She’s for the birds
May 9, 2019
Hannah Miller is an assistant professor of Education at NVU-Johnson. What’s your biggest passion? School. I talk about school all the time. I have been in a school every year of my life since age three. So I have been a student, then a teacher, then student, then a professor. Now I’m a professo...
Easy rider
April 24, 2019
Jonathan Davis is the Dean of Students for NVU. What obsesses you? My biggest passion in my life is my kids. How many kids do you have? I have two kids. A nine year old and a seven year old. I mean, obviously that wasn’t always my passion. Sports, kids, and work. That’s all that I have time...
Brewing at the border
April 4, 2019
I’ve been in the Southwest for a few months now, and while I’ve had to adapt to many changes in my daily life here, the biggest change has been my relationship with coffee. We’re quite serious. I love coffee. I am accustomed to the constant availability of coffee in almost every...
An extroverted introvert
March 21, 2019
Emily Neilsen is the Coordinator of First-Year Events at NVU-Johnson. Neilsen grew up in Burlington and came to work for NVU-Johnson in 2012. How did you wind up here at Johnson? So, I was living in Burlington, and then my husband became the caretaker of a piece of property that’s like 200 acres....
A black eye in Vegas
March 21, 2019
I got a black eye in Las Vegas. A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to go to Las Vegas. It was for a two-day sevens rugby tournament. I had been practicing with our rag-tag team, the New Mexico State Lady Chiles, for a month. We were, in a word; ill-prepared. Because we didn’t have the numbers...
She’s just Ducky!
February 8, 2019
Ducky Joslin is a sophomore at NVU-Johnson majoring in Outdoor Education. What is the story behind the name “Ducky?” When I was really little my sister gave me the nickname because Iwas always following her around like a duckling with a baby diaper waddle, and I’d constantly be making duck f...
Letter from Las Cruces: Our far-flung correspondent checks in
February 8, 2019
It’s flat here. I noticed it as I flew over El Paso, Texas, how sprawling the landscape is, only to be interrupted by the occasional clump of jagged mountains. From the airplane window, I could see squares of land neatly sectioned off into various shades of brown and green between long roads and...
WJSC’s eclectic mix
December 14, 2018
It’s a busy semester at the WJSC 90.7 station in Stearns this semester. With nine planned shows in Spring 2019 spanning over 15 hours plus drop-in DJ time, WJSC has quite a lot to listen to. Student manager Seth Knight had positive things to say about this semester’s progress as a radio station. "...
TGIF for Dungeons and Dragons
October 2, 2018
It is 6 p.m. on Friday and for some on campus, that means one thing—game time. The players shuffle in one by one, carrying bags of dice and snacks to bribe the dungeon master, the game’s organizer. They settle in, heckle the latecomers, and begin checking what equipment their characters still have...
Dr. Twigg branches out
May 10, 2018
Associate Professor Sharon Twigg is chair of the Writing and Literature Department and specializes in British Iiterature. She does double duty as associate academic dean at Johnson. You have dual positions here, one as associate academic dean at Johnson and one as associate professor and chair of the ...
Marrying young
Story and photo by Kylie Brown
May 9, 2018
“The moment that I decided that he was the one and I wanted to get married was literally the first time I saw him,” said Johnson State student Deanna Trahan. “I know that it sounds insane, but it’s true. I met Tyler in the Hannaford’s parking lot, and for some crazy reason I looked at my best...
Marijuana legalization poses possible pot policy conflict with Feds
April 26, 2018
On Jan. 4, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo rescinding Obama-era guidance on state-level marijuana legalization, effectively rekindling a dated war on America’s most commonly used illicit substance. Coincidentally, Jan. 4 was also the day that the Vermont House gave final clearance...
I got my kicks at Beast of the East
April 26, 2018
I don’t often question the places I stand. Usually, I am placed there, and it is the confidence of others that typically gives me the peace of mind that I am useful in that spot and will do well there. That Saturday afternoon, April 14, as I stood poised on the rugby pitch, I seriously questioned...
Hana! Dul! Set!
Story and photo by Adriana Eldred
April 26, 2018
“Hana! Dul! Set! Net!” Stanley Parsons, otherwise addressed as Sir, has been involved in Taekwondo since 1984. Now in his 70s, with a thick mane of white hair and full beard, he watches his students critically from behind glasses and between bushy brows. He perches on a walker, a cane resting ...
The play’s the thing
December 13, 2017
Cody Logan is a JSC senior majoring in musical theater. He has appeared in many JSC productions, including “Grease,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Cabaret.” Why do you snap instead of clap for people? Usually people clap. I like to be different than everyone else, not becaus...
How to play with cats: the art of heavy petting
December 13, 2017
I walked into my friend’s apartment with the goal of preparing crepes on a Sunday morning, green cast iron crepe pan in my backpack and a jug of milk in my hand. I was greeted with the smell of fresh cat litter in the three trays, two of which are a new and temporary addition to the household. The...
Truth telling in Tennessee
December 13, 2017
Tucked away in the rolling hills and forested mountains of Tennessee’s Monroe County, Tellico Plains, borders North Carolina and resembles some of Vermont’s most scenic qualities, only with warmer temperatures, more republicans and evangelical Protestants per Pew Research Center. Tellico Plains,...
More than 1,000 words
November 29, 2017
John Miller is a professor of fine arts at Johnson State College, focusing mainly on photography, both traditional film and digital. In 1992, he published a book of photographs called “Deer Camp: Last Night in the Northeast Kingdom,” which documents the rituals and culture of hunting camps in northern...
Raising hell and making Noyes
November 8, 2017
Sandra Noyes has been working at JSC for 24 years. Along with serving as campus chair for the represented staff union, Noyes is staff assistant for the Humanities and Writing and Literature departments. What is your favorite part of this job? I think I’m supposed to say the students. That would be th...
“She did some stuff”
October 26, 2017
Brittney Malik is a JSC junior focusing her studies on theater. She grew up in Randolph, Vermont, and has made waves on campus with her activism and dedication. Her efforts helped bring together multiple campus events and performances, and raise the Black Lives Matter flag outside Stearns. What do you ...
Cuban media is more complicated than it seems
October 26, 2017
The media in Cuba, one of three remaining Communist countries in the word, is generally portrayed as a monolithic mouthpiece for the Cuban government, which maintains tight control over media coverage of everything from sports to politics. According to University of Havana professors Rafael Betancourt...
Outing club: “a mecca for outdoor recreation”
October 26, 2017
The next time someone tells you to take a hike, you might want to consider JSC’s Outing Club, which offers a variety of outdoor adventures including caving, bouldering, rock climbing, rafting and, yes, hiking. “The goal of Outing Club is to get students outdoors,” said Becca Farrow, the club’s...
Rocks in His Head
October 2, 2017
Leslie Kanat, professor of geology in the Department of Environmental and Health sciences, has taught at JSC since 1989 after receiving a Ph.D. in earth sciences at Cambridge University. How did you end up in Cambridge? I ended up in Cambridge because of the work I was doing as a maste...
Getting high on mountain life
September 14, 2017
Brad Moskowitz is a professor of outdoor education at JSC who finds peace and empowerment in the world’s natural beauty and environmental. And even though he admits he’s a westerner at heart, he says Vermont’s natural and social communities have won him over. Basement Medicine recently sat down...
BARB WIRED
April 27, 2017
Barb Flathers is the assistant to the dean of students and the friendly face in the residence life office. She’s married to her best friend, Bruce, and has two grown children, three step children and two step grandchildren. She enjoys arts and crafts and spending time outdoors. She’s an integral...
The importance of support animals
April 27, 2017
As one walks along the sidewalks of Johnson State College, it is not uncommon to see a cat or two sunning themselves in the dorm room windows. This is because JSC allows students with diagnosed mental illnesses to have emotional support animals, or ESAs, on campus. There are currently 27 animals on campus,...
Springtime is for the birds
April 27, 2017
Some consider it a scientific pursuit, some say it’s a competitive sport, and others call it a hobby. However people view it, birding is an environmentally friendly way to collect, share and celebrate some of nature’s most unique creatures. In recent years, birders have witnessed many changes in...
Transitioning Perspectives: A closer look into policy
April 27, 2017
As the lives and perspectives of the transgender community have become more public, so too has the history of misrepresentation of trans lives in the media, misdiagnoses of gender identity as mental illness, and the ongoing need for trans-affirmative resources for youth and adults. The trans...
Dinner with the Kardashians
April 14, 2017
Kate Abdel-Fatah followed both of her brothers to Johnson State College, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t made a name for herself on campus. With a lot of personal growth, new passions and important life experiences, Abdel-Fatah has become a leader in the Student Government Association and a strong...
Black bears: Vermont’s largest pests
April 14, 2017
During the winter, usually the biggest pests that people need to worry about are squirrels. However, as soon as the snow melts and the temperatures get warmer, the pests become much bigger and heavier. Black bears are a common problem when winter comes to an end. They get into everything from bird feeders...
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