Volume 41 Issue 4 by University Times

inside this issue:

Step Aside, Michael Phelps Details on page 7

University of Maine at Presque Isle

OCTOBER 19, 2012

Volume 41 Issue 4

I Wanna Be a Rockstar Details on page 8

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

UMPI Alumni Come Home to Roost Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

At first, the college process may seem simple: you enroll, you attend, you graduate. But there’s more to it than that. You can return, give back, take part in events. One such event would be the sculpture dedication or alumni brunch, both of which took place on Saturday, Sept. 15. In a week packed with Homecoming activities, students from the past came to honor the new owl sculpture as well as reconnect over food, speeches and awards. The dedication ceremony started at 10 am. Al Smith from the class of 1962 was one of the first to arrive. He reflected on how much UMPI has changed and the mischief he and his friends got into during their time here. Keith Madore, director of alumni relations and development, came soon after to share some information about the structure. The sculpture, now located outside Folsom-Pullen, was made by a Maine artist named Bernard Langlais, who salvaged the material from a Portland granary. Madore was charged with the project six months ago and admitted that he didn’t understand the purpose at first. It took a little bit of time. “As I did more research, I realized it has a strong connection to our alumni,” Madore s a i d . Former students used to rub it for good luck, get their pictures taken there or just sit by it. Thanks to an electronic cam-

paign and the generosity of alumni, the sculpture was rebuilt and relocated. President Schott says she likes the new site because students are more likely to take notice. In the end, though, it’s for the alumni who made it – and, in fact, made

Owls return to the nest.

UMPI – possible. This was followed by a brunch at President Schott’s house. There, Schott compared UMPI to a small family. It has members from different parts of the world as far away as Australia. As she welcomed people and thanked them for coming, she also celebrated the turnout and encouraged people

to do what they can to increase enrollment at UMPI. According to her, we can all be a m b a s s a d o r s . When Madore came up, he thanked groups such as the Board of Directors and went through a list of names and

years, acknowledging those who had returned. He recognized graduating classes from 2002, 1987 and 1962. After this, awards were presented to Theodore Van Alst and Donna Lisnik. Van Alst, from the class of 2004, received the Educator of the Year award while Lisnik, from the class of 1986, received the

Distinguished Alumni award. Van Alst has a bachelor’s degree from UMPI in behavioral science-sociology along with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in comparative literary and cultural studies. He’s the assistant dean of Yale College and director of the Native American Cultural Center. In describing Van Alst, Dr. Ray Rice had a lot of positive things to say. At one point, he compared Van Alst to an intellectual and creative h u r r i c a n e . “Ted always, always unleashes a storm of inspiration, usually within the first minute of walking into a room, in a way that’s completely singular....You know immediately that this is someone meant for greatness,” Rice said. Van Alst gives credit for his success to UMPI, where he says students can receive a world-class education while maintaining a sense of community. When asked about his future plans, he expressed a desire to increase the number of native people attending Yale and to strengthen ties between the university and local tribal nations. Lisnik was introduced by professor Clare Exner. She has a bachelor’s in history as well as education with a concentration

in math – both from UMPI – and a master’s in educational leadership. She taught in Presque Isle and Easton school systems for 30 years before becoming principal of the Presque Isle High School in 2 0 1 0 . “I truly thank the University for all the good things that have happened to me,” Lisnik said. And not just to her, either. Lisnik’s family has also benefited from UMPI. Her husband graduated from here and went on to have an amazing career while her children found niches of their own. She doesn’t understand why people move away and pay huge amounts of money when they can get the same education locally. Lisnik says she’s proud of UMPI, not to mention her related accomp l i s h m e n t s . Van Alst and Lisnik weren’t the only returning students to be recognized that day, either. Erica Tweedie from the class of 2004, Shawn Windle from the class of 1996 and Larry Worcester from the class of 1988 were inducted into the athletic hall of fame. Whether you’re more concerned with athletics or academics, these people are sources of inspiration. We can learn a lot from them, including just how much UMPI has to offer. Before you know it, you could be a graduate and going on to do great things. But don’t forget to take a note from these alumni’s book. Come back. Give thanks. Let this family know how much you care.

The University Times Staff Editor Lanette Virtanen Assistant Editor Kayla Ames Stephanie Jellett Staff Writers Kayla Ames Cole DuMonthier Nicole Duplessis Eric Edgecomb Sara Gendreau Stephanie Jellett Mika Ouellette Ben Pinette Lanette Virtanen Kelsey Wood

Contributors Jessica Stepp Jim Stepp Linda Schott

Adviser Dr. J

The U Times welcomes submissions from the campus. Send digital versions of articles, photos, etc., to utimes@maine.edu and jacquelyn.lowman@umpi.edu

ampus University Times

Dear readers, Break is over, the weather is turning colder and snow has actually hit the ground. Time to start digging out the warmer clothing, but donʼt let the chance of it becoming colder stop you from getting outside. There are still plenty of nicer days left before the snow stays on the ground. Yes, October might be half over with already, Canadian Thanksgiving has past and Halloween is just around the corner. But there is still plenty of time left of this fall season, so get out there and enjoy. See you around campus, Lanette Hi everybody! Hope your break was good. I know mine was! I filled my belly with lots of Canadian turkey. As you all know, Halloween is just around the corner. There are going to be many fun things coming up on campus. So make sure to check out the events calendar weʼve included in this issue! Have a fun and safe Halloween, and donʼt eat all the candy in one night! - Stephanie

Greetings, The air is changing and so are the leaves. Itʼs quickly becoming my favorite season. Despite the increasing cold, a bit of warmth remains – specifically, in the home of Dr. DeFelice. By that, I mean that he won our lovely pillow, made by Dr. Lowmanʼs mother and proudly decorated with sunny island imagery. Congratulations to him! To all those who bought tickets, you have our deepest appreciation. Just remember: we have another raffle coming up and weʼd love your support. Also, keep reading our gift to you (the U Times). There are many fun stories in this issue. It was Lucius Annaeus Seneca who said, “A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.” Our intentions are definitely good. Thank you, Kayla Correction: If you’re interested in joining WUPI, please contact the station manager, Nicole Gray, at nicole.n.gray@maine.edu.

Dates for Submissio ns to the U Times

Oct. 22

Nov. 5

October 19 , 2012

Dec. 3

Any submissions received after a deadline will be published in the following issue. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lowman at 768-9745.

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Linda’s Letter The UMPI Family

Since coming to UMPI last summer, I have often heard folks around campus mention the “UMPI family.” I wasn’t surprised to hear this expression, for several campuses where I have worked have tried to create a sense of “family” among their faculty, staff and students. Often those campuses sponsored an allcampus picnic or a holiday celebration to create this sense of close community. At UMPI, however, this sense of closeness seems to exist without being artificially cultivated. Students, staff members and faculty members work closely together. We support one another. We help one another. We

inspire one another. And even when we bicker with one another, as family members inevitably do, we cherish our connections. My family—my husband, my children, and I—live on the UMPI campus. By virtue of my position as president, we find ourselves at the center of many campus activities. Before coming to campus, I wondered how this would work. Would my family and I be accepted? How would the campus deal with having three teenagers living in its midst? I have been gratified to find that we have been welcomed into the UMPI family. Even though we haven’t been here long, everyone we have met on

campus has been friendly, kind and helpful. The sense of being part of the UMPI family was never more profound than two weeks ago when we learned of a death in our immediate family. As we shared that sad news with our co-workers, we were met with understanding, sympathy and countless offers of assistance. And when we were 3,000 miles away attending the memorial service, we were moved to receive a beautiful floral bouquet sent by “members of the UMPI family.” Thank you for welcoming us into the UMPI family and for supporting us during our time of loss. We cherish our connection with all of you. We will do

Ben Pinette

mentioning starting a ‘short term.’ It’s great because a lot of students get stuck in basic level courses like MAT 101 or they get behind but they don’t want to drop it. ‘Short Term’ allows students that are doing well to add another class,” Sonntag said. Sonntag explained that there’s no catch to the UMPI Short Term and anyone can get involved in it. “It’s great for someone who just wants to get ahead and accelerate if they can’t commit to a normal schedule. We’ll eventually have two six-week summer sessions this coming summer, so, hypothetically, we’ll have six different sixweek sessions,” Sonntag said. For its Fall 2012 Short Term, UMPI has 15 course offerings. All of these classes are online. They include: ART 107 Experience of the Arts,

ENG 101 College Composition, ENG 151 Introduction to Literature, ENG 121 College Composition II, ENG 211

World Civilization I, HTY 116 World Civilization II, HTY 162 United States History II, MAT 101 Basic Statistics, MAT 117 Intermediate

Introduction to Creative Writing, ENG 361 Crime and Punishment, GEO 101 Human Geography, HTY 115

Algebra, PSY 100 General Psychology, PSY 200 Social Psychology and SOC 200 Social Psychology.

Linda Schott

our best to participate in and to nourish the strong sense of

community that distinguishes this amazing campus.

Done in the Blink of an Eye

STAFF WRITER

Have you ever wished during your time at college that the semester would go faster? Well, your recurring daydream of your fall semester being finished in six weeks has become reality. The University of Maine at Presque Isle is currently offering its first-ever Fall Short Term for those looking to complete their four year degree in six weeks as an alternative to the regular 15-week semester. It probably sounds way too good to be true but, in fact, it’s reality. The mastermind behind the Fall Short Term is Michael Sonntag, provost and vice-president for academic affairs, who was visiting other campuses last year and saw this as an opportunity. “When I was visiting other institutions, I noticed them

UMPI has experimented with an abbreviated semester before. Last January, UMPI tried out its “J-Term,” with success. But Sonntag says that the Short Term should be a better test for them. “I think the Short Term will be a better test for us. The JTerm last year proved to help, but we didn’t have a lot of enrollment like we figured,” Sonntag said. Another two sets of Short Term classes will start up in the spring if you do it this fall. For more information about UMPI’s Short Term or how you can get enrolled in it, please contact Kim Pratt at the Registrar’s Office at 768-9450.

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Jim’s Journal

Getting Involved

I recently had the opportunity to talk to several new students in two First Year Seminar

education – math and physics. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania was about 100

classes. Following these classes, I started to think about my first year of college. I went to a school that had about 7,000 students and majored in secondary

miles from my home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most people who know me today would never think of me as shy, but I was at that time.

Although there were a lot of activities going on, I stayed in my room, did my homework and watched TV. In short, I was boring and didn’t take advantage of what college had to offer. College, like life, is what you make it. I have always suggested that it’s important to get involved on campus. If you’re wondering what there is to do on campus, look at the UMPI Updates. The UMPI Updates come out twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. This twice-a-week update will let you know what’s going on and will give you information on important deadlines. The UMPI Updates are sent to your email. Please read them — do not just delete them. If you do, you’ll be missing out on very important information. For me, getting involved in a club saved my college career.

I was ready to leave school because I felt like I didn’t fit in. The club I joined was the Planetarium Club. It gave me the chance to do something I liked (talk about astronomy) and to meet people who had similar interests. This club also helped get me out of my shell. I gained confidence as I wrote scripts and produced shows for the public and, most importantly, I made friends. We don’t have a planetarium club at UMPI, but we do have several clubs and organizations. Probably the quickest way to get information on the clubs and organizations at UMPI would be to stop by the Student Activities Office in the Campus Center. Vanessa Pearson, the coordinator of student activities and leadership development, will be able to help you determine what club or organization will work best for you. If we

don’t have a club that suits your interest, you can find out how to form a group on campus. You can also go to w w w. u m p i . e d u / s t u d e n t life/student-org anizations for more information about the clubs and organizations on campus. The friends I made in this club and the other organizations I joined have remained a big part of my life. These friends became my best man and the ushers at my wedding. Even though 30 years have passed, we still communicate back and forth on Facebook and through occasional phone calls. The involvements I had in college still touch my life today. What involvements and friendships will you gain in your life from your college experience? Go out and meet someone new today.

We All Scream for Ice Cream Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

It was a great experience for students, staff and faculty alike. On Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the MPR room, PULL programmers Cassie Green, Stephen Thorne, Chris Cosenze and Stephanie Jellett held an ice cream social for freshmen to get to know some of the faculty and staff. “It was really nice to be able to sit down and talk to professors and get to know them outside of the classroom. Plus, the ice cream was great!” Amos

Ward, a freshman, said. President Schott introduced herself and her family. Then

other faculty and staff members introduced themselves and said what they taught.

Tables were set up for everyone to sit and socialize. ARAMARK provided vanilla and chocolate ice cream, along with brownie chunks, peanuts, coconut, sprinkles, hot fudge and caramel for people to make their own delicious creations. Students and faculty also had a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the campus bookstore. Jason Fortin, a senior, was the lucky winner. It just goes to show that ice cream is more than a delicious frozen treat. It can also bring people together.

Congratulations, Dr. DeFelice, winner of the raffle put on by the U Times! Hope it brightens your spirits during the hard Maine winter.

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Jessica Stepp CONTRIBUTOR

Our Goals

To the UMPI Community, The semester is already getting close to the halfway mark. The leaves are starting to change color and everyone is getting used to their classes. Assignments may be getting hard and, hopefully, everyone is making some new friends and attending events on campus. In the last issue, I talked about Student Senate’s mission statement and motto. For those who missed it, here they are. Our mission statement is “is to serve UMPI students and community by using available resources to educate, advocate and empower the student body while facilitating positive working relationships with faculty, staff and community members.” The motto is, “Educate, Advocate and Empower.” Recently, we have come up with three goals that we want to work on over the next year. These goals each have different examples and tasks that Senators will need to work on. We can work on these tasks individually or in groups. Our first goal is to increase Student Senate’s recognition and visibility to the campus community. This means we want to make sure that we are

out there and that students, faculty and staff know we are. We can do this by improving websites and social media presence, actively seeking student feedback, hosting social and educational events, promoting Student Senate through publicity and participating in charity and service projects.

Our second goal is to improve the relationship between student groups and Student Senate. We want to make sure we always have a positive relationship with every student group on campus. We hope to do this by attending student groups meetings and events as well as educating all student groups and Senators on the budget process and functions of Student Senate. We also hope to produce and distribute a Senator fact sheet, cosponsor events and provide support, invite student groups to Student Senate meetings and host student group activities and discussions.

Our third goal is to increase and improve student services. Ways we intend to do this include addressing parking issues, fixing the Merriman basketball court by adding new nets and fences and helping improve food services. This goal will take some help from you, the students. We need to know what you want to see improved. To help with improving the campus, please contact us at umpisenate@maine.edu. Student Senate will work on these goals throughout the year. If there are any suggestions you may have to help improve the campus or you want to see how we’re doing, we have weekly meetings every Tuesday at 12:40 pm to 1:45pm in the Alumni Room. Also, be watching out for information about elections! Before Thanksgiving break in November, we’ll be sending out information about the candidates who are running for Student Senate President and Vice President. Remember, your vote is greatly appreciated and your opinions are welcomed! ~Jessica Stepp Office:Campus Center 104 Email:umpi-senate@maine.edu Phone:768-9561

Hey Baby, Wanna Have a Good Time? Stephanie Jellett

ACAP discussed important topics such as the importance On Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in the of condom usage and how to MPR room, two representatives use a male and female condom, from Aroostook County Action when to use lube, impact of Program, ACAP, gave a talk unprotected sex, birth control about safe sex. Sponsored by the and where to get it, getting to know your partner and relationships and responsibilities. ACAP gave many demonstrations, such as how to put on a male and female condom, and explained the importance of using protection. They also explained that flavored condoms shouldn’t be used for sexual intercourse because some people may get vaginal infections. The last game Protection benefits everyone, ACAP had the students play was a deceven pumpkins. orating game. They PULL programmers, the event were split into three groups of brought in roughly 30 students 10. Each group was given a who also had a chance to win pumpkin and a bag full of conexciting door prizes. doms, lube, gum, toothpicks and To start off the program, glitter. The team that decorated ACAP had students from the the most creative pumpkin won a audience participate in an prize, courtesy of ACAP. activity that showed that, “It was funny and educational once you have sex with some- for the most part,” another one, you’re also sleeping with attendee said. all the other people that perMany nearby freshson has been with. Many of m e n a g r e e d . the students agreed. At the end of the night, “It was interesting to consider ACAP told the students not not only who you’ve slept with, to be shy if they had any but who they slept with and so questions after the event. on. We just didn’t think about it The students left with a lot of that way,” one attendee said. laughs and a new perspective After the interactive activity, on sexual intercourse. STAFF WRITER

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When the Moon Hits Your Eye Kayla Ames

on the saxophone. The first song was “Jasmine,” the second You look up at the night sky “Butterfly Loves.” Though and what do you see? No, not most of us probably think of stars. The moon. And no matjazz when we image the saxoter where you are on earth, no phone, these notes were differmatter how far away you are ent. They were high and sharp, from the people you love, that but no less captivating. moon unites you. It’s something Next, Xiaoyi, Sha Liu, a few we all have in common. That other club members and was a message members of the Barbara Devaney, the club International Students Club adviser, gave information relatwanted to send on Monday, ing to calligraphy then aucOct. 1. They hosted a presentationed off some pieces. The tion on the Chinese Moon artist, named Qiao “Jordan” Festival, China’s second biggest Dan, started learning calligraholiday after New Year’s. The phy when he was four years old. event started at 6:30 pm and The first sample was for lovers. was followed by a social for anyIt spoke of luck and reunion. one who wished to learn more Jimmy Stepp won it for $25. about the club and its current The second sample went to m e m b e r s . Kayla Ames for $28 and, It started with a PowerPoint though difficult to translate presentation by Yang Xiaoyi, directly, said something along president of the International the lines of “the moon can be Students Club. He said that the seen at sea level.” It’s the same Moon Festival is also known as moon for everyone, everywhere. Xiaoyi, putting it more poetically, said, “Our heart is connected by the moon.” To round out the event, Xiaoyi and Yuxin “Krystal” Guo taught attendees about the tradition of tea, gave a demonstration on how to serve as well as drink it and offered three types for audience members to enjoy. Tomas Jeh, Chris Staples and Instructors Shirley Artist Qiao “Jordan” Dan telling Instructor Carolyn Rush and Carolyn Dorsey about a piece of calligraphy for sale. Instructor Dorsey, in particular, were the first to try it Shirley Rush in the background. fresh out of the pot. the Autumn Festival. The holi- expensive, as is the festival itself. People learned that there are day is often associated with Some families have been known many steps to serving tea. The women, as is ice, while men are to spend as much as $10,000. first batch, after being strained linked to the sun and fire. They After this, Zipeng “Nix” Liu, and poured, is often too strong. are like the human embodiment a professional musician in It requires all the senses – you of yin and yang. The festival China, played traditional music must judge the drink by its STAFF WRITER

also comforts families, friends and lovers who are separated. “But a lot of people cannot go back. A lot of people are homesick,” Xiaoyi said. The Moon Festival is a chance for them to get together. If they can’t be with their families, they can be with the similarly lonely and help them feel b e t t e r . Mooncakes are a big part of the celebration. They originated more than 600 years ago, proving useful in a time when China was under Mongol control. Hun rebels sent messages through the pastries and, as a result, were able to plan a successful revolt. Xiaoyi likened them to Twitter. Mooncakes come in a variety of flavors including peanut, green tea and chocolate. There are even gold ones. Ingredients differ according to what part of China you’re in and they’re quite

Yuxin “Krystal” Guo teaching about the tradition of tea. Chris Staples participating.

color, scent and taste. Also, as long as nothing is added, hot tea is very healthy for you. It should be drunk using both hands. When Dorsey asked if they should drink it all at once, Xiaoyi made everyone laugh. “Drink it all. Take a shot,” he s a i d . Afterward, Staples bought a framed piece of calligraphy about setting goals and not stopping until they’re achieved. This was fitting since he said he doesn’t like to procrastinate. Staples described the event as awesome and educational. “I liked the tea part. That was pretty interesting,” he said. Other crafts and art

pieces were for sale. The auction money, donations and what club members gathered from sales will go toward the U Maine Culture Fest on Oct. 27. So, next time you look at the moon, think about the songs and traditions it has inspired. Know that rebels used it to gain freedom. Families and friends find comfort in it. Perhaps most important, the moon makes us equals, favoring no one person over the other. In the same way it brightens the sky, so does it brighten our lives. Taking that into consideration, a holiday in its name makes all the sense in the world.

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Cole DuMonthier STAFF WRITER

Oct. 3 saw the second annual launch of UMPI’s literary magazine, Upcountry. The event was well attended by UMPI faculty and students, both current and past. Refreshments were also provided for those in attendance. Much of the evening consisted of a selection of readings from just a few of the many who were included in the publication. The readings consisted of works from both the newest edition as well as last year’s. Some of the readers included Tara White, Cassie Green and UMPI faculty member Anthony Scott along with several other magnificent writers.

Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

If you had told Melbourne Smith of Presque Isle that someday he would be swimming his thousandth lap at Gentile Hall, he would have thought you were crazy. But that’s exactly what Smith did right here in UMPI’s Gentile Hall swimming pool. Surprisingly, though, Smith’s love of swimming almost didn’t happen. It wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for a change of mind early on. “I actually didn’t learn how to swim until college. I had to take a swimming test, which I didn’t have to take. I ended up taking a swimming class for two years in college,” Smith said. Smith had been a walker for years. When Gentile Hall opened its doors in 2006, Smith was reluctant to continue walking at UMPI. He would often come here after working all day. Eventually,

Literary Launch

The readings ran the gauntlet, from fun and comical to touching pieces of work that tugged at the heartstrings. After the readings, many participants stayed and talked to fellow classmates, past teachers and some new acquaintances. When asked about the future of the magazine, editor Melissa Crowe said, “We started with student and alumni but we’re definitely thinking in the future of opening up. First of all, I thought of opening submissions to anyone in the University of Maine system. Then another way to go would be, and I was thinking of doing, a community issue, even one special issue for members of the community and then, eventually, we could

accept submissions from every- you put your work out there, the where. There’s no reason that more you begin to become a we can’t do that.” common name and the more If you would like to submit likely it is that you’ll become any of your literary work and published. And until then, feel possibly be included in the next issue of Upcountry, the deadline for submission is Nov. 1. Many different types of works are accepted including stories, poems and there’s a possibility to include photos. For those of you who were not included in this edition, the editors of Upcountry encourage you to keep try- From left to right: editor Melissa ing. The more that

Anthony Scott and Tara White.

free to find inspiration in others, through sources such as Upcountry. For more information go to, http://upcountryjournal. wordpress.com/.

Crowe and contributors

The Journey to 1,000 walking got a little tiresome. “I felt out of shape. Walking was kicking my butt, so I thought maybe I should do

Eventually, Smith was doing as many as 28 or 30 laps each day. He became extremely dedicated, coming to the pool every

From left to right: Keli Marston and Melbourne “Mel” Smith. more. So I started swimming laps. I started with five, then I eventually increased to six or seven,” Smith said.

weekday for the last six years. To calculate the amount of laps he did over time, Smith did a spreadsheet that calculated how

many laps he was up to. “I started doing a spreadsheet about five and a half years ago. I learned how to do spreadsheets years ago when I was taking a class on Microsoft Office at NMCC. I thought it would be neat to figure out average times and formulas,” Smith said. When his spreadsheet told him he was reaching his thousandth lap, Smith couldn’t help but get excited. “I was having my sixty-third birthday 10 days before. I knew that I could hit it before my birthday,” Smith said. One of the biggest things Smith stressed in the very beginning was pacing himself and trying not to do more than 15 miles a month in the water. He also never ended his laps on an odd number. Over the years, Smith got help from the various lifeguards on duty at the pool. “This is such a positive place. You get the feeling of

encouragement and acceptance for all ages and sizes. Everyone is so nice and helpful and respectful. I can’t say enough about the lifeguards. They’ve helped me to breathe in the pool. Once I got this, I could swim as much as possible after work,” Smith said. So what does the future look like for Smith? Will he work for 2,000 laps, or maybe even 5,000? Smith says he’s uncertain about the future. “I’m not sure about the future. I’m going to continue to keep my average up. I am getting older. Doing this makes me feel 20 years younger. The pool is my fountain of youth,” Smith said. Smith plans on continuing to work at BurrellesLuce until he is 70 then retire. Until then, if you see Smith in the water sometime, make sure to congratulate him on this milestone, and wish him well on his new journey. Keep swimming,’ Mel!

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Rockstars of UMPI

music for students and community members alike. LeVasseur Thursday, Sept. 27 was just was born and raised in like every other weekday, and Nashville, Tennessee and has around 5:30 p.m. the Kelly several relatives in the Presque Commons Dining Hall was Isle area, who also came to filled with hungry students. enjoy his performance. By 8 Out of nowhere, a man stood p.m. the Owl’s Nest was packed on his chair with a guitar in his with a crowd of more than 50 people who enjoyed not o n l y L e Va s s e u r ’ s original music, but a few covers and his wonderful sense of humor too. With the combination of guitar and harm o n i c a , L e Va s s e u r encouraged onlookers to interact with him throughout his performance. He The charismatic crooner himself, quickly opened the stage to any Jason LeVasseur. talented audience members hands and hollered to get everyin an “Open-Mic” Night. one’s attention. As the room Several volunteers enterfell silent, Jason LeVasseur tained the people in the Owl’s introduced himself and invited Nest along with LeVasseur, everyone to join him in the including Melanie Ward, an Owl’s Nest later that night for UMPI student who sang the food and music. song “Beautiful,” by Selena The UMPI campus was honGomez accapella, Steven ored to have Jason LeVasseur perform his alternative acoustic McKenney, from Caribou and also a student at UMPI, played Sara Gendreau STAFF WRITER

an original piece on guitar. With the opportunities mation on the Rock Star Josh Kovach, a distant relative available to LeVasseur through Project, visit of LeVasseur who traveled up his music career, he admits to www.facebook.com/rockstar from Orono to see the per- having met several “rock stars” p r o j e c t . formance, played guitar and in the last few years. He wantAs the Owl’s Nest emptied sang a Crosby, Stills and Nash ed to share that feeling of being out, UMPI student Jeff Rhoads single called, “Love the One star-struck to everyone else, not finished creating his “Rock You’re With.” just celebrities, and to empha- Star” sign and commented on After the performance, size that everyone is talented the night. Kovach said, “I’m so glad I and deserving of recogni“Jason performed a great made the trip north to watch Jason perform. His style of music appeals to everyone.” Two other perfor mances introduced simply as Andy and Tom also entertained the crowd on guitar, performing both original pieces as well as covers to popular A few of UMPIʼs many rockstars. From left to right: Ben songs. Pinette, Kayla Ames, Sarah Ames and Lanette Virtanen. Not only were audience members tion. At the beginning of show tonight with a medley of able to enjoy LeVasseur’s September, LeVasseur creat- amazing covers as well as music in the Owl’s Nest, but ed the Rock Star Project, some awesome original music. the Activities Office had which is a Facebook group Add on some comical MCLeVasseur’s CDs for sale so that collects pictures of peo- ing, and it made for an aweanyone could enjoy the ple holding signs saying, “I some event. The Campus music elsewhere. LeVasseur am a rock star!” LeVasseur Activities Board is very happy mentioned how, between emphasized his love for to have had him travel ‘North now and his last visit to northern Maine, and of Ordinary,’” Rhoads said. UMPI two years ago, he’s encouraged everyone to subAnyone who had heard released a new album, mit a picture of themselves LeVasseur play and laughed at which is also for sale with to the website to add to the his jokes would be hardStudent Activities. collection. For more infor- pressed to disagree.

Student Activities Office Events Calendar Fall 2012

Wed. Oct. 24, All Day, Owl’s Nest, Purple Pinkie Project Thurs. Oct. 25, 10 pm to1:00 am, MPR Halloween Dance *Student ID Required for Dance* Wed. Oct. 31, 5 to 6:30 pm, Kelly Commons, Halloween Dinner & Costume Contest

9 Hypnosis Is for Real!

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Nicole Duplessis STAFF WRITER

So Much to Do, So Little Time Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

It is now a few weeks into the school year and you’re probably starting to feel bored and lonely. It seems like all you do is eat, sleep, do homework and go to class. You’re looking for something to occupy the free time that you have between classes but don’t know where to go or what to do. The Student Activities Office on campus realizes that this feeling is normal and they decided to do something about it. Their solution? A Club and Community Fair in the Campus Center during lunch on Thursday, Sep. 20. “It’s a great opportunity for student groups to showcase what they have to offer,” Vanessa Pearson, student activities coordinator, said. The event showcased approximately two dozen campus organizations along with a dozen off-campus businesses and organizations. There was

something for everyone in the large variety of organizations. These groups ranged from athletic teams to non-athletic activities such as campus publications and religious groups. They’re all great ways to spend time between classes and they look excellent on resumes. Along with job opportunities and organization memberships, door prizes were given out to lucky students who attended the event. These prizes were as varied as the groups that were giving them out. They included things that most college students find quite useful such as backpacks, t-shirts, water bottles and books. Overall, the event proved to be successful with more than 150 people in attendance, according to the Student Activities Office. Even though it may seem at times like there’s not much to do on campus, there is. Anyone who went to this event can tell you that.

The air was full of laughter and mind games in Wieden Auditorium on the evening of Sept. 15. Certified hypnotist Paul Ramsay brought with him nothing but natural entertainment and allowed everyone in the audience a chance to become hypnotized. “Hypnosis isn’t for everybody,” Ramsay said. “But for those interested in confronting their hypnosis ability, now is a great opportunity.” Many decided to test their hypnosis ability, and Ramsay allowed people to do so right in the comfort of their seats. After having people close their eyes, he went through various steps and, one by one, people either opted out of becoming hypnotized or continued on. Soothing music played as Ramsay spoke in a calm and quiet voice. The air was relaxed and tension-free. “Awake!” yelled Ramsay. All those under hypnosis throughout the audience awoke at his command. He called up volunteers and, shockingly, three of these volunteers could-

n’t remember their first names. While asleep in the audience, these individuals had been commanded by Ramsay to “forget” their first names for a time span of five minutes, and that’s exactly what they did. However, they were able to recall distant and detailed information when he asked them in front of the audience, just unable to give their first names. A total of three individuals, all

students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, were brought on stage and went through a series of hypnotic events. They performed lyrical ballet, were finalists at a worldwide Guitar Hero competition and one of the participants was the first male to ever give birth. The audience was given the option to use remotes to vote on what they wanted to see the students do on stage. Ramsay had everyone

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involved and it was amazing how all the scenarios the students performed on stage appeared so real and natural to them. “It’s not a magic show, it’s completely real,” said Ramsay at the start of his performance. He surely didn’t disappoint. He kept his word and taught the audience that hypnotism is nothing but deep relaxation. Near the end of the show, Ramsay asked the hypnotized individuals what they thought of the show and if they thought they had been hypnotized. They all replied that they hadn’t been and one individual was angry as well as convinced that the show hadn’t even begun. They soon remembered everything they had done that evening when the audience sang a certain part of a song that Ramsay had decided on. Smiles broke out on their faces and they truly did recall all they had experienced. With Ramsay, even those who don’t believe in hypnosis can still laugh and have fun. That’s the important part. That, it would seem, is the true power of hypnosis.

10 Cole DuMonthier

Unive r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

The Birth of a Program

STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, Sept. 15, the newly developed Physical Therapy Assistant program held an open house for all current students, faculty, visiting alumni and community members. This is the maiden year for the program and already it’s off to a great start. The PTA program has moved into the space previously occupied by the music program. During the summer, adaptations were made to the space to accommodate the two fulltime faculty members and the various pieces of equipment needed in the program. Much of the equipment used in the program is the same equipment used in most physical therapy clinics. This allows the students to get hands-on experience with instruments that they’ll be using on a daily basis in their

careers. The PTA program will grant its graduates with an associate’s degree. The program is divided into two sections. In the first, is where students complete general education and more specific classes pertaining to the field of PTA. In the second, students are placed in settings and complete hours at an internship. Faculty member Vanessa Patenaude helps students with the process of being placed for their internship. She also teaches some of the classes for the program along with program director Christopher Rolon. When asked about a longterm goal for the program, Rolon had this to say: “Long range, we would really love to expand our clinical site contract base. In doing so, we could then allow more students into the program. So, currently, our maximum

number is 13 students we accept into the program. If we can eventually take 16 or

The open house was a great way for the UMPI community, both past and present, to learn

visit and spoke about her excitement for the program. We wish those in the pro-

From left to right: VP Michael Sonntag, President Schott, program director Chris Rolan and Cole DuMonthier. 20, we will do that. A five year plan is to definitely expand our numbers.”

about one of the exciting additions to the campus. The president herself stopped in for a

gram good luck and we’ll watch and see how this program grows over the coming years.

This, in turn, taught her to love c o m m u n i t y . Her love of community resulted in her wanting to become a rabbi. Isaacs jokingly said that this was a disappointment to her parents as she was one of the few Isaacs to not become a doctor. Her journey was not always easy. She spent years studying the Hebrew language and questioning her two selves — her spiritual self and her gay s e l f . Isaacs went on to explain that there are four movements in the Jewish culture. Currently, three out of four support gay marriage. She also pointed out that, through translation, texts have been incorrectly interpreted. One

example she cited was within Leviticus. She said that many translations have incorrectly translated the verses to mean homosexuality is an abomination. She then pointed out that,

between their spiritual and gay selves. In response to the question of what she would tell people who have found themselves in this internal battle, Isaacs said, “God really loves us, always remember that.” She also called upon those closest to the person to “pave a progressive path.” Isaacs ended the question, and her time, by saying, “Live a dignified life....Be strong, find a progressive community.” In other words, we all carry some responsibility. We can each do our part to help other human beings. Religion and equality don’t have to stand in each other’s way. And for those struggling with either, there is hope. Have faith.

Be Strong: Faith and Homosexuality Eric Edgecomb STAFF WRITER

Rabbi Rachel Isaacs.

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, students and community members were invited to hear Rabbi Rachel

Isaacs. The Gay-Straight Alliance of UMPI organized the talk as part of Gay Days, which occurred during the first few days of October. At 12:30 pm, nearly 30 people filled the Allagash Room in the Campus Center to hear what Isaacs had to say. Isaacs started her talk with a short introduction to who she is. Along with letting the audience know she was the first openly Gay rabbi to be ordained, she also said that she and her partner will be married within the next few months. She said that, while she went to public school and learned math and English, she found that she enjoyed going to synagogue more. “I learned how to be a good and holy person,” Isaacs said.

using this same translation, Egyptians and shellfish would be abominations. The audience reacted to Isaacs in a very positive manner. When the time came to ask questions, she discussed everything from personal bias to the struggle people face

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Different By Nature

Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

What do UMPI’s Phi Eta Sigma chapter and Olympic athletes have in common? Their drive and motivation in all that they do? The fact that they are role models and represent their hometowns well? Yes. But they have also gathered for events with others like them in Salt Lake City. Over October break, from Oct. 4 to 9, UMPI’s chapter of Phi Eta Sigma attended the Phi Eta Sigma National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chapter adviser Jim Stepp attended the convention along with three members: Becky Stepp, Mika Ouellette and Sarah McGlinn. These members chose to go on the trip when a sign-up sheet was presented to them at a meeting during the spring semester of last year. All along, the members had been excited about the trip. So excited, in fact, that they didn’t let a four hour flight delay and nearly missing their connection in Chicago dampen their spirits. “We’re in better shape than other people,” Becky Stepp, said. “Some people I overheard

talking in line at the ticket counter had to stay overnight.” After a couple of minor hiccups, the flights went well both to and from Salt Lake City. The members got a real treat on the way home on Monday: a bird’s eye view of the Northern Lights from the plane. The captain had even shut off the cabin lights so that the passengers could see the Lights.

Salt Lake City Temple.

“It’s amazing, really nice of the captain to do that,” Stepp said. The real fun, however, began the next day when the convention started at the Little America Hotel. UMPI’s chap-

is back!

ter was greeted by Brigham Young University’s chapter members. Brigham Young University, or BYU, and the University of Utah — both located in the Salt Lake City area — were the host schools for the convention despite their usual academic and athletic differences. “Normally, we’re bitter rivals with the University of Utah, but we’ll be at peace for three days,” Heather Hammond, Phi Eta Sigma chapter adviser for BYU, said. Once registered and fed a buffet dinner, the meetings began. Students could choose which meeting they wanted to attend and go to it. They met students from other schools and talked about life in their chapters as well as different activities that they put on. The meetings are where Salt Lake City’s motto, “Different by Nature,” came into play. There were noticeable differences between the smaller schools like UMPI and the larger schools like BYU, which has a student population of about 30,000. These differences ranged from the number of people per chapter to the different activities that

the chapters put on to even chapter policies. “I was really pulling for the small schools like us,” Stepp said. Although the students attended many meetings during the weekend, the convention was not all work and no play. During their free time, students explored nearby downtown Salt Lake City and all it had to offer. Then, Saturday afternoon, students got a tour of the area, including Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol, the Olympic Park and even an excursion to a

ski resort in Park City, a small town near Salt Lake City. After a weekend of both working and playing, UMPI’s Phi Eta Sigma members went home with not just a suitcase full of souvenirs but memories that will last a lifetime and different ideas to improve their chapter. They plan to put everything they learned from other schools to use and are looking forward to the next national convention in 2014. The location of the next convention will be announced as soon as it’s d e t e r m i n e d .

Salt Lake City Capitol.

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Presque Isle: 260 Main Street, 764-5500 Caribou: 556 Main Street, 493-3030

The show runs every Sunday at 6 pm, Tuesday at 7 am, and Wednesday at 6 pm.

FREE DELIVERY TO UMPI CAMPUS!

Catch the premier of “U-Radio” this Sunday, October 21. on WUPI 92.1 FM

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Unive r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Paint-a-Palooza 2012

t shot! Take your bes

This means war!

Gotcha!

From left to right: Steve McDougal, Matt Nadeau, Molly Lindsey, Liz Bousquet, Courtney Cray and Courtney McHugh.

University Times

Eric Edgecomb STAFF WRITER

ports October 19, 2012

Spaghetti Helps Girls Soccer Team Score

The night of Friday, Sept. 14, was an eventful night for the women’s soccer team here on campus. The Campus Center was filled with supporters of the soccer team. The turnout, consisting of students, faculty and community members, enjoyed a delicious spaghetti dinner put on by the team. The players, along with ARAMARK, set up a buffet-style line in the multipurpose room, allowing those

in attendance to see the entire m e n u . The team hoped to raise $1,500 during the annual event. When asked about a potential follow up fundraiser this year, they looked a bit uncertain and revealed that they’re planning something secret that’s still in the works. Many people were enjoying the food and complimenting the social event. Community members said that they love watching the women play hard and happily support the team.

On the other side, students love the fact that the dinner allows them to interact with the staff

on a non-academic level. When asked what he felt he would have missed if he hadn’t gone, Jeff Rhoads said that he would have “missed a good opportunity to support fellow students” as well as “a fun social e v e n t . ” One thing was clear to all who attended: the players did a

wonderful job. Clare Exner, chair of the college of professional programs, said, “The women on the soccer team do a really great job” A roommate to one of the team members said they worked really hard to sell tickets and get people there. The money raised went to buying gear. Any extra was saved for future fundraisers. Congratulations, players. A job well done. We look forward to seeing you on the field or in the gym and around campus.

Do you like music? Do you want to learn guitar but donʼt have one? The holidays are coming up. Looking for a gift?

The U Times has a solution! Weʼll be raffling off a guitar and its case before the end of the semester. Itʼs $2 for one ticket and $5 for three tickets. The Johnson guitar is new and unused. If you want to look at it yourself, come by the media lab (Normal 102)! All proceeds will benefit an educational trip to Washington, D.C. in March. Weʼd love to have your support. For more information, contact Dr. Lowman (jacquelyn.lowman@umpi.edu), Kayla Ames (kayla.ames@maine.edu), Lanette Virtanen (lanette.virtanen@maine.edu) or Ben Pinette (benjamin.pinette@maine.edu).

University Times

ifestyle

October 19, 2012

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

The Reel Deal: ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’

PG-13 Rating = 4/5 Stars

Oh baby! The 2012 movie “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” will give you a few laughs and has heart-wrenching moments. It delivers — pun intended — exactly what pregnancy is all about: the ups and

downs, hormones, fears and real life situations. It has a great cast that includes Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Dennis Quaid, Matthew Morrison and many more. Following the lives of four

couples and a one-night stand, each relationship deals with its own difficulties. Diaz plays Jules, a TV fitness guru, who gets a surprise pregnancy with a dance show star named Evan (Morrison) and learns that compromising is harder than it looks. Baby-crazy author Wendy (Banks) and her husband Gary (Ben Falcone) get a shot of reality when hormones take over her body and she finds

it difficult to take her own advice. Meanwhile, Gary’s competitive alpha dad, Ramsey (Quaid), is having twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler (Brooklyn Decker). The last couple, Holly (Lopez) and Alex (Rodrigo Santoro), are in the process of adoption, but

Alex struggles with the fears of becoming a father and attends a “dude’s support group.” What seemed to be an innocent onenight-stand with Marco (Crawford) ends with Rosie (Anna Kendrick) pregnant and getting to know the father of her baby. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” definitely gives you a real look into the not-so-g lorious life of pregnancy. During the movie, Wendy is a keynote speaker when she is nine months pregnant and says, “I just wanted the glow. The one they promise you on the cover of those magazines. Well, I’m calling it—pregnancy sucks. Making a human being is really hard. I have no control over my body or emotions.” That’s probably the best way to sum up pregnancy. This movie doesn’t glorify or make pregnancy ridiculously beautiful because, in reality, it can be terrifying. A lot of people will probably like this movie because it’s so accurate. Those who don’t expect much, those who think it’s going to be one of those low-grade cheesy comedies, you’re for a surprise. It

proved itself to be much more than that. “What to expect

when you’re expecting” exceeded expectations.

Univer si t y T i m e s LIFESTYLE O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

December 21, 2012 – The End of the World? – Part 1 Jim Stepp

CONTRIBUTOR

There are many events that are predicted to happen on or around 12/21/12. These include potential effects from a galactic alignment, shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field, large solar storms, the close approach of a wandering rouge planet names Nibiru and the ending of the Mayan Calendar. In this, the first of four articles about the December 21, 2012 we’ll be looking at the galactic alignment and the shift in the Earth’s magnetic field. A galactic alignment is defined as the alignment of the Earth, Sun and the galactic center. An alignment actually happens twice a year. Currently, the alignment of the galactic core, Earth and Sun happens in the summer right around the June Solstice and the galactic core-SunEarth alignment happens near the December Solstice. The dates of these alignments shift a little each year due to the movement of the Sun around the galactic core. Just as the Earth takes 365.25 days to go around the Sun, the Sun takes 220 million years to orbit the galactic center. During the year, the Earth spends half of the year slightly below or above the Sun’s equator. As the Sun orbits the galactic center, it also spends time above or below the galactic plain. To have a perfect alignment such as the one called for in the 12/21/2012 doomsday predictions, the Earth, the Sun and the galactic plain would have to be completely aligned This perfect alignment happens only twice during the Sun’s 220 million year orbit.

According to the 2012 end of the world scenario, this alignment will cause an increase in the tidal forces on the Earth and cause great earthquakes to occur. The problem is that according to NASA, this alignment actually happened in 1998 and each successive alignment has become less and less perfect. So, if this increased tidal effect was to cause us problems, it would have done so 14 years ago, not now. Another end of the world scenario involves the shifting of

the Earth’s magnet field. The Earth’s magnetic field is very important to life on Earth. The magnetic field, along with the ozone layer, helps protect life on Earth from dangerous radiation coming from space. If the Earth’s magnetic field were to weaken or shift, some of this dangerous radiation would make it to the surface of the Earth and kill us or cause cancer. It’s a fact that the Earth’s magnetic field is shifting and will eventually reverse. Will it happen in 2012 and will it be the end of all life on Earth? The first question I will answer is: will it happen in 2012. The answer is maybe and maybe not. The truth is, no one knows. Currently, the north

magnetic pole is shifting about 24 miles a year (40 km/year). Throughout the Earth’s history, the north and south magnet poles have shifted every 300,000 years on average. The last shift occurred 780,000 years ago, so we’re due for a shift. Will the shift cause the death of life on earth? Probably not. The Earth is over five billion years old. Life has existed on the Earth for more than 600 million years. That means that life on Earth has experienced

some 2,000 shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field. Life has existed after many shifts and it will continue to do so. Don’t worry too much about this prediction. For more information about the galactic alignment, please go to www.universetoday.com/30762 /galactic-alignment/. For more information about the shifting magnetic field, please go to www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lo okingatearth/29dec_magneticfi e l d . h t m l . THE NIGHT SKY The International Space Station is visible in the evening sky until Nov. 10. Go to www.heavens-

above.com for exact times and locations. You’ll need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times. The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s West longitude and 46d40m45.6s North latitude. To get a free sky chart, go to www.skymaps.com

Sun and Planet Visibility Planet visibility times are based on the planet being at least 5 degrees high and 30 minutes from either sunrise or sunset. Event Sun Rise Sun Set Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn

10/20 06:57 17:35 18:06 – 18:12 03:42 – 07:00 18:06 – 19:18 19:54 – 06:42 Not visible

Event Sun Rise Sun Set Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn

11/01 07:14 17:15 17:42 – 17:54 04:06 – 07:12 17:48 – 19:06 19:06 – 07:00 Not visible

10/18 35th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto’s largest Satellite Chiron (1977) 10/18@17:12 Moon 4.6 degrees from Mars 10/18@17:43 The ISS passes 1/3 of a degree from Acturus (Alpha Bootes) 10/19@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 6 meteors/hour 10/20@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 8 meteors/hour 10/21@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 10 meteors/hour 10/21@14:00 Orionid Meteor Shower Maximum

10/21@22:32 First Quarter Moon 10/22 4148th anniversary of the first recorded solar eclipse (China 2136 BC) 10/22@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 10 meteors/hour 10/23@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 8 meteors/hour 10/24@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 6 meteors/hour 10/25 5th anniversary of the launching of the Chinese Lunar Orbiter CZ-3A (2007) 10/25@03:32 Saturn farthest from the Earth, passing behind the Sun 10/25@18:26 The ISS passes 0.9 degrees from Vega (Alpha Lyra) 10/26@17:12 Mercury greatest eastern elongation from the Sun – 24.1 degrees from the Sun in the evening sky 10/28@17:35 ISS passes 0.2 degrees from Altair (Alpha Aqula) 10/29@14:49 Full Moon 10/31@15:48 Venus at Perihelion – closest to the Sun – 107,475,000 km/66,781,700 mi 10/31@23:36 Mercury at half phase 11/01@10:17 Moon at Apogee – furthest from the Earth – 406,000 km or 252,300 mi 11/01@19:18 Moon 1.6 degrees from Jupiter 11/03 55th anniversary of Sputnik 2 sending Laika the dog in to space (1957) 11/06@19:35 Last Quarter Moon

Have a freaky

Halloween!