Volume 38 Issue 6

University of Maine at Presque Isle

Volume 38 Issue 3

Erica Davis, Johannah Bubar CONTRIBUTORS

Over the course of this season, our team has faced many different opponents.

We played our best every game, win or lose.

We fought through the rough times to get to where we are today.

From last year to this year, our team has grown into a great team. We have become a more competitive team. It helps when there are six returning players from last year’s team, five of whom are starters. Our team chemistry was already there, which meant we were able to get right into the heart of practices.

Our more difficult matches of the season were against Maine Maritime Academy and Bates College.

We played with both teams, which is something in years past we couldn’t have done.

We played with MMA and came very close, but struggled to get over the hump for a win. Bates was a good match to play: it was good experience for us as a team and as a program. We have made a name for ourselves between this year and last year.

We were able to become a strong team last year and really develop our game this year. This season we were able to beat Husson University in three different matches, something that UMPI has never done. All three wins were hard fought and well deserved.

We played a lot of NCAA teams because we knew winning our conference would not take us to nationals as we had hoped

Journalism for Northern Maine

NOVEMBER 30, 2009 it would, due to an insufficient number of teams in our conference.

But because we are in both the NAIA and NCAA, we could have gotten a bid to the NCAA and in beating the NCAA teams we were hoping to get a bid to be able to keep going.

Our conference play has been amazing.

W e ’ v e remained undefeated in the conference and haven’t lost a single game in any of the matches until our final championship game, when we lost one. Grabbing back to back conference championships has been amazing.

For those who are seniors, it’s something that doesn’t happen often and it means a good way to end a career.

Stepping onto the court, with our team during the last game of the playoffs, butterflies were going and adrenaline was pumping. We were all geared up and ready to go and started with lots of fire.

We knew we should win, but when it comes to tournaments, there’s never a guarantee and some teams find that out the hard way. We weren’t going to let that happen. We were determined not to lose. We had a job to do, and we were going to do it.

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

SUNRISE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!!

We did it beating Fort Kent in four games for the championship.

Charging out in the first two sets, we were up quickly 2-0. A lapse in communication got us down in the 3rd, costing us the game and putting the score to 2-1. Our determination rose up to capture the 4th and final game.

University Times

2

Campus

November 30, 2009

As the sun sets on the fall semester, we can see that UMPI’s The University Times Staff students are moving forward. The most obvious place to look is the UMPI Hockey Club. Last year, only handfuls of people David Hamilton Editor went to watch them play. Now they’re filling the stands and are so far undefeated. It’s an unexpected turnaround that brings new life to the UMPI sports scene.

In addition, the soccer 14, against the Bengals. That teams wrapped up their season continues their reign as on Nov. 13 in the Sunrise Conference Champs.

Conference semifinals. The These feats and the support men played like champions, that they’ve garnered from the keeping the undefeated UMFK student community are indicaBengals scoreless for the first tors that UMPI pride is on the half. The women played great, rise. It’s a good thing to see. as well, keeping SUNY Canton For more coverage of UMPI at 3-0, ending a four game win- athletics, go to page 14, where ning streak. staff writers and contributors And finally, the UMPI tell the stories of UMPI’s recent Volleyball team claimed the top clashes. spot, becoming the Sunrise Take it easy, Conference Champions, Nov. Dave

Staff Writers Bhava Albert Kayla Ames Robert Butcher Long Cao Lauren Camargo Jonathan David Clark Stephanie Corriveau Callie Foster Cassandra Gildert Bert Goldman Sarah Graettinger A.E. Stephanie Jellett Marie Maserolle Leah McEachern Kaitlyn McLaughlin Mika Ouellette Pamela Perkins Ben Pinette Candice Rivera Jennifer Sappier Dan Smiley Lanette Virtanen A.E. Landon York A.E. Contributors Sam Bacon Lindsey Blackstone Johannah Bubar Christine Corsello Erica Davis April Flagg Justin Howe Amber Reed Jessica Stepp Jim Stepp Courtney Turner Ryan Vanbuskirk Don Zillman Adviser Dr. J

The University Times, a nonprofit student publication, is printed at Northeast Publishing Company in Presque Isle, Maine. Articles and photographic ideas for submission may be left at the University Times office Normal Hall, Rm. 102 at UMPI, 181 Main St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Advertising rates are available upon request. The newspaper takes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All rights reserved.

Final Date for Submissions to the U Times

Monday, Nov. 30 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

3

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

From Don’s Desk

At their regular meeting on Nov. 16, the University of Maine System trustees approved the final product of a yearlong study of the system and its seven campuses, including the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The various parts of the study, New Challenges/New Directions, appear on the system Web site and have been released over the last six months.

I would urge those interested to read the entire reports or the parts that interest them. I will not attempt to summarize everything in the substantial documents. Further, I emphasize that what follows is the product of my observations and biases as an occasional participant in the process. I do want to offer a concise summary of the work of NC/ND and, most important, what comes next for us at UMPI. Recall that two motives inspired NC/ND. The first was a need to reduce system expenditures. Even before the worst of the financial crisis, the trustees felt that system financ-

ing was not sustainable for the next decade or more. Second, dollars aside, the trustees felt that there were inefficiencies in the system that did not serve the best interests of our students— present and future— and the people of Maine. Those are the problems NC/ND has tried to address. What are the conclusions?

First, NC/ND has chosen to largely retain the present structure of a system, a chancellor and a chancellor’s staff. If anything, the message is to strengthen system leadership (and possibly resources). The chancellor is expressly expected to lead statewide discussions about the role of higher education with state government officials, the business community and the people of Maine.

Second, NC/ND strongly reaffirms the presence of seven autonomous campuses. That policy is currently a matter of state statute. Current legislative support and gubernatorial support for seven campuses is strong. The entire NC/ND process has identified and

affirmed some of the strengths of the regional campuses such as UMPI. We serve placebound students and other students who value education at a small institution. We, by and large, educate our graduates at lower cost than the larger system schools. We also serve an essential role in the economic, social and cultural development of our immediate geographic areas.

Third, NC/ND encourages a wide variety of steps to coordinate administrative services rather than relying on each of the seven campuses to run independent operations to handle such matters as procurement of services, processing of financial aid and human resources work for campus employees. Much hard work remains in rationalizing this work to save dollars and improve services. I have great confidence in Vice Chancellor Becky Wyke’s leadership in this area.

Fourth, there is considerable attention to the need to clarify individual campus missions.

There is little suggestion, so far,

as to exactly what those missions should be. My experience is that much of this process may consist of explaining what other campuses’ missions SHOULD NOT BE. Expect to hear more about this in the months to come.

Fifth, a particular academic focus is on the need to reduce or eliminate courses and programs and majors that are not drawing students. There is flexibility in this. But there is a guideline that courses should enroll more than 12 students and that programs and majors should average more than five graduates a year. We are already reviewing some of our programs that are not operating at that standard.

These are enormously sensitive decisions. They are controlled by promises to our present students that they will be able to complete academic programs in which they are enrolled. But, in the last analysis, the trustees believe that student numbers do reflect student needs and that we are not able to do everything given our budgetary worries.

Sixth, there is considerable

Dedication in Wieden

encouragement of collaboration among campuses. Even without NC/ND, we have been exploring such two-campus or multicampus opportunities. We look for ventures that are winners for all schools, students and faculty involved. We will see what results.

Seventh, and last, the NC/ND report recognizes the need for retaining creativity and entrepreneurship on the campuses. I view this as one of the essential conclusions of the report. In my time at four of the system campuses (USM, UM, UMFK and UMPI), I have regularly found that the best ideas come from the ground up, not from the top down. This certainly has been the case at UMPI. This doesn’t reject the value of intelligent system or multicampus thinking. But it cautions against any attitude that all wisdom comes from above. If anything, I want to see NC/ND inspire us to even more creative work at UMPI. Don

Jan and Evelyn Kok Recognition Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

If you walked past Wieden around noon on Tuesday, Nov. 3, you saw many people standing outside, crowding around a new addition to campus grounds. A table now stands near Weiden, recognizing what Jan and Evelyn Kok have done for the campus and community.

Jan Kok was a professor of music at UMPI from 1951 to 1987. He taught music education, theory, theater and music history.

Keith Madore was one of the people who set up the whole event. He made sure that Jan and Evelyn Kok had no clue that they

had a dedication.

“Their niece was one of the people who helped set up the event. Kristina Shipps made sure that it was really secret,” Madore said.

One of the things that Jan and Evelyn did was write some of UMPI’s fight songs.

Music was a part of their lives every day, and they made sure that the students and community could take part.

“They both had music incorporated in their lives.

Students learned many different ways to use music,” Madore said.

The granite table outside reads: “Jan Kok, Professor Emeritus of Music, 1951-

1987, and Evelyn Kok. For their dedication to the UMPI campus. ‘Let there be music…’”

People can use this table anytime, and it’s here to stay forever.

Jan and Evelyn Kok are members of the Kiwanis Club. They contribute their services for a talent review.

They help set up a talent show for local members of the community to raise money to go back to the community. More than $100,000 have been raised with their help.

Future generations will use this table and think about Jan and Evelyn Kok. Thanks to them for all they’ve done for UMPI and the community!

4

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Chris’ Corner

Sharing Your Marbles As I sit here after dinner, thinking about my obligation to get my next submission out, I was a little short of ideas. I’d just had a good ol’ Southern dinner, however, which included some potatoes and peas.

For some strange reason, this made me recall the story below. Perhaps we could all remember those who shared their red marbles with us and made our life just a little better!

The Red Marbles (Author:Unknown) I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily eyeing a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

“Hello, Barry. How are you today?”

“Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank you. Just admiring them peas.

They sure look good.”

“They are good, Barry. How’s your ma?”

“Fine. Getting stronger all the time.”

“Good. Anything I can help you with?”

“No, Sir. Just admiring them peas.”

“Would you like to take some

home?” Mr. Miller asked.

“No, Sir. Got nothing to pay for them with.”

“Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?”

“All I got’s my prize marble here.”

“Is that right? Let me see it.” Miller said.

“Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.”

“I can see that.

Hmmmmm, only thing is, this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?”

Miller asked.

“Not exactly, but almost.”

“Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way, let me look at that red marble,” Miller told the boy.

“Sure will.

Miller.”

Thanks,

Mr.

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile, she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community. All three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles— and they always do— he decides he doesn’t like red after all. And he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green

marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.”

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later, I moved to Colorado. But I never forgot this man, the boys and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently, I visited some old friends in that Idaho community. While I was there, I learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary, we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Three young men were ahead of us in line. One was in an army uniform and the other two had nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years

ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

“Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim couldn’t change his mind about color or size, they came to pay their debt. We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .”

With loving gentleness, she lifted the lifeless fingers of her dead husband.

Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

5

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Building blocks to a betterpointway of learning of a learning community and get them involved. Those

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

The faculty lounge in Normal Hall is quite cozy, has ridiculously comfy couches and makes you feel at home. Ray Rice, Jacqui Lowman, Bonnie Wood, Jason Johnston, Shawn Robinson, Deborah Hodgkins and John DeFelice also helped to make the environment welcoming. As we sat- and they chatted for a while-Rice started the meeting on learning communities.

“So what is a learning community?” You might be wondering. Well, that’s a very good question. Learning communities consist of tow or three linked classes. The same students are in all of the linked courses. Here at UMPI, we’re linking general education classes- courses people have to take anyway. This spring, we’re starting with two sets of three classes: English 101, Math 101, Biology 112 are one group.

Environmental Studies 110, History 116 and English 151 are the second group. The main

is for the professors to strengthen the relationship between faculty and students. They create a more supportive environment, show a little extra care and concern and make the class more relevant to something in life than in the typical class. It reinforces a more nurturing environment altogether. That’s true not only in class: it also involves out-of-class activities, as well.

Why bring learning communities to UMPI? More and more students worldwide are dropping out of college just after their freshman year.

Learning communities help students stay in school and finish their education. With the class sizes—usually no larger than 18—students would feel more at ease and would get a better sense of how it feels to be in a community. It’s also a good way of forming cooperative learning, teamwork and small group building skills.

“The most important thing is we have to have students,” Rice said as he talked about how to reach out to the students

involved need to raise awareness of these classes, since they’re introducing learning community classes in the spring.

Rice visited classes and sent information to faculty as was to market the learning communities. He emphasized the benefits of getting more from the classes, having more opportunities for academic success, gaining out-of-class experiences. Then he pulled out his ace: those who signed up for the learning community would automatically have a chance to win free books for all the learning community classes since the enrolment is limited, each students has a one in 18 chance of winning. There are other prizes of $50 gift certificates at the bookstore. All these incentives are pulling people in. Students in these first learning communities will help to shape them for the future.

Bringing learning communities to UMPI can be very beneficial to the students—as well as the faculty. They can help us work and learn together as a community, as a whole.

Q &A About H1N1 and UMPI Mike Ouellette STAFF WRITER

With the H1N1 flu virus spreading what seems to be everywhere, the campus community has wanted to know what’s going on with it and how it’s affecting our campus. So recently. Our Utimes reporter sat down with Linda Mastro, director of the health center, and Christine Corsello, the dean of students, to get some answers to questions that the camupus may have about H1N1 and the vaccine for it.

Utimes: First of all, what should students know about H1N1?

Mastro: Since spring our expectations of this flu have evolved. The outbreak is spreading nationwide, including in Maine. The best thing to do for prevention is to get vaccinated.

Utimes: Who is at the greatest risk from H1N1?

Mastero: Children and college-aged students, especially those living in residence halls, have the highest risk, since they have no immunity to this virus.

Utimes: Since college students are at the greatest risk,

what is our school doing about H1N1?

Corsello: We’ve had the first doses of the vaccines delivered to high risk groups (the residence hall students) and emergency plans are in place if there’s an outbreak on campus to handle absentees and to quarantine contagious students.

Utimes: Speaking of vaccines, who should be vaccinated?

Mastero: The high risk groups: for example, young people who are college aged or younger.

Utimes: What should students know about the vaccine?

Mastero: There are two options: a nasal spray and an actual vaccine. Both are as safe as a regular seasonal flu vaccine. Although we’re an on-site delivery location, there may be slow delivery as there’s a high demand for the vaccine.

This is an ongoing, evolving situation. For more information, check reliable sources: reputable Web Sites, announcements from the UMPI administration and future issues of the Utimes.

6

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Paddling the Allagash Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Five students—Leah Finnamore, Katie Sprangers, John Donley, Tyler Hutchinson, Corey Patrick—and four teachers—Kim McCrea, Anja Whittington, Clare Exner and Dawn McPherson—paddled the Allagash together last summer.

Everyone had sucha good time that the students put on a presentation of their adventure in the Campus Center on Nov. 5. They led the audience through their journey using many pictures and quite the videos of their experiences.

It began with a 10 day class on campus. It taught the history of the Allagash, along with teamwork, organization and responsibility.

The class also gave some actual experience of canoeing in a river close to Presque Isle.

So what should you take on a trek through the wilderness?

Things you should consider bringing include: hat, rain gear, boots, sneakers, extra clothing, can opener, cooking/eating utensils, pail, sewing kit, first aid kit, insect repellent, compass, topographical maps, flashlight, matches, camp stove and lamp, life preservers, sleeping bag, tarpaulin, tent, toilet paper, towels, soap, canoe patching material, pole, rope, extra paddles, axe, knife, whetstone, backpack, trowel and zipper seal bags. They did not have any sort of technology besides a phone that had three buttons: one that would call 911, another would send a message to a programmed number that would say they needed help, and the third would say they were okay. They brought all their own food with them. Meals on the trip consisted of sandwiches, wraps, tuna packets, Triscuits and cheese, and soup.

They sometimes made pizza.

They began their journey in June and made plenty of stops along the way. They would wake up at 5 a.m. and paddle from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The team also visited many historical sites, such as the Tramway. It was built in 1902 and ran until1903. It ran logs from

Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake. Allagash goes down in five stages.

They met a forest ranger from Half a million boards were hanFort Kent and he said: “The river dled in a single day.

“You got to make a connection descends in five stages. So just go to Maine. You only get to see a for it!”

On day six they made it to part of it that you hear about.”

That’s what a few of the stu- Allagash Falls. Then they went on dents said about their trip down to Big Brook Campsite and camped there for the day. Day the Allagash.

From Eagle Lake, they made it seven was the end of their journey to Pump Handle. They saw many when they made it to Allagash different types of trees, such as Village. The students said they beeches and oaks, along with learned a lot on their trip, such as many other hardwoods. They saw leadership and responsibility.

“I only went out for a walk and conifers, such as spruces and firs.

There were many animals along finally concluded to stay out, till the way. They ran into geese, sundown, for going out, I found, hawks, eagles, moose and their was really going in” – John babies, minks, a snake, chipmunks Muir,1938.

This was a quote the students and squirrels. They also saw a 16 inch trout, along with monarch used in their presentation. They liked this quote because it went butterflies on moose droppings.

Besides paddling, when ashore along with the purpose of the trip they would play games every they had taken. They had found morning and evening. The “good themselves in the vast wilderness of mood person” would come up the Allagash.

From left: Leah Finnemore, Dawn McPherson with games that everyone would participate in. They also told lots of jokes. The most common one was the one about the supposed alien abductions that occurred on the Allagash. They also had solo days where from 12p.m. to 5/6 p.m. they would all go off by themselves. They could do basically whatever they wanted.

On day three, they made it to Churchill Lake, then paddled to Heron Lake, and onto Churchill Dam (Chase Rapids). From there, they went from Bissonnette Bridge to Long Lake to Harvey Pond to Long Lake Dam and, finally, Round Pond. There were severe rapids at the beginning. You could definitely say that they covered lots of ground—er, water!

Left to right: Top: Katie Sprangers, Dawn McPherson Day five got them to Bottom: Corey Patrick, Clare Exner, Anja Whittington (instructor), Five Finger Campsite.

Leah Finnemore, Lee Ertel, Tyler Hutchinson, Kim McCrea (instructor), John Donley This is where the

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

7

UMPI Honors Program: Going Beyond the Classroom Cassie Gilbert STAFF WRITER

A student’s college journey can be very challenging and difficult at times. Despite this fact, some students make the decision to challenge themselves even more by taking honors classes and becoming part of the Honors Program at UMPI. UMPI offers various honors classes that allow a student to explore topics in much more detail than standard lecture classes, taking learning to a whole new level. This is a choice that can be very rewarding for students.

None of this would be possible, however, without dedicated professors to organize and maintain the program. Dr. John DeFelice is the director of the honors program. He’s been the director for one-and-a-half years, but he’s been teaching honors classes for more than seven years. Kim-Anne Perkins is the chair of the Center for University Programs and aids DeFelice in setting up the honors program.

“My role is to talk to prospective students about it, to invite students to participate in it, to assist Dr. DeFelice in setting up classes and arranging for the program,” Perkins said.

Anyone can take honors classes, but to be part of the honors program students must apply and have at least a 3.0 GPA. If their GPA is lower, they do have the option of entering the program on probation and then trying to bring up their GPA. To join the honors program, students must fill out an application and include an essay, as well. DeFelice said he’ll start contacting students about the program in late November or early December.

The honors program can include activities that take place outside of class. But because of budget issues, it hasn’t been able to do many such activities

recently. It may get to do more in the future, however.

According to DeFelice, those involved are planning events for next year.

“We do have a seminar next year that’s bringing in an outside speaker with national recognition to work particularly with the honors class. So that’s going to be very exciting,” DeFelice said.

The honors program has been going through some major changes recently. DeFelice hopes that eventually program members will be able to do more activities like they’ve done in the past.

“We’re in the process of kind of revitalizing it,” DeFelice said.

The main concern right now is creating the program in a way that will best benefit the students.

“To keep the program alive, functioning and getting students recognition is the immediate goal,” DeFelice said.

In the honors program, students are able to earn recognition on different levels.

“There’re several different layers to the honors program in terms of what it can do,” Perkins said.

The first level of the honors program is honors program participant. To reach this level, students must graduate with at least 3.0 GPA. They need three honors classes altogether and one must be an honors seminar.

Students will then be recognized at their graduation and also receive a certificate.

The next level of the program is honors program associate. To move to this level, students must take four honors classes, including one seminar.

They also either need to take a class that requires service learning or serve in the UMPI student government for one year.

Finally, they must have a 3.2 GPA when they graduate.

When they achieve this, stu-

dents will be honored with recognition at graduation and also receive a certificate and award.

The highest level of recognition in the honors program is honors program graduate. In order to reach this level, students need four honors classes, including one seminar. They must take a class that includes service learning or serve one year on the student government. They also must do an independent research project in their major. They must have a 3.4 GPA when they graduate.

Students with this highest level of honor receive a certificate, special award and recognition.

Students are not limited with the honors program at UMPI. If students want to participate in the program, there are many different options for honors classes. Students can choose classes they find interesting.

Many students may begin taking honors classes when they’re freshmen.

The FYS class, which is required for students in their first year, also has an honors section. Jason Johnston currently teaches this class and has been for the past two years.

Johnston’s honors class also includes a service learning component. This semester, class members are working on a project with the West Campus Woods. They want to make it more accessible and are creating a new trail head with a map of the woods. They’re also learning about the different types of plants that are native to the woods. They’re learning about this with the help of local Natives involved with Project Compass. They hope to make a brochure and possibly a Web site about plants native to the woods.

Johnston said that what makes his class different is the fact that the students are more involved with the classes and decisions.

“They’re more discussion oriented and not just lecturing from professors to students, but discussion of topics,” Johnston said.

Johnston also said he believes some of his students this year may go on to join the honors program. Teaching the honors class has been a positive experience for him, as well, and he hopes to continue teaching classes like this.

“I would like to consider teaching a regular three or four credit course as an honors class,” Johnston said. “I certainly would like to get more involved with the honors program.”

Lisa Leduc is a professor who has seven years of experience teaching honors classes. She teaches classes such as Theoretical Criminology, Intro to Sociology and Women and Crime. Some of her classes involve seminars and service learning . Leduc said class discussions play a big role in her classes, too. In her seminar classes, students get the opportunity to lead discussions themselves. Students respond to questions and then discuss their thoughts in class.

“The student creates a discussion plan based on everybody’s responses and so then we sit down and I’m just a member of the class and that person is in charge of running the class,” Leduc said.

According to Leduc, in classes like this, students really get to know each other well.

“Eventually, we get to a point where we kind of gel as a class,” Leduc said.

Students may also be involved with service learning projects. Sometimes these projects can be more beneficial for the students than more traditional teaching methods.

“It kind of drives the point home more than going and reading and doing a research paper,” Leduc said.

Leduc also feels that these projects can be rewarding and finds teaching these types of classes quite rewarding, as well.

“It’s very rewarding, both for me and for the students,” Leduc said.

Joining the honors program at UMPI or taking honors classes can give students more than credits toward graduation. It can give them life experiences they might not be able to get from sitting in a classroom and listening to a lecture. Honors classes give students hands-on experiences that can benefit them later in life. Honors classes require students to be committed and ambitious. Even though these classes may require students to be more involved and think harder than other classes, in the end, honors students can be proud of the fact that they were up to the challenge.

8

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Long Cao

SEAMs Like A Good Idea To Me

STAFF WRITER

Rachel McGlinn was one of the lucky students who happened to stumble upon SEAM: Student Education Association of Maine. SEAM is a studentrun organization for education and physical education majors.

Students of any year in college can join. SEAM is affiliated with both the Maine Education Association and the National Education Association.

Even though SEAM is student run, there are teacher advisers who help the program.

Wendy Ross, who was the adviser for the past several

years, did a splendid job building up this program. She got people to join and did lots of work to make this a better experience for the students. This year, Professor Tomasz Herzog and Professor Todd Russell will be taking Ross’ place as adviser.

As members of SEAM, students will have lots of opportunities. They’ll get opportunities to go to SEAM conferences in and out of state.

There are also MEA workshops and conferences that students can attend. The SEAM program gives students a great chance to build a professional network and personal friendships with other students and

teachers.

“On one hand, students have a chance to self educate and on the other, it gives a chance to develop a professional network,” Herzog said.

McGlinn had the chance to go to a conference that was held in Seattle. She describes the experience as a major learning and social opportunity.

“Having only recently joined SEAM, the entire experience was new to me. I’m definitely encouraged to go back to campus … and share all that I’ve learned from the people I met and resourced with at the conference. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet officers

from other chapters in the state and across the country.... UMPI is sort of isolated, the link to the NEA gives us a national perspective,” McGlinn said.

SEAM also provides insurance for their members that’s worth $1 million in legal protection. SEAM also provides its member with an exclusive access to NEA member only Web sites and to professional and student publications.

And all of this is obtainable with a low yearly membership fee of $29.

The SEAM program also looks good on a resume for education students.

“It shows that they have

something more to offer then being in the college of education,” Herzog said.

With all the benefits and opportunities that this program can offer, it’s no wonder that it’s a huge presence in larger states.

This really gives students the chance to develop the skills they’ll need in becoming future teachers. For those who are interested, contact Herzog at tomasz.herzog@umpi.edu, 768-9429 or Russell at todd.russel@umpi.edu, 7689485 for more information.

There are so many ways this program can help you. So why not join?

Students Speak for Themselves- On Paper and Online Kayla Ames STAFF WRITER

Most of us enter or leave a classroom with certain thoughts in our heads- complaints, compliments, contemplations. At the end of each semester, we get given the chance to voice those thoughts. We fill out evaluations known as IDEA forms, in which we review professors based on the easiness of their course, their helpfulness and clarity, the overall quality and our initial interest. In this modern day and age, however, paper evaluations have taken a backseat. Instead, a majority of thoughts and opinions concerning professors are posted online on sites such as RateMyProfessors.com.

Every day we have Internet access is a day in which we can air our grudges and spread our ideas. IDEA forms provide us with the opportunity to evaluate professors, while Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com offer us a chance to speak for ourselves at any moment of our choosing.

Michael Sonntag UMPI vice

president of academic affairs, thought it would be interesting to see if there was a correlation between grade points averages, IDEA forms, and ratings posted on RateMyProfessors.com.

Sonntag, a former professor of psychology, worked together with Jonathan F. Bassett and Timothy Snyder. They used ratings for 126 Lander University professors from RateMyProfessors.com in their research.

“On RateMyProfessors.com, professors are rated on easiness, helpfulness, and clarity. The overall quality score is the average of the helpfulness and clarity ratings. Students also rate their initial interest in the course and can rate the attractiveness (hotness) of the professor.”

Are classes an easy A? How much work do they require? Are professors approachable- nice and easy to talk with? What of their organization and time management? How easy is it to learn and understand the material? Were classes recommended or were you interested in them beforehand? These are all

things to consider when evaluating a professor, whether on paper or online.

Sonntag, Basset and Snyder used correlational analysis to see if one set of data was related to another set. The scale ranged from zero to one. The closer to one, the greater the correlation or similarity. They found that many sets of data were, in fact, positively and significantly correlated to one another.

“Easiness ratings from RateMyProfessors.com were significantly positively correlated with actual assigned GPA...”

The correlation was .44- fairly high. This suggested that an easy class resulted in decent grades.

“In addition, overall quality ratings from RateMyProfessors.com were significantly positively correlated with excellent instructor IDEA ratings...” In this case there was a .69 correlation, one of the highest. Online overall quality ratings were also related to excellent class IDEA ratings with a correlation of .60. In other words,

students are just as honest on Web sites as they are on end-ofthe-semester evaluations.

“In fact, the criterion validity of the RateMyProfessors.com ratings established in this article is at least as good as the typical reports regarding the validity of traditional teaching evaluations.”

Sonntag managed to supply a thorough explanation of his research despite being sick. He said that he was surprised the relationship between data sets was so high, but he wasn’t surprised that there was a relationship. Some claim that Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com are unreliable because anyone can get on and manipulate the results. Professors with unfavorable evaluations might add their own favorable reviews. Angry students could post biased comments. In response to this, Sonntag admits that such actions are possible. Despite this possibility, it’s still amazing that things correlate to such a high degree. Perhaps people just aren’t doing it that much, Sonntag speculates. Perhaps

honesty remains a common trait.

Whether identical or not, IDEA forms and Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com empower us. They allow us to take an active role in our educational experience. We can post our opinions, offer advice and let our individual voices be heard. Paper and Internet are both forums for information.

Their similarities do not stop at data: they share a mutual ability to convey knowledge. So log on, fill out the IDEA forms. Speak for yourself. In doing so, you just might make all the difference.

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Where in the World Is: UMPI!s New GIS Lab Lauren Camargo STAFF WRITER

The new state-of-the-art GIS Lab is up and running in Folsom Hall. If you’re in the neighborhood, it’s definitely worth seeing the new lab and checking out all the brand-new equipment. This includes 20 new desktop computers that cost $2,500 each and have the largest monitors on campus and a large format scanner that cost $5,500 and is the only one on campus.

GIS means Geographic Information System. This system is designed to capture, store, retrieve, analyze and display geographic information and spatial data. The lab will be used to teach GIS 1 and 2.

Dr. Chunzeng Wang, who teaches GIS among other things, here at UMPI received $96,800 in grant money from

the Maine Technology Institute to pay for all the new equipment, and to purchase a data backup and Internet system.

He’s part of a community partnership that all the major cities and towns in Maine are a part of. The lab will also be used to train professional partners and to help the community to gain more knowledge in information technology. Along those lines, the lab will host a workshop, with 30 people registered to attend. They’ll mostly come from northern Maine, but some will travel from central and southern Maine.

Wang started the GIS program at UMPI in August 2005.

The program welcomes students from all majors. It will certify them in a tech-intensive course that’s part of the general education curriculum, and will provide skills that will set them

The new GIS Lab in Folsom Hall

apart for life after UMPI. Wang previously had a student who was a history major who ended up getting a job because he had acquired special skills by taking the GIS course.

The GIS course provided him with skills that archeologists need.

Wang is always looking for more students to join the GIS program. He has grant funding to allow him to give students internship jobs. He actually had four students working for him over the summer on a special project. They worked 10 hours a week and earned $8.50 an hour.

The GIS program is a good program because it provides students with work that’s handson, and is a fun way to learn.

And, along the way, it can also help students get a leg up on the competition.

9

Making a StatementCeramics! Style

Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 30, students i n Re n e e Fe l i n i ’s c e r a m ics class headed to the A r o o s t o o k R i v e r. T h e y we re i nvo l ve d i n a s p e c i a l c l a s s p ro j e c t t h at h e l p e d them understand more f u l l y t h e o rg a n i c n at u re o f t h e a r t fo r m t h ey ’re learning about.

“It was the changing of the seasons, and it was a good way to just start the semester off r i g h t , ” Fe l i n i s a i d .

Felini and her class g athered at the boat landi n g n e a r t h e Ro u t e 1 bridge at the north end of P re s q u e I s l e. T h e i r a i m was to release into the river more than a dozen hollow, clay spheres that t h ey ’d m a d e i n t h e i r ceramics class earlier on.

T hese clay spheres—about the size of a cantaloupe— we re d r i e d a n d p a i n t e d with org anic oxides. While for ming their spheres, all students placed an item i n s i d e t h a t r e p re s e n t e d their past or something t h at wo u l d h e l p g u i d e them in the future.

“They seemed to understand once we got there what they had to do. Some students had statements they wanted to put in, some just released words. Some s p o k e w o r d s. S o m e e ve n k e p t i t t o t h e m s e l ve s . ” Fe l i n i s a i d t h e p ro j e c t w a s re a l l y a b o u t u n d e r standing the concepts of c l ay a s a m at e r i a l a n d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f d e ve l o p m e n t a n d ch a n g e “A s t h e c l a y s p h e r e s f l o a t d o w n t h e r i v e r, they’ll slowly break down and eventually retur n to earth, becoming the materials and minerals they were before combined to make c l a y. E a c h s p h e r e w i l l carry the message inside it, creating a sort of c a t h a r s i s o r, a l t e r n a t i ve l y, s e n d i n g a m e s s a g e i n t o t h e f u t u r e. ” Fe l i n i h o p e d s t u d e n t s found this experience enlightening and rewardi n g. W h o k n o w s, m a y b e these students will find their spheres floating d o w n t h e r i ve r s t i l l ye a r s f ro m n o w.

10

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Let!s Do the Time Warp Again Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

How do you deal with Friday the 13th? On Nov. 13, 8 p.m. The University Players at the University of Maine at Presque Isle celebrated. They held a Friday the 13th shadow cast performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. A shadow cast performance is when a group of actors perform the scenes of a film being played in the background of the stage. This is common at other performances and showings of Rocky Horror nationwide. This has become an annual event for the University Players, with most of the original cast members returning and only one new member.

The evening began with the pre-show activities. A cast member introduced the “virgins”—the audience members who were watching

Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

If you go around campus, you’ll probably see two of UMPI’s finest staffers running around all the time. Their names are Garnet M. Rochford and Ervin T. Smith. But most people just know them as Rocky and Smitty. Rocky and Smitty help the campus in numerous ways. If you need anything done, they can get it accomplished.

Rocky has been with UMPI since July 15, 1970. He’s seen many of the presidents pass through, as well as many students.

Rocky’s the building and grounds maintenance crew leader. Making sure that all the floors are cleaned in all the buildings and sometimes doing snow removal are just some of the things that he does.

“I love working with all of the students. They are a good bunch of workers,” Rocky said.

Rocky’s retiring on Jan. 4, 2010.

What he will be doing after being on campus such a long time and

Rocky Horror for the first time. They had to get up in front of the audience as a cast member popped red “cherry” balloons that they were holding. After the introduction of the virgins, there was a trivia game in which audience members answered Rocky Horror trivia questions in order to get horrorfilm-themed candy prizes such as gummy hands. From there the rest of the cast took over by performing dance numbers from other musicals such as “Chicago”, “West Side Story” and “Sweet Charity”. In true Rocky Horror fashion, parts of the pre-show were performed in drag along with the actual performance.

After about an hour of pre-show activities, the actual film and performance began. Audience participation also began. Along with the usual call outs, during the Time Warp dance scene,

audience members were invited up to dance along with the cast. Surprisingly, about a dozen audience members participated in this dance scene. The call outs didn’t have as much participation: only one person called out all the traditional Rocky Horror call outs at all the appropriate times. At the end of the film, the mistress of ceremonies, Trixie, recognized this man.

She said, “This young man has done the best job at the call outs that I have heard at a performance of Rocky Horror in a long time.”

Although the film had ended, the performance did not stop there. After the recognizing the young man, the cast came back onstage for their curtain call. But this was no typical curtain call.

Rather than just coming onstage and bowing, the cast came out performing a modern dance routine to the song

“Love Game” by Lady Gaga and invited audience members to come onstage and dance with them.

Several audience members did just that. The perfor m-

Two Great Guys

helping many other people out?

“I have a camp at Big Machias Lake. I want to spend a lot of my summers and falls there,” Rocky said.

One of the hardest things that has to be done on campus is the setups that Rocky does. He helps

set up for graduation and for other outdoor events.

“We just want to make sure that the students have a good experience on campus,” Rocky said.

The other side of this two man crew is Smitty. He’s been at UMPI sense Sept. 22, 1969. He’s in

Rocky and Smitty

charge of all of the shipping and supplies. All the floor wax to all the bathroom things: Smitty orders them.

“It’s cool, because whenever I come to work- it’s not work. I’ve worked with Rocky ever since he started here. You call, we haul,”

ance as a whole, from preshow to curtain call, was very successful. Let’s hope that it will continue to be an annual tradition perfor med for years to come.

Smitty said.

Smitty makes sure that the students have a safe and fun environment to go to school in. He makes sure that all the bathrooms are in good order and that all of the rooms are stocked.

“I just want the students and faculty to have safe and sanitary conditions while going to class,” Smitty said.

Smitty is also retiring in January 2010. After the many years at UMPI, leaving might be hard.

“Every day that I come to work, it doesn’t feel like work to me. I love my job, and UMPI has been a really great place to work,” Smitty said.

After he retires, Smitty plans to finish many little projects at home.

He’s also looking forward to a brand-new John Deere tractor.

We’ll miss these guys after they leave: from their funny jokes to how they help out the campus.

Have a great time in retirement, guys!

11

University Times CAMPUS November 30, 2009

Hit the Showers

Long Cao

STAFF WRITER

“I believe whether you’re in physical education or main line education, good teaching is good teaching,” Christine Standefer, professor of physical education, said.

Physical education is more than the act of learning a sport.

It’s also the biological aspect in which the body works. Physical education is a recent addition to the College of Education. That would naturally make sense since physical education is body and mind: it’s not just about sports.

Physical education is focused on understanding the biological aspect of a sport and not only about the sport itself. Students who go for physical education will find that it has lots of science components to it, as well.

The physical education program is very organized in how it teaches its students.

“Our physical education program is highly respected in the state. I believe that everyone (who graduated from the program) who wanted a job in physical education got one, which is remarkable,” Standefer said.

As a physical education major, students will have a wide array of opportunities to take advantage of, such as the many trips throughout the year to con-

ventions. The trek to the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a prime example of just one of the trips that students can go on. AAHPERD is in Indianapolis in March.

Standefer has been taking her students nine out of 10 times in the past years. They’ll be having a fundraiser to help them go.

They’re selling raffle tickets.

The winner will be getting four tickets to a Black Bear hockey game, a one night stay at the Black Bear Inn in Orono and a $40 gift certificate to Olive Garden. The cost is $5 per ticket or three for $10. The drawing will be on the Dec. 16.

Contact Standefer at 768-9457 or ch r i s t i n e. s t a n d e f e r @ u m p i . e d u fo r m o re i n fo r m at i o n .

Some other great learning opportunities are the events that physical education majors can be involved with, such as the Fit and Fun. This is a semiannual event, in the fall and spring, that’s been happening for the past eight years. Fit and Fun is a student-run event, where the students come up with activities for younger children of local schools. The children are not grouped by age but by a random colored sticker. This gives the students a real chance to see the developmental differences in the different ages. Although

the event’s intended largely for children in grades one through five, the PE majors don’t turn anyone away. If families come with little children, they tend to get individual attention with great games of toss and fun with balloons.

The PE students determine the exact activities for each Fit and Fun. All tend to tap and reinforce such things as coordination, cooperation, body strength and development.

You’d never look at a parachute the same way again if you saw all the activities the children can do with one. You might be surprised to learn that Gentile Hall has pools of hippos and swimming sharks during these events.

And anyone who knows Standefer realizes you can’t have an event connected to her without a supply of rubber chickens.

Speaking of which…that’s the climax of every Fit and Fun: a rousing chicken dance.

Why do they do this – when it’s clearly so much work?

“It’s a community service,” Standefer said. “I want my students to experience working with real, live kids. I want my students to know how to set up and run something beneficial to the community. It’s important for them to give back.”

With all the hands-on opportunities and excellent teachers, it’s no wonder how respected UMPI’s physical education program is. There are lots of great experiences that students are offered to help them be successful.

Even if you don’t want to be physical education major, you can still benefit from some of the program’s teaching. Get out there and have fun!

And remember, there’s no age limit to when we should stop being active.

Ye Old Faire

Lauren Camargo STAFF WRITER

Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? Have you ever been curioustoknowwhatitwasliketolive back in medieval times? Kim Sebold and her history students are! Since they don’t have a time machine, they’ve been planning a Medieval Fair. They’ve invited all local middle school students to attend so that they can experience what it was like to live in the medieval ages.

“The goal is that when students walk into the gym, they get the experience of being in a medieval village.

We’re going to try to transport them through time,” Sebold said.

The whole point of Sebold’s MedievalHistoryclasswastoplanthe fair. Her students had to pick a topic from medieval times and design a booth or set for the fair. For example, one of her students chose food from medieval times as the topic and had to make a set of a kitchen. During the fair, the student will have to be in character, sit in the kitchen and talk about what it’sliketobeacookin medieval times. The student will have food samples.

SarahGraettinger, a student who is also involved in the medieval fair said, “I’m a peasant, I’ll have to act and dress like a peasant.

Everyone else has a character too.

There’s a castle and a knight and a weaponry booth. There’s also a food booth and another person is doing stained glass. So we’ll all be in character and we’ll be teaching the kids about medieval history.”

Each booth will have an interactive activity. The fair is a fun way for kids to experience such medieval staples as a kitchen, peasant house,

castle, warfare, weaving, clothing, etiquette and medicine.

Mike Amey, who teaches a medieval literature class at UMPI, gave his students the option to help with the medieval fair instead of writing a paper. One student is painting a scene from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” Another student reworked the movie “Beowulf ” to make the fair more appealing to the middle school students.

Some middle school students will also be helping with the fair. They’re part of the history club at their school. Gail Hagelstein is the adviser to the history club. Hagelstein and her students will be making passports to give to every student who attends the medieval fair. These passports will tell the students their medieval name and social position. The students will have questions to answer at each booth. This will give the kids a feeling of what the social divisions were like back then: for example, nobles, clergy and peasants. Each passport will also have a story on it based on historical fact.

The Society for C r e a t i v e Anachronism is also helping with the fair! It’s a medieval reenactment group that’ll be helping with the music, dancing, clothes and archery!

Sebold’s history class ends in December and the fair is in March, so she needs volunteers!

Artists and sewers are needed for costume-, set- and booth-making.

Get in touch right away if you’d like to help out.

Just e-mail Kim Sebold at kimberly.sebold@umpi.edu.

University Times 12

Community

PIHS Plays ‘The Pajama Game’ Jessica Stepp

PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL

Let me take you back in time to 1954 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The setting is in the Sleep Tite Factory.

Babe Williams (Madelyn Carson), Poopise (Deidre Dicker), Sara Ann (Mikaeha Fitzherbert), Mary Pat (Christina Hallowell), Brenda (Kristina Lord), Virginia (Hannah Nelson), Doris Carmen (Rachel Olugbemi), Rita (Chloe Rossignol), Sandra Charlene (Ashley Soucey) and Mae (Sophie Willette) are all fighting for a 7½ cent pay increase.

Their union president, Prez (Nick Green), has a fighting side right next to his flirty side.

While the new superintendent, Sid Sorokin (Rich Flora) was working, he got himself into some trouble. While having a meeting with the union grievance committee, he realizes how different this committee was.

The leader of the committee was Babe. After a while, Babe and Sid’s love starts to grow. All the other factory girls knew it, no matter how much Babe denied it.

Gladys (Kori Kinney) is the secretary to Hasler (Aidan Sawyer). Gladys has the keys to the entire bookkeeping. Mabel (Katy Schneider) works for Sid. Gladys and Hines (Kent Smith) are together but Hines gets jealous at everything Gladys does.

As the fight goes on, Prez orders the girls to start a slowdown to show that they want the pay increase. Once Sid

makes the girls work harder, Babe gets upset and she causes one of the sewing machines to blow up. Sid goes and fires her.

Sid knows he needs to fix the problems that are going on around him. He talks Gladys into giving him the key to the bookkeeping. In the end, Sid finds out that Hasler had the pay increase written into the books, but he never gave the raise to the employees.

Sid convinces Hasler to give the raise and he wins back Babe’s heart.

This play is based on the book 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. Some of the songs in the play include: “I’m Not at All in Love” (Babe and the girls), “I’ll Never Be Jealous Again” (Mabel and Hines), “Hey There” (Sid and reprise by Babe), “There Once Was a Man” (Sid and Babe), and “Hernando’s Hideaway” (Gladys and Factory Workers).

The Shipmates’ Playhouse has had many amazing actors through the years. This year, there were 13 seniors who were involved with the play. They are: Liana Cao (set crew manger), Madelyn Carson (Babe Williams), Alex Corey (set crew), Deidre Dicker (Poopise), Jared Escobar (set crew), Rich Flora (Sid Sorokin), Nick Green (Prez), Mariah Hanning (set crew), Kori Kinney (Gladys), Ashley Rakes (set crew), Adam Scott ( trumpet) and Ashley Soucy (Sandra Charlene). This was a very good play. Great job PIHS Shipmates!

November 30, 2009

Original Native Sweat Lodge

The Sweat of Trust Daniel Smiley STAFF WRITER

Have you ever been in a sauna and felt complete relaxation?

This is due to the therapeutic reaction caused by the steam as well as the sweating. Saunas are said to help detoxify the body, lower arthritis pains, increase the body’s circulation, boost the immune system, promote cleanliness and reduce muscle spasms.

In Native culture, a sweat lodge does all this while helping cleanse your mind, body and spirit. Sweats have been conducted for thousands of years and are spiritually important in the Native culture.

The main part of this journey in the sweat lodge is to let the spirit world enter into the lodge and carry prayers of the people to the Great Spirit. The sweat lodge itself acts as the womb of mother earth in which there is a sense of renewal after completion of the sweat. It is a ceremony that is practiced in many different cultures and has quite a long history. But if someone abuses these ceremonies without having knowledge of them, that could cause serious harm to others and even death.

James Arthur Ray is a selfhelp guru who triggers people to reach their very outer limits by doing acts to find a spiritual awakening. Before holding a sweat lodge in Arizona, Ray conducted a pre-ceremony vision quest into the desert without food or water, which lasted 36 hours.

Then he held a sweat lodge, which lasted about two hours

under extreme conditions of heat. Ray asked all 50 participants to remain in the lodge until it was over. Also, he covered the lodge with a common blue tarp, which has a coating that, when heated would release a toxic gas. The participants put full trust and the safety of their lives in Ray’s hands.

Sweats are set to isolate your senses and the darkness is to connect you with mother earth.

The primary source of heat in the sweat lodge comes from the rocks that are placed into the pit of the sweat lodge. The pit is dug two feet or more deep in the center of the lodge. The frame of the sweat is made out of thick branches that are bent in a shape of a semicircle. The vertical and horizontal structures of the branches are then bound together by roots or string and the base of the sticks are then stuck into the ground. The rocks that are heated by a fire a few hours prior to the sweat are referred to as “grandfathers” because they have been around the longest and hold the most knowledge and strength. The wood that burns in the fire is referred to as “grandmothers.” When you sweat, it is to sweat for mother earth, ancestors, community, animals, things and the web of life.

Knowing that you are sweating for the healing and mending of your surroundings is an honor. In this honor comes the responsibility of living not for oneself but for all things.

Some of the things that could have caused the deaths are uncertain, but it seems clear that

there were very few precautions taken or research done on the subject of sweat lodges and procedures. Ray’s lack of knowledge about sweats could’ve resulted in the deaths. Particularly harmful was his not letting the participants drink water during the sweat. Further, Ray made participants remain in the lodge for the full duration of the sweat.

When sweats are done, they are at your own content. If people are able to handle all four rounds of a sweat, then they can.

If participants feel they only need to sweat for a few rounds, then it’s their own choice and they’re not made to stay.

Another thing about the sweat is the fact that most lodge holders allow people to step out of the lodge after each round and are welcomed to drink water.

Further, the material used by many lodge holders to cover the structure of the lodges is completely different from what was used during Ray’s sweats in Arizona. The general covering is an Army canvas, which is not affected by heat and doesn’t emit gas when heated up like blue plastic tarps.

In the media, sweats are now getting a bad reputation because of the lack of knowledge and the misuse of the sweat lodge. This ultimately threatens the sanctity of the sweats and cultures that utilize them for spiritual purposes only.

The saying, “One bad egg can spoil it for the rest of them” is very well true in this instance.

For more of these tragedies to occur would be a shame.

13

University Times COMMUNITY November 30, 2009

Election Post Mortem: What!s It Mean for Northern Maine?

Bert Goldman STAFF WRITER

Alicia Fornier voted for her first time on Nov. 3. Voting took place at the Haskell Center, just down the road from UMPI. It was bustling with activity.

Families hurried in and out of the doors. Even children seemed to be caught up in the excitement.

“Hey, you’re too young to vote,” county resident Gordon Fox said to a couple of toddlers as he came out of the Haskell Center after he finished voting.

Fornier, an 18-year-old UMPI student, said, “My family has always been strong on voting. I was just brought up that way.”

The University Times’ own Ben Pinnette was there. It was also his first time voting.

“I felt like I got my word out,” Pinnette said.

A lot of people came out to vote this year. Nancy Nichols, town clerk, said that absentee ballots were up to 700. There were 1700 for the presidential election, but 700 is still a lot considering that there were no candidates on the ballot. The Bangor Daily News reported that 60 percent of registered Maine voters participated in this year’s elections.

Walking into the voting area felt like being a part of a big community. Virginia Packard, registrar of voters, had been prepar-

ing for more than two weeks before voting day. She has worked election days like this one for 40 years.

Several of the ballot items will have big effects on northern Maine.

Some wonder why the government has anything to do with marriage. Question 1 asked voters to decide whether to repeal the state’s same sex marriage law.

It drew unprecedented numbers of voters to the polls. After an emotionally charged campaign, a narrow majority voted to repeal.

A disappointment for County residents is the school consolidation law. Fifty-eight percent of Aroostook County voted to repeal the law, the Bangor Daily News reported. But 58 percent of Maine voters voted not to repeal the law. Many believe that the school is the center of northern Maine communities. This will be a loss for them.

The Kennebec Journal reported in 2007 that school consolidation would cost Maine more money, not less.

Re p e a l C o n s o l i d at i o n . c o m writes that Maine has spent more than $4 million to enforce the law, and it has not worked.

It seems there’s still a lot of controversy over this act.

Maine expanded its law on medical marijuana. The bill isn’t

Virginia Fischer on voting day.

easy reading. But the ballot seemed simple enough. It said, “Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distributions?”

Maine said yes. So the government made a taskforce to put the law into action.

“Given the results of Tuesday’s election, it’s my responsibility to find the most reasonable way to implement the will of the people while also ensuring that we have appropriate safeguards in place to protect public health and safety,” Gov. Baldacci said.

The automobile excise tax puts a lot of money into local town and city budgets. Almost 75 percent of Maine voted to keep the tax as is.

Maine also voted for voter veto on tax increases. Maine passed a highway bond issue that will likely create many jobs for Mainers.

And, finally, Maine voted not to allow town clerks more time to verify certain petition signatures.

Some of these issues will probably come up again in later elections. Something to look out for is the effect of school closures on northern Maine communities.

Also, the marijuana law will probably continue to be discussed as Maine develops a distribution system for patients.

Call For Entries!

University Day

Art Contest

$

75 prize! $ 75 prize!

Create a design for the cover

of the 2010

University Day Booklet

This year’s University Day Theme is

“WINDS OF CHANGE: Propelling Progress & Sustainability” The booklet includes the schedule of events and descriptions of each session.

The winning cover art may also be used on posters, advertisements, and other related UDay items, so information including theme, dates, and locations may or may not be part of the cover design. If this text is not included in the design, then space must be allowed for that information.

PARAMETERS: • Overall cover size is 7" wide x 81/2" high • The image must fit within a space no larger than 6" wide x 71/2" high • The design must address University Day 2010’s theme, “Winds of Change: Propelling Progress and Sustainability.”

If copy is included as part of the design, then these 5 items must appear: 1 • 9th annual University Day 2 • University of Maine at Presque Isle 3 • Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4 • Schedule of Events 5 • “Winds of Change: Propelling Progress & Sustainability”

[If these 5 items are not included in the design, then enough space must be available for the information.]

• Space on the cover for the UMPI compass logo, minimum 1/2” diameter Art should be submitted as a PDF. A hard copy print-out must accompany the digital file submission (saved to a CD or a “thumb” or “jump” drive) Submission deadline is Friday, February 12, 2010. Bring submissions (and any questions) to Dick Harrison in the Media Relations Office (Preble Hall, 2nd floor opposite the elevator). dick.harrison2@umpi.edu, 768.9604.

14

University Times COMMUNITY November 30, 2009

Light Up the Night Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

Get ready to don your hats, coats and scarves! On Dec. 5, the 20th Annual Holiday Light Parade will take place in Presque Isle.

Starting at 7p.m., about 70 to 75 floats will proceed along the route from the old Smythe’s parking lot on North Street to the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Various businesses, churches, and organizations are getting involved to make this event even better than it’s been in past years.

Valerie Lunn, the administrative assistant at the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce (which hosts the parade) is excited about the event.

When asked about the amount of participants in the parade, Lunn said, “There’s excellent attendance.

It grows each year.”

S h e a l s o s a i d t h at t h e re ’s s t i l l t i m e fo r m o re f l o at s t o b e a p a r t o f t h e eve n t . B y v i s i t i n g o r c a l l i n g t h e C h a m b e r at 7 6 4 6 5 6 1 , g ro u p s m ay e n t e r t h e i r f l o at s t o b e j u d g e d b e fo re t h e p a r a d e b e g i n s .

The float categories a r e Pa r a d e Champion,

B u s i n e s s, Nonprofit, FaithBased and General. Judges will observe things such as originality, overall appearance and lighting to determine the winners, who will receive trophies.

Although many floats will most likely be passing out candy, some floats will be gathering items from the crowd. Catholic Charities of Maine will be taking food donations and both TAMC and the Kiwanis Club will collect toys. If you’re interested in donating, be prepared to drop your items off at these floats during the parade.

UMPI is also planning to participate in the parade and has started to work on a float. Rachel Rice, the coordinator of media relations at the university, says that the float will have a “winter wonderland” theme. The trailer will have a ski slope covered in lights, the owl mascot, and a group of musicians playing holiday music. It will be decked in old winter sport equipment to give the spirit of, as Rice said, “a good, old-fashioned, fun time.” Rice also mentioned that for last year’s parade, Aaron Tomlinson from UMPI dressed up as Buddy the Elf and was greeting children at the event. Rice was happy

to announce that he will be back for this year’s float.

The committee working on the float also includes Amanda Morin, Greg Doak, Laurie Boucher, Keith Madore, Sharon Roix and Heather Craig. But, it’s not too late to get involved if you’re interested in helping out. Rice encourages you to call her at 768-9447 if you’d like to assist with the float. The committee appreciates any help that it can get and is also grateful for what it’s already gotten.

“The Parade Float Committee would like to thank S.W. Collins, Huber Engineered Wood LLC, ARAMARK, Doug Pelkey and the admissions office for their donations to this year’s float,” Rice said.

Plan to attend the light parade on Dec. 5 to see the beautiful floats that UMPI and other organizations will have created. Also, don’t miss the lighting of the UMPI Christmas tree (which will take place as the floats pass UMPI) and the hot cocoa and cookies after the parade at Gentile Hall. It sounds like it will be a wonderful evening to get into the Christmas spirit!

Students Show Off their Slacking Abilities Amber Reed

WASHBURN CONTRIBUTOR

The search for America’s laziest kid occurred Friday, Nov. 13, at Washburn District High School. The senior class, with the help of underclassmen, performed the play “American Idle.”The play was a success!

The play was about Brian and the three judges scouring the nation for America’s laziest student. Alexis and Oliver made it to the final round. They were each asked the question: Why are you a slacker? Oliver, the laidback surfer dude, convinced people to take more time out for themselves, so America did. No one bothered to vote. Neither contestant won the competition,

so they went back to high school and earned their diplomas like any other teenager.

The play starred Justin Howe as Brian Seacrest, Cody Frank as Simon Foul, Hillary Harris as Paula Abfool, Amber Reed as Handy Jackson, Kira Swimm as Liz from New York, Adam Wilcox as Nate the surfer dude, Shayne Stevens as Oliver the deep thinking surfer dude, Kayla Pike as Gaby the Texas hick, Chase Chandler as the brother of Gaby and Dakota Koch as Alexis, that goody two shoes from Minnesota. The other students involved were a huge asset to this production and helped to make it possible to perform.

WDHS Students of the Month April Flagg

WASHBURNCONTRIBUTOR

The faculty of Washburn District High School selected two students of the month during the Nov. 5 faculty meeting.

September’s student of the month is Nick Bragg. Bragg is a freshman: a brand new addition to the high school. Although he’s only been a student at the high school for a few months, he’s made a quick and positive impression on the faculty. Bragg was named Most Valuable Player in September for his talents in soccer. In addition to his athletic abilities, Nick is a high honor student. Always looking to learn, Nick approaches school with vigor, looking to challenge himself each day. This type of student is rare. But to be a freshman and show this character trait is amazing. It is unusual for a freshman to be recognized as a student of the month, especially this early in the school year. But Nick is such an incredible young man, the faculty believed he deserved the recognition.

Jacob Theriault is a senior at the high school. Theriault won the October award. The faculty selected Theriault for many reasons. The one aspect of Theriault that really stands out, however, is his willingness to help whenever possible.

Theriault is a polite, responsible and motivated young man.

Theriault represents the school every afternoon when he travels to vocational classes in Caribou.

He helps out in the office during the start of the day, delivering attendance sheets and messages for the office staff.

Theriault is a hard worker. As a freshman, he wouldn’t have received a nomination. Over the years, he has matured into a motivated, driven and ambitious young man who values education and the experiences high school can offer him. The teachers were so impressed by the turnaround that they felt he needed acknowledgement. They wanted him to know that they were aware of how far he has come and how proud they are of him.