By Brittany Lavery
Special to the Critic
Some health advice given by an LSC student and an LSC professor.
If the crunch isn’t cutting it, here’s why.
Some people believe that doing stomach crunch after stomach crunch will make a difference in how their stomach is shaped. Sadly, that is not the truth. Jesse Potter, an exercise science major at Lyndon State College, said. “The old myth that crunches are the fastest way to lose fat in the stomach are untrue.” He also said any kind of workout one does will help remove fat from that region, and “increase overall health.”
First of all, why does it appear that the stomach is typically the largest part of one's body? Is fate playing some cruel joke on us, by giving us a midsection which is seemingly impossible to get rid of? Potter says “…the body tries to place fat (or adipose tissue) around the midsection in order to better utilize it if it’s needed as energy.”
Potter said another type of exercise which is beneficial for weight loss (if that is what you’re looking for) is “resistance training for all large muscle groups does wonders for weight loss.” He also advises keeping an active cardiovascular regimen (running, biking, swimming, etc.) as a part of your workout routine. Not only are these exercises good for keeping in shape, but they also help battle diseases such as heart disease.
Gregory Ledoux, professor of exercise science at Lyndon State College, also reminds us that weight loss isn’t the only sign of improved health. So, no worries if you don’t see the results you may have been expecting. Ledoux tells us “One can change their body composition by building lean tissue and burning fat through exercise while experiencing no change, or even a slight increase in weight.” If weight is gained, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just means you have gained more muscle mass.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Deficit woes continue to grow
By Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
Exclusive interview with Carol Moore sheds more light on the crisis.
Lyndon State College continues to face budget challenges due to a loss of state appropriations.
At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, LSC was attempting to balance a budget that was in the red between $500,000 and $1 million. Fortunately, the school was able to balance the budget only to have the state take back about $200,000 of the state appropriations that each Vermont school receives, Wayne Hamilton, Dean of administration, said.
LSC has to eliminate only about $100,000 from the budget in order to have everything be balanced. One of the biggest challenges with cutting money from the budget is to, “focus primarily on areas that least impact student services,” President Carol Moore said. The choice to eliminate a position in the library was made based on this strategy since it would impact the students the least, Moore said.
The decision to cut the library position was a strategic decision because, “rather than across the board cuts we used strategic cuts because across the board cuts never pay off,” Moore said.
Eliminating the library position saves the school $34,000 but other cuts were also necessary in order to balance the budget. Those cuts included some temporary custodial positions and equipment cuts.
Moore said staff and faculty had asked why the school couldn’t stop the construction project in order to use that money to balance the budget. The school cannot use the bond money for anything besides the building and renovations Moore said. This is because additional student fees pay for the bond.
Faculty and staff members reacted strongly to eliminating a position and offered ideas for other alternatives such as giving up salary increases. However, Moore said all salary increases are contractual and therefore, employees cannot voluntarily give them up. Patricia Shine, Professor of Psychology, spoke out against the position cut, “it is a nightmare up here to lose your job,” she said.
Making personnel cuts is never easy but it was necessary in order to come up with the $100,000, Moore said. “Anybody is welcome to look at the budget but ultimately the decision is the dean’s and mine,” Moore said. Even with the current deficit relieved, the problems may not be over for LSC. In November, LSC may again be asked to come up with more money, which could result in more cuts, Moore said. If it becomes necessary to once again make cuts in November then, “we have not targeted any positions, we will wait and see what happens,” Moore said.
The employee who was laid off from the library will receive severance pay, and will get help with being relocated, Moore said.
Recruitment and retention have always been important to the growth of LSC and this year retention rates were higher than in previous years, although recruitment was down, Hamilton said however, Castleton and Johnson are both having record enrollment years.
Not all is bad news though for LSC because Project Compass will put into place nine different student success interventions to help needy students, Moore said.
The meeting concluded with Moore calling on faculty and staff to, “Focus on the good things going on at Lyndon and at our students being successful.”
Critic Editor
Exclusive interview with Carol Moore sheds more light on the crisis.
Lyndon State College continues to face budget challenges due to a loss of state appropriations.
At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, LSC was attempting to balance a budget that was in the red between $500,000 and $1 million. Fortunately, the school was able to balance the budget only to have the state take back about $200,000 of the state appropriations that each Vermont school receives, Wayne Hamilton, Dean of administration, said.
LSC has to eliminate only about $100,000 from the budget in order to have everything be balanced. One of the biggest challenges with cutting money from the budget is to, “focus primarily on areas that least impact student services,” President Carol Moore said. The choice to eliminate a position in the library was made based on this strategy since it would impact the students the least, Moore said.
The decision to cut the library position was a strategic decision because, “rather than across the board cuts we used strategic cuts because across the board cuts never pay off,” Moore said.
Eliminating the library position saves the school $34,000 but other cuts were also necessary in order to balance the budget. Those cuts included some temporary custodial positions and equipment cuts.
Moore said staff and faculty had asked why the school couldn’t stop the construction project in order to use that money to balance the budget. The school cannot use the bond money for anything besides the building and renovations Moore said. This is because additional student fees pay for the bond.
Faculty and staff members reacted strongly to eliminating a position and offered ideas for other alternatives such as giving up salary increases. However, Moore said all salary increases are contractual and therefore, employees cannot voluntarily give them up. Patricia Shine, Professor of Psychology, spoke out against the position cut, “it is a nightmare up here to lose your job,” she said.
Making personnel cuts is never easy but it was necessary in order to come up with the $100,000, Moore said. “Anybody is welcome to look at the budget but ultimately the decision is the dean’s and mine,” Moore said. Even with the current deficit relieved, the problems may not be over for LSC. In November, LSC may again be asked to come up with more money, which could result in more cuts, Moore said. If it becomes necessary to once again make cuts in November then, “we have not targeted any positions, we will wait and see what happens,” Moore said.
The employee who was laid off from the library will receive severance pay, and will get help with being relocated, Moore said.
Recruitment and retention have always been important to the growth of LSC and this year retention rates were higher than in previous years, although recruitment was down, Hamilton said however, Castleton and Johnson are both having record enrollment years.
Not all is bad news though for LSC because Project Compass will put into place nine different student success interventions to help needy students, Moore said.
The meeting concluded with Moore calling on faculty and staff to, “Focus on the good things going on at Lyndon and at our students being successful.”
Deficit problems hurt non-workstudy students
By Dave Lapham
Critic Staff
Deficit issues are causing large problems for many departments throughout Lyndon State College.
Many departments have had to cut back on their expenses in order to stay within their budgets. The Department of Student Services is one department that has seen the effects of budget cutting. As a result they have made some changes to meet the demands of a lower budget Allowance.
"Work-Study money allotted to the student services department has increased, but direct hire has significantly decreased," said Deb Bailin director of student services.
Direct hire (Non-Work-Study) is a program funded by Lyndon State College for the purpose of hiring students that do not qualify for or are not hired within the pretenses of Work-Study. Non Work-study funds last year totaled just over $300,000 and this year non work study has decreased to $178,000.
The difference between Work-Study and Direct Hire is that direct hire funds come from Lyndon State College money. Work-Study money on the other hand comes from Government funds and that bucket of money is allotted to the college. The college then disperses the money to each department. Each department can hire as many Work-Study positions as their funds allow.
“Lyndon State College has given us more money for Work-Study because they have taken an interest in this department’s Work-Study program,” Bailin said. “One reason they are interested in our department’s Work-Study program is that the student retention rate has been going down for the last few years. This year is the first year in a while that we have seen the retention rate go up. The greater number of students retained the more tuition dollars the college receives.”
The loss of direct hire funds means that each department has to rely only on the funds given to them through Work- Study, which are limited.
“We have trained 21 students for the circulation desk and only 5 were returning students, Donna Edwards, circulation supervisor, said. “Training takes a lot of time. When we lose upper classmen as workers because they lose their work-study money, it compromises our ability to stay open until 11 p.m.
“The library would not be able to remain open the amount of time that we do, evenings and weekends, without our students,” Edwards said. “They are a valuable part of our team.”
Student Services has also had to make cuts to tutorial programs. Tutorials unlike direct hire are funded by the Student Services department. The purpose of tutorials is to assist students with particular problem classes. In the past Student Services would have continued holding tutorial sessions throughout an entire semester, regardless if there was a low student interest.
Critic Staff
Deficit issues are causing large problems for many departments throughout Lyndon State College.
Many departments have had to cut back on their expenses in order to stay within their budgets. The Department of Student Services is one department that has seen the effects of budget cutting. As a result they have made some changes to meet the demands of a lower budget Allowance.
"Work-Study money allotted to the student services department has increased, but direct hire has significantly decreased," said Deb Bailin director of student services.
Direct hire (Non-Work-Study) is a program funded by Lyndon State College for the purpose of hiring students that do not qualify for or are not hired within the pretenses of Work-Study. Non Work-study funds last year totaled just over $300,000 and this year non work study has decreased to $178,000.
The difference between Work-Study and Direct Hire is that direct hire funds come from Lyndon State College money. Work-Study money on the other hand comes from Government funds and that bucket of money is allotted to the college. The college then disperses the money to each department. Each department can hire as many Work-Study positions as their funds allow.
“Lyndon State College has given us more money for Work-Study because they have taken an interest in this department’s Work-Study program,” Bailin said. “One reason they are interested in our department’s Work-Study program is that the student retention rate has been going down for the last few years. This year is the first year in a while that we have seen the retention rate go up. The greater number of students retained the more tuition dollars the college receives.”
The loss of direct hire funds means that each department has to rely only on the funds given to them through Work- Study, which are limited.
“We have trained 21 students for the circulation desk and only 5 were returning students, Donna Edwards, circulation supervisor, said. “Training takes a lot of time. When we lose upper classmen as workers because they lose their work-study money, it compromises our ability to stay open until 11 p.m.
“The library would not be able to remain open the amount of time that we do, evenings and weekends, without our students,” Edwards said. “They are a valuable part of our team.”
Student Services has also had to make cuts to tutorial programs. Tutorials unlike direct hire are funded by the Student Services department. The purpose of tutorials is to assist students with particular problem classes. In the past Student Services would have continued holding tutorial sessions throughout an entire semester, regardless if there was a low student interest.
SGA president has positive outlook
Steven Comier
Special to the Critic
Change and civic commitment to government were words once used only in Washington and in speeches used by major party candidates but Student Government Association is changing that.
Prior to the reorganization of the student government infighting and large turnover rates led to numerous interventions in House and Senate affairs by the two RHD advisers, neither of which were elected.
This year with two new RHD advisors, Stephanie Tyler and Laura McNaughton, and increased stability in the makeup and membership of the executive board, the students will have the opportunity to take control of their government once more.
“It all starts with the organization,” Andrew Chapin, SGA president, said. “We have a really good crew at the top and hopefully it will trickle down.”
Chapin hopes to institute change at LSC while once again making the SGA the mouthpiece of the student body to the administration.
“We weren’t doing a very good job really representing the students to the administration which is our job,” he said.
Chapin showed optimism that increasing the voice of the SGA was possible due to new blood entering the academic equation through LSC newest students.
“We are in a good position to really work on it,” Chapin said. “We have very enthusiastic freshman which is great.”
In committing to change and producing results to student’s wants and needs Chapin is banking on that being the key to reinvigorating interest in SGA activities.
“If we can actually do something,” Chapin said. “If we can fix these little things that annoy them about the school, I think that they will see the power of the Student Government and we’ll see involvement.”
Apathy in SGA affairs is not a new thing to him and not something relegated to LSC Chapin commented while talking of a national SGA conference he attended this past summer.
“At the conference in Villanova there was an entire workshop on SGA apathy. It was one of the biggest workshops there,” Chapin said.
Special to the Critic
Change and civic commitment to government were words once used only in Washington and in speeches used by major party candidates but Student Government Association is changing that.
Prior to the reorganization of the student government infighting and large turnover rates led to numerous interventions in House and Senate affairs by the two RHD advisers, neither of which were elected.
This year with two new RHD advisors, Stephanie Tyler and Laura McNaughton, and increased stability in the makeup and membership of the executive board, the students will have the opportunity to take control of their government once more.
“It all starts with the organization,” Andrew Chapin, SGA president, said. “We have a really good crew at the top and hopefully it will trickle down.”
Chapin hopes to institute change at LSC while once again making the SGA the mouthpiece of the student body to the administration.
“We weren’t doing a very good job really representing the students to the administration which is our job,” he said.
Chapin showed optimism that increasing the voice of the SGA was possible due to new blood entering the academic equation through LSC newest students.
“We are in a good position to really work on it,” Chapin said. “We have very enthusiastic freshman which is great.”
In committing to change and producing results to student’s wants and needs Chapin is banking on that being the key to reinvigorating interest in SGA activities.
“If we can actually do something,” Chapin said. “If we can fix these little things that annoy them about the school, I think that they will see the power of the Student Government and we’ll see involvement.”
Apathy in SGA affairs is not a new thing to him and not something relegated to LSC Chapin commented while talking of a national SGA conference he attended this past summer.
“At the conference in Villanova there was an entire workshop on SGA apathy. It was one of the biggest workshops there,” Chapin said.
Cold weather food
Gwen Cook
Cooking Columnist
It’s that time of the year again. The days are getting shorter and the nights are bitterly cold.
It makes great weather for sleeping but it changes our food cravings. Warm food always seems to appeal to us because it heats us from the inside out. Hot drinks are great because you can bring them to class and keep your hands and fingers warm.
I know these recipes aren’t all microwave friendly this time around but college students are a creative bunch and I’m sure you’ll all find a way around that minor detail. Happy eating!
Broccoli and cheese soup
Ingredients-
2 cans of broccoli cheese soup
2 cups of milk
1 bag of frozen broccoli (steam in bag is best)
Procedure-
Empty contents of cans into a medium saucepan. Combine with milk. Prepare broccoli according to the directions on the back of the package. Combine with soup mixture. Cook over medium heat until hot.
Corn chowder
Ingredients-
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans of creamed corn
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 package of pre-cooked bacon
2 cups of milk
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedure-
In a saucepan, brown the onions in oil. Add the potatoes cook over low heat for a few minutes until they are slightly soft. Add the milk, corn, bacon, and salt and pepper. Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until hot.
Mint cocoa
Ingredients-
1 package of cocoa mix
2/3 cup of hot water
2 tbsp mint chocolates
Procedure-
Pour hot water into a cup. Add the mints and let them melt. Add the cocoa mix and stir. Top with whipped cream if desired. END
Cooking Columnist
It’s that time of the year again. The days are getting shorter and the nights are bitterly cold.
It makes great weather for sleeping but it changes our food cravings. Warm food always seems to appeal to us because it heats us from the inside out. Hot drinks are great because you can bring them to class and keep your hands and fingers warm.
I know these recipes aren’t all microwave friendly this time around but college students are a creative bunch and I’m sure you’ll all find a way around that minor detail. Happy eating!
Broccoli and cheese soup
Ingredients-
2 cans of broccoli cheese soup
2 cups of milk
1 bag of frozen broccoli (steam in bag is best)
Procedure-
Empty contents of cans into a medium saucepan. Combine with milk. Prepare broccoli according to the directions on the back of the package. Combine with soup mixture. Cook over medium heat until hot.
Corn chowder
Ingredients-
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans of creamed corn
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 package of pre-cooked bacon
2 cups of milk
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedure-
In a saucepan, brown the onions in oil. Add the potatoes cook over low heat for a few minutes until they are slightly soft. Add the milk, corn, bacon, and salt and pepper. Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until hot.
Mint cocoa
Ingredients-
1 package of cocoa mix
2/3 cup of hot water
2 tbsp mint chocolates
Procedure-
Pour hot water into a cup. Add the mints and let them melt. Add the cocoa mix and stir. Top with whipped cream if desired. END
A new revolution is needed
By James Beaulieu
Special to the Critic
Thomas Jefferson once said, “A little revolution every now and then is a good thing,” and when I look out over this campus I see that we need one. The government that is in place to help the students here, SGA, is not helping us the regular student at all. That when there is a student issue that needs to be addressed the SGA is unavailable to help us. That with there commitment to the club and the groups here on campus, and the common student gets over looked.
The thing is that the SGA is unavailable to the common student. They have there meetings with the club and students reps and no one really knows who they are. So how can we as a school community communicate with our government which has “us” in there mind.
Well it seems the only way I can think of is by doing this. Evoking my first amendment right and write about it. There are other ways we can get our message to the SGA. We need to stand up as a school and ask for change. The Declaration of Independence says “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
This means if we don’t like the way the SGA is being run then we need to get rid of and institute one that has a better connection to its students. The answer isn’t give it more power but to give it a new order and purpose, to make it what it should be. This is a student government; so let the students run it and have more say in it then the administration.
I know it is not all the SGAs’ fault; a lot of it falls on the students themselves. I hear people complaining about current polices here on campus. Well, if you don’t like them, or want change, you need to be open and express those feelings to the SGA. The way to change things is to stand up for what you believe in and not just to bow down and take it. If you don’t like what’s going on its your right as students and Americans to stand up and try to make a difference.
So maybe this could be a call for reform and revolution. Take it as you will. But I see that the SGA needs to be abolished and remade into the image of what the students need. One where the students have more voice and where CAB is no longer the focus of the SGA. With CAB out of the picture then we can have real issues that matter to the student body and not to one group or another. The meetings should be in a town hall style where the common student can come and express there thoughts, ideas, and grievances to the SGA without hesitation and fear of being turned away.
If you see what I see, and feel what I feel, then you need to speak up. That’s the message here. Speak up. If we speak up then change can happen and that’s what this school needs. I can no longer stand by and watch this student body lose its voice in the school. I am willing to stand up and fight for change here and now, the real question is which one of you will be willing to stand next to me and fight?
Special to the Critic
Thomas Jefferson once said, “A little revolution every now and then is a good thing,” and when I look out over this campus I see that we need one. The government that is in place to help the students here, SGA, is not helping us the regular student at all. That when there is a student issue that needs to be addressed the SGA is unavailable to help us. That with there commitment to the club and the groups here on campus, and the common student gets over looked.
The thing is that the SGA is unavailable to the common student. They have there meetings with the club and students reps and no one really knows who they are. So how can we as a school community communicate with our government which has “us” in there mind.
Well it seems the only way I can think of is by doing this. Evoking my first amendment right and write about it. There are other ways we can get our message to the SGA. We need to stand up as a school and ask for change. The Declaration of Independence says “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
This means if we don’t like the way the SGA is being run then we need to get rid of and institute one that has a better connection to its students. The answer isn’t give it more power but to give it a new order and purpose, to make it what it should be. This is a student government; so let the students run it and have more say in it then the administration.
I know it is not all the SGAs’ fault; a lot of it falls on the students themselves. I hear people complaining about current polices here on campus. Well, if you don’t like them, or want change, you need to be open and express those feelings to the SGA. The way to change things is to stand up for what you believe in and not just to bow down and take it. If you don’t like what’s going on its your right as students and Americans to stand up and try to make a difference.
So maybe this could be a call for reform and revolution. Take it as you will. But I see that the SGA needs to be abolished and remade into the image of what the students need. One where the students have more voice and where CAB is no longer the focus of the SGA. With CAB out of the picture then we can have real issues that matter to the student body and not to one group or another. The meetings should be in a town hall style where the common student can come and express there thoughts, ideas, and grievances to the SGA without hesitation and fear of being turned away.
If you see what I see, and feel what I feel, then you need to speak up. That’s the message here. Speak up. If we speak up then change can happen and that’s what this school needs. I can no longer stand by and watch this student body lose its voice in the school. I am willing to stand up and fight for change here and now, the real question is which one of you will be willing to stand next to me and fight?
Boys and girls sleeping together?
By Derika Downing
Critic Staff
The recent surplus of male students entering Lyndon State College this year has some LSC freshmen finding themselves in an unusual on-campus housing arrangement.
You may have heard that some freshmen have been living in co-ed suites, and you may have thought that this was just a rumor, but, as it turns out, it’s true—although it’s not really as dramatic or scandalous as it might sound.
“It was a big decision that we made last year,” Erin Rosetti, LSC’s Assistant Director of Residential Life and RHD at Rita Bole, said. “It was the first time it had been done. We considered the pros and cons. Students were informed directly of the situation. RAs spent time talking to them about the expectations of temporary housing assignment.”
Rosetti said this is the second year in a row that such arrangements have been made, due to the high male to female ratio of incoming LSC students. Some male students have to temporarily stay in suites that were originally intended for females, because there is an overabundance of male students and a dearth of females.
Rosetti emphasized that the co-ed suites (suites where male and female students live together) are “definitely a temporary situation.”
Rosetti said that LSC would “rather accommodate students on campus than have them stay at a hotel.” LSC is making efforts to set aside additional male housing, so that male students won’t have to stay in suites that were intended to be all-female. Rosetti said they “would have done something different this year,” but it’s difficult to find alternate housing situations.
They did change one traditionally female first-year suite to a male suite, so things are “pretty even now.” Some students are still on a waiting list for housing, but these are mostly students who did not take the opportunity to sign up for a room during housing selection at the end of last semester.
The students living in the co-ed suites have been handling the situation maturely.
“The biggest thing is respecting the use of the bathroom,” Rosetti said. The boys in the suite that was originally intended for girls have to use the private bathroom in the hall rather than the bathroom in the suite.
Critic Staff
The recent surplus of male students entering Lyndon State College this year has some LSC freshmen finding themselves in an unusual on-campus housing arrangement.
You may have heard that some freshmen have been living in co-ed suites, and you may have thought that this was just a rumor, but, as it turns out, it’s true—although it’s not really as dramatic or scandalous as it might sound.
“It was a big decision that we made last year,” Erin Rosetti, LSC’s Assistant Director of Residential Life and RHD at Rita Bole, said. “It was the first time it had been done. We considered the pros and cons. Students were informed directly of the situation. RAs spent time talking to them about the expectations of temporary housing assignment.”
Rosetti said this is the second year in a row that such arrangements have been made, due to the high male to female ratio of incoming LSC students. Some male students have to temporarily stay in suites that were originally intended for females, because there is an overabundance of male students and a dearth of females.
Rosetti emphasized that the co-ed suites (suites where male and female students live together) are “definitely a temporary situation.”
Rosetti said that LSC would “rather accommodate students on campus than have them stay at a hotel.” LSC is making efforts to set aside additional male housing, so that male students won’t have to stay in suites that were intended to be all-female. Rosetti said they “would have done something different this year,” but it’s difficult to find alternate housing situations.
They did change one traditionally female first-year suite to a male suite, so things are “pretty even now.” Some students are still on a waiting list for housing, but these are mostly students who did not take the opportunity to sign up for a room during housing selection at the end of last semester.
The students living in the co-ed suites have been handling the situation maturely.
“The biggest thing is respecting the use of the bathroom,” Rosetti said. The boys in the suite that was originally intended for girls have to use the private bathroom in the hall rather than the bathroom in the suite.
Wrong number?
By Rachel Keller
Critic Staff
Phone line mix-up causes confusion.
When the parents of Lyndon State freshman, Laura Lenfest, tried to reach their daughter by calling her campus telephone, the greeting they received surprised them.
It was not their daughter on the other end, nor was it her roommate; it was “some girl named Heather,” says Lenfest. Though Heather’s identity was never discovered, it was clear that there was something amok with the telephones.
As other instances in the Wheelock residence hall surfaced, Michael Dente, director of I.T. was notified, Wednesday, September 24, that phone lines had apparently been crossed.
What was the reason for this mix up? Last week, workers focused on phone lines in the Vail and Wheelock buildings, and when the dug-up materials had to be put back, roughly 1200 color-coded cords had to be matched with their corresponding colors. This had to be completed absolutely “perfectly” says Dente, in order for the job to be successful.
“In Vail, it was done just right” Dente said. “We had no reason to suspect otherwise in Wheelock. We figured it was correct.” Even if only a few cords were not matched correctly, it could have the side effects that the building had been experiencing.
Repairs began at 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, and the cord mix-up is expected to be resolved before the weekend.
Critic Staff
Phone line mix-up causes confusion.
When the parents of Lyndon State freshman, Laura Lenfest, tried to reach their daughter by calling her campus telephone, the greeting they received surprised them.
It was not their daughter on the other end, nor was it her roommate; it was “some girl named Heather,” says Lenfest. Though Heather’s identity was never discovered, it was clear that there was something amok with the telephones.
As other instances in the Wheelock residence hall surfaced, Michael Dente, director of I.T. was notified, Wednesday, September 24, that phone lines had apparently been crossed.
What was the reason for this mix up? Last week, workers focused on phone lines in the Vail and Wheelock buildings, and when the dug-up materials had to be put back, roughly 1200 color-coded cords had to be matched with their corresponding colors. This had to be completed absolutely “perfectly” says Dente, in order for the job to be successful.
“In Vail, it was done just right” Dente said. “We had no reason to suspect otherwise in Wheelock. We figured it was correct.” Even if only a few cords were not matched correctly, it could have the side effects that the building had been experiencing.
Repairs began at 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, and the cord mix-up is expected to be resolved before the weekend.
Young hornets are still learning to buzz
By Sam Monroe
Special to the Critic
The women's volleyball team at LSC still has some learning to do.
Inexperience once again poisoned the Lyndon State women’s volleyball team.
On Saturday the Hornets flew out to a 2-0 game lead over the Thomas College Terriers. However the Terriers would prove to be too much for the Hornets in the end, staking out a comeback and winning the match 3 games to 2.
In the first game the young Hornets would prove to be overpowering against the Terriers, winning the game 25-20. The Hornets would also dominate the second game winning it 25-19. Then with the score tied in third match at 12 all, the Terriers would begin to turn the tables their way. The Terriers would win the match 25-21 and then take the fourth match 25-20. It came down to one final match and then to one final serve. With the score 14-13 the Hornets had the match in their grasp, however it was not meant to be.
The Terriers would turn it around and complete the comeback. They would win the game 16-14, and the match 3 games to 2, and send the young slumping Hornets to a 2-8 record.
Freshman Amanda Laramee and Junior Morgan Reilly led the Hornets with four assists each. Sophomore Ally Ciaramitaro, junior Michelle Petty, and freshman Kayla Probst led the team with 6 digs (the passing of a spiked ball) each. Petty also led the team with 7 kills/spikes and had a block. Probst also had 6 kills/spikes and led the team in blocks with 2.
Special to the Critic
The women's volleyball team at LSC still has some learning to do.
Inexperience once again poisoned the Lyndon State women’s volleyball team.
On Saturday the Hornets flew out to a 2-0 game lead over the Thomas College Terriers. However the Terriers would prove to be too much for the Hornets in the end, staking out a comeback and winning the match 3 games to 2.
In the first game the young Hornets would prove to be overpowering against the Terriers, winning the game 25-20. The Hornets would also dominate the second game winning it 25-19. Then with the score tied in third match at 12 all, the Terriers would begin to turn the tables their way. The Terriers would win the match 25-21 and then take the fourth match 25-20. It came down to one final match and then to one final serve. With the score 14-13 the Hornets had the match in their grasp, however it was not meant to be.
The Terriers would turn it around and complete the comeback. They would win the game 16-14, and the match 3 games to 2, and send the young slumping Hornets to a 2-8 record.
Freshman Amanda Laramee and Junior Morgan Reilly led the Hornets with four assists each. Sophomore Ally Ciaramitaro, junior Michelle Petty, and freshman Kayla Probst led the team with 6 digs (the passing of a spiked ball) each. Petty also led the team with 7 kills/spikes and had a block. Probst also had 6 kills/spikes and led the team in blocks with 2.
Part-time faculty member makes dynamic entry
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Former LSC student becomes member of the faculty.
Lyndon State College welcomes John Shanks as one of 11 new part time faculty members.
John Shanks will be teaching one of the second half mini courses taught this semester on Olympic, and power lifting. Shanks is an exercise science major, and is also the president and founder of the Brazilian Jujitsu club at LSC.
“I’ve been studying Brazilian Jujitsu since my senior year of high school,” Shanks said.
Shanks is a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu under Roy Harris, and a green belt in Adaptive Combat Jujitsu.
The Brazilian Jujitsu club has been running since last spring, and is currently being held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays starting at 6 pm in the racquetball court.
“I was asked to teach this second half mini course by Anthony Sgherza,” Shanks said.
“The class is going to focus on Olympic and power lifts, the power lifts being squats, bench presses, and dead lifts,” Shanks said. “The Olympic lifts will be the snatch, clean and jerk, among others.”
Shanks said that this is his first real instructing position at LSC and he is excited about getting started. The course is worth 1 credit, and 19 students are currently enrolled in it.
“I’m very excited about teaching.” Shanks said. “I was originally going to study computers, but they were too frustrating, and lifting is something that I enjoy doing.
Shanks has competed in power lifting competitions as well as Brazilian Jujitsu competitions in the past, and was adamant about the Brazilian Jujitsu competition that he will be attending on the 1st of November.
“The competition is something that we’re trying to get the Brazilian Jujitsu class into,” Shanks said.
Shanks, now age 22, entered a power lifting competition when he was 19 and won 1st place in the teen 220 lbs division. He also won second place in a men’s open 242 lbs division with a 435 lbs bench press.
Along with his other qualifications, Shanks is also an apprentice level grappling instructor under Roy Harris.
Shanks is enjoying his Brazilian Jujitsu instructor’s position, and can’t wait to be officially teaching the Olympic and power lifting course.
“I once heard that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life,” Shanks said.
Critic Staff
Former LSC student becomes member of the faculty.
Lyndon State College welcomes John Shanks as one of 11 new part time faculty members.
John Shanks will be teaching one of the second half mini courses taught this semester on Olympic, and power lifting. Shanks is an exercise science major, and is also the president and founder of the Brazilian Jujitsu club at LSC.
“I’ve been studying Brazilian Jujitsu since my senior year of high school,” Shanks said.
Shanks is a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu under Roy Harris, and a green belt in Adaptive Combat Jujitsu.
The Brazilian Jujitsu club has been running since last spring, and is currently being held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays starting at 6 pm in the racquetball court.
“I was asked to teach this second half mini course by Anthony Sgherza,” Shanks said.
“The class is going to focus on Olympic and power lifts, the power lifts being squats, bench presses, and dead lifts,” Shanks said. “The Olympic lifts will be the snatch, clean and jerk, among others.”
Shanks said that this is his first real instructing position at LSC and he is excited about getting started. The course is worth 1 credit, and 19 students are currently enrolled in it.
“I’m very excited about teaching.” Shanks said. “I was originally going to study computers, but they were too frustrating, and lifting is something that I enjoy doing.
Shanks has competed in power lifting competitions as well as Brazilian Jujitsu competitions in the past, and was adamant about the Brazilian Jujitsu competition that he will be attending on the 1st of November.
“The competition is something that we’re trying to get the Brazilian Jujitsu class into,” Shanks said.
Shanks, now age 22, entered a power lifting competition when he was 19 and won 1st place in the teen 220 lbs division. He also won second place in a men’s open 242 lbs division with a 435 lbs bench press.
Along with his other qualifications, Shanks is also an apprentice level grappling instructor under Roy Harris.
Shanks is enjoying his Brazilian Jujitsu instructor’s position, and can’t wait to be officially teaching the Olympic and power lifting course.
“I once heard that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life,” Shanks said.
Lyndon State strikes again!
Aimee Lawton
Special to the Critic
Highlighting LSC's newest club.
There’s a new club at LSC that’s striking up a real buzz around campus!
At last Wednesday’s house meeting, the SGA approved the newest student run club on campus, the Lyndon Strikers. The idea for the Strikers came from President Michael Michaud, who thought it would be a good idea to start a club on campus for those students who like to bowl.
“A friend of mine and I love bowling and are always at the insomnia bowl nights, so we wanted to see if we could start a club to get to go [bowling] cheaper,” Michaud said. “We talked to the alley [to see] if they could work something out with us, and they did.”
Michaud started a group on Facebook for the club over the summer to see how much interest a bowling club would attract.
“A lot of people seemed interested, so we started to form it in to a club and here we are now,” Michaud said. His Facebook group currently has a member count of over 50.
The Lyndon Strikers meet Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. at Gold Crown Lanes in St. Johnsbury. Their first official meeting as a club was held last night, and proved to be a success as the alley began to fill up within the first 30 minutes of the meeting.
The bowling alley offers the Strikers discount game prices, along with free shoe rentals. As of right now, members also get to bowl their first games free courtesy of the club. If anyone is interested in learning more about the Lyndon Strikers, they are free to contact Michael Michaud at michael.michaud@lyndonstate.edu, and can be added to the club’s mailing list
So shine up those bowling shoes and get ready to roll. Head to Gold Crown Lanes on Wednesday nights, and check LSC’s newest club out for yourself. You’re sure to have a good time.
Special to the Critic
Highlighting LSC's newest club.
There’s a new club at LSC that’s striking up a real buzz around campus!
At last Wednesday’s house meeting, the SGA approved the newest student run club on campus, the Lyndon Strikers. The idea for the Strikers came from President Michael Michaud, who thought it would be a good idea to start a club on campus for those students who like to bowl.
“A friend of mine and I love bowling and are always at the insomnia bowl nights, so we wanted to see if we could start a club to get to go [bowling] cheaper,” Michaud said. “We talked to the alley [to see] if they could work something out with us, and they did.”
Michaud started a group on Facebook for the club over the summer to see how much interest a bowling club would attract.
“A lot of people seemed interested, so we started to form it in to a club and here we are now,” Michaud said. His Facebook group currently has a member count of over 50.
The Lyndon Strikers meet Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. at Gold Crown Lanes in St. Johnsbury. Their first official meeting as a club was held last night, and proved to be a success as the alley began to fill up within the first 30 minutes of the meeting.
The bowling alley offers the Strikers discount game prices, along with free shoe rentals. As of right now, members also get to bowl their first games free courtesy of the club. If anyone is interested in learning more about the Lyndon Strikers, they are free to contact Michael Michaud at michael.michaud@lyndonstate.edu, and can be added to the club’s mailing list
So shine up those bowling shoes and get ready to roll. Head to Gold Crown Lanes on Wednesday nights, and check LSC’s newest club out for yourself. You’re sure to have a good time.
Deficit woes continue to grow
By Ben Holbrook
Critic Editor
Lyndon State College continues to face budget challenges due to a loss of state appropriations.
At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, LSC was attempting to balance a budget that was in the red between $500,000 and $1 million. Fortunately, the school was able to balance the budget only to have the state take back about $200,000 of the state appropriations that each Vermont school receives, Wayne Hamilton, Dean of administration, said.
LSC has to eliminate only about $100,000 from the budget in order to have everything be balanced. One of the biggest challenges with cutting money from the budget is to, “focus primarily on areas that least impact student services,” President Carol Moore said. The choice to eliminate a position in the library was made based on this strategy since it would impact the students the least, Moore said.
The decision to cut the library position was a strategic decision because, “rather than across the board cuts we used strategic cuts because across the board cuts never pay off,” Moore said.
Eliminating the library position saves the school $34,000 but other cuts were also necessary in order to balance the budget. Those cuts included some temporary custodial positions and equipment cuts.
Moore said staff and faculty had asked why the school couldn’t stop the construction project in order to use that money to balance the budget. The school cannot use the bond money for anything besides the building and renovations Moore said. This is because additional student fees pay for the bond.
Faculty and staff members reacted strongly to eliminating a position and offered ideas for other alternatives such as giving up salary increases. However, Moore said all salary increases are contractual and therefore, employees cannot voluntarily give them up. Patricia Shine, Professor of Psychology, spoke out against the position cut, “it is a nightmare up here to lose your job,” she said.
Making personnel cuts is never easy but it was necessary in order to come up with the $100,000, Moore said. “Anybody is welcome to look at the budget but ultimately the decision is the dean’s and mine,” Moore said. Even with the current deficit relieved, the problems may not be over for LSC. In November, LSC may again be asked to come up with more money, which could result in more cuts, Moore said. If it becomes necessary to once again make cuts in November then, “we have not targeted any positions, we will wait and see what happens,” Moore said.
The employee who was laid off from the library will receive severance pay, and will get help with being relocated, Moore said.
Recruitment and retention have always been important to the growth of LSC and this year retention rates were higher than in previous years, although recruitment was down, Hamilton said however, Castleton and Johnson are both having record enrollment years.
Not all is bad news though for LSC because Project Compass will put into place nine different student success interventions to help needy students, Moore said.
The meeting concluded with Moore calling on faculty and staff to, “Focus on the good things going on at Lyndon and at our students being successful.”
Critic Editor
Lyndon State College continues to face budget challenges due to a loss of state appropriations.
At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, LSC was attempting to balance a budget that was in the red between $500,000 and $1 million. Fortunately, the school was able to balance the budget only to have the state take back about $200,000 of the state appropriations that each Vermont school receives, Wayne Hamilton, Dean of administration, said.
LSC has to eliminate only about $100,000 from the budget in order to have everything be balanced. One of the biggest challenges with cutting money from the budget is to, “focus primarily on areas that least impact student services,” President Carol Moore said. The choice to eliminate a position in the library was made based on this strategy since it would impact the students the least, Moore said.
The decision to cut the library position was a strategic decision because, “rather than across the board cuts we used strategic cuts because across the board cuts never pay off,” Moore said.
Eliminating the library position saves the school $34,000 but other cuts were also necessary in order to balance the budget. Those cuts included some temporary custodial positions and equipment cuts.
Moore said staff and faculty had asked why the school couldn’t stop the construction project in order to use that money to balance the budget. The school cannot use the bond money for anything besides the building and renovations Moore said. This is because additional student fees pay for the bond.
Faculty and staff members reacted strongly to eliminating a position and offered ideas for other alternatives such as giving up salary increases. However, Moore said all salary increases are contractual and therefore, employees cannot voluntarily give them up. Patricia Shine, Professor of Psychology, spoke out against the position cut, “it is a nightmare up here to lose your job,” she said.
Making personnel cuts is never easy but it was necessary in order to come up with the $100,000, Moore said. “Anybody is welcome to look at the budget but ultimately the decision is the dean’s and mine,” Moore said. Even with the current deficit relieved, the problems may not be over for LSC. In November, LSC may again be asked to come up with more money, which could result in more cuts, Moore said. If it becomes necessary to once again make cuts in November then, “we have not targeted any positions, we will wait and see what happens,” Moore said.
The employee who was laid off from the library will receive severance pay, and will get help with being relocated, Moore said.
Recruitment and retention have always been important to the growth of LSC and this year retention rates were higher than in previous years, although recruitment was down, Hamilton said however, Castleton and Johnson are both having record enrollment years.
Not all is bad news though for LSC because Project Compass will put into place nine different student success interventions to help needy students, Moore said.
The meeting concluded with Moore calling on faculty and staff to, “Focus on the good things going on at Lyndon and at our students being successful.”
Thursday, September 18, 2008
LSC Volleyball
By Jack Carney
Critic Staff
Even with a 2-6 record, hopes are high for LSC's volleyball team.
Of the ten woman roster for LSC's volleyball, only three have played before. Of those three there are only two players returning from last year’s team. The girls are currently 2-6 in the regular season but the Lady Hornets women's volleyball head coach Sean Fisher says the important thing for the team right now is to keep their head up and stay positive.
"I think down the road we can compete but right now, because of lack of experience, we have issues," Fisher said. "I think we can gain something from every loss. We can learn something and hopefully become a better team."
Because of the girls’ lack of experience as a team many of the girls said communication was a big factor impacting their current record. But Morgan Reilly, a junior, said that she believes the chemistry will come in due time.
"We go into communication breakdown and then we’re too late to do anything about it," Reilly said. "And by the time we do start clicking, and are getting motivated, we’re too far behind and it’s too late."
Fellow teammate and Junior Michelle Petty agreed with Reilly, but also added that there has been a big change with the new freshmen on the team. Petty said that fixing chemistry is priority number one right now.
"Getting a whole lot of new freshman on the team, we really don't know what to expect this season. I think we’ll just take it game by game. And as far as the winning goes it’s a work in progress.”
Fisher says that right now he is happy with the way things are going and said he knew it would be a rough start. But Fisher says he knows by the end of the season, the girls will be able to play with most teams.
"We have a young team," Fisher said. "And if they can stay here another four years, they'll have a chance to be really good."
Critic Staff
Even with a 2-6 record, hopes are high for LSC's volleyball team.
Of the ten woman roster for LSC's volleyball, only three have played before. Of those three there are only two players returning from last year’s team. The girls are currently 2-6 in the regular season but the Lady Hornets women's volleyball head coach Sean Fisher says the important thing for the team right now is to keep their head up and stay positive.
"I think down the road we can compete but right now, because of lack of experience, we have issues," Fisher said. "I think we can gain something from every loss. We can learn something and hopefully become a better team."
Because of the girls’ lack of experience as a team many of the girls said communication was a big factor impacting their current record. But Morgan Reilly, a junior, said that she believes the chemistry will come in due time.
"We go into communication breakdown and then we’re too late to do anything about it," Reilly said. "And by the time we do start clicking, and are getting motivated, we’re too far behind and it’s too late."
Fellow teammate and Junior Michelle Petty agreed with Reilly, but also added that there has been a big change with the new freshmen on the team. Petty said that fixing chemistry is priority number one right now.
"Getting a whole lot of new freshman on the team, we really don't know what to expect this season. I think we’ll just take it game by game. And as far as the winning goes it’s a work in progress.”
Fisher says that right now he is happy with the way things are going and said he knew it would be a rough start. But Fisher says he knows by the end of the season, the girls will be able to play with most teams.
"We have a young team," Fisher said. "And if they can stay here another four years, they'll have a chance to be really good."
Lyndon wins over Mitchell
By Jack Carney
Critic Staff
LSC emerges victorious in the overtime.
With five minutes left in the game, many of the fans still cheered on the Hornets as time wound down. The men were down 1-0 when, with 5:06 on the clock, senior Kyle Hessler crossed the ball to Phil Curll, who headed the ball into the back of the net to tie up the game 1-1. Men’s head soccer coach Pete Kellaway said he believed in his team and knew they could win as long as they kept their composure.
"They were staying patient, never let panic set in and never lost control," Kellaway said. "Our whole game is about control and we continued to move the ball well down the field.”
With the game tied the Hornets would take the game to overtime. Earlier in the season the men’s first game went into overtime, ending in a 1-0 loss. But this time around the Hornets would come out victorious. Hessler once again set up another ball that ricocheted off the cross bar to the feet of Junior Darren Roberge who punched it into the back of net giving the Hornets their third win of the season.
Tomorrow is the men’s North Atlantic Conference (NAC) opener vs. Castleton, the same team who won the NAC last year. But Kellaway said he won't let his team slide away from the things he believes this team can accomplish this season.
"We had a goal from day one and that goal was to do as well as we could to win the NAC," Kellaway said. "We feel real comfortable with our center fielders Kyle Hessler, Matt Scagnelli and Chris Cowan. Those three guys have been playing together for four years and they can play with anyone on the field."
But Kellaway went on to say it’s not just the seniors’ compatibility.
"I think one of the things I like about our team is everyone is in it for the team," Kellaway said. "This is about as close to a family as you can get. They truly enjoy each other, and they will do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal. Because that’s what this is, this is a team."
Photo by S.C. Lury
Girls' soccer
By Jack Carney
Critic Staff
Lady Hornets' soccer pick up the slack on slow season.
After losing the first two games to start the regular season, the Lady Hornets’ women's soccer team is now on a three game win streak heading into the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) opener vs Castleton tomorrow. Women's head coach Jim Davis said the first two games were tough with all the new faces.
"We spent the first week finding players. At the start of the year we only had nine girls, and now we have 17," Davis said. "I have ten freshmen that are new to this team and the school. So I think those first two games were just us getting the jitters out. But we have a great group of girls that work together and are focusing to be a better team."
Kathy Kline has scored three of the Hornets’ five goals in the last two games. Kline says she sees that her team is starting to focus and get better overall as a team.
"I think it’s because we became close as a team," Kline said. "Our game has progressed so much over the past few games. If we play the way I know we are capable of, I know we can win."
Davis said going from 0-2 to 3-2 has made a big psychological difference. Since going on the three game win streak the girls have scored 12 goals and have only allowed four. Davis says this is because the girls are finally moving into a progressive sequence.
"We can definitely score, but I think if we can tighten up on defense, we can beat any team," Davis said. "That’s what wins games is defense and if we can do that we will be a solid team. If we can do that we have got a good shot at beating teams and winning the NAC this year."
After their first five games, the Lady Hornets currently are ranked second in preseason NAC rankings in women’s soccer. Kline went on to say she and her teammates have big plans for this team and their season to come.
"I think I want to win the NAC conference," Kline said. "We can beat any team we go up against. We're 3-2 right now but by the end of the season I want us to be the winners overall."
Photo by S.C. Lury
There’s Water in Them Thar Halls
By Sebastion Lury
Special to the Critic
New sprinklers in Arnold and Bayley residence halls increase safety of the buildings.
The Arnold and Bayley Residence Halls received new sprinkler systems over the summer.
The sprinkler systems were set in place due to other construction in the buildings. Resident Hall Director for Arnold-Bayley, Laura McNaughton, says that when additional construction was done to the halls, the fireproofing needed to be updated, hence the new sprinkler systems.
“It’s going to save lives,” McNaughton said. Due to time constraints, Arnold and Bayley were the only two dorms to receive the construction. However, that is likely to change over the course of time. McNaughton says that the goal is to eventually “put them in all the buildings in Stonehenge.” This is a promising idea, as the sprinklers offer better protection.
A popular rumor about the sprinkler system is that if one goes off, they all go off. However, Tom Archer, Director of Physical Plant, has set the record straight.
“In response to the question of a sprinkler head going off: it is just that one head discharging water,” Archer said. “The heads are set off by temperature or if someone physically damages them.”
There are still hazards involved. Because they can be set off by physical damage, it is strongly recommended that no one hang anything, including one’s self, from the sprinkler head or pipes.
This suggestion is for the safety of all. McNaughton warns that if you set one or more off, even by accident, the consequences could be severe.
“They’ll destroy people’s property,” McNaughton said. She also warns that possible punishments could include eviction, lawsuits (from the college, fellow students, or both), and also expulsion in extreme cases.
All in all, the residents in Arnold and Bayley should be grateful for the sprinkler systems and feel safer because of them. Residents should heed McNaughton’s advice: “Be responsible.”
Photo by Brian Howe
Strokanov on the Georgian conflict
By Steve Cormier
Special to the Critic
LSC history professor claims that American media is portraying the Georgia-South Ossetia war with bias.
Georgia was making trouble
War, with its division of truth and display of human misunderstanding, is what drove Alexandre Strokanov and an audience of students, faculty and community members into the Alexander Twilight Theatre.
With last month’s Georgia-South Ossetia War as his muse, the professor of history at Lyndon State College stood center stage to explain the misconceptions of the conflict that took the world by surprise last month.
“When I asked at the beginning questions about what do you know about this, not so many of them were greatly enlightened about the event,” Strokanov said of his audience.
His presentation, part lecture and part slide show, was Strokanov’s answer to what he perceived as a bias in reporting and opinion in the United States.
With a brief history of military activity in the region Strokanov impressed upon those in attendance that blame for the aggression laid with the Georgian government. Meanwhile he questioned conflicting images that the US government and mass media had been showing since hostilities began.
Images of gutted hospitals, bombed-out libraries and universities reduced to rubble in South Ossetia were featured in the power-point presentation projected onstage. An Internet video, recorded by advancing Georgian soldiers, showed the deliberate targeting of residential buildings with no military resistance.
Addressing questions pertaining to Russian activity, Strokanov said that Russian and Georgian forces were equal in size, despite reports to the contrary, which he stated were Pentagon lies. He also said that Russian forces would withdraw from Georgian territory by October (though not from South Ossetia).
Georgian civilian casualties, Strokanov said, were between 10 and 20, caused mostly by mistakes made by Russian long-range bombers though reports indicate Russian aircraft dropping Cluster bombs over Gori, Georgia, which break apart randomly over large areas of land. Civilian deaths in South Ossetia that have been attributed to Georgian military activity number around 1,500.
Washington and the American mass media have largely portrayed the conflict as an aggressive move on the part of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev whose internal Russian approval ratings have gone up since the beginning of the conflict Strokanov said. The American government believes any dispute in South Ossetia concerning Georgian activities is an internal matter.
Strokanov, seeing a balancing out of reporting occurring in Europe now concerning the events ponders the perceived bias in the United States once again. “I hope it will happen here too and some other points of views will be presented in the American media but I don’t know. Will it happen, when is it going to happen, that’s why I did this now,” Strokanov said.
Special to the Critic
LSC history professor claims that American media is portraying the Georgia-South Ossetia war with bias.
Georgia was making trouble
War, with its division of truth and display of human misunderstanding, is what drove Alexandre Strokanov and an audience of students, faculty and community members into the Alexander Twilight Theatre.
With last month’s Georgia-South Ossetia War as his muse, the professor of history at Lyndon State College stood center stage to explain the misconceptions of the conflict that took the world by surprise last month.
“When I asked at the beginning questions about what do you know about this, not so many of them were greatly enlightened about the event,” Strokanov said of his audience.
His presentation, part lecture and part slide show, was Strokanov’s answer to what he perceived as a bias in reporting and opinion in the United States.
With a brief history of military activity in the region Strokanov impressed upon those in attendance that blame for the aggression laid with the Georgian government. Meanwhile he questioned conflicting images that the US government and mass media had been showing since hostilities began.
Images of gutted hospitals, bombed-out libraries and universities reduced to rubble in South Ossetia were featured in the power-point presentation projected onstage. An Internet video, recorded by advancing Georgian soldiers, showed the deliberate targeting of residential buildings with no military resistance.
Addressing questions pertaining to Russian activity, Strokanov said that Russian and Georgian forces were equal in size, despite reports to the contrary, which he stated were Pentagon lies. He also said that Russian forces would withdraw from Georgian territory by October (though not from South Ossetia).
Georgian civilian casualties, Strokanov said, were between 10 and 20, caused mostly by mistakes made by Russian long-range bombers though reports indicate Russian aircraft dropping Cluster bombs over Gori, Georgia, which break apart randomly over large areas of land. Civilian deaths in South Ossetia that have been attributed to Georgian military activity number around 1,500.
Washington and the American mass media have largely portrayed the conflict as an aggressive move on the part of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev whose internal Russian approval ratings have gone up since the beginning of the conflict Strokanov said. The American government believes any dispute in South Ossetia concerning Georgian activities is an internal matter.
Strokanov, seeing a balancing out of reporting occurring in Europe now concerning the events ponders the perceived bias in the United States once again. “I hope it will happen here too and some other points of views will be presented in the American media but I don’t know. Will it happen, when is it going to happen, that’s why I did this now,” Strokanov said.
Intramural Sports
By Sebastion Lury
Special to the Critic
Busy LSC students look to intramural sports to satisfy their hunger to hit the field.
The sweat forms over her brow as the clock wanes far too slow yet all too fast from 5.2 seconds to 0. She sees a lane, maneuvers the ball from her left hand to her right. She makes her move. Everyone in the gym holds their breath and awaits the result.
Sounds like a good game between the Lyndon State Lady Hornets and a school of your choice, right? Wrong. This is a friendly game between two Lyndon State teams, but it’s not a scrimmage. It’s an intramural match-up. The two teams competing in this hypothetical game are consisted of classmates, suite mates, roommates, and friends.
Despite keeping a record of wins and losses, the game is not entirely about winning it all, though that is a factor. Rather it is about sportsmanship and the spirit of competition. These teams may include players on the school teams but more likely the players are young men and women whom are unable to compete on the school team (for a myriad of reasons) but still love the game as much as the next person.
“Why…not?” said Dane Martin, captain of the Hitmen flag-football team and member of the Domination Nation softball team when asked why he plays intramural sports . He said they give him a chance to “show off my mad skills.” Martin says “I don’t have time,” for school sports and that intramural sports fit into his schedule more conveniently.
There are more intramural sports than just women’s basketball. There is also flag-football, coed softball, and floor hockey, just to name a few.
To participate in intramural sports, visit the office of Sue Henry, director of Intramural Sports, in the Activities Building.
Special to the Critic
Busy LSC students look to intramural sports to satisfy their hunger to hit the field.
The sweat forms over her brow as the clock wanes far too slow yet all too fast from 5.2 seconds to 0. She sees a lane, maneuvers the ball from her left hand to her right. She makes her move. Everyone in the gym holds their breath and awaits the result.
Sounds like a good game between the Lyndon State Lady Hornets and a school of your choice, right? Wrong. This is a friendly game between two Lyndon State teams, but it’s not a scrimmage. It’s an intramural match-up. The two teams competing in this hypothetical game are consisted of classmates, suite mates, roommates, and friends.
Despite keeping a record of wins and losses, the game is not entirely about winning it all, though that is a factor. Rather it is about sportsmanship and the spirit of competition. These teams may include players on the school teams but more likely the players are young men and women whom are unable to compete on the school team (for a myriad of reasons) but still love the game as much as the next person.
“Why…not?” said Dane Martin, captain of the Hitmen flag-football team and member of the Domination Nation softball team when asked why he plays intramural sports . He said they give him a chance to “show off my mad skills.” Martin says “I don’t have time,” for school sports and that intramural sports fit into his schedule more conveniently.
There are more intramural sports than just women’s basketball. There is also flag-football, coed softball, and floor hockey, just to name a few.
To participate in intramural sports, visit the office of Sue Henry, director of Intramural Sports, in the Activities Building.
No home for LSC x-country
By Sam Monroe
Special to the Critic
Without a single home meet, X-country athletes at Lyndon State College will have to travel away.
LSC Cross Country is running away.
Running away is the only type of running the Lyndon State College men’s and women’s cross country teams will be doing this season, as they do not have single home meet.
“It is just the nature of the sport,” Athletic Director and cross-country coach Chris Ummer said. Not every team has home meets every season; this is much to do with the amount of teams in the league, and the rotating schedule of the leagues championship meet. Most teams will want to run on the course that the championship is on at least once that season so they can prepare themselves for the course.
Ummer also said that there is a lot of “sweat and sometimes blood” that goes into preparing the course for a race. The entire course has to be raked of any leaves or branches that may have fallen and all other hazards that may cause any of the athletes to slip or possibly get injured.
The school’s cross-country course is deep in the woods and the construction has nothing to do with the scheduling.
“I would have loved to have them race here and give Lyndsay (Calkins) a chance to break the course record, but it just didn’t work out,” Ummer said. Ummer went on to say that both the men’s and women’s teams are looking good and should be exciting to watch this season. Unfortunately the Hornets will not get a chance to run in front of their hometown fans this year but expect them to be running through the Lyndon campus sometime in the near future.
Special to the Critic
Without a single home meet, X-country athletes at Lyndon State College will have to travel away.
LSC Cross Country is running away.
Running away is the only type of running the Lyndon State College men’s and women’s cross country teams will be doing this season, as they do not have single home meet.
“It is just the nature of the sport,” Athletic Director and cross-country coach Chris Ummer said. Not every team has home meets every season; this is much to do with the amount of teams in the league, and the rotating schedule of the leagues championship meet. Most teams will want to run on the course that the championship is on at least once that season so they can prepare themselves for the course.
Ummer also said that there is a lot of “sweat and sometimes blood” that goes into preparing the course for a race. The entire course has to be raked of any leaves or branches that may have fallen and all other hazards that may cause any of the athletes to slip or possibly get injured.
The school’s cross-country course is deep in the woods and the construction has nothing to do with the scheduling.
“I would have loved to have them race here and give Lyndsay (Calkins) a chance to break the course record, but it just didn’t work out,” Ummer said. Ummer went on to say that both the men’s and women’s teams are looking good and should be exciting to watch this season. Unfortunately the Hornets will not get a chance to run in front of their hometown fans this year but expect them to be running through the Lyndon campus sometime in the near future.
Where's the light?
By Eric Downing
Critic Staff
LED lights to come to Vail parking lot
Lyndon State College says, “Let there be light.”
Students who go out to the Vail Parking lot in the next week might look up and wonder where the new lights they were promised are.
Director of Maintenance Tom Archer said that the new LED lights for the Vail Parking lot were scheduled to come in last week. Unfortunately, due to a factory mix-up, LSC was sent the wrong size arms for the fixtures, which had to be sent back.
The LED lights are to replace the high pressure sodium bulbs that were removed from the Vail parking lot before the fall semester began. Currently, the lot is lit at night by two construction light towers. Archer said that the 500 watt bulbs are safe enough in the mean time, but that the he's “psyched” that the new lights should be arriving shortly.
The 20 new light fixtures will require 53 percent less energy to run, according to the manufacturer. The light bulbs also have a lifespan of around 20 years and are virtually indestructible. “So you're not buying new bulbs all the time,” Archer said.
Another difference is that the lights provide white light, as opposed to the orange haze high pressure sodium produces. “The town of Lyndonville will like us a lot better,” Archer said. The lights are even effective in the low temperatures in the area. “They actually work better the colder it is,” Archer said.
Although the lights will only go to the Vail parking lot right now, Archer said that he looks forward to getting the rest of the lamps changed in the future. This might not, however, happen until after next year. One of the reasons for the delay is that there are plans to expand the Stonehenge parking lot.
“The plan is to keep moving,” Archer said.
Critic Staff
LED lights to come to Vail parking lot
Lyndon State College says, “Let there be light.”
Students who go out to the Vail Parking lot in the next week might look up and wonder where the new lights they were promised are.
Director of Maintenance Tom Archer said that the new LED lights for the Vail Parking lot were scheduled to come in last week. Unfortunately, due to a factory mix-up, LSC was sent the wrong size arms for the fixtures, which had to be sent back.
The LED lights are to replace the high pressure sodium bulbs that were removed from the Vail parking lot before the fall semester began. Currently, the lot is lit at night by two construction light towers. Archer said that the 500 watt bulbs are safe enough in the mean time, but that the he's “psyched” that the new lights should be arriving shortly.
The 20 new light fixtures will require 53 percent less energy to run, according to the manufacturer. The light bulbs also have a lifespan of around 20 years and are virtually indestructible. “So you're not buying new bulbs all the time,” Archer said.
Another difference is that the lights provide white light, as opposed to the orange haze high pressure sodium produces. “The town of Lyndonville will like us a lot better,” Archer said. The lights are even effective in the low temperatures in the area. “They actually work better the colder it is,” Archer said.
Although the lights will only go to the Vail parking lot right now, Archer said that he looks forward to getting the rest of the lamps changed in the future. This might not, however, happen until after next year. One of the reasons for the delay is that there are plans to expand the Stonehenge parking lot.
“The plan is to keep moving,” Archer said.
Building Update
By Heather Poginy
Critic Staff
Work continues on the new building in front of Vail Hall
Construction of the new academic and student activities building is well on its way at Lyndon State College.
Started this summer after the Vail parking lot was repaved, the building is expected to be finished after one year. It will house the Exercise Science, Meteorology, and Business departments, which will allow other programs to expand into the existing buildings. Also, according to President Carol Moore, there will be “a multipurpose Student Activities room that can host presentations, poetry readings, and club activities; anything really.”
With the start of the new school year came the very first stages of the building’s construction. Within the first week of school, many students, faculty members and staff were asked to move, for safety precautions, from the side of Vail closest to the parking lot while the construction workers blasted rock out of their way for digging.
Over the summer, there were many renovations put into effect in the residence halls in Stonehenge. These renovations included new floor tiles and new windows in Arnold & Bayley. According to Moore, the remaining windows in the Stonehenge residence halls will be changed this upcoming Winter Break.
Across from the Stonehenge parking lot, the rugby field was also improved over the summer. It was leveled and reseeded to meet regulation standards and official play. Another field was also added for intramural sports hosted by Lyndon State.
Many students across campus question the way the school is gaining the money for this building Many students believe this added money is for the addition of the building. President Moore explains that the school’s deficit has nothing to do with the building. “The money we have for the building we attained through bonds last year,” Moore said.
Moore also commented about the improvements on Lyndon’s horizon. “We’ve had a good start this year. The college is outlined to grow modestly and enhance academic programs as well as student activities.”
Too much noise!
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Noise from the construction has some impact on classes at Lyndon State College.
The sounds of blasting sirens and heavy machinery have become a part of every day life for students, faculty and staff here at Lyndon State College.
"I wish that they had started the whole process early enough so that a delay in permitting wouldn't have meant that they were starting this kind of construction just when classes begin, because it is very disruptive,” Richard Moye, professor of Literature and Cultural Studies, said.
Construction would have been started earlier if not for delays in the acquiring of permits, Wayne T. Hamilton, Dean of Administration, said. Construction is scheduled to continue up until August of 2009.
The construction zone is located directly in front of the Vail Hall building where quite a few classes are held during the day. The noise from this construction occurs regularly from early in the morning up until late afternoon is when the bulk of classes in Vail are held.
“I teach a couple of courses in Vail 451, and the noise has seriously disturbed concentration for me and the students,” Moye said. “I'm pretty sure that at least one class has been a complete waste.”
Concentration when the noisiest parts of the construction are going on is a serious issue for students and professors alike. With the majority of the blasting complete, students can expect less noise, however, there is still drilling to be done and a little more blasting can be expected in the future.
"I hope it doesn't really affect my ability, but it does affect my effectiveness,” Moye said. “The construction makes teaching and learning more difficult, but there is really no alternative.
“We'll just have to do the best we can,” Moye said. “I also have to say I'm less concerned about the impact on teaching than I am about the impact for student concentration and focus both in and out of the classroom.”
With the noisiest parts of the construction soon to be over with, students can expect an easier time trying to concentrate, but there will undoubtedly be other forms of noisy construction going on before the project is completed.
“With a project like this, some disruption is unavoidable, but everyone involved is trying to minimize the impact on the campus.” Hamilton said. “I hope that the end result of better facilities for our faculty and students will make the interruptions seem worthwhile.”
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Norling joins faculty line-up
Blurb: Meet new recreation professor Jonathan Norling.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Adventure is in the air for Recreation majors, and any students taking Recreation courses, with the recent addition of Jonathan “JC” Norling, who will be teaching in Lyndon State College’s Adventure-based program management field.
“The focus on adventure was why I applied at LSC, for a field based experience,” Norling said.
Norling is one of eight full time faculty members to join Lyndon State College this semester, and he is taking the time to get to know the students as well as the faculty.
As many students here at LSC are well aware, the campus has a fairly close nit community, co-mingling of Professors from different fields is not unheard of, and Norling can often be spotted chatting with Professors and students in the halls.
“I love it here at LSC, it’s so different,” Norling said. “I was in the Rec. Department at Utah State, and here everything is closer.”
“The access for students and faculty is closer [at LSC], at Utah State, most people hung out in their own silos, and associating with professors from other fields was practically unheard of,” Norling said.
LSC has a wide variety of Recreation activities and each teacher in the rec. department offers something different to the students.
“I can bring research as well as a field based experience to the Rec. Program that I don’t think has been here before, I can also adapt easily because I am used to my settings changing,” Norling said.
Norling holds many certifications, and is a part of the W.E.A., Wilderness Education Association. Norling has studied Physical Education, and Wilderness Education. He is focused on bringing a field based perspective to the students at LSC.
“There is a spiritual side to being outdoors,” Norling said. “Time takes on a different dimension when you spend weeks in the field.”
“You get to know people better when you spend a lot of time with them,” Norling said about recreation expeditions.
There are many scientific aspects to the Recreational Fields of study, and JC Norling has delved into many of them.
Norling has spent time teaching in the Department of Health as well as Physical Education at Utah State University.
“I’ve done research on exercise science and neuro-psycology, and I see Adventure Education as interconnected with these things,” Norling said.
JC Norling moved here this summer with his wife and two children to join LSC’s faculty.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Josiah Stewart
Critic Staff
Adventure is in the air for Recreation majors, and any students taking Recreation courses, with the recent addition of Jonathan “JC” Norling, who will be teaching in Lyndon State College’s Adventure-based program management field.
“The focus on adventure was why I applied at LSC, for a field based experience,” Norling said.
Norling is one of eight full time faculty members to join Lyndon State College this semester, and he is taking the time to get to know the students as well as the faculty.
As many students here at LSC are well aware, the campus has a fairly close nit community, co-mingling of Professors from different fields is not unheard of, and Norling can often be spotted chatting with Professors and students in the halls.
“I love it here at LSC, it’s so different,” Norling said. “I was in the Rec. Department at Utah State, and here everything is closer.”
“The access for students and faculty is closer [at LSC], at Utah State, most people hung out in their own silos, and associating with professors from other fields was practically unheard of,” Norling said.
LSC has a wide variety of Recreation activities and each teacher in the rec. department offers something different to the students.
“I can bring research as well as a field based experience to the Rec. Program that I don’t think has been here before, I can also adapt easily because I am used to my settings changing,” Norling said.
Norling holds many certifications, and is a part of the W.E.A., Wilderness Education Association. Norling has studied Physical Education, and Wilderness Education. He is focused on bringing a field based perspective to the students at LSC.
“There is a spiritual side to being outdoors,” Norling said. “Time takes on a different dimension when you spend weeks in the field.”
“You get to know people better when you spend a lot of time with them,” Norling said about recreation expeditions.
There are many scientific aspects to the Recreational Fields of study, and JC Norling has delved into many of them.
Norling has spent time teaching in the Department of Health as well as Physical Education at Utah State University.
“I’ve done research on exercise science and neuro-psycology, and I see Adventure Education as interconnected with these things,” Norling said.
JC Norling moved here this summer with his wife and two children to join LSC’s faculty.
New teacher in the department of TVS
Blurb: Meet Assistant Professor Meaghan Meachem, department of Television Studies
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Steve Cormier
Critic Staff
Meaghan Meachem will be the first to tell you that this is the last place she expected to be.
Meachem’s office, located above the News 7 studios here at Lyndon State College, belie the makings of a person not long for its space, with empty walls and even emptier shelves. But the closet-like workspace of this new and youthful Assistant Professor in the department of Television Studies is not her arena of choice, nor does it accurately show just how excited she is to be back.
“Even though it’s been 5 years it sort of feels like I never left,” Meachem said. “Things don’t change very much around here.”
Meachem is a 2003 graduate of the very department for which she now finds herself working in. A colleague now, she heartily admits that she has not forgotten her time here.
And that is what excites her about being back at Lyndon. The television studies department and the News 7 team are so engrained in the school and community, with 9,000 viewing homes in northeast Vermont and northwestern New Hampshire, it is important to Meachem that students are getting a hands-on approach to learning.
“[The students] go out every day and do stories in the community just like every other news station would and so they’re immersed in and amongst that community all the time,” Meachem said.
Before joining the faculty here at Lyndon State College this year Meachem completed her master’s degree work in television and technology at Marlboro College in Marlboro, VT. She has taught at the Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT and has worked in the private sphere for Greater Northshire Access Television doing photography and field production and for News 10 Now in Syracuse, NY, which is owned by the Time Warner Cable Company.
Having those opportunities and work experience, along with her time here at Lyndon as a student, makes Meachem a resource for her new students. “To bring the experiences I have in a studio production environment to the classroom makes it much more tangible,” she says, “and kind of fun because it makes me more real too.”
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Steve Cormier
Critic Staff
Meaghan Meachem will be the first to tell you that this is the last place she expected to be.
Meachem’s office, located above the News 7 studios here at Lyndon State College, belie the makings of a person not long for its space, with empty walls and even emptier shelves. But the closet-like workspace of this new and youthful Assistant Professor in the department of Television Studies is not her arena of choice, nor does it accurately show just how excited she is to be back.
“Even though it’s been 5 years it sort of feels like I never left,” Meachem said. “Things don’t change very much around here.”
Meachem is a 2003 graduate of the very department for which she now finds herself working in. A colleague now, she heartily admits that she has not forgotten her time here.
And that is what excites her about being back at Lyndon. The television studies department and the News 7 team are so engrained in the school and community, with 9,000 viewing homes in northeast Vermont and northwestern New Hampshire, it is important to Meachem that students are getting a hands-on approach to learning.
“[The students] go out every day and do stories in the community just like every other news station would and so they’re immersed in and amongst that community all the time,” Meachem said.
Before joining the faculty here at Lyndon State College this year Meachem completed her master’s degree work in television and technology at Marlboro College in Marlboro, VT. She has taught at the Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT and has worked in the private sphere for Greater Northshire Access Television doing photography and field production and for News 10 Now in Syracuse, NY, which is owned by the Time Warner Cable Company.
Having those opportunities and work experience, along with her time here at Lyndon as a student, makes Meachem a resource for her new students. “To bring the experiences I have in a studio production environment to the classroom makes it much more tangible,” she says, “and kind of fun because it makes me more real too.”
New Band
Blurb: Mt. Moon is a band that might be worth checking out.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Jesse Meunier
Critic Staff
During the spring and summer of 2008, in the wilds outside of Portland, Maine, a band dubbed Mt. Moon was conceived, born, and lived a life full of gleeful frolicking.
Coupling beautiful harmonies and folky footstomping with the dreamy aesthetics of shoegaze and indie pop,, the seven person group manages to create music that is absolutely haunting, and simultaneously full of joy and sorrow. Formed from the remnants of the noise band, 1800’s Sea Monster, the group traded in the performance art, sonic sludge, and primal intensity of their last endeavor for sophisticated songwriting and folk instrumentation.
The band manages to couple diverse influences ranging from Leonard Cohen, to Neutral Milk Hotel’s fuzz folk, to the melodic sonic haze of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, into a dense amalgam that is best described as “dream folk.” Songwriter Jakob Battick likes to describe it more creatively: "‘Think of it as if some big old moths grabbed acoustic instruments, met in the big field out back, grew some keyboards on trees, waited until the stars came out and then started to decorate the whole forest in songs.’ That, my friends, is the sound of Mt. Moon.”
“Mt. Moon was built upon the work of myself and Patric as songwriters. We'd play the main guitar parts, sing lead vocals, and pick up random other various instrumental roles when needed; banjo and mandolin being two that come immediately to mind. Beyond that, the backing players were Ryan Higgins (bass, ukulele), Zach Brown (trumpet, xylophone, organ), Mike Wellington (viola), Michelle Dempsey (Violin), and Tim Cunningham (electric guitar,)” says Battick.
Their latest work, A Burial In Seven Births, is easily their most polished and accessible to date, composed primarily of previous recordings that were re-written and reconstituted from lo-fi folk songs into more complex and carefully orchestrated affairs. “So many times before in the past we'd just recorded records sloppily, with hiss and mistakes and little attention paid to really developing every aspect of the sound, so this time we made a conscious decision to really be perfectionists. It's music for hazy summer days where the sun washes everything out, where insects are on the breeze, and the trees dance back and forth half-asleep. ” says Battick. Burial may never touch a pop chart or achieve any mainstream success, but it is nonetheless a brilliant underground album that true music lovers will come to appreciate.
All things however, must come to an end, and Mt. Moon is no exception. Their death was as carefully orchestrated as their birth. “As far as future plans are concerned, Mt. Moon itself has self destructed exactly as planned. The whole thing was just a summer project, something to keep my mind off the absolutely dead art/music/fun scene in Bangor. …There are no places for bands to play (here), and few honest people making legitimately interesting music for the right reasons. So, we decided to start our own thing to keep ourselves busy and creative and honest.” Despite the end of one of his more successful projects, Battick looks optimistically to the future: “As of right now, this would appear to be my life goal; to become the best mouthpiece, the best illuminator, and the best illustrator of the great American folk wilderness that I could possibly become.”
Mt. Moon’s latest album, as well as their previous works can be downloaded for free through links on their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/mtmoontheband
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Jesse Meunier
Critic Staff
During the spring and summer of 2008, in the wilds outside of Portland, Maine, a band dubbed Mt. Moon was conceived, born, and lived a life full of gleeful frolicking.
Coupling beautiful harmonies and folky footstomping with the dreamy aesthetics of shoegaze and indie pop,, the seven person group manages to create music that is absolutely haunting, and simultaneously full of joy and sorrow. Formed from the remnants of the noise band, 1800’s Sea Monster, the group traded in the performance art, sonic sludge, and primal intensity of their last endeavor for sophisticated songwriting and folk instrumentation.
The band manages to couple diverse influences ranging from Leonard Cohen, to Neutral Milk Hotel’s fuzz folk, to the melodic sonic haze of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, into a dense amalgam that is best described as “dream folk.” Songwriter Jakob Battick likes to describe it more creatively: "‘Think of it as if some big old moths grabbed acoustic instruments, met in the big field out back, grew some keyboards on trees, waited until the stars came out and then started to decorate the whole forest in songs.’ That, my friends, is the sound of Mt. Moon.”
“Mt. Moon was built upon the work of myself and Patric as songwriters. We'd play the main guitar parts, sing lead vocals, and pick up random other various instrumental roles when needed; banjo and mandolin being two that come immediately to mind. Beyond that, the backing players were Ryan Higgins (bass, ukulele), Zach Brown (trumpet, xylophone, organ), Mike Wellington (viola), Michelle Dempsey (Violin), and Tim Cunningham (electric guitar,)” says Battick.
Their latest work, A Burial In Seven Births, is easily their most polished and accessible to date, composed primarily of previous recordings that were re-written and reconstituted from lo-fi folk songs into more complex and carefully orchestrated affairs. “So many times before in the past we'd just recorded records sloppily, with hiss and mistakes and little attention paid to really developing every aspect of the sound, so this time we made a conscious decision to really be perfectionists. It's music for hazy summer days where the sun washes everything out, where insects are on the breeze, and the trees dance back and forth half-asleep. ” says Battick. Burial may never touch a pop chart or achieve any mainstream success, but it is nonetheless a brilliant underground album that true music lovers will come to appreciate.
All things however, must come to an end, and Mt. Moon is no exception. Their death was as carefully orchestrated as their birth. “As far as future plans are concerned, Mt. Moon itself has self destructed exactly as planned. The whole thing was just a summer project, something to keep my mind off the absolutely dead art/music/fun scene in Bangor. …There are no places for bands to play (here), and few honest people making legitimately interesting music for the right reasons. So, we decided to start our own thing to keep ourselves busy and creative and honest.” Despite the end of one of his more successful projects, Battick looks optimistically to the future: “As of right now, this would appear to be my life goal; to become the best mouthpiece, the best illuminator, and the best illustrator of the great American folk wilderness that I could possibly become.”
Mt. Moon’s latest album, as well as their previous works can be downloaded for free through links on their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/mtmoontheband
New Rugby Coach
Blurb: There is a new face on the Rugby field this semester.
Section: Sports
9/12/08
By Kriston Hall
Critic Staff
There is a new face on the Rugby field this semester.
Josh Ainsworth originally of Peacham, Vermont but a current resident of Westmore has assumed the role of head coach this year.
“Every Jersey out there has a collar,” Ainsworth said. Rugby is (despite its appearance) a gentleman’s game. A game where no matter where you go you can be greeted with a handshake and hospitality.
Rugby is a much more rigorous workout with fewer breaks than football which it is frequently associated with and Ainsworth said that the rugby players are better athletes because of this.
Ainsworth plans on having fun and said he wants to take the team all the way to the championship this season.
Ainsworth attended Castleton State College where he played on the rugby team. He will now coach a team opposing his alma mater. This is only his second year as a coach.
Another difference is the attire.
Though there are still scheduling issues and a flux of number from practice to practice both of the men’s and women’s teams consistently have enough players for a full team of fifteen and many are returning faces.
Ainsworth is confident that the team can do well and is taking more of a “hands on, get down and dirty” coaching technique, by practicing with his players rather than sitting off to the side all practice.
Section: Sports
9/12/08
By Kriston Hall
Critic Staff
There is a new face on the Rugby field this semester.
Josh Ainsworth originally of Peacham, Vermont but a current resident of Westmore has assumed the role of head coach this year.
“Every Jersey out there has a collar,” Ainsworth said. Rugby is (despite its appearance) a gentleman’s game. A game where no matter where you go you can be greeted with a handshake and hospitality.
Rugby is a much more rigorous workout with fewer breaks than football which it is frequently associated with and Ainsworth said that the rugby players are better athletes because of this.
Ainsworth plans on having fun and said he wants to take the team all the way to the championship this season.
Ainsworth attended Castleton State College where he played on the rugby team. He will now coach a team opposing his alma mater. This is only his second year as a coach.
Another difference is the attire.
Though there are still scheduling issues and a flux of number from practice to practice both of the men’s and women’s teams consistently have enough players for a full team of fifteen and many are returning faces.
Ainsworth is confident that the team can do well and is taking more of a “hands on, get down and dirty” coaching technique, by practicing with his players rather than sitting off to the side all practice.
Meet the new RHDs!
Blurb: Exclusive interviews with the new Residence Hall Directors
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Avery Williams
Critic Staff
Lyndon State College has hired three new Resident Hall Directors for the Buildings of Wheelock, Arnold/Bayley and Whitelaw/Crevecour who are planning on making a few changes to the LSC campus.
Each is looking to build strong and healthy communities within each of their buildings and throughout the campus, but they each have unique ideas for the betterment of the Lyndon State campus.
“One of my goals is to help develop students into leaders and to help them feel ownership of campus activities,” says Stephanie Tyler, RHD of Wheelock. Tyler wants to develop a student based Student Government Association and Campus Activity Board. She is also interested in bringing Service Learning, Community Service and more cultural events to campus.
A native of Pennsylvania, Tyler has come to Lyndon State for its small local feel and to work toward a graduate level degree in Education. She comes from Juniata College where she studied Latin American Studies, with minors in German and Education.
“The small campus and small community means we can do big things together,” Hailing from Northern California Laura McNaughton, RHD of Arnold/Bayley.
McNaughton hopes to bring more opportunities for students to become engaged within the campus and to find more ways to empower the students into taking pride in their campus and community. She wants them to stay in college until graduation.
McNaughton went to Humboldt State University in Northern California where she majored in communication. She hopes to continue on towards a master in Education at some point in the future.
Jillian McLaughlin, Whitelaw/Crevecour RHD, is a former RA. Previously a Meteorology and Applied Math major here at LSC she loved it so much that when she heard that an RHD position had opened up she knew she wanted it.
“I want to help them make the most of their Lyndon Experience,” McLaughlin said as one of her goals for the near future here at LSC.
McLaughlin said she wanted the Residence Halls to be a place to live, not just a place to sleep. Another of McLaughlin’s goals is to help start the club ASSIST again, and promote giving back to the NEK with Community service. McLaughlin loves the area so much that she hopes to stay here and raise a family in the future.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Avery Williams
Critic Staff
Lyndon State College has hired three new Resident Hall Directors for the Buildings of Wheelock, Arnold/Bayley and Whitelaw/Crevecour who are planning on making a few changes to the LSC campus.
Each is looking to build strong and healthy communities within each of their buildings and throughout the campus, but they each have unique ideas for the betterment of the Lyndon State campus.
“One of my goals is to help develop students into leaders and to help them feel ownership of campus activities,” says Stephanie Tyler, RHD of Wheelock. Tyler wants to develop a student based Student Government Association and Campus Activity Board. She is also interested in bringing Service Learning, Community Service and more cultural events to campus.
A native of Pennsylvania, Tyler has come to Lyndon State for its small local feel and to work toward a graduate level degree in Education. She comes from Juniata College where she studied Latin American Studies, with minors in German and Education.
“The small campus and small community means we can do big things together,” Hailing from Northern California Laura McNaughton, RHD of Arnold/Bayley.
McNaughton hopes to bring more opportunities for students to become engaged within the campus and to find more ways to empower the students into taking pride in their campus and community. She wants them to stay in college until graduation.
McNaughton went to Humboldt State University in Northern California where she majored in communication. She hopes to continue on towards a master in Education at some point in the future.
Jillian McLaughlin, Whitelaw/Crevecour RHD, is a former RA. Previously a Meteorology and Applied Math major here at LSC she loved it so much that when she heard that an RHD position had opened up she knew she wanted it.
“I want to help them make the most of their Lyndon Experience,” McLaughlin said as one of her goals for the near future here at LSC.
McLaughlin said she wanted the Residence Halls to be a place to live, not just a place to sleep. Another of McLaughlin’s goals is to help start the club ASSIST again, and promote giving back to the NEK with Community service. McLaughlin loves the area so much that she hopes to stay here and raise a family in the future.
New field might draw in more students
Blurb: Lyndon State College’s sports teams look forward to seeing the results of the renovations done to the sports fields.
Section: Sports
9/12/08
By Jack Carney
Critic Staff
The torn dirt and ripped grass of the beaten up varsity field is hopefully going to be a thing of the past with the athletic department’s new renovations to the varsity and practice fields.
Some of the renovations include elongating the varsity field as well as getting the practice field up to varsity standards and possibly having two varsity fields. The decision to renovate the fields was made by the administration initially, said assistant athletic director Bill Johnson.
"We’re renovating our fields mainly to fit the needs of our athletes," Johnson said. "It gets used up a lot with both soccer teams as well the lacrosse team using it in the spring."
"So what we've come to is to renovate the varsity field and get the practice field to varsity standards," Johnson said. "If we can do that it will give the varsity field a little rest and we will be able to keep up and maintain its condition."
Over the last few years poor field conditions have been a source of frustration for many of the athletes. These new renovations could eliminate that frustration for LSC athletes. And for LSC soccer and lacrosse player P.J. Danforth the decision to make the renovations could not have come soon enough.
"I think it’s a good thing because we all share that one field," Danforth said. "The camps they run in the preseason tear up the field so when the soccer season starts our field is already torn up and when the soccer season ends they cant do anything with the field cause its under snow and ice so by the time Lacrosse rolls around its still in bad condition."
Over the summer LSC runs many athletic camps using the varsity field these camps provide a key source of income to the schools athletics. Jim Davis head coach of the woman's soccer program here at LSC said having another field to work with during the summer camps would take some of the wear and tear off the varsity field.
"The camps just make it hard to keep up and maintain in good condition," Davis said, "So if we can have that other field to work with and move our summer programs to the practice field it would be an enhancement for our programs."
But renovating the varsity fields wont just help Lyndon State varsity athletics now but could be the gate way to luring in new recruits to LSC. Davis said the new renovations could be a key selling point for LSC athletics.
"What sells a student athlete is their game facilities," Davis said, "You look at the competition of LSC and a lot of other school are putting money into their facilities. If your LSC you have to compete, you have to show the student they can excel not only academically but on the field as well. The student athletes want to know that the school cares about their athletics."
Section: Sports
9/12/08
By Jack Carney
Critic Staff
The torn dirt and ripped grass of the beaten up varsity field is hopefully going to be a thing of the past with the athletic department’s new renovations to the varsity and practice fields.
Some of the renovations include elongating the varsity field as well as getting the practice field up to varsity standards and possibly having two varsity fields. The decision to renovate the fields was made by the administration initially, said assistant athletic director Bill Johnson.
"We’re renovating our fields mainly to fit the needs of our athletes," Johnson said. "It gets used up a lot with both soccer teams as well the lacrosse team using it in the spring."
"So what we've come to is to renovate the varsity field and get the practice field to varsity standards," Johnson said. "If we can do that it will give the varsity field a little rest and we will be able to keep up and maintain its condition."
Over the last few years poor field conditions have been a source of frustration for many of the athletes. These new renovations could eliminate that frustration for LSC athletes. And for LSC soccer and lacrosse player P.J. Danforth the decision to make the renovations could not have come soon enough.
"I think it’s a good thing because we all share that one field," Danforth said. "The camps they run in the preseason tear up the field so when the soccer season starts our field is already torn up and when the soccer season ends they cant do anything with the field cause its under snow and ice so by the time Lacrosse rolls around its still in bad condition."
Over the summer LSC runs many athletic camps using the varsity field these camps provide a key source of income to the schools athletics. Jim Davis head coach of the woman's soccer program here at LSC said having another field to work with during the summer camps would take some of the wear and tear off the varsity field.
"The camps just make it hard to keep up and maintain in good condition," Davis said, "So if we can have that other field to work with and move our summer programs to the practice field it would be an enhancement for our programs."
But renovating the varsity fields wont just help Lyndon State varsity athletics now but could be the gate way to luring in new recruits to LSC. Davis said the new renovations could be a key selling point for LSC athletics.
"What sells a student athlete is their game facilities," Davis said, "You look at the competition of LSC and a lot of other school are putting money into their facilities. If your LSC you have to compete, you have to show the student they can excel not only academically but on the field as well. The student athletes want to know that the school cares about their athletics."
Moment of Silence Strikes a chord at LSC
Blurb: Around sixty students, faculty, and staff gathered in the student center to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11.
Section: Campus News
9/1208
By Eric Downing
Critic Staff
On Thursday, Lyndon State College held a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragedy of September 11, 2001, marking its seven-year anniversary. The event was conducted in the student center and was attended by roughly 60 faculty, staff, and students of LSC. Some people had to stand, as just about every seat was filled.
The event was preceded by some Jazz music performed by Chris Arsenault, Bill Moulton, Mike Olmstead, and Iain Brown. They performed a jam on the student center's stage, ushering in attendees to the event. Music filled the room as students took their seats.
Just before 12:30 p.m., President Carol Moore went up to the stage to speak. She recounted how she remembered watching the news footage of 9/11 seven years ago in the student center. She spoke of the impact the tragedy had on our nation, but ended on a lighter note. “Let's celebrate the hope for the future,” she said.
Next, Dr. Moore called up George Hacking, Director of Public Safety. Hacking had some words to share about that fateful day as well. He spoke of the death of victims being counteracted by the births of heroes. Hacking also reminded the audience how firefighters rushing on to the scene became additional victims. “Personal loss happens to all of us,” Hacking said. “9/11 was personal to many,” he continued. He wrapped up by saying, “I don't believe anyone can tell you how to feel about this day.”
Donna Dalton, Dean of Academic and Student Affairs stood up and said, “I ask you now to bow your heads in a moment of silence.” The room dropped to dead silence, the only noise being the rattling of cooking utensils and workers' voices from the Snack Bar next door. After a few moments, the silence was broken by the deep, mystical intonation of LSC professor Beth Norris's hand bell.
After a few moments, the room was filled again with music as LSC student Lindsay Johnson led the audience in singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The LSC Jazz ensemble once again took the stage and played a piece put together by student Chris Arsenault. The song they played was a melodic merging of The Beatles' “Let it Be” and Sarah McLachlan's “I Will Remember You.” Arsenault, who played the piano, had a special reason for arranging the piece for this event. “From myself, that was a personal dedication to a friend that died in the first plane,” he said.
Vocals were performed by Iain Brown and Casey Bonilla with back-up by Matt Paul.
Section: Campus News
9/1208
By Eric Downing
Critic Staff
On Thursday, Lyndon State College held a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragedy of September 11, 2001, marking its seven-year anniversary. The event was conducted in the student center and was attended by roughly 60 faculty, staff, and students of LSC. Some people had to stand, as just about every seat was filled.
The event was preceded by some Jazz music performed by Chris Arsenault, Bill Moulton, Mike Olmstead, and Iain Brown. They performed a jam on the student center's stage, ushering in attendees to the event. Music filled the room as students took their seats.
Just before 12:30 p.m., President Carol Moore went up to the stage to speak. She recounted how she remembered watching the news footage of 9/11 seven years ago in the student center. She spoke of the impact the tragedy had on our nation, but ended on a lighter note. “Let's celebrate the hope for the future,” she said.
Next, Dr. Moore called up George Hacking, Director of Public Safety. Hacking had some words to share about that fateful day as well. He spoke of the death of victims being counteracted by the births of heroes. Hacking also reminded the audience how firefighters rushing on to the scene became additional victims. “Personal loss happens to all of us,” Hacking said. “9/11 was personal to many,” he continued. He wrapped up by saying, “I don't believe anyone can tell you how to feel about this day.”
Donna Dalton, Dean of Academic and Student Affairs stood up and said, “I ask you now to bow your heads in a moment of silence.” The room dropped to dead silence, the only noise being the rattling of cooking utensils and workers' voices from the Snack Bar next door. After a few moments, the silence was broken by the deep, mystical intonation of LSC professor Beth Norris's hand bell.
After a few moments, the room was filled again with music as LSC student Lindsay Johnson led the audience in singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The LSC Jazz ensemble once again took the stage and played a piece put together by student Chris Arsenault. The song they played was a melodic merging of The Beatles' “Let it Be” and Sarah McLachlan's “I Will Remember You.” Arsenault, who played the piano, had a special reason for arranging the piece for this event. “From myself, that was a personal dedication to a friend that died in the first plane,” he said.
Vocals were performed by Iain Brown and Casey Bonilla with back-up by Matt Paul.
New year, new deficit
Blurb: With a deficit hanging over LSC, how will students be affected?
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Rachel Keller
Critic Staff
The start of the school year means a lot of new things: people, classes, and friends, to name a few.
For Lyndon State College this fall, it means a new deficit. Funding provided to LSC by the state has been cut two and half percent, meaning the school’s budget is between $100,000-$200,000 less than last year. President Carol Moore is in collaboration with others in efforts to balance the school’s budget by figuring out which programs can be cut.
“[Lyndon’s] bottom line is based on the number of students who stay,” Dean of admissions, Patricia Krahnke said. Krahnke is carefully reviewing the number of students enrolled. The budget will be balanced once the number of enrolled students is stable, and that should be by the end of the second week of classes.
“Vermont has the highest number of colleges per capita in the United States and also the lowest population,” said Krahnke. “Do the math.”
Krahnke believes that the problem lies within the retention rate for Lyndon State students, which from Fall 2007 to Spring 2008 was at a high 72%. From Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 the retention rate was at 57%.
“72%, excellent. 57%, not excellent,” states Krahnke, “That’s just the tip of the iceberg, getting them here. It’s after that, keeping them here, that is the issue.”
Organizations like Project Compass, a grant from the Nellie Mae organization, are working to help make college affordable for students, and Lyndon is in the running for this grant. As a school with little private funding, scholarships and financial aid Lyndon can only do so much.
“We do what we can,” Krahnke sympathizes, as she recognizes the fact that some students just cannot afford the ticket price. For what seems like a shortage of money due to a state funding decrease, the deficit that Lyndon is experiencing goes deeper into the realm of student enrollment.
“We do not have a luxurious amount of funds,” said Moore, “making cuts are always difficult.” While the budget is continually trying to be balanced, and admissions continues to work to solve the problem of retention, students at Lyndon State should not be concerned that the financial cuts to certain programs will have a negative effect on them. “We try to hold the students harmless when it comes to lack of revenue from tuition fees,” Moore said.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Rachel Keller
Critic Staff
The start of the school year means a lot of new things: people, classes, and friends, to name a few.
For Lyndon State College this fall, it means a new deficit. Funding provided to LSC by the state has been cut two and half percent, meaning the school’s budget is between $100,000-$200,000 less than last year. President Carol Moore is in collaboration with others in efforts to balance the school’s budget by figuring out which programs can be cut.
“[Lyndon’s] bottom line is based on the number of students who stay,” Dean of admissions, Patricia Krahnke said. Krahnke is carefully reviewing the number of students enrolled. The budget will be balanced once the number of enrolled students is stable, and that should be by the end of the second week of classes.
“Vermont has the highest number of colleges per capita in the United States and also the lowest population,” said Krahnke. “Do the math.”
Krahnke believes that the problem lies within the retention rate for Lyndon State students, which from Fall 2007 to Spring 2008 was at a high 72%. From Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 the retention rate was at 57%.
“72%, excellent. 57%, not excellent,” states Krahnke, “That’s just the tip of the iceberg, getting them here. It’s after that, keeping them here, that is the issue.”
Organizations like Project Compass, a grant from the Nellie Mae organization, are working to help make college affordable for students, and Lyndon is in the running for this grant. As a school with little private funding, scholarships and financial aid Lyndon can only do so much.
“We do what we can,” Krahnke sympathizes, as she recognizes the fact that some students just cannot afford the ticket price. For what seems like a shortage of money due to a state funding decrease, the deficit that Lyndon is experiencing goes deeper into the realm of student enrollment.
“We do not have a luxurious amount of funds,” said Moore, “making cuts are always difficult.” While the budget is continually trying to be balanced, and admissions continues to work to solve the problem of retention, students at Lyndon State should not be concerned that the financial cuts to certain programs will have a negative effect on them. “We try to hold the students harmless when it comes to lack of revenue from tuition fees,” Moore said.
Parking Woes
Blurb: Students are finding that finding a parking space has gotten very difficult this year.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Abbey Heimlich
Critic Staff
Commuter students, faculty and staff may have noticed a decrease in available parking spaces in the Vail parking lot recently due to construction.
“Give it an extra 10 to 15 minutes,” George Hacking, director of public safety said. “Driving from one lot to another takes time.”
“If you give yourself time you will find a space,” Hacking said. Residential students are reminded to park only where their sticker designates, and not to park on the lawn or in visitors’ spaces.
“It can be very difficult to find a spot to park depending on what time you show up,” Joseph Pasquence, a sophomore Computer Science major said.
In total, the main Vail lot and the lower Vail lot have 214 parking spaces. Thirty-five of these spaces are currently blocked off by construction in Vail, and a construction trailer in the lower Vail lot also blocks off spaces. There are four admissions parking spaces, and seven handicap spaces. The Stonehenge parking lot is also a commuter overflow lot.
So far Hacking says that 480 commuter stickers have been passed out this semester. An estimated 200 faculty and staff also use the commuter parking lots. He has no concern about having enough room.
“The first day was the worst, everyone was here, but we still had room,” Hacking said.
Some commuters may not agree.
“I feel like there want enough parking last semester and this semester is worse. I think they need to expand the commuter parking lot, or make a whole commuter lot,” Gwen Goehring, a sophomore Business Administration major said,
Spaces were added in the main Vail lot this summer. Hacking said the lot was redone this summer “to correct deficiencies in the underground infrastructure,” such as pipes and wiring.
The lot was repaved and repainted. The repainting added parking spaces at the end closest to the soccer field.
Hacking said there is no concern for winter parking either. While the snow tends to shorten the lots, the maintenance crew is efficient with plowing, sanding and salting.
Hacking hopes that the new yellow lines in the lots will stand out more against the salt, making it easier to see what is and what is not a parking space.
Public Safety got tougher on parking violators in the spring and that seems to have sent the message not to park illegally. Hacking also notes that there has not been an increase in illegal parking.
“We will be tolerant,” Hacking said, “If for some reason we find no parking spaces available, we will understand why people will deviate.”
The Vail lot is expected to reopen in Fall 2009, after the construction is complete.
Section: Campus News
9/12/08
By Abbey Heimlich
Critic Staff
Commuter students, faculty and staff may have noticed a decrease in available parking spaces in the Vail parking lot recently due to construction.
“Give it an extra 10 to 15 minutes,” George Hacking, director of public safety said. “Driving from one lot to another takes time.”
“If you give yourself time you will find a space,” Hacking said. Residential students are reminded to park only where their sticker designates, and not to park on the lawn or in visitors’ spaces.
“It can be very difficult to find a spot to park depending on what time you show up,” Joseph Pasquence, a sophomore Computer Science major said.
In total, the main Vail lot and the lower Vail lot have 214 parking spaces. Thirty-five of these spaces are currently blocked off by construction in Vail, and a construction trailer in the lower Vail lot also blocks off spaces. There are four admissions parking spaces, and seven handicap spaces. The Stonehenge parking lot is also a commuter overflow lot.
So far Hacking says that 480 commuter stickers have been passed out this semester. An estimated 200 faculty and staff also use the commuter parking lots. He has no concern about having enough room.
“The first day was the worst, everyone was here, but we still had room,” Hacking said.
Some commuters may not agree.
“I feel like there want enough parking last semester and this semester is worse. I think they need to expand the commuter parking lot, or make a whole commuter lot,” Gwen Goehring, a sophomore Business Administration major said,
Spaces were added in the main Vail lot this summer. Hacking said the lot was redone this summer “to correct deficiencies in the underground infrastructure,” such as pipes and wiring.
The lot was repaved and repainted. The repainting added parking spaces at the end closest to the soccer field.
Hacking said there is no concern for winter parking either. While the snow tends to shorten the lots, the maintenance crew is efficient with plowing, sanding and salting.
Hacking hopes that the new yellow lines in the lots will stand out more against the salt, making it easier to see what is and what is not a parking space.
Public Safety got tougher on parking violators in the spring and that seems to have sent the message not to park illegally. Hacking also notes that there has not been an increase in illegal parking.
“We will be tolerant,” Hacking said, “If for some reason we find no parking spaces available, we will understand why people will deviate.”
The Vail lot is expected to reopen in Fall 2009, after the construction is complete.
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