Volume 40 Issue 3

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inside this issue:

Details on p. 9

University of Maine at Presque Isle

Volume 40 Issue 3

Who Knew Founding Fathers Wore Shorts?

Ghosts on Campus?

Details on p. 14

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Tail Waggin’ Good Time Jessie Rose STAFF WRITER

Prancing up to the gate, eager to enter, came Henry, a black maltipoo who weighed 10 pounds, but thought of himself as the big man on campus. Henry was excited to meet the people standing inside waiting for the play date. Next was Ludy, the puggle with his nose to the ground as he entered the gate to romp around with Henry. Bella, a yellow Lab, Daisy, a yellow Lab and Miss Sheba, a cocker spaniel/Shih Tzu cross, all arrived to enjoy the warm afternoon of toys, treats and other four-legged buddies on the tennis courts. Everyone was excited, with tails wagging, running in circles and smelling each other. They all

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

The sun was out and the stretches began. About 80 runners warmed up in the parking lot of The Crow’s Nest in Presque Isle on Oct. 8. This restaurant was holding its first Octoberfest 10K race. The idea for the race began with Channa Stacey and her husband, Jim, who owns The Crow’s Nest. According to Stacey, they decided that the money from the entry fees should be used to help out a local organization. “We wanted the funds to go to a nonprofit,” Stacey said. The nonprofit that they

stopped by any catch, if it human long would just enough for a quick stay still long pat and then were enough. Miss on their way to S h e b a enjoy more runwatched over ning. Sadie, a goldHenry to be en retriever, sure nothing Sydney, a happened to Lab/Aussie mix him with all and Vinnie, a the large German shortdogs around haired pointer, and unfamilquickly entered iar people. from different Sadie moved gates to enjoy the from person fun that had begun to person to without them. get in a good Vinnie ran s c r a t c h from one side to before movthe other, chasing on to the ing the ball he next in line. was sure to Barb Lambert handing out treats on Pet Play Day. Bruce, a

cairn terrier, and Moon Pie, a Japanese spaniel, followed suit upon entering. They dashed from one side to the next, seeing who could get into the other side of the court without the gate being open. Daisy found a water bottle that seemed like a lot of fun. It made noise and had something inside. Sydney and Vinnie chased the ball until someone got tired of throwing it. Bruce was off chasing after Vinnie’s ears. They just were so tempting, hanging down and flopping around. What else could they be used for other than a tug-a-war toy for a funloving pup like Bruce?

See Waggin’, Page 6

Race for the Red Cross selected was the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter. Stacey explained that the money will be of great assistance to this organization. “They really do have a very tight budget,” Stacey said. Martin Puckett, who helped organize the event, said that the race raised $2,000 for the Red Cross. “It will all stay right here in the County,” Puckett said. Puckett said that the entire amount went straight to the Red Cross because of the help of sponsors. Gold sponsors included Bemis & Rossignol LLC and Northern Zumba. Silver sponsors were Soderberg

Construction Company, Spudnik and S.W. Collins Company. Puckett was quite pleased with the funds they raised. “We’ve definitely exceeded expectations,” Puckett said. A few familiar faces from UMPI were at the Octoberfest 10K. President Don Zillman and Dr. Paul Johnson participated in the race. Biomedical club member Amy Michaud was among the volunteers from the community and Red Cross. Michaud said that she enjoyed seeing people come together to support the organization. She was happy to help out.

“It makes you feel good about yourself when you are able to volunteer your time for a good cause,” Michaud said. The overall first place male and female runners were PJ Gor neau and Gabrielle Cyr. For winning, Gor neau and Cyr get to take a free hot air balloon ride in the 2012 Balloon Festival. Runners were also separated into age categories. Puckett explained that the first male and female finishers in each category would get a gift card. In addition, all runners got a medal for participating.

See Race, Page 6

Dr. Paul Johnson, a race participant.


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The University Times Staff Editor Lanette Virtanen Assistant Editor Kayla Ames Stephanie Jellett Staff Writers Kayla Ames Stephanie Corriveau Donna Delong Rowena Forbes Martha Franklin-Wight Sarah Graettinger Stephanie Jellett Mika Ouellette Ben Pinette Jessie Rose Lanette Virtanen Brianna Williams

Contributors Chris Corsello Jim Stepp Don Zillman

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

University Times

ampus

October 21, 2011

Dear readers, Did you get out to have a root beer float the other night? I sure did and it was good. This semester is flying by and so far the snow isnʼt. Before the hats and boots come out again, take advantage of the nice days that we have left. Get out and see whatʼs going on around campus. Because whether itʼs the blood drive thatʼs coming up or Halloween in the halls, there is something going on every week on campus. Have a safe Halloween everyone, Lanette Greetings, I once read a Chinese proverb that compared people to gems and suggested both must experience “friction,” or hardships, in order to reach perfection. Under most circumstances, I would agree – I think the way we handle obstacles says a lot about us. That doesnʼt mean, however, that we have to face that friction or those hardships alone, as many of the stories in this issue suggest. For one example of support, look to Martha Franklin-Wightʼs story about the counseling services available on campus. Another is Stephanie Jellettʼs piece about ways to protect yourself from potentially dangerous technology. Thereʼs a lot of reassuring and uplifting information in this issue of the U Times, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you, Kayla

D at es fo r Subm issi o ns t o t h e U T im es Oct. 24 Nov. 7 Nov. 28 Any submissions recieved 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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From Don’s Desk

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Hard Work That’ll Pay Off We all—students, faculty and staff—have many ways to advance UMPI in the year upcoming. One of the most important is in the selection of new administrators, faculty and staff. We have quite a bit of hiring business already on our agenda and it is only mid-October. Here is the tentative agenda. Unless Governor LePage’s suggestion to abolish the system office is adopted, we (the trustees and the seven campuses) will be selecting a new system chancellor. This is the officer with immediate reporting responsibility to the trustees and the immediate boss of the campus presidents. UMPI will also be selecting a new president. We have several faculty searches started. Others are likely on the way along with some crucial staff hiring. All of those decisions will help to define the UMPI of

2012 and beyond. How can you get involved? All searches are directed by search committees. The committees typically need faculty, staff and student members to do the hard initial work of defining what we are looking for in the new employee and doing the hard work of sorting down the prospective applicants to the dozen or so who will receive serious consideration. (One of our summer searches at UMPI started with a field of about 150 applicants!) Once that work is done, everyone is able to get involved. The chancellor search will touch every campus, at least briefly. We hope that in person or by electronic connections we can interview the three to five finalist candidates. The UMPI only searches will provide greater chance to visit with the final-

ists live on-campus. You all have the chance to both ask questions and to register your reactions to the candidates. One of the fascinating aspects of these searches is that different people react to candidates in different ways. I would especially urge students to offer their reactions. Students may have a very different perspective on the candidate from staff members or faculty. I do know from long experience that a consistently negative student reaction to a candidate is typically fatal to that candidate’s chances of getting an offer. My experience on both sides of the search process—as a candidate and as an interviewer— gives me a set of guidelines to good and successful searches (and the two are NOT the same). First, campus members need to think hard about what they are looking for in the new

member of the community. I confess I’ve been instantly turned off when the campus’s response to my question as candidate: “What are you wanting to find in the search?” is “We are hoping you can tell us that.” I’ve been in town for two hours. The committee has been there collectively for decades, if not centuries. Who is it who should know the institution? Second, once candidates have reached the finalist stage and been invited to campus, treat them as honored guest and assume that they will be hired for the positions. That doesn’t preclude hard, but fair, questions when the candidate is there or tough assessment after they have boarded the plane home. But all candidates should leave with the feeling that they have visited a class operation and would love to get an offer. Third, small things mean a great deal to the success of the search. Is

the candidate welcomed and escorted around in a wellorganized fashion? Are candidate presentations well attended? Are questions answered with candor? Is the candidate kept informed of what is happening as the search moves toward its conclusion? The candidate is keeping a mental log to answer the question: Would I want to spend the next years of my professional life here? I think UMPI does this very well. It shows in the success of our searches. I’m often intrigued as other UM System colleagues bemoan: We aren’t able to get good hires. I’m pleased to report that we have rarely had that problem and often wish that we could have taken our second choice as well as the candidate who accepted our offer. This is hard work. But it pays off. I look forward to a very successful hiring year.

Jessie Rose

Maine. The work took off in July 2009, when a grant went through for $20 million over a five year period. This was the largest grant of its kind to ever be given, and everyone is very pleased. A few of the UMPI faculty with whom Hart is working are Jason Johnston and Dave Putnam. The main ingredients for the program are based on human wellbeing/ ecosystem health, present along with future, starting local then heading global and knowledge along with action. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but until it’s put into action, it isn’t doing anyone any good. “Changes aren’t to be taken lightly,” Hart said. Not everyone is

looking for change. Change is a hard thing for some people to accept. Another thing he discussed was the triple bottom line: economics, social and environmental wellbeing. A project that the state is doing research on is coastal adaption in a changing climate. This is being conducted in southern and coastal

Maine, where they seem to get more rain every year and flooding is getting worse. This is having an effect on the roads and crops as well as hay production. Another project is tidal energy development in Cobscook Bay. This deals with power initiative. A program is being aired on MPBN, called Sustainable Maine. The first episode, which already aired, covers the work that is being down in Cobscook Bay. A project that UMPI is a huge part of is called Aroostook River watershed. This is about assessing renewable energy options in the Aroostook River. This project has other

parties of interest who also are working with them, such as the Maine Farm Bureau. The lecture was about making Maine a better place to live. If everyone gets on board and helps to support and promote projects and research here in the state, maybe we can have a better future. It also talked about making Maine a “green” state. Hart talked about what is great about Maine. For example, Maine has the largest forest coverage of any state at approximately 90 percent. We need to keep an eye out for changing landscape, climate change and land use effects on wildlife. Hart ended with a slide on solutions, saying, “Can we get there from here?” If you have a Maine accent, than you know how it’s supposed to sound and are sure to get a good laugh.

STAFF WRITER

The room echoed as people chatted among themselves, waiting for David Hart to take the stage. Students and faculty, along with some local residents, filled the room where the speech was about to begin. People of all ages could be found inside the conference room. Hart was here to take about sustainability in Maine, something close to many peoples’ hearts when we talk about home. Hart grew up in northern California. Now he works at U Maine, part of the University of Maine System. He works with several professors here at UMPI in a project they have named meSSI. The name started out being called SSI, standing for Sustainability Solutions Initiative. The “me” stands for

I’m meSSI


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Chrisʼ Corner

Get Involved!

Dear Students, I hope this column finds you well and settled into the fall semester. I wanted to take a moment to share some observations and remind everyone about what is available. Let me start by saying that I’m excited to see the energy and enthusiasm across campus and hope that the thrill of a new year doesn’t wear off along with the warm weather. Each month, I am going to attempt to submit an article for publication – “Chris’ Column” – I hope! My intent will be to entertain and give you something to think about -- hopefully there will be a message in every story. Today, there is no entertaining story, just an important reminder:

GET INVOLVED. UMPI provides you with a wide variety of services, programs and activities that are designed to help you make the most of your educational opportunities within the classroom and encourages you to respond to opportunities outside the classroom. We are committed to assisting you to achieve your academic potential, learn the foundations of leadership, engage in the community, act as responsible leaders in your own community and develop yourself and others through hands-on activities and experiences both in and out of the classroom. Those of you who choose to become involved can transfer your learned skills to your pro-

Staphanie Corriveau

are many excellent programs. “They have a great education program,” Walsh said. Walsh has appreciated making friends with UMPI students and faculty. She said that she enjoys school and discovering new things. “I just love school in gener-

fessional and community involvement after graduation. As a student at UMPI you are in a position to profoundly influence the quality of the college experience, but you have to be an active partici-

pant! Students provide leadership, guidance, support and advice to each other and to the administration. While there are clearly things that can be improved, we have to

hear from you in order to know what is and isn’t working. P-l-e-a-s-e, take advantage of those opportunities afforded you – visit me during my drop in times, come have coffee with me in the morning, attend a town meeting – I want to hear from you. Visit with your professors, work with your advisor. Create relationships with these remarkable folks: they have much to share with you -- and remember, they are people, too! Last, attend and participate in student senate: know and influence how your student activity fees are being put to work for you. Student senate is the mechanism where you can voice your concerns and be heard.

It is my hope that each of you will be active participants in your academic pursuits and take the opportunity to get involved in some aspect of life outside the classroom. Being involved will help you better understand the mission, vision and values of the university and all the benefits you can derive. These experiences will provide sound personal development and make for lasting friendships and memories. Just remember, we’re here for you. Get all you can from this experience; get involved, speak up, let us know what we can do for you to make your time here at UMPI the best it can be. Best wishes for continued success and enjoyment throughout the year!

al,” Walsh said. Walsh is definitely passionate about education and teaching. One of the activities Walsh participates in is campus tutoring. Walsh has plans help with an UMPI mentoring program as well. She has enjoyed helping students progress with their work. “I love it when the light bulb goes on,” Walsh said. There are a few other activities that Walsh is involved in. Walsh is one of the friendly faces behind the Student Support Services’ reception desk in South Hall. She has described herself as a motivator, too. When Walsh sees that a student is down, she said that she’ll find ways to cheer the person up. Walsh was also a

summer peer advisor for SOAR. She has even had the chance to teach students in one of Professor Terry Chalou’s courses. Walsh describes herself as an “avid UMPI basketball fan.” She enjoys watching both men and women’s games. “I love my basketball,” Walsh said. Besides being a student, Walsh enjoys the special responsibility of being a mom. She jokingly calls herself the “mother of three, wife of one.” Her family has lived in the Presque Isle area for 13 years. To add to Wendy’s family and student duties, she’s active in her community. Wendy has helped out with Girl Scouts for the past five years. She said that she plans to continue being involved with this organization. One other organization Walsh participates in is the UMPI Pride Committee. This group is responsible for select-

ing the student of the month. Of course, Walsh was not immediately told that she would be receiving the September award. She couldn’t figure out why group meetings weren’t being held, but solved the puzzle when she got the surprising news. Walsh is pleased about the award and said that her ceremony was beautiful. “It was humbling to hear the wonderful things the people thought about me,” Walsh said. Walsh is grateful for being recognized. She’s also grateful to those who’ve helped her. “A special thanks to Barb and Terry Chalou for being my mentors,” Walsh said. Walsh is a truly deserving student of the month. Not only does she make others happy. Walsh appreciates the happiness she receives from others in return. She’s bound to keep making others smile, from family to friends to future students.

Put a Smile on Your Face

STAFF WRITER

If you want someone to cheer you up, Wendy Walsh is the person to see. Her bubbly spirit will brighten your mood. Walsh’s personality isn’t the only thing that’s outstanding about her, though. She makes many contributions to the campus community. For all of these reasons, Walsh was selected for UMPI’s September Student of the Month. Walsh, who’s from Hancock, Maine, plans to teach math at the elementary level. After she graduates in the spring of 2014, Walsh hopes to work at a local school. Walsh said that she chose UMPI because it’s close to home and has small class sizes. She September Student of the Month, also believes that there Wendy Walsh.


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Trying to Survive Today and Tomorrow Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

Like “green” and “efficient,” “sustainability” is a word we use quite regularly today. This makes sense, given our country’s focus on energy. Despite how often we use it, though, a lot of us probably don’t understand its true meaning or everything it involves. On Thursday, Sept. 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Mark Anderson of the University of Maine gave a talk about sustainability and many of the things that go along with it in the GIS lab of Folsom Hall. Introduced by Professor Jason Johnston, Anderson began by talking about what sustainability means to most people. The concept is often divided into parts such as economic, ecological and environmental. This is the wrong idea. A lot of companies also claim to be sustainable but, in truth, probably aren’t. One of the reasons this word is so common is because we tend to label anything we think of as responsible and enjoyable as sustainable. Even with clarification, however, Anderson stressed another important gap in knowledge:

“That’s great, but it doesn’t tell me anything about what I need to do...I don’t know the answer to the question...What I want to do is carve out a path to how to do this,” Anderson said. Knowing, for instance, how to heat your house or what job to get, could be very useful and practical. Anderson also found a strong relationship between sustainability and philosophy. The idea of justice is especially similar since both of their meanings change according to each individual. Under most circumstances, though, sustainability is defined as the ability to meet the needs of present and future generations. “Sustainability has to do with the bargain between generations,” Anderson said. In other words, we, the people of today, have a responsibility to those not yet born. Anderson pointed out that this can be difficult considering we don’t know exactly what future generations will want or need. As a way of anticipating this, Anderson suggests we prepare to put ourselves in their shoes.

To begin this process, we should think about the consequences past generations have had on us. “We are the stakeholders of decisions that were made in the past,” Anderson said. We inherited everything, from our economy to our legal system. In thinking backward, we can begin to figure out how

coming generations will regard us and our decisions. To help everyone in attendance begin thinking this way, Anderson passed out papers and asked everyone to answer four questions: With the past and sustainability in mind, what is one change you regret having been made by people before you because it reduced sustainability; what about that change reduced sustainability; what is one change you are

grateful for because it improved sustainability and what about that change improved sustainability? Quite a few people said their biggest regret was the interstate highway system. One attendee said something they were thankful for was the money former Maine governor Percival Baxter donated to create Baxter State Park. Anderson presented other questions as well, these not on paper, including “what kind of rules would you have applied then in the interest of sustainability?” and “what would you apply now?” All of these exercises were designed to make us think like stakeholders. Anderson inspired a lot of conversation between those present. After he finished his presentation, discussion continued, mostly related to current issues and problems associated with anticipating future needs. How can we know that what is sustainable today will still be sustainable in the future? Who among our ancestors, after all, could have predicted the invention of cell-

Come to

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phones or guessed at the disposal complications they would cause? Perspective is another major obstacle, as are politics and economics. No one would have thought a few years back that chlorofluorocarbons, commonly found in hairspray, would lead to ozone depletion, and we still hesitate to give up our technology even though it might be harmful to us or the planet. Anderson quoted American economist Robert Solow in saying, “All you can do is leave the future with as much capability as you can.” Most of us have the wrong impression and definition of sustainability, which is a global issue with local implications. Just as we have suffered and benefited from past decisions, so will the people who come after us suffer or benefit as a result of the choices we make regarding sustainability. Anderson had an important message to deliver on Sept. 15, one that helped explain the significance of duty, reflection and action, and one that will most likely make future generations very grateful.


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Race Continued from Page 1 One of the runners was Stephanie Holton of Presque Isle. She participated to help the Red Cross. “It was for a good cause and it was a beautiful day for a 10K race,” Holton said. Jared Embelton of Boston also thought the race was for an excellent cause. Embelton

grew up in Presque Isle. His family experienced a tragedy and he said that the Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter helped pull them through the tough time. “When I was 12, we lost our house to a fire,” Embelton said. Because of all of the support the Red Cross gave to his family, Embelton knew that he wanted to be a part of the Octoberfest 10K. “It’s a charity that I feel very strongly about,” Embelton said.

Stacey said that she hopes to have the Octoberfest 10K again next year. Overall, the race was a beneficial and successful event. “I thought it was excellent. Wonderful weather, wonderful turnout,” Stacey said. If you’re a runner or are just interested in helping the Red Cross, make sure to keep in mind the possibility for next year’s race. It should be a rewarding event for all, as this year’s Octoberfest 10K proved itself to be.

Waggin’ Continued from Page 1

Ludy and Miss Sheba were the first ones to tire out and leave, followed shortly after by Henry. Bruce decided he needed a drink and to cool off after such a hard chase. He took a drink of water, and then put one paw into the bowl, then the second, standing with his front two feet in the bowl. Then the dig was on to see if anything was at the bottom of the bowl. Bruce sent water splashing all over himself in attempt to find what was at the bottom. But wait, here came Buddy, a rat terrier. With only a few dogs remaining, people decided to test out tricks that the dogs knew. First to rise up was Moonie, dancing on two feet like a pretty little girl and even hopping on her back two feet as well. She deserved a From left: Stephanie Holton, Jared Embelton, Jenna Shaw and Stevi McCrum. treat for an amazing performParticipants of the Octoberfest 10K. ance. Sadie was up next. “Bang,

you’re dead,” as Sadie dropped down, rolled halfway over and froze. Sadie deserved a treat for such a great drama role. Next up was Buddy with the high jump. Could he reach the treat held way above his head? As the crowd went silent, it waited for the jump. He was up and jumped to reach the treat hovering about his head. Such a high jump for a little dog. Good job, Buddy. Last but not least was Bruce, at only 10 months old. Whatever would he be able to do after everyone had seen some great performances? First, Bruce sat right away, and then gave an amazing high five. Then, “Bang,” Bruce rolled over and laid there. The first time Bruce had ever been so dramatic in a role with such a large crowd and he performed like a pro. Way to go, Bruce! After showing off for everyone and receiving numerous treats, they decided it was time for some much-needed love and affection. Soon, everyone had left and the games and fun were over. Discussions were taking place about another play date during the winter. More news on this will be offered as it becomes available. The event was made possible thanks to Kimberly Francis, who is a senior here at UMPI. She’s a criminal justice and behavioral science major. She works in student activities and also helps run CAB.

Bread of Life Bulk Food & Specialty Store

-Organic -Gluten Free -Vegan -Ethnic -Fresh Bread -Hot Soup -Fresh Cookies -Gift Certificates 769 Main Street Presque Isle, ME 04769

Phone: (207)-768-7000 Contact Cheryle Matowitz, Director

Pets and the people who love them.


7 A Home-Away-From-Home Parent Univer si ty T im e s ! CAMPUS ! Oc t ober 21 , 2 0 11

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Who are you going to go to when you have troubles? What about when you’re locked out of your dorm room? That would be the person who lives in the single at the end of each hallway who has the little gold plaque that says “resident assistant.” Courtney and Dustin Cray are from Presque Isle and are brother and sister. Courtney, 20, has been an RA for two years now, while Dustin, 23, has been an RA for a year. To become an RA, students have to fill out an application and do a series of essays. Once those are complete, the interview process begins. Current RAs and the residence hall area coordinator, Janie Durr, interview the applying students. If you get the position as a resident assistant, you have a week of training with the current RAs a week before

Rowena Forbes STAFF WRITER

UMPI recently hosted Dr. Richard Cohen of Cape Elizabeth, originally from Boston, for a book reading of “Healing After Dark – Pioneering Compassionate Medicine at the Boston Evening Clinic.” The book is a memoir of his father, Morris A. Cohen, M.D., and history of the Boston Evening Clinic. “Healing After Dark” recounts the hardships and hurdles the elder Cohen encountered in his effort to create an after-hours care facility. It treated low-wage earners who couldn’t afford to lose a day’s pay in order to get medical attention. “This record I set down has relevance and inspiration for anyone seeking to achieve

incoming freshmen move in. required GPA in order to stay we have. It’s a tough job, “Responsibilities as an RA an RA. We also have pro- though rewarding.” seem endless. We have to grams we have to produce RAs will plan anything enforce all UMPI policies each semester to entertain the from drawing/painting conand be there for students if residents to build communi- tests, to movies, flag football they have any or just have a problems,” gaming night. Dustin said. Courtney said Resident it’s all about assistants also the types of have to learn personalities about UMPI that the resiprocedures, dents have drugs and and the puru n d e r a g e pose is to credrinking, build ate fun and leadership build commuskills. They also nity within know how to the building. use a fire extinBeing an guisher, where RA isn’t to go if there is always suna fire and just From left: Cooper Plaisted, Matthew Nadeau, Liz Bousquet, shine and basic protocol. Courtney Cray, Cassie Green and Dustin Cray. rainbows: it “We have to can be pretty keep and make community on ty,” Dustin added. “We have tough. RAs have to write resithe floor,” Courtney said. to be role models for the dents up when they fail to “Which can be difficult.” other students, which is prob- cooperate. Punishments can “We have to keep a ably the most important role range from creating a bulletin

board about the problem or getting kicked off campus. Courtney said the hardest part of her job is when she has to write someone up and then that person doesn’t speak to her afterward. “It’s really difficult,” Courtney said. Balancing a job and being a student can be difficult, too. “Some nights I can be up until 2 a.m. dealing with things and sometimes right before a test. It’s a juggling act. The notion of time management seems silly at first when you’re just starting out school, but it is an important skill that an RA has to have,” Dustin said. So whenever you forget your keycard or just need someone to talk to, if you live in the UMPI dorms, you can talk to your RAs: they are there for you. RAs are like your home-away-from-home parents who will help you out when you need it.

Healing After Dark today. My story is timely, and it convincingly shows that environment, experience, responsibility, discipline and conduct are determinants in shaping one’s character and success,” Richard Cohen said. In 1927, Morris Cohen began the Reconstruction Evening Clinic. Through his belief that “we must reaffirm the values of truth and altruism,” he persisted against overwhelming odds and financial hardship. Strong objections from the Massachusetts Medical Society, major hospitals, banks and businesses often left little hope for the future of the clinic. Cohen endured many years of hardship. Ultimately, however, presidents of the United States, other doctors, patients and their families thanked him

for his humanity and dedication to the needs of those unable to pay. Cohen focused on allowing those who came to the clinic to keep their dignity while offering the best medical — and later, psychological — care available at the time. In his memoir, he said, “We were militant about never humiliating the clinic patients, about preserving their pride.” His unique approach looked to not only heal the body, but to help better society through awareness of anticipated health issues. This was the beginning of preventive care. “Healing After Dark” is an extraordinary story of a man who believed in his ideals and found his reward Richard Cohen reading from “Healing After Dark.” through giving of himself.


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Unive r si ty T im e s ! CAMPUS ! Oc t o ber 21, 2 011

The Billies Came Up to Play

the mic was turned over to Joe next on the stage were Fortin said. At the end of the night, Bridges. Bridges, a student Kimberly Francis, Ashley The Billies were back on stage here at UMPI, is a songwriter Ruest and Liz Keagan. The No, they weren’t billy goats to sing a quick last song. They as well as a singer of rap three sang along to or hillbillies. These Billies sing made up this song as a thank To help audience song “Rockstar,” music. Nickelback’s songs that might sound like a you to UMPI. members hear the lyrics of his which ended up with Santoni light country pop, but they are The night was filled with song, he did it without back- calling them the three diva in no way hillbillies. The more than songs, jokes and ground music. rock stars. Next, Rhoades was Billies played in the Owl’s refreshments. The Owl’s Nest Then the Billies were back back on stage to sing the Nest Sept. 27 during open mic came alive with students who on stage and Santoni was tryKISS song “Beth,” along night. The room was set up wanted to be a part of the ing to come up with ideas for with a song by Garth Brooks. with refreshments from Tim night that The Billies came to things to do next time they Fortin, having told a few Horton’s and most who were town. It will also be a night come here. A pie eating conjokes earlier, enjoyed the there to see them had either that they added to their expetest was brought up and, right whole evening. seen them before or had heard “Rapster,” Joe Bridges. rience here at UMPI and out of the blue, they came up “It was an amazing show. of them. Billies since 2006. In that hopes are that they come to with a song about it. Smith If you missed it, then you “We love coming up time, they’ve not only been see us here for a seventh time. brought out his kazoo and missed a spectacular event,” here. We’ve been here six times before and we’ll keep here six times before but are then came up with the next coming until we can’t,” getting to know people around verse about the pie contest. Chrisie Santoni, from The campus who come to see them They came up with, “pie Uevery time they come back to M-P-I,” which, when sung, Billies, said. Santoni and Craig Smith UMPI. The Billies played for sounded pretty good. Next on stage was Adam have been together as The about a half an hour and then Tilsley with a couple of jokes, giving The Billies a break. Then they were back on stage. For this set, Smith told the audience to holler out a song and he could sing it. The first one called out was “Piano Man.” Then more songs were called and Smith proved that he could do just what he said he could: sing anything shouted out. The jokes were coming left and right as Jason Fortin got on stage. Then Jeff Rhoades, who was running the sound system, also told some jokes from where he was working. “The three diva rock stars.” From left: Ashley Ruest, The Billies were back on The Billies performing on stage. stage for a few songs and then Kimberly Francis and Liz Keagan. Lanette Virtanen STAFF WRITER

WUPI 92.1 FM

“A Lifetime of Music” We play 70 years of recorded music each week here on The Owl. Pick out your favorite decade of hit songs and listen in!

The Owl Throwback with Tom Pinette: Fri 1-3 p.m. The ‘60s Radio Show: Sun 6-8 p.m. The ‘70s Radio Show with Rob Carlson: Sat 6-9 p.m. The ‘80s Radio Show with Ben Pinette: Sat 9 p.m.- midnight The ‘90s Radio Show with Nicole Gray: Mon 7-9 p.m. The Owl Rewind- 2000s with Nicole Gray: Sun 8 a.m.- noon 2010s: Our Regular Automation


Univer si ty T im e s ! CAMPUS ! Oc t ober 21 , 2 0 11

Is Park Hall Actually Haunted? Brianna Williams STAFF WRITER

There have been many rumors floating around campus about Park Hall being haunted. When new freshmen come into the dorm rooms at the beginning of the year, they get scared by upperclassmen with stories of a ghost hanging around the hall. Are these stories actually true? Is there a ghost in Park Hall? Let’s find out! One student, Michelle Bucci, told her side of t h e s t o r y. “Well, a friend and I had gone to the bathroom one night and we were just doing bathroom things when we heard the door open. I didn’t think anything of it, because we were in a dorm. People

walk in and out of the bathroom all the time. Then I saw someone walk by the stall and thought they went over by the shower. This wasn’t strange, so I just continued with what I was doing and realized I hadn’t heard a shower turn on or anyone walk out of the bathroom. I was getting curious, so I kind of checked around the bathroom to see if I had been imagining it, and no one was there. I was pretty creeped out at this point, because I hadn’t seen or heard anyone walk out of the bathroom. Then I went back into my dorm room and started hearing strange noises. It was like quiet banging and actually sounded like someone was in the room walking around at

one point. Needless to say, I believe that Park is haunted.” Jim Stepp, assistant dean and director of residence life, offered his point of view, since he has lived in the basement of Park Hall since 1995. Stepp said, “Forty years ago, there was a student that killed themselves on campus in South Hall.” It wasn’t long until a few paranormalists came to campus and looked around the buildings. Paranormalists are people who have abilities to be connected with paranormal activity or are interested in paranormal activity. Sometimes they’re called psychics. They then declared that Park Hall was ghost free. Preble and South Hall, however, were slightly more inter-

STUDENT EVENTS 2011 OCTOBER 25th -- Red Cross Blood Drive, Campus Center MPR, 12-5 PM 27th -- Halloween in the Halls, Park & Merriman Halls, 7 PM

esting. The paranormalists felt spirits in both buildings. After these paranormalists left, a young woman decided to take the ghost rumors into her own hands about 10 years ago. She swore she saw a ghost wandering around the building. She said there was a ghost wandering in and out of the walls. Soon after, a few resident assistants decided to scare the freshmen living in Park. They decided to do a séance and use a Ouija board. The RAs decided to do the séance in Park’s basement in the area that now houses the Carleton Project. At the time the ghost stories were floating around, it was possible to climb under the floor in this area. The RAs decided to take a few of the

DECEMBER 1st -- Go RED Dance, Campes Center MPR, 9 PM-12 AM

more superstitious kids down and started to use the Ouija board. When they did this, one of the RAs climbed under the floor and began banging underneath the floorboards. The freshmen were scared so much that they ran off. “Of course, the RAs were reprimanded appropriately for their actions,” Stepp said. So are there ghosts in Park Hall? “I believe in ghosts, but not in Park,” Stepp said. Humans are naturally curious and want everything explained to them. If they hear or see something, their creative minds will try to put two and two together. So, as Stepp explains it, there are no ghosts in Park Hall. Don’t let a little ghost story scare you!

Paint-A-Palooza Soaks UMPI Brianna Williams STAFF WRITER

NOVEMBER 2nd -- Midnight Madness, Wieden Gym, 7:30-9 PM 3rd -- Life Online -- Cyberbullying Event, Campus Cener Owl’s Nest, 7 PM 10th -- “Survivor” Winner: Bob Crowley, Campus Center MPR, 7 PM 11th -- Semester of Service Event: Winterizing Homes 15th -- Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony, Wieden Auditorium, 7:09 PM 18th -- OAPI Kayak Roll Session, Gentile Hall Pool, 2 PM 21st -- Game Night, Owls’ Nest, 7-9 PM 29th -- “Color Your Life” Tie Dye & More, Campus Center Owl’s Nest, 1 PM 30th -- Movie Night -- “Transformers,” Campus Center MPR, 8 PM

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On Sept. 30, the Residence Advisory Council held the Paint-a-Palooza in back of Gentile Hall. Paint-a-Palooza is when you can go out and throw paint at friends. RAC, which has about 12 to 15 members, tries to come up with different activities for students to participate in. About 27 people showed up for Paint-a-Palooza. Bryan Jennings, a senior and the co-advisor for RAC, said, “I had lots of fun today. Having a stressful week, this was a great way for me to relieve stress by dumping buckets of paint all over my friends. It was also awesome to see so many people excited about paint-a-Palooza. There was such a great positive

atmosphere during this event.” Everyone was running around throwing paint at each other after a few seconds. Unfortunately for latecomers that day, the paint was gone quickly. People were covered in paint from head to toe in a matter of minutes. Jennings said, “I think that we could’ve made it last longer by focusing more on the paint-water ratio. We could have watered down some of the paint more, which would’ve given us a longer period of time to throw paints at one another.” Other than the lack of paint-water ratio, the event was a success. Everyone was laughing and screaming in the field. Missed out on this event? Stay tuned for more fun activities from RAC.


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Unive r si ty T im e s ! CAMPUS ! Oc t o ber 21, 2 011

Learning Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

From left: Amanda Williams, Lucas McAfee and Alanda Godbout.

Forget postal carriers. Geologists have officially won my respect as one of the most dedicated groups in regards to braving the weather. On Thursday, Sept. 29, two professors and several students, myself included, started out on what was to be my second NEIGC trip. We left a little after noon in two vans, the first containing David Putnam, Alanda Godbout, Jesse Clark and Gary Parent, the second containing Kevin McCartney, Sarah Ames and I. Along the way, we picked up Kassi Watson, Janelle Horten, Amanda Williams, Scott Belair, Matt Crandall and Lucas McAfee. Michelle Hersey, another group member, didn’t join us until the third day, and Jasmin Kozura left at the end of the first day due to an emergency. I didn’t really know what to expect the second time around. The extent of my knowledge was that NEIGC – the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference – would be taking

NEIGC members at the first geological site on Saturday.

place in Vermont, we would be camping outdoors and a lot more people were joining us this year. That was thanks to Putnam requiring his surficial geology students to come, whereas last year it was just geology-ecology club members. Soon after we started driving, a few things became abundantly clear – some people were much more experienced campers than I and Vermont was a lot further away than I’d thought. Along the way, we stopped at one of McCartney’s favorite places, which he referred to, quite fondly, as “the Crate.” He meant the crate that once held aviator Charles Lindbergh’s famous plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. McCartney, a big fan of Lindbergh, stopped in Canaan, Maine, so we could get out and see it. The crate had been dropped in New Hampshire at one point but a man named Larry Ross tracked it down, brought it back to Maine and transformed it into a house of Lindbergh memorabilia. Now used for educational purposes, Ross offered everyone there a piece of inspirational advice.

“Lindy made his dream come true. With some planning, so can you.” We made it to Farmington the first day and spent the night indoors even though we had originally planned to camp out. Halfway through the second day, we entered Vermont. Even though we hadn’t yet gone on any official geology trips, I’d already learned something new. During a rest stop outside a McDonald’s, Putnam gave a “mini fluvial lecture.” “Fluvial” refers to rivers and streams as well as what’s found in or produced by them. Putnam could tell what had been deposited by the nearby river when the water level had been higher and what had most likely been brought in from a gravel pit as filler. The group spent several minutes looking at the ground for any interesting samples, pocketing some and asking questions about others. At one point, Watson began studying one with a portable magnifying glass. “Every stone has a story to tell,” McCartney said, which, as an English major, appealed to me.


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in the Rain Friday saw us settling into Branbury State Park, setting up camp and going to an informal meet-and-greet. On Saturday, we drove to different parts of Vermont centered in and around Middlebury, exploring sites not only related to geology but involving quite a bit of ecology. McCartney referred to it as a lesson in stream dynamics, or the physical characteristics that influence water quality and habitat. Our group leaders, George Springston and Kristen Underwood, showed us various examples of how Vermont was affected by tropical storm Irene. They suffered an estimated $700 million in damage, not including the destruction of town bridges. Their geology changed as well, evidenced by relocated boulders and soil deposits. In addition, we learned about a few new experimental projects. One was called “chop and drop,” where people chop down trees into river habitats in an attempt to make it better for fish and prevent flooding of residential areas. There are also ripraps, rock or other

material used to armor and stabilize shorelines, stream beds and other structures. Though educational, the day proved to be exhausting and uncomfortable for me. It rained most of the time and I hadn’t thought to bring a waterproof jacket, so my sweatshirt was soaked through from the start. I also fell in the river at the last site. Neither the weather nor the difficulty associated with reaching almost every site seemed to distracted the hardcore geologists or lessen their enthusiasm. It amazed me. Our visit to Middlebury College at the end of the day lightened my mood. The food was incredible and the people with whom we shared our table were friendly and fascinating. “I had a good time and was really surprised to learn this was the 103rd NEIGC event. The campus was huge and everything seemed fancy, but maybe that’s just me. In all, it was a positive experience,” Ames, secretary of the geo-eco club, said. Driving back to Presque Isle

took up all of Sunday. As far as I could tell, everyone was excited at the idea of returning. It had been a cold and wet few days. A couple of our group members even slept in the vans the last night. Still, I look back on the trip with affection. I got to see Vermont, I tried a few new things and I came away more knowledgeable, which mattered most. Gary Parent, geo-eco club president, is already making plans for next year. “It was very nice to get home and sleep comfortably. Here’s hoping we can get a hotel room for next year’s NEIGC. Camping in New England in October is too sketchy,” Parent said. Sketchy as it may have been, boring it was not. I fell in a river, lost sleep due to the cold and couldn’t understand a lot of what was said, but we learned in the rain, met fellow geology enthusiasts and developed true appreciation for what was waiting at home. If asked which outweighed the other, it wouldn’t take me long to decide.

Group members at the last geological site Saturday.

From back: Jesse Clark, Janelle Horten and Gary Parent.


! ! 12 He’s Got the World on His Shoulders Unive r si ty T im e s

CAMPUS

Oc t o ber 21, 2 011

“I have an assistant, Jeannie McCartney thinks of himself as time flying, so we were really nervous. McCartney was very McGowan, who I’ve worked a role model for students. always talk to my students helpful and reassuring throughwith for years. At the “I together UMPI geology professor out the entire time, Jeannie was fighting canKevin McCartney does a lot experience. He cer and had a bald head. She more than study rocks every sat next to us on decided then to paint the planday. Geology has been a major the plane and ets on her head, so I did the part of his life for some time checked that we same. The first year we had five now, however. were all right shaved heads. Over a third of “I decided I wanted to be a regularly, which the people participating were geologist when I was in fourth meant a lot,” children. It absolutely knocked grade. I was living in Arizona Ames said. me dead. Every year we more and I found rocks in the desert One of the than double what we make,” and I’ve never given it up.” most distinMcCartney said. McCartney said. guishable If you didn’t think this was Along with teaching here at pieces about enough work, UMPI for 24 years, McCartney is M c C a r t n e y McCartney has been his hat. and his wife McCartney in Iceland in 2010. the advisor of the Geo“I’ve been also own and Eco club for just as wearing a hat for 30 years. I do operate a bed about getting themselves ready long and reflects on the change the hat. But if I take off and breakfast for a job and skills needed for numerous trips the the hat, I find that I start sneezin Caribou. that, including writing and club has taken over the “I never communication. I encourage ing. The only time I regularly years. would have students to go to professional take my hat off is at Rotary “We try to do the meetings,” McCartney said. thought when conferences with me.” NEIGC [New England If he were to retire tomorI came up here Kayla Ames, a junior here at Intercollegiate row, McCartney’s interests that I would UMPI, is a member of the Geology Conference], wouldn’t change much. be a businessGeo-Eco club and has also had which is in late “When I retire, I anticipate man. Since McCartney as a teacher. Septemberearly still working on the science I’ve been up “McCartney always stresses October, each year. museum. I don’t watch TV. I here, my wife looking to the future. He wants We went to Iceland last work all the time. There is so and I have us to know what to expect and semester. We’re hop- Kevin McCartney and Ryzard Zolnik in 1992. much neat stuff out there, and I started four helps prepare us... He’s brilliant ing to go back to like to communicate that with different busiand incredibly passionate about Washington, D.C., in late my students. Hopefully, they’ll nesses,” McCartney said. his field of work...When we One of the most well-known March. This will be our 20th give me a little office,” In addition to being a went to Iceland, we had to projects McCartney has done is NEIGC trip consecutively. I’ve had people tell me these field- the annual Planet Head Day teacher, a Rotary member and board a plane. For my sister McCartney said. Rock on, Kevin McCartney! a bed and breakfast owner, Sarah and me, it was our first trips have changed their lives,” held here at UMPI. Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

McCartney said. McCartney is also the director of the Northern Maine Museum of Science and is involved in numerous other projects around town. “The science museum has been a project of mine for some time now. The solar system model you see along Route 1 is also a project of mine. I’ve been the president of the Northern Maine Fair now for two years. I’m very active in Presque Isle Rotary, as well.”

Tuesday: Pasta Night from $6 per bowl. Thirsty Thursday: Drink specials and authentic Mexican food. Saturday: Late night dancing in the bar.

Free Wi-Fi.

Always great food and great prices! Opposite Lowe’s in Presque Isle.

Catch up with what’s happening each week on our website: www.thecrowsnest.com or check out our Facebook page.


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The Dark Side of Technology Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Sometimes even the basic concept of updati n g y o u r Fa c e b o o k s t a tus to: “class at 1:30, groceries, t a n n i n g, g y m , s h o w e r, t h e n o u t with friends for the night!” can be dangerous. Not many people think that posting where they currently are can be har mful. A s most peo pl e know, Fa c e bo ok i s a so ci al n etworking site that helps people con ne ct wi th long lost f rie nd s and ke e p i n touch with family and frie nd s. N ew ad d itio ns to the popular social netwo rk a re n ot un co m mon . T h e l atest thin g i s b eing abl e to g eo tag wh ere you a r e w i t h yo u r s m a r t ph on e, wi th th e hel p o f G P S. M a ny p e o p l e wh o u s e Fa c e b o o k r e g u l a rl y d o n’ t t h i n k a b o u t t h e c onse que n ce s of tag ging whe re yo u are o r simp ly w r i t i n g o u t yo u r d a i l y routine as a s t a t u s . A c c o rd i n g t o KISSmetrics, a marketing bl o g, ave r a g e Fa c e b o o k users spend more than 7 0 0 m i nu t e s a month logged into their accounts. M o re t h a n 3 0 b i l l i o n we b l i n k s, p o s t s, n o t e s, p h o t o s and news stories are s h a re d e a ch m o n t h a n d 5 5 m i l l i o n s t at u s u p d at e s a re m a d e d a i l y. C h a rl e s Jo h n s o n , w h o

is the assistant director of the criminal justice department at UMPI, specializes in the dark side of technology of

such apparently innoc e n t p a s t i m e s. H e g ave an example of how geotagging could be a good f e a t u r e, b u t h o w i t a l s o h a s a d o w n s i d e. “ I f , l e t ’s s a y, t h a t yo u were my daughter and yo u w e r e g o i n g t o N e w Yo r k f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e — I d o n’ t c a r e h o w o l d yo u are, you are still my daughter—I want to k n o w w h e r e yo u a r e. I f something happened, at l e a s t I c o u l d f i n d yo u r p h o n e . O b v i o u s l y, w i t h all good comes a bad side. In crime prevention and criminal justice, we always tr y to

anticipate the darkest s i d e o f t e c h n o l o g y. ” Jo h n s o n s p o k e a b o u t how stalkers can use this technology to track w h e r e yo u a r e a n d t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t yo u p u t

o n Fa c e b o o k c a n b e u s e d a g a i n s t yo u i n s o m e w a y. “ Pe o p l e i n a d ve r tently make themselves vulnerable to crimes through routine activities,” Jo h n s o n s a i d . E ve n i f p e o p l e only sometimes update their status to s h o w w h e r e t h e y a r e, that puts them in a more dangerous situation than people who don’t. Burglaries are more likely to happen to people when they geotag their location or just update their status to where t h e y a r e. A n d i t ’s n o t o n l y your friends who can find out your locat i o n — Fa c e b o o k can also track you down, and you don’t even have to be log ged in to your account. A recent a r t i c l e i n T h e Wa l l S t r e e t Jo u r n a l i n d i c a t e s t h a t o n c e Fa c e b o o k i s open, the site leaves files called “cookies” on your computer and some will remain there even after you are logged out. Whenever you visit a site that associates with Fa c e b o o k — s u c h as those with a “Like” button—information from the cookies is sent b a c k t o Fa c e b o o k , g i v ing out infor mation on what sites you have b e e n v i s i t i n g. “The only solution is t o d e l e t e e ve r y Fa c e b o o k c o o k i e i n yo u r b r o w s e r, or to use a separate b r o w s e r f o r Fa c e b o o k i n t e r a c t i o n s, ” A u s t r a l i a n

technologist, Nik Cubrilovic, commented i n t h e a r t i c l e. Here are some ways t o b e s a f e r o n Fa c e b o o k : put your sharing on Fa c e b o o k t o “ c u s t o m , ” increase the level of your privacy settings that include photos, decide what infor mation yo u w a n t p e o p l e t o s e e a n d w h o yo u w a n t t o s e e it. Disable the “check me into places” tag and t h e p u b l i c s e a r c h t a g.

011/02/07/facebookprivacy-guide/ To r e a d T h e Wa l l S t r e e t Jo u r n a l a r t i c l e a b o u t Fa c e b o o k t r a c k i n g a f t e r yo u a r e l o g g e d o u t , v i s i t : http://blogs.wsj.com/di gits/2011/09/26/facebo ok-defends-getting-datafrom-log ged-outu s e r s / ? K E Y WO R D S = f a c e b o o k + p r i v a c y. To r e a d a n o t h e r a r t i cle about Fa c e b o o k tracking after you are

Enabling HTTPS support will make your Fa c e b o o k s l o w e r, b u t will make it harder for someone to hack your account or try to view yo u r i n f o r m a t i o n . Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a tion about how to be s a f e o n Fa c e b o o k , v i s i t : http://mashable.com/2

logged out, visit: h t t p : / / w w w. d a i l y m a i l . c o .uk/sciencetech/article2 0 4 2 5 7 3 / Fa c e b o o k - p r i vacy-row-Social-network-giant-admitsb u g s. h t m l . To f i n d t h e m a r k e t i n g bl o g, go to: h t t p : / / b l o g. k i s s m e t r i c s . c om/facebook-statistics/.


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Unive r si ty T im e s ! CAMPUS ! Oc t o ber 21, 2 011

When Alexander Hamilton Came to Town... Kayla Ames STAFF WRITER

Walking past the multipurpose room in the Campus Center on Friday, Sept. 16, you might have thought you saw a man in a wig and odd clothes. Between noon and 1 p.m., you might have seen this same man holding what looked like an old journal or a bunch of rolled-up documents. Well, you weren’t seeing things, and this wasn’t part of a play. Rather, the man you saw was Dr. Brent Andersen, an UMPI political science lecturer, who was helping us celebrate Constitution Day with a living history lecture. The title of his talk was, “Becoming America: Alexander

Hamilton Recalls America’s Journey From the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution of the United States,” and he was dressed that way because Andersen came as Alexander Hamilton. Andersen spoke as a way of honoring the 224th birthday of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, an act that, very much like the signing of the Declaration of Independence, had an enor mous effect on the way we live our lives. Andersen began by talking about the old government, what was happening and what was expected of people before they started demanding change. The British imposed direct taxes on

Dr. Brent Andersen dressed as Alexander Hamilton in honor of Constiution Day.

colonists. They put a standing army in Boston, leading to soldiers overrunning homes and taking muchneeded jobs. They also closed the A ppalachian Mountains and cracked down on smug g ling, which was a big part of the economy. “A lot of these moves were seen as an attack on liberty,” Andersen said. These slights, along with many other factors, would eventually lead to us declaring our independence and becoming self-governed. Around the same time these things were happening, Hamilton was a student at King’s College – what we now call Columbia Univer sity. He found his calling early in life, when he was said to have saved the president of his college, Myles Cooper, from a mob by distracting them and inspiring the g athered crowd. Despite his obvious passion, though, Hamilton didn’t believe in violence and chaos as a way of imposing his views. “Liberty is not anarchy,” Andersen said. That didn’t mean that Hamilton wasn’t willing to fight. He dreamed of glory, so when war came to him, he readily took part. One of the roles for which Hamilton is most famous, in fact, is as an aide to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. During those years, the

British ruled the ocean with their naval power. The rebels suffered from lack of morality and supplies, and all the while the colonies

fought each other, each one trying to make sure they came out on top. Referring to the revolution, Andersen said, “It’s being destroyed. It’s being subverted by human nature.” The hardships of this war, however, are believed to be responsible for our country today. We learned how to be self-governing, how to take care of our people, starting back then with discarded soldiers. America eventually won its independence, but it took us a long time to come up with a system that really worked. After the war, states refused to pay their debts, economies started to fail and those who had fought for revolution soon learned it wasn’t enough. “What we decided was that we needed a limited gover nment,” Andersen said. Power n eeded restrict ion s, o r what would lat er be kn own as che c ks a nd b a l a n c e s. T h i s l e d n o t only to a constitutional c o nv e n t i o n ov e r s e e n by Wa s h i n g t o n , who H a milto n h ad a ve r y h i gh

o pin ion of, but t hre e se parate b ran che s of g over n men t : j udi cia l, exe cut ive and l e g i s l a t i ve. The greatest stain to the Constitution was s l ave r y, which Hamilton and his fellow Fo u n d i n g Fa t h e r s l e f t a l o n e fo r fea r of st a rting c ivil wa r. During the question and answer portion of his lecture, A n d e r s e n explained whom he considered to be the actual father of the Constitution and how his own major contribution was the idea of a strong central government. He told the audience that he believed in a lifetime president because he didn’t trust the people. Ander sen also g ave his opinion on the separation of church and state as well as elaborated on his education, career as a lawyer and the part he played in getting Thomas Je f f e r s o n e l e c t e d . Knowledge wasn’t the o nly p ossibl e reward of An der sen’s pre sen tati on . Anyo ne in attendanc e could take a mi niature ver si on of th e Constitution on their way o ut. With th em, they would also take a better understanding of the lessons our ancestors lear ned during and after the war, the do cume nts that still play a vital role in our everyday lives and how all of them contributed to the country we have become.


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A Walk Is a Wish Your Feet Make Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Driving by UMPI after dinner on October 6 you may have seen a couple dozen people walking around campus. Yo u m i g h t h a v e w o n dered why they were out there walking in such c o l d a n d w i n d y w e a t h e r. These walkers were braving the cold for a good cause, the Make a Wi s h Fo u n d a t i o n ’s Wa l k f o r Wi s h e s . According to The Maine Chapter of the Make a Wish Fo u n d a t i o n , t h i s w a l k was the first of its kind to be held north of

Houlton since the chapter was established in 1 9 9 2 . T h e M a k e a Wi s h Fo u n d a t i o n g r a n t s c h i l dren with life-threatening illnesses wishes such as vacations or meeting t h e i r f a v o r i t e c e l e b r i t y. The foundation has g ranted nearly 70 wishes in the last year at an average cost of around $7,000 per wish. The walk at UMPI raised over $2,000, making it a big success despite a smaller turnout. T h i s w a s Jason Fortin, one of the b e c a u s e s t u d e n t s l i v i n g door prize recipients. on-campus were given the opportunity to through some friendly in the donate to this cause competition,

f o r m o f “ Pe n n y Wa r s . ” To p l a y, s t u d e n t s w o u l d bring in pennies, which would add to money collected by their dorm, or silver change— for example, nickels, dimes and quarters— to remove money from another d o r m ’s t o t a l . T h e s t u dents raised about $450 t h r o u g h “ Pe n n y Wa r s , ” with one student even bringing in $40 worth of pennies. “The students were very competitive at Pe n n y Wa r s , ” s a i d J i m S t e p p, t h e d i re c t o r o f residence life. The walk began

and ended at the Campus Center and went around the entire UMPI campus. Once the walkers returned to campus, they went back inside for the drawing of the door prizes. These prizes included gift cards from the Braden T h e a t e r, C i t g o , S h o p ‘n Save and several local restaurants. UMPI hopes to bring this event back next year and hopes that it is just as much of a success, if not more so and that one child’s wish will be granted by just one walk.

What’s the Problem?

Martha Franklin-Wright STAFF WRITER

Have you ever felt the w e i g h t o f f i ve t o n s o f h o m e wo rk p i l i n g u p o n top of your head? Are you having issues with a roommate? Are you ever lonely or d e p re s s e d ? T here is help at UMPI for students who may be suff e r i n g f ro m t h e s e a n d other p ro b l e m s. That solution is an appointment with the counseling center, where help is free and confidential. Donna DeLong, a student at UMPI, has experienced firsthand the benefits of the counseling center. “It was the counseling center that helped me get through a rough time,” DeLong said. “They put things in perspective for you. They are trained to do this. I felt like someone lifted a ton of bricks off

my shoulders.” “I can see students within a day,” Ralph McPherson, the UMPI counselor, said. McPherson, an UMPI alum-

nus, is from Washburn. His office, located in South Hall, is the same place McPherson lived as a student. Workin g at UMPI i s McPherson’s se co n d jo b. H i s first is as a so c i a l wo rker at Green R i d g e, whi ch i s pa rt of A MH C. UM PI , h o w e ve r, h o l d s a ve r y s p e c i a l place in McPherson’s h e a r t . “ I l ov e UMPI. I spen t fo ur of t he best yea r s of my l ife here and still h av e friendships that I ma de h ere.” McPherson’s love of the colUMPI counselor, Ralph McPherson. l e g e i s c o n s i s tent with his

love of the students. “ I l i k e w at ch i n g k i d s g e t b e t t e r. T h ey a re s o f u l l o f l i f e. I l i k e t o s e e their optimism. Mental health is the biggest i s s u e, ” M c P h e r s o n s a i d . “ We are a referral source. Sometimes students need medication a n d c a n b e re f e r re d t o a nu r s e h e r e o n c a m p u s o r a p s ych i a t r i s t . ” There are many ways the counseling center c a n h e l p. A s t u d e n t w h o has a problem with homework can get instructions on how to s t u d y, organizational skills, time management and stress reduction. In addition, career assessment testing can help students decide on a field of study if they are confused on what way their college career i s h e a d i n g.

“It was a very rewarding experience for me, if i t h a d n’t b e e n fo r t h e counseling center, I may h ave t a k e n a d i f f e r e n t road,” DeLong said. Even if you just need a friendly voice, contact the counseling center by walking into the first floor of South Hall, or call student affairs at 768-9615. The counseling center is conveniently open in the afternoons Monday through Friday from 3:30-7:30 p.m.


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U niver si ty Ti m es ! Community ! Oc t ob er 21 , 2 011

A Movable Gallery STAFF WRITER

Renovation Celebration Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

Many people are wondering about the library in Presque Isle. When was it going to finish its renovation, and what is available to the community? Well, the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library finally finished renovating, and it’s now bigger and better. Without a donation from the Tur ner family, this library renovation wouldn’t have been possible. On the grand re-opening day, people crowded up and down the stairs and elevators to see a glimpse of the newly renovated library. The top floor overflowed with people trying to catch a glimpse of the people below. Children and adults mingled about, eating refreshments and waiting for their turn to look at the brand new space. Feelings of knowledge and friendship spread around. Sonja Plummer-Morgan is the librarian in charge of this grand re-opening. “Much thanks was given to the people here today. We are here to express that a library is the foundation of education. Everybody is welcome through its doors!”

Plummer-Morgan said. The library now houses many windows, is better accessible and has an art gallery. It is now a great experience that the community will get to cherish. A brand new wing was added to expand the library and provide more room for books and materials. “This is essential for a lifetime of learning. It is important for all of the citizens and everyone that happens to come across it. We all know that a library is all about the people that come in and not just about the books,” Plummer-Morgan said. Now the Robert and Hope Akeley memorial wing is a beginning of a fabulous future, one that will help students and friends come together in an environment for learning. “There is going to be continued success in the future, where knowledge and friendship can grow. We are very happy about this renovation so that we can help promote …a lifetime of learning,” Plummer-Morgan said. There are some things that are uncertain for the future. One thing that is known is that a library is vitally important for the function of the future.

little can I use and still get my point across.” Sandra Huck, of the Reed Art Gallery, said of Benson, “This is excellent work and I’m happy to see it. I’m glad to have a ceramicist on campus.” Benson’s work was on display through Oct. 17.

work incorporates many media, including painting, drawing, photography and mixed media. The first Friday of every “It’s such fun to see an art month, Presque Isle unveils a show in such a unique venue. collection of hidden treasures Showing art in the Catholic nestled among local shops Charities Thrift Store brings all and storefronts. Presque Isle’s the neatly organized goods up First Friday Art Walk offers to the level of art,” Bill and local artists the opportunity Jean Duncan to show their work said. “I especially and the public the liked the figures, chance to see the varithe mixed media ety of art available in drawings,” Jean their own town. Duncan said. The Art Walk on There were Oct. 7 revealed a retadditional shows rospective of waterat Morning Star colors by Mable Art and Framing, Mason Bennett, from Merchants on the her daughter Ann Corner, the Mark Wight’s collection, at and Emily Wintergreen Arts Turner Public Center. A reception Library and Reed brought dozens into Gallery at UMPI. Wintergreen, on The next State Street, to view First Friday Art Bennett’s soft strokes, Walk in Presque h i g h l i g h t i n g Paintings by Mable Mason Bennett. Isle will be Aroostook County Friday, Nov. 4, and the Maine Coast. Bryanne Thomas, of with a new host of talented Wight spoke of growing up Centerville, New Brunswick, artists. If you’re interested in watching her mother paint. She said, “Putting togeth- was the featured artist at being a part of the First er this show gave me a new Catholic Charities on Davis Friday Art Walk, contact appreciation for how talented Street. Thomas is a senior at Wintergreen Arts Center’s UMPI, pursuing a degree in executive director, Wendy my mother was.” She went on to say it’s been fine art, art education and a Gilman-Zubrick, at 762an emotional journey, most minor in mathematics. Her 3576, for more information. poignant once all of the paintings were hung in place. Stephen Boody, of New Sweden, and Elyse Kiehn, a student at Caribou High School, added their musical talents on violin to the evening. Bennett’s paintings will be on display through the end of October. Cafe Sorpreso hosted work of UMPI art Professor Hyrum Benson. It showcased a variety of ceramic pieces infused with an industrial influence. Benson is drawn to Ceramics by Hyrum Benson. minimalist artists. He said, “I wonder how Rowena Forbes


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Univer si ty Tim es ! Voice ! O cto be r 2 1 , 2 01 1

It’s a Dog’s World Donna DeLong STAFF WRITER

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a dog? There have been many stories about how easy it is to be a dog. Dogs’ worlds seem to be carefree. They eat and sleep and play. They only need to show love to their owners and learn how to keep their inside home environment clean, and they have it made. If people are considering a new addition to the family, then they need to be aware what it requires to have a dog. Dr. James Hotham, a local veterinarian, said “People need to be aware of the dangers foods, pesticides and human medications pose to their dogs. It is important to bring your dog in for periodic checkups and to keep vaccinations up to date. When considering whether to add a dog to your family, you must be aware of the cost of care and be willing to give your dog quality health care.” If you have a dog, chances are you have been bombarded with lists of all the things that you shouldn’t give your pet to eat. Many people have heard of the usual foods such as chocolate, onions and chicken bones.

The list doesn’t end there, however. It also includes alcohol, avocados, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, yeast dough, raw or undercooked meats, eggs, xylitol (sweetener used in many products), garlic, chives, milk and salt. Many of these

but it is the dark chocolate that poses the threat. Chocolate, coffee and caffeine contain methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds. The lowest level of methylxanthine is found in white chocolate. Alcohol can cause a large array

products do not cause death, but can cause diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, depression, tremors and elevated body temperatures. Foods that can lead to death usually do so because pets have ingested large amounts of the food, but there are exceptions. Chocolate is commonly considered to be dangerous to dogs,

of issues from vomiting to central nervous system depression and death. Avocados contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Grapes and raisins are toxic, but the substance that causes the toxicity is unknown. These fruits can cause kidney failure, and if your dog has health problems, the signs can be more dramatic.

Yeast dough can rise and cause gas accumulation in your pet’s digestive system. Even though this can be very painful for dogs, they may consume small quantities of cooked dough. Onions, garlic and chives can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Small quantities are usually not a risk to dogs, but toxicity is normally diagnosed through a history of eating herbs. Dogs do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), so milk and milkbased products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset. Salt, when eaten in large quantities or over a period of time, can cause sodium ion poisoning in dogs, so keep those salty chips to yourself. Other dangerous substances that you should check with your veterinarian about or look up on the ASPCA Web page are toxic plants, some human medications (even over-the-counter medications), outdoor toxins, herbicides, household toxins and insecticides. Megan DeLong, from Hotham’s Veterinary Service, said, “One of the most common ailments we see are in dogs that have used over-the-

counter flea treatments. They have allergic reactions, such as itching and red, irritated skin, and they do not work to control the fleas. Dogs can really suffer from repeated flea bites and they can cause infection and other serious problems with your pet if not properly treated.” There are many things to consider when choosing your new member of the family and doing some simple reading can make the difference in your pet living the “good life”— or not.

Apartments for rent in Washburn Available:

Two-story, three bedrooms. Includes washer and dryer. $800/mth. Efficency apartment. $400/mth. Heat included in both prices. Service animals only. Security deposit and first month rent required. For more information, contact:

April Kenney 1691 State Road, Mapleton 764-4965

*We serve Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner! Hours: Monday- Thursday 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday 6:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. *Thursday night is college night (20% off apps and beverages with Student ID ) 350 Main Street Presque Isle, ME


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University Times

ifestyle

October 7 2011

In With the Old: The Recent Popularity of Movie Remakes

Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

You turn on the television to the evening news and the reporter is reading off the top five movies of the week. In the number one spot is your favorite movie from childhood. You look at the calendar and it is 2011. So you haven’t been transported back in time, but your favorite movie has been remade and re-released. You will either love or hate this fact. “I think that the new stuff that they come out with now can’t compete with the classics,” Cassie Green, an UMPI

student, said. According to Reelz, a movie channel website, 70 percent of the top 10 movies of summer 2011 were either sequels or remakes, with more expected for the fall 2011 movie season. People tend to either love or hate films, especially those who are old enough to remember the originals. But this trend may have nothing to do with what the people want, but with the current economy. “In this economy, remakes save production companies money, as they don’t need to pay a screenwriter and already hold the movie rights to these stories,” Richard Zuras, the film studies professor at UMPI, said. Zuras’ theory makes economic sense. In 2009, the Summer Jour nalism Institute at Arizona State University in Phoenix published an article

on this very subject. The article stated that Americans are less willing to spend money in this economy, so by refreshing older ideas for a newer generation, movie studios have an instant success on their hands. Along with the new generation of moviegoers, this built-in audience includes loyal older fans of the original movies, leading to a guaranteed profit for the movie studios. Yet some moviegoers are still skeptical of these remakes and will only spend the money on the movie ticket if they feel it will be worthwhile. “I don’t usually watch remakes unless they get a lot of good reviews from people,” Jon Madore, another UMPI student, said. Sometimes, though, movie fans will dislike the fact that their favorite movie has been remade. They feel that by modernizing the stories of these older films, movie producers are destroying them. These feelings are usually common in film enthusiasts

with respect for the classic stories and actors from the originals. “It’s hard for me to watch remakes because the original actors and stories are classics,” C a n d i c e Rivera, an UMPI student, said. Not all older fans of the original movies that the remakes are based on dislike the fact that their favorite movies have been remade. This past summer, “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was one of the most popular movies released. It was one of many modern adaptations of the original “Planet of the Apes” films from the 1970s. One UMPI staff member and “Planet of the Apes” fan expressed his excitement about his favorite movie being remade. “It’s exciting to me because I’m old enough to remember the original ‘Planet of

the Apes’ films,” Jim Stepp, director of residence life at UMPI, said. Whether you love them or hate them, movie remakes and re-releases are popular right now. There is a pretty good chance that the next movie you go to see in theaters will be a remake, sequel or re-release. In this economy, these films continue to make movie studios money while providing moviegoers a twohour escape from reality to a simpler time before the current economic downturn.


Unive r sit y Tim e s ! Lifestyle !

O c to b er 2 1 , 20 1 1

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In Search of Martians Jim Stepp CONTRIBUTOR

The Mars Rover Opportunity has begun to explore a crater named Endeavour on Mars. This crater is 14-miles wide (22 kilometers) at its rim. The rocks and material found around and inside the crater will help NASA scientists learn more about Mars’ warmer past. Information gained will help us understand what happened to Mars’ water and if life may have existed on Mars. Someday, perhaps as little as 30 years from now, a human will walk on Mars. What will we see when we get there, what will it be like to walk on Mars? NASA is now getting a look at Mars and trying to answer that question. In 2004, NASA landed two rovers on Mars, Spirit and Opportunity. These rovers were only supposed to last 90 days, but they survived much longer. Spirit stopped communicating with the Earth in March of 2010. Opportunity has continued to function, travel over the surface of Mars and send back information to the Earth. Mars is a little more than half as big as the Earth in diameter or about 4,221 miles across as compared to the Earth’s 7,926 miles. Because Mars is smaller than the Earth, you would weigh about 37.2 percent as much as you do on Earth. A person who weighs 150 pound on the Earth would weight only 55.8 pounds on Mars. This difference in weight would permit you to jump more than 6 feet high without a problem, turning even the smallest person into a slam dunk expert.

A day on Mars is a little longer than a day on Earth. So astronauts would have 24 hours and 37 minutes to get their work done. A year on Mars is 687 days long or 1 year, 10 months and 22 days long. The biggest difference you would notice on Mars deals with the temperature. Because Mars doesn’t have a thick atmosphere like the Earth’s, there is nothing to hold the feeble heat that reaches the planet. The warmest temperatures on Mars may reach 70 degrees, but those temperatures are thought to be rare. The coldest temperatures recorded on Mars have been about -225 degree Fahrenheit. The average temperature on Mars is -80 degrees Fahrenheit. As a comparison, the Earth’s average temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. NASA will launch its next-generation Mars rover, Curiosity, between Nov. 25 and Dec. 18, 2011. It will land on Mars in August 2012. For more information about the Opportunity rover, please go to www.nasa.gov/rovers. THE NIGHT SKY The ISS is visible in the evening sky between Oct. 14 and Nov. 14, 2011. Go to www.heavens-above.com for exact times and locations. You will 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.

http://calsky.com. You must do the free registration in order to get accurate times. The events below are listed in Eastern Time. For Atlantic Time please subtract 1 hour.

Sun and Planet Visibility

10/19@22:30 Last Quarter Moon.

Oct. 20, 2011 Sunrise 05:56 Sunset 16:36 Mercury 16:48 – 17:00 Venus 16:36 – 17:12 Mars 23:48 – 05:24

10/20@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 6 meteors/hour. 10/21@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 9 meteors/hour.

10/24@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 7 meteors/hour. 10/25@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 5 meteors/hour. 10/26@07:19 Moon at Perigee - Closest to the Earth – 357,100 km or 221,900 mi. 10/26@14:55 New Moon – This is the nearest New Moon of the year and the third nearest of the decade. 10/27 50th anniversary of the 1st test launch of the Saturn 1 rocket (1961). 10/28@20:42 Jupiter at opposition – up all night and closest to the Earth - 593.900,000 km or 369,000,000 miles. 10/30 73rd anniversary of the radio show “War of the Worlds.” 1938 - This radio play was done so well that it scared many people into believing that the Earth was being attached by Martians. Listen to it at www.mercurytheatre.info/.

Jupiter Saturn Uranus

17:06 – 05:42 Not visible 18:00 – 02:12

Oct. 30, 2011 Sunrise 06:10 Sunset 16:20 Mercury 16:30 – 16:54 Venus 16:18 – 17:06 Mars 23:42 – 05:42 Jupiter 16:36 – 06:00 Saturn 04:54 – 05:42 Uranus 17:42 – 01:36

11/01@17:49 Mercury degrees from Venus. 10/21@05:30 Moon degrees from Mars.

7.8 11/02@11:38 First Quarter Moon.

10/22@01:30 Mercury at Aphelion – furthest from the sun - 69,817,200 million km or 43,382,400 million mi.

11/08@08:06 Moon at Apogee – Furthest from the Earth – 406,200 km or 252,400 mi.

10/22@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 11 meteors/hour.

11/09@16:12 Moon degrees from Jupiter.

10/22@0800 Orionid Meteor shower Maximum.

11/10@15:16 Full Moon – This is the second northernmost full moon of the year.

ASTRONOMY EVENTS All of the times and dates below are calculated by

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10/23@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower ~ 10 meteors/hour.

11/13@03:28 Mercury degrees from Venus.

5.3

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