Skip to Main Content
The student-run community news site of Vermont State University - Johnson

Basement Medicine

The student-run community news site of Vermont State University - Johnson

Basement Medicine

The student-run community news site of Vermont State University - Johnson

Basement Medicine

The Calvin Coolidge Library at the VTSU Castleton Campus

Error 404: documentary filmmakers discuss their groundbreaking film

Amanda Johnson September 24, 2024

Editors Note: This piece originally published on Castleton Spartan. When Vermont State University administration announced their plan for an all-digital library in Spring ‘23, many students and faculty...

A Johnson student’s love-hate relationship with rural life

Flatlander’s guide to f***-ass Johnson, Vt

Cohen Repaci September 24, 2024

Two years before I had the thought to apply to, what was, NVU-Johnson, I created a playlist: “If I Stay Here, I Can’t Grow”; songs that had fleeting mention about leaving home found their way in...

Bergh Reactions

Staff September 24, 2024

Earlier this semester, it was announced that former Interim president David Bergh will go on to continue his leadership work as the new President of Vermont State University. Bergh has been leading VTSU...

Woodruff Hall at VTSU Castleton

Administrative waffling

Raymonda Parchment September 24, 2024

I’m new here, but I’m not.  I began my college education at Castleton University. I was privileged to experience campus life prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which effectively ended...

UNITY students at the 2024 Burlington Pride Parade

New year, new Unity

Raymonda Parchment September 23, 2024

As the fall semester kicks into gear, VTSU Johnson’s Unity association has introduced new leadership. Unity is a safe group for LGBTQIA+ students to connect on the VTSU Johnson campus. The Unity room...

AI: Where’s the line?

AI: Where’s the line?

Emily Ely September 23, 2024

Editor’s Note: This piece has been reprinted from ‘Castleton Spartan.’   In a world where AI can write your essay and answer all your quiz questions, students are left wondering: Where’s...

Clothing rack in Badger Boutique

Badger Boutique open for business

Sage Mkazas Selec September 23, 2024

Have you ever needed food or clothes but didn’t have the money to pay for it? Many college students struggle with this. According to a survey conducted by Ohio State University, seven out of 10 undergraduate...

Basement Medicine staff hard at work

Basement Medicine: back to the future

Jill Pressman September 23, 2024

Welcome to the new, and welcome back to the old. The summer has come to a close, and it is time to dive into the 2024-2025 school year. The Spring ‘24 semester ended on a sour note, leaving Johnson...

Johnson students and staff gathering for the campus’ first Harambee.

The aftermath of Harambee

Dayne Bell May 7, 2024

On April 1, VTSU-Johnson held a Harambee, a discussion event for the campus community to bring awareness to problems and areas of improvement. This event, which is to become University tradition, gave...

Drive into the Sunset

Drive into the Sunset

Sage Mkazas Selec May 7, 2024

If you are a local Vermonter, you probably know of, or have been to, the Sunset Drive-In in Colchester. If you aren’t from Vermont, or haven’t been to the drive-in, let me just say that this is one...

P.A.T. program Alumni gathered on the Dibden Stage with Nevermore cast members at the end of their final performance.

P.A.T. takes final bow

Heike Chaney May 7, 2024

With performances April 25-28, Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe was the Polaris Performing Arts Company’s final production under the umbrella of the Performance Arts...

Photo of the Rita Bole residence hall, where students in need of summer housing will live on the Lyndon campus.

Summer housing price increase, students react

Evan Coleman May 7, 2024

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Lyndon's "The Critic." For more information and relevant links, see the original piece here: Summer Housing Price Increase, Students React - The...

Willey Library behind the scenes

Willey Library behind the scenes

Destiny Herron May 7, 2024

The Vermont State University (VTSU) libraries have gone through a lot in the past two years, and more is still to come. Currently, students use the library’s resources for classes, studying, tutoring,...

A possible solution for vacant dorms in Martinetti

Martinetti closing its dorms

Sage Mkazas Selec May 7, 2024

On March 18, Residential Life publicly announced that the Martinetti building will be closing its doors for student housing as of the 2024 Fall semester. From safety concerns with the kitchen, to lack...

Lack of interest among students leads to an empty DJ chair, with programming being broadcast from Middlebury.

Radio silence?

Sage Mkazas Selec May 7, 2024

The state of the VTSU-Johnson 90.7 radio station has been in a constant flux for several years now, as over the past few years Middlebury College has been interested in purchasing the Johnson college radio...

Signs made by Lyndon students posted around the campus

Students call VTSU administration to action in pro-Palestine protest

Kai Paroline May 7, 2024

Editor's Note: This piece was published in Lyndon’s The Critic and has been edited for style. The links to information and resources about VTSU's investments in this issue can be found at the original...

Meet Johnson's new student government

Meet Johnson’s new student government

Dayne Bell May 7, 2024

The election for VTSU’s Student Government Association (SGA) has just ended, and the results are in! The new SGA constitution, which was passed with a 91% approval rate during this election, opened the...

Going D-Town

Going D-Town

Dayne Bell March 27, 2024

Editor’s Note: I can confidently say that Dan Towner is one of the best professors I’ve had in the three years I’ve been on the Johnson campus. No piece I could write could completely give him the...

Insights from adoptee's POV

Insights from adoptee’s POV

Jill Pressman March 26, 2024

Let’s talk about adoption. No, not pet adoption. Child adoption. It’s not talked about enough. It can be a difficult topic to discuss, and people have different opinions about it, much like everything...

McClelland Hall is the subject of speculation regarding federal funds to
convert a Johnson campus building to housing for older Vermonters.

A Sanders Spring Surprise

Russ Weis, Staff Writer March 26, 2024

On Monday, March 18, Bernie Sanders’ office announced that the senator had secured more than $42.5 million in federal funding to support 36 Vermont projects that address critical needs across the state....

Harambee: It’s all coming together

Dayne Bell March 26, 2024

No, it’s not a joke. This upcoming April 1, the VTSU Johnson campus will host its first ever “Harambee,” an event dedicated to holding open space for students to communicate their issues and needs...

Johnson Students for Model UN

Sage Mkazas Selec March 26, 2024

On February 15, a group of excited students from a relatively unknown state university in Vermont drove down to Boston, Mass. Their goal? To participate in the annual Harvard National Model United Nations,...

Back Left: Prof. Dave Plazek.
Middle row from the left: Amina Mishkat, Steldie Mabiala, Adiance Cheromiah, Kaitlyn Stone, Camille Jackson, Will Stevens, Griffin Bell, Setty Provencher.
Front row from the left: Emerson Bemis, Maria Mesquita, Daniel Sorano.

VTSU students rep. Zambia at Model UN conference

Camille Jackson March 26, 2024

Editor’s Note: This piece was published originally in Castleton Spartan. “Zambia is present and voting,” Vermont State University students said during each committee session as country roll call...

Student Court: What you need to know

Student Court: What you need to know

Evan Coleman March 26, 2024

Editor’s note: This piece was published originally on Lyndon’s ‘‘The Critic.’ See the online version at nvulyndoncritic.com for links to relevant resources. There have been many new topics...

Join Together With The Band

Join Together With The Band

Russ Weis and Destiny Herron March 26, 2024

On a recent Wednesday evening, an eclectic mix of people, bearing instrument cases of all shapes and sizes, could be seen entering Dibden Performing Arts Center and making their way up to the stage. These...

How to cultivate a COVID-free campus

Heike Chaney March 26, 2024

It’s no secret, at the peak of March 2020, we feared for the worst in our overall ways of living and being. Despite the fact that we had hope in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, its clear spread remains...

Sandy Noyes bids farewell

Sandy Noyes bids farewell

Heike Chaney and Zach Davidson February 20, 2024

Sandra Noyes, Staff Assistant and Office Manager for the Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics Department, has graced the VTSU-Johnson community as the department’s fun-loving “surrogate mother.”...

First Month Madness

First Month Madness

Dayne Bell February 20, 2024

The year began with a fire alarm. On the first day of classes, students at Johnson were put in a compromising situation when, in the middle of classes, a pipe burst in the entrance of the Willey Library....

Frankenstein's Paper

“Just push ’em all together.”

Dayne Bell February 20, 2024

In order to support the concept of “One University,” all VSTU publications, Johnson’s Basement Medicine, Castleton’s Castleton Spartan, and Lyndon’s The Critic are to be merged into one, unified,...

How to beat the winter blues

How to beat the winter blues

Mik Crane December 10, 2023

     As the mornings become darker and the sky grows grayer, the armed and dangerous winter blues make their way back into town.  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or seasonal...

Load More Stories