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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

Laura Roald and her dog Maple!

The Roald Less Taken

Wilbur Hayes October 29, 2024

Laura Roald is a part-time faculty member for the Performance Arts & Technology program at VTSU-Johnson. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a town about the size of Burlington, comparatively,...

A series of fliers and posters from the VCPL conference.

Finding Solidarity for Palestine in Vermont

Sage Mkazas Selec October 29, 2024

It’s been a year since the revolt (or attack, depending on who you ask) on October 7th. Since then, much has happened to the people of Gaza and Occupied Palestine. From the International Court of Justice...

Alexandre Strokanov

The Great Dissident

Raymonda Parchment September 24, 2024

Alexandre Strokanov is a Professor of History and Global Studies on the VTSU Lyndon and Johnson campuses.   Where did you grow up? Well, I grew up in a town called Tchaikovsky. It is a...

Maya Nasta with a golden-doodle, Lucy

Everywhere all at once

Heike Chaney May 7, 2024

Maya Nasta is the Assistant Director for Student Activities and Student Life. The following interview was conducted over email. What brought you to VTSU-Johnson the previous year? This is the end of...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Liana Morel April 4, 2024

Nationally known artist, activist, and educator Traci Molloy will be at Vermont State University-Castleton for a short residency to premiere her project Against My Will: Castleton. Molloy collaborated...

"They Said, They Said" Podcast Logo

Growing Up Multi-Ethnic

Sage Mkazas Selec and Jill Pressman March 28, 2024

In our modern-day society, especially with the invention of the internet, connecting with people from across the globe and cultures has never been easier and more accessible. However, before our time,...

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...

Blessings in disguise

Destiny Herron March 26, 2024

It all happened when I was about 13 years old. It was close to midnight, and I was soundlessly sleeping along with my two younger sisters. Then, one of them shook me awake while saying, “Destiny, wake...

Greg Matses has been teaching the Funk Fusion ensemble on campus since around 2010.

Johnson’s own rock guy

Sage Mkazas Selec March 26, 2024

Greg Matses, part-time music professor at the Johnson-VTSU campus, has been working here for over 22 years. His first professional gigs were in Massachusetts over 50 years ago, where he grew up. He’s...

Dr Todd E Pressman, PhD

Deconstructing Anxiety: An interview with the author

Jill Pressman March 26, 2024

Author’s note: Hi! My name is Jill Pressman, Dr. Todd Pressman is in fact my father. We have a very close relationship, which is what made this interview possible. Anxiety can be scary and hard to...

Erika Nichols-Frazer holding her books, Feed Me and Staring Too Closely

A writer at heart

Dayne Bell and Destiny Herron February 20, 2024

Erika Nichols-Frazer is the Writing and Humanities Development Coordinator in Academic Support and TRiO for VTSU- Johnson. What did it feel like when you published your first book? I was nervous and...

ADHD management tips

Sage Mkazas Selec February 20, 2024

If you’re an AuADHD (Autism + Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) individual like I am (or just have ADHD), I see you! I see the struggle to keep up with deadlines, knowing you have to do something...

LAUFEY

Laufey, 24, is everybody’s Valentine

Heike Chaney December 10, 2023

Generation Z folk have had diverse attitudes toward Jazz music. Some might have heard an album from Frank Sinatra and muttered a simple “not interested” in return. If asked about a favorite Jazz artist,...

Old english game bantam

More on chickens

Annika Cooper December 10, 2023

The simplest narrative for the domestication of the modern day chicken is that humans in southeastern Asia decided to tame some of the game birds in the area, which happened to be what we call red junglefowl,...

David Bergh

Round three? An Interview with David Bergh

Dayne Bell December 10, 2023

This past November, VTSU welcomes our third, you heard right, third President, and the second on an interim basis, (third if you count our very own Nolan Atkins) in 2023. David Bergh was asked a range...

Gael Eddy and Isaac Eddy

The Man, the myth, the legend

Jill Pressman December 10, 2023

Isaac Eddy has been Chair of the Theatre Department for VTSU for nine years and has seen it go from Johnson State College to Northern Vermont University to Vermont State University.  This interview...

WENDELL & WILD - Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross). Cr: Netflix © 2022

“My demons have names.”

Dayne Bell November 8, 2023

Do you love Halloween classics like ParaNorman and Corpse Bride? Are you looking for a new animated film to enjoy? Released in 2022, Netflix’s Wendell and Wild is a horror comedy that wrenches the heart...

This Ameraucana Life

This Ameraucana Life

Annika Cooper November 8, 2023

What is a blue egg? Why is it blue? Where did it come from? Blue eggs exist without the use of artificial dye? These are questions that can be answered by the Ameraucana chicken. Blue chicken eggs are...

Oscar Meyer Wienermobiles?

Oscar Meyer Wienermobiles?

Mik Crane November 8, 2023

Jamia Danzy is the Dean of Students for all VTSU campuses and is specifically based at the Johnson location in Dewey 161.   What are some of your responsibilities as a dean of students? So,...

Why what's happening to Palestinians is genocide

Why what’s happening to Palestinians is genocide

Sage Mkazas Selec November 8, 2023

There have been a lot of questions, concerns, and criticisms raised regarding the most recent events that have transpired in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. As of October 7, different Palestinian...

Chef-owner Jan Chotalal and her staff: left to right: Julie Schweidenback, Jan Chotalal, Angelina Musto, Katya Moselle

Marsala Salsa reborn in Johnson: South of the border flavors on South Main

Gabby Wells April 27, 2023

With the dissolution of Downtown Pizzeria and Pub comes a new restaurant contender to Johnson’s 21 Lower Main Street, Jan Chotalal’s Marsala Salsa, an intriguing fusion of Caribbean, Indian, and Mexican...

All fired up

All fired up

Gabby Wells April 27, 2023

In a small aikido studio on 257 Pine Street in Burlington, a juggler deftly slings four pins in a cascading pattern. A hoop artist hoists herself up and spins idly, suspended from the ceiling. These are...

Running Man

Running Man

Dayne Bell April 27, 2023

Brian Slater serves as Johnson’s Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Sports Information, and Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach. I really gotta do this...

Joan Donhaue

Remembering Joan

Hannah McMahon April 27, 2023

Joan Donahue was born in January of 1932, the youngest of thirteen children. Her parents owned a farm in Graniteville, a section of Barre Town located near the E.L. Smith Quarry. Although at this time...

Dusty Kenney, Dave Dolua, Amanda Palumbo and Patrick Olszewski bring a high level of service to their customers

Higher Education comes to Cambridge

Hannah McMahon March 14, 2023

Since last October, cannabis dispensaries have been popping up all over Vermont, seemingly all with their own niche that sets each one apart from the other. At the end of last year, Cambridge Country...

Sonja Kivela

Rainbows, kitties and unicorns

Deanna Oakes March 14, 2023

Sonja Kivela is a senior on the NVU-Johnson campus. A first-generation college student and a single mother, she boasts an impressive list of extracurriculars as vice president of the Student Government...

KEN MOORE

Heaven is a deep hole in the ground

Interview by Alli McLaughlin February 11, 2023

Ken Moore is the campus electrician for NVU-Johnson, aspiring curmudgeon, and avid explorer. What is your favorite part of your job? Being able to make things work for the college and for the students,...

Gwen Campus

Some things fishy

Interview by Deanna Oakes February 11, 2023

Gwen Campus is a Johnson campus alum who can often be found smiling as she greets those entering the Sodexo establishments in Stearns. She greets all who enter with a cheery demeanor, and is always happy...

A tale of two houses

Hannah McMahon November 14, 2022

The home in which I grew up had been occupied by McMahons for over a century. The red house on the corner of Franklin Street had been witness to four generations, observing as we moved through its walls,...

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