zaloom turns puppetry into art Monday Local artist takes unique workshop to the Flynn

By Taylor Morse Staff Writer

I don’t believe that I’m going out on a limb when I say that Paul Zaloom is not a name that resonates within the popular consciousness of the UVM community. Nor is it even largely in minds of folks living in the greater artistic collective that is Burlington.

Perhaps this is because the presence of the professional art form known as puppetry is often overlooked. Sure, many recall its presence at one time or another in their childhood.

Some, perhaps, are still stuck on the fear of seeing their first ventriloquist – most likely an adult ogling a young crowd while a childish joke comes out through the even stranger mouth of the “dummy” oddly fastened onto the

performer’s forearm.

Fortunately, Paul Zaloom is not one of those awkward puppeteers, and likewise, his main outlet lies in the medium of the puppet show. A world traveler by way of his trade, Zaloom brings a clean and clear approach to his plays, though undeniably more clear than clean.

I took part in his workshop “The Theatre of Trash” on Friday March 30 at the Flynn Center.

Attendees were instructed to bring in six items of nonsensical trash.

The class was an improvisational experiment, as we were blindly led into the preliminary thoughts of any crafted stage performer. Zaloom, being among the finest tier of such performers, took us into the depths of our own self-conscious and helped, or tried to help, us cut our

anxieties free.

With such an intimate setting in which all three of us attendees so willingly put our humility on the line, I find it hard, in a strangely moral way, to give great detail into the progression of the workshop.

What is significant is recognizing the arts that exist within Burlington that go unnoticed and unappreciated beneath the radar of the youth population here.

Zaloom is just one of many unappreciated artists that frequent Burlington and give the area its essential progressive nature.

With his New York frankness and his subtly dry, yet genuinely crude humor, Zaloom stands at the forefront of his craft, offering more than just a show of merely witty and childish puppetry.

4.9

Lose Yourself in India Music and Film Davis Center, Livak Ballroom

Tuesday 4.10

Beth Orton Higher Ground

Wednesday 4.11

Poe Jam With Dug Nap BCA Center, second floor

Until April 13

Marriage=Death Exhibit Allen House

Poetry review

THEODORA ZIOLKOWSKI

Rich language of laureate Tina Chang explored at the Fleming The Fleming Museum hosted Tina Chang on March 28 as part of the monthly Painted Word Se-

ries led by professor Major Jackson.

Varied speakers presented her poetry to the audience.

In Tina Chang’s second book of poetry, “Of Gods and Strangers,” the taste of the discoveries made in Chang’s poems lingers with the audience.

The sounds and images in Chang’s collection are electric: we are drawn across borders and time, and when we reenter the world, we remember vividly what we experienced in the lives of the poems.

A current Brooklyn poet laureate, Tina Chang writes with a richness and lucidity that extends throughout her poems and with a collectivity that claims us.

We become one with the Empress dowager, the young girls, the first-person

speaker in a club whose clear voice seems to rise up from the shadows.

As the audience of the poems in “Of Gods and Strangers,” we experience such an intimacy with the experiences and atmospheres created that it is almost as if we, too, become written into the collection by its conclusion.

We navigate through books with our names in them and through peach trees bearing fruit that seem both sweet and scary.

The constant tendency to view ourselves through others is the theme of twin-

9

ning that guides us through the many colors and backdrops of Chang’s “Of Gods and Strangers.

The image and concept of masks that emerges throughout the collection embeds an additional layer to the collection.

Masks and twins relate to one another because the first-person speaker sees herself as twinning the powerful Empress Dowager herself.

And thus we become seated even deeper into Chang’s speakers’ voices.

A sense of danger weighs on the speakers throughout the collection.

We dip in and out of positions, moments and people of power.

We navigate through books with our names in them and through peach trees bearing fruit that

seem both sweet and scary.

In “Bitch Tree,” the child speaker hails nature. Shatteringly alive, the speaker propels our awareness of our own senses and presence in the moment with a voice that demands our attention with lines like, “Love me when all the ripe clusters drop.”

Consumed by the mythologies that arise in the various speakers’ connections with the spiritual, natural and historical worlds, the many masks in “Of Gods and Strangers” become, too, a semblance of an ever-watching god.

We journey with company when we travel through the realms of the many “gods” and “strangers” that inhabit Chang’s collection.

10

Opinion

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

$

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE VERMONT

C YNIC

Looking back at Obama’s trip to Vt.

Victor Hartmann

Obama came to Vermont, made a glorious entrance, a passionate speech and a quick exit. But now that the dust is settling, many are starting to question the impact of the president’s visit and his actions while here.

This was not your typical presidential visit. While Obama may have sounded like a hero by “resetting the clock” with the first presidential visit to Vermont, he was here for one reason: to extract money.

The $30,000 buy-in to lunch with the president was one thing. It’s expected.

But having no public events is a little rough. The lowest available price to see the president was a “bargain” $44 ticket that sold out quickly.

This was not your typical presidential visit. Vermont state police told WCAX they are concerned that they won’t see payment from their assistance in the motorcade. They were apparently volunteering for the Obama campaign without even knowing it.

Yes, it seems that even the taxpayers are unwillingly contributing to the president’s bid for reelection. We at the Cynic have a problem with that.

This was not your typical presidential visit. From the standpoint of the media, it was very difficult to cover. Press passes were assigned at the last minute and once press were allowed into the event, they were corralled in a “Press Hold” room by Secret Service and forced to miss the first half of the event.

Obama came to the University of Vermont campus and earned a lot of money from people while he was here. So what did he give back to UVM? There of course was no presidential meal at the grundle, there was no Obama guest lecture, but that isn’t a problem.

It would have been nice if Obama had taken time to talk to students, a part of the youth demographic that helped him get elected in 2008.

But no, the president could not take 5 mintues of his time and instead hopped back on Air Force One and flew to Maine.

Yes, it is great that the president stopped by. But the way that he did has left Vermont feeling used, a little dirty and in need of a cold shower.

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COLUMNISTS

Obama’s a crowd pleaser

BIANCA MOHN

In the spirit of brutal honesty, I must confess that I am not Obama’s biggest fan.

Despite the number of my peers who swooned over Obama in 2008, I never hopped on the button-wearing train.

I do respect Obama. I think he is intelligent, a fantastic public speaker and a slick politician. However, I have never understood why people are so enthralled by him.

His resume before the presidency it is rather sparse.

After college, he became a community organizer, attended law school, taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago and then became a senator. That is fine and dandy, but does it make your jaw drop? Not mine.

When it was announced that Obama was coming to UVM, I decided to see what the hype was about. Putting my reservations aside, I joined a crowd of supporters and waited several hours for the president to arrive.

When Obama bounded across the stage, looking energetic and very much in

his element, the gym was electrified with clapping, cheering and the flashes of thousands of cameras.

For the next 30 minutes, I stood spellbound by Obama’s ability to light up the room.

With simple words he had people shouting “I love you!” and waving their hands in the air. He was funny, relatable and knew exactly when to speak and when to wait for applause.

Apart from the spot-on presentation, the content of the speech had its highs and lows.

It was a campaign speech, so naturally he told Vermonters exactly what we wanted to hear.

But for all of Obama’s rhetoric of bipartisanship and speeches encouraging the right and left to work together, he certainly did not hold back from making gibes at the Republican Party.

When speaking on the economy, Obama mentioned the idea that “you are on your own” is what “the other side wants to do; they’ve made no secret about it. They believe that’s how American is advanced, that’s the [sic] narrow conception they have of liberty, and they are wrong.”

I am not a Republican, but this is obviously blatant propaganda that holds little meaning. It is not that clear cut; the concept of liberty varies by individual and not having the government entrenched in the economy is a valid standpoint.

At the end of the day, it was an eloquent campaign speech.

It reaffirmed what Obama has

said before and will certainly say again, but I can’t get rid of the feeling that it was just a flashy presentation.

In Obama’s speech, there were grand statements about problems that he hopes to tackle in another term. Did he present any concrete plans to confront these issues plaguing the U.S.? No. Other than raising taxes on the wealthy, the numerous programs and improvements he mentioned hardly seem feasible.

It was all easy listening in a nutshell. Obama has style, a positive message, and he makes you feel good about being American — a sentiment that I rarely feel. For a couple of moments, I did understand the appeal, but my opinion of him was not changed.

It is disappointing that voters are attracted to edited, glossy versions of politics.

We don’t want big words, and so higher level intellectual discussions rarely make it to the campaign trail. We take our pictures, cheer and go home to think about other things.

I have no regrets about seeing Obama speak. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am grateful that UVM was able to host the president.

While I wish it had been a speech with less flash and more content, it was an entertaining and memorable experience.

Bianca Mohn is a first-year business administration major.

She has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2011.

“NOW, HOW CAN I BE ANTI-WOMAN? I EVEN JUDGED THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT.” - Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh on why he is not sexist, as his critics have claimed.

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OPINION

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Exploring citizen diplomacy Dear Editor, Citizen diplomacy is defined as the right — if not the responsibility— Americans have to impact foreign policy and diplomatic efforts, “one handshake at a time.” Citizen diplomacy operates under the premise that by meeting and interacting with “regular” Americans, international visitors will have a greater understanding of our people and culture.

The week of Feb. 12, I visited Washington, D.C. to participate in an incredibly eye-opening conference on Citizen Diplomacy hosted by the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) in association with the U.S. Department of State.

I was nominated by the Vermont Council on World Affairs in Burlington as an Emerging Leader to attend this conference, which featured dozens of prominent leaders such as Kathleen Stephens, John McCain, foreign ambassadors and 500 others from the public and private sectors.

I participated in a State Department reception in the historic Ben Franklin Room and an evening reception hosted at the embassy of the Slovak Republic, where I met with Ronan Farrow and Tomicah Tillemann, both senior advisors to the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

There I discussed how my generation can help shape American foreign policy and the role youth can play to foster peace and stability internationally.

While the events were fascinating on their own, in my opinion, the people I met were the highlight of the trip. With Charlie Kellett, a UVM alum, ‘93 environmental studies, and now diplomat, I discussed the concept of citizen diplomacy and I learned how he became interested in international affairs.

Exposure to international scholars and exchange students inspired him to leave the U.S. for a chance to study abroad in 1988, when he left home to live in West Germany as an AFS high school exchange student.

At UVM, Charlie studied under professor Jean Richardson, who challenged students to find solutions to

the complex environmental challenges facing the Earth.

Charlie heeded her challenge and served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Morocco, where he worked in a national park and lived with subsistence farmers.

There, he learned the power of citizen diplomacy through the Moroccan people’s generosity and hospitality and his desire to be part of something bigger than himself, and to promote mutual understanding internationally, led him to the State Department, where he works on the International Visitor Leadership Program.

I urge anyone who has an interest in international affairs, languages, or other cultures to get out there and live your dream.

You never know what opportunities will appear until you start.

Similarly, my own path to international relations has been one full of fortunate opportunities that have allowed me to engage as a citizen diplomat. I began to study Chinese when living with incredibly diverse peers and developed an interest in international cultures — specifically Chinese language and culture.

The relatively brief amount of time that I spent in China during my junior year abroad was truly one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. I lived in Beijing with a Chinese host family — a true family in every sense of the word.

They welcomed me into their home and, through their hospitality and kindness, positively changed my perceptions of China. Meeting so many extraordinary people who are directly involved with international affairs, both abroad and in the United States, has reaffirmed my desire to work in international affairs in the future.

However, none of this would have been possible without the wonderful opportunities afforded to me first in high school and now while attending UVM. Now, in my senior at UVM, I realize just

Quick Opinions

how much I have grown as a direct result of studying here.

As a global studies and Asian studies double major, I have had countless opportunities to build upon existing interest in foreign affairs, including living in the Global Village, studying abroad in China and interning with the Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA), the organization that brought me to D.C. for the conference.

It is at UVM that I have branched out and have grown into the person that I am today, with a strong desire to make a difference in the world.

Moreover, throughout my time here I have made long-lasting friendships that will stand the test of time, further enriching my experience at UVM. In order to play an effective role in foreign relations, certain qualities are essential: a passion for people and learning, as well as an unceasing desire to make a palpable change in the world, great or small. Above all, it is the personal interactions between people that foster truly lasting and valuable relationships.

Nevertheless, each individual has to make the personal decision to engage with the world in order to connect on a fundamental level with others, both in the U.S. and abroad, in order to be a citizen diplomat. I urge anyone who has an interest in international affairs, languages or other cultures to get out there and live your dream. You never know what opportunities will appear until you start.

Therefore, in the pursuit of your dreams, I would like to pass on some advice given to me by Charlie Kellett, who told me to listen and understand.

Through these concepts we can avoid misunderstandings and war, gain friends, and, in some cases, even a family.

As citizen diplomats we all have much to learn about ourselves and the world. Therefore, we all must take advantage of all the opportunities. The path to success is not an easy one, but if we take to heart the advice given to us, we may just succeed and eventually be able to make a difference and become part of something bigger than ourselves.

William Berrey III Class of 2012

Bianca Mohn

“Overhearing conversations about social justice in the aisles of City Market – a typical Saturday in Vermont.”

Peyton Rosenthal “Kudos to The Vermont Mymic –suprisingly funny and witty.”

Illustration by Andrew Becker

11

Rush Limbaugh’s talk does not reflect UVM

Dear Editor,

I do not support Rush Limbaugh or listen to his show, and consequently, I strongly disagree with the way student groups have handled the recent controversy surrounding his name.

John Bramley’s decision to maintain UVM’s contract with WVMT does not necessarily indicate support for Rush Limbaugh and to imply such a correlation is spurious at best.

As WVMT’s owner Paul S. Goldman stated, “In no way does what Rush say represent us or the station, let alone UVM.” Limbaugh and UVM are two independent agents availing themselves of a neutral medium — one does not explicitly endorse the other.

Bramley is correct in suggesting that, “[l]isteners contacting WVMT directly would have a larger impact.” These students’ ire, though understandable, seems misplaced.

UVM’s involvement in this scandal is peripheral at most, and activists would more effectively assail the source itself.

Furthermore, I object to the specific language used in the protests. “This is not an

issue about free speech, this is an issue about hate speech,” declared one student. However, the two issues are inextricably connected.

While I personally disagree with Limbaugh, and find his remarks asinine, I understand that setting a precedent for excluding unpopular sentiments from free speech law is a slippery slope.

Political climates can change, and those who set such a precedent can easily end up on the wrong side of it.

Censorship goes both ways: it wasn’t so long ago that sexpositive literature was widely prohibited under anti-obscenity laws.

By denying free speech to any person, however hateful or ill-informed they may be, we make ourselves vulnerable to similar denials. Only through commitment to neutrality and equality can we ensure the protection of First Amendment rights for all.

As Noam Chomsky said, “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”

Sincerely, Sierra Makaris Class of 2015

COLUMNISTS

Safety in a small city

KATIE IDA

As I was walking on campus on March 24, I overheard a tour guide tell prospective UVM students and parents that she had never felt unsafe in Burlington, that she frequently walks through the downtown area alone at midnight or later and rarely feels threatened.

This is an extremely inappropriate comment to make to prospective students of any university, whether it is located in a small town, city or otherwise.

While Burlington does not have bulletproof glass on its fast food restaurants as some urban neighborhoods do, it is far from being a place where someone — male or female – should be told to walk around alone and careless.

The Burlington metropolitan area, according to the 2009 U.S. Census, holds one-third of Vermont’s population. Not all of that population acts like cuddly bunnies.

Both women and men have been assaulted, violently or sexually, on and off campus.

No student should treat this issue lightly, especially one representing the University.

Tour guides should express the realities of the school and city, and their various safety threats. They should not lure new students into a false sense of small town security. This causes young students to act

carelessly, unaware of potential dangers.

Rather than listen to administrators at orientation lectures on safety statistics, I fear entering students will rely on the word of these student leaders who tell them otherwise.

It is a harsh reality that there are people in the world that prey on the vulnerable and unaware, but it is a reality.

Burlington is no different.

This comment’s nonchalant attitude toward safety undermines the experiences of assault victims in Burlington.

Yet, students often hold no qualms about making similar statements.

It is important to keep in mind that the absent-minded, inappropriate comment of one person sparked this column.

The ignorant comment, however, represents a larger feeling of the student population.

Many students are falsely swayed into a sense of negligence due to the popular feeling that Burlington is a small place. Vermonters are courteous drivers, so they must all be nice, safe people, right?

I frequently hear friends refuse to be walked home. This occurs despite awareness of assaults in Burlington, a reality made well known through UVM police memos and personal anecdotes. People who chose to disregard this take an unnecessary risk because of a false sense of small town security.

Just because the walk is short, it does not mean that late-night wanderers should forget to stay safe and keep alert.

Katie Ida is a double major in English and Community and International Development. She has been writing for The Cynic since fall 2008.

D I S T RAC T I O N S

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

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@charlottepaul16 People fighting over math answers in the fireplace... yes they are actually fighting. #uvmproblems #shutthefuckup

Cat Tales by Emma Cipriani

@Natalie HelenR English professor just went on a tangent that ended with a story about getting high in a basement at a kids b’day party #uvmproblems

@PoopMcGoop27 I can’t even complain about the weather cuz I don’t know what to call it. #uvmproblems

@GenesKid nbd, just a grown man casually doing yoga in the middle of the U heights hallway. #uvmproblems

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ACROSS 1- Meriting loathing 9- Maze runner 15- Supervisor 16- Glacial epoch 17- In the ____ interim 18- Doorkeeper 19- Part of ETA 20- Altar in the sky 21- Sam, e.g.

22- London jail 24- Combines 28- Riled (up) 29- Self-centered person 31- Germinated grain used in brewing 32- Compass pt.

33- Anarchist Goldman 34- Assigns 36- Illation 38- One who lives in a small cozy house 40- Copycat 43- Brillo rival 44- Author Kingsley 45- Los ___

47- Ballet step 48- Untidy states 50- Prom wheels 51- Author Jong 53- Al Jolson’s real first name 55- Writer Hentoff 56- Go with 58- Semilunar 60- Actress Dolores 61- Example 62- Eventually 63- Aided DOWN 1- Reverence 2- Typical 3- Dainty restaurant 4- Directional ending 5- “The Thin Man” dog 6- Capital of Lebanon 7- Geneva’s lake 8- Afore 9- Back talk 10- Pert. to the sense of hearing 11- Capital of Switzerland

12- Move by degrees 13- Eternal 14- Cylindrical 23- Boundary 25- Influence 26- Reduce gradually 27- North Carolina college 30- Flagship of Columbus 34- Protection 35- Sherpa’s home 37- Celebrity 38- Become rough 39- Small bone 41- Distinguished 42- Love affair 43- Tight swimsuit 45- Evaluate 46- Drunken 49- Makes 52- Firewood measure 54- Italian wine city 57- Plaything 58- Spy org.

59- ___ in Charlie

12

Sports College dropouts Why underclassmen entering the NBA draft kills basketball

WILL ANDREYCAK

The Kentucky Wildcats just completed an incredible season in which they won the National Championship. The Wildcats’ roster was stacked with NBA quality talent despite playing only one upperclassman — Darius Miller — in any significant minutes.

This offseason, however, the Wildcats will likely lose more than half of their underclassmen.

Elite NCAA basketball players leaving school to fulfill a career in the NBA may be the most detrimental policy in all of NCAA and professional sports.

The brand of college basketball has suffered tremendously due to inconsistent rosters and lack of name recognition. Just as the nation gets familiar with the ability of talented freshmen, they bolt for the NBA. The NCAA halfheartedly addressed the problem of early entry into the NBA draft when they ruled that all players must play one year in college before being eligible for draft, eliminating 18-year-olds from declaring after receiving their high school diploma.

This policy was certainly better than nothing at all, but it is my belief that the NCAA should increase the minimum collegiate service time from one year to three.

Imagine an NCAA basketball landscape where superstars had to play three seasons for their school. The obvious result would be that teams become deeper and more talented, but the abundance of stardom would also lead to an increase in the number of elite teams and more parity.

If the best players in the country were forced to remain at school, prized recruiting would be spread between more schools. Traditional powerhouses wouldn’t monopolize recruiting like they do now, and the disparity between teams would decrease.

If Kentucky’s talented underclassmen were forced to stay in school, blue chip recruits would be more likely to play elsewhere in order to get more playing time.

When you look at NBA draft boards from the last five years, the percentage of players that left school as underclassmen is incredible. Out of the 129 collegiate players that were taken in the first round — there were 21 international players selected — 65 of them were

underclassmen and 34 of them were freshmen.

Perhaps more surprising, in the last five years, 18 freshmen have been selected as a top 10 pick, while only seven seniors have been taken in the top 20 of any draft.

If these younger players were making an impression at the NBA level, I wouldn’t have much of an argument.

The stats, however, indicate that these young players are not making significant impacts in their first year in the NBA — a time where they could be further developing their skill sets in school.

In the last five years, only 17 out of 65, or 26 percent, of underclassmen picked in the first round of the draft averaged 10 points per game or more in their rookie season. And other than in the 2008 season, in which eight underclassmen draftees averaged more than 10 ppg, no more than three players have done it in a given season.

The college game suffers because exciting talent is leaving prematurely, and the NBA is hurt because franchises are forced to draft on potential of 18-yearolds rather than proven track records of veteran collegiate athletes.

This evidence points to the fact that not only are underclassmen — specifically freshmen — dominating draft boards, most of them are not having significant effects once they arrive in the NBA. Instead of further developing their game at school, they often ride the bench and regress at the professional level. The college game suffers because exciting talent is leaving prematurely, and the NBA is hurt because franchises are forced to draft on potential of 18-year-olds rather than proven track records of veteran collegiate athletes.

There are countless examples of premature entries into the NBA draft that were utter failures.

Former Kentucky center Daniel Orton bolted from school after one year — he didn’t even start for the Wildcats — and was picked by the Orlando Magic with the 29th pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Orton failed to make

the Magic roster, was sent to the developmental league and blew out his knee in the second game of the D-League season.

Former Kansas swingman Xavier Henry was a five-star recruit who averaged 14 ppg in his freshman season before leaving for the NBA, where he was selected 12th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. In his first two seasons he has averaged a little over five ppg while playing less than 15 minutes a night. He was traded by Memphis to New Orleans after one season.

Wake Forest doubledouble machine Al Farouq Aminu played two seasons and averaged 15.8 ppg and 10.7 rebounds in his sophomore year before leaving for the NBA draft. He was picked ninth in the draft by the Clippers but has been traded already and has averaged just five ppg in his two NBA seasons.

Louisville center Samardo Samuels dominated the paint in the Big East Conference for two seasons and declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore season. Not only has Samuels made a minimal impact at the NBA level, he wasn’t even drafted. The Cavs signed him as an undrafted free agent and he’s averaged just six ppg in his two NBA seasons.

Other examples of early entry gone awry include North Carolina’s Ed Davis and Brandan Wright, Kentucky’s Eric Bledsoe, Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors and Javarris Crittenton, Arizona’s Jarred Bayless, Syracuse’s Donte Green and Jonny Flynn, Gonzaga’s Austin Dye, Ohio State’s BJ Mullens and Tennessee’s Tobias Harris. All of these players could have starred at their respective universities and become more complete and NBA ready talent, but instead they have rotted away on the end of NBA benches and jeopardized their chance to have long and successful professional careers.

I understand that college athletes want to make their dream a reality and earn millions of dollars in the process. But both the college game and the professional game are suffering immensely because of underclassmen bolting for the NBA before they are ready.

Sure, leaving college to make millions sounds great to anyone, but is it worth it when your rookie contract expires and you wind up out of job because you’ve averaged five points per game during your career?

This is something that will never be changed unless universities start paying college athletes with some percentage of revenue brought in by the athletic program. But that, of course, is another topic for another day.

13

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

The weekly recap

By Jeremy Karpf Staff Writer

Boss of the week: Kentucky Wildcats

The curse of Calipari has been broken. Calipari and his young Wildcat team went undefeated in the SEC and

were the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They defeated Kansas 67-59 in the March Madness final.

Quote of the week

“

So I got no chance. It don’t matter how good you throw, you’re still not going to pitch.

-Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves speaking about not making the Red Sox starting rotation amid minor controversy

”

Goat of the week:

New Orleans Saints management and coaching staff In a sweeping decision, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended major pieces of the Saints organization after a bounty program investigation.

Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for one year, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended eight games, Saints’ linebackers’ coach Joe Vitt got a six-game suspension and former Saints coach Greg Williams was suspended indefinitely.

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14

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Jake’s take: the dishes are done Sunday NBA games in review Carbon dioxide emissions from UVM club sports teams

80 tons

Number of club sports

teams at UVM

55

Illustration by Stephanie Feinberg

UVM club sports teams have traveled

146,300

miles this past year

Goal: Raise

$1,000

to be donated to plant trees in Kenya

Club sports offsets their carbon output

By Taylor Fuess Staff Writer UVM’s club sports program has just recently calculated their carbon footprint and realized what a negative impact they have been making on our planet.

The transportation of our 55 club sports teams alone emits about 80 tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. However, the club sports program has decided to become active in combating this issue.

The Club Sports Council has created the Club Sports Carbon Offset Initiative with the goal of offsetting the carbon emissions produced by the teams each year.

The transportation of our athletes 146,300 miles this past year has emitted 80 metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is the most significant greenhouse gas that is produced by human activities.

Due to the recent increase in industrialization across the world, the amount of carbon dioxide has risen.

When it enters our atmosphere, carbon dioxide causes an increase in the earth’s overall temperature, among many other negative effects.

So far, UVM is the only university that is actively taking steps in the right direction to make a change.

“The world’s greenhouse gas emissions have continued to skyrocket in the last few years,” said Justin King, UVM Club

Sports Council member in a video presentation introducing this project. “As University of Vermont students and entrepreneurs in environmental stewardship, it is our job to protect our earth.”

“As University of Vermont students and entrepreneurs in environmental stewardship, it is our job to protect the earth.”

Justin King UVM Club Sports Council member The goal of the program is to raise about $1,000, which will be donated to plant more trees in an area named Rift Valley located in Kenya. This act alone would offset 80 tons of carbon dioxide, leveling out the impact of the club sports’ carbon emissions.

With the help of the UVM community, their project is well on its way.

“We cannot reach our goals of carbon neutrality without the help of our fellow Catamount students,” said King.

Club sports held two fundraiser events this past

week. Club sports paired up with UVM FeelGood to feature a new sandwich to raise money.

The sandwich, a “grilled cheese pizza,” was built with cheese, local barbeque sauce, local apples and onions, all topped on pizza crust.

“Local ingredients were used to reduce more carbon emissions,” Hailey Ronconi, UVM club sports officer and marketing assistant, said.

The second fundraiser was a Tree Dance Party this past Friday. With a $1 donation, students had the chance to win a raffle, participate in dance offs, listen to music and simply have a great time.

“What better way to reach our goal than by hosting a tree themed dance party,” said Roncoi. “In this way, not only could we raise money to reach our goals, but we can also raise everyone’s awareness on the issue, and have a great time.”

If the club sports program achieves this goal of becoming carbon neutral, it will be the first of its kind nationally and internationally.

“Our hope is to set a standard for green initiatives for other club sports programs around the nation,” King said.

JAKE BIELECKI

ABC’s Sunday Showcase featured two blowouts as the Thunder treated the Rose-less Bulls like the Bobcats, and the Celtics manhandled the Heat while Ray Allen watched with an ankle injury.

Derrick Rose sat for the 10th straight game, but Chicago entered the contest with a very respectable 14-5 record without the reigning MVP’s services. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant put an end to any thoughts on improving that record. The two combined for 53 points despite sitting the entire fourth quarter.

Fresh off a recent victory against Miami, the Thunder showed why many believe they are the team to beat as they consistently created easy points in transition and relentlessly drained difficult shots in the half-court. Bulls defenders could do little more than shake their heads after Durant and Westbrook routinely made difficult shots look easy.

Skeptics point to the Thunder’s lack of true point guard play as a reason to doubt them come playoff time. These concerns are valid as Russell Westbrook played shooting guard in college and only averages about five assists a game.

The other side of this argument points to James Harden and to a lesser extent Kevin Durant, who are both capable of handling the ball and creating scoring opportunities for others. On a less talented team, having a point guard like Westbrook might be more of an issue.

As for the Bulls, their shot distribution hasn’t changed much with the loss of Rose.

Point guards C.J Watson and John Lucas combined for 27 shots against the Thunder and their offense continues to lack players who can consistently create their own shot, aside from Rose.

Teams like the Thunder and Heat who can rely on three players to create their own shot,

hold a distinct advantage over the Bulls who need Rose to compete. Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng are knockdown shooters, but the offense rarely runs through them. The Bulls may be one scorer away from matching up with the Thunder and Heat.

Much like the first game, the Celtics put the Heat away early as they led 80-56 entering the fourth quarter. On the back of Rajon Rondo’s tripledouble — 16 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds — the Celtics made the Heat’s usually stingy defense look rather ordinary.

Pierce and Rondo consistently beat their players off the dribble and, more often than not, the help defense didn’t come.

There aren’t circumstances where losing the game’s greatest three point marksmen is a good thing, but that’s exactly the case for the Celtics.

The emergence of Avery Bradley will be key for a Celtics bench in desperate need of contributors outside of Greg Stiemsma.

In the four games preceding Sunday’s matchup, Bradley averaged 15 points on 54 percent shooting with less than a turnover a game. He continued his strong play against the Heat, contributing 13 points, two steals and a block.

Bradley’s athletic skillset gives the Celtics a player who can create easy baskets outside of their methodical half-court offense. The ability to score without any plays drawn up for you is a valuable commodity.

Once the sharpshooter returns it, it would make sense for Bradley to play the majority of the 30 minutes left behind Rondo and Allen at the guard spots.

LeBron James didn’t record an assist for the first time since Feb. 26, 2009 and the Heat lacked intensity throughout the game. Kevin Garnett dwarfed Chris Bosh who finished 2-11 from the field with four points.

If the Heat are playing their A-game, it’s hard to imagine them losing a series. The problem is they haven’t played their A-game very often in recent games.

Illustration by Stephanie Feinberg

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

15

ALEX EDELMAN The Vermont Cynic

The Catamount men’s lacrosse team walks away from a team huddle on Virtue Field in a game against Brown March 24. (Below) First-year Calder Billings fights between Brown defenders in the Cats’ 5-14 loss to the Bears March 24. Vermont sits in last place of the America East conference with a 1-8 record, 0-1 in America East.

Men’s lacrosse loses first AE contest

By Jeremy Karpf Staff Writer Behind hat tricks scored by three different players, Stony Brook defeated Vermont 13-5 Saturday in both teams’ America East opener.

The loss drops Vermont’s record to 1-8 and 0-1 in America East division play.

Despite the lopsided final score, there were some bright spots for the Catamounts.

Junior Drew Philie had a hat trick of his own, the first goal of which came off a pass from classmate A.J. Masson, to make the score 2-1 Stony Brook 19

seconds into the second period.

That would be as close as Vermont would get, though.

Despite a second goal from Philie and a man-advantage goal by junior Thomas Galvin, the team went into the half down 7-3.

After Stony Brook scored the first two goals of the second half, senior Geoff Worley got his 11th goal of the season off a pass from sophomore Connor McNamara.

Stony Brook then scored the next four goals before Philie scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season and completed his hat trick.

Senior goalkeeper David

Barton stopped nine shots and the Vermont man-advantage went 2-3 while holding Stony Brook to 0-3. Stony Brook had a 29-25 shot advantage.

The Catamounts now sit in last place of America East.

They have four inconference games left on the season and still a chance left at a good conference standing, as America East games are the only ones that count in standing determination.

Vermont will play UMBC on Saturday at 1 p.m. in their America East home opener at Virtue Field.

Dr. Ed ward

M . Wi n a n t

Induction Year

Graduation Year

1971

1932

Key Position

Sport Baseball, basketball and football

Quarterback

Quote “No award could be too good for him.”

- Larry Gardner

Former UVM baseball player and coach

Biography Winant, a 1971 inductee, was a quarterback great for the Vermont team before their varsity football program was cut.

He was selected as member of the 1956 Silver Anniversary All-American team, a Sports Illustrated honor given to very few collegiate athletes in the United States.

Winant was a member of the Key and Serpent honors society and coached Vermont’s freshman football team while attending the University’s College of Medicine.

He served as the national chairman for the Medical Alumni Fund Drive for many years and became one of the most celebrated orthopedic surgeons in the country.

16

S P O RT S

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Vermont vs. UC Davis March 29

FINAL SCORE

Vermont vs. UNH March 31

13

8

16

18

FINAL SCORE

WALKER SULTZBACH The Vermont Cynic

Sophomore Karli Mackendrick and senior Adison Rounds celebrate in a game against New Hampshire March 31. The Vermont women’s lacrosse team beat their UNH America East conference rivals 18-8 , boosting their record to 8-3 and 1-1 in America East. (Right) Sophomore Marcie Marino catches a pass as the Cats advance down the field.

Cats pick up two, move to third in AE

By Julia Dwyer Assistant Sports Editor Vermont women’s lacrosse held off two competitors over the weekend, winning both their matches and earning their first conference win.

On March 29, Vermont faced UC Davis on Virtue Field in a non-conference game.

Vermont made an impression early in the game, earning a 6-2 lead at the end of the first period. By halftime though, UC Davis had managed to outscore the Catamounts and went into the half only behind Vermont by three points with a 9-6 score.

The tight game held in the second half as UC Davis and Vermont went back and forth on scoring as the Aggies attempted to slice the lead. With 4:58 left of regulation time, UC Davis was within one with a 1413 score.

With 52 seconds remaining, first-year Jessica Roach scored to solidify the win for Vermont, 16-13.

“We came out strong with a scoring flurry in the first half.

[UC Davis] came out hard and they contested us to everything,” said head coach Jen Johnson.

“They work hard. They made us work for everything.”

Sophomore Sydney Mas and

senior Allison Pfohl earned their 100-career point goals during the game against UC Davis.

“I think it just sets the tone for upcoming games.”

Adison Rounds

Senior midfielder for UVM women’s lacrosse “We had to get out of our heads and just keep scoring, keep going after ground balls, and winning the draw obviously is something that is really important in this game,” said Pfohl. “And I think we really turned it around towards the end and kept our momentum going. A couple of really important goals happened right at the end and it really kept us in it.”

On March 31, Vermont competed once again on Virtue Field against the University of New Hampshire in America East action. With this win, Vermont improves to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the America East conference.

The score was tied at 6-6 as the teams headed into halftime.

The Catamounts dominated as they came back on the field for the second period with a run of 10 straight goals. Vermont

outscored the Wildcats 12-2 and managed to hold their scoring for almost 25 minutes in the period.

Eight different players scored in the game, but senior Adison Rounds scored the most for the Catamounts with six goals, one of them being her 100-career goal.

“We knew we had the momentum going into the second half; we started the second half pretending the game was 0-0, and we really wanted to take it to them,” said Rounds. “It’s awesome to get a conference win, especially on a beautiful day at Virtue Field; I think it just sets the tone for upcoming games.”

Vermont defeated UNH 18-8 and earned their first conference win.

“We played well in the first half; we just weren’t finishing and we had a ton of opportunities scoring,” said Johnson. “We talked about at half time continuing going to the goal hard and we just finished our shots. And I think the other thing too [was that] in the second half we dominated drop controls, which gave us the possession time we needed to score.”

The Catamounts will travel to play Boston College on Wednesday, April 4.

athletetweets 80 on Friday and snowing on Monday #wtf

Brendan Bald

Junior guard for UVM men’s basketball @bbald20

cant wait to start up the shin guard tan todayy #yippie #fhproblems

Whitlee Burghardt

Sophomore midfielder for UVM field hockey @holla_shitlee02

I am speechless. Sean Payton is a great man, coach, and mentor.

The best there is. I need to hear an explanation for this punishment

Drew Brees

Quarterback for the New Orleans Saints @drewbrees