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

Punk Science: carbon sucks!

Punk Science: carbon sucks!

Opal Savoy, Editor In Chief December 9, 2021

Hello again, fellow punk scientists. This is part two of the climate change miniseries from Punk Science. Last time, we explored the arctic seed vault on Svalbard, and the way climate change has affected...

Build back barely

Arlo Aldrich, Contributer November 18, 2021

Biden’s build back better bill is in shambles. From an initial budget of $6 trillion for the fiscal year to the $3.5 trillion vote in August, the newest revision of government spending is down to $1.75...

The Svalbard Seed Vault

Punk Science: world’s seediest hotel

Opal Savoy, Editor in Chief November 18, 2021

Hello again, fellow punk scientists. It is finally time to cover one of the largest scientific issues that we are confronting this century. That issue is, of course, climate change. The trouble with...

Opinion: its not all about you

Opinion: it’s not all about you

Randy Brock, Franklin District Republican senator and Senate Minority Leader November 18, 2021

If you’re one of the millions of unvaccinated Americans, I’ve heard all of your reasons: freedom of choice, skepticism, feeling of invincibility, denial, political belief, laziness, distrust of government,...

Blue in Green promotional photo

VT filmmaker focuses on addiction

Kyle Gagnon, Sports Editor October 28, 2021

Filmmaker and Vermont native Adam Benay released the second short film of his series, “The North End Stories,” earlier this year. “Blue in Green” follows dual storylines of Vermonters and the...

Punk Science: tree clocks and Norse settlers

Punk Science: tree clocks and Norse settlers

Opal Savoy, Editor in Chief October 28, 2021

Hello again, fellow punk scientists. Scientists just discovered something pretty interesting that took place almost exactly 1000 years ago on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland. In A.D. 1021 the...

Why?

Soleil Devyn Borthwick, Managing Editor October 14, 2021

It was Tuesday, Sept. 21, at around noon. I was in the Basement Medicine office, doing last minute work to clean up our first issue for the semester which was releasing just two days later. The room was...

The planet Mercury

Mercury in retrograde

Kai Jamil, Staff Reporter October 14, 2021

If you’re anything like me, you might be aware that we are in the midst of this year’s dreaded retrograde season. If you’re not, you might need an explanation; retrograde season is the time of year...

Trees don’t bark...

Trees don’t bark…

Opal Savoy, Editor In Chief October 14, 2021

Greetings, fellow punk scientists! It’s that time of the year again, where the hills and valleys of Vermont light up with all the pretty red, orange, and yellow leaves that make the trees look like...

Punk science: from dawn till dusk

Punk science: from dawn till dusk

Opal Savoy, Editor In Chief September 23, 2021

Greetings, fellow punk scientists! Summer has come and gone, and with it comes another round of punk science for all three of the nerds like me who live and work here in our community. Recently, I stumbled...

Punk science says,  “Shots, shots, shots, everybody!”

Punk science says, “Shots, shots, shots, everybody!”

Opal Savoy, Web Editor May 3, 2021

Let’s talk about shots! Now, I know what you’re thinking. You were hoping that this was going to be an article about things like tequila shots or Jell-O shots or some other form of alcohol consumption....

A note from the Editor...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief May 3, 2021

I sit here now in my college apartment two weeks away from graduation, readers, and I cannot say that I am feeling entirely one way about leaving. Yes, I am incredibly hopeful and optimistic about what...

Here’s the rap from SLAP

Samantha Brodzinski, Contributor April 12, 2021

As the warm weather begins to roll in and the semester nears its end, there are not many opportunities left to enjoy time with friends before the summer break. That being said, the Student Lead Activities...

Punk Science: Wi-Fi from the sky

Opal Savoy, Web Editor April 12, 2021

Welcome to the third semester of Punk Science my fellow nerdlings! In this week’s installment, we briefly say goodbye to the sciences in order to visit its neighbor in the STEM acronym: technology. With...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief April 12, 2021

As we wear through March and into April, I find myself weary of this life we’re leading. By god, it’s 13 months into a pandemic. You’d think people would have learned to put their mask above their...

Punk Science: coping with COVID

Opal Savoy, Web Editor March 18, 2021

Welcome to the third semester of Punk Science my fellow nerdlings! I’ve avoided this topic for as long as I could, but I have finally been worn down to the point where I feel it’s time to talk about...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief March 18, 2021

I wrote last issue about the tremendous uproar that is to come here in Northern Vermont, and the fallout that might occur. I want to delve further into an area that I feel very strongly about-- the culture...

Punk Science talks poles... the magnetic ones, of course!

Punk Science talks poles… the magnetic ones, of course!

Opal Savoy, Web Editor March 3, 2021

Welcome to the third semester of Punk Science, my fellow nerdlings! As most people that have taken a high school level science class are aware, the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that protects...

I miss Web Advisor, but you probably don’t

I miss Web Advisor, but you probably don’t

Soleil Devyn Borthwick, Copy Editor March 3, 2021

Now I bet most of you highfalutin techno-wizards out there couldn’t give a flying fungus about my preferences, be they culinary, sexual or technologically oriented. But I’m going to talk about them...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief March 3, 2021

Here we go again, indeed! It feels like only yesterday (though only a very few short years ago) that we made that faithful, fateful leap between Johnson State and Northern Vermont University, and now here...

Just because you can’t travel for Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holiday with some good eats.

Eat this! Holiday meals to remember

Justin Robertiello, Staff Reporter November 28, 2020

Cheesy Pumpkin Dip I believe canned pumpkin deserves more respect and isn’t necessarily just for the bakers in the house. It should have a place in the beginning of a meal, such as an aromatic appetizer....

Punk Science talks postpartum

Opal Savoy, Web Editor November 28, 2020

Hello again my fellow punk scientists! For this final instalment of the semester, it felt appropriate to select a topic that would meet as many categories on the punk science rubric as possible to deliver...

Legendary media host Alex Trebek.

A tribute to Alex Trebek

Allison Irons, Staff Reporter November 28, 2020

For as long as I can remember, we always used to have the TV on in our kitchen during dinner. When it was 7:00, we would all turn our heads to the TV when the Jeopardy theme song came on. Alex Trebek appeared...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief November 28, 2020

What a whirlwind this has been, huh? Here we are, having survived a presidential election, a pandemic and a horrifying semester. We’ve overcome a lot together. This is our last print edition for the...

Eat this!

Eat this!

Justin Robertiello, Staff Reporter November 13, 2020

In the court of casual eating, the burger is king. It can be served deliciously naked or dressed up in countless mouth-watering combinations. I’ve had some burgers that I dream about because they hit...

The idiot gamer: Skyrim

The idiot gamer: Skyrim

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief November 13, 2020

I am and have always been an idiot when it comes to gaming. Sure, I’m nerdy, but the games I’m usually drawn to make “proper” gamers turn up their noses: “Minecraft” and “Animal Crossing”...

“Plan 9 from Outer Space”

“Plan 9 from Outer Space”

Soleil Devyn Borthwick, Copy Editor November 13, 2020

Only a few things are usually needed to ruin an otherwise fine film. However, writer, director and producer Ed Wood seemed to take no risk of a good movie when creating his most famous film, “Plan...

Punk Science

Opal Savoy, Web Editor November 13, 2020

Hello again my fellow punk scientists! There has always been a human fascination with space. From the first landing on the moon to the discovery of water on mars, there has been no shortage of fantastic...

A note from the Editor…

Rebecca Flieder, Editor in Chief November 13, 2020

What a whirlwind this has been, huh? Here we are, having survived a presidential election, a pandemic and a horrifying semester. We’ve overcome a lot together. This is our last print edition for the...

Justin Robertiello

Eat This!

Justin Robertiello, Staff Reporter October 26, 2020

When the leaves begin to change color, apples start to ripen, and the air becomes a little crisper, Fall has arrived for me. It’s a wonderful time of year, full of scents like burning wood from fireplaces...

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