A Little Bird Told Me
I'll be attending UVM next fall, and would love to hear some tips/secrets about UVM that will help me out as a freshman! Maybe a survival guide or something like that?
Anonymous

We don’t have the time to compile a comprehensive list, but here are 10 things every UVM freshman (“first-year” according to the university) should know:

1.) Join at least one club or sports team or volunteer group.  It’s a better way to meet new friends rather than through your roommate(s).  Get involved in something.

2.) In general, Points > Unlimited Blocks when it comes to meal plans.  Unless you eat a lot.

3.) You don’t have to go to every single class, but you’re at UVM first and foremost for an education, so don’t forget it.

4.) Most people prefer Redstone or Athletic campus, so if you can, live there.  Trinity sucks big time.

5.) Be open-minded.  About everything.  College might will be a big change from what you’re used to.  Go with the flow and don’t be afraid to let yourself change.

6.) If you haven’t experienced a New England winter, get ready.  A sweatshirt probably won’t be enough.

7.) ResLife is a complete joke, and most RAs don’t really care about what you do as long as you’re safe and secret about it.  Waiting lists to swap rooms take months, so, if you have a bad roommate, learn to live with her/him.

8.) You don’t have to buy every single textbook for your classes.  Some are more required than others.  You can save hundreds of dollars per year with strategic textbook buying.

9.) Events hosted in the Davis Center are almost always really lame.

10.) For most people, college is only 4 years.  It goes by more quickly than you can imagine.  Make the most of your time.

Email/submit/tweet us tips you have and we’ll edit them into this post!

Waterman is getting two walls, one on each side of its entrance.  Shown here is the left one.

EDIT: To those wondering how much construction costs are, below is the administration’s figure of estimated construction fees throughout Waterman since September 2012.

Waterman is getting two walls, one on each side of its entrance.  Shown here is the left one.

EDIT: To those wondering how much construction costs are, below is the administration’s figure of estimated construction fees throughout Waterman since September 2012.

 photo ScreenShot2013-04-08at73639PM.png

The L/L Mural is officially being decommissioned today after over 20 years of existence.  We’ll post pictures of the new one once it’s up.

If there’s one thing about books, it’s that I never read ‘em.
a guy playing pool in the Davis Center
Is there a fax machine anywhere on campus that students can use to send a fax?
Anonymous

We never heard of such a place.  You can scan for free at the Bailey-Howe.

EDIT: Someone told us that there may be a way you can send a fax from online through the Computer Depot’s website.

When do we find out about the election? I voted for Big bird btw
Anonymous

Connor Daley predictably won the Presidency (SGA is withholding Big Bird vote tallies for now), and Jack Birmingham won the Vice Presidency!

Thanks to everyone who voted for Big Bird and/or Jack!

The religious crazies are back again in time for Easter.

The religious crazies are back again in time for Easter.

A Message from Jack Birmingham: The Final Plea

As the election period comes to a close on the 28th at 4 PM, this is my last plea to the group that first gave my campaign momentum.  I will keep this short and sweet, this is a battle between establishment candidate and populist.  Aya’s platform is based almost entirely around her experience with Student Government & how she understands how the system works.  I have seen that system, and my platform is based around reforming it so that Student Government comes back to the student.  If elected, I will fight tooth and nail for popular student issues such as preventing the tobacco ban & ensuring the end of the Sodexo Monopoly in 2016.  The administration needs to remember that our tuition pays their bills, and that they exist to accomodate us.  I admit that these are tough issues to deal with, but they need to be dealt with.  While I have defended Connor in the past, I am offended that he chose to endorse Aya in a two candidate race. While I assure you this will not affect our professional relationship, his decision is a representation of how SGA is an insiders game, and this has made it clear that I am an outsider.   Please, I implore you students of the University of Vermont, allow me to bring back Student Government to the Student & vote Jack Birmingham for SGA Vice President.

Sincerely,

Jack Birmingham #Birm2013

 

Vote at www.uvm.edu/clubs

I just want to put out there that I'm upset how you have shared the details of Kingbread's arrest. I understand why people would want to know that it happened, but you've put out information that seems like it should be confidential. Like his address. That could affect his and his family's safety. A description I can understand, but scanning the documents seems a bit too far to me. I hope in the future you think a little more about the people you could be affecting.
Anonymous

Public information is public. The details were what people wanted.

Kingbread, AKA Kevin Martin, AKA Kornbread, was arrested on March 26th and arraigned the following day.

He was charged with 3 counts of selling cocaine, one count of possessing cocaine, and one count of possessing marijuana.

Among the files available here are documents detailing the capture of the mighty Kingbread, by means of a confidential informant.

On Tuesday, March 26th, Burlington judges approved a search warrant of Kingbread’s house on 205 S. Prospect St, Apt 5.  Police arrested Kevin Martin later that day and found he was carrying over 10g of cocaine (almost $1,000 worth), as well as a few grams of pot.

Police officer Daniel Gilligan wrapped up his statement:

“I read Martin his Miranda Warnigns and he waived his rights.  He admitted to me that he had sold drugs, but said it was to support his cocaine habit…..he then tole me that he did not remember selling drugs.  I also asked Martin to identify his customers and his sources.  He refused and told me he could not do that.”

In an interview with the Water Tower a few weeks ago, Kingbread had this to say:

“Most of your successful people—your rappers especially—were drug dealers.  Am I a drug dealer?  That’s still to be known, still to be found out, it’s probably not true.  But I used to be, that’s why I did Fed time, and let me tell you what: my time is where I wrote my rhymes.  If I never did that time, I wouldn’t be as hot as I am right now.”

Burlington Police said they hope Kevin Martin has a long stay in jail, “I’d hope five to ten years,” an officer said.

When Kevin Martin gets out of jail again, let’s hope his rhymes are hotter than ever.

-Big Bird

Click on the link above to vote in the SGA Presidential elections.  Voting ends on March 28th at 4:00 PM.

A fork-and-plate wind chime artwork outside the Ira Allen Chapel.

SGA Debates

Fewer than 30 people showed up to witness the farce of the UVM SGA Debates.  Presidential candidate Connor Daley, occasionally tapping away on a tablet computer, stressed that his job was as someone translating student opinion to the administration.  ”I don’t fucking care,” Daley remarked casually, when someone asked his personal opinion on the Tobacco-Free UVM issue.  Connor explained that Career Services and student advising is the focus of his campaign.

Aya Al-Namee’s argument urged voters to vote for her for VP because she was friends with other SGA members.  Many of the audience members were her friends in SGA.

Jack Birmingham, the leading VP candidate, nailed his position as a practical man aiming for Sodexo food reform.  He also stressed transparency, an issue SGA has been claiming to focus on recently, with questionable results.

Elections are on the lynx on March 27th.  Vote Jack Birmingham for Vice President and write-in “Big Bird” for President! 

Buckham floods

Early morning was interrupted in Buckham, where alarms were sounding and a growing spill was in progress.  A student broke a ceiling sprinkler on the fourth floor, and water damage, up to a few inches, has affected several floors of the building.

Alright, we were wrong.  These is an igloo on campus.

Alright, we were wrong.  These is an igloo on campus.