Sebastion C. Lury
Special to the Critic
LSC’s hockey team looks to end the semester strong.
The semester break marks the end to the unofficial first half of the hockey season. The hockey team, a club sport at Lyndon State College, looks to continue its improvement, though their record may not show it. The team is currently 3-7 with two games remaining before break.
Coach Jonathan Davis admits that this not where the team would have liked to been at the break, but he is still proud of their accomplishments. One of the things he has noticed most of all is the camaraderie that the team has adopted.
“Practices are fun,” says Davis. “They enjoy each other’s company.” Davis speaks highly of the sense of team that the players present. The quality of play is still in progress.
“There is still room for development,” says Davis after emphasizing the improvement throughout the year of the entire team, especially the first and second year students.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Davis says of the team as a representative for the school. “They represent the college well and manage themselves well.”
Davis recognizes several key players: co-captain forward Ricky Paparo, junior, of Colchester who had eight goals and 10 assists though the first eight games; co-captain forward Jordan Mosher, junior, of St. Albans who had 11 goals and 11 assists through the first eight games; co-captain goalie Tucker Labare of Underhill Center, senior, who had played every minute of the first four games; forward Cory Pronto, freshmen, of Newport who had eight goals and seven assists in the first eight games; defenseman T.J. Duggan, freshmen, of South Windsor, Conn. who had four goals and 11 assists in the first eight games; and forward Jeff Giroux, senior, of Derby, who had three goals and two assists in his first three games. Giroux had joined the team later in the season after serving as the goalie for the LSC men’s soccer team.
The team still has a long way to go in terms of a playoff run, with a couple of months of play resuming after the break.
Outside of hockey, the team has been a presence for the school. On Nov. 17, 2008, the team hosted a free skate for LSC students at the Fenton W. Chester Arena. The event was co-sponsored by Resident Life and was held between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., drawing an attendance of roughly 150 students.
The team is also holding a fund-raiser between now and the end of the season. The team is selling apparel such as winter hats a.k.a. “beanies,” t-shirts, and jackets. The apparel can be bought either at home games or at Jonathan Davis’ office.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Random acts of vandalism
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Several acts of vandalism involving paint that had been stored in ACT 210 have plagued Lyndon State College over the past two weeks.
The room that was used to store the paint has seen the worst from the vandals.
“Those rooms are usually locked, and it wasn’t locked, and the paint that the students were using to do their ‘illegal’ artwork was in that room, and it is my responsibility because I thought that it was secure and it wasn’t,” Elizabeth Norris, department chair of music and performing arts, said.
Norris received a report on Dec. 2, and believes that it was a janitor who discovered the first bit of vandalism: yellow paint that had been dumped into the chalk board tray in ACT 210.
“That afternoon a student from my class said ‘oh look someone dumped paint into the heating vent’ so someone had taken the yellow paint and poured it down the heater, and it dripped through to the ground below,” Norris said, “I thought that I better also check the piano, so I opened the top of the piano looking for yellow paint and did not see any. I thought that it looked a little bit odd but I didn’t register what I was seeing because I was looking for yellow and I just looked real quick.”
On Monday Dec. 8, while Norris was having her departmental recital, she discovered that the piano she had checked earlier had been a victim of the vandals as well,
“I went to use the piano and it felt like I was playing on a table, and when I opened it I realized the whole inside was filled with brown paint so it blended in right over the hammers. So they lifted the top and poured brown paint all over the inner workings. I don’t yet know if the piano is salvageable. I still have to talk to someone about that,” Norris said.
Norris explained that although the Shelter Showcase was not greatly attended, people from off campus were free to come in, “so it could have been anyone.”
Another bit of vandalism on campus occurred on the bottom floor of the Vail building in the same spot that previously held three pieces of artwork that had only recently been painted over. “Someone took a black marker and wrote ‘Erase lies, not art,’ which I thought was very interesting, and it looks like someone tried to scrub it off and it isn’t coming off,” Norris said.
Norris also explained the reason behind the three paintings in Vail being painted over, “I found out that it was on account of supposed hidden drug messages in the paintings, because the one that said ‘Keep Lyndon Green’ had mushrooms in it and apparently someone from administration thought that it had to do with hallucinogens, and the other was an image of spray cans and this was thought to deal with inhalants.”
“Tenure or no tenure, I still would have done this project because in my brain it doesn’t really hold a connection to the project,” Norris said, “but I am on the other side of tenure now so I can’t say for sure, but the bottom line is that we are here for the students and for student education and I will do whatever it takes to teach my students something important.”
Critic Staff
Several acts of vandalism involving paint that had been stored in ACT 210 have plagued Lyndon State College over the past two weeks.
The room that was used to store the paint has seen the worst from the vandals.
“Those rooms are usually locked, and it wasn’t locked, and the paint that the students were using to do their ‘illegal’ artwork was in that room, and it is my responsibility because I thought that it was secure and it wasn’t,” Elizabeth Norris, department chair of music and performing arts, said.
Norris received a report on Dec. 2, and believes that it was a janitor who discovered the first bit of vandalism: yellow paint that had been dumped into the chalk board tray in ACT 210.
“That afternoon a student from my class said ‘oh look someone dumped paint into the heating vent’ so someone had taken the yellow paint and poured it down the heater, and it dripped through to the ground below,” Norris said, “I thought that I better also check the piano, so I opened the top of the piano looking for yellow paint and did not see any. I thought that it looked a little bit odd but I didn’t register what I was seeing because I was looking for yellow and I just looked real quick.”
On Monday Dec. 8, while Norris was having her departmental recital, she discovered that the piano she had checked earlier had been a victim of the vandals as well,
“I went to use the piano and it felt like I was playing on a table, and when I opened it I realized the whole inside was filled with brown paint so it blended in right over the hammers. So they lifted the top and poured brown paint all over the inner workings. I don’t yet know if the piano is salvageable. I still have to talk to someone about that,” Norris said.
Norris explained that although the Shelter Showcase was not greatly attended, people from off campus were free to come in, “so it could have been anyone.”
Another bit of vandalism on campus occurred on the bottom floor of the Vail building in the same spot that previously held three pieces of artwork that had only recently been painted over. “Someone took a black marker and wrote ‘Erase lies, not art,’ which I thought was very interesting, and it looks like someone tried to scrub it off and it isn’t coming off,” Norris said.
Norris also explained the reason behind the three paintings in Vail being painted over, “I found out that it was on account of supposed hidden drug messages in the paintings, because the one that said ‘Keep Lyndon Green’ had mushrooms in it and apparently someone from administration thought that it had to do with hallucinogens, and the other was an image of spray cans and this was thought to deal with inhalants.”
“Tenure or no tenure, I still would have done this project because in my brain it doesn’t really hold a connection to the project,” Norris said, “but I am on the other side of tenure now so I can’t say for sure, but the bottom line is that we are here for the students and for student education and I will do whatever it takes to teach my students something important.”
Friday, December 5, 2008
Passage to Egypt
Photo courtesy of Pat McAree
Photo courtesy of Pat McAree
Gwen Cook
Critic Staff
Over Thanksgiving break 37 adventurers, including myself, went to the Arab Republic of Egypt for 10 fun and information filled days.
We saw plenty of famous sights such as the three Giza Pyramids, the sphinx and the Valley of the Kings. We traveled by plane and bus and boat to historical cities like Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. We had a very intelligent tour guide who told us more information than we could ever hope to retain. Egypt was a fantastic place for a vacation.
It was also the biggest culture shock I’ve ever received.
The four different things that I think stuck with me the most were the food, vendors, sanitation and transportation.
Egypt was the best crash diet I’ve ever been on. The food’s good but you have to do some research first. You can’t eat leafy veggies because the fertilizer is different than what we’re used to and they clean their food with Nile River water. You can’t have ice cubes because the water comes from the Nile as well. I might have gone overboard with my safety precautions by only drinking bottled water and eating bread but then again, I didn’t get sick.
Oh yea, and I didn’t have Egyptian McDonald's. If it makes you sick to eat that nasty stuff in the states what makes you think it won’t overseas?
The Nile is dirty. I never got a chance to ask about sanitation regulations but you could see there was a lack of it in many places. Like in ancient times, the Nile is their life line. Everything they do is tied to that river. I saw many people fishing, washing and drinking from the river. They were also doing this right next to heaps of trash and with a film of oil over the top. I don’t want to insult the people and make them seem like savages because they are far from it. I just think that there should be stricter regulations set in place to preserve the most important aspect of their lives.
Vendors, where do I even begin to start on vendors? They are nothing like home, that’s for sure. They get in your face and shove their wares right under your nose. They get way closer than even close friends should get. No is not a word that they accept. If you aren’t really strict with them in your dealings they’ll follow you around way past their stand in hopes that this will make you go back. I was almost pathetically grateful to get back to the states to the vendors that go out of their way to not help you. I think I can deal with that better.
I think the biggest shock to me was the transportation. Our tour guide Hashim told us that Cairo had the worst traffic in the world and I agree with him. All throughout our visit I was shocked and amazed that there weren’t more accidents. We actually were driving in Aswan and sideswiped a little truck with our big Coach bus. Our driver didn’t seem to mind and continued on at his hazardous pace.
Drivers weave in and out of traffic at an almost breakneck speed through cars, trucks, horse and buggies, and donkey pulled carts. In the cities drivers leave their lights off at night and only use them to flick at other traffic or pedestrians. If that doesn’t work than they honk their horn to warn. All through the night the sound of horns blare until you think you’re going to go completely insane.
Pedestrians are viewed as more of an inconvenience than anything else. Drivers won’t stop if they see someone crossing but will just honk their horn and expect you to get out of the way ASAP. Crossing the street is even more dangerous at night especially if you aren’t wearing reflective clothing.
Egypt was a trip that I know I’ll never forget. Not all the culture shocks were bad and I learned a great deal about their lifestyles. But after all is said and done I appreciate what I have back here at home so very much more.
Smell the Ocean Air, in the Elevator?
By Sebastion Lury
Special to the Critic
Students may have noticed the sticker in the Vail elevator had expired and that it smelled of sea salt; but there is a good explanation for each.
“Everything’s up to date,” says Tom Archer, director of physical plant at LSC, “and they always were.” The elevator, Archer explains, is inspected two to three times annually by Vermont Inspection Services and the college has a maintenance agreement with Bay State Elevator to provided necessary maintenance every three months or so.
“It was a paperwork glitch,” says Archer. The reason for the expired sticker is a paperwork issue, not a safety issue according to Archer. Students will notice that the elevator now displays a faxed copy of the updated sticker and will continue to do so until the physical copy is received.
However, that does not explain the awkward smell on the first floor.
That smell is the byproduct of LSC’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. Archer explains that instead of the elevators using hydraulic oil, it uses vegetable oil.
According to Archer, most piston-powered hydraulic systems leak a bit due to the downward thrust of the piston into the oil. However, the difference between hydraulic oil and vegetable oil is that vegetable oil will biodegrade. When this occurs, the smell is produced.
When possible, the maintenance crew can clean the small leaks and the smell goes away. They do this by pumping off the rest of the oil and adding fresh and also by adding an environmental fungicide, Simply Green, and deodorant. For bigger leaks, Bay State Elevator is called in to remove excess oil.
Archer thinks that the reason for this elevator having the smell and others not having it is that the Vail elevator has a seal that leaks more. Archer assures that the seal is functional, however, because if it were not the elevator would not work.
“We spend a lot of money on these elevators,” says Archer about the smell and the inspection sticker. He also thanks LSC students for their concerns and questions and encourages students to be aware of these things.
Special to the Critic
Students may have noticed the sticker in the Vail elevator had expired and that it smelled of sea salt; but there is a good explanation for each.
“Everything’s up to date,” says Tom Archer, director of physical plant at LSC, “and they always were.” The elevator, Archer explains, is inspected two to three times annually by Vermont Inspection Services and the college has a maintenance agreement with Bay State Elevator to provided necessary maintenance every three months or so.
“It was a paperwork glitch,” says Archer. The reason for the expired sticker is a paperwork issue, not a safety issue according to Archer. Students will notice that the elevator now displays a faxed copy of the updated sticker and will continue to do so until the physical copy is received.
However, that does not explain the awkward smell on the first floor.
That smell is the byproduct of LSC’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. Archer explains that instead of the elevators using hydraulic oil, it uses vegetable oil.
According to Archer, most piston-powered hydraulic systems leak a bit due to the downward thrust of the piston into the oil. However, the difference between hydraulic oil and vegetable oil is that vegetable oil will biodegrade. When this occurs, the smell is produced.
When possible, the maintenance crew can clean the small leaks and the smell goes away. They do this by pumping off the rest of the oil and adding fresh and also by adding an environmental fungicide, Simply Green, and deodorant. For bigger leaks, Bay State Elevator is called in to remove excess oil.
Archer thinks that the reason for this elevator having the smell and others not having it is that the Vail elevator has a seal that leaks more. Archer assures that the seal is functional, however, because if it were not the elevator would not work.
“We spend a lot of money on these elevators,” says Archer about the smell and the inspection sticker. He also thanks LSC students for their concerns and questions and encourages students to be aware of these things.
Who owns these walls?
Catherine Story
Managing editor
Lyndon is not my school.
The halls are plain or decorated with manufactured admissions propaganda and the events are generic and unimaginative. This campus has never looked like a student friendly or student run community.
The question I ask is: who really owns this school?
The reason I am dwelling on the ownership of this school is the recent expunging of student art in the hallways.
I realize the “danger” of having students feel that they can paint on any wall on campus without repercussions. There are always people who do things through hatred and angst and the school does not want those views to be a community representation.
There is however the question of who makes the decision of what can and cannot be put on the walls. Whose opinions does this school represent?
The faculty and administration of this college are put in place and paid to help students develop into freethinking and intelligent adults.
It’s upsetting for me to hear staff ask, “what gives students the right,” when discussing the painting project of the experiencing the arts class. My question is what gives the administration the right to demand that students get permission?
There is a web of paperwork that students need to fill out to do anything around campus that usually slips into the student services department and is never seen again. It is only through the SGA that students are granted money to create new activities and clubs and that SGA is made up of bitter club representatives who would generally prefer to be elsewhere.
The dilemma that is posed to me is the assertion that the administration has taken to wipe out the student artwork when they claim that the campus is too broke to pay for independent studies or up to date technology. Why are the man-hours and paint supplies so readily available to wipe out creative thought but not available to help students learn?
The administration may claim to embrace the creative and artistic students within the college but it seems quite the opposite when you hash through their actions. There is a new music room in the lower level of Vail that students are supposed to be able to practice in. Unfortunately because of the location, right below the administration offices, they are not allowed to practice before 4:30 p.m.
The students on this campus are treated like visitors. They are not allowed to leave a mark or make too much inconvenient noise. It’s the mentality of an administration and faculty that refuses to embrace their student’s creativity and expression without specific guidelines and restrictions that causes student’s lack of involvement as well as the low retention rates.
I doubt the school realizes the message they are sending their new students when they cover up paintings because of a little bit of mess. If the campus is having trouble with freshmen retention it’s probably not a good idea to erase freshman artwork from the halls.
Perhaps Elizabeth Norris, Department Chair of Music and Performing Arts, misunderstood, President, Carol Moore when she said, “I picture artwork on every single wall,” in her state of the college address. It seems she meant a picture that the admissions department purchases or perhaps she wants more big screen TVs displaying Power Points.
Managing editor
Lyndon is not my school.
The halls are plain or decorated with manufactured admissions propaganda and the events are generic and unimaginative. This campus has never looked like a student friendly or student run community.
The question I ask is: who really owns this school?
The reason I am dwelling on the ownership of this school is the recent expunging of student art in the hallways.
I realize the “danger” of having students feel that they can paint on any wall on campus without repercussions. There are always people who do things through hatred and angst and the school does not want those views to be a community representation.
There is however the question of who makes the decision of what can and cannot be put on the walls. Whose opinions does this school represent?
The faculty and administration of this college are put in place and paid to help students develop into freethinking and intelligent adults.
It’s upsetting for me to hear staff ask, “what gives students the right,” when discussing the painting project of the experiencing the arts class. My question is what gives the administration the right to demand that students get permission?
There is a web of paperwork that students need to fill out to do anything around campus that usually slips into the student services department and is never seen again. It is only through the SGA that students are granted money to create new activities and clubs and that SGA is made up of bitter club representatives who would generally prefer to be elsewhere.
The dilemma that is posed to me is the assertion that the administration has taken to wipe out the student artwork when they claim that the campus is too broke to pay for independent studies or up to date technology. Why are the man-hours and paint supplies so readily available to wipe out creative thought but not available to help students learn?
The administration may claim to embrace the creative and artistic students within the college but it seems quite the opposite when you hash through their actions. There is a new music room in the lower level of Vail that students are supposed to be able to practice in. Unfortunately because of the location, right below the administration offices, they are not allowed to practice before 4:30 p.m.
The students on this campus are treated like visitors. They are not allowed to leave a mark or make too much inconvenient noise. It’s the mentality of an administration and faculty that refuses to embrace their student’s creativity and expression without specific guidelines and restrictions that causes student’s lack of involvement as well as the low retention rates.
I doubt the school realizes the message they are sending their new students when they cover up paintings because of a little bit of mess. If the campus is having trouble with freshmen retention it’s probably not a good idea to erase freshman artwork from the halls.
Perhaps Elizabeth Norris, Department Chair of Music and Performing Arts, misunderstood, President, Carol Moore when she said, “I picture artwork on every single wall,” in her state of the college address. It seems she meant a picture that the admissions department purchases or perhaps she wants more big screen TVs displaying Power Points.
SGA Rundown-End of the Semester
Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
WWLR nearly losing their voting rights and having their budget frozen wasn’t the only issue dealt with during Wednesday night’s meeting.
Tom Archer was invited to speak during the meeting, which gave club representatives the chance to ask questions and pose problems around campus. Some of the issues discussed were the Stonehenge parking lots, replacing windows in the residence halls and continuing to update the Stonehenge residence halls. Archer said that the parking lots in Stonehenge are a problem that the school is trying to address however, since the school’s budget is so tight right now, the parking lots probably won’t be worked on until the summer.
J.C. Norling, the new adventure based recreation professor, gave a presentation about a new website the Outing club is working on. The new website is part of an effort to inform students about all the recreational opportunities available to them. Norling’s presentation also included a proposal to renovate the squash courts into a student activity center which would include a new climbing wall.
The key issue dealt with during the meeting was whether SGA should take action against WWLR for failing to submit registration paperwork by the Nov. 21 noon deadline.
Despite repeated warnings from the executive board, WWLR failed to submit their paperwork. Under the SGA constitution it states,” If a Club Representative fails to maintain a current registration with the Office of Campus Activities, then the SGA Executive Board shall make a recommendation(s) for action to the SGA. This must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) majority in order to take effect.”
After a great deal of discussion three motions were voted on, all of which failed. As a result, WWLR who would have been stripped of voting rights and had their budget frozen until the paper work was submitted and approved, will not face any repercussions.
AWRT and Sigma Zeta made money requests. AWRT requested money to drive to Connecticut to go on a tour at ESPN and possible tour of the NBC 30 station. The club was denied $319.80 to stay overnight at a hotel but they were approved for the money to pay for the mileage. Sigma Zeta and AMS/NWA made a request to pay for expenses for the science fair they host in March. Both clubs were requesting $750 to pay for food which, was reduced to $615.
Ryanne Ayers was approved to receive $250 to help pay for travel expenses to a 28th Annual conference on First-Year experience. Ayers received a fellowship, which only five students in the country are awarded, to help pay for the conference costs.
The meeting concluded with the disbanding of two clubs and the removal of Katie Story, Kathy Klein, Steven Cormier and Kali Stoddar-Imari from their elected representative positions.
Critic Editor
WWLR nearly losing their voting rights and having their budget frozen wasn’t the only issue dealt with during Wednesday night’s meeting.
Tom Archer was invited to speak during the meeting, which gave club representatives the chance to ask questions and pose problems around campus. Some of the issues discussed were the Stonehenge parking lots, replacing windows in the residence halls and continuing to update the Stonehenge residence halls. Archer said that the parking lots in Stonehenge are a problem that the school is trying to address however, since the school’s budget is so tight right now, the parking lots probably won’t be worked on until the summer.
J.C. Norling, the new adventure based recreation professor, gave a presentation about a new website the Outing club is working on. The new website is part of an effort to inform students about all the recreational opportunities available to them. Norling’s presentation also included a proposal to renovate the squash courts into a student activity center which would include a new climbing wall.
The key issue dealt with during the meeting was whether SGA should take action against WWLR for failing to submit registration paperwork by the Nov. 21 noon deadline.
Despite repeated warnings from the executive board, WWLR failed to submit their paperwork. Under the SGA constitution it states,” If a Club Representative fails to maintain a current registration with the Office of Campus Activities, then the SGA Executive Board shall make a recommendation(s) for action to the SGA. This must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) majority in order to take effect.”
After a great deal of discussion three motions were voted on, all of which failed. As a result, WWLR who would have been stripped of voting rights and had their budget frozen until the paper work was submitted and approved, will not face any repercussions.
AWRT and Sigma Zeta made money requests. AWRT requested money to drive to Connecticut to go on a tour at ESPN and possible tour of the NBC 30 station. The club was denied $319.80 to stay overnight at a hotel but they were approved for the money to pay for the mileage. Sigma Zeta and AMS/NWA made a request to pay for expenses for the science fair they host in March. Both clubs were requesting $750 to pay for food which, was reduced to $615.
Ryanne Ayers was approved to receive $250 to help pay for travel expenses to a 28th Annual conference on First-Year experience. Ayers received a fellowship, which only five students in the country are awarded, to help pay for the conference costs.
The meeting concluded with the disbanding of two clubs and the removal of Katie Story, Kathy Klein, Steven Cormier and Kali Stoddar-Imari from their elected representative positions.
Money classes emulate financial world
David Lapham
Critic Staff
Rachel Siegel’s Money and Capital Markets class students have a rare opportunity to watch financial history as it unfolds.
“The class couldn't have been timed better, given the fact that there is so much excitement in the markets,” Sam Utz, junior business major said. “Being able to study the material real time and watch it as it happens is a luxury we are fortunate to have.”
Joel Flores, junior Business Management majors believes, “The class has benefited in an educational standpoint, the topics we have covered we get to see in real life,” Flores said. “How about instead of the professor giving a lecture, you are the one giving the lecture? This is the case in Money and Capital Market; you do a presentation each week on a specific topic shown by professor Siegel.”
A major concern for many students in the Money and Capital Markets class is the credit crisis. According to some of the class members the credit crisis has been caused by careless mortgage lending and is the root of numerous bank failures. In the midst of financial decay students are able to watch the markets fluctuate each day.
The class “gives a lot of perspectives on the economy,” Nate Taylor, senior business administration major, said. “It’s great to be informed through a class on everything that’s currently happening and taking that information as a group and trying to figure it all out.”
The United States financial mess cannot be pinpointed to a single factor; however, one factor in particular, the burst of the housing bubble, has been criticized as being a leading cause.
“So when the housing bubble burst people couldn’t sell their houses for anywhere near the price they bought them for, or owed on the house,” Taylor said.
People became trapped trying to pay for houses they could not afford; as a result people eventually defaulted on their loans. “The bank now has lent someone 500k to buy a house and since the housing bubble has burst that house may only be worth 200k,” Taylor said.
Joel Flores has experienced firsthand how banks have lent irresponsibly. “In 2004-2006 I worked for Washington Mutual. When you apply for a mortgage if you had higher than a 680 credit score [good credit] the bank would not verify your income. By not verifying your income they wouldn’t know if a customer had a means to pay back their mortgages,” Flores said.
Watching the financial world collapse before the class has caused some students to theorize what might happen to the future of banking systems, Sam Utz, junior business major contends that, "The balance of power is changing because banks have less capital, and other companies, such as Tesco, are considering entering the mortgage market to take advantage of the situation and use their capital."
Critic Staff
Rachel Siegel’s Money and Capital Markets class students have a rare opportunity to watch financial history as it unfolds.
“The class couldn't have been timed better, given the fact that there is so much excitement in the markets,” Sam Utz, junior business major said. “Being able to study the material real time and watch it as it happens is a luxury we are fortunate to have.”
Joel Flores, junior Business Management majors believes, “The class has benefited in an educational standpoint, the topics we have covered we get to see in real life,” Flores said. “How about instead of the professor giving a lecture, you are the one giving the lecture? This is the case in Money and Capital Market; you do a presentation each week on a specific topic shown by professor Siegel.”
A major concern for many students in the Money and Capital Markets class is the credit crisis. According to some of the class members the credit crisis has been caused by careless mortgage lending and is the root of numerous bank failures. In the midst of financial decay students are able to watch the markets fluctuate each day.
The class “gives a lot of perspectives on the economy,” Nate Taylor, senior business administration major, said. “It’s great to be informed through a class on everything that’s currently happening and taking that information as a group and trying to figure it all out.”
The United States financial mess cannot be pinpointed to a single factor; however, one factor in particular, the burst of the housing bubble, has been criticized as being a leading cause.
“So when the housing bubble burst people couldn’t sell their houses for anywhere near the price they bought them for, or owed on the house,” Taylor said.
People became trapped trying to pay for houses they could not afford; as a result people eventually defaulted on their loans. “The bank now has lent someone 500k to buy a house and since the housing bubble has burst that house may only be worth 200k,” Taylor said.
Joel Flores has experienced firsthand how banks have lent irresponsibly. “In 2004-2006 I worked for Washington Mutual. When you apply for a mortgage if you had higher than a 680 credit score [good credit] the bank would not verify your income. By not verifying your income they wouldn’t know if a customer had a means to pay back their mortgages,” Flores said.
Watching the financial world collapse before the class has caused some students to theorize what might happen to the future of banking systems, Sam Utz, junior business major contends that, "The balance of power is changing because banks have less capital, and other companies, such as Tesco, are considering entering the mortgage market to take advantage of the situation and use their capital."
Want to sell your books?
Heather Poginy
Special to the Critic
As the semester comes to a close and bank accounts are running dry, students are gearing up and ready to return their books to the bookstore for some well-needed cash.
According to Anita Little-Drown, the store manager of Lyndon’s bookstore, student identification cards must be present when selling the books back to the store.
“These make the transaction traceable,” she mentioned, “When I sell a math book back for $70, it becomes a very hot asset, and this time of year, people get their books stolen or misplaced or whatever.”
Although the bookstore does buy back books year round, there are several ways a student can get the most bang for his or her book's buck.
The best way to get the most money back is to somehow convince the professor to use the book again for the next semester. The bookstore determines the demand for these books by whether or not the professor will use it again and also how many students have enrolled in the class.
As of the morning of December 4, the bookstore had 78.1% of the book orders that will be used by professors next semester. By the end of the week, the Student Services offices will alert the bookstore of the classes that are canceled for next semester.
The condition the book is in will also give you a higher sell-back rate.
“Water damage will definitely make it so we cannot accept the book back,” Little-Drown said, “Water produces mold. When you put your book in the backseat of your car, and your buddies get in the backseat this time of year with wet boots, it’s bad.”
Math books and economics books usually are bought by the bookstore, simply for the fact that professors use them over and over again. However, computer books aren’t because there are constantly new editions with the updates of the computer programs.
Any questions about book buy backs can be answered by the bookstore manager or any of the bookstore employees at bookstore@lyndonstate.edu, or by phone at 626-8831.
Special to the Critic
As the semester comes to a close and bank accounts are running dry, students are gearing up and ready to return their books to the bookstore for some well-needed cash.
According to Anita Little-Drown, the store manager of Lyndon’s bookstore, student identification cards must be present when selling the books back to the store.
“These make the transaction traceable,” she mentioned, “When I sell a math book back for $70, it becomes a very hot asset, and this time of year, people get their books stolen or misplaced or whatever.”
Although the bookstore does buy back books year round, there are several ways a student can get the most bang for his or her book's buck.
The best way to get the most money back is to somehow convince the professor to use the book again for the next semester. The bookstore determines the demand for these books by whether or not the professor will use it again and also how many students have enrolled in the class.
As of the morning of December 4, the bookstore had 78.1% of the book orders that will be used by professors next semester. By the end of the week, the Student Services offices will alert the bookstore of the classes that are canceled for next semester.
The condition the book is in will also give you a higher sell-back rate.
“Water damage will definitely make it so we cannot accept the book back,” Little-Drown said, “Water produces mold. When you put your book in the backseat of your car, and your buddies get in the backseat this time of year with wet boots, it’s bad.”
Math books and economics books usually are bought by the bookstore, simply for the fact that professors use them over and over again. However, computer books aren’t because there are constantly new editions with the updates of the computer programs.
Any questions about book buy backs can be answered by the bookstore manager or any of the bookstore employees at bookstore@lyndonstate.edu, or by phone at 626-8831.
Long boards, a growing art
Kriston Hall
Special to the Critic
Profiling a sport that may be growing on campus.
Long Boards have increased in popularity in recent years and the LSC campus is no exception.
To gain a better understanding of long boards here is a list of basic information and prices ranging from a top of the line setup and an interview with LSC sophomore. JP Guardino discussing his custom long board.
With the number of skateboards rolling around, they seem to be one of the most popular forms of transportation. The bike has been retired, replaced with four smaller wheels, a deck and far less in-between.
For those of you who don’t really know anything about skateboards or long boards they are essentially the same wheels, bearings, trucks, a deck and all the hardware in between. The deck is the wood platform you ride on, long boards are in some cases more than twice the length of a regular board with an average length of around 40 inches.
The board that Guardino made is a little bigger.
“The deck I made in June is 48" long and about 10" at its widest point.”
This board is bringing a new meaning to sidewalk surfing, being one of the biggest commonly made. Also Guardino says, “I have Original Skateboards S-10 trucks, 72mm Sector 9 Nine balls (75A), and Lucky Swiss bearings.”
The trucks on this board are ten inches wide with wheels that are almost two. Guardino said “It didn't take very long to make the board...the longest process was deciding on the shape, and dimensions.”
The deck of a board is covered in various types and colors of grip tape which is like sandpaper that gives the rider a solid grip on the board. Under the deck is where the trucks are mounted, which although they vary greatly in design they primarily have a main “King-Pin” which they pivot on to turn you whichever way you lean on the board.
On the trucks you put your speed rings and bearings which are semi-loose fitting so they spin easily and quickly. The bearings are pressed into the wheels and then Nylon nuts are used to hold the assembly on.
As far as what’s coming out of your pocket, Guardino said the “total cost of hardware [and] setup was $175...and then the deck, which I have not set a value on yet, but at least $100...So, in all, I spent about the same amount of money as I would have buying a complete, except I have a top-of-the-line setup...with my own custom made deck.”
Prices of long boards, complete or bought in parts range from 70-400$ (for a full setup) with the 70 dollar board being the cheapest parts all around. Even a cheap board can be good for transit though with the addition of new bearings. A cheap board wont handle as well at speed or for carving but good bearings (about 50$) will allow you to gain and carry speed much more efficiently while traveling from point A to B
Special to the Critic
Profiling a sport that may be growing on campus.
Long Boards have increased in popularity in recent years and the LSC campus is no exception.
To gain a better understanding of long boards here is a list of basic information and prices ranging from a top of the line setup and an interview with LSC sophomore. JP Guardino discussing his custom long board.
With the number of skateboards rolling around, they seem to be one of the most popular forms of transportation. The bike has been retired, replaced with four smaller wheels, a deck and far less in-between.
For those of you who don’t really know anything about skateboards or long boards they are essentially the same wheels, bearings, trucks, a deck and all the hardware in between. The deck is the wood platform you ride on, long boards are in some cases more than twice the length of a regular board with an average length of around 40 inches.
The board that Guardino made is a little bigger.
“The deck I made in June is 48" long and about 10" at its widest point.”
This board is bringing a new meaning to sidewalk surfing, being one of the biggest commonly made. Also Guardino says, “I have Original Skateboards S-10 trucks, 72mm Sector 9 Nine balls (75A), and Lucky Swiss bearings.”
The trucks on this board are ten inches wide with wheels that are almost two. Guardino said “It didn't take very long to make the board...the longest process was deciding on the shape, and dimensions.”
The deck of a board is covered in various types and colors of grip tape which is like sandpaper that gives the rider a solid grip on the board. Under the deck is where the trucks are mounted, which although they vary greatly in design they primarily have a main “King-Pin” which they pivot on to turn you whichever way you lean on the board.
On the trucks you put your speed rings and bearings which are semi-loose fitting so they spin easily and quickly. The bearings are pressed into the wheels and then Nylon nuts are used to hold the assembly on.
As far as what’s coming out of your pocket, Guardino said the “total cost of hardware [and] setup was $175...and then the deck, which I have not set a value on yet, but at least $100...So, in all, I spent about the same amount of money as I would have buying a complete, except I have a top-of-the-line setup...with my own custom made deck.”
Prices of long boards, complete or bought in parts range from 70-400$ (for a full setup) with the 70 dollar board being the cheapest parts all around. Even a cheap board can be good for transit though with the addition of new bearings. A cheap board wont handle as well at speed or for carving but good bearings (about 50$) will allow you to gain and carry speed much more efficiently while traveling from point A to B
LSC whites out student expression
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
An assortment of creative expression has been popping up on walls all over Lyndon State College’s campus in the form of painted murals that are the product of many hours of planning and inspiration.
So far the artwork has appeared in five different locations around campus.
Elizabeth Norris, Department Chair of Music and Performing Arts, explained that the project required students to come up with art ideas based on guerrilla, street, and graffiti art of the current century.
“The students had to draw it out and then stand in front of the class and explain what they wanted to do, and then we took all 22 ideas and then voted on them, and picked the top five, and then divided the class into teams,” Norris said.
The artwork can be seen in the stairwell going up to ACT 210 and 212, at the bottom of the spiral stairwell across from the library, right outside the library doors high up on the wall, and until recently by the elevator on the bottom floor of Vail.
Norris showed disappointment to find that three of the pieces of art have already been painted over.
Norris also explained that the students were given certain conditions when the project was first started.
“First the students were told that the art was ethereal, which means that it could very well go away, they could do no harm, it also had to respect diversity, and they had to keep it clean,” Norris said, “they also knew that I purposely did not ask for permission, because if you ask permission it destroys what it is you’re doing as graffiti artists.”
Although precautions were used to ensure that paint would not get everywhere using drop cloths and news papers, some of the paint managed to seep through and got on a carpet.
“I think part of the schools reaction is that we can’t let people paint things because they will make a mess. Life is messy and noisy, art is messy and noisy, and one of the things I discovered is that we are not used to that here,” Norris said.
The art that was painted over was of a covered bridge and two other abstract pieces that were by the elevator on the bottom floor of the Vail building.
“I don’t know who made the decision to paint over those pieces, I don’t even know if the president saw any of the art,” Norris said, “but I can tell you that at the end of her state of the college address, one of the things she said in her 'let's dream big' part of the speech, was ‘I picture artwork on every single wall,’ well how are we going to do that if there is someone on campus who makes the call about what is acceptable forms of art and what is junk…”
In the spirit of unity and artistic expression, students have placed their mark on LSC’s campus, an example of this being the U.N. symbol painted outside of the Library’s entrance.
It is not yet clear whether the rest of the artwork will be allowed to remain.
Critic Staff
An assortment of creative expression has been popping up on walls all over Lyndon State College’s campus in the form of painted murals that are the product of many hours of planning and inspiration.
So far the artwork has appeared in five different locations around campus.
Elizabeth Norris, Department Chair of Music and Performing Arts, explained that the project required students to come up with art ideas based on guerrilla, street, and graffiti art of the current century.
“The students had to draw it out and then stand in front of the class and explain what they wanted to do, and then we took all 22 ideas and then voted on them, and picked the top five, and then divided the class into teams,” Norris said.
The artwork can be seen in the stairwell going up to ACT 210 and 212, at the bottom of the spiral stairwell across from the library, right outside the library doors high up on the wall, and until recently by the elevator on the bottom floor of Vail.
Norris showed disappointment to find that three of the pieces of art have already been painted over.
Norris also explained that the students were given certain conditions when the project was first started.
“First the students were told that the art was ethereal, which means that it could very well go away, they could do no harm, it also had to respect diversity, and they had to keep it clean,” Norris said, “they also knew that I purposely did not ask for permission, because if you ask permission it destroys what it is you’re doing as graffiti artists.”
Although precautions were used to ensure that paint would not get everywhere using drop cloths and news papers, some of the paint managed to seep through and got on a carpet.
“I think part of the schools reaction is that we can’t let people paint things because they will make a mess. Life is messy and noisy, art is messy and noisy, and one of the things I discovered is that we are not used to that here,” Norris said.
The art that was painted over was of a covered bridge and two other abstract pieces that were by the elevator on the bottom floor of the Vail building.
“I don’t know who made the decision to paint over those pieces, I don’t even know if the president saw any of the art,” Norris said, “but I can tell you that at the end of her state of the college address, one of the things she said in her 'let's dream big' part of the speech, was ‘I picture artwork on every single wall,’ well how are we going to do that if there is someone on campus who makes the call about what is acceptable forms of art and what is junk…”
In the spirit of unity and artistic expression, students have placed their mark on LSC’s campus, an example of this being the U.N. symbol painted outside of the Library’s entrance.
It is not yet clear whether the rest of the artwork will be allowed to remain.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
LED madness!
Eric Downing
Web editor and fun page coordinator
LSC kicks other Vermont College's asses in the race for getting LEDs. Eat our dust!
Many members of the Lyndon State College community might not realize that the school has become a leader in the green revolution.
When the college installed LED lights in the Vail parking lot, the pool and both of the gyms, it became the first college in the state of Vermont to do so. LSC is also one of the first colleges to get the lights nationwide. Now the school is getting calls from places such as George Washington University.
Some staff at LSC were quite eager for the school to get the lights. Tom Archer, director of physical plant, said that the VSC Director of Facilities, Richard Ethier, Wayne Hamilton, and he drove nine hours to Connecticut to look at the lights. Seeing the lights in real life helped them make the decision to get LED lights installed at LSC.
The lights were purchased through a company called BetaLED. The school installed 21 light poles in the Vail parking lot, 16 lights each in the Bole gym and swimming pool and 36 lights in the Stannard gym. They replaced the metal halide lights the gyms and pool used to have.
Archer said that before installing the LEDs in the Stannard gym, the lighting was too poor to be legal for NCAA play. Now, the lighting in there exceeds the standard.
“They’re styling,” Archer said about the new lights. “They have zero night sky.”
“Night sky” refers to how much light pollution spills into the area above the lights. With the old lights, a hazy orange glow could be seen above the Vail parking lot even from miles away. Led lights don’t have this problem, mostly because they produce clear light.
Archer said that the community is “super happy” about the new lights, citing that he got at least three phone calls and other statements from the surrounding community already about the difference seen from outside the school.
In addition to the visual advantages of the LEDs, they have some more important features as well. They are much more energy efficient than the old lights, requiring between one-half to two-thirds less energy. This means that the college will save a little on the energy bill.
LEDs also tend to last much longer, with an expected live expectancy of at least 20 years. High pressure sodium, which is what the lights in the parking lot used to be, have a typical life expectancy of little more than a year.
UPDATE: Archer said that the school already has a 10% savings on its energy bill for the last two months as compared to last year.
Web editor and fun page coordinator
LSC kicks other Vermont College's asses in the race for getting LEDs. Eat our dust!
Many members of the Lyndon State College community might not realize that the school has become a leader in the green revolution.
When the college installed LED lights in the Vail parking lot, the pool and both of the gyms, it became the first college in the state of Vermont to do so. LSC is also one of the first colleges to get the lights nationwide. Now the school is getting calls from places such as George Washington University.
Some staff at LSC were quite eager for the school to get the lights. Tom Archer, director of physical plant, said that the VSC Director of Facilities, Richard Ethier, Wayne Hamilton, and he drove nine hours to Connecticut to look at the lights. Seeing the lights in real life helped them make the decision to get LED lights installed at LSC.
The lights were purchased through a company called BetaLED. The school installed 21 light poles in the Vail parking lot, 16 lights each in the Bole gym and swimming pool and 36 lights in the Stannard gym. They replaced the metal halide lights the gyms and pool used to have.
Archer said that before installing the LEDs in the Stannard gym, the lighting was too poor to be legal for NCAA play. Now, the lighting in there exceeds the standard.
“They’re styling,” Archer said about the new lights. “They have zero night sky.”
“Night sky” refers to how much light pollution spills into the area above the lights. With the old lights, a hazy orange glow could be seen above the Vail parking lot even from miles away. Led lights don’t have this problem, mostly because they produce clear light.
Archer said that the community is “super happy” about the new lights, citing that he got at least three phone calls and other statements from the surrounding community already about the difference seen from outside the school.
In addition to the visual advantages of the LEDs, they have some more important features as well. They are much more energy efficient than the old lights, requiring between one-half to two-thirds less energy. This means that the college will save a little on the energy bill.
LEDs also tend to last much longer, with an expected live expectancy of at least 20 years. High pressure sodium, which is what the lights in the parking lot used to be, have a typical life expectancy of little more than a year.
UPDATE: Archer said that the school already has a 10% savings on its energy bill for the last two months as compared to last year.
The new building will be very energy efficient, but it won’t sacrifice functionality to that end.
Eric Downing
Web editor and fun page coordinator
The new Met department may be greener than Vail, but not so green that study is hindered.
Imagine a meteorology student looking out the window to see what the clouds outside are doing and only seeing a large white shade.
That might have been the case if changes weren’t made to the design of the new building being constructed in Vail. The diagram printed on the front page of The Critic earlier this semester is no longer accurate. The large white shades hanging over the windows haven’t made it to the final design, as it became evident that it would be difficult for meteorology students to look out the windows to study cloud formations.
The shades were originally designed to keep sunlight from overheating the building in the warmer months. Tom Archer, director of physical plant at Lyndon State College, as well as a board member of the sustainability committee said that the new building is being specifically designed to be “greener” than the existing buildings on campus.
Archer listed off a few of the features to expect in the new building, including water-saving faucets, LED lights, and having heat be piped over from Vail’s boiler in the milder months of April and May.
“All these things will help,” Archer said, referring to the reduction of LSC’s carbon footprint.
Having a certain degree of efficiency will allow LSC to shoot for a “silver” certification with the Green Building Rating System™ Leadership Environment Energy and Design, or LEED. LEED is, as stated on the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, usgbc.org: “a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.”
A building can earn a certain number of points toward a credit, which is divided into different colors such as gold or platinum. That building earns points based on certain criteria that it meets.
“I know we can get silver,” Archer said.
It actually costs money to become certified. This is coupled with needing to pay an architect more to work harder to ensure that the building meets the requirements. The benefits for acquiring this certification includes energy savings and better public relations as people knowing for sure that the building is as efficient as claimed.
LEED certification has another more indirect benefit. Efficiency Vermont gives credits toward measures taken to green up.
Archer said he’d even like to see some solar panels on campus, although pointing out that they wouldn’t be able to provide much energy.
“Payback is not initially great, but it’s a great educational tool,” he said.
Web editor and fun page coordinator
The new Met department may be greener than Vail, but not so green that study is hindered.
Imagine a meteorology student looking out the window to see what the clouds outside are doing and only seeing a large white shade.
That might have been the case if changes weren’t made to the design of the new building being constructed in Vail. The diagram printed on the front page of The Critic earlier this semester is no longer accurate. The large white shades hanging over the windows haven’t made it to the final design, as it became evident that it would be difficult for meteorology students to look out the windows to study cloud formations.
The shades were originally designed to keep sunlight from overheating the building in the warmer months. Tom Archer, director of physical plant at Lyndon State College, as well as a board member of the sustainability committee said that the new building is being specifically designed to be “greener” than the existing buildings on campus.
Archer listed off a few of the features to expect in the new building, including water-saving faucets, LED lights, and having heat be piped over from Vail’s boiler in the milder months of April and May.
“All these things will help,” Archer said, referring to the reduction of LSC’s carbon footprint.
Having a certain degree of efficiency will allow LSC to shoot for a “silver” certification with the Green Building Rating System™ Leadership Environment Energy and Design, or LEED. LEED is, as stated on the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, usgbc.org: “a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.”
A building can earn a certain number of points toward a credit, which is divided into different colors such as gold or platinum. That building earns points based on certain criteria that it meets.
“I know we can get silver,” Archer said.
It actually costs money to become certified. This is coupled with needing to pay an architect more to work harder to ensure that the building meets the requirements. The benefits for acquiring this certification includes energy savings and better public relations as people knowing for sure that the building is as efficient as claimed.
LEED certification has another more indirect benefit. Efficiency Vermont gives credits toward measures taken to green up.
Archer said he’d even like to see some solar panels on campus, although pointing out that they wouldn’t be able to provide much energy.
“Payback is not initially great, but it’s a great educational tool,” he said.
Asked to be an adult: treated like a child
Catherine Story
Managing Editor
Our managing editor grinds her axe. Whose head is on the chopping block? Thankfully not mine this time.
Independence is a relative term in a civilized society. Here at LSC independence is relatively limited.
When my parents and older sibling described college life it was labeled as a time of experimentation and exploration. College is a time to make decisions, good and bad.
Here at LSC students are not treated like young adults who can make decisions for themselves.
The halls of dorms and academic buildings are littered with bulletin boards plastered with big bubbly letters telling students about the next magician or some generic
alcohol awareness study
Perhaps it’s a holiday and there’s a party in the student center where students can grab a handful of snacks and paint a pumpkin.
As a teenager I babysat and many of the crafts and educational activities I have witnessed on this campus remind me of the games I would play with the 4 and 7-year olds that I spent my summers watching. These games were dull then and seven years later I am still not interested.
The effort to involve LSC students is admirable but it is being tackled with the wrong intentions.
On-campus students are supposed to be able to turn to their RAs for help when they are feeling stressed out or uncomfortable. The idea is a peer-to-peer support system. Unfortunately resident assistants are not students just like everyone else. They are not allowed to be.
Resident assistants are nervous and understandably. They can lose their job and have to pay for their living expenses if they are in the presence of students breaking rules. If an RA wants to have a drink they need to request the time off in advance. These are not good examples of mature students acting responsibly on their own. This is just another image of students following the many rules to get through the LSC experience.
If any student is feeling stressed out on campus they could just stop in at their resident assistants room. Here they will see a student who in exchange for free housing has given up the college experience replacing it with mandatory time in their room and consistent badgering by resident hall directors about not redecorating those childish bulletin boards every week or month or however often they put new construction paper on that wall that no one looks at.
Actually don’t bother walking over to your RAs room. You can ask them next time they knock on your door and come into your cubicle of privacy because of possible bottles clanking. They are only there to make sure you’re not doing anything illegal like making too much noise or drinking anywhere but in your bed. Because we all know that’s a healthy way to introduce young adults to alcohol. You can only drink in the privacy of your bedroom.
Not everyone here at LSC can drink legally, this is the justification for sending the of-age to his or her semi-private room. Why must we shelter our younger students from the life that they are so desperately trying to experience?
Peer leaders and INT classes carry first year students who are treated like sheltered children as opposed to young adults striking out on their own. There is nothing more degrading than having to pay for a class that tells you how to be an independent adult in a place where you’re not allowed to try it for yourself.
So my point is, step back and let the student body of Lyndon State College act like a body of college students. Maybe if they were treated like adults they would act like adults and participate in and create clubs and activities that they are interested in as opposed to trying so hard to get off campus and tune themselves out of campus activities.
Managing Editor
Our managing editor grinds her axe. Whose head is on the chopping block? Thankfully not mine this time.
Independence is a relative term in a civilized society. Here at LSC independence is relatively limited.
When my parents and older sibling described college life it was labeled as a time of experimentation and exploration. College is a time to make decisions, good and bad.
Here at LSC students are not treated like young adults who can make decisions for themselves.
The halls of dorms and academic buildings are littered with bulletin boards plastered with big bubbly letters telling students about the next magician or some generic
alcohol awareness study
Perhaps it’s a holiday and there’s a party in the student center where students can grab a handful of snacks and paint a pumpkin.
As a teenager I babysat and many of the crafts and educational activities I have witnessed on this campus remind me of the games I would play with the 4 and 7-year olds that I spent my summers watching. These games were dull then and seven years later I am still not interested.
The effort to involve LSC students is admirable but it is being tackled with the wrong intentions.
On-campus students are supposed to be able to turn to their RAs for help when they are feeling stressed out or uncomfortable. The idea is a peer-to-peer support system. Unfortunately resident assistants are not students just like everyone else. They are not allowed to be.
Resident assistants are nervous and understandably. They can lose their job and have to pay for their living expenses if they are in the presence of students breaking rules. If an RA wants to have a drink they need to request the time off in advance. These are not good examples of mature students acting responsibly on their own. This is just another image of students following the many rules to get through the LSC experience.
If any student is feeling stressed out on campus they could just stop in at their resident assistants room. Here they will see a student who in exchange for free housing has given up the college experience replacing it with mandatory time in their room and consistent badgering by resident hall directors about not redecorating those childish bulletin boards every week or month or however often they put new construction paper on that wall that no one looks at.
Actually don’t bother walking over to your RAs room. You can ask them next time they knock on your door and come into your cubicle of privacy because of possible bottles clanking. They are only there to make sure you’re not doing anything illegal like making too much noise or drinking anywhere but in your bed. Because we all know that’s a healthy way to introduce young adults to alcohol. You can only drink in the privacy of your bedroom.
Not everyone here at LSC can drink legally, this is the justification for sending the of-age to his or her semi-private room. Why must we shelter our younger students from the life that they are so desperately trying to experience?
Peer leaders and INT classes carry first year students who are treated like sheltered children as opposed to young adults striking out on their own. There is nothing more degrading than having to pay for a class that tells you how to be an independent adult in a place where you’re not allowed to try it for yourself.
So my point is, step back and let the student body of Lyndon State College act like a body of college students. Maybe if they were treated like adults they would act like adults and participate in and create clubs and activities that they are interested in as opposed to trying so hard to get off campus and tune themselves out of campus activities.
Holiday Treats: The Naughty and Nice
Brittany LaPlume
Special to the Critic
How to avoid packing on extra pounds over the holidays.
With the holiday seasons approaching, many of us have been hitting the gym and watching what we’re eating hoping to avoid gaining those extra pounds.
This is great! But how will you hold up when the tantalizing fragrance of spices, pumpkin and flaky, buttery pie crust wafts through the air as Mom bakes her famous pumpkin pie? There goes all your self-control right out the window.
Good news, you don’t need to give up all your favorite treats this holiday season. Here are some tips and tricks to help you figure out which of your favorites belong on the Nice List and which are banned to the Naughty List.
The first thing you need to learn about is fats. There are four kinds of fats: monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, saturated fats and trans fats. If your favorite has only monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats then put them right on the Nice list. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are the good ones. If your treat only has saturated fat, be careful. Some saturated fat is okay, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Now, foods which contain trans fats go straight to the Naughty List. Watch out for those trans fats that come from partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil.
How will you know if your favorite holiday snack contains trans fat? Just look at the ingredients. If the ingredients have “partially hydrogenated” anywhere in it kiss that treat good bye. It is officially on the Naughty List.
Luckily many companies have done us the favor of labeling their foods with visible “0g trans fat” signs right on their packaging. Careful though, it turns out that even with those labels the foods that claim to have 0 grams of trans fat can actually have up to 0.4 g of trans fat per serving.
While that small amount does not seem like a big deal think of how many servings of those foods you might eat in a day or even a week. That’s when the grams of trans fat begin to add up. To determine if the food really is trans fat free, just check the ingredients and look for that two-word warning, partially hydrogenated.
So why are trans fats so bad? They can be dangerous to your health. A 1% increase in your daily calorie intake of trans fats increases your chances of developing coronary artery disease by 50%!
Those are scary numbers, especially around the holiday season when it’s so tempting to eat all those foods that are loaded with trans fats.
Because of this huge risk, some places, like the state of California, have completely banned the use of trans fat in prepared food. This means that if you eat at a restaurant, bar or snack shack in CA, you’ll never have to worry about trans fats.
Now let’s go over the Naughty and Nice Lists:
Nice List
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Turkey (no skin)
Twizzlers
Cranberry Sauce
Squash
Hard Candies
Candy Apples
Dark Chocolate
Oreos
Naughty List
Snickers – 0.2 g trans fat
Sarah Lee Pumpkin Pie – 7 g trans fat
Mrs. Smith’s Apple Pie – 4 g trans fat
Caramel Popcorn Balls – 3.7 g trans fat
Ritz Crackers – Contains Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Pillsbury Rolls – 3.2 g trans fat
Pillsbury Cinnamon Buns – 2.0 g trans fat
Some alternatives to those Naughty List items:
Pumpkin and Apple Pie – Make a homemade pumpkin pie and find a recipe that does not have shortening in the pie crust. If the recipe calls for margarine, see if you can substitute oil.
Rolls and Cinnamon Buns – Make homemade rolls and cinnamon buns with a recipe that calls for oil.
So now that you have your Naughty and Nice Lists, enjoy this holiday season, but don’t go overboard with the foods on the Nice List. Remember, there can be too much of a good thing. Happy Holidays from the Exercise Science Department!
Special to the Critic
How to avoid packing on extra pounds over the holidays.
With the holiday seasons approaching, many of us have been hitting the gym and watching what we’re eating hoping to avoid gaining those extra pounds.
This is great! But how will you hold up when the tantalizing fragrance of spices, pumpkin and flaky, buttery pie crust wafts through the air as Mom bakes her famous pumpkin pie? There goes all your self-control right out the window.
Good news, you don’t need to give up all your favorite treats this holiday season. Here are some tips and tricks to help you figure out which of your favorites belong on the Nice List and which are banned to the Naughty List.
The first thing you need to learn about is fats. There are four kinds of fats: monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, saturated fats and trans fats. If your favorite has only monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats then put them right on the Nice list. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are the good ones. If your treat only has saturated fat, be careful. Some saturated fat is okay, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Now, foods which contain trans fats go straight to the Naughty List. Watch out for those trans fats that come from partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil.
How will you know if your favorite holiday snack contains trans fat? Just look at the ingredients. If the ingredients have “partially hydrogenated” anywhere in it kiss that treat good bye. It is officially on the Naughty List.
Luckily many companies have done us the favor of labeling their foods with visible “0g trans fat” signs right on their packaging. Careful though, it turns out that even with those labels the foods that claim to have 0 grams of trans fat can actually have up to 0.4 g of trans fat per serving.
While that small amount does not seem like a big deal think of how many servings of those foods you might eat in a day or even a week. That’s when the grams of trans fat begin to add up. To determine if the food really is trans fat free, just check the ingredients and look for that two-word warning, partially hydrogenated.
So why are trans fats so bad? They can be dangerous to your health. A 1% increase in your daily calorie intake of trans fats increases your chances of developing coronary artery disease by 50%!
Those are scary numbers, especially around the holiday season when it’s so tempting to eat all those foods that are loaded with trans fats.
Because of this huge risk, some places, like the state of California, have completely banned the use of trans fat in prepared food. This means that if you eat at a restaurant, bar or snack shack in CA, you’ll never have to worry about trans fats.
Now let’s go over the Naughty and Nice Lists:
Nice List
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Turkey (no skin)
Twizzlers
Cranberry Sauce
Squash
Hard Candies
Candy Apples
Dark Chocolate
Oreos
Naughty List
Snickers – 0.2 g trans fat
Sarah Lee Pumpkin Pie – 7 g trans fat
Mrs. Smith’s Apple Pie – 4 g trans fat
Caramel Popcorn Balls – 3.7 g trans fat
Ritz Crackers – Contains Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Pillsbury Rolls – 3.2 g trans fat
Pillsbury Cinnamon Buns – 2.0 g trans fat
Some alternatives to those Naughty List items:
Pumpkin and Apple Pie – Make a homemade pumpkin pie and find a recipe that does not have shortening in the pie crust. If the recipe calls for margarine, see if you can substitute oil.
Rolls and Cinnamon Buns – Make homemade rolls and cinnamon buns with a recipe that calls for oil.
So now that you have your Naughty and Nice Lists, enjoy this holiday season, but don’t go overboard with the foods on the Nice List. Remember, there can be too much of a good thing. Happy Holidays from the Exercise Science Department!
Difficult to move
Sam Monroe
Special to the Critic
Mobility on campus is a problem for some. And the elevators are out of date.
Do you think getting up and down the hills on campus is difficult? Try doing it on crutches or in a wheelchair.
After a hockey game a few weeks ago I found myself on crutches. What is it like living on campus while on crutches? Well, it is not fun. None of the Stonehenge residence halls have elevators and therefore, it makes it difficult to get up and down inside the dorms. Luckily I live on the first floor, however not all students are that lucky.
Going across campus now takes longer than it did before and getting up and down some of the hills takes a good amount of upper body strength. However, it could be much worse at a larger school.
There are elevators in both VAIL and LAC, making it easier to get from floor to floor and class to class. However, the elevator in VAIL and the elevator going from the theatre lobby to the classrooms upstairs both have one thing in common. The expiration dates on the certificates in both of them are April 28, 2008. That was nearly seven months ago. The elevator in LAC isn’t set to expire until early in 2009.
There are also ramps and handicap entrances attached to every building on campus. This makes it easy for students who have been injured to get around and get to classes and other events.
Professor Alison Lathrop was recently in a wheel chair on campus, because of tendinitis in her heels. However, she was able to get up for short periods of time and walk short distances. She attempted to keep her wheelchair just in her lab so it would make it easier to move around.
“I was always able to get where I needed to go,” she said, making sure to mention that some times she needed to get up and walk. She also mentioned that the front doors in the theater lobby are very heavy and the doors in the hallway leading to the science wing are also heavy and difficult to open and would be harder for someone permanently handicapped. She said she wouldn’t be surprised to see doors that open with the push of a button on the LSC campus in the distant future.
Lathrop said she had to make sure that she thought ahead each morning and make sure she got all her Xerox copying done in one trip to VAIL. She also said the hardest spot to move around was the outdoor hallway connecting VAIL to the science wing.
When asked if she was concerned about the expired certificates in some of the elevators she responded with “I didn’t notice,” however, she did add, “that would be concerning.”
“I was delighted with how helpful everyone was, and that I was given a temporary handicap sticker. A little concerned about getting in to some doors,” Lathrop said of her overall experience.
Special to the Critic
Mobility on campus is a problem for some. And the elevators are out of date.
Do you think getting up and down the hills on campus is difficult? Try doing it on crutches or in a wheelchair.
After a hockey game a few weeks ago I found myself on crutches. What is it like living on campus while on crutches? Well, it is not fun. None of the Stonehenge residence halls have elevators and therefore, it makes it difficult to get up and down inside the dorms. Luckily I live on the first floor, however not all students are that lucky.
Going across campus now takes longer than it did before and getting up and down some of the hills takes a good amount of upper body strength. However, it could be much worse at a larger school.
There are elevators in both VAIL and LAC, making it easier to get from floor to floor and class to class. However, the elevator in VAIL and the elevator going from the theatre lobby to the classrooms upstairs both have one thing in common. The expiration dates on the certificates in both of them are April 28, 2008. That was nearly seven months ago. The elevator in LAC isn’t set to expire until early in 2009.
There are also ramps and handicap entrances attached to every building on campus. This makes it easy for students who have been injured to get around and get to classes and other events.
Professor Alison Lathrop was recently in a wheel chair on campus, because of tendinitis in her heels. However, she was able to get up for short periods of time and walk short distances. She attempted to keep her wheelchair just in her lab so it would make it easier to move around.
“I was always able to get where I needed to go,” she said, making sure to mention that some times she needed to get up and walk. She also mentioned that the front doors in the theater lobby are very heavy and the doors in the hallway leading to the science wing are also heavy and difficult to open and would be harder for someone permanently handicapped. She said she wouldn’t be surprised to see doors that open with the push of a button on the LSC campus in the distant future.
Lathrop said she had to make sure that she thought ahead each morning and make sure she got all her Xerox copying done in one trip to VAIL. She also said the hardest spot to move around was the outdoor hallway connecting VAIL to the science wing.
When asked if she was concerned about the expired certificates in some of the elevators she responded with “I didn’t notice,” however, she did add, “that would be concerning.”
“I was delighted with how helpful everyone was, and that I was given a temporary handicap sticker. A little concerned about getting in to some doors,” Lathrop said of her overall experience.
Delicious Snack Bole
Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
Rita Bole's new snack shop makes money for the Leadership Recognition Committee.
If you have noticed more students going into Rita Bole on Mondays and Wednesdays then it is probably due to the new “snack bole” which is located in the main lobby of RBC.
Nate Rossett, advisor to the Leadership and Recognition Committee, started the snack bole this year in an effort to raise money for the committee.
“We’re not a club so we needed a way to make money,” Rosseti said. “This kitchen never gets used except by people in the student services office.”
Not only is everything priced very cheaply at the snack bole, all of the money that is made goes towards student awards which are given at the end of the year.
“We buy everything in bulk so we are able to sell chips for 50 cents and still make a profit,” Rossett said.
Before the snack bole was incorporated as a fundraiser for the Leadership Recognition Committee, the committee used the school’s printers to make paper certificates and they were unable to assist student life with the cost of the recognition banquet at the end of the year, Rossetti said.
The snack bole provides a cheap and convenient opportunity to grab something to eat when your schedule doesn’t permit a trip to the dining hall or the lines at the snack bar are too long.
It’s really convenient because we live in the building,” John Chetwynd, television studies major, said.
“It’s also really convenient because if you’ve been procrastinating, you can grab a hotdog and go back to doing homework,” Dave Kendall, mathematics major, said. Kendall was taking advantage of the snack bole’s meal deal, which gets you a hotdog, a drink and a bag of chips for $2.
The only problem that Rosseti has encountered so far with the snack bole is the lack of help to run it.
“Finding people to work is a problem because everybody who works here is a volunteer,” Rossetti said. “Aramark will use this space (RBC kitchen) when there are events going on in the conference room,” Rossetti said, “but we don’t have any problems because our stuff isn’t in the way since they bring their own equipment.”
The snack bole’s selection is continually expanding because students are more than welcome to suggest any items that aren’t on the menu, Rossetti said.
The snack bole will still be open next year although the days may change due to people’s schedules, Rossetti said.
Critic Editor
Rita Bole's new snack shop makes money for the Leadership Recognition Committee.
If you have noticed more students going into Rita Bole on Mondays and Wednesdays then it is probably due to the new “snack bole” which is located in the main lobby of RBC.
Nate Rossett, advisor to the Leadership and Recognition Committee, started the snack bole this year in an effort to raise money for the committee.
“We’re not a club so we needed a way to make money,” Rosseti said. “This kitchen never gets used except by people in the student services office.”
Not only is everything priced very cheaply at the snack bole, all of the money that is made goes towards student awards which are given at the end of the year.
“We buy everything in bulk so we are able to sell chips for 50 cents and still make a profit,” Rossett said.
Before the snack bole was incorporated as a fundraiser for the Leadership Recognition Committee, the committee used the school’s printers to make paper certificates and they were unable to assist student life with the cost of the recognition banquet at the end of the year, Rossetti said.
The snack bole provides a cheap and convenient opportunity to grab something to eat when your schedule doesn’t permit a trip to the dining hall or the lines at the snack bar are too long.
It’s really convenient because we live in the building,” John Chetwynd, television studies major, said.
“It’s also really convenient because if you’ve been procrastinating, you can grab a hotdog and go back to doing homework,” Dave Kendall, mathematics major, said. Kendall was taking advantage of the snack bole’s meal deal, which gets you a hotdog, a drink and a bag of chips for $2.
The only problem that Rosseti has encountered so far with the snack bole is the lack of help to run it.
“Finding people to work is a problem because everybody who works here is a volunteer,” Rossetti said. “Aramark will use this space (RBC kitchen) when there are events going on in the conference room,” Rossetti said, “but we don’t have any problems because our stuff isn’t in the way since they bring their own equipment.”
The snack bole’s selection is continually expanding because students are more than welcome to suggest any items that aren’t on the menu, Rossetti said.
The snack bole will still be open next year although the days may change due to people’s schedules, Rossetti said.
Phonathon
Heather Poginy
Special to the Critic
Phonathon brings in the big bucks--and old stories.
Work-study-paid students gear up Sunday through Thursday nights at the Alumni House to raise money for Lyndon State College’s Phonathon for the Annual Fund.
The students sit from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at individual desks in the Alumni House. These desks serve as “calling stations” in which they phone alumni of the college.
Because the school has the records of every alumni that goes through its doors, the callers generally have an easy time contacting them. However, some are entirely “unreachable,” with no phone number, address, or any other contact information.
Thayer Newport, a senior at Lyndon, is in her third year working for the Phonathon. She helps to supervise the callers when Hannah Manley, the director of alumni relations and development, cannot be there.
“Talking to alumni is actually quite fun sometimes,” Newport says, “You can really hear some interesting stories.” She recalled a story one alumna told when she was living in the original Vail mansion, when the alumna’s house mother scared them by making each resident believe the Vail tower was haunted.
The purpose of the phone calls to the alumni are about more than raising money. Students keep in contact with the alumni to keep them in touch with the college, and to give them the scoop of what’s happening at LSC. However, students always ask for a pledge to the college at the end of a phone call.
There’s always something in it for the students, though. The callers receive “Incentive Points” for each call made. For example, if they receive a pledge of over $500, they receive 10 points. If they manage to convince the alumnus or alumna to donate for the first time or to increase the amount of their pledge from the year before, they receive one point. Even an email address or other personal information about the alumnus gets them points.
At the end of their efforts, whichever caller has the most points gets a cash bonus determined by their supervisor.
“I can usually get sixty or a hundred points in one night,” Newport said, “We really compete, it definitely does motivate the callers.”
Alumni might pledge from $5 to over a $1000. The money is used for scholarships for students, improvements of the buildings and grounds and it also helps improve faculty through professional development. With the college’s economic downfall, every penny helps.
“Your adrenaline really pumps when you get those big donations,” Newport said. “It makes [calling] really worthwhile.”
With the Phonathon only having been in session for a couple of weeks, the students have already raised $15,000. Each night, they raise between $500 to a couple thousand dollars.
This year, thanks to a challenge grant, when an alumni raises their pledge from the previous year, or when a new donor hits the list, their pledges are matched by the grant, so their pledges are doubled. Also, pledges made over $365, a dollar a day for a year, will be matched by the challenge grant.
Money donated by the alumni goes directly to the Annual Fund, which is a generic fund, but alumni do have the option to specify if they want to send their money to specific programs, endowments or departments at the college.
Special to the Critic
Phonathon brings in the big bucks--and old stories.
Work-study-paid students gear up Sunday through Thursday nights at the Alumni House to raise money for Lyndon State College’s Phonathon for the Annual Fund.
The students sit from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at individual desks in the Alumni House. These desks serve as “calling stations” in which they phone alumni of the college.
Because the school has the records of every alumni that goes through its doors, the callers generally have an easy time contacting them. However, some are entirely “unreachable,” with no phone number, address, or any other contact information.
Thayer Newport, a senior at Lyndon, is in her third year working for the Phonathon. She helps to supervise the callers when Hannah Manley, the director of alumni relations and development, cannot be there.
“Talking to alumni is actually quite fun sometimes,” Newport says, “You can really hear some interesting stories.” She recalled a story one alumna told when she was living in the original Vail mansion, when the alumna’s house mother scared them by making each resident believe the Vail tower was haunted.
The purpose of the phone calls to the alumni are about more than raising money. Students keep in contact with the alumni to keep them in touch with the college, and to give them the scoop of what’s happening at LSC. However, students always ask for a pledge to the college at the end of a phone call.
There’s always something in it for the students, though. The callers receive “Incentive Points” for each call made. For example, if they receive a pledge of over $500, they receive 10 points. If they manage to convince the alumnus or alumna to donate for the first time or to increase the amount of their pledge from the year before, they receive one point. Even an email address or other personal information about the alumnus gets them points.
At the end of their efforts, whichever caller has the most points gets a cash bonus determined by their supervisor.
“I can usually get sixty or a hundred points in one night,” Newport said, “We really compete, it definitely does motivate the callers.”
Alumni might pledge from $5 to over a $1000. The money is used for scholarships for students, improvements of the buildings and grounds and it also helps improve faculty through professional development. With the college’s economic downfall, every penny helps.
“Your adrenaline really pumps when you get those big donations,” Newport said. “It makes [calling] really worthwhile.”
With the Phonathon only having been in session for a couple of weeks, the students have already raised $15,000. Each night, they raise between $500 to a couple thousand dollars.
This year, thanks to a challenge grant, when an alumni raises their pledge from the previous year, or when a new donor hits the list, their pledges are matched by the grant, so their pledges are doubled. Also, pledges made over $365, a dollar a day for a year, will be matched by the challenge grant.
Money donated by the alumni goes directly to the Annual Fund, which is a generic fund, but alumni do have the option to specify if they want to send their money to specific programs, endowments or departments at the college.
Facebook virus
Derika Downing
Critic Staff
Warning email from Dente explained.
If you checked your email this week, you probably received an email from LSC’s IT Director Mike Dente, announcing that IT is, “blocking all messages from the Facebook website to our email server,” explaining that, “a virus is spreading [by] using Facebook email sending a link to a malicious video containing a Trojan.” If so, you may have wondered exactly what this virus does and how it was discovered.
“I actually received one of the messages,” Dente said, “It looked suspicious, so I did a search on Facebook viruses and there were a couple of different articles. Over the last few months, there’ve been a few of these viruses, but we’ve never been hit by one until now.”
When asked what the virus does and how it operates, Dente explained that, “it contains malware, so it tries to take over your computer. It installs programs, like SpyWare, which can bring the computer to a crawl. It uses your Facebook friends to mail it to other people,” Dente said.
When asked how many students had been affected by the virus, Dente said, “only two or three students have been affected, that we know of. We’ve blocked around a hundred emails that were infected when it happened,” noting that Facebook sends about “a hundred legitimate messages an hour, so I guess that’s why the virus is so effective.”
Dente wants to assure the LSC community, “our virus protection on campus will stop it from infecting LSC computers.” In the meantime, however, it is probably best not to open any unfamiliar links on your email.”
Critic Staff
Warning email from Dente explained.
If you checked your email this week, you probably received an email from LSC’s IT Director Mike Dente, announcing that IT is, “blocking all messages from the Facebook website to our email server,” explaining that, “a virus is spreading [by] using Facebook email sending a link to a malicious video containing a Trojan.” If so, you may have wondered exactly what this virus does and how it was discovered.
“I actually received one of the messages,” Dente said, “It looked suspicious, so I did a search on Facebook viruses and there were a couple of different articles. Over the last few months, there’ve been a few of these viruses, but we’ve never been hit by one until now.”
When asked what the virus does and how it operates, Dente explained that, “it contains malware, so it tries to take over your computer. It installs programs, like SpyWare, which can bring the computer to a crawl. It uses your Facebook friends to mail it to other people,” Dente said.
When asked how many students had been affected by the virus, Dente said, “only two or three students have been affected, that we know of. We’ve blocked around a hundred emails that were infected when it happened,” noting that Facebook sends about “a hundred legitimate messages an hour, so I guess that’s why the virus is so effective.”
Dente wants to assure the LSC community, “our virus protection on campus will stop it from infecting LSC computers.” In the meantime, however, it is probably best not to open any unfamiliar links on your email.”
Rotaract Club
Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Little known club teaches about community services.
Lyndon State College shows its good will this holiday season through the Rotaract club; one of LSC’s least known clubs.
“The Rotary is a group of business minded individuals who support good will, community services, and professional and ethical business practices,” Curtis Mathewson, President of the LSC Rotaract chapter, said. The club is sponsored by the Lyndon Rotary, and is primarily focused on helping the community, and teaching leadership and business ethics.
The LSC Rotaract club has already started its holiday food drives for the semester. “Right now we have a holiday food drive on the LSC campus that we hope to generate some food for those in need this holiday. All the proceeds are going to go to the Lyndon Food Pantry,” Mathewson said.
Although the club is not very well known at LSC, it is officially recognized by the student government.
Mathewson said that the club’s main goals are to establish their leaders and start generating some publicity on campus, “We also want to have a successful holiday food drive. Our year long goals, however, are a bit more ambitious; we hope to drive even more publicity, and maybe host a few other events on campus.”
The club currently has about 12 members, and Mathewson is hoping that students take the initiative and join up. They are looking for people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in helping out the community.
“We don’t have a whole lot of people involved yet. Right now we only have about 10 to 12 people that show up at our meetings, and so far they have been very helpful, and we have gotten a lot done with the amount of people that we have,” Mathewson said.
The club’s food drive boxes can be seen around campus and have already started to accumulate a little food. The food drive was started the second week of November and will run until the last week of the semester, “We have not generated a lot of food yet; many people don’t even know what is going on. A lot of people may have seen the boxes but, not a lot of publicity has gone out yet,” Mathewson said.
The Lyndon Rotary meets in Lyndonville around the same time that the LSC club does every week, Mathewson said, and they are willing to help the club out in any way they can.
“They are actually our sponsors; they are the reason why we exist, and they help us with advice. We can go to them and find out what we can do to further our service to the community. They invite us to their meetings where we get to see what the actual rotary does on a weekly basis.”
Mathewson urges students who wish to sign up to contact him or to stop by HAC 108 at noon on Wednesdays to attend the club’s weekly meetings.
Critic Staff
Little known club teaches about community services.
Lyndon State College shows its good will this holiday season through the Rotaract club; one of LSC’s least known clubs.
“The Rotary is a group of business minded individuals who support good will, community services, and professional and ethical business practices,” Curtis Mathewson, President of the LSC Rotaract chapter, said. The club is sponsored by the Lyndon Rotary, and is primarily focused on helping the community, and teaching leadership and business ethics.
The LSC Rotaract club has already started its holiday food drives for the semester. “Right now we have a holiday food drive on the LSC campus that we hope to generate some food for those in need this holiday. All the proceeds are going to go to the Lyndon Food Pantry,” Mathewson said.
Although the club is not very well known at LSC, it is officially recognized by the student government.
Mathewson said that the club’s main goals are to establish their leaders and start generating some publicity on campus, “We also want to have a successful holiday food drive. Our year long goals, however, are a bit more ambitious; we hope to drive even more publicity, and maybe host a few other events on campus.”
The club currently has about 12 members, and Mathewson is hoping that students take the initiative and join up. They are looking for people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in helping out the community.
“We don’t have a whole lot of people involved yet. Right now we only have about 10 to 12 people that show up at our meetings, and so far they have been very helpful, and we have gotten a lot done with the amount of people that we have,” Mathewson said.
The club’s food drive boxes can be seen around campus and have already started to accumulate a little food. The food drive was started the second week of November and will run until the last week of the semester, “We have not generated a lot of food yet; many people don’t even know what is going on. A lot of people may have seen the boxes but, not a lot of publicity has gone out yet,” Mathewson said.
The Lyndon Rotary meets in Lyndonville around the same time that the LSC club does every week, Mathewson said, and they are willing to help the club out in any way they can.
“They are actually our sponsors; they are the reason why we exist, and they help us with advice. We can go to them and find out what we can do to further our service to the community. They invite us to their meetings where we get to see what the actual rotary does on a weekly basis.”
Mathewson urges students who wish to sign up to contact him or to stop by HAC 108 at noon on Wednesdays to attend the club’s weekly meetings.
Why is registration so early?
Sebastion C. Lury
Special to the Critic
Possibly so students don't have to stress about it when finals week rolls around.
Lyndon State College is amid the process of registering students for Spring 2009 classes.
Registration at LSC for classes in the Spring 2009 semester began on Oct. 27, 2008. It will be suspended on December 1. The process is scheduled early as it helps to relieve some stress for students.
“[Students] can get it done before finals,” says Deb Hale, LSC’s registrar. “It relieves some stress,” Hale says that if a student no longer has to worry about registering for classes, they have more time to study for finals.
Another issue that this registration avoids is a potential lack of communication between students and their advisers. Hale says that between semesters, advisers—like students—have time off. This occasionally causes issues when students realize during the break that they need to register, but they cannot access their advisers.
John Kascenska, associate dean of academic affairs, says that registering by Dec. 1 is beneficial for everyone involved. Kascenska says that this provides an opportunity for any issues—ranging from accounts on hold to canceled classes—to be addressed and corrected before classes begin in the spring. He also says that the goal is that students, advisers, and faculty alike can go home between semesters knowing what classes will run and what they need to do to further prepare themselves.
Kascenska says that this is the first year that LSC has established a date, specifically December 1, as an end date. Other Vermont State Colleges have similar registration periods.
Castleton State College’s registration process is November 10 to the 21. Johnson State College has a more complicated system: their primary registration process is November 10 through the 14 and is credit driven, meaning that seniors can register first, followed by juniors, and eventually working toward freshmen. This allows for seniors to be ensured of classes that they need for graduation.
LSC’s registration process ends on December 1 and it is widely recommended that students meet with their advisers to register.
Special to the Critic
Possibly so students don't have to stress about it when finals week rolls around.
Lyndon State College is amid the process of registering students for Spring 2009 classes.
Registration at LSC for classes in the Spring 2009 semester began on Oct. 27, 2008. It will be suspended on December 1. The process is scheduled early as it helps to relieve some stress for students.
“[Students] can get it done before finals,” says Deb Hale, LSC’s registrar. “It relieves some stress,” Hale says that if a student no longer has to worry about registering for classes, they have more time to study for finals.
Another issue that this registration avoids is a potential lack of communication between students and their advisers. Hale says that between semesters, advisers—like students—have time off. This occasionally causes issues when students realize during the break that they need to register, but they cannot access their advisers.
John Kascenska, associate dean of academic affairs, says that registering by Dec. 1 is beneficial for everyone involved. Kascenska says that this provides an opportunity for any issues—ranging from accounts on hold to canceled classes—to be addressed and corrected before classes begin in the spring. He also says that the goal is that students, advisers, and faculty alike can go home between semesters knowing what classes will run and what they need to do to further prepare themselves.
Kascenska says that this is the first year that LSC has established a date, specifically December 1, as an end date. Other Vermont State Colleges have similar registration periods.
Castleton State College’s registration process is November 10 to the 21. Johnson State College has a more complicated system: their primary registration process is November 10 through the 14 and is credit driven, meaning that seniors can register first, followed by juniors, and eventually working toward freshmen. This allows for seniors to be ensured of classes that they need for graduation.
LSC’s registration process ends on December 1 and it is widely recommended that students meet with their advisers to register.
Tunnel of Oppression
Brian Howe
Special to the Critic
Students are required to go through the Tunnel of Oppression, though it proved haunting to some.
Racism, sexism, and domestic violence can be very hard for anyone to deal with.
The tunnel of oppression dealt with not only hate crimes but other types of violence. Students and community members had the chance to experience the tunnel. The tour features different rooms and each room deals with a type of violence.
“It hit pretty close to home because I grew up in a military family. I have been around people from all over the world”, said Micheal Smith, a freshmen and graphic design major. He had the chance to visit the tunnel but had to leave because it brought back too many memories of the past. He says that part of it brought back memories from when pow's (prisoner of war) came back from the Vietnam war.
“Our staff of peer leaders are each given a room to research”, said Donna Keely, the director of the first year experience. They put the tunnel together with the research they get and portray what would really happen in different situations when it came to different types of violence.
“Students don't know what to expect so they don't sign up but their friends go through and then tell them about it. Then we see students wanting to go through”, said Keely. By the last day they have to squeeze in students because they want to experience the tunnel; the tunnel only runs every fall semester.
“Monday in INT class some said it was ridiculous. They didn't think it was worth their time and students around campus said the same thing and it angered me,” said Smith. The tunnel was set up for students to learn about the different types of violence so they can do something about it if they see it happening.
This is a requirement for INT-1020 students and they must go through.
“My professor said that it was a requirement for us to go through and we didn't have an option,” says Smith. Some students might be too emotionally sensitive to handle this type of confrontation, says Smith.
“It is still my opinion that students either need to be told what they may find in this activity or be given the option to do something else for their INT course”, Smith said.
Special to the Critic
Students are required to go through the Tunnel of Oppression, though it proved haunting to some.
Racism, sexism, and domestic violence can be very hard for anyone to deal with.
The tunnel of oppression dealt with not only hate crimes but other types of violence. Students and community members had the chance to experience the tunnel. The tour features different rooms and each room deals with a type of violence.
“It hit pretty close to home because I grew up in a military family. I have been around people from all over the world”, said Micheal Smith, a freshmen and graphic design major. He had the chance to visit the tunnel but had to leave because it brought back too many memories of the past. He says that part of it brought back memories from when pow's (prisoner of war) came back from the Vietnam war.
“Our staff of peer leaders are each given a room to research”, said Donna Keely, the director of the first year experience. They put the tunnel together with the research they get and portray what would really happen in different situations when it came to different types of violence.
“Students don't know what to expect so they don't sign up but their friends go through and then tell them about it. Then we see students wanting to go through”, said Keely. By the last day they have to squeeze in students because they want to experience the tunnel; the tunnel only runs every fall semester.
“Monday in INT class some said it was ridiculous. They didn't think it was worth their time and students around campus said the same thing and it angered me,” said Smith. The tunnel was set up for students to learn about the different types of violence so they can do something about it if they see it happening.
This is a requirement for INT-1020 students and they must go through.
“My professor said that it was a requirement for us to go through and we didn't have an option,” says Smith. Some students might be too emotionally sensitive to handle this type of confrontation, says Smith.
“It is still my opinion that students either need to be told what they may find in this activity or be given the option to do something else for their INT course”, Smith said.
New 3-point line for men's college B-Ball
Andrew R. Koch
Sports Editor
Change to come 20 years after old line was instituted.
Long jump shots just got longer, thanks to a rule change that is taking effect this season in men’s basketball.
The NCAA has moved the men’s three-point line back a full foot, from 19 feet, nine inches to 20 feet, nine inches. The rule change was approved in August, when the NCAA distributed its updated court diagram for the upcoming season.
The old line was instituted at the start of the 1986-87 season and was the three-point line for college basketball down to middle school. Last year in men’s basketball, teams shot an average of 35 percent from three-point range. The rule change just might bring more balance back to the game, according to Bill Johnson, assistant athletic director.
“It might get the inside game back by spreading defenses out. It won’t be a huge adjustment for the offensive players,” Johnson said. This means that because defenses have more floorspace to cover, offenses will be able to get the ball inside more often to their post players. The change might also have an impact on how the half-court game is played.
“I think it’ll make a big difference in the high-low game. I think it’ll highlight the inside game,” Johnson said. He feels that the post-up game, where a forward plays with his back to the basket, has been lost for a while.
“You gotta have a balanced game for the nights when the threes aren’t going down,” Johnson said, noticing in recent years that players are settling more for three-pointers instead of working on having balance in the other parts of their games.
Johnson believes that the evolution of the game has made the three-pointer an easier shot, especially since players are much bigger and stronger now than they were 20 to 25 years ago. However, he feels that on offense, some players won’t have to make as much of an adjustment as others.
“The pure shooters can knock down jump shots. A foot either way doesn’t make a difference. The streak shooters will have to make an adjustment,” Johnson says.
No one will know for sure how effective the new three-point line will be until the statistics come out at the end of this season.
Sports Editor
Change to come 20 years after old line was instituted.
Long jump shots just got longer, thanks to a rule change that is taking effect this season in men’s basketball.
The NCAA has moved the men’s three-point line back a full foot, from 19 feet, nine inches to 20 feet, nine inches. The rule change was approved in August, when the NCAA distributed its updated court diagram for the upcoming season.
The old line was instituted at the start of the 1986-87 season and was the three-point line for college basketball down to middle school. Last year in men’s basketball, teams shot an average of 35 percent from three-point range. The rule change just might bring more balance back to the game, according to Bill Johnson, assistant athletic director.
“It might get the inside game back by spreading defenses out. It won’t be a huge adjustment for the offensive players,” Johnson said. This means that because defenses have more floorspace to cover, offenses will be able to get the ball inside more often to their post players. The change might also have an impact on how the half-court game is played.
“I think it’ll make a big difference in the high-low game. I think it’ll highlight the inside game,” Johnson said. He feels that the post-up game, where a forward plays with his back to the basket, has been lost for a while.
“You gotta have a balanced game for the nights when the threes aren’t going down,” Johnson said, noticing in recent years that players are settling more for three-pointers instead of working on having balance in the other parts of their games.
Johnson believes that the evolution of the game has made the three-pointer an easier shot, especially since players are much bigger and stronger now than they were 20 to 25 years ago. However, he feels that on offense, some players won’t have to make as much of an adjustment as others.
“The pure shooters can knock down jump shots. A foot either way doesn’t make a difference. The streak shooters will have to make an adjustment,” Johnson says.
No one will know for sure how effective the new three-point line will be until the statistics come out at the end of this season.
Future budget repeal likely
Benjamin Holbrook
Critic Staff
Carol Moore says that there's no reason to celebrate, but no bad news--yet.
More budgeting shortfalls may become reality soon and the Burke Mountain Room was filled to capacity on Thursday to here Lyndon State College’s administration discuss.
President Carol Moore and Dean of Administration Wayne Hamilton spoke before faculty, staff and students assembled to hear news on what the college can expect, especially after dealing with a 100,000 dollar deficit earlier this semester.
Moore says the college and the administration are awaiting budgeting action on the part of the Vermont General Assembly which is due to convene next Tuesday.
“There is no dramatic budget news,” Moore said, “but there is nothing to cheer about either.”
To an audible gasp from those assembled, Moore said Governor James Douglas informed Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Robert Clarke to project a five percent decrease in current budgeting operations.
According to Hamilton Gov. Douglas said that it is pretty definite that the state will see another repeal.
“Certainly if we get another rescission we’ll look at structural changes – personnel,” Moore said. The administration will also be looking at academic and non-academic programs in terms of viability.
Hamilton says that for now all adjustments have been made in response to the $100,000 “hit” taken earlier this semester, which included the termination of a library job, and expenses are on target for the year.
An issue that has been brought up in meetings before is why a new building is being built since LSC has to deal with budget problems. “That (building) money was generated through bond sales so it is safe and secure,” Hamilton said. “I think it is very fortunate for Lyndon that we secured the money when we did with the economy the way it is now.” Hamilton also said the new building allows LSC to remain competitive and to draw in new students.
In terms of closing budgeting gaps in the future Hamilton says that the college will need to increase full time enrollment by 120 students on top of where they are currently. Tuition will also need to be increased by 6.5 percent annually.
“We would like to include more people in closing the gap,” said Bob Whittaker, dean of institutional advancement. Whitaker says that in turning to fundraising and asking alumni, friends, staff and parents for contributions it would infringe less upon the students.
Still, with Tuesday’s meeting of legislators in Montpelier and the possibility of a thrid budget reduction next spring people are worried. “We need to be planning for the worst,” Hamilton said. Higher education tends to get cut more often by the legislature because, “they believe that raising tuition will off-set any cuts made,” Hamilton said.
Moore told the audience at the end of the meeting that if there is another recession another open budget meeting will be planned. Asked if the gathered group could come together before any structural changes were decided Moore said she didn’t want to discuss an individual’s position in an open setting.
Critic Staff
Carol Moore says that there's no reason to celebrate, but no bad news--yet.
More budgeting shortfalls may become reality soon and the Burke Mountain Room was filled to capacity on Thursday to here Lyndon State College’s administration discuss.
President Carol Moore and Dean of Administration Wayne Hamilton spoke before faculty, staff and students assembled to hear news on what the college can expect, especially after dealing with a 100,000 dollar deficit earlier this semester.
Moore says the college and the administration are awaiting budgeting action on the part of the Vermont General Assembly which is due to convene next Tuesday.
“There is no dramatic budget news,” Moore said, “but there is nothing to cheer about either.”
To an audible gasp from those assembled, Moore said Governor James Douglas informed Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Robert Clarke to project a five percent decrease in current budgeting operations.
According to Hamilton Gov. Douglas said that it is pretty definite that the state will see another repeal.
“Certainly if we get another rescission we’ll look at structural changes – personnel,” Moore said. The administration will also be looking at academic and non-academic programs in terms of viability.
Hamilton says that for now all adjustments have been made in response to the $100,000 “hit” taken earlier this semester, which included the termination of a library job, and expenses are on target for the year.
An issue that has been brought up in meetings before is why a new building is being built since LSC has to deal with budget problems. “That (building) money was generated through bond sales so it is safe and secure,” Hamilton said. “I think it is very fortunate for Lyndon that we secured the money when we did with the economy the way it is now.” Hamilton also said the new building allows LSC to remain competitive and to draw in new students.
In terms of closing budgeting gaps in the future Hamilton says that the college will need to increase full time enrollment by 120 students on top of where they are currently. Tuition will also need to be increased by 6.5 percent annually.
“We would like to include more people in closing the gap,” said Bob Whittaker, dean of institutional advancement. Whitaker says that in turning to fundraising and asking alumni, friends, staff and parents for contributions it would infringe less upon the students.
Still, with Tuesday’s meeting of legislators in Montpelier and the possibility of a thrid budget reduction next spring people are worried. “We need to be planning for the worst,” Hamilton said. Higher education tends to get cut more often by the legislature because, “they believe that raising tuition will off-set any cuts made,” Hamilton said.
Moore told the audience at the end of the meeting that if there is another recession another open budget meeting will be planned. Asked if the gathered group could come together before any structural changes were decided Moore said she didn’t want to discuss an individual’s position in an open setting.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Youth weekends
Heather Poginy
Special to the Critic
A sure sign that summer is over and Autumn will soon turn to Winter is when the hunters begin to break out their rifles, bows, and shotguns for the many hunting seasons in Vermont.
With the two-week-long moose season just finished, deer season starts this Saturday, Nov. 8 with Youth Deer Weekend. There are a few youth hunting weekends in which the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and by far this weekend is the most popular youth hunting weekend. People of any age are considered youth hunters if they are just beginning.
Experienced hunters are encouraged to seek out youth hunters in order to teach them a thing or two about the ropes of hunting in any season.
“I used to participate in those [Youth Weekends], but now that I’m in college, I only go with my brothers when I have time,” says Paxton Pennington, a long-time hunter from Holland. “It’s really a good way of bonding, makes everything more interesting too.”
The purpose of these weekends is essentially to recruit young people to hunt when they are adults, keeping the hunting numbers up will keep the animal populations where they should be to maintain the proper balance in Vermont’s habitat. When deer population is too high, crops that are important to Vermont’s economy are ruined, and there are more car accidents involving deer.
“My entire family hunts: moose hunting, deer hunting; that’s it, mostly,” says Pennington. “They used to do it for food; my parents did before I was born. Now it’s mostly for sport to keep extra meat in the freezer. It’s sort of a novelty now.”
Hunting season in general is well on its way. Black Bear season, which started on September 1 and ends on November 19, is the first season to start. This week from November 1-9 is Turkey Shotgun Season.
Hunting is allowed in Vermont from the beginning of September until the end of March. Many animals are hunted and trapped from raccoons and otters to bobcat and several types of waterfowl.
Special to the Critic
A sure sign that summer is over and Autumn will soon turn to Winter is when the hunters begin to break out their rifles, bows, and shotguns for the many hunting seasons in Vermont.
With the two-week-long moose season just finished, deer season starts this Saturday, Nov. 8 with Youth Deer Weekend. There are a few youth hunting weekends in which the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and by far this weekend is the most popular youth hunting weekend. People of any age are considered youth hunters if they are just beginning.
Experienced hunters are encouraged to seek out youth hunters in order to teach them a thing or two about the ropes of hunting in any season.
“I used to participate in those [Youth Weekends], but now that I’m in college, I only go with my brothers when I have time,” says Paxton Pennington, a long-time hunter from Holland. “It’s really a good way of bonding, makes everything more interesting too.”
The purpose of these weekends is essentially to recruit young people to hunt when they are adults, keeping the hunting numbers up will keep the animal populations where they should be to maintain the proper balance in Vermont’s habitat. When deer population is too high, crops that are important to Vermont’s economy are ruined, and there are more car accidents involving deer.
“My entire family hunts: moose hunting, deer hunting; that’s it, mostly,” says Pennington. “They used to do it for food; my parents did before I was born. Now it’s mostly for sport to keep extra meat in the freezer. It’s sort of a novelty now.”
Hunting season in general is well on its way. Black Bear season, which started on September 1 and ends on November 19, is the first season to start. This week from November 1-9 is Turkey Shotgun Season.
Hunting is allowed in Vermont from the beginning of September until the end of March. Many animals are hunted and trapped from raccoons and otters to bobcat and several types of waterfowl.
SGA meeting a flop
By Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
Town Hall format fails to draw the projected crowd.
SGA’s first ever town hall meeting lacked a key component, the people.
During Wednesday night’s town hall meeting, only nine LSC students attended. The purpose of the town hall meeting was to give students a chance to hear what SGA was working on, and it also provided an opportunity for students to ask questions and voice concerns.
“This is something we talked a lot about last year,” Andrew Chapin, SGA president, said.
“We hoped for a better turnout but it was still a success,” said. “We want to get feedback and I think we got what we wanted.”
The meeting was really focused on Aramark and SGA’s efforts to change the dining hall hours. The hours which run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m currently, would be changed so the dining hall was open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The possibility of a meal equivalency was also discussed although; it most likely wouldn’t be implemented due to the cost.
“Johnston State tried a meal equivalency and it ended up costing them a lot of extra money,” Tim Cappalli, SGA vice president, said. The high costs stem from the amount of food that would be wasted in the dining hall itself, and in the extra labor costs of having more people working in the snack bar, Cappalli said.
Although the meeting was lacked attendance, various concerns were still voiced by the few participants. Issues of parking tickets being given in areas where the lines aren’t very distinct, the smoker’s gazebo being extremely dirty, and the strange odor on the first floor of Vail were all brought up during the meeting.
As for holding for town hall meetings all that Chapin said was, “We’ll try it again.”
Critic Editor
Town Hall format fails to draw the projected crowd.
SGA’s first ever town hall meeting lacked a key component, the people.
During Wednesday night’s town hall meeting, only nine LSC students attended. The purpose of the town hall meeting was to give students a chance to hear what SGA was working on, and it also provided an opportunity for students to ask questions and voice concerns.
“This is something we talked a lot about last year,” Andrew Chapin, SGA president, said.
“We hoped for a better turnout but it was still a success,” said. “We want to get feedback and I think we got what we wanted.”
The meeting was really focused on Aramark and SGA’s efforts to change the dining hall hours. The hours which run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m currently, would be changed so the dining hall was open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The possibility of a meal equivalency was also discussed although; it most likely wouldn’t be implemented due to the cost.
“Johnston State tried a meal equivalency and it ended up costing them a lot of extra money,” Tim Cappalli, SGA vice president, said. The high costs stem from the amount of food that would be wasted in the dining hall itself, and in the extra labor costs of having more people working in the snack bar, Cappalli said.
Although the meeting was lacked attendance, various concerns were still voiced by the few participants. Issues of parking tickets being given in areas where the lines aren’t very distinct, the smoker’s gazebo being extremely dirty, and the strange odor on the first floor of Vail were all brought up during the meeting.
As for holding for town hall meetings all that Chapin said was, “We’ll try it again.”
Mock debate tickles students
Brian Howe
Special to the Critic
Teachers posing as candidates give a close-to-home debate.
Two faculty members went head to head in a mock presidential debate on Monday in the Alexander Twilight Theatre.
Representing Barack Obama was David Plazek, professor of Political Sciences, and representing John McCain was Alexandre Strokanov, professor of History. The moderator was Micheal Dente, chief technology officer at LSC. A poll was conducted by INT-1020 students; 70 polling cards were collected at the end of the debate. Results from the polling cards showed that 69 percent of the attendees at the debate said Obama would win the debate, while only 20 percent thought McCain would win.
Some of the questions asked of the candidates were issues of gun control, global warming, health care, our current economy and improving international relations. The two candidates had 90 seconds to respond to a question and two minutes for a rebuttal; the rebuttal gave the candidates the opportunity to argue back and forth. Global warming and gun control were issues that had a lot of debate.
At times during the debate it was obvious that Plazek and Strokanov didn't know everything about the candidates and their views.
“We want to make sure that you know that we are debating on our views and opinions of Barack Obama and John McCain”, said Plazek before they started debating.
When it came to global warming 76 percent thought Obama had a better argument. The question on gun control was nearly dead even with 51 perecent saying Obama won, while 49 percent thought McCain had a stronger argument.
“Some questions I might have disagreed with, was single payer universal health care.” said Plazek.. For the most part he(Plazek) agrees with Obama's views and says he will support him.
“No of course not, I don't agree with everything. It was a role first of all and some of the time I do agree with him. But for the most part I disagree with Obama”, said Strokanov who debated for McCain. Strokanov did not disclose who he was going to support this election.
By the end of the debate 70 percent said that Obama had won the debate, while only 20 percent thought McCain won.
Compared to the first question voters didn't change their mind on who they thought was going to win the debate. Only 9 percent said that this debate changed their minds on who they are going to vote for, while 83 percent said they feel the same after the debate.
Special to the Critic
Teachers posing as candidates give a close-to-home debate.
Two faculty members went head to head in a mock presidential debate on Monday in the Alexander Twilight Theatre.
Representing Barack Obama was David Plazek, professor of Political Sciences, and representing John McCain was Alexandre Strokanov, professor of History. The moderator was Micheal Dente, chief technology officer at LSC. A poll was conducted by INT-1020 students; 70 polling cards were collected at the end of the debate. Results from the polling cards showed that 69 percent of the attendees at the debate said Obama would win the debate, while only 20 percent thought McCain would win.
Some of the questions asked of the candidates were issues of gun control, global warming, health care, our current economy and improving international relations. The two candidates had 90 seconds to respond to a question and two minutes for a rebuttal; the rebuttal gave the candidates the opportunity to argue back and forth. Global warming and gun control were issues that had a lot of debate.
At times during the debate it was obvious that Plazek and Strokanov didn't know everything about the candidates and their views.
“We want to make sure that you know that we are debating on our views and opinions of Barack Obama and John McCain”, said Plazek before they started debating.
When it came to global warming 76 percent thought Obama had a better argument. The question on gun control was nearly dead even with 51 perecent saying Obama won, while 49 percent thought McCain had a stronger argument.
“Some questions I might have disagreed with, was single payer universal health care.” said Plazek.. For the most part he(Plazek) agrees with Obama's views and says he will support him.
“No of course not, I don't agree with everything. It was a role first of all and some of the time I do agree with him. But for the most part I disagree with Obama”, said Strokanov who debated for McCain. Strokanov did not disclose who he was going to support this election.
By the end of the debate 70 percent said that Obama had won the debate, while only 20 percent thought McCain won.
Compared to the first question voters didn't change their mind on who they thought was going to win the debate. Only 9 percent said that this debate changed their minds on who they are going to vote for, while 83 percent said they feel the same after the debate.
NACA makes event choice easier
Aimee Lawton
Special to the Critic
CAB representatives attend conference to improve campus activities.
The successful activity planning of the Campus Activities Board stretches beyond the creative minds of the students on the LSC campus.
While members and other students are a great source of ideas for CAB, they are not the only source. NACA, or the National Association for Campus Activities is another useful (and professional) source that provides CAB with many of its ideas for activities.
Every year, NACA holds conferences in each of its seven designated regions across the United States. These conference sessions, lasting three days each, feature many things that can be useful tools when planning activities for college students across the country.
Each year, advisors and student members of CAB represent LSC at the NACA regional conference for the Northeast; designated for schools from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.
Stephanie Tyler, Campus activities coordinator and CAB advisor said that these conferences are great because they have workshops for many things such as successful programming, organizing, and creative advertising for activities that can be done on college campuses. Tyler also said that there are a variety of different entertainers that perform at the conferences including comedians, magicians, singers, and bands.
“The entertainers that get booked at colleges are the ones that perform,” Tyler said. “You get to see how good they are before you book them.”
Tyler also said that these conferences provide great networking opportunities with other schools in the region.
“It’s a good opportunity to share ideas, and to hear about what worked for other schools and what didn’t,” Tyler said, “It’s also just a good way to get to know other people.”
Tyler, along with Laura McNaughton and five student members from CAB are traveling to Hartford, CT this week to attend the Northeastern NACA regional conference for 2008.
For additional information on NACA, you can visit their website at http://www.naca.org.
Special to the Critic
CAB representatives attend conference to improve campus activities.
The successful activity planning of the Campus Activities Board stretches beyond the creative minds of the students on the LSC campus.
While members and other students are a great source of ideas for CAB, they are not the only source. NACA, or the National Association for Campus Activities is another useful (and professional) source that provides CAB with many of its ideas for activities.
Every year, NACA holds conferences in each of its seven designated regions across the United States. These conference sessions, lasting three days each, feature many things that can be useful tools when planning activities for college students across the country.
Each year, advisors and student members of CAB represent LSC at the NACA regional conference for the Northeast; designated for schools from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.
Stephanie Tyler, Campus activities coordinator and CAB advisor said that these conferences are great because they have workshops for many things such as successful programming, organizing, and creative advertising for activities that can be done on college campuses. Tyler also said that there are a variety of different entertainers that perform at the conferences including comedians, magicians, singers, and bands.
“The entertainers that get booked at colleges are the ones that perform,” Tyler said. “You get to see how good they are before you book them.”
Tyler also said that these conferences provide great networking opportunities with other schools in the region.
“It’s a good opportunity to share ideas, and to hear about what worked for other schools and what didn’t,” Tyler said, “It’s also just a good way to get to know other people.”
Tyler, along with Laura McNaughton and five student members from CAB are traveling to Hartford, CT this week to attend the Northeastern NACA regional conference for 2008.
For additional information on NACA, you can visit their website at http://www.naca.org.
Dead Professor
Steve Cormier
Special to the Critic
Steve experiments with new age journalism among other things.
It was nearly 40 years later as I strode, uneasy-by-northwest, looking for a man none of us had ever known. Kalman Sandor Toth, who was this man, and why the hell was I being sent out to survey some rock just below left field?
I got there and the clouds were as low as my hopes. The walk had taken a lot out of me and any chances of an intelligent interview had been left behind with my lunch at the dining hall.
Cold October evenings rarely relay much information and indeed, Toth’s plaque was not feeling very forthcoming. Any attempt on my part to make it feel at home and comfortable with my line of questioning was met repeatedly with only name, rank and academic affiliation:
Kalman Sandor Toth, born September 27, 1907 in Szeged, Hungary. Immigrated to the United States in 1956. First Chairman of the mathematics department. Died November 25, 1968.
Sure, the rock and plaque were forthcoming but I needed more and talking to myself below an abandoned autumn baseball field would soon bring unwanted attention. Besides, I was feeling depressed. I would never be chairman of anything other than maybe a bowl of popcorn. I decided to go to bed.
I got up sometime between Wednesday and Saturday, somewhere between my room and the kitchen. I decided to hunt down Alan Boye, Curator of the Archaic at Lyndon State College. He had once regaled a class about the professor who had been buried on the campus and I figured that with his literary expertise on the ghoulish maybe he had interviewed the rock and gotten more. As a professional I was embarrassed with how the previous day had turned out.
I walked into the office, it was a mess. I was a mess though and nothing was lost in translation, we were on equal ground. A few papers pushed out of the way and Boye was handing over the documents, the history, the story and the man I needed: Toth.
The documents provided that not only had Toth come from Hungary but was involved in their attempted revolution to kick the Communists out in ’56. He fled to the United States that year seeing it as a “wonderland” and “land of opportunity” according to Toth’s daughter Erzsebet. These papers were being much more cooperative than that godforsaken rock and I was glad I had left it out in the cold.
Toth came to work at Lyndon in the fall semester of 1960 and joined the mathematics department before becoming its first chairman and is understood to have built up the major.
Toth died on November 25, 1968 as the result of a two-car collision on Route 5 in St. Johnsbury with the wish that he be buried on campus. Cremated, so his soul could be freed, his urn was interred in the grass that is now outside of the Alexander Twilight Theatre. At last he had found the peace and freedom that he had fought for a decade earlier.
This is not the end of our hero’s story though. After going out to the steel sculpture that now resides beside ATT and wandering around in the snow hoping not to look like a complete fool I discovered the truth.
Eight years after he had been interred, indeed during the construction of the very steel sculpture I now found myself sitting on, his urn and earthly remains were removed by the college and moved out to the hill between the Brown House and the baseball field.
At least Toth has the best view on campus now. My own view was all too morbid now. Too depressed – this freedom fighter, this esteemed academic, this honorable mathematician who had come half a world to LSC only to be moved – I decided to go find my intelligence and my lunch.
Special to the Critic
Steve experiments with new age journalism among other things.
It was nearly 40 years later as I strode, uneasy-by-northwest, looking for a man none of us had ever known. Kalman Sandor Toth, who was this man, and why the hell was I being sent out to survey some rock just below left field?
I got there and the clouds were as low as my hopes. The walk had taken a lot out of me and any chances of an intelligent interview had been left behind with my lunch at the dining hall.
Cold October evenings rarely relay much information and indeed, Toth’s plaque was not feeling very forthcoming. Any attempt on my part to make it feel at home and comfortable with my line of questioning was met repeatedly with only name, rank and academic affiliation:
Kalman Sandor Toth, born September 27, 1907 in Szeged, Hungary. Immigrated to the United States in 1956. First Chairman of the mathematics department. Died November 25, 1968.
Sure, the rock and plaque were forthcoming but I needed more and talking to myself below an abandoned autumn baseball field would soon bring unwanted attention. Besides, I was feeling depressed. I would never be chairman of anything other than maybe a bowl of popcorn. I decided to go to bed.
I got up sometime between Wednesday and Saturday, somewhere between my room and the kitchen. I decided to hunt down Alan Boye, Curator of the Archaic at Lyndon State College. He had once regaled a class about the professor who had been buried on the campus and I figured that with his literary expertise on the ghoulish maybe he had interviewed the rock and gotten more. As a professional I was embarrassed with how the previous day had turned out.
I walked into the office, it was a mess. I was a mess though and nothing was lost in translation, we were on equal ground. A few papers pushed out of the way and Boye was handing over the documents, the history, the story and the man I needed: Toth.
The documents provided that not only had Toth come from Hungary but was involved in their attempted revolution to kick the Communists out in ’56. He fled to the United States that year seeing it as a “wonderland” and “land of opportunity” according to Toth’s daughter Erzsebet. These papers were being much more cooperative than that godforsaken rock and I was glad I had left it out in the cold.
Toth came to work at Lyndon in the fall semester of 1960 and joined the mathematics department before becoming its first chairman and is understood to have built up the major.
Toth died on November 25, 1968 as the result of a two-car collision on Route 5 in St. Johnsbury with the wish that he be buried on campus. Cremated, so his soul could be freed, his urn was interred in the grass that is now outside of the Alexander Twilight Theatre. At last he had found the peace and freedom that he had fought for a decade earlier.
This is not the end of our hero’s story though. After going out to the steel sculpture that now resides beside ATT and wandering around in the snow hoping not to look like a complete fool I discovered the truth.
Eight years after he had been interred, indeed during the construction of the very steel sculpture I now found myself sitting on, his urn and earthly remains were removed by the college and moved out to the hill between the Brown House and the baseball field.
At least Toth has the best view on campus now. My own view was all too morbid now. Too depressed – this freedom fighter, this esteemed academic, this honorable mathematician who had come half a world to LSC only to be moved – I decided to go find my intelligence and my lunch.
Haunted wheelchair: the real story.
Letter to the Editor :
The Halloween issue of the “Critic” contained an article about Emma Vail and the infamous wheelchair and I must add my two cents to the discussion of this beloved campus myth.
With deep respect for Alan Boye, I must make a correction to the information on the two Emma Vails. I refer to the book “In One Man’s Life” by Albert Bigelow Paine, a biography of Theodore N. Vail’s life, for the following. Theodore N. Vail did indeed have an older sister named Emma who was born in 1842. Vail married his cousin Emma Louise Righter on August 3rd, 1869.
In 1905 Mrs. Vail’s health was shaky but T.N. Vail was assured by her doctor that an upcoming trip to England could be taken without worry. The book continues, “Mrs. Vail, who at this time seemed better than usual, remained at Speedwell Farms, which she preferred to all other places….She died suddenly, February 3, 1905. Her husband, who had received no warning of the approaching change, arrived from England, a little more than a week later.” For those who don’t know, the current Vail building sits on the site of T.N. Vail’s mansion which was the centerpiece of Speedwell Farms.
The wheelchair was purchased in 1976 as a stage prop for the Twilight Players’ production “These Ruins are Inhabited” which was set in a nursing home. The revival of the show happened last year at Homecoming with the chair pressed back into service onstage. Dennis Koch, an alumnus and former employee of LSC, confirmed that he purchased the chair at a yard sale. The chair lived backstage in storage for many years. The stories that have been passed down of its adventures, along with the reported sightings of Emma’s ghost, were often centered in the theater. That must be where the supposition began that the chair was hers.
Pat Webster
LSC Library
The Halloween issue of the “Critic” contained an article about Emma Vail and the infamous wheelchair and I must add my two cents to the discussion of this beloved campus myth.
With deep respect for Alan Boye, I must make a correction to the information on the two Emma Vails. I refer to the book “In One Man’s Life” by Albert Bigelow Paine, a biography of Theodore N. Vail’s life, for the following. Theodore N. Vail did indeed have an older sister named Emma who was born in 1842. Vail married his cousin Emma Louise Righter on August 3rd, 1869.
In 1905 Mrs. Vail’s health was shaky but T.N. Vail was assured by her doctor that an upcoming trip to England could be taken without worry. The book continues, “Mrs. Vail, who at this time seemed better than usual, remained at Speedwell Farms, which she preferred to all other places….She died suddenly, February 3, 1905. Her husband, who had received no warning of the approaching change, arrived from England, a little more than a week later.” For those who don’t know, the current Vail building sits on the site of T.N. Vail’s mansion which was the centerpiece of Speedwell Farms.
The wheelchair was purchased in 1976 as a stage prop for the Twilight Players’ production “These Ruins are Inhabited” which was set in a nursing home. The revival of the show happened last year at Homecoming with the chair pressed back into service onstage. Dennis Koch, an alumnus and former employee of LSC, confirmed that he purchased the chair at a yard sale. The chair lived backstage in storage for many years. The stories that have been passed down of its adventures, along with the reported sightings of Emma’s ghost, were often centered in the theater. That must be where the supposition began that the chair was hers.
Pat Webster
LSC Library
Is there life after LSC?
David Lapham
Critic Staff
Students worry about paying off loans and finding jobs.
Are Lyndon State college students worried about employment after graduation in the current state of the United States economy?
“Yeah I am a little worried, I think that having a bachelors degree isn’t going to be worth it in this area money wise,” Michelle Emerson, Junior business administration major said.
According to a 2007 graduate survey report prepared by Linda Walcholder, Director of Career Services, 95 percent of students who responded (only 132 students) of Lyndon State’s 2007 graduates reported that they were either employed or were continuing their education. 92 percent of respondents reported that they either obtained employment or continued their education within 6 months.
Those numbers do not necessarily reflect the feelings of some of the current Lyndon State College graduating hopefuls.
Nate Taylor, business administration major graduating in May 2009, is worried that he may not find employment after graduation.
“I think it’s going to be hard to get a job in this area after graduation, I don’t think that companies are going to be as willing to hire people,” Taylor said.
Many students are fearful of what might happen to them when they graduate and have to pay back student loans. Walcholder advises: “This is not the time for students to be discouraged, because then effectively students are giving up before they attempt to obtain a job.”
Not all students are completely discouraged, Bob Thompson, Business administration major graduating in May 2009, feels confident in getting a job.
“The possibilities are out there, my concern is with the current economic situation and how it may be unfavorable at this time for those who only have a degree and lack experience.”
The job market in this shaky economy fosters competition, so, graduating students need to find creative avenues to display themselves and their skills.
Finding a job “isn’t just posting you’re resume on a few web sites, or walking the streets and just handing out resumes to random shopkeepers,” Walcholder said.
“During this economic downturn students really need to take advantage of all the job search techniques available to them to hunt for a job. That means networking, considering internships, presenting themselves well on paper, refining their interviewing skills, really taking advantage of researching the positions for which they apply and taking advantage of every opportunity open to them.”
Eric Durocher, business administrator majors and Music business industry minor graduating in May 2009 does not share the same uneasiness with finding work after graduation.
“I am not as concerned with finding a job, but I am concerned to find one I enjoy,” Durocher said.
While many students flock to the job market after they graduate, trying to scoop up available jobs, there are some students who are focused on a particular field.
Lindsay Siner, 2010, an undecided LSC student is concerned that she will not be able to make a living in her desired profession, and plans to leave LSC after one year to pursue a degree in dietetics and Nutrition.
“I would like to come back here, the North East Kingdom is special, but I don’t know how I would make a living if alternative healthcare doesn’t catch on,” Siner said.
Emily Comstock, a junior Natural science major who is a veterinary school hopeful is not very apprehensive as to whether or not she will find employment, “A lot of large animal vets in the kingdom are creeping closer to retirement age and in that sense some are looking for a new flock to come. “
Instead, she is concerned that she might not meet the heavy demands for large animal veterinary schools.
“Veterinary schools are 10 times more competitive than medical schools because there are only twenty eight schools in this country,” Comstock said.
As college freshmen and sophomores move toward graduation they might want to consider certain career paths which have been perpetually employing.
Alia Wedemeyer, class of 2010, Lyndon State student enrolled in Castleton State College’s Nursing program is not anxious about finding employment after graduation.
“I’m confident, nursing is an extremely in demand profession. The population in the U.S. is aging. Think baby boomer. It’s unfortunate, but with age comes health deterioration,” Wedemeyer said.
Critic Staff
Students worry about paying off loans and finding jobs.
Are Lyndon State college students worried about employment after graduation in the current state of the United States economy?
“Yeah I am a little worried, I think that having a bachelors degree isn’t going to be worth it in this area money wise,” Michelle Emerson, Junior business administration major said.
According to a 2007 graduate survey report prepared by Linda Walcholder, Director of Career Services, 95 percent of students who responded (only 132 students) of Lyndon State’s 2007 graduates reported that they were either employed or were continuing their education. 92 percent of respondents reported that they either obtained employment or continued their education within 6 months.
Those numbers do not necessarily reflect the feelings of some of the current Lyndon State College graduating hopefuls.
Nate Taylor, business administration major graduating in May 2009, is worried that he may not find employment after graduation.
“I think it’s going to be hard to get a job in this area after graduation, I don’t think that companies are going to be as willing to hire people,” Taylor said.
Many students are fearful of what might happen to them when they graduate and have to pay back student loans. Walcholder advises: “This is not the time for students to be discouraged, because then effectively students are giving up before they attempt to obtain a job.”
Not all students are completely discouraged, Bob Thompson, Business administration major graduating in May 2009, feels confident in getting a job.
“The possibilities are out there, my concern is with the current economic situation and how it may be unfavorable at this time for those who only have a degree and lack experience.”
The job market in this shaky economy fosters competition, so, graduating students need to find creative avenues to display themselves and their skills.
Finding a job “isn’t just posting you’re resume on a few web sites, or walking the streets and just handing out resumes to random shopkeepers,” Walcholder said.
“During this economic downturn students really need to take advantage of all the job search techniques available to them to hunt for a job. That means networking, considering internships, presenting themselves well on paper, refining their interviewing skills, really taking advantage of researching the positions for which they apply and taking advantage of every opportunity open to them.”
Eric Durocher, business administrator majors and Music business industry minor graduating in May 2009 does not share the same uneasiness with finding work after graduation.
“I am not as concerned with finding a job, but I am concerned to find one I enjoy,” Durocher said.
While many students flock to the job market after they graduate, trying to scoop up available jobs, there are some students who are focused on a particular field.
Lindsay Siner, 2010, an undecided LSC student is concerned that she will not be able to make a living in her desired profession, and plans to leave LSC after one year to pursue a degree in dietetics and Nutrition.
“I would like to come back here, the North East Kingdom is special, but I don’t know how I would make a living if alternative healthcare doesn’t catch on,” Siner said.
Emily Comstock, a junior Natural science major who is a veterinary school hopeful is not very apprehensive as to whether or not she will find employment, “A lot of large animal vets in the kingdom are creeping closer to retirement age and in that sense some are looking for a new flock to come. “
Instead, she is concerned that she might not meet the heavy demands for large animal veterinary schools.
“Veterinary schools are 10 times more competitive than medical schools because there are only twenty eight schools in this country,” Comstock said.
As college freshmen and sophomores move toward graduation they might want to consider certain career paths which have been perpetually employing.
Alia Wedemeyer, class of 2010, Lyndon State student enrolled in Castleton State College’s Nursing program is not anxious about finding employment after graduation.
“I’m confident, nursing is an extremely in demand profession. The population in the U.S. is aging. Think baby boomer. It’s unfortunate, but with age comes health deterioration,” Wedemeyer said.
Another internet line?
Eric Downing
Critic Staff
LSC pays for a second internet connection used only for emergencies.
Most students at Lyndon State College don’t know that there is another internet line into the college.
The extra line, which runs directly into the IT department instead of through Vail building like the normal line, has only a fraction of the other line’s speed. Whereas the line used by the campus community runs 30 megabits per second, this line, used only for emergencies, runs 1.5 megabits.
Being separate from the main network allows the emergency line to remain active, even when the other line is cut, such as when the network was down for six hours earlier this year. The line was put in two years ago in case of such an event. Chief Technology Officer Mike Dente estimated that it costs about $70 a month, compared to the $3500 a month cost to run the network across campus.
Only a couple of places on campus have access to the emergency line, which comes from Charter by way of a cable modem. This is because the line is used principally if the network across campus is having problems.
“If something happens to the main line…” Dente said, knocking on the wood of his desk.
The extra line is also used for testing the primary line. As it is completely separate from the normal line, using the emergency line to communicate with the primary line, it simulates what would happen if an outside computer were to communicate with the server.
Unlike the primary line, the emergency line works even when the power is out; this is because the line runs directly into IT. Although the servers in Vail run on a generator, students in the dorms can’t access the primary network in a blackout because that would require all the wiring closets that span the buildings to run on generators, which they do not.
Dente said that IT is looking into putting an access point in Vail so that one or two important people can use the line in the case of a network outage. In the meantime, though, Dente has a temporary solution in case the business office has to get something important done in a network outage.
“They can come here and work on my desk,” he said.
Critic Staff
LSC pays for a second internet connection used only for emergencies.
Most students at Lyndon State College don’t know that there is another internet line into the college.
The extra line, which runs directly into the IT department instead of through Vail building like the normal line, has only a fraction of the other line’s speed. Whereas the line used by the campus community runs 30 megabits per second, this line, used only for emergencies, runs 1.5 megabits.
Being separate from the main network allows the emergency line to remain active, even when the other line is cut, such as when the network was down for six hours earlier this year. The line was put in two years ago in case of such an event. Chief Technology Officer Mike Dente estimated that it costs about $70 a month, compared to the $3500 a month cost to run the network across campus.
Only a couple of places on campus have access to the emergency line, which comes from Charter by way of a cable modem. This is because the line is used principally if the network across campus is having problems.
“If something happens to the main line…” Dente said, knocking on the wood of his desk.
The extra line is also used for testing the primary line. As it is completely separate from the normal line, using the emergency line to communicate with the primary line, it simulates what would happen if an outside computer were to communicate with the server.
Unlike the primary line, the emergency line works even when the power is out; this is because the line runs directly into IT. Although the servers in Vail run on a generator, students in the dorms can’t access the primary network in a blackout because that would require all the wiring closets that span the buildings to run on generators, which they do not.
Dente said that IT is looking into putting an access point in Vail so that one or two important people can use the line in the case of a network outage. In the meantime, though, Dente has a temporary solution in case the business office has to get something important done in a network outage.
“They can come here and work on my desk,” he said.
Disaster drill prepares LSC students for the unexpected
Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
Lyndon State College experienced a school shooting Saturday morning.
Dan Williams, professor of English, and Peggy Sherrer, professor of Psychology, ran their simulated disaster drill early Saturday. The disaster drill is part of a class, Responding to Psychological Trauma, that allows students the opportunity to experience what happens during a real emergency.
“I expanded my class to three credits this year to give students more training,” Sherrer said. “I wanted to give them a dynamic experience where there is chaos, unpredictability and make the students have to think on their feet.”
This year’s scenario involved a school shooting and a hostage situation. Students from both the human services and journalism majors were involved. The journalism students were required to leave campus in order to simulate how journalists would respond to such an emergency.
“I wanted to give them (journalism students) exposure to people who are suffering from trauma and dealing with officials who would be at a scene like that,” Williams said.
The whole scenario began around 9:30 a.m. with the shooter walking into a classroom in HAC where he shot the professor and a number of students before taking another student hostage. Soon after the shooting took place, emergency responders including state and local police and ambulance crews, began arriving on scene.
The simulation proceeded with emergency crews treating the wounded students, police began a search of the area to find the shooter, and the human service majors began evaluating and counseling the victims. The journalists who took part in the drill were scrambling around trying to get as much information from officials and victims as they could.
The entire drill lasted until about 1:30 p.m. before everybody was gathered to discuss the events of the day.
Although the drill was a success, there were still aspects of the drill that Sherrer and Williams want to change.
“I would love to involve professional, semi-professional and theater majors as actors,” Sherrer said. “They (professional actors) could help to psychologically prepare the volunteer actors.”
Williams also wants to make changes to the journalism portion of the drill.
“I’d like to involve professional journalists in the class,” Williams said, “because it’s the type of training that professionals need and often don’t get.”
Besides preparing for a real life emergency, the disaster drill also gave students the opportunity to interact with each other in a professional role.
“There’s a lot that happens when you put our students together,” Sherrer said. “I think the students gained a mutual respect towards each other’s role, my students learned that journalists aren’t just there to harass a victim, they are just doing their job.”
Responding to Psychological Trauma is offered during the fall semester.
Critic Editor
Lyndon State College experienced a school shooting Saturday morning.
Dan Williams, professor of English, and Peggy Sherrer, professor of Psychology, ran their simulated disaster drill early Saturday. The disaster drill is part of a class, Responding to Psychological Trauma, that allows students the opportunity to experience what happens during a real emergency.
“I expanded my class to three credits this year to give students more training,” Sherrer said. “I wanted to give them a dynamic experience where there is chaos, unpredictability and make the students have to think on their feet.”
This year’s scenario involved a school shooting and a hostage situation. Students from both the human services and journalism majors were involved. The journalism students were required to leave campus in order to simulate how journalists would respond to such an emergency.
“I wanted to give them (journalism students) exposure to people who are suffering from trauma and dealing with officials who would be at a scene like that,” Williams said.
The whole scenario began around 9:30 a.m. with the shooter walking into a classroom in HAC where he shot the professor and a number of students before taking another student hostage. Soon after the shooting took place, emergency responders including state and local police and ambulance crews, began arriving on scene.
The simulation proceeded with emergency crews treating the wounded students, police began a search of the area to find the shooter, and the human service majors began evaluating and counseling the victims. The journalists who took part in the drill were scrambling around trying to get as much information from officials and victims as they could.
The entire drill lasted until about 1:30 p.m. before everybody was gathered to discuss the events of the day.
Although the drill was a success, there were still aspects of the drill that Sherrer and Williams want to change.
“I would love to involve professional, semi-professional and theater majors as actors,” Sherrer said. “They (professional actors) could help to psychologically prepare the volunteer actors.”
Williams also wants to make changes to the journalism portion of the drill.
“I’d like to involve professional journalists in the class,” Williams said, “because it’s the type of training that professionals need and often don’t get.”
Besides preparing for a real life emergency, the disaster drill also gave students the opportunity to interact with each other in a professional role.
“There’s a lot that happens when you put our students together,” Sherrer said. “I think the students gained a mutual respect towards each other’s role, my students learned that journalists aren’t just there to harass a victim, they are just doing their job.”
Responding to Psychological Trauma is offered during the fall semester.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Adderall
By Dave Lapham, Jillian Grenier, Derika Downing
Special to the Critic
Students look to a drug to aid studying.
Coffee is no longer enough; too much homework and stress is making college students across the country turn to the drug Adderall for that extra burst of energy they need.
The prescription drug Adderall is made for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is not only illegal to take without a prescription but is also unsafe if not taken correctly. It consists of amphetamines that stimulate the central nervous system. The drug is commonly prescribed to those diagnosed with ADHD, and is used to increase levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Students around campus who admit to taking the drug illegally talked openly about the subject but asked to not be identified.
“I remember a bunch of my girlfriends and I started using adderall recreationally, and that made it so we could drink all night,” an 09 female said. “I would get up and bump one in the morning before class to help me get through [the day] after a night of drinking.”
Many college students find solace in the drug because it eliminates drowsiness, supports them in their all night drinking endeavors, and helps them concentrate in those few moments before a big exam or heavily weighted essays.
Not all students use the drug to facilitate all-night drinking binges. Some Lyndon State College Students are no strangers to staying up all hours of the night on Adderall so they can study or complete a homework assignment. “It just helps me focus and get my work done,” one source said. “It just makes me want to do my homework.”
Though Adderall may seem like a miracle drug enabling students to party and study hard, there are many side affects that result from abusing the drug, such as nervousness, lack of appetite, depression, inability to sleep, dry mouth, and rapid heartbeat which can then lead to death or serious side effects on the heart.
When asked if they were worried about the side effects that Adderall can cause, it seemed that they already knew. One source said “Sometimes I get scared when my heart beats too fast. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”
“It is highly addictive. It made it so I didn’t want to eat. It was never hard to find a dealer. Most of the time it would come in a little capsule and if you break it there are little white beads inside. I would ingest it and 20 minutes later I got a big boost of energy,” said the 09 female.
“I think it is risky,” said Miriam Simon, a physician’s assistant. “Adderall is potentially dangerous and there is a great concern. There are many side effects including: heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, insomnia, and weight loss.”
Obtaining the drug is not necessarily that difficult; many times students are able to buy some pills from a person who has been prescribed the drug. According to a few different sources, the price of Adderall on campus can go anywhere from $3 to $9 a pill, depending on how much the person with the prescription wants to charge for it, which can be quite a lot, because they have the same customers coming back due to how addictive the drug is.
“When we prescribe the drug I have no control over diversion. We don’t know if it will be sold to other people,” Simon said.
Special to the Critic
Students look to a drug to aid studying.
Coffee is no longer enough; too much homework and stress is making college students across the country turn to the drug Adderall for that extra burst of energy they need.
The prescription drug Adderall is made for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is not only illegal to take without a prescription but is also unsafe if not taken correctly. It consists of amphetamines that stimulate the central nervous system. The drug is commonly prescribed to those diagnosed with ADHD, and is used to increase levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Students around campus who admit to taking the drug illegally talked openly about the subject but asked to not be identified.
“I remember a bunch of my girlfriends and I started using adderall recreationally, and that made it so we could drink all night,” an 09 female said. “I would get up and bump one in the morning before class to help me get through [the day] after a night of drinking.”
Many college students find solace in the drug because it eliminates drowsiness, supports them in their all night drinking endeavors, and helps them concentrate in those few moments before a big exam or heavily weighted essays.
Not all students use the drug to facilitate all-night drinking binges. Some Lyndon State College Students are no strangers to staying up all hours of the night on Adderall so they can study or complete a homework assignment. “It just helps me focus and get my work done,” one source said. “It just makes me want to do my homework.”
Though Adderall may seem like a miracle drug enabling students to party and study hard, there are many side affects that result from abusing the drug, such as nervousness, lack of appetite, depression, inability to sleep, dry mouth, and rapid heartbeat which can then lead to death or serious side effects on the heart.
When asked if they were worried about the side effects that Adderall can cause, it seemed that they already knew. One source said “Sometimes I get scared when my heart beats too fast. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”
“It is highly addictive. It made it so I didn’t want to eat. It was never hard to find a dealer. Most of the time it would come in a little capsule and if you break it there are little white beads inside. I would ingest it and 20 minutes later I got a big boost of energy,” said the 09 female.
“I think it is risky,” said Miriam Simon, a physician’s assistant. “Adderall is potentially dangerous and there is a great concern. There are many side effects including: heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, insomnia, and weight loss.”
Obtaining the drug is not necessarily that difficult; many times students are able to buy some pills from a person who has been prescribed the drug. According to a few different sources, the price of Adderall on campus can go anywhere from $3 to $9 a pill, depending on how much the person with the prescription wants to charge for it, which can be quite a lot, because they have the same customers coming back due to how addictive the drug is.
“When we prescribe the drug I have no control over diversion. We don’t know if it will be sold to other people,” Simon said.
Heating issues at LSC
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Tom Archer sheds some light on how LSC determines when to put the heat on.
The Heating in the resident halls has been a topic of interest for students living on campus this semester.
“We typically try and wait for three consecutive nights where the weather drops below 32 degrees before we turn the heat on,” Tom Archer, director of physical plant at Lyndon State College, said, “and it takes a little while to set that up, but usually we have it on around the first of October.
The heat in the resident halls was turned on Monday Oct. 6 and some students believe that it was about time.
“For the past two weeks, since it first started getting cold, I’ve had to use a sheet, a comforter, a fleece throw, and a heavy quilt,” Tori Loyer, a creative writing major and Bailey resident said.
When the heating system was first turned on there was an incident involving smoke that set off the fire alarms in Wheelock. The heat had not been turned on since the previous semester and the windows in the buildings had all been closed.
“The smoke was basically puffs of exhaust that got sucked back into the building and it was due to the extreme tightness of the building,” Archer said. “But the system does work and the alarms went off.”
The fire department was immediately called into action over the incident, and assessed the situation upon arrival. The fire department corroborated with Archer as to the cause of the smoke buildup, and agreed that it was most likely due to the buildup of “negative air” in Wheelock that was caused by the lack of circulation.
“We recently installed new windows and insulation in the dorms to try and make the rooms a bit more comfortable, and to help with the overall efficiency,” Archer said. “If students have a problem with the temperature in their rooms, if they are too hot, instead of opening a window, get your RHD, just opening a window is a terrible waste, and we have the tools to tweak the system.”
Archer mentioned that if students do have a problem with the heating in their rooms, whether it is too cold or too hot, that they need to go through Residential Life with any complaints, “I haven’t heard any so far,” Archer said.
According to Archer, the school burns approximately 220,000 gallons of fuel a year, “The rising prices for fuel are definitely affecting Lyndon State College,” Archer said. “We are shooting for a biomass plant, which involves woodchips and is very viable, and in the long run would probably save millions. I am open to an energy challenge here on campus, it’s time to walk the talk. Let’s cut our electric and heating costs. It’s going to take an effort, and everyone needs to do their part. I mean, the planet is suffering.”
Critic Staff
Tom Archer sheds some light on how LSC determines when to put the heat on.
The Heating in the resident halls has been a topic of interest for students living on campus this semester.
“We typically try and wait for three consecutive nights where the weather drops below 32 degrees before we turn the heat on,” Tom Archer, director of physical plant at Lyndon State College, said, “and it takes a little while to set that up, but usually we have it on around the first of October.
The heat in the resident halls was turned on Monday Oct. 6 and some students believe that it was about time.
“For the past two weeks, since it first started getting cold, I’ve had to use a sheet, a comforter, a fleece throw, and a heavy quilt,” Tori Loyer, a creative writing major and Bailey resident said.
When the heating system was first turned on there was an incident involving smoke that set off the fire alarms in Wheelock. The heat had not been turned on since the previous semester and the windows in the buildings had all been closed.
“The smoke was basically puffs of exhaust that got sucked back into the building and it was due to the extreme tightness of the building,” Archer said. “But the system does work and the alarms went off.”
The fire department was immediately called into action over the incident, and assessed the situation upon arrival. The fire department corroborated with Archer as to the cause of the smoke buildup, and agreed that it was most likely due to the buildup of “negative air” in Wheelock that was caused by the lack of circulation.
“We recently installed new windows and insulation in the dorms to try and make the rooms a bit more comfortable, and to help with the overall efficiency,” Archer said. “If students have a problem with the temperature in their rooms, if they are too hot, instead of opening a window, get your RHD, just opening a window is a terrible waste, and we have the tools to tweak the system.”
Archer mentioned that if students do have a problem with the heating in their rooms, whether it is too cold or too hot, that they need to go through Residential Life with any complaints, “I haven’t heard any so far,” Archer said.
According to Archer, the school burns approximately 220,000 gallons of fuel a year, “The rising prices for fuel are definitely affecting Lyndon State College,” Archer said. “We are shooting for a biomass plant, which involves woodchips and is very viable, and in the long run would probably save millions. I am open to an energy challenge here on campus, it’s time to walk the talk. Let’s cut our electric and heating costs. It’s going to take an effort, and everyone needs to do their part. I mean, the planet is suffering.”
Financial aid collapse
Derika Downing
Critic staff
Director of financial aid tells of how the national deficit affects student loans.
By now, just about everybody is familiar with the major economic crisis that has hit this country, but what effect has this problem had on student loans?
Tanya W. Bradley, LSC’s director of financial aid, says the national deficit has affected student loans in two ways.
“In places like Pennsylvania, their state agency stopped processing federal student loans,” Bradley said, “So schools have had to find other lenders or go to direct loans, like Stafford and Parent PLUS loans.” These loans “cut out the middle man,” i.e., the lenders and guarantee agencies.
“But that kind of national problem hasn’t really hit Vermont,” Bradley said, “Because VSAC [Vermont Student Assistance Corporation] has always been able to secure the funding for federal loan programs and alternative student loans.
“Because 90 percent of our loan volume is through VSAC, our students have at least been able to borrow through an entity that has the funding,” Bradley said.
“The other piece that has affected our students is that lenders have raised the criterion for the FICO (Fair Isaac & Co) credit scores, a measurement of financial strength,” Bradley said. “Many of our students have tried to use alternative loans in place of the parent loans because the parents have bad credit, and more of the loan burden falls on to the student.”
Because of these setbacks, the student seeking financial aid often needs a co-signer, “somebody who is credit-worthy and who promises to pay the loan if the student defaults [is unable to pay the loan within an allotted amount of time].” Finding a reliable co-signer is one of the biggest problems for students in need of financial aid. “There’s obviously a credit problem in this country,” Bradley said.
Critic staff
Director of financial aid tells of how the national deficit affects student loans.
By now, just about everybody is familiar with the major economic crisis that has hit this country, but what effect has this problem had on student loans?
Tanya W. Bradley, LSC’s director of financial aid, says the national deficit has affected student loans in two ways.
“In places like Pennsylvania, their state agency stopped processing federal student loans,” Bradley said, “So schools have had to find other lenders or go to direct loans, like Stafford and Parent PLUS loans.” These loans “cut out the middle man,” i.e., the lenders and guarantee agencies.
“But that kind of national problem hasn’t really hit Vermont,” Bradley said, “Because VSAC [Vermont Student Assistance Corporation] has always been able to secure the funding for federal loan programs and alternative student loans.
“Because 90 percent of our loan volume is through VSAC, our students have at least been able to borrow through an entity that has the funding,” Bradley said.
“The other piece that has affected our students is that lenders have raised the criterion for the FICO (Fair Isaac & Co) credit scores, a measurement of financial strength,” Bradley said. “Many of our students have tried to use alternative loans in place of the parent loans because the parents have bad credit, and more of the loan burden falls on to the student.”
Because of these setbacks, the student seeking financial aid often needs a co-signer, “somebody who is credit-worthy and who promises to pay the loan if the student defaults [is unable to pay the loan within an allotted amount of time].” Finding a reliable co-signer is one of the biggest problems for students in need of financial aid. “There’s obviously a credit problem in this country,” Bradley said.
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