Punk Science talks sex, violence

Opal Savoy, Student

March 12, 2020

Welcome back my fellow punk scientists! This time around I thought I would delve a little deeper into the bottomless pool that is sex and pornography and discuss some of the cultural aspects of sex as they pertain to our very own society. While I don’t anticipate there to be anything particularly offensive...

Our campus pantry

Kat Little, Student

March 12, 2020

It is commonly known that college students often struggle with the affordability of necessary expenses such as food. For those who face food insecurity or just need an extra meal, each week at Northern Vermont University-Johnson, the Food Pantry is a wonderful option. Located in the Wellness Center of...

Casino Night: food, friends and fun

Jesse Streeter, Student

March 12, 2020

Attention all NVU-Johnson students! What are you doing on the night of Friday, March 20? The only right answer is coming to the NVU -Johnson Student Government’s 43rd Annual Casino Night! What is it? Casino Night is only the single greatest event on campus each year! A huge crowd always turns...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor-in-Chief

March 12, 2020

Bon Jovi said it best, you guys. We really are halfway there. The end of the semester is nigh... I hope, at least, we’re not living on a prayer. Jokes aside, these are intersting times we live in, so I thought I’d take a moment to chat about it. I have two pieces of advice this week. One: chill...

Notes on belonging

Elaine Harvey, Contributor

March 12, 2020

I hope you can tell by now that talking about “belonging” makes my tail wag like a lab puppy waiting for treats. I care about it because it is a fundamental factor in helping students get their degrees. However, according to an Inside Higher Ed report from 2019, nationwide, only 59 percent of undergraduate...

A frustrating reception

Adriana Eldred, Photo & Web Editor

March 12, 2020

Northern Vermont University had a reception at the Vermont Statehouse the afternoon of Feb. 26. During the two-hour event, there was a light flow of bodies filtering through the doors, but the majority of the attention was directed to the hors d’oeuvres on the center table. Light chatter filled the...

Serving up companionship and warm food with warm hearts

Autumn Nailor, Student

February 20, 2020

The Community Meal, which is held in the United Church of Johnson, provides the people of Johnson not only with a home-cooked meal, but also with a safe space to gather and form connections. Last month, I assisted with the meal through the SERVE office. Upon arriving there, I was immediately greeted...

From the SGA: Get your discounts here

Luke Buglion-Gluck, Student

February 20, 2020

My name is Luke Buglion-Gluck. I am a senator on NVU-J’s Student Government Association. This is my first year in this position and so far it’s been pretty cool. Lots happens within the walls of the SGA office. It feels good to be making a difference on campus and making it more enjoyable for everyone....

Student Advisory Council grapples with Sodexo service, lousy laundry logistics and much more

Adriana Eldred, Photo & Web Editor

February 20, 2020

On Feb. 4, the President’s Student Advisory Council held its first meeting of the semester. We welcomed Tom Fondakowski to discuss an issue that was brought up last semester concerning food accessibility to athletes and other students. Because practices often bleed into dinner time, the current...

Punk Science: Let’s talk about porn

Opal Savoy, Student

February 20, 2020

Welcome back, my fellow punk scientists! This week I have a special topic to bring to your attention, one that is probably both incredibly relatable and also incredibly awkward all at the same time. I am of course talking about porn. Let’s take a step back for a moment and examine this with a few...

Notes on Belonging

Elaine Harvey, Contributor

February 20, 2020

In the last “Notes on Belonging” column, I encouraged our campus to engage in small acts geared towards fostering a sense of belonging at Northern Vermont University. I’m curious, how did that go? I didn’t have a flood of new visitors in my office, so I’ll choose to assume that you were all...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor-in-Chief

February 20, 2020

On a particularly busy day last week, I was driving into Morrisville when I spotted a peculiar sight. Just beyond the roundabout next to the Charlmont, a tire was crossing the road all by its lonesome. I wasn’t in the most particularly happy mindset; it had been a fraught day. But seeing the tire...

Get ready for Casino Night with SGA

Jesse Streeter, Student

February 10, 2020

Students of the Northern Vermont University – Johnson student body, may I have your attention. The NVU – Johnson Student Government is gearing up to host our 43rd annual Casino Night on Friday, March 20. If you haven’t heard of Casino Night yet, stop living under a rock! This is undoubtedly the...

Feelin’ real about Meals on Wheels

Patrick Regels, Student

February 10, 2020

Throughout my time here at SERVE, I have had the honor of working with several different organizations alongside my coworkers, peers and staff alike. My current position as a community leader allows me to lead a group of volunteers to Meals on Wheels of Lamoille County. I have been leading these trips...

Notes on belonging

February 10, 2020

I moved a lot growing up. I was scooped up and dropped into seven new schools in 12 years. I got to know people in different states and became proficient at the “new kid” routine. I always felt like I had friends, but I never felt like I belonged to any one community. That was, of course, until summer...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor-in-Chief

February 6, 2020

Welcome back to Johnson, everyone! I am thrilled to announce a couple of new things coming to Basement Medicine this semester. First, I urge you to check out our new columnists on pages 5 and 7. Returning to the Forum section are two old favorites: SGA and SERVE. With the veterans, you’ll also find...

Punk Science

Opal Savoy, Student

February 6, 2020

Everyone can probably relate to having a hero in their field of interest, whether it’s an athlete who plays competitive sports or a musician or vocalist who spins lyrics and melody into song. For most people, we have these heroes and figures that we look up to in various arenas, the more fringe of...

PSAC talks parking

Adriana Eldred, Photo & Web Editor

February 6, 2020

Welcome back to a new semester! I can confidently say for everyone on the President’s Student Advisory Council that we are excited to be back on campus and ready to tackle our agenda. At our last meeting in December, we spoke to Public Safety Director Mike Palagonia. One popular issue that students...

Opinion: it’s a kangaroo court

Harry Abramsohn, Student

February 6, 2020

Democracy took another step into the darkness. I am not a particularly political person. I have my biases, and occasionally I even tell others my opinion, but I do not make an effort to have them known and I do not post them on social media. However, what happened in the Senate today was extraordinary,...

Seana Speaks: I am not a victim

Seana Speaks

December 12, 2019

It’s time to write an article. It’s time to write an article and it’s my job to do it. It’s my job to do it, and there are people who think that I am the best person for this job. There are people who think I am the best person for this job, and they are so, so wrong. I have fooled them, fooled...

An open letter from President Elaine Collins

Elaine Collins, NVU President

December 12, 2019

To the students of NVU: As the President of Northern Vermont University, I want to be crystal clear that the administration, faculty, and staff of NVU are dedicated and committed to you. I am uplifted and inspired every single day by the commitment I see all around me to serving our students and working...

Thank you: Veteran’s Day Dinner a resounding success

Tammy Carter, NVU Staff

December 12, 2019

I would like to take a moment out of everyone’s busy schedule to acknowledge the wonderful group of people that make up Sodexo on the NVU-Johnson campus. If it was not for them and their commitment to our community and beyond, we would not have been able to host our 5th annual Veteran’s Day Dinner....

“The View From Somewhere” and aspiring for better journalism

Ari Erlbaum, Staff Reporter

December 12, 2019

Over the summer I was an assistant at a weeklong beginner radio documentary intensive. Students came from across the country and converged on Durham, North Carolina to work in pairs on a three to six minute radio piece. One of these pairs, two white men, were assigned to interview a Black woman on the...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor-in-Chief

December 12, 2019

To everyone who read my editorial from last issue, thank you. Thank you for your comments, your shares and your stories. I am so glad to be surrounded by a community of people that have started to speak up when the time is right. Thank you to the people who came forward on Facebook and shared their...

Free books!

Jesse Streeter

November 21, 2019

Looking to hunker down on a long winter’s evening with a good book? Need something that can stimulate your mind or take you to a new universe? Want to learn more about your field of study outside of the classroom or assigned textbook? There are several ways that you can get access to free books around...

President’s Student Advisory Council introduction

Adriana Eldred

November 21, 2019

The Northern Vermont University – Johnson President’s Student Advisory Council held its first meeting of the semester on Nov 12. In the previous few weeks, Michele Whitmore recruited students to be on board. Two co-chairs were elected, senior and Education major Karina Williams, and senior and Journalism...

VSCS Chancellor Jeb Spaulding responds

Jeb Spaulding, VSCS Chancellor

November 21, 2019

I appreciate the chance to comment briefly on the recent Basement Medicine article, “NVU Community Signs Petition Calling For More Funding.” Thanks very much to the Vermont State Employees Association and the VSCS Staff Federation for creating a petition calling on the chancellor and our elected...

Where is our shade?

Rebecca Flieder

November 21, 2019

It has become increasingly more frustrating to “go along with the flow” during unification. Last week, at her State of the University address, President Collins showed the crowd all kinds of improvements that the university has made since unification. You can read all about that on page 2. She spoke...

Combating the mid-semester slump

Allison Irons, Staff Reporter

November 7, 2019

There are only five weeks left of the semester, and this is the time for the mid-semester slump. The turmoil of studying and preparing for hard midterms puts students under copious amounts of stress and anxiety. There are many students who may be struggling at this point in the semester, now that classes...

The Blood Drive recap

Heleigh West

November 7, 2019

Every semester Northern Vermont University-Johnson holds a blood drive. These events, coordinated by the SERVE Office and run by the Red Cross bring people together to give the gift of life to those who need it. Every pint of blood can save up to three lives and each drive in the history of Johnson (going...