Vermont Cynic

Issue date: 4/18/06 Section: Features

Media Credit: C.W. Soule

It was an unusually warm evening last Tuesday and as I often do, I made my way towards my favorite bench on the green, the one that looks between the Nicholson House and the Waterman Building, over town and across the lake to the Adirondacks.

On nights like those the sky erupts into a live action oil painting with shades of pink, blue, red, orange, and purple melting out over the lake, until the sun tucks itself safely behind the mountains. As I headed for the familiar spot though, something caught my ear. Music, Neil Young specifically, emanating through the warm spring air from the other side of the green.

I followed the sounds straight to the other side of the green, but as far as I could tell, there was no one there. I made my way through a grove of trees and found myself transported to a mysterious place.

I couldn't help feeling like the Pevensies as they first stumbled into Narnia; I had stumbled upon Tent City. My first encounter was with two girls putting the finishing touches on a 10'x10' fortress constructed entirely out of empty cardboard boxes. Confused as to what I was seeing I enquired:

"What's going on here exactly?" and in unison the two girls proudly announced,

"We're building a box palace!" They had apparently not understood the question, but I figured I'd play along just the same.

"What is it that you plan on doing with this box palace?"

"Sleeping in it of course." The taller of the two, a blonde girl in a flowing halter- top explained, as she ripped a piece of duct tape.

Right. But why sleep in the box palace and not one of the fifteen some odd tents, or large blue tarp strung up just beyond the Heady Box Palace? I had to find out more.

I strolled around the impromptu camping area and was greeted by Chris Duban who was sitting in front of a tent facing the wall of trees. Maybe he'd be able to answer my question. "What exactly is going on here?" I tried again, Chris looked a little less loopy so I assumed he would field the question in the appropriate manner.

"We're here representing S.L.A.P, the Student Labor Action Project." Chris then went on to inform me that SLAP was working for laborers rights in Vermont where the minimum wage is $7.25. In addition to the minimum wage, the Vermont Joint Fiscal Office issues a livable wage, $12.42 in the state.

This is a number that was agreed upon, as the annual income one needs to achieve basic needs such as: Food, Transportation, Child Care, Health Care, and 5% savings.

Continued...

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