From the news desk: a look back at our top stories from 2019
Sawyer Loftus, News and Sports Editor
January 2, 2020
The Vermont Cynic News team is often on the ground running. Our reporters are out gathering information, crafting stories, developing sources and editing content. There isn't always a moment to reflect on the work we've done, but as 2019 comes to a close and we welcome 2020, this seems like the perfect...
UVM Police Chief returns from unexplained leave in new position
Sawyer Loftus, News and Sports Editor
December 18, 2019
Former UVM Police Chief Lianne Tuomey has been back on campus for over a month, but in a new role, following an unexplained four-month leave. Tuomey took a voluntary leave of absence on July 11 from the force. She has now retired from her position as police chief to take on a new role as a senior a...
Sexual assault awareness group seeks new members
Ella Ruehsen, Cynic News Reporter
December 17, 2019
A group of men dedicated to raising awareness around sexual assault was de-recognized by SGA and struggles to fill its ranks on campus. One in Four is a men’s group that supports sexual assault awareness and teaching prevention strategies, particularly to other men. The group began on campus in 2012 foll...
Can you watch porn in the Howe Library?
Julianne Lesch, Cynic News Reporter
December 11, 2019
A man watching what some have described as porn in the library left students feeling uncomfortable and confused about how the situation was handled. On Nov. 12, two students in Howe Library saw a man watching what they thought was porn on a UVM computer. The students approached a library employee saying the...
UVM and SGA consider removing portions of campus safety feature
Zoe Stern, Assistant News Editor
December 10, 2019
SGA is working to assess the role of blue lights on UVM’s campus and determine if they should be removed and be replaced with an app. But not all UVM students approve the idea, and UVM Emergency Management has yet to fully commit to the project. Blue lights are a series of alarm or panic s...
Plastic water bottle ban remains sore spot
Maryann Makosiej, Cynic News Reporter
December 6, 2019
Despite six years passing since UVM banned the sale of bottled water, the ban’s origin and impact remains controversial. The ban, intended as an act of investment into local water, may have caused students to drink more sugary beverages and buy more plastic, single-use containers, according to the UV...
A campus divided: students split over free trip to Israel and Palestinian territories
Emma Pinezich and Sawyer Loftus
December 5, 2019
One year ago, UVM Hillel, a Jewish student group, was offered funds for a trip to Israel and Palestine territories. The source of that funding came under fire from student activists supportive of Palestine and remains criticized a year later.
Icy waters don’t stop students
Julianne Lesch, Cynic News Reporter
December 5, 2019
Snow falling and 30-degree temperatures on a brisk Wednesday morning didn’t stop 17 UVM students from jumping into Lake Champlain. This occurrence, which happens two to three times each week, was started by two international students studying abroad at UVM. Alexander Asplund is from Sweden and E...
SGA explores adding a third branch of student government
Lilly Page, Cynic News Reporter
December 4, 2019
SGA’s Constitution Committee will explore how to add an additional judicial branch to handle internal SGA conflicts. Senior Zach Merson, speaker of the senate and chair of the Constitution Committee, brought the idea of the addition to the entire SGA Nov. 19. Merson said currently there are on...
SGA senator selected to represent students and Burlington residents
Zoe Stern, Cynic News Reporter
December 4, 2019
An SGA senator will now represent both UVM students and other Burlingtontonians as a member of the Ward 8 Steering Committee. Sophomore Hannah King, senator on the Committee on Legislative and Community Affairs, was the second elected member from Ward 8. “Each ward has their own Neighborhood ...
Environmentalist Bill McKibben tells UVM to divest
Emma Pinezich, Assistant News Editor
December 3, 2019
One of the most famous American environmentalists urged UVM to divest from fossil fuels during a talk to hundreds at UVM about the climate crisis. Over 200 students and members of the community gathered at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Davis Center to hear author and environmentalist Bill McKibben dis...
Fact check: is UVM cutting classes?
Irene Choi, Cynic News Reporter
December 3, 2019
Posted on a cluttered Davis Center board, a poster with the image of a hand maneuvering a puppet has a message in white text with a red background strewn across its top. “Don’t be their puppet,” lays across the top, written in all capital letters , waiting for wandering student eyes. This poster and ...
