Category Archives: UVM

UVM head seeks smaller tuition hike

BURLINGTON — University of Vermont President Tom Sullivan has recommended that next year’s tuition increase be less than 3 percent.
Sullivan’s call for a limit was part of a plan he presented to the board of trustees at its meeting Wednesday.
Last fall, interim President John Bramley urged a limit of 3.5 percent on the tuition increase for 2012-2013, which was approved.
The board usually adopts an annual budget and sets new tuition rates at its May meeting.
Sullivan said an increase of less than 3 percent for the 2013-2014 academic year would be the lowest jump at UVM in 36 years.
The current tuition rate is $13,344 for Vermont residents. Out-of-state residents pay $33,672.

UVM looks at campus fixes following rape survey

BURLINGTON — A report suggests it could cost the University of Vermont more than $100,000 a year to address sexual violence issues following a fraternity rape-survey scandal.
UVM developed nine recommendations in response to last year’s survey, which asked Sigma Phi Epsilon members whom they would like to rape.
The recommendations include funding a men’s educator and men’s educational center on campus and a position in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. They also include the creation of a required class for students to learn more about sexual misconduct, assault, alcohol misuse, emotional distress and other issues.
The Burlington Free Press reports some recommendations have no costs associated with them, such as a choosing a book for the first-year summer reading program on gender-based sexual violence.

Student charged with dorm arson

BURLINGTON — A University of Vermont student has been charged with starting a fire in a dormitory hallway over the weekend.
UVM police said 20-year-old Stanislas Stantchev was arrested Saturday.
Police and firefighters responded to a fire alarm in Wills Hall around 6:20 a.m. Friday. Police say about 120 students and staff had to be evacuated. Firefighters quickly put out the fire.
Stantchev was jailed at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.

New UVM president to be formally installed

BURLINGTON — The new president of the University of Vermont is going to be formally installed in a ceremony full of pomp and pageantry.
The Friday installation of E. Thomas Sullivan will be preceded by a procession of the UVM faculty.
Sullivan came to Vermont from Minnesota and among the speakers at the ceremony will be former Vice President Walter Mondale, of Minnesota.
During his installation address, Sullivan is expected to present his vision of the university’s future and discuss the priorities and goals of his presidency.
Sullivan took office in July.

UVM outlines measures to combat rape

BURLINGTON — The University of Vermont is outlining a series of measures it hopes will combat sexual violence in answer to a survey at a fraternity last year.
The college said Thursday the Sigma Phi Epsilon was not responsible for the survey in which members were reportedly asked who they would like to rape. The campus chapter of the fraternity was closed as a result of the survey and an investigation launched.
The Burlington Free Press reports the measures include providing funding for an annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference, sponsoring an independent review of fraternity life, funding a full-time position focusing on sexual violence and masculinity and funding one-time training costs to develop a bystander intervention program.

UVM staffers vote for union representation

BURLINGTON — Hundreds of University of Vermont employees have voted in favor of union representation but haven’t given a clear majority to either union on the ballot.
Technicians, research and library support staffers and other workers cast ballots on Tuesday and Wednesday on whether they wanted to organize and, if so, whether they wanted to join a union affiliated with the Vermont NEA teachers’ union or a group based at UVM called United Staff. The votes were counted on Wednesday night. Continue reading

Bear reported on UVM campus

BURLINGTON — University of Vermont students are being warned after a bear was seen on campus.
A student reported seeing the bear near a Dumpster on the south end of Coolidge Hall near Davis Road around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The bear was last seen heading south toward the UVM soccer fields. Campus police searched but did not find the animal.
Police issued safety tips to students, telling them to remain a safe distance from any wild animal and to call Police Services. They also warned not to approach a wild animal, corner, taunt or feed it.

UVM reclaims stolen historical documents

BURLINGTON — The University of Vermont has reclaimed documents taken by a presidential memorabilia collector who’s been sentenced for stealing thousands of rare and valuable documents from historical societies and archives nationwide.
Barry Landau acknowledged stealing documents from at least six institutions, including the University of Vermont. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in June.
WCAX-TV reports UVM staff recently made the trip to the National Archives to reclaim items. They’re still not certain when they went missing from the collection of roughly a million items that mark Vermont history. They’re glad they’re back for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the university’s special collections.
UVM said it no longer allows bags and backpacks in its special collections and is working on new security cameras.

UVM to buzz with beekeepers

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) More than 500 beekeepers and honeybee experts from the eastern United States and Canada are expected to attend a conference at the University of Vermont this week.

The Vermont Beekeepers Association and the Eastern Apicultural Society is holding the five-day conference called Bees and Beyond starting today.

Participants can take part in workshops, lectures and short courses for beginning and advanced beekeepers. An agenda is available online at www.vermontbeekeepers.org.

Organizers say beekeeping has grown in popularity in recent years as people want to produce their own food and to support bee and other pollinator populations. The Vermont Beekeepers Association says there are about 2,000 beekeepers in Vermont and roughly 100,000 nationwide.

Three people die in I-89 crash

Three people are dead in a crash early this morning on I-89 in Bolton.

The scene was recently cleared and traffic on both the north and south sides of the main route was held up for hours.

The crash occurred at 7:30 a.m. Police have not released the names of the victims.

State Police from the Williston Barracks, along with the Crash Reconstruction Team, are still investigating the crash.

Through the course of the investigation, police learned the driver and two occupants of a 1997 Subaru Legacy were all killed when it crossed from the northbound lane, across the median, into on-coming traffic in the southbound lane. The Subaru collided with a 2002 Chevy Silverado which was hauling a U-Haul flatbed with a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The driver of the Silverado was transported to Central Vermont Hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

 Bolton Fire, Waterbury Fire, Bolton Rescue, and Richmond Rescue responded for extrication, hazmat mitigation, and emergency medical services. Employees from VTrans and the Vermont Division of Motor Vehicles responded to help with traffic control and other incident operations.

To date, including today’s crash, there have been 27 traffic fatalities in Vermont this year. Compared to the same timeframe in 2010 and 2011, there were 14 and 20, respectively.