By Max C. Bookman

Every Catamount knows that UVM loves to support the local community. Not only is it a Vermont thing to do, but as national chains cause rapid homogenization in cities across the country, going local has become the right thing to do.

In light of that ambitious local spirit, the school administration has given an effective monopoly on dining to a quaint little local food company with a cute, friendly, non-corporate name, Sodexho.

For those who doubt Sodexho’s local credentials, look no further than their website: “Sodexho is a leading integrated food and facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion in annual revenue and 125,000 employees. Sodexho serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites.”

By Mac Smith

1. Thailand-
Alarmed by polls reporting that a quarter of teenagers might be having sex on Valentine’s Day, Bankok’s police beefed up security at restaurants, movie theaters, motels, and public parks to make sure nobody was doing the nasty. After all that hard work, Bankok PD relaxed on Friday with 7 bags of opium and 47 hookers.

VT Governor Jim Douglas (left) shares a chuckle with Presidential
candidate John McCain in South Burlington. (AP Photo)

By Max C. Bookman

“That’s so evil!”

-Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, explaining the evil-ness of various terrorist actions to an enthusiastic crowd at Burlington Airport on Thursday.

By Alex Townsend

Dear Journal,

This Valentine’s Day was great. Really, I was ready to go all-out. In fact, I had a list prepared of all my favorite romance movies. I watched them all back to back while I cuddled up with…well I don’t really have anyone to cuddle with right now so it had to be my teddy bear. But that’s okay! Zolton’s a way better listener than any stupid significant other anyway.

By Colin Lucas

In the dying light of an African eve, two elephants silhouetted themselves against the backdrop of a dried-up watering hole bordered by mophane forest. The sun disappeared behind the high branches of a single flat-topped acacia tree, the last of its orange glow fighting through the leaves before transforming to purple then blue then darkness.

At this final stage of dusk when everything – the sky, the trees, the earth – seem to calmly breathe but don’t dare to speak, we sat before the creatures where only minutes before they had cast their final shadows.

By Peter Casasa-Blouin

I tend to like control over my music but I will listen to the radio if the listening is choice. Valentine’s eve was one such occasion that I did not mind dead air and commercials because a local band was playing live on the University Radio station and absolutely killing it.

The name of the band is Rokú and you should know them (UVM’s not so big plus they have a myspace page, myspace.com/rokumusic) Although their personage has shifted, as college bands do over the years, they still bring a certain funk that never leaves with band members but can only be compounded.

By Peter Salerno

There is a fierce battle being waged on the Democratic side of the race for the presidency. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are firing on all cylinders as they come down the home stretch. Each speaks about change in every state they are campaigning in, yet whose change is better. This is up to the voter to decide and as of right now the voter is having a tough time making that decision.

They both want to help the ‘common American,’ and take power away from lobbyists and big business. Yet with both camps touting the same ideology a clear frontrunner is nearly impossible to choose.

Couldn’t catch a name? Submit your love anonymously to
www.thewatertowernews.com/iwantyousobad

So you saw me tag a table in the library, and you liked my style? I smiled at everyone outside, I need a hint so I know which smile we are talking about here. Have you seen the movie Amelie? I like her style. Check it out, and get back to me.
When: January 22, 2008
Where: The Water Tower Newspaper

Read on to learn more about this event.

A day in the life of Travis Walklett
Illustration by Alexander Whitehead
This section deconstructs the styles of today. The tripartite nature of the section demonstrates the intersection of image-word-mathematics.

7:00 a.m.: Drags self to gym for quick shock of the abs and biceps, leaving blonde frosh sleeping soundly — she didn’t get in his bed because she liked his “soft” body.

10 a.m.: Showers and dresses. Decides to wear sweatsuit to class, gives him the option of hitting up the gym during his afternoon break.

10:30 a.m.: Protein bar

11 a.m.: First class. Who knew being a phys-ed major would attract so many hot chicks.

By Bridget Treco

It’s unfortunate that a great network like FOX, which has provided us with quality entertainment for over a decade, has fallen so behind in ratings that it was forced to introduce a new game show: Moment of Truth.

Here’s how it works: unsuspecting hopefuls are taken backstage and asked some “juicy” questions with a lie detector test.

By Sally Wiebe

I am going to be fair and open this piece with the secret that I am one of those girls you would catch pre-gaming at a party listening to the Ying Yang Twins’ “Wait (The Whisper Song).” Maybe if I were solely focusing on the lyrics I might hate it, but instead I become mesmerized by someone whispering the lyrics through my sound system which somehow makes it seem less derogatory and, quite frankly, charming. This is the case with last November’s EP, “Spank Rock and Benny Blanco Are… Bangers and Cash.”