Volume 40 Issue 2

inside this issue:

Pumping New Life into UMPI

Details on p. 11

Details on p. 7

University of Maine at Presque Isle

OCTOBER 7, 2011

Volume 40 Issue 2

Love & Longing in Reed

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

The Growing State of the University

Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

When you think of homecoming, you probably think of dances, alumni gatherings, sporting events and special meals. Despite all of these things going on, the most important event of homecoming is actually the State of the University Address given by President Don Zillman. Zillman’s address was the first event to kick off Homecoming 2011.

“We have a busy schedule with over 27 events happening this weekend,” Zillman said.

As this will be Zillman’s final state of the university address as UMPI president, he took the audience on a trip down memory lane. He started by comparing the state of both the university and the world outside of it when he became president in 2006 to how things are now.

Despite the economy, UMPI is still in pretty good shape.

“In Maine, we never get the

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

Dr. Kenneth Petress has made his legacy on the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus. This spring semester, students will be able to apply for two scholarships funded by donations from Petress. But who is Petress and why did he choose to donate money to the school?

Director of alumni relations, Keith Madore, said that he knew Petress when he was a student.

According to Madore, Petress was a professor of communications. He taught many types of communica-

highest of highs,” Zillman com- versity as seen in his enthusiasm mented on the economy. about UMPI’s future goals.

From there Zillman talked “I want to see everything about the future plans for UMPI as discussed in a meeting with the board of trustees earlier in the week. These plans include increasing enrollment, increasing assessment of all aspects of the university, building the state economy through the addition and improvement of programs and achieving these goals as economically as possible. As hard as this sounds, UMPI has already taken some steps toward these goals.

Zillman went on to talk about the various steps taken over the last year that have been working toward these goals. These activities ranged from the establishment of a physical therapy assis- Leeann (Morrow) Ward tant program to the hosting of receiving the Educator of 40 Chinese students for a week the Year award. over the summer. Although he we’ve got continue,” Zillman will be leaving UMPI after the said. end of this school year, Zillman After Zillman finished his still has high hopes for the uni- speech, the floor was turned over

to Keith Madore, the director of alumni relations. Madore then handed out two awards to two UMPI alums who have achieved great things in their lives after UMPI. These awards were the Educator of the Year award and the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The first award, the educator of the year award, went to LeAnn Morrow-Ward of the class of 2004. Ward received this award for her work for Catholic Charities, teaching blind and visually impaired children to use adaptive technology while being blind herself. She returned to Aroostook County after receiving her master’s degree in teaching children with visual impairments at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. She considers this campus to be her home in a sense as it is where she met her husband and her sister, Rachel Rice, also graduated from and is currently employed by.

“UMPI has always been a

‘A Passion for Students’

tion classes, from business to gender to cultural. Petress worked for the university from 1988-2002.

Madore said that even after this time, Petress still contributed time to the school. One of the most important things to note about Petress, however, was his love for individuals in his classes.

“He had a real passion for students who wanted to learn communications,” Madore said.

But as Madore pointed out, it wasn’t only the communication students that Petress enjoyed working with. Madore said that Petress also

had a fondness for non-traditional students. Perhaps these passions are what inspired the two scholarships that have been created: The Dr. Kenneth C. Petress Memorial Scholarship and The Kenneth Petress Scholarship for Non Traditional Students. The first scholarship is designed for those interested in communications. The latter is meant for older individuals who are returning to school.

Madore said that before Petress died, he had been sick. Madore got the opportunity to talk with Petress, however.

part of me,” Ward said about her return to the campus.

The second award, the distinguished alumni award, went to Dr. Bernard Grenway of the class of 1995. Grenway teaches at the University of Maryland in Hagerstown, has written several books and hosts his own radio show. All of this is surprising as Grenway, a star basketball player, was more into athletics than academics in college. With the support of his instructors, whom he views as role models, Grenway started to apply himself more academically.

“His students get a piece of UMPI from him,” Madore said.

Despite this being President Zillman’s last state of the university address, it was not a somber affair. It was definitely an event full of faith in UMPI’s students, hope in the future of the campus and joy for those who have achieved great things by attending this university.

“I visited with him a couple of times,” Madore said.

According to Madore, Petress had mentioned donating money to UMPI. Indeed, Madore stated that he left more than $30,000 to the school.

Petress’ scholarships will be highly beneficial for the students who receive them. If you’re interested in continuing Petress’ legacy, Madore said you could make a check to the foundation at UMPI, in memory of Petress. The passions that Petress had will continue to live on in current and future students.

Kenneth Petress

C

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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 Martha Franklin-Wight Sarah Graettinger Jordan Guy 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

ampus University Times

October 7, 2011

Dear readers, Weʼre already into October. The leaves are changing and so is the weather. This semester seems to be flying by and I, for one, love to see the changes. With the crisp air and crunch of leaves underfoot, my camera is out and Iʼm taking all kinds of photos. Between studying for tests and getting my homework done on time, Iʼm very busy. But I still find the time to get out and see whatʼs going on around campus. The Billies were great last week and I canʼt wait to see the comedian, Bernie McGrenahan, whoʼll be here on campus soon. So watch your bulletin boards for upcoming events.

Lanette

Greetings, I recently returned from a trip to Vermont with the geology-ecology club and most of Professor David Putnamʼs surficial geology class.

Despite the harsh weather, the fall foliage there was wonderful. The geological sites we visited proved to be very educational. I can honesty say it was an exhausting but exhilarating experience. I love Mark Twain quotes, and this particular metaphor seems very appropriate for what I want to say: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didnʼt do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor…Explore. Dream. Discover.” Even if itʼs in a place as close as Vermont. Check the next issue of the U Times for more details. Thank you, Kayla

D at e s fo r S u bm i ssi ons t o t h e U T i mes Oct. 12 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.

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o be r 7 , 2 0 1 1

From Don’s Desk

It was a very good Kudos to Homecoming.

Director Keith Madore and his committee(s) for putting together all of the events of Sept. 2325. By my count there were 27 distinct events over the three days. It was fun and hard to try to keep track of all of them.

The crowds probably set records and I was especially impressed with the number of returning UMPI alums from all over the United States and eastern Canada and even Australia.

What most impressed me during the week were our alums being honored.

A special recognition that had nothing to do with Homecoming came to Alana Margeson, Class of 2000 and teacher at Caribou High School. Alana was named Maine Teacher of the Year for 2012. Alana earned bachelors degrees in both elementary and

Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

After a nearly six year run as the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s president, Don Zillman his hanging up his UMPI sweater and moving on to different scenery.

“Family really explains a large part of it. [My wife] Linda loves the times that she is up here, but the travels from Santa Fe to here, and the travels on my side, especially with dog in tow and a four day car ride-it’s been a great adventure for six years,” Zillman said.

Zillman and his wife have actually been living in New Mexico for quite some time now.

“We bought out there in 2001. We moved all the furniture out there, sold our place in Portland in 2003, and my deal with Linda was that I could keep working here in Maine if I don’t find something I’m passionate about in Santa Fe. So far I haven’t, and

Life After UMPI

secondary education from UMPI. When I visited her at Caribou High, she was coordinating her schedule for the year to allow her to handle the busy duties of the teacher of the year along with her regular teaching.

The other five honorees were recognized as part of the Homecoming celebration. On Friday afternoon we honored 1995 alumnus Dr. Bernard Grenway as the distinguished alumnus of the year. Dr. Grenway is a model for UMPI student athletes. He admits that it was basketball that first brought him to UMPI in the early 1990s. But that and the faculty and staff who nurtured him helped shape a career as a professor, author, consultant and radio host. Bernard gave back big time to UMPI on his visit as distinguished lecturer.

In addition to the lecture, he

spoke to classes, groups and teams all over campus.

Joining Bernard on the Friday afternoon platform was our educator of the year, Leeann (Morrow) Ward, Class of 2004. Leeann is a national leader in education for people with disabilities. What Leeann has learned about handling her blindness has become a part of her educational portfolio. She has worked as a teacher and as a shaper of educational policy in the years since her graduation from UMPI. Saturday night the UMPI Athletic Hall of Fame dinner provided the venue to honor three alums whose outstanding sporting careers at UMPI set the stage for their achievements since graduation.

Gail Fitzmaurice, Class of 1985, was a multisport athlete then and now. At UMPI, her greatest

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achievements were on the field hockey pitch. Since graduation, Gail has been a teacher, recreation director and a passionate supporter of animals.

She has continued her participatory athletics by riding 10 180-mile Bicycle Treks Across Maine for the Maine Lung Association.

Evan Graves, Class of 2003, can make a strong claim to being UMPI’s best ever cross country runner. During his running days with the Owls, Evan won numerous races, qualified for national championships and was recognized as athlete of the year. Evan is passing on his learning to new generations of runners and Nordic skiers at Caribou High School and Middle School. On Oct. 2, Evan won the gold medal at the Maine Marathon in Portland, finishing first

among 897 runners.

Last, UMPI’s own Coach Chris Smith, classes of 1983 and 1988, was honored for his running, coaching and organizing work at UMPI and around the County for the last quarter century. Chris is Mr. Cross Country for two generations of UMPI runners. He was a leader in creating the Aroostook Musterds running club that allows runners to continue the stimulation of competitive sport for decades after their college years are done.

What a wonderful set of UMPI role models we have in Alana, Bernard, Leeann, Gail, Evan and Chris. All combine excellence with modesty that recognizes that they are just examples of the many great UMPI alums who make a difference in their communities every year.

I continue doing what I love also miss the stimulation of the online or other electronically here. We try to make things students and community, who connected kind of teaching that have come together tremen- could get me back in Presque work,” Zillman said.

Zillman reflects on one of his dously in my time here,” Isle for a week,” Zillman said.

The UMS Board of Trustees many accomplishments during Zillman said. reviewed Zillman’s his time here at UMPI. resignation during its “I’ve brought up awareness Sept. 19 meeting. A on the part of faculty and staff search committee will and students about the exciting be formed to begin a opportunities around here. national search durLooking just at our online deliving the 2011-2012 ery of courses, has gone from 2 academic year, with percent to 21 percent in about the successful candifour years. I hope I will look date expected to back on this time and think ‘my begin work in sumgod we went through the great mer 2012. The new depression’ and we did this president would come even through university system on board at the beginuncertainty,” Zillman said. ning of a new chanThrough the good and bad, cellor’s leadership at Zillman will still miss some of Don Zillman and his dog, Vinnie. the University of the unique characteristics that Zillman plans to share his Maine System. make UMPI what it is.

For now, Zillman offers this “Everything! It’s an absolute- time between the University of ly wonderful place. I’ll miss the Maine School of Law and Santa valuable piece of advice for colleagues that I work with. Fe, N.M., ideally. those graduating next year.

“Give me live teaching at the They are really the best that I “Take the long view of this. have had all the time that I’ve law school for one semester. And It’s very hard sometimes lookbeen at administrative positions the second semester, let me base ing for a job and the jobs aren’t at four different universities. I’ll out in Santa Fe, but do some coming immediately.

Recognize now that what you’re doing now prepares you for the next 50 years of your life and your education. Even if it’s something that doesn’t seem particularly exciting at the time, do it anyway because it’s great for both building your personal capital and very often that’s where something happens. You will make a connection with somebody and three months later they’re needing somebody for a job and you’re the one they call. It’s all about networking in the good sense of networking that you’ve impressed someone already and that pays off later.

Networking is not a dirty word,” Zillman said.

Zillman plans to do his sabbatical in Santa Fe for about a year, then head to back east to Portland and teaching at the law school. In the meantime, we’ll miss seeing Zillman and his dog, Vinnie around campus. It will never be quite the same again.

Au Revior, UMPI!

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Chrisʼ Corner

Uni ve r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 1

With only minutes to spare, I ran to my flight. I had a engagement in speaking Florida and could not miss this connection.

When I approached my gate, I was able to slow my stride and in doing that, I began noticing strange expressions on people’s faces.

A young couple passed and I heard one say, “Wow, did you see that guy? He looked terrible!” Another man passed, grimacing. As I turned into the waiting area, I heard someone whisper, “I’m glad my kids aren’t here. He would have given them nightmares!”

I didn’t understand what the commotion was about until I looked up. To my horror, I saw a man so severely burned, I nearly gasped out loud.

He had no hair on his head or eyebrows. His ears had been melted off, revealing only holes.

You could barely distinguish his eyes. His nose was an open cavity. He stretched his lower lip over the area his upper lip would have covered, if he had one. Because his skin was a patch work of stretched skin

Two Hour Smile grafts you couldn’t tell if he was 80 or 18. He left arm stopped at his elbow and his right arm had four little digits that were actually toe graphs.

Honestly, he looked like a monster from a horror movie and I was hardly prepared.

Though his looks were shocking, it was the reaction of the crowd that shocked me more. My heart broke for this man. He stood isolated and completely alone against the wall.

More than 100 people stood 20 feet away, unsuccessfully trying to hide their stares. I was there for only a second when the attendant started the boarding process, but I can sincerely remember praying, “God, if I had only been here a few minutes earlier. I could have talked to the man or at least stood beside him.”

However, the opportunity was lost as the man joined the boarding line and soon after made his way to the plane.

Watch out what you pray for

because you may just get it!

When it was my turn to enter the plane, I found my seat and to my surprise, the man was sitting beside me. I was not given a few minutes to stand beside him but two hours to sit and hear his story. His name was

Paul and he was 36 years old.

At the age of two, he was in a car accident that burned more than 90 percent of his body. It was a miracle that he even survived. During our time together, we laughed and had one of the deepest, heartfelt conversations I had ever had with anyone in my life. As we began our descent, I mentioned I was speaking at a convention of

about 8,000 students. I asked him if he could give me one piece of wisdom that he wished people knew or would do? In almost a whisper, Paul said to me, “Every day of my life I hear that I am a monster. Every time I look in the mirror, I see the image that horrifies children. But what I’ve discovered is, if you look past our ‘earth suits,’ we’re all the same. Everyone wants the very thing I crave so badly. I want people to look at ME…Not what they SEE. Look me in the eye and smile at ME. If people only knew how powerful a simple smile was…. I wish people could look each other in the eye and see each other for who they really are.”

Never underestimate the power of a heartfelt smile. Give every living soul you meet the best smile you ever smiled in your life. Smile to strangers, co-workers, your spouse and children. Smile while you’re on the phone, because it shines

through in your voice. Smile and see how much better you feel and look. Watch how quickly relationships are built or mended and barriers are broken. I have instantly bonded with people because of their contagious smile. Yes, you will find those that absolutely refuse to smile, but smile at them anyway. You never know what people are going through.

Smiling makes you more approachable, accepted and real!

Our world has gone through the industrial age, technological age and is now in the information age. Though we have an instant and infinite amount of information at our fingertips, we seemed to be losing the art of starting, building and maintaining relationships.

Remember, the essence of any successful business, organization, church or family is successful relationships. One of the simplest ways to start that all too important relationship is through a simple, genuine smile!

(Excerpt from “A Leader’s FOCUS” by Thomas Dismukes)

Living in Color Like a Kid on Christmas Morning Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

When you think of book signings, you probably think of authors who have written books on some subjects signing copies of their books.

This is not always the case, though. Take the book signing held in UMPI’s Campus Center on Sept. 21. Jason Grass is a 2009 UMPI graduate who has just had a second book of his photography, “Living in Color, Dreaming in Black and White” published. Grass signed copies

of his book for those who wanted them.

His book took five months of work to create, including finding and photographing the objects he needed for his artwork. On average, he would work about 80 hours a week on his project. While this sounds like a lot of work for Grass, it didn’t feel like work at all.

“It was so much fun to work on this book, it felt more like playing,” Grass said.

Grass was inspired by what he called obscure things. He used everyday objects such as glasses, toys, candy and fruit

in his photographs, which are in both color and black and white. He also took inspiration from music as the title of his book is based on his favorite song, “Living in Color, Dreaming in Black and White,” by Billy Ray Cyrus.

“Dreaming in Color, Living in Black and White” was published by Monkey Publishing in Caribou. Although his book was just published for the public now, Grass was able to see the finished product one month ago when he got his proof book. Like any artist, he felt a lot of joy in seeing his

finished product.

“I felt like a kid on Christmas morning,” Grass said.

So next time you see a line of people getting books signed, don’t assume that the books being signed are going to be read. Grass hopes to publish another book of photographs of his artwork in the future.

Perhaps then, he will once again return to UMPI to hold another book signing and show the world what UMPI graduates can do. Jason Grass

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o be r 7 , 2 0 1 1

Return of Distinguished Alum

A Textbook Translation Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

Dr. Linda Graves’ textbook “Clinical Laboratory Chemistry” is about to get a new look. No, it’s not a color change.

It’s not a switch from hard cover to paperback either. Her book, which was also written by Dr. Robert Sunheimer, is getting translated from English to Korean. Graves said that she discovered this wonderful news this past summer around July.

She stated that Sunheimer and her editor had e-mailed her that the textbook was selected for translation. The book’s publish-

er, Pearson, would be taking on this task.

“Pearson, the publisher, has different sites all over the world.

One of them is in Korea,” Graves said.

Graves e x p l a i n e d Linda Graves that science texts are quite p o p u l a r i n Ko re a .

“Clinical lab sciences and science in general are very popular fields,” Graves said.

Graves has heard that the book should be completed in roughly a year. A translator will work on converting the textbook to Korean.

“I’m hoping Bob and I have a chance to at least communicate with the translator and get to know who he or she is,” Graves said.

Graves said that her contract had had a clause about what would occur if the textbook was picked for translation. She also

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Brianna Williams STAFF WRITER

along with her textbook.

stated that both she and Sunheimer were unexpectedly surprised when this happened.

Graves and Sunheimer are happy about the translation and can’t wait for the product to be completed.

“We’re looking forward to seeing it,” Graves said.

It’s interesting to consider that students halfway across the globe will be learning the same techniques as students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. By taking on a new look, Graves and Sunheimer’s “Clinical Laboratory Chemistry” is benefitting individuals interested in the sciences, no matter whether they speak English or Korean.

*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.

UMPI welcomed Dr. Bernard Grenway to the campus on Sept. 22. Grenway, an UMPI alumnus, is an author, education consultant and radio host. He has a bachelor’s degree of liberal studies from UMPI. Grenway has a graduate certificate of executive leadership from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. He also has a Masters of Science in human relations and business from Amberton University.

And he’s achieved an MBA in global management and a Ph.D. in applied management.

Not bad for a guy whose big reason for going to school was to play basketball. For Grenway, his feelings for UMPI were not love at first sight.

During his first year here, he called home at least once a week, asking his mother to let him come home. Yet today he credits much of his success to his years at UMPI. Grenway spent much of the week on the campus enjoying Homecoming. He spoke in different classes such as social work and business communication. Later on, Grenway spoke to the men’s soccer team and Native Voices. With his crew, he gave a college tour on his radio show. They also shot a documentary showing people that Grenway has met in his life.

When asked how he spent

his time on campus, Grenway said, “Reminiscing, visiting friends and professors.”

He spoke in his lecture, Diversity in Action: From Culturemorbus to Culturesanus, about the social disease when people from different places do not realize that they are alike.

Culturemorbus is a social disease and Culturesanus is culture healthy. Grenway, in his lecture, tried to show “effective ways that Americans can work on recognizing what unites them, thus tapping into their collective humanity.”

When asked about why he chose this particular topic, Grenway said, “Timing.

Truth from stereotypes. Start a new dialog.”

During the lecture, Grenway used the audience as examples of culture. Using this, he went on the say how much everyone is alike. Grenway said that we are 99 percent alike: the one percent difference is culture.

He based this on the latest scientific evidence from the Human Genome Project. Yet most people say the main difference is skin color. A few other differences are language, class and religion.

Grenway said, “Race is an idea: not biological.”

Having Grenway as a speaker was a huge success. Missed this speaker? Well, come to the next one. You might learn something new!

*Thursday night is college night (20% off apps and beverages with Student ID ) 350 Main Street Presque Isle, ME

Bernard Grenway receiving Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Uni ve r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 1

Black and Gold Inductions Unfold

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

The spirit of homecoming weekend filled the room. On September 24, Phi Eta Sigma welcomed new members to its group. Friends and family gathered in the campus center to watch the induction ceremony. Adviser Jim Stepp began by sharing with the audience a history of the society.

According to Stepp, UMPI’s Phi Eta Sigma is the 216th chapter. Since its founding, Stepp stated that UMPI has inducted 160 members. Stepp said that the group emphasizes the elements of character, body and mind. He also stated that members of the group must have a 3.5 GPA and fulfill certain responsibilities.

“We are among a select few that have met the requirements necessary for induction into Phi Eta Sigma,” Stepp said.

Phi Eta Sigma officers continued the ceremony by sharing traits that members must have. Becky Stepp, along with Danielle Pelkey, also pointed out the meanings behind the Phi Eta Sigma symbol. Stepp shared that she was glad to have the new members join the group. She also believed

that although it may not necessarily be time-consuming to be a member, it can be rewarding.

“Being a part of this group, it doesn’t take a lot of time, but it’s worth it,” Stepp said.

New members also got a chance to hear about Phi Eta Sigma activities. Stepp told the group about the national conference she had attended.

Also, one upcoming service project is the Make-a-Wish walk.

Officer Mika Ouellette is team captain for this event and said that she’s

hoping inductees will participate.

After hearing about these opportunities, the most exciting part of the ceremony arrived.

Certificates were awarded and handshakes were given.

Photos were taken of smiling new inductees. Two of the new members happened to be the first set of twins inducted

by UMPI’s Phi Eta Sigma.

Kayla and Sarah Ames said that

2011 Phi Eta Sigma inductees.

they were excited to be a part of the group and looked forward to service projects. Kayla Ames was happy to hear about the membership privileges.

“I’m glad that you can be a lifelong member,” Ames said.

Another new inductee, Leah McEachern, couldn’t wait for one service project in particular.

“I’m really looking forward to playing a part in the blood drive because I think it’s important to donate” McEachern said.

Pelkey and Ouellette had positive things to say a b o u t b e i n g i nvo l ve d i n the organization.

“We do a lot of service projects. It shows your achievements for academics. You get to meet new people that have been inducted,” Pelkey said.

Ouellette also mention ed service pro jects along with another benefit of being a member.

“It really looks good on a resume,” Ouellette said.

Phi Eta Sigma starts the fall semester with a new group of members and new directions.

With its welcoming spirit and positive ambitions, it’s bound to be a great year for this academic society.

Surviving College When You Feel Like You’re Older Than One

Martha Franklin-Wright STAFF WRITER

“Get your college done after high school,” Grandma would say. For many of us, we did not heed Grandma’s advice. Now we have entered into a new biosphere where technology, teens and textbooks seem to be coming at us from all directions. We have

entered, “The nontraditional student zone.” Much like Star Trek, this journey is one where many of us have never gone before. And more times than we care to admit, we wish that Scotty could beam us the heck out of here!

Going to school at any age can be a challenge.

Nontraditional students may also be struggling with trying to balance work, school, family and a brain that doesn’t always seem to work. In today’s workforce, a degree seems to have become a requirement to attain your goals.

Couple that with the cur-

rent economic downturn, and it’s easy to see why many adults are looking to return to school— many attending college for the first time.

This trip back to higher education can seem like a bumpy road.

“I think when nontrads are in the admissions process, their number one problem is confidence,” Erin Benson, director of admissions at UMPI, said.

Robert Butcher, a nontraditional student at UMPI, found it frightening to go back to school.

“I was scared about whether I could do it with being out of school for so long. I worried

that the education the other students received in high school would be so far advanced that I wouldn’t be able to keep up,” Butcher said.

Butcher offers some very good advice for students of all ages.

“I try to relax -- and focus on the work,” Butcher said. “If I think about the entire workload, I can’t get it done. You end up working against yourself.”

Donna DeLong, another nontrad, suggests that students look at their studies as a job or position.

“I have to look at it as a job with the same kind of responsi-

bilities as a high level position.

You have to be able to see the task and follow through to the end of the task. You have to balance things out so you’re not overwhelmed,” DeLong said.

Most students struggle in college. For students with other outside pressures, the problems can seem too large a burden to bear. There is help for students who need it, though, including atutoring, the writing center and counseling. Sometimes getting involved with a group or club on campus is helpful also. Above all, never give up on your dreams, and keep your focus on your ultimate goal— your degree.

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o be r 7 , 2 0 1 1

A Dose of Inspiration Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

It is very hard between classes and work to have time to join a campus organization, let alone start one. But this did not stop Stephanie Corriveau from doing just that.

“It was the beginning of last semester that I had the idea for it, but it was really only at the end of the semester going into the summer that I thought maybe it could get going by the fall.

There was nothing on campus for biology majors or people wanting to go into the medical profession, so I thought it would be a good idea to get everyone organized,” Corriveau said.

Corriveau is a senior here at UMPI majoring in biology/premed. She knew of many people who were willing to start up this organization.

“I pitched it to Bonnie Wood and Rachael Hannah and also members of my classes that I knew would be interested in getting a club started.

Everyone seemed really interested in it, so I worked with them to try to get everything going,” Corriveau said.

Corriveau has several ideas for the new club, including having members volunteer their time doing various activities and also hearing from guest speakers, such as dentists, doc-

tors, or medical researchers about their fields.

“I think anyone interested in possibly pursing that profession should definitely come, even during when a guest speaker comes. We’ll probably send out information to the Dean’s Daily News when exactly we have a guest speaker. The goal right now is to have people who come to the meeting discuss who they would like to see come and talk,” Corriveau said.

The club recently had its first meeting on Thursday, Sept.15, right after the Club and Community Fair.

“We had a good turnout at our first meeting, so I’m pretty excited for future meetings.

Right now, we are meeting every Thursday at 12:30 in the library conference room. This may change in the future, but for now this is where we’ll be,” Corriveau said.

Corriveau also said that anyone can join the biomedical club.

“You do not have to be a biology major to participate in the club. Everyone is welcome to attend,” Corriveau said.

For more information about the club, you can contact Corriveau, the president, at stephanie.corriveau@maine.ed u, or contact either Wood at bonnie.wood@umpi.edu or Hannah at Rachael.hannah@umpi.edu .

Members of the newly founded biomedical club.

The Virtual Campus: Online Courses at UMPI name on MaineStreet but may have never seen her on campus.

Despite not being present on campus, Crowe is an English professor at UMPI and used to teach live courses here. She now teaches all of her courses online from home.

7

journals: “UpCountry” and the “Beloit Poetry Journal.” And she helps with homeschooling It’s a typical weekday mornher daughter. ing in Van Buren, Maine.

Crowe still misses teaching live Amber Hanson wakes up, goes courses. Crowe’s feelings are noronline and checks her e-mail. mal, as many students also feel You might think she’s preparing isolated. According to eLearners, to go to school, but she is a website for online students, already at school. The isolation from peers is a con 18-year-old UMPI for online students. Clearly, freshman takes all of her online instructors have these courses online. feelings, too.

“I decided to take all “I wish I could see my stuof my courses online as dents’ faces and I do feel isolatI’m expecting my first ed from my colleagues,” child. In my situation, Crowe said. there are many pros to On the flip side, Crowe thinks taking online courses,” not seeing her students in person Hanson said. may be helpful. She finds stuA typical day for dents can be less inhibited online, Hanson starts by checking making for better discussions. her e-mail and Online students also must be selfBlackboard. If she has disciplined, self-motivated and assignments, she works on Amber Hanson, a virtual UMPI freshman. work well independently. them in the evening.

Increased student participation is These assignments Crowe started teaching online Crowe’s favorite part of teaching include listening to lectures, when she moved for her husonline courses. quizzes, reading and Blackboard “No student can be present withposts. Just as with live courses, she band’s job in 2008. The move still has deadlines to meet for her stopped her from teaching live out participating,” Crowe said.

You may have had courses assignments, so she must plan courses at UMPI, making online courses a perfect fit.

They were with them, as many UMPI stuaround them.

Although she takes her courses also convenient for her as a moth- dents take online courses. online, Hanson still has the same er continuing to work while rais- Although you don’t see Crowe or expenses as other college students. ing a child. Convenience is the Hanson on campus, they’re still She still needs to buy textbooks main reason she recommends part of UMPI. These “virtual” and pay tuition. Online courses online courses and considers this community members are more than just names on Blackboard. cost the same as live courses at a pro for herself and students.

“The old cliché is true: you They’re real people, just like you.

UMPI. The only thing she saves money on is the cost of commut- really can work in your jammies!” ing or living on campus.

Crowe said.

Hanson plans to someday take A typical day for live courses at UMPI, but for now Crowe is busy. enjoys the flexibility of online After checking her courses as a young mother-to-be.

Her only complaint about online e-mail, she enercourses is difficulty contacting gizes herself with a professors by e-mail instead of in shower and coffee. person. This is a con of online Her day involves courses as the instructor may be posting class mateto far away and unavailable for help rials Blackboard, readin person.

Meanwhile, 340 miles south of ing and replying to Van Buren in Portland, Maine, Blackboard posts.

Dr. Melissa Crowe is also check- Crowe also works Melissa Crowe, a virtual UMPI ing her e-mail. You’ve seen her for two literary Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

professor.

8 How a Story Gets Into the U Times Uni ve r si t y T i m e s

CAMPUS

October 7, 2011

and when they’re happening. Lowman decide on deadline Associated Press requirements.

Once on the board, everything dates before school starts Lowman, for the most part, looks It’s Tuesday afternoon and a is fair game. each year. over specific pieces, ones she handful of students have gath“They’re all students and ered in the Normal Hall media everyone is learning as they lab. They stare at the white go,” Virtanen said. board in front of them, readStudents are responsible for ing, deciding. By the end of this writing stories and layout but, meeting, everyone’s name for now, Lowman edits. should be on that board. This is The students must now where it begins, the first step in decide what to cover, keeping a long but rewarding journey. in mind their work and class A story doesn’t end up in schedules. They usually try to the University Times, pick something that interests UMPI’s school newspaper, them. They might get a printjust by chance. The process ed press release with some begins at 12:30 p.m. on basic background information Tuesday where, at the most, or decide to educate themnine or 10 people come selves on the topic and people together in Nor mal 102. involved.

Editor-in-chief Lanette Next, unless the event is Virtanen runs the meetings canceled or something gets in along with adviser Dr. the way, they must attend.

Jacqui Lowman.

You’ll often see U Times staff The first order of business: members jotting down notes U Times staff members at weekly meeting. check press releases, fliers and or trying to snap pictures event calendars. The sensibly amid the crowd. After they’ve “It’s like having another class. thinks will have problems. named “board writer” jots gathered quotes and as many Writing a story takes time. You Between marking papers and down a brief description of details as possible, it’s time to still have deadlines, but at the imputing edits, the entire process the activities, including where write the story. Virtanen and end of the day, when you see takes about a day. your piece in the paper and you Virtanen has been doing layout, can add that into a portfolio, it’s the fifth step, for more than two more rewarding than home- years now. It calls for a lot of comwork. This is what’s going to munication and decision-making. help make you more mar“This is where we determine ketable,” Virtanen said. what story goes where – what Virtanen has had some goes on the front page, what we interesting stories over the do or if we do a two-page spread years. When dog sledding, the and other stuff,” Virtanen said. cold weather made it impossiThe first half of the paper is ble to take notes, so she had to done on one Mac, the second rely on memory alone. She’s half on another. Each page must also learned that what happens be organized, the stories made to over summer vacation isn’t fit and look as appealing as possinecessarily exempt. Virtanen ble. If someone didn’t take phohas written about the two trips tographs, Virtanen, Jellett and she’s taken through the school, Ames must find appropriate picboth to Europe: specifically tures to go along with the text.

Italy and London.

It’s a very detail-oriented task.

After writing and submission Layout, in general, takes at least comes editing. Virtanen, along two days. with assistant editors Stephanie After Lowman looks everyJellett and Kayla Ames, check thing over, pointing out mistakes Michael Gudreau of Northeast Publishing holding the things such as format and that may have escaped her stuwhether the style matches dents’ notice, both halves are Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

beginnings of an issue of the U Times.

transferred onto a USB drive.

Virtanen then drives to Northeast Publishing, where she

leaves the material for Robert Maynard, who prints out about a thousand copies.

The final step is delivery around campus and to local businesses. Virtanen generally picks up the bundles of newspapers and distributes them with the help of one or two associates, usually Jellett or staff writer Ben Pinette.

“People just don’t realize how much goes into making that paper and handing it out,” Virtanen said.

According to her, seeing students, staff, faculty and community members reading and enjoying the U Times makes it worthwhile. She encourages people with an interest in writing, photography, design or the Web or with a desire to see something particular in the paper to join.

The U Times is a bit like the Statue of Liberty: no matter what their major or interests, it eagerly accepts all students.

9

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o be r 7 , 2 0 1 1

Jordan Guy

Facehooked

STAFF WRITER

As students enter yet another year--or in some cases their first year-- in college, they find themselves distracted. Students are becoming distracted not by other students dropping into their rooms for a visit or by shows on TV, but by friends or acquaintances popping up on their Facebook pages. Students cannot help themselves from checking to see if they have that little red symbol for a new notification that means someone out there in the Facebook world wants to interact or has interacted with them. The temptation is too much for college students to handle.

The chance that someone out there in the cyber world is interested in your profile picture or your status is far too tempting for young students. Facebook has been lowering GPAs since February of 2004 when it was created.

Tyler Folkins, a Canadian certification student, said, “ I check my Facebook between 50 to 150 times a day. It definitely doesn’t help my concentration on whatever I’m working. It gives me a reason

to procrastinate.”

Facebook is rapidly taking over the social networking of the world. Guys and girls are having a hard time talking face to face today because it is simply easier to meet a girl on the chat aspect of the Web page.

Students are documenting their every move as the day goes on by letting other students and friends know where they are and how long they will be gone. This is not acceptable.

If you are attending a larger

college or a college that is in a large city, this is a big theft opportunity. Letting a thief know where you will be at an exact time is like asking them to come over. People being open to hundreds of people knowing about their thoughts and their every move may pay the price.

Students also make the critical mistake of posting pictures of themselves drinking heavily or even smoking illegal substances. Almost every job today

checks young adults’ Facebook pages to look for exactly those things. It can severely affect your chances at a future career opportunity that he or she may have been waiting for.

Taylor Dulmage, a sophomore, said, “ I think Facebook definitely affects my school work but not so much that it brings my grades down. I check it every time I am bored. ” A survey of 30 different students at UMPI asked whether they themselves had problems with Facebook and getting important work done. Other than two or three the vast majority said that Facebook definitely took up crucial time that they should have been using to complete an assignment or studying for a big test.

It goes to show that even though Facebook is very useful in a lot of ways, such as connecting with family and friends who may be long distances away, or finding someone with whom you haven’t spoken to in years, it can also be quite inconvenient and sometimes a threat to your personal life. If you are willing to take the plunge into social networking, you better know what you’re getting yourself into.

Bread of Life

UMPI’s Extravaganza!

Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

some new people,” Caron said.

One of the great things about starting the new year at college is creating a new way for activities besides homework. Studies have proved that

It comes that time of year when UMPI has its annual Club and Community Fair. That’s when students and people from all over the community come together and show what is available for new students and teachers. Many people were crowded around in the Campus Center on Thursday, Sept. 15, looking at the different booths that offered information on all sorts of things.

Two of the many clubs at the fair.

There are so many clubs that are offered at UMPI. students involved in clubs are The College Democrats, stu- happier, better adjusted and dent senate, OAPI, OOPS, more academically successful Native Voices, PE Majors Club, than students who are not.

Many of the organizations Kappa and many others were do fundraisers to go on trips there to offer information on and like to get their name out what they do.

Many students come to the on campus. Students do projfair to see what’s offered and ects, go out in their respective what other students are looking fields and might try to teach to do at UMPI. One student, other students what’s around.

It’s all about getting out Tabitha Caron, offered some there and seeing what colinsight about the fair every year.

“I was looking for job oppor- lege is all about. Meet new tunities and looking to see what people and experience many kind of clubs were available. It’s new organizations! Go out a great way to engage in the there and explore what’s community and get to know around you!

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

Club and community members at their tables.

10 Brianna Williams STAFF WRITER

Everywhere you look on campus, there are students carrying textbooks. Textbooks are an important necessity in our education as college students.

The cost of these books changes every year. This money comes out of students’ pockets. So saving some extra cash somehow would be a huge help. How do students do this? It seems that there are new ideas coming out that can help students save on buying textbooks.

Greg Doak, the bookstore manager, said, “Always go to class first to make sure the professor is going to require the book is going to be used. It’s huge. It helps them save money.”

Uni ve r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 1

Save It Up

Students who have the iPad can get their books for free with the textbooks application. This is a free application, called the Inkling, with around 100,000 different textbooks for students.

The great idea about this is that students won’t have to carry the heavy books around campus all the time. Ask your professors to see if this kind of technology is allowed in their classrooms.

For another technology idea to save on books, we can look at a smartphone application. All students have to do is download the Yowza. This is an application that helps students find coupons for books. Students don’t even need to print these out. The great idea about this is that students can use coupons to save some extra cash on books.

Students can also rent books online from sites such as ecampus.com. Here, students can rent books cheaply. This is a good way to save a lot of cash.

Doak said, “Rented textbooks save students up to 70 percent on the cost of buying a book.”

If you can find that other students typically save their books after they use them for class, then you can trade books with them. Or you can go to sites such as TextSwap.com to trade books with other students. The only issue with this is that you never know 100 percent if you are going to get the correct book.

Courtney Capecea, a senior, said, “I buy the really cheap ones at the bookstore. But mostly I get them online or borrow them from friends.”

Students have also found that buying used books is another great way to save some extra cash. You can buy them online or from the bookstore. Either way, students can save around a few hundred dollars in the

process.

Michelle Green, a freshman, said “Well, my brother took almost all the classes before I did, so Doak said, “Coming in early to take advantage of buying used books is the best cost savings overall.”

Another issue that seems to come up is that students will accidentally buy the wrong textbook. How can students fix this?

Doak said, “If they do come in, they need to make sure they bring their schedule to make sure they get the right book.”

Keep these tips in mind as you look into buying your textbooks next semester. They could help you save up and enjoy the extra cash.

The Question Is: Whether Weather Is Taken Seriously at UMPI Donna DeLong STAFF WRITER

Weather is taken very seriously at UMPI. When Aroostook County people think of storms, we think of snowstorms.

The leading cause of weather-related death in the United States, however, is flooding.

In the County, flooding is typically the biggest problem, in the spring when the snow melts and the ditches are clogged due to snow or debris from the previous winter. The best thing to do is stay away from roadways that are covered with water. It’s deceiving how much water is there. People find themselves in trouble when they decide to cross a road when the water is high. Cars are swept away and water can make the electrical system that operates the windows and doors malfunction. People are trapped in their vehicles and drown.

Blizzards do occur here and

the university has procedures in place in case people are stranded on the campus. If this happens, people can stay on campus through the night in the dorms so that they do not risk

harm navigating the roadways.

This summer, Aroostook County was reported to have been hit by two tornadoes and two down bursts (a powerful downward wind, often part of a thunderstorm system, that creates strong horizontal winds in all directions when it strikes the ground). Richard Norton, from

the National Weather Service Forecast office in Caribou, said, “This summer the tornadoes that hit in Caribou, Ashland and Limestone were not documented.

A documented tornado hit in 2009, however, across the Allagash region. The data collected recorded 70 mile per hour winds. Damage blew over trees and toppled headstones in a local graveyard. There was also major roof damage recorded.”

One of the dangers for this type of weather is that people will seek refuge in large buildings. This is not safe. Large structures are in danger of roof failure, breaking glass and flying debris. The most dangerous locations are large rooms with big, expansive roofs, such as cafeterias, gymnasiums and auditoriums.

The best protection against dangerous high winds is small interior rooms such as bathrooms and windowless interior hallways that are away from exterior doors. The lowest level is always the safest.

The campus has taken great

measures to ensure the safety of its students, staff and faculty.

Gregory C. Daniels, the security and safety director, said, “We have contact with the Presque Isle Police Department so that when an emergency happens— either federal or state—we are alerted to it. So I can take the necessary action to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.”

The campus established a system to alert all personnel and students in case of a weather issue that would affect them. If classes are canceled or the campus is closed due to inclement weather, the e2Campus

Emergency Notification System sends a message to your cell phone in the form of a text, or an e-mail to your computer and a message to your pager to alert you of class cancellation or campus closure. To receive this service, students, faculty and staff can log onto the e2Campus icon on the bottom of the home page on the UMPI website and fill in the necessary information. To find out more about the procedures that UMPI has in place and what to do during different weather situations, go to the UMPI website and type in “University of Maine at Presque Isle Emergency Procedures Guide.” This guide is full of information that will answer your questions about many different emergency situations and who is in charge of different buildings during a weather event.

Univer si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o be r 7 , 2 0 1 1

Lanette Virtanen

Tennis Anyone?

ence about his first puppet, which he happened to bring A talking tennis ball, a talk- with him. His first puppet ing tennis racket and even a turned out to be a tennis ball talking pad of paper. All these with a mouth cut into it and eyes put on.

Next Harrison brought out what would naturally follow a talking tennis ball, a talking tennis racket. Even a sketch pad wasn’t safe from being turned into a p u p p e t .

During the s h o w , Josh Boyles with Michael Harrison.

Harrison talked about looking things and more were a part of around Presque Isle and how Michael Harrison’s act in small it was. He said it was so Wieden on Sept. 6. Harrison sad that they closed the zoo started out by telling the audi- when the duck died. This got a STAFF WRITER

Rowena Forbes STAFF WRITER

Jennifer Pazienza does with a brush what digital images cannot. She reaches out and touches us with the simple and the beautiful that surround us every day. She invites viewers to become part of her world, her landscape. To fully appreciate her work, we must be open to the idea that the connection is deeper than what is simply seen on the massive canvases: the painting becomes feeling. Pazienza paints in response to the big questions she has about life and its greater meaning.

“I’ve always had questions about my relationship with something bigger than myself,” Pazienza said.

Her paintings are a way to make sense of her surroundings and the intimate connection she has with them. She paints to find her place.

laugh from the audience.

“America’s Got Talent,” he Harrison, with his unique Harrison also got laughs kept the crowd entertained. talent, has traveled coast to when he pulled a baby out of “I think it’s great that coast on his tour. He has been his box of tricks, a doll that is, they’re getting a variety of on “America’s Got Talent” and and used Josh Boyles, a mem- acts in Wieden and that the now he can say that he’s been ber of the audience, to help attendance is high from the to UMPI. Through all of his take care of the baby. Boyles students and staff of travels, one thing stands true: was also pulled up on stage and UMPI,” Barbara Lambert, laughter must surely follow turned into a human puppet. an UMPI staff member, said. him wherever he goes.

Boyles wasn’t the only audience member to be pulled up on the stage. Harrison brought up four guys. Cody Humphrey, Ross Saunders, Jared Sargent and Seth Cote were brought up and told to sit on the four chairs that were on stage. With the chairs placed just right, Harrison had them lay their heads back on each other’s lap.

When they were all situated, Harrison pulled the chairs out from under them one by one and not one of them fell to the floor.

From start to finish, tennis ball to Garth, the puppet Cody Humphrey, Ross Saunders, Jared Sargent, Seth that Harrison used on Cote on stage.

Finding a Place

On Sept. 11, the Reed Fine Art Gallery held a reception to kick off an exhibit of Pazienza’s work. Pazienza quickly put her audience at ease as she spoke about her work. It became clear that an extensive knowledge of tone,

11

movement, color and media was not necessary to enjoy the expression of her work: only a willingness to let it be. She encourages her viewers to “stay present in the moment.”

When asked why she paints such large canvases, she said

jJennifer Pazienza standing beside one of her paintings.

“It was the space calling. ‘You can go bigger.’”

During a session with UMPI students, Pazienza had advised, “If you want to be a painter, you must paint. Begin creating the behaviors that will make the life you want.”

Jennifer Pazienza was born in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Italian immigrants. She received her bachelor of education in art from William Paterson College in 1976, after which she moved to Pennsylvania where she taught art in grades K through 12.

She completed a master of art education in 1985 and a doctorate of philosophy in 1989 at Pennsylvania State University.

From 1987 to 1988, Pazienza taught art education at Texas Tech University. In 1988-89, she moved to the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. In 1989, an offer from the University of New

Brunswick, with a promise of academic freedom and the university’s reputation for artistic forms of teaching, brought her to the Northeast, where she became a member of the faculty of education.

Pazienza has been pivotal in the development of the bachelor of applied arts and the fine arts minor, the creation of the Eaton Multimedia Centre and the interdisciplinary program at Renaissance College. She has also worked as a research consultant for the Getty Centre for Arts Education, the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan and the Museum of Civilization.

Pazienza has written and presented scholarly papers in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

The Reed Fine Art Gallery will be hosting “Landscape” – Love & Longing, Paintings by Jennifer Pazienza, through Oct.22, 2011.

12

Uni ve r si t y T i m e s CAMPUS O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 1

The Man Who Does It All

Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

He’s the man who handles most of your money. He’s also the man you would go to for club budgets. He’s the one and only, often imitated, yet never duplicated, Charlie Bonin.

Like many, you probably wouldn’t think to ask a hectic Bonin about life before UMPI and beyond. As soon as you ask him, though, you get a history lesson about a life that very few have traveled.

“I was born in Methuen, Mass., or about 23 miles north of Boston. I used to know Boston like the back of my hand,” Bonin said.

Bonin has strong opinions about going to school.

“I hated high school. In fact, I hated school to begin with.”

Since graduating from high school, Bonin has taken several different paths.

“When I was a senior in high school, the Vietnam War was hot and heavy at the time. And my father at the time had a chance to rent his business and he was going to save it for after I got out of the military. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I wasn’t ready for college, so this seemed like the perfect step. So

Robert Butcher STAFF WRITER

The fall season in northern Maine is about more than just watching the beau-

I went into the Air Force and I Levesque, UMPI’s director of put eight years there. And that business systems. Levesque is was where I met my wife,” at a loss for words when talkBonin said. ing about Bonin.

After Bonin married his wife “His skills at working out the while still in the Air Force, he got to explore a few new places.

“I have a son who has a lot of medical conditions, so they moved me to Fort Worth, Texas. Soon, they tried to send me to King Salmon, Alaska.

There, I gained rank left and right, but after eight years in the Air Force, I got out. My wife was sick my last year in the military, so she moved to Caribou and eventually I started a … temporary position as the administrative assistant for the VP in finance here at the University of Maine at Presque Isle,” Bonin said.

It’s hard to fathom sometimes working at the same place for more than 35 years. But for Bonin, UMPI’s vice president of administration and finance, the road has certainly changed a bit.

“I started here in February 1975. Back then, we had a Charlie Bonin in the 1980s. large site at Loring Air Force Base. We must have had 300- best deal are incredible. He’ll 500 students there at the time,” work someone over pretty good. He’s one of the kindest Bonin said.

Over the course of 35 people you’ll ever meet, he’ll do years, Bonin has had many anything for anyone. If you experiences with Eldon need assistance, he’ll be the first

nite stories that come to mind.

“This is a hard one. There was one time where the bookstore manager had a party at her house and he went and redecorated her inside

Christmas tree to an outside tree and she didn’t even notice.

He is quite the prankster.”

Yet in all his time here at UMPI, Bonin’s most memorable moments here come ever y year in the middle of May. “I think watching the classes graduate each year has been rewarding. When I was financial aid director, I had a lot of contact with them. When I got on this side of the house, I don’t see many students unless they are totally upset with us.

But I like seeing everyone when they come in as freshmen, and four years later to see them walk across that stage and see them have an education that they can use,” Bonin said.

After UMPI becomes something of a memory for Bonin, we may just see him enjoying the outdoors.

“I used to do a lot of gardening and planting trees and growing them. My house in Saco has a lot of flower beds, so on the weekends I like to go out and plant them for fun. It’s my relaxation,” Bonin said.

Just as long as he doesn’t do that full time too soon. We hope to see Bonin looking out for the best deals for UMPI and causing mayhem for another 30 years.

like Shepodies.”

In response to these fears, Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe secured $400,000 in relief aid for farmers whose crops might be affected by this late blight.

Bragdon said, “This may sound like a lot of money, but to the famers paying over $300 an hour for people to clean up this mess, it really is not a lot at all. I know of one farmer that has already spent over $150,000 this year – and that was just one farmer.” The final word: only time and tractors

will discover the impact of this year’s concerns of late blight.

Stephenie Gagne, a harvest worker of more than 10 years, said, “So far, so good,” when asked how the potatoes were looking so far. Gagne also said, “The harvest started on time.”

This is important because a late harvest can mean frost damage.

The potato harvest creates more than 160 seasonal jobs and brings in more than $100 million to the state. So farmers are crossing their fingers and hoping for blue skies the rest of this harvest.

to go at it,” Levesque said.

Levesque has been at UMPI just six months shy of Bonin.

Over the course of 36 years working together, there are infi-

Fall Harvest Kicks Off tiful leaves change color. It is also about the potato harvest.

To some children of Aroostook County, the potato harvest means a much wanted break from school, but to many adults, it means a much needed boost to their income.

The farmers usually find weather conditions to

be concerned about and this year it’s no different.

Northern Maine has seen record rainfall in 2011. What does this mean to the farmers?

Too much rain creates saturated ground for the potatoes to grow in. The problem with saturated ground is that it may cause “late blight.” Blight is a serious condition that can ruin whole crops.

Mike Bragdon, equipment salesman at MPG, said, “Late blight is a serious concern, especially in the thin skinned variety of potatoes

Patrick Manifold STAFF WRITER

S

University Times

p o r t s

October 7, 2011

Spaghetti Kickoff

lar. There was also salad, rolls and an abundance of different beverages. The food

was generously provided by ARAMARK and according to those who were there, it

As you walked into the Campus Center multipurpose room on a Friday night, you would have been greeted by three things: the smell of delicious spaghetti, a warm smile at the door and a group of women wearing matching blue soccer uniforms. It was, of course, the women’s soccer team annual spaghetti supper.

Tickets were sold at $5 apiece and according to team captain Desiree Smith, they sold around 130 tickets.

All the proceeds of the supper go straight to the soccer team to help pay for various needs, including the team’s travel suits.

There were options to have meat sauce or just regu- Members of the UMPI womenʼs soccer team.

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was delicious.

Assistant coach Chelsea Boudreau attended the event on behalf of head coach Dan Williams and to support the team’s efforts. When asked about how she thought the supper went, she said, “I’m really happy with the turnout tonight, there are a lot of familiar faces.

It’s always nice to get to spend time with the people who support us on

13

and off the field. And the girls did a great job of serving the food and saying thanks to those that came out. We appreciate the support of everybody that attended and we will do our best to give them something to cheer about this season.”

It seemed to be a very positive event for the team.

They hope that they can use the support of their friends, families and fellow UMPI students and staff to give to fuel them through this season. Female soccer sensation Mia Hamm once said, “I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.” Perhaps our UMPI teams, too can light their match at just the right time this year.

UPCOMING UMPI CAB EVENTS: -Rio Movie Night

Wednesday Oct 12

8 p.m.

MPR

-Breast Cancer Awareness Week Wednesday Oct. 12 - Friday Oct. 14 Decorate A Bra Wednesday Oct. 12 11 a.m- 1 p.m. Owlʼs Nest Wear Pink Day Thursday Oct. 13 Pink Dance Thursday Oct. 13th 9 p.m.- midnight MPR Letters of Hope & Encouragement Friday Oct 14 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Owlʼs Nest Decorate A Ribbon Friday Oct 14 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Owlʼs Nest TreeGo Adventure Course Saturday Oct 15 *Sponsored by OAPI

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Alcohol Awareness Week Monday Oct. 17- Thursday Oct 20 Minute to Win It Monday Oct 17 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Owlʼs Nest Rootbear Floats Thursday Oct 18 6:30 p.m. Wieden Aud. Happy Hour w/ Comedian Bernie M. Tuesday Oct 18 7:09 p.m. Wieden Aud. Mocktail Contest Wednesday Oct. 19th TBD PIPD Simulation Thursday Oct 20 1 p.m. MPR

14 Patrick Manifold STAFF WRITER

Testing Limits Un i ve r si t y T i m e s SPORTS

It was a gorgeous warm evening on Saturday, Sept. 24, when a large crowd of people gathered in the Campus Center for the annual University of Maine at Presque Isle Athletic Hall of Fame induction dinner.

Everybody was present to honor 2011’s inductees: Gail Fitzmaurice, Evan Graves and Christopher Smith.

After dinner, Dean Chris Corsello welcomed everyone and kicked off the start of the inductions.

First up was Gail Fitzmaurice, introduced by past teammate and friend Laura Gardiner. She had nothing but nice things to say about her friend and even shared a story about the team getting into trouble after Fitzmaurice mooned a passing van on a trip.

Fitzmaurice, class of ’85, was a two sport athlete. She played basketball for two years and field hockey for four. In hockey, Fitzmaurice was exceptional, leading the Owls to an NAIA championship in ’83 while leading the state in assists and being named to the all state team. Since leaving UMPI, Fitzmaurice became a teacher and a successful multisport coach. She is now in the

field of orthotics and lives in Waterboro, Maine, with her life partner, Kim Westcott.

When it came time to give her acceptance speech it was short and sweet. She simply said what an honor it was to be inducted and thanked her friends and family for their support.

Next up was class of ’03 cross country standout Evan Graves, who was introduced by Chris Smith. Smith spoke fondly of memories shared with Graves when he coached him, and the stories that he told about him involved food most of the time, something Graves needed a lot of to have enough energy to fuel long runs.

While at UMPI From left: Graves was a cross country runner who was dedicated to his sport.

His work ethic was one of the main reasons that he was so successful, being named Maine Athletic Conference runner of the year in his sophomore season, again in his junior season, and after moving to the Sunrise conference, he won the same award again. Graves was

named to the all state team twice, all outstanding achievements. After graduating from UMPI, Graves has continued to pursue his passion of running, turning his talents to marathons.

When it came time to

October 7, 2011

Graves lives in Caribou, where he is a teacher and coach, with his young daughter, wife and family dog.

Last but certainly not least was Christopher Smith, class of ’83 and ’88. Smith was introduced by Erik Wade, a runner

Evan Graves, Gail Fitzmaurice and Christopher Smith. accept his induction, Graves explained how his experiences at UMPI “were the foundations of my life” and put his success down to his ability to “push myself to the limit.” In closing, Graves thanked his family and encouraged those present to live a healthy life filled with exercise and activity.

WUPI 92.1 FM

he coached at UMPI, and his sister, Kimberly Wright.

Smith’s sister Kimberly spoke passionately about her brother, saying that he is not only a great coach, lifelong learner and dedicated runner, but also, and perhaps most important, an “all around top-notch guy, who always gives 150 percent

“A Lifetime of Music”

in everything that he does.”

As Smith stepped up to recognize his achievement, he said how honored he was to be inducted into the UMPI Hall of Fame. Smith is currently heading into his 25th season of coaching cross country at UMPI. During his distinguished career, Smith has had many highlights, including being named coach of the year an 11 times.

Unsurprisingly, due to Smith’s obvious passion, 145 of his athletes have earned spots on all state, region and conference teams.

Smith expressed thanks to his “all time favorite mentor,” Dr. Sue Beaudet, and to his close family and fellow UMPI employees and friends. He ended thanking his mother and father, who, he said “always supported me in whatever I wanted to do.” Smith lives in Presque Isle Maine with his wife Kim. So take a page out of these hall of famers’ books and go out and test your limits. You will soon realize that you have limitless potential. The challenge is to reach it.

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: 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

L

University Times

ifestyl e October 7 2011

15

Just How Many Planets Are There?

Jim Stepp

CONTRIBUTOR

The question of how many planets there are is truly a complex one. If you are talking about our solar system, the answer is either eight or nine, depending on whether you still consider Pluto a planet.

But this answer is a little limited. The truth may be 645 and counting. Recently 50 new extrasolar planets were announced through the use of the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS. Planets discovered outside of the solar system are designated by the name of their star and a letter that designates their position from their parent star.

Under this way of naming planets the Earth would be called Sun c.

Around each star there exists a habitable range of space where liquid water can exist. If a planet were too close to its star, its surface water would boil off and the planet would undergo a runaway green house effect such as Venus has in our solar system.

Too far from the star, the planet’s water would all freeze and make it hard for life to exist. In some respects, this is what we see on Mars today.

Astronomers are attempting to find planets that are inside this habitable range and no more than three or four times the mass of the Earth. Planets that are larger than the Earth and have similar characteristics are called super earths.

Astronomers believe that planets that fit into these two categories could support life similar

to what we see on the Earth.

Of the 50 new planets announced, 16 are considered super earths. One of these new planets (HD 85512b) orbits its star just past the start of its star’s habitable zone. It would be warm on this planet, but water would exist and therefore, so could life. HD 85512b’s mass is about 3.6 times as great as the Earth’s, with a gravity equal to about 1.4 times what we feel on the

Earth. (If you weighted 150 pounds on the Earth, you would weigh 210 pounds on HD 85512b.) The average temperature on the planet is about 20 degrees warmer than the average temperature on the Earth. Because this planet orbits a smaller star than our sun, it orbits much closer and its year is much shorter. A year on this planet is just 54 days long.

The equipment being used today is not quite sensitive enough to discover Earth-size planets, but it is getting better. In the near future, we will find Earth-like planets, many of which may have life similar to what we see on the Earth.

To find out more about extrasolar planets, please go to http://news.nationalgeographic. com/news/2011/09/110912exoplanets-super-earths-spacescience-new-planets-found/ or http://exoplanet.eu/catalog.php.

THE NIGHT SKY The International Space Station is visible in the morning sky through October 11. After October 14, the ISS is visible in the evening sky.

Go to www.heavensabove.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.

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.

10/10 10/20 Sunrise 0542

0556

Mercury 1648 – 1700

1706 – 1712

Sunset 1655

1636

Venus 1654 – 1724 1712

1642 –

0000 – 0512

2342 –

Jupiter 1748 – 0530 0542

1706 –

Mars 0524

Saturn Not visible

0524 –

0524

Uranus 1818 – 0300 0218

1800 –

10/03@2215 Moon

Quarter

First

10/05@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 5 meteors/hour 10/06@1512 Mercury degrees from Saturn

1.7

10/06@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 7 meteors/hour

10/07@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 10 meteors/hour

10/08@1700 Draconids meteor shower Maximum

10/08@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 11 meteors/hour

10/09@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 10 meteors/hour

10/10 165th anniversary of William Lassell’s discovery of Neptune’s largest moon Triton (1846) 10/10@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 7 meteors/hour

10/11@1800 Draconids meteor shower – 5 meteors/hour 10/11@2105

Full Moon

10/12@0625 Moon at Apogee – Farthest from the Earth, 406500 km or 252600 mi from Earth

10/13@1600 Saturn in conjunction with the Sun, furthest from the Earth 10.666 AU

10/13@1806 Moon degrees from Jupiter

10/19@2230 Moon

Last

5.4

Quarter

10/20@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 6 meteors/hour

10/21@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 9 meteors/hour 10/21@0530 Moon degrees from Mars

7.8

10/22@0130 Mercury at Aphelion – Farthest from the sun, 69.8172 million km or 43.3824 million mi from sun

10/22@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 11 meteors/hour

11/22@0800 Orionid Meteor Shower Maximum

10/23@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 10 meteors/hour

10/24 160th anniversary of William Lassell’s discovery of Neptune’s moons Umbriel and Ariel (1851) 10/24@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 7 meteors/hour

10/25@0400 Orionid Meteor Shower – 5 meteors/hour

10/26@0719 Moon at Perigee – closest to the Earth, 357100 km or 221900 mi from Earth 10/26@1455

New Moon

10/28@2042 Jupiter at opposition – Directly behind the Earth and closest to the Earth, 593.9 million km or 369 million miles from Earth

16

Unive r si t y T i m e s LIFESTYLE O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 1

HAPPY FALL!

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