This reply has so much Vermont energy to it there is like a pine tree coming through my computer right now

When Corporations are on the brink of bankruptcy, they will often hire a turnaround CEO, usually someone with a track record in "turning around" failing companies. I put "turning around" in quotes because often there is no miraculous bounce back that occurs, but a sale to another company at fire sale prices or some restructuring that ensures survival but what survives is often unrecognizable or a fraction of what it was. In other words, turnarounds don't really happen in the private sector and good outcomes are rare.

The situation you describe at your college sounds exactly like a "turnaround" situation with a new President whose mandate is probably quite similar to a turnaround CEO. The problem is he can't really sell or merge a college as easily as a private sector leader could a company. So essentially the only tool left in his tool box is to slowly cut things and sell assets to preserve cash flow, hoping to reach some steady-state or breakeven number that allows the institution to at least exist.

So basically, your college is going to keep shrinking and it's going to keep cutting stuff. You shouldn't be surprised to hear about changes/elimination to your major and department, more cuts to programs, changes to housing, or just about anything. Ultimately, you shouldn't even be surprised if you wake up and your college announces it is going to shut down.

It happened to Burlington College just a few years ago.

I know there are many great things about your college, but if I were you I would at least discuss contingency plans with your parents or mentors. It's your future too.

Assuming you are on a public water system I'd put this question to your town's water operator. Every public water system in Vermont needs to have a certified water operator and they'd be able to answer specific questions.

You can find out more about your water system and some contact info here through this State database:

https://anrweb.vt.gov/DEC/DWGWP/SearchWS.aspx

I think Phil Scott is pretty solid and I vote pretty blue nowadays. I think it's fair and good for the rural soul of this State to have someone that grew up in Barre, VT at the helm.

The one thing I was mildly irritated/amused by was how he seemed to receive a lot of personal credit for how Vermont navigated Covid with our relatively low numbers.

Surely he deserved some credit, but when a sizable portion of your entire State probably read the New York Times daily and listen to NPR and takes informing themselves pretty seriously by serious news outlets - was it really Scott driving the low Covid numbers or was he merely the beneficiary of living amongst a pretty informed citizenry? A left-leaning citizenry, at that.