YCQM: July 19, 2020
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) -
>> Darren: GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE, I'M DARREN
PERRONMENT RIGHT NOW ON "YOU
CAN QUOTE ME," FEMA'S FIGHT
AGAINST COVID.
AN OFFICIAL JOINS US TO
DISCUSS WHAT'S BEING DONE TO
HELP VERMONT AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
ALSO, THE LEGAL EXPERT WEIGHS
IN ON FORCED SCHOOL MERGERS
AFTER NEW SUPREME COURT
RULINGS.
PLUS, A YOUNG LGBTQ ACTIVIST
GETS NATIONAL ATTENTION FROM
"TEEN VOGUE" AND 'GLAD," NAMED A
TOP 20 UNDER 20 HONOREE.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
RESCINDS RULES ON FOREIGN
STUDENTS STUDYING ONLINE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN THIS
MORNING.
MORE THAN 1 MILLION
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NO
LONGER HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO
TRANSFER SCHOOLS OR LEAVE THE
COUNTRY.
WE TOLD YOU HOW IMMIGRATION
AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT SAID
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MUST BE
ENROLLED IN IN-PERSON
INSTRUCTION THIS FALL TO LIVE
IN THE U.S.
IF THEIR SCHOOL WENT ENTIRELY
ONLINE, THEY HAD TO RETURN TO
THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.
SOME SCHOOLS, VERMONT AND 17
OTHER STATES, SUED I.C.E. AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY.
NOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
IS ROLLING BACK THAT POLICY.
AND TO TALK ABOUT THE LAWSUIT
AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
SWIFT REVERSAL ON BARRING
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM
THE U.S. IS ATTORNEY GENERAL
T.J. DUNAVAN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHY DID VERMONT SUE OVER
THIS DIRECTIVE?
>> BECAUSE THIS RULING MADE NO
SENSE, WOULD HAVE I AM
IMPACTED 500 STUDENTS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT ALONE.
WAS NOT FAIR, WAS ARBITRARY,
AND WAS NOT IN THE INTERESTS
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WOULD
HAVE IMPACTED THE BOTTOM LINE
OF UVM AS WELL.
IN MARCH I.C.E. SAID THAT
STUDENTS WHO WERE ON FOREIGN
VISAS WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THEIR VISAS WHEN
EVERYBODY WENT REMOTE IF THEY
CONTINUED TO TAKE ONLINE
CLASSES.
THESE STUDENTS RELIED ON THAT
REPRESENTATION.
THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
RELIED AND PLANNED ON THAT
REPRESENTATION.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC
THAT WE'RE IN IS DYNAMIC, IT
CHANGES EVERY DAY, AND THEN IN
JULY FOR THEM TO REVERSE AND
SAY IF YOU ARE TAKING ONLINE
CLASSES YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE
COUNTRY ABSOLUTELY MADE NO
SENSE, WAS UNFAIR, WAS
ARBITRARY.
THAT'S WHY WE SUED.
BUT I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVERSED
THEIR POSITION, AND I'M GLAD
THAT FINALLY COMMON SENSE
PREVAILED.
>> Darren: NOW, A LOT OF
SCHOOLS, THOUGH, WERE PLANNING
TO OFFER IN-PERSON LEARNING,
AND THIS WOULD HAVE ONLY
APPLIED IF IT WAS ALL OFFLINE.
SO DO WE HAVE A HANDLE,
REALLY, ON HOW MANY STUDENTS
IN VERMONT WOULD HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED IF ANY?
>> NO, WE DON'T, BUT DARREN,
LET US LOOK ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED IN THE LAST SIX
MONTHS IN THIS STATE, IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AS I SAID, THIS IS DYNAMIC.
THIS PANDEMIC, THE VIRUS IS
DYNAMIC.
IT IS CHANGING HOW WE LIVE
EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND EVEN AS
WE LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS HERE IN
VERMONT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
SCHOOL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE
IN SEPTEMBER, IN OCTOBER, IN
NOVEMBER, WHEN FLU SEASON
STARTS.
SO IT IS ENTIRELY REASONABLE
TO THINK WE WILL GO BACK TO
REMOTE LEARNING IN SOME WAY OR
FASHION IN THE FALL AND TO
SUGGEST THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE
PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, PART OF
THE FABRIC OF LIFE AT OUR
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE
TO LEAVE IF WE GO TO REMOTE
LEARNING AGAIN, IT WAS A
TOTALLY ARBITRARY AND UNFAIR
DECISION.
>> Darren: GOT IT.
SO DID I.C.E. INDICATE WHY
THEY CHANGED COURSE?
>> NO, I WOULD JUST SAY IT WAS
EVEN CREDIBLY WELCOMED NEWS,
ALBEIT UNUSUAL, TO HAVE A
REVERSAL IN SUCH SHORT ORDER,
BUT, AGAIN, IT'S THE RIGHT
DECISION.
IT'S WHAT'S IN THE INTEREST
FOR FAIRNESS, AND WHAT'S IN
THE INTEREST OF COMMON SENSE.
THE IDEA, AGAIN, WHEN WE ARE
SEEING THESE NUMBERS OF THE
VIRUS SPIKE IN OTHER PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY, TO SAY THAT, HEY,
FOLKS, YOU GOT TO GET ON A
PLANE AND LEAVE RIGHT NOW, IT
MAKES NO SENSE.
SO, AGAIN, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT
THE DECISION WAS REVERSED.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT
DECISION.
I'M GLAD THAT I.C.E. REVERSED
THEIR DECISION, AND THAT WE
ARE GOING TO RELY ON COMMON
SENSE, FAIRNESS, AND SCIENCE.
>> Darren: NOW, UNDER THE
RESOLUTION, ARE THERE ANY
CONDITIONS STUDENTS AND
SCHOOLS NEED TO ABIDE BY?
>> YOU KNOW, NOT THAT I AM
AWARE OF RIGHT NOW.
THERE MAY BE SOME CONDITIONS.
I AM NOT AWARE OF THOSE AS OF
THIS MOMENT, BUT I THINK, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS WELCOMED AND
GOOD NEWS THAT THESE STUDENTS
WHO ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY,
WHO ARE, AS I SAID, PART OF
THE FABRIC OF COLLEGE AND
UNIVERSITY LIFE CAN REMAIN
HERE, BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
THEIR VISAS AND CONTINUE THEIR
EDUCATION.
>> Darren: ATTORNEY GENERAL,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Darren: TWO BIG RULINGS
ABOUT VERMONT SCHOOLS AND
LOCAL CONTROL BY THE VERMONT
SUPREME COURT.
IN BOTH CASES THE HIGH COURT
UPHELD ACT 46, AND THE LAW'S
PROVISION ALLOWING THE STATE
TO FORCE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
MERGE AGAINST THEIR WILL IN
ORDER TO ACHIEVE COST-SAVINGS
AND INCREASE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.
DAN RICHARDSON OF TARRANT,
GILLIS, RICHARD JOINS ME NOW
IN INTERESTS OF FULL
DISCLOSURE, RICHARDSON'S
PARTNERS WERE INVOLVED IN
THESE CASES, BUT RICHARDSON
WAS NOT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Darren: LET'S START WITH
THE DISTRICTS FORCED TO MERGE
SUING THE STATE LOSE 0.
WHY?
>> WELL, THE SUPREME COURT,
THE MAJORITY OF THE SUPREME
COURT, THIS WAS A 3-2
DECISION, SO THREE JUSTICES OF
THE SUPREME COURT FELT THAT
THE STRUCTURE OF THE LAW WAS
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ACTIONS OF
THE AGENCY OF EDUCATION AND
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
THIS WAS REALLY A QUESTION AT
THE END OF THE DAY ABOUT THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
THE LEGISLATURE WANTS THESE
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
MERGE BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF
PRACTICAL REASONS.
YOU KNOW, DECLINING
ENROLLMENT, THE NEED TO
CONSOLIDATE RESOURCES, AND AT
THE SAME TIME EXPAND
POSSIBILITIES FOR RESOURCES BY
HAVING GREATER CONCENTRATIONS
OF STUDENT POPULATIONS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU HAVE
LOCAL CONTROL, AND THE
TRADITIONAL VERMONT SYSTEM
WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ROUGHLY
EQUATE TO TOWNS, OR THE TOWN
VOICES HAVE SOME VOICE IN HOW
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FUNDED,
AND ADMINISTERED.
>> Darren: SO THE COURT
BASICALLY, THEN, WEIGHED IN ON
WHO GETS TO DEFINE AND
ESTABLISH LOCAL CONTROL IN
VERMONT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL, WHAT ACT 46 AND ACT 49,
WHICH ARE THE SUCK SECOND
SORES TO THE EARLIER ACTS 153
AND 156 DO, IS THEY REQUIRE A
TWO-STEP PROCESS IN WHICH
LOCAL BOARDS ARE GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY IF THEY DON'T MEET
A CERTAIN STANDARD TO MERGE ON
THEIR OWN.
AND IF THEY DON'T MERGE ON
THEIR OWN, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE,
MOUNT PEELIER AND ROXBURY
MERGED ON THEIR OWN --
MONTPELIER, THEY WERE REQUIRED
TO URGE AS DIRECTED BY THE
AGENCY OF EDUCATION AND STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WHAT THE COURT DID IN BOTH OF
THESE CASES, HUNTINGTON AND
ATHENS, THEY AFFIRMED THAT
STRUCTURE.
AND WHAT WAS REALLY AT ISSUE
WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL
BOARD, THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION HAD THE AUTHORITY TO
DO THIS TYPE OF MERGER.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE
LEGISLATURE GETS TO DEFINE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT THE
QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT
THEY HAVE PROPERLY DELEGATED
THAT AUTHORITY TO THE AGENCY
OF EDUCATION AND TO THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
>> Darren: THE HUNTINGTON
SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION CAME
DOWN THE SAME DAY.
HOW WERE THESE CASES
DIFFERENT?
>> HUNTINGTON WAS A UNIQUE
SITUATION IN THAT IT WAS
ALREADY PART OF A MERGED AND
MODIFIED, UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
SO WHAT HUNTINGTON HAD DONE IS
THEY HAD VOTED VERY MUCH AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL NOT TO JOIN
FULLY INTO THIS UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT, BUT TO KEEP A
SEPARATE IDENTITY.
AND THEY ARGUED THAT IT WAS
PERFECTLY FINE THAT THERE WERE
NO COST-SAVINGS TO BE HAD BY
FORCING THEM TO MERGE INTO
THIS ONE SINGLE UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THEY
WERE FORCED TO MERGE.
THEY WERE FORCED BY THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS WELL AS
THEY WERE ACCEPTED BY THIS
MOUNT MANSFIELD UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT, AND HUNTINGTON
FOUGHT ON GROUNDS THAT, YOU
KNOW, THERE WAS NO NECESSITY
THAT THEY MERGE INTO THIS
GROUP.
THE COURT RULED THAT IT WAS
PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE THAT THEY
JOIN THIS GROUP, AND
EFFECTIVELY IN SOME RESPECTS,
UNDERCUT THE LOCAL ISSUE OF
LOCAL CONTROL, BECAUSE IF YOU
HAVE A TOWN OR SCHOOL DISTRICT
THAT SAYS WE DON'T WANT TO
JOIN, ACT 46 AND ACT 49 DO
EFFECTIVELY UNDER THESE
RULINGS FORCE THOSE DISTRICTS
THAT THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION DEEMS NOT TO FIT THE
MODELS INTO ANOTHER UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> Darren: SO BEYOND THOSE
CASES, THEN, WHAT ARE THE
LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF
THESE DECISIONS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT IS A REAL
QUESTION AS TO HOW WE VIEW
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO,
REALLY, ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTIONS ABOUT
MUNICIPAL-LEVEL SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
INDEPENDENT TOWNS IN VERMONT,
AND IF WE GO BACK 100 YEARS,
THEY USED TO DO A LOT MORE.
BUT BEGINNING WITH CERTAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SOLID
WASTE DISTRICTS, WE STARTED TO
CREATE SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT
ARE BIGGER THAN TOWNS, AND PUT
THOSE SERVICES INTO THEM, AND
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE
DIRECTION THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE GOING INTO.
THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE
BIGGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
ARE GOING TO SEEK TO ENLARGE
THE OVERALL STUDENT
POPULATION.
AND I THINK THERE'S BOTH
POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES TO
THAT.
OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATURE FELT
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET
LARGER DISTRICTS WITH HIGHER
STUDENT NUMBERS SO THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE GREATER RESOURCES
FOR THEM AND THE ABILITY OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FUNCTION
AT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, PEAK
EFFICIENCY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU LOSE
THAT LOCAL CONTROL.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE
HUNTINGTON, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S
NOW PART OF THIS MOUNT
MANSFIELD GROUP OF SEVEN
TOWNS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE A UNIQUE OR
SINGULAR VOICE OR ABILITY TO
VETO ANYTHING.
THEY JUST SIMPLY HAVE TO
FOLLOW.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIG
CONCERNS IS THAT WORRY GOING
TO SEE SCHOOL CLOSURES OVER
THE LONG-TERM.
>> Darren: DAN RICHARDSON,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
INSIGHT.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Darren: NEXT, THE FIGHT
AGAINST COVID.
A FEMA OFFICIAL JOINS ME.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES
RIGHT NOW?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH IF THERE'S A
SECOND WAVE?
I'LL ASK HIM.
>> Darren: FEMA IS HELPING
COORDINATE COVID-19 RELIEF
EFFORTS AROUND THE U.S.,
INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN OUR
REGION.
AND WE ARE JOINED NOW BY THE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR,
CAPTAIN RUSS WEBSTER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Darren: SO WHAT KIND OF
RELATIONSHIPS ARE YOU
ESTABLISHING HERE IN VERMONT
AND NEW HAMPSHIRE TO DETERMINE
WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE COVID
FIGHT?
>> WELL, THE COVID FIGHT HAS
BEEN UNLIKE ANY PREVIOUS
DISASTER THAT FEMA HAS HELPED
COORDINATE.
AND OUR ROLE IS TO SUPPORT THE
STATES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH
CAPABILITY, AND WE ARE USING
40 YEARS' WORTH OF EXPERIENCE
FOR THE STATE TO AGGREGATE
THEIR RESOURCES, RESOURCE
REQUESTS REQUIREMENTS AND
FORWARD THEM TO US.
FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR
NOW WE HAVE HAD A LIAISON
OFFICER ESTABLISH ONE IN
VERMONT AND TWO IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE TO COORDINATE STATE
REQUIREMENTS, BOTH IN THE BLUE
SKY AND THE COVID ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT,
SHIPPING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FROM FRANKLIN,
MASSACHUSETTS WAREHOUSE,
PROVIDING BOXED MEALS AND
COORDINATING TO PAY FOR
SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR
NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN BOTH
STATES.
THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALLED
TITLE 32, WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH AUGUST 21ST IN BOTH
STATES HAVE ASKED FOR
EXTENSIONS.
AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE
COORDINATING WITH 23 DIFFERENT
FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT VERMONT AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
>> Darren: SO THIS IS FOR THE
FIGHT THAT'S ONGOING RIGHT
NOW.
SOME HEALTH EXPERTS ARE
PREDICTING THAT WE COULD SEE A
SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19,
PERHAPS EVEN THIS FALL.
ARE WE READY?
>> WE ARE READY.
ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO WE
GAINED FOUR SCENARIOS.
WE GAINED THE LULL THAT WE ARE
IN NOW, WE GAINED THE TROPICAL
STORM IRENE DURING THE LULL,
WE ALSO GAINED A SECOND WAVE,
AND WE ALSO GAINED A HURRICANE
THAT OCCURS DURING THE SECOND
WAVE.
SO WE'RE READY WITH NEW
TECHNOLOGIES, NEW PROGRAMS,
WE'RE READY TO REPURPOSE
ALTERNATE CARE SITES THAT WE
USE FOR COVID, THE COVID
ENVIRONMENT TO SHELTERS AS
NECESSARY, WE ARE READY TO USE
THE CIVIL AIR PATROL AND
COMMERCIAL GROVES TO CAPTURE
ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR AS A
RESULT OF STORMS, AND WE ARE
READY WITH NEW MESSAGING FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO REACT TO THOSE
STORMS, WHETHER THEY ARE
TYPICAL STORM THAT IS PRECIP
TATES FLOODING, OR WHETHER --
PRECIPITATES FLOODING OR
WHEREFORE NEW HAMPSHIRE
COASTAL FLOODING AS A RESULT
OF A HURRICANE.
>> Darren: CHANNEL 3 NEWS HAS
BEEN REPORTING ON THE SFIEKS
IN CASES IN FLORIDA -- SPIKES
IN CASES IN FLORIDA, ARIZONA
AND TEXAS.
ARE THOSE OUTBREAKS SIPHONING
AWAY ANY SUPPLIES OR PERSONNEL
FROM OUR REGION?
>> AT THIS POINT I WOULD SAY
NO.
WHAT WE HAVE IS AN
UNPRECEDENTED 50-STATE,
FOUR-TERRITORY AND 574 FIRST
NATION TRIBE ENGAGEMENT WITH A
DISASTER OF EPIC PROPORTION,
BUT FOR NEW ENGLAND, WE'VE
BEEN THROUGH THE WORST, AND WE
HAVE IN SEVERAL CASES
STOCKPILED, AND STATES HAVE
STOCKPILED SUFFICIENT PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ALTHOUGH
N-95 MASKS AND CERTAIN TYPES
OF SURGICAL GOWNS REMAIN
SCARCE, WHETHER YOU ARE IN
FLORIDA, GEORGIA, OR MAINE,
VERMONT, OR NEW HAMPSHIRE.
SO IN THAT REGARD WE ARE READY
TO RESPOND TO THE STATE'S
REQUIREMENTS.
AS OF THIS DATE WHAT WE'RE
SEEING IS THE COMMERCIAL
SECTOR IS PICKED UP MUCH OF
THE SLACK WE SAW BACK IN THE
MIDDLE TO THE LATTER PART OF
APRIL WHEN NEW ENGLAND WAS
MUCH MORE SEVERELY AFFECTED.
>> Darren: SO WHY THE
SHORTAGES, AND WHAT ARE WE
DOING ABOUT IT?
>> A COUPLE THINGS.
WE ALL STARTED WITH THIS, 90%
OF WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR OUR
HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES WAS BEING PRODUCED
IN MALAYSIA, CHINA, SINGAPORE,
AND PLACES WELL WEST OF HERE.
THE GOVERNMENT REACTED TO THAT
AS PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE
TASK FORCE CREATED AN AIR
BRIDGE TO TAKE THE PROCESS
FROM WEEKS BY SHIP, TO DAYS BY
AIR, AND BRING THESE SCARCE
COMMODITIES IN.
IN THE INTERIM, THE PRESIDENT
HAS ACTIVATED PORTIONS OF THE
DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT WHICH
HAS ALTERED THE DOMESTIC
PRODUCTION, AND WE'VE SEEN
INDEPENDENT OF DPA ACTIONS,
COMPANIES, AS WELL AS PRIVATE
AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
BEGIN TO PRODUCE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON THE
ORDER OF MAGNITUDE THAT IS
SUFFICIENT AT THIS POINT,
EXCEPT FOR N-95'S AND SOME
SURGICAL GOWNS.
>> Darren: SO WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT?
IF WE ARE SEEING THESE ONGOING
SURGES, THESE SPIKES IN PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY, HOW IS THAT
BEING ADDRESSED, AND ARE YOU
WORRIED ABOUT IT?
>> IT IS AN EVER-PRESENT
CONCERN.
THERE'S A PRESERVATION
STRATEGY, WITH THE
PRESERVATION SYSTEM THAT IS
PRESENT IN THREE SOUTHERN
STATES, CONNECTICUT,
MASSACHUSETTS, AND RHODE
ISLAND, SYSTEMS THEMSELVES
HAVE A CAPACITY TO RECYCLE
80,000 N-95 MASKS EACH DAY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THE
GOVERNMENT IS ADDRESSING THIS.
AND THE SECOND WAY IS THAT
THERE ARE NOW MORE SOURCES,
MORE AGREEMENTS WITH COMPANIES
LIKE HONEYWELL AND 3-M TO
DOMESTICALLY PRODUCE IT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO PRESENT AN
OVERLY OPTIMISTIC PICTURE IN
THOSE TWO AREAS, BECAUSE WE
EXPECT CONTINUED SHORTAGES IN
THOSE TWO AREAS THROUGH THE
END OF THE YEAR.
>> Darren: CAPTAIN RUSS
WEBSTER, GOOD LUCK WITH THIS,
FROM FEMA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
TAKE CARE.
>> Darren: A VERMONTER GETS
NATIONAL ATTENTION IN THE
BATTLE FOR LGBT EQUALITY.
SEE HOW.
>> Darren: A LOCAL 20-YEAR-OLD
ARTIST AND ACTIVIST CAUGHT THE
EYE OF "TEEN VOGUE" AND GLAD.
AS CHANNEL 3'S KEVIN GEISS
FOUND OUT.
>> PRIDE MONTH WAS EXTRA PROUD
FOR A UVM STUDENT WHOSE NAME
CAN BE FOUND ON THE "TEEN
VOGUE" AND "GLAD'S" 20 UNDER
20 LIST.
\M\M
>> THE REASON I LOVE FILM IS
BECAUSE OF THE INTROSPECTION
OF ADVOCACY AND TECHNICAL ITS
OF STORYTELLING AND SFLIM
MAKING.
>> A YOUNG FILMMAKER, ALEX,
SAYS HE GREW UP IN A WORLD
THAT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM, OR
REPRESENT HIM.
BUT THAT MOLDED HIM INTO AN
ARTIST AND ACTIVIST.
DISPUTE
>> CONSTANTLY DOUBTING MYSELF,
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REALISTIC
REPRESENTATION OF WHO I WAS
AROUND ME, SO I HAD TO SEEK
OUT SOURCES LIKE REAL PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, I HAD TO RESEARCH
ONLINE, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT.
>> HIS DRIVE AND DETERMINATION
TO MERGE THE GAP BETWEEN
ACTIVISM AND ART LEFT HIM WITH
A MAJOR ACCOLADE.
BEFORE HE COULD TAKE A LEGAL
DRINK.
HE WAS NOMINATED AS ONE OF
"TEEN VOGUE"'S "GLAD 20 UNDER
20," THE GROUP CONSISTS OF
INFLUENTIAL LGBTQ PEOPLE
TAKING ON THE WORLD OF MEDIA
AND ACTIVISM.
HE SAYS HE WAS SPEECHLESS,
KNOWING WHAT HAD GONE INTO
BECOMING ONE OF THE TOP
ACTIVISTS IN HIS AGE BRACKET.
>> IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING TO
SEE MY NAME ON THE LIST BESIDE
SO MANY PEOPLE I ADMIRED AND
LOOKED UP TO.
I FELT A LOT OF LOVE AND
GRATITUDE FOR MY YOUNGER SELF.
>> HE SAYS HIS JOURNEY STARTED
ON A PLANE DURING A FLIGHT
FROM MONTREAL TO BURLINGTON,
HE WATCHED THE FILM "MY
PRAIRIE HOME."
BY THE TIME HE LANDED, A NEW
DECISION WAS GROUNDED.
HE WOULD USE FILM AND FAMILY
TO GIVE THE WORLD THE MOST
TRUE VERSION OF HIMSELF.
>> THE SCARY THING TO FACE A
REALITY ABOUT WHO YOU ARE CAN
BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IS
SOMEONE WHO WILL HAVE A
DIFFICULT TIME LIVING IN THIS
WORLD.
>> HE SAYS THE SKY IS THE
LIMIT, AND THAT THE FIGHT
ISN'T JUST FOR HIM, BUT FOR
ALL THOSE FOLLOWING IN HIS
FOOTSTEPS.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES
MY LIFE MEANINGFUL, AND
THEREFORE THAT'S WHAT MAKES MY
LIFE HAPPY.
I THINK IF I WAS JUST HAPPY
WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED WITH
ANY OF THOSE DIFFICULT
CONVERSATIONS OR THAT PHYSICAL
ORGANIZING WORK, I THINK IT
WOULD BE AN IGNORANT LIFE,
PERSONALLY.
>> ALEX IS SET TO GRADUATE
FROM UVM IN MAY OF 2021.
HE HOPES TO MOVE TO NEW YORK
CITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
HIS FILM, AND CREATE A SAFE
AND ARTISTIC SPACE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
KEVIN GEISS, CHANNEL 3 NEWS.
>> Darren: AND ALEX JOINS ME
NOW.
GOOD MORNING!
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Darren: HOW DID "GLAD" AND
"TEEN VOGUE" EVEN LEARN ABOUT
YOU?
>> SO, I APPLIED TO "GLAD" AS
A CAMPUS AMBASSADOR.
SO I DO WORK FOR THEM.
I WRITE ARTICLES FOR THEM AND
COLLABORATE WITH "GLAD" TO
CREATE LGBTQ COLLUSIVE
ENVIRONMENTS 0 -- INCLUSIVE
ENVIRONMENTS ON UNIVERSITY OF
VERMONT.
THAT'S HOW THEY BECAME AWARE
OF MY WORK.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS AWARD,
BUT BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO
KNOW ME, AND THEY NOMINATED ME
FOR THE "20 UNDER 20" HONOR.
>> Darren: CONGRATULATIONS ON
THAT.
YOU HAVE GOT HIGH-PROFILE
COMPANY ON THE LIST, LIKE EMMA
GONZALEZ, SCHOOL SHOOTING
SURVIVOR, PUSHING FOR GUN
CONTROL, AND TRANS REALITY TV
STAR JAZZ JENNINGS.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN THIS
COMPANY?
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE AND
OVERWHELMING.
I MEAN, I REALLY LOOK UP TO
THESE PEOPLE, AND IT'S QUITE
HEARTWARMING, AND INSPIRING TO
SEE MYSELF STANDING BESIDE
THEM ON THIS LIST.
>> Darren: YOU TOLD KEVIN YOU
GOT INTO FILM MAKING BECAUSE
YOU LIVED IN A WORLD THAT
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> WELL, I FOUND OUT WHEN IT
COMES TO REPRESENTATION AND
MEDIA OF ANY KIND OF
MARGINALIZED IDENTITY,S IT IS
OFTEN NOT LUM HUMANIZING OR
REALISTIC.
SO SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES
TO MEDIA, I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF
REPRESENTED ON SCREEN.
AND OVERALL THERE ARE
MISCONCEPTIONS IN OUR SOCIETY
ABOUT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND
WHO THEY ARE AND ABOUT LGBTQ
FOLKS.
SO I GREW UP FEELING THAT I
WASN'T REALLY PART OF THE
WORLD AROUND ME.
IT TOOK EFFORT TO FIND
COMMUNITY.
BUT THE FACT THAT IT TOOK
EFFORT I THINK IS A PROBLEM.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE
SPACES THAT ARE EASIER FOR
PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY WITH
THEMSELVES AND FOUND
EMPOWERMENT AND COMFORT.
>> Darren: HOW DO YOU
IDENTIFY?
>> I IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER,
AND I IDENTIFY AS QUEER.
>> Darren: YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE FILMS.
WILL THEY FOCUS STRICTLY ON
LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND ISSUES?
>> THAT IS WHAT I'M INTERESTED
IN.
THAT'S WHAT I AM PASSIONATE
ABOUT.
IT IS MY COMMUNITY AND
THEREFORE I WANT TO REPRESENT
MY COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE I FEEL THERE IS A LACK
OF AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION IN
THE FILM INDUSTRY AND MEDIA.
THAT'S WHAT I CENTER MY WORK
AROUND, YES.
>> Darren: WE'VE SEEN BIGGER
BLOCKBUSTERS FEATURING COMING
OUT STORIES LIKE ""CALL ME BY
YOUR NAME.""
IS THE INDUSTRY MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, OR IS THERE
STILL A LONG WAY TO GO?
>> THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF
PROGRESS, AND THERE IS A LOT
OF MOVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO
EXAMPLES OF REPRESENTATION.
HOWEVER, I THINK WHAT WE
REALLY NEED TO WORK ON IS
GETTING LGBTQ FOLKS AND OTHER
MARNL NAL EYES -- MARGINALIZED
IDENTITIES BEHIND THE CAMERA
IN THE SCREENWRITERS ROOM,
PRODUCING THESE FILMS AND
WRITING STORIES ABOUT
THEMSELVES.
WE FIND IN A LOT OF THESE BIG
BLOCK BUSTERS THEY ARE CREATED
BY PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND THEREFORE
DISPORT THE WAY THEY ARE
PORTRAYED.
SO I WANT TO HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE THAT
ARE PRODUCING AND CREATING
THIS KIND OF FILM.
AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO
WORK ON THAT.
>> Darren: WHAT WILL YOU DO
WITH THIS NEWFOUND FAME?
>> I HOPE TO NETWORK AND MAKE
CONNECTIONS AND TO FIND
COLLABORATORS.
I AM EXCITED TO CONNECT
FURTHER WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE
LIST AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS WITH
NEW PEOPLE, SO THAT'S REALLY
WHAT I AM HOPING FOR.
>> Darren: YOU ARE AN ACTIVIST
AS WELL.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
SOME MAY ARGUE WE'VE COME A
LONG WAY.
THERE'S GAY MARRIAGE, WE SEE
PRIDE CELEBRATIONS, ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
>> FOR YOUTH IN PARTICULAR,
THERE'S STILL AN ASSUMPTION
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
WHO THEY ARE, OR ARE TOO YOUNG
TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE A
LOT OF PROGRESS, I THINK WE
DEFINITELY LACK A LOT OF
INCLUSION IN OUR SOCIAL
ATMOSPHERE, SPECIFICALLY WITH
TRANSGENDER ISSUES.
THERE ARE STILL TONS OF LAWS
THAT BAR ACCESS TO TRANSGENDER
HEALTHCARE, PARTICULARLY FOR
TRANSGENDER YOUTH.
SO IT IS GREAT, IN A LOT OF
WAYS, SOCIALLY WE HAVEN'T
REACHED EQUITY WHEN IT COMES
TO COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALSO
INTERSECTING IDENTITIES.
SO PEOPLE THAT ARE QUEER AND
MARGINALIZED IN OTHER WAYS
FACE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
OPPRESSION STILL.
DARE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
ARE YOU BACKING ANY CANDIDATES
WHO MAY SEE THINGS FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT
QUESTION.
ONE THAT I AM STILL REFLECTING
ON, BUT I WILL BE BACKING THE
CANDIDATES THAT I FEEL REFLECT
MY COMMUNITY AND REFLECT
EXPLICIT AND ACTIVE INTEREST
IN LGBTQ FOLKS AND OTHER
MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS.
I DON'T HAVE A CONCRETE ANSWER
YET.
I AM STILL RESEARCHING IT.
>> Darren: ALEX, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
BE SAFE AND HEALTHY.
>> THANK YOU.
MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
>> Darren: THAT WILL DO IT FOR
US.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY.
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