Volume 35 Issue 10 by University Times

NIVERSITY TIMES

THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT PRESQUE ISLE’S STUDENT VOICE

The Vagina Monologues has a lot to say! Volume 35, Issue 10

JOHNNY LYNCH Staff Writer

The Vagina Monologues Rating: 10 skittles out of 10 I bet you’re worried. Don’t be, because The Vagina Monologues is not just another play full of graphic content. It has those elements, but uses them when necessary to get across to the audience a very serious point: a woman’s identity can be gained or lost through her vagina. The pre-show audience at UMPI’s Wieden Auditorium was abuzz with expectation as to how the show would play itself out. Kelli Wolfe-Enslow, an UMPI student and first time viewer, had her own expectations based on word-of-mouth review. “You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, and when

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you leave you’ll have an overall new appreciation for your vagina.” As I watched the show, I was in awe as I took in the fact that any of these stories could happen every day. Told by women, younger and elder alike, they demonstrated there is nothing worse than a destroyed sense of identity and nothing better than when it is whole. Some “vagina identities” were shown with memories of emotional and physical pain, some with righteous anger at what was expected of a woman, and some with feelings of regret. But on a more positive note there were monologues about feelings of joy, compassion, pride, even love, because there was no shame to be felt in having a vagina. “No one vagina is the same, just like a snowflake,” said Margaret Smith, an UMPI

Photo by Sam White

The entire cast of The Vagina Monologues made up of UMPI students, faculty and staff.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Photo by Sam White

Producer and co-narrator Michelle Gillis as she performs her monologue in Wieden Auditorium. student and actress in the monologues. “Women connect with their vaginas in various different ways. Every association is different; every experience with a vagina is different.” Michelle Gillis, producer and conarrator, was quite proud of the performance. “The show was fabulous!” said Gillis. “It was one hundred times better than we even had hoped for. There were so many people here, it was amazing!” “It’s a very moving experience,” said Sam White, an UMPI student. “Some of the stuff I didn’t know. I almost cried a few times. I was laughing a few times.” “In practice, there’s nobody out in the audience laughing,” said Gillis, “so I think a lot of the girls got so much more into their monologues and went

with the laughter and played off of it.” While all the monologues were excellent, one stood out from the rest; which was, “The Woman Who Liked to Make Vaginas Happy,” as portrayed by Rachel Rice. This selection did make me ask myself, “Am I worried?” It isn’t every day that one finds themselves privy to a woman speaking so openly of her fondness for causing a person to orgasm whilst she herself mimics a large list of the screams. In my opinion, it takes a lot of courage to play this character, even if it’s in the namesake of spreading identity pride. Rice’s performance was energetic, stunning, confident and full of power. “I really hope that people take home the fact that it’s okay to say words like ‘vagina,’” Gillis said.

UNIVERSITY TIMES

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Letter from the editor: You’re tougher than you think LINDSEY PERRY Editor

Billy Ocean. Ring a bell? Maybe to a few, but the name meant nothing to me until Google came and saved the day (as usual). Billy Ocean, apparently, was a popular song writer in the UK in the 80s, and even scored a few hits in the U.S. Editor’s Now, it’s not Mr. Ocean Desk that I really would like to focus on, it’s one of his hit songs. He wrote the song “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.” A popular phrase, yes, but I hadn’t the foggiest that it was a hit song, nor did I realize it was the theme song for the film, The Jewel of the Nile.To add to that, I didn’t

As I watched the celebration of the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. this last weekend, I was reminded of my summer camp counselor days. Imagine the scene. Parents were off doing parenting things as I’m left in charge of 80 seven-ten year olds. Yep – me (a child at heart) - given the responsibility of both entertaining and corralling 80 children simultaneously. GIANTS, MAGICIANS, and DWARFS was the game. It’s a largescale version of Rock, Paper and Scissors and involves some intellectual decision-making. But the real purpose of the game is to make a lot of noise and run around chasing people until nobody knows which side you are on or who won. Organizing a playground full of kids, hopped up on sugar, into teams, explaining the rules of the game and reaching consensus on group identity is no small accomplishment; but we did it with a great deal of will and were ready to go…at least I thought so. The excitement of the chase had

know that there was a hit film called “The Jewel of the Nile,” or that it starred Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito (this is what I refer to as Wikicheatdia). My lack of knowledge may be due to the fact that I was born the year the movie was released and I just wasn’t into crappy sequels at an early age. Although, I can’t really say that I haven’t had the opportunity since, I mean, I have seen Day of the Dead, which incidentally was also released in 1985. No excuses on my behalf I suppose. Alright, so I’m rambling as you can see. This brings me to my point. When your brain is set in motion, one small thought can lead to a million others. Your brain gets fried. When I was home over break I stayed with my grandmother and her best advice

was to “JUST BREATHE.” Sounds so simple, but rarely remembered at times most needed. I personally have been playing catch-up with myself since the semester began… wait, scratch that…since I started at UMPI. I’ve come to the realization that I will probably always be a few steps behind. What’s the silver lining in this you may ask? I’ve discovered that it’s okay to be a few steps behind in your own game. Things may be off kilter, but everything works out eventually. I can not tell you that it all happens for a reason, because I don’t exactly believe that, but I know that everything does even out. So coming back to, “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.” If you’re

Chris’ Column

See You’re tougher, page 4

Giants, Magicians and Dwarfs

reached a critical mass. “Now decide who you are – a GIANT, MAGICIAN, or DWARF!” I yelled. While the groups huddled in delirious, murmured consultation, a tug came at my shorts. A little girl looking up at me with big, bright blue eyes asks in a small, very concerned voice, “Where do the Mermaids stand?” A long pause. A very long pause. “Where do the Mermaids stand?” said I. “Yes, you see, I am a Mermaid.” “There are no such things as Mermaids,” I said. “Oh, yes, I am one!” She did not relate to being a Giant, a Magician or a Dwarf. She knew her category. Mermaid. She wasn’t about to leave the game and stand on the sidelines where a loser would stand. She intended to participate, wherever Mermaids fit into the scheme of things; without giving up dignity or identity. She took it for granted that there was a place for Mermaids and that I would know just where it was. Well, where DO the Mermaids stand? All the “Mermaids” – all those who are different, who do not fit the norm and who do not accept

the available boxes and pigeonholes? Answer that question and you can build a school, a village (as Hillary would say) a nation, or a world. What was my answer? Every once in a while I say the right thing. “The Mermaid stands right here by the Queen of the Sea!” said I. Yes, right here by the Queen’s Fool, I thought to myself. So we stood there, hand in hand, surveying the crowd of Giants, Magicians and Dwarfs as they frolicked by in wild chaos. It is not true, by the way, that mermaids do not exist. I know at least one personally. I have held her hand. As we celebrate Black History Month and the wonders of individual courage and accomplishment, let us remember all those who consider themselves mermaids. Extend your hand and your heart and find a place for all those who are different than us to stand – hopefully it will be right next to you. Thoughts inspired by Robert Fulgrum.

The University Times welcomes your submissions (letters to the editor, poetry, articles). We reserve the right to edit all submissions for grammar, clarity, language, length and libel. Submissions must be received no later than Noon on the Thursday before publication, and must include your name, address and telephone number. Upon submission, all material becomes the property of the University Times. Submissions may be sent on a CD or written in letter form and dropped in the UTimes mailbox (426 in the Campus Center). Material also can be left in the mail slot on the office door or be e-mailed to utimes@umpi.maine.edu. The University Times does not impose length restrictions on letters to the editor, but advises “the shorter, the better.”

The University Times Lindsey Perry Editor

Deanna Jordan Assistant Editor Aha Blume Copy Editor

Larry French Art Editor

William Coppola III Web Manager Lisa Rockwell Business Manager

Staff Writers Aha Blume William Coppola III Cassandra Gildert Deanna Jordan Harrison Kilpatrick Johnny Lynch Laura Mooney Al Patrick Margaret Smith Shane Smith Regular Contributors Patric Edward Jeff Lovejoy Jessica Mayne Ray Rice Jim Stepp Adviser Deborah Parks

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 in the Campus Center 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.

UNIVERSITY TIMES

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Student Senate: Budget deadline approaches HARRISON KILPATRICK Director of Communications Student Senate

Hello Students, I am Harrison Kilpatrick, student senator recently appointed as director of communications for the student senate. Each issue of the UTimes will contain a report intended to inform students of recent happenings within the student senate, information regarding requirements for student organizations that require funding, opportunities for students to be involved in the campus and community, and other various things that may be of interest to students. Currently, the student senate is in a transition period. With the election of a new president and senators along with the resignation of several senators from the

previous semester, we have experienced relatively few setbacks which are in the process of being ameliorated. In light of this, we are looking for students that might be interested in participating in student government. To begin the process of joining the student senate, visit the senate office in the campus center to pick up an application. We hope to have a productive and enjoyable semester, and we ask you to join us in that. As I have inherited the role of director of communications I have taken it upon myself to make the process of organization funding and information retrieval simple. As many of us are acquainted with the operating of Internet web-sites, I chose this method to quell the frustration some organizations and individuals may be having. It is simple. The homepage has three categories, 1) News, 2) Documents, and 3) Information. The news heading will be host to weekly newsletters, important

goings on within the senate, and messages from individual senators and committees. Documents will include everything from the constitution of the student senate to funding request forms. The information section, will include everything that otherwise would not fit in any other category. Ease of access is vital. The web address for the site is http://www.umpi.maine.edu/~ssenate. President Darick Williams has made the process of funding requests electronic. This means all the necessary budget forms have been compiled in an easy to use spreadsheet. If you are involved with a student organization and have not received the electronic form, it is posted on blackboard and the senate website. The forms are due March 3.

Celebration marks reopening of faculty lounge

AHA BLUME Staff Writer

The renovated faculty lounge in Normal Hall was a buzz with excitement on Feb. 7, as many members of the faculty and staff came to mix and mingle and share stories. Also present were members of Key Bank, whose foundation co-funded the project with UMPI. A lot of work occurred over the past few months to make this re-opening possible. A committee met and made a to-do list and budget. The committee was cochaired by John DeFelice. DeFelice spoke at the opening saying that they “wanted a warm inviting room to be used as much as possible.” The committee coordinated on the plans for the furniture, floor and artwork. Members of the committee included Shirley Ballard and Keith Madore, who were also on hand to see the fruition of their hard work. DeFelice stated that he was please with how it went and the committee was thrilled when Key Bank Foundation decided to help out. “It was great support,” said DeFelice. Steve St. Pierre, one of the Key Bank members present at the event, spoke, saying that they were excited to be involved. Sandra Huck, curator of the art gallery, spoke a bit about the art work on the wall. Heather Nunez, who currently has a show in the Pullen gallery, has two large paintings hanging in the lounge. “We hope to utilize student art as much as possible,” Huck said. She hopes to have frequent rotation of the student artwork. Currently, some other pieces by non-students are also hanging. Keith Madore said that students already feel com-

Photo by Aha Blume

Keith Madore, President Zillman, and Steve St. Pierre enjoy the celebration at the reopening of the faculty lounge. fortable coming to the room, and the committee hopes this will continue. President Zillman spoke last saying, “It is becoming crucial in how we were able to draw on private support, in this time of financial crisis [for the state].” He and Madore would like to have the adjourning

room done with a bigger table and artwork on the wall as well. “The room will go from mediocre to marvellous,” Zillman stated. “It’s a big part of how successful we are able to be.”

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Campus Crusade plans spring break with a purpose

ANDREW CISZEWSKI Club Member

Where are you going for spring break? Keeping with a trend from the past few years, from March 29 through April 6, Campus Crusade for Christ is sending a team out for a service project. This year’s trip is to Malta, Ohio in partnership with Morgan County United Ministries (MCUM) and has been named “Operation Appalachia, II.” The “II” is because the team is returning to the same place as last year in order to continue their efforts there. MCUM was recently added to World Hope International’s list of trips and is continuing to build a ministry meant to reach the people of the area. This year Campus Crusade plans to begin building a house for a man who lost his previous residence in a fire the

year before (which Campus Crusade then helped to clean up). There will also be chances to work in the warehouse, food pantry and thrift store as well as with local children’s and youth programs in the community. Campus Crusade is taking anyone who wishes to volunteer for this effort. It does not matter if you are a member of Campus Crusade or if you claim to hold any faith at all. If you are willing to serve we are willing to take you. Because this is a Campus Crusade event there will be daily devotional time and prayer on this trip, so be aware if you do not wish to participate in these things. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28 in CC118 at 7 p.m. for all who are interested in the trip. If you are unable to attend this meeting or would like more information please contact Mary Lawrence at 207-768-9502.

You’re tougher

continued from page 2

alive and reading, you’re already a tough cookie. But it’s the big things that really get us out there on a limb. Take it easy, fall a few steps behind. And when something big happens,

don’t forget to just breathe. P.S. Cast and crew of The Vagina Monologues: Probably one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

NOTES FROM THE GREEN CAMPUS ACTION COMMITTEE The President’s office is proud to announce the formation of the Green Campus Action Committee (GCAC). A joint body of faculty, students and staff, the mandate of the committee is to identify, advance and promote strategies, policies and guidelines on campus aimed at minimizing negative environmental impact and maximizing benefits to the environment. Specifically, this directive will be achieved through the following: -Review and make recommendations to the President on the greening of campus operations -Promote environmentally friendly alternatives on campus and in the community. -To encourage reducing waste, reusing, and recycling waste products. -Research and investigate other green programs, policies and procedures on other campuses -Identify resources locally to encourage active utilization of alternatives NEW WEBSITE! For ongoing and up-to-date information on the activities of the Green

Campus Action Committee, and for a list of “green resources” go to our webhttp://pages.umpi.edu/~greensite: Have campus/ your say and submit ideas for environmentally enhancing our campus to our website blog. LOGO DESIGN CONTEST!! To mark the establishment of this initiative we are holding a campus and community wide competition for an original logo design that will signify the aims of the Green Campus Action Committee. Members of the GCAC and the President will adjudicate the winning logo design. The awarded logo designer will be featured on our website, as well as in the May issue of the Image and the University Times. In addition, the successful candidate will enjoy a festive dinner with the President and a member of the GCAC at Cafe Surpresso. To gain fame, food and contribute to a good cause, submit your designs by April 1st (no foolin) to Lynn Eldershaw at lynn.eldershaw@umpi.edu.

UMPI moves toward an environmentally friendly campus UNIVERSITY TIMES

CASSANDRA GILDERT Staff Writer

Many colleges throughout Maine have already taken positive steps towards an environmentally friendly planet, and now UMPI is hopping on board. Several individuals at UMPI have put together a committee that will focus on ways to save energy and contribute to this important cause. The Green Campus committee evolved from an earlier committee that dealt with pesticide awareness. According to chairman of the committee, Allen Salo, the group is attempting to “morph” into this new committee. “We are currently in the early stages, working on an exact mission and goal statement for the committee,” said Salo. The new committee is raising awareness of this very important cause, trying to educate

Thursday, February 28, 2008

others on this issue. Salo says the committee looks forward to working with students as well. The environment is an issue concerning many people, but some may not be aware of what exactly they can do. Green Campus can help educate those people of ways they can make a big difference. There are many alternatives to the energy we have grown used to. The alternatives can contribute to a cleaner environment and healthier population. One energy saver is Bio Energy. According to the Maine Energy Investment Corporation, instead of using heating oil or petroleum, energy can come from substances found in plants or other microorganisms. This kind of energy can be used to heat homes and as a petroleum replacement. Some of these types of fuel replacements can be manufactured locally, so our country could be less dependant on other countries for fossil fuel to run automobiles or heat homes. Another option for heating homes is through solar energy. This works by using special insulation or by placing a

house in a certain position. This type of energy can also be used to generate electricity. These energy sources are renewable, unlike the fossil fuel we acquire from the Middle East. Bio Energy sources are increasingly becoming more available. Many University of Maine colleges are already part of this movement. The new committee formed at UMPI has plans to follow. According to Salo, they are already developing websites with information. “These websites can be a great resource for students,” added Salo. The new group is interested in getting students involved and will soon be taking suggestions from students. UMPI is actively becoming a Green Campus, and students should be on the lookout for new information concerning these issues. Editor’s note: You can see the first bulletin from the Green Campus committee on page 4.

WUPI’s first ‘18 Hours Live’ event attracts listeners DEANNA JORDAN Assistant Editor

While you were spending Valentine’s Day with your sweetie, taking them on a romantic tour of the UMPI Club fair, you may have noticed a bit more activity at the WUPI headquarters in the Campus Center. The radio station’s “18 Hours Live” was a great success, according to station manager, Larry French, and fellow DJ Randy Deabay. It was a day full of giveaways, requests and sharing of information about the station itself. The station’s staff was hard at work all day answering phone calls and emails with song requests. French said that they received over 70 song requests “which was very close to their goal of 100.” French also says that he was able to “talk to a lot of new people that knew very little about

the station,” getting information and interest out to more of the student body. Deabay says he thinks “the exposure was a definite positive.” French says “18 Hours” was “a great event, and we are now looking at what we learned from it.” He continued saying, “overall, there were some bugs that we had to work out, but it was worth it.” With one event over and done with, the WUPI staff is looking at the responses and feedback they received, and thinking about the possibility of having another station event soon. Keep looking at the bulletin boards around campus and listening to the station for information on future events. French would also like to extend a big thank you to all those involved with the event, including those who spent weeks planning the event with him, those who answered phone calls, and the DJ’s who spent part of their day in the station taking care of the music.

Photo by Randy Deabay

Dedicated WUPI station manager, Larry French, mans the boards early in the morning for “18 Hours Live.”

Senior Class All You Can Eat Spaghetti Supper and Auction Fundraiser

When: Saturday, March 22 – 4:30 p.m. Where: UMPI Campus Center – Multi Purpose Room Why: Help the 2008 Senior Class raise money for their Graduation Banquet $5.00 per person - $3.00 for kids under 10 If you would like to purchase tickets, see Laurie Boucher (Financial Aid Office – Preble Hall) or Keith Madore (Alumni Relations – Preble Hall) We will also have a lot of door prizes too. Hope you can help support the Senior Class of 2008!!

UNIVERSITY TIMES

Thursday, March 22, 2007

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Thursday, March 22, 2007

Yoga at UMPI: A opportunity to de-stress MARGARET SMITH Staff Writer

Feeling stressed out? Probably not, seeing as you are fresh back from vay-kay. But wait. Just wait. Wait for that first big paper, or for Professor BallBuster’s next test. Wait until that girl in your morning class starts giving you the evil eye for, once again, doing that maniacal clicking thing with your teeth. You know what I’m talking about. Are you that guy? The “Holy crap, is that my knee that’s been twitching down there for the past half an hour” guy? The “What do you mean? I thought my shoulders were supposed to be higher than my ears” dude? The “I’m not wearing heels, that’s just how I walk lately...” girl? You know who you are. You’re coiled up tighter than a duck’s arse and no amount of time flipping through People (or Men’s Health or Britney Weekly or whatever) on the elliptical trainer is able to set you right. How can you give your proverbial battery a charge? WHERE, can you go to unwind??? Enter Linda Rowe. She’s innocuous, delicate, sturdy and sweet. She’s got one of the nicest laughs ever and could probably kick your butt if the need

Photo by Margaret Smith

This smart lady's brain is about fit to burst with yoga knowledge. Linda Rowe: teacher, sage, sweetheart.

arose — which it never will because she’s also one of those zen sorts, with whom peace and chill seem have found a permanent home. A follower of yoga for over 13 years, Linda knows what she is doing and she is here to take care of you. Well, she’s here to take care of you taking care of you. And on Tuesdays, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the Wieden Auditorium stage, with only a yoga mat and sweats, that is just what you do. Both of you. “I’m just glad to be able to provide the opportunity for staff and students to experience being whole in their fragmented, chaotic life,” explains Linda. She discovered yoga while working in a busy university setting. She and her weekly yoga class have proven to be a blessing for the fragmented few who’ve found their way to the mat every Tuesday afternoon. “Energizing,” breathes Jenn Gladle, at the end of her second week in the class. “I’m definitely coming back,” confirms Tim McLellan, a senior with an enormously packed schedule. “It’s a great way of doing a lot while feeling like you are doing very little,” agrees Shane Smith, who’s been doing yoga since September but only recently joined the class. Indeed, the slow, meditative nature of the sessions would initially lead one to believe that very little exertion at all is required to participate in a yogic routine. Rowe’s pedagogy, however, ensures that this is not the case. As she leads her students through a series of carefully connected poses and postures, she instructs them to turn their focus inwards, to their breathing, to their thoughts. “Listen to your body as you move,” Rowe guides, walking amidst the breathing bodies or demonstrating a pose in the front. She’s clear about insisting that practitioners only do what is comfortable for them, only what feels right. “It’s not about ‘getting’ a pose or stretching to the point of pain. It’s about doing what feels good for your body right now.” What a relief! Linda Rowe has calmly and firmly put to rest all those hideous rumors about needing to be flexible and rubbery to do yoga. “I can’t even touch my toes,” confesses Smith. No contortionist acts requred in this class. Phew! Yoga, meaning “unity” in its original Sanskrit, is a discipline that has developed over thousands of years. Over the centuries, it has branched into various, specialized sub-disciplines, but the overall intent of the practices remain the same: a calming, refining and connecting of mind, body and spirit. In modern terms, this can mean any number of things. “Benefits?” asks Rowe, sitting cross legged after her most recent session, face going through some “Where do I begin?” motions. “Immediate stress reduction, sense of relaxation, release of some chronic pains. Only

Photo by Margaret Smith

"Start with the basics," expounds Jenn Gladle, UMPI student extraordinaire and beginning Yogi. "Learn and grow to become spectacular. Yoga's a part of that." a few long term benefits are the strengthening of the immune and respiratory systems, body awareness and alignment, and a quieting of the mind. An increase in creativity and a deepening of one’s ability to focus.” Ah. Focus. Stress reduction. You hear that, kneetwitchers and pen-clickers? Nail-biters and Tumseaters? Fragmented indeed. It is easy to find oneself with body in the classroom and mind on the golf course, head in the books and brain in the beer hall (who calls it beer hall nowadays, anyway?). With all there is to do, with all the craziness going on in the world, with all the aches and pains that a person can carrying with them, an hour or two of soft, slow regathering during the week sounds not only nice, it sounds necessary. Linda is waiting, with her bag of mats and mind of wisdom. Everyone is welcome to come heal. Yoga. Every Tuesday from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on the stage of the Wieden Auditorium. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. If you don’t have a mat, one will be provided. Free for UMPI students, $6/session for faculty and community members.

UNIVERSITY TIMES

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Contact Randy Deabay at randy.deabay@maine.edu

Senior shows highlight student accomplishments UNIVERSITY TIMES

SHANE SMITH Staff Writer

The work of a four-year creative direction culminates in a final art show, a Senior Show. This senior show will be the height of four years of visualizing, experimenting and exploring a material and a voice. Time is spent between listening and understanding, reusing and imitating to find what claims an art student in Presque Isle can earnestly make. The formation of this work has grown steadily, building from a fundamental core that was dredged through during the freshmen years. Assignments yield to personal statements and material choice is abundant. Selectively dismissing all other finished ideas, as well as ones never produced, to decide on one connected series to create and show. Individual senior shows are as original as each artist. There are several artists participating in this semester’s showings. There are sculptural doorways supporting biblical reference to modern attempts at minimalism, Opt art and social commentary using pre-politicallycorrect advertisements. There will be plenty to

Thursday, March 22, 2007

learn from. White plaster forms develop from organic inspiration. Nostalgic box creations sit recounting domestic objectification. The traditional landscape has been revamped by boldly-colored gouache brushwork, an alternative to watercolor. Studies on the figure seem prevalent this semester. Displayed in rich charcoal on wood, the outline of figures is traced from the spontaneity of the artist’s models. Juicy pink oil paintings talk of food and body. Black and white photo prints create mountains out of hips and elbows. Then there is a less formal attempt at the figure: still frames taken from popular movies, rendered in a character sketch style. The figure dominates the majority of the subjects expressed. Some students have strayed from the figure trend. Sculpted, organic fixations encapsulated in plaster are smooth and flowing; a root, two leaves. Plaster, mixed from powder on-site in the Wieden sculpture studio, gets poured into a box that serves as a casing for the drying plaster. When dry, the cardboard is stripped of its offwhite plaster cube. Plaster is a subtractive sculptural material so the form will be found inside the block. The student will break, chisel and sand the plaster away, forming the concept of his or her piece during its cre-

ation. Any misguided attempt against the object during the subtractive phase could ruin the piece entirely. There will be box installation art. This consists of an old box and junk rearranged within it until everything balances ascetically. The objects seem like a lifetime’s collection of intriguing forgotten things. Boxes will contain fragments of domestic kitchen decor and water glass plant combinations, among other things. The process is mentally tedious, considering all the objects and the places they could belong. Two or three inches become very important in a two foot by three foot box arranged unconventionally. The shows are being scheduled now and dates will be available soon. This semester should prove to be a cultural movement that will influence successive years. The senior shows in previous years have garnered awards and scholarships for students. Donations have been contributed from the work sold in past shows. Also, there will be free beer or wine and food offered at most shows. The shows are a great way to merge into the art community, as well as see and talk about great work.

heresy when he stated these moons went around Jupiter. On March 5 Mercury will be just a little over the Moon’s diameter north of the Moon. This should make it easy for you to spot it. As a side note, NASA’s messenger probe flew by Mercury on Jan. 14, 2008 and sent back some incredible images of the planet. If you would like to see these images, please go to http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/. Also on March 5 Venus will pass very close to the Moon. Venus will be the brighter planet to the south of the Moon. Lastly, the International Space Station (ISS) will make several passes over the Presque Isle area between February 28 and March 22. If you get up to see the ISS it will look like a bright star moving across the sky. The times of these events will vary, so if you are interested in seeing the ISS go to www.heavens-above.com and register your location. To do this, go to http://www.terraserver.com/ and put in your zip/postal c o d e . Terraserver will give you your longitude and latitude. Terraserver also will give you a great satellite image of your area, so you will be able to find the exact longitude and latitude for your house. The night sky: The ISS will be visible in the morning sky through March 22, 2008. Go to www.heavensabove.com to check on exact times and to print off a sky chart of the appearance.

02/28 02:54 a.m. Mercury at half phase 02/28 09:18 p.m. Last Quarter Moon 02/29 Sunrise 06:12 a.m., Sunset 05:17 p.m. 03/03 06:12 a.m. Mercury at greatest elongation 27.1 degrees west of Sun (morning sky) 03/03 7 p.m. Jupiter 3.729 degrees north of Moon 03/03 9 p.m. Beta Leonids maximum 4 meteors/hour 03/05 8 a.m. Mercury 0.4 degrees north of Moon 03/05 2 p.m. Neptune 0.4 degrees north of Moon 03/05 7 p.m. Venus 0.2 degrees south of Moon 03/06 1 p.m. Venus 0.6 degrees south of Neptune 03/07 Sunrise 05:59 a.m., Sunset 05:27 p.m. 03/07 12:14 p.m. New Moon 03/07 12:14 p.m. Sun 1.8 degrees south of Moon 03/08 9 p.m. Mercury 0.9 degrees south of Neptune 03/08 11 p.m. Uranus 0.8 degrees south of Sun – furthest from the Earth 21.089 AU 03/09 Daylight Saving - Set Clock Ahead 1 Hour, please go to webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/index.html for more information. 03/10 05:31 p.m. Moon at perigee – closest to the Earth 366227,671 miles or 366,323 km 03/11 01:30 p.m. Mercury at Aphelion – furthest from Sun 43,391,911 miles or 69,817,584 km 03/14 Sunrise 06:46 a.m., Sunset 06:36 p.m. 03/14 06:46 a.m. First Quarter Moon 03/14 10 p.m. Mars 1.7 degrees south of Moon

In the Night Sky: A good time to get up early JIM STEPP

Regular Contributor

If you’re like me the thought of getting up early is not something that makes you happy. But, if you are into astronomy, it may be fun to get up early once in a while. Between March 3 and March 5 there will be three nice pairings of the Moon and a planet. On March 3 the planet Mercury will be at its furthest point away from the Sun in the morning sky and will rise about two hours before the Sun. Also on March 3, the Moon will pass to the south of Jupiter. Jupiter is very interesting to look at through a telescope. If you ever get a chance to look at Jupiter through a telescope you will see up to four of its moons moving back and forth across the planet. These moons played a small part in Galileo being placed under house arrest by the Catholic Church in the early 1600s. According to the church, the Earth was the center of the universe, if these moons indeed went around Jupiter that idea would be wrong, so Galileo committed

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Letter to the editor: Should students be concerned about asbestos? On my drive through Bangor earlier this week, I heard a radio-news broadcast about UMPI that caught my attention. Being interviewed was UMPI’s President, Dr. Zillman. Zillman explained the new renovations going on in Folsom Hall this week, and how the facility will be more inviting to students overall. What the interview failed to mention is that the recent renovations are to remove asbestos from the aging classroom building. For those of you who

have been living on the moon for the past 15 or more years, asbestos is a cancer-causing building material used in walls and ceilings. Legislation was passed years ago to have all buildings containing asbestos to be demolished or renovated. Personally, I was shocked when I heard that the material is still in Folsom, much less on any campus in general. This is something that current and perspective students have a right to know about. Putting their health in

jeopardy is not a laughing matter. Why has the UMPI administration allowed students and faculty to attend classes this long without taking any action on the matter? The least they can do is alert the campus community about the hazard they are living and working in. This is no different than having a landlord warn a renter about the hazards of lead paint (with the exception that cancer is a bit more serious). I am glad to see UMPI has caught up with the rest of the world on this, even if it took many, many years

Last semester I had the opportunity in one of my classes to speak with a panel of various teachers who were currently in their first year in the profession. It was an opportunity for us to ask questions and gain a sense of what it is like to be right in the thick of things during their rookie year. The panel was made up of three elementary and three secondary teachers. Among the many things discussed were classroom rules. Being a perspective secondary teacher, I wondered why none of the secondary teachers talked about involving their students in the rule making process, a practise preached in several of our education courses here at UMPI. I was caught off guard when

each of them said that not only had none of them tried the process, but they all said they would never give it a try. One of the teachers even went so far as to say that once his students entered his class that they had entered a virtual boot camp. I did not take what they said to heart as I had yet to take the UMPI behaviour class. I am currently in this class where it was recently reaffirmed that students within the high school environment should have input in making rules within the classroom. Looking back, it is haunting to think that despite the fact that experts say that this is the way we should be treating our students, practising teachers are not even willing to try

it.

This is ignorance. Like a child who will not eat their dinner because it ‘tastes bad’ before even taking a bite, here are the people who will be moulding our youth who can’t even comprehend simple logic. I can sympathise with a teacher who tried the system and had it fail miserably, but to listen to a panel of teachers who outright refuse to even give lip service to the experts is troubling. Who are they to dispute veteran experts in the field of behaviour management? A first year teacher with nothing more then a B.A. and certification should not be knocking the ‘call to arms’ from experts with doctorates without even making the slightest attempt to

Our nation is on a brink. This brink is the opportunity to be great once again, or to fall like the empires that built the annuals of history. Our nation does not need spectacular new ideas, nor whirlwind governmental change, but something so much simpler, so much easier. This nation needs no division, but understanding, not deceit, but caring, not judgment, but understanding, and not hatred, but a renewed love of our neighbor. Today, we need to stand up for what we believe in and we need to believe in what has built America. Today, the historical significance of

each battle, each drop of blood, and sweat dropped to build this nation, places us at a crossroad and only we, the citizens, can save it from a future of unknown divisions. Our country, built on the ideal of opportunity, an ideal of working together to create the most significant country of known history, presents us with the amazing opportunity to carry this forward. Today, we need to remember Bobby Kennedy’s words and come together to make America great once again. Today we need to rid our divisions and come together for our country

and to honor John F. Kennedy’s words, “Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Today is monumental. Today is the brink of greatness or disaster, and the path that we, as a nation, take shall affect our future beyond imagination. Today we need to begin to mend fences, cross aisles, understand our neighbors, appreciate our opportunities and come together once again so we may take our country to new and great heights. No more division, no more sadness; just the opportunity to come together to make

to do so. But more importantly, are there any other buildings that we need to know about? Perhaps our residence halls where students sleep? Or the dining hall where we all eat? ~Anonymous

Editor’s note: To receive more information on asbestos you can visit the EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/region04/air/asbest os/inform.htm

Letter to the editor: ‘Idiots with diplomas’ shaping our future?

give it a chance. The term “idiots with diplomas” comes to mind. It is extremely unfortunate that these are the people who are teaching and socialising our youth. In an age where we ‘leave no child behind,’ it is time we start not leaving teachers behind. What is the value of certifying teachers based solely understanding content knowledge in the Praxis when they cannot even understand how act or teach logically? We need to ensure that teachers are checking their egos at the door and actually use some of the stuff they paid so much to learn about. Ignorance should not be accepted within our profession. ~James Kidd

Looking back to the Kennedys to find what this nation needs

the change this country so desperately needs. Today we need to honor those who fought to make our country great, from the revolutionaries to the civil war heroes, from our presidents in time of great threat to our imagination that has taken our scientific community to heights not long ago believed impossible. Today, we can choose to be great or just average. Today is a door that we can open to acceptance and cohesiveness. The choice lies in our hands. What shall we do? ~Randy Deabay

UNIVERSITY TIMES

Thursday, February 28, 2008

A response to Patric Edward: Who is choosing our next president? JEFF LOVEJOY

Faculty Commentary

First, let me say that I’m delighted to have seen someone respond to my “Scribbles.” Writing for the Times has often felt like banging my head against the wall of a padded cell. Given that I had just finished Ray Rice’s article on Liberal Education in which he professed (beautifully) that “I continue to teach because each day I continue to learn,” I figured that Patric Edward’s “Truthiness” article was just such a learning opportunity for me. Since Mr. Edward’s area of expertise is the business world, I can see how he would grab hold of my mention of General Electric. But in case my main point was missed, it was this: Americans are letting the networks, the corporations, and our one political party (masquerading as two) choose, not just who gets to be president, but even who runs. Let’s not mistake that for democracy. That aside, let’s look at GE for a moment. I certainly grant Mr. Edward the point that my mention of toasters and light bulbs was about as quaint as, say, the Geneva Conventions. And his mentioning that GE had divested itself of its military operations in 1993 did make me feel a bit like a student who had not done his homework. But how does one then explain Defense News, a leading international news weekly covering

the global defense industry, ranking GE as 14th in its top 100 military contractors for 2006? I will admit that Lockheed Martin (which Mr. Edward mentioned) getting a cool 91% of their revenues from “defense” spending pretty much dwarfs GE’s shade under 30%, or $4.6 million. Nevertheless, I certainly do assume GE makes a lot of money from making weapons. On another matter my colleague accuses me of making a disingenuous statement about Kucinich, as “nearly alone” in Congress, consistently voting not to fund the occupation of Iraq. Mr. Edward might want to consult a dictionary before accusing me of dishonesty or insincerity. Congress is composed of 435 representatives and 100 senators. So even if I grant that both Paul and Obama have consistently opposed the Iraq fiasco (see below), I would definitely count three out of 535 as “nearly” alone. And even if I add Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and a handful of others, I stand by my statement, honestly—and sadly. I respect Ron Paul for being against the occupation for some time. But Obama troubles me greatly regarding Iraq. Yes, he opposed the adventure from the outset. But—and this is a big but—once he got into the senate, he routinely voted FOR continued funding. Since Obama has gone to Washington, every senate Democrat has voted for every Iraq funding bill (totalling $300 billion) until President Bush vetoed a timetable for withdrawal. Obama has also said several times that while he would have voted against the war in 2002 based on what he knew at the time, he could not be sure that classi-

A student comes to a young professor’s office hours. She glances down the hall, closes his door, kneels pleadingly. “I would do anything to pass this exam.” She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, gazes meaningfully into his eyes. “I mean...” she whispers, “...I would do...anything!” He returns her gaze, “Anything?” “Yes, anything!” His voice turns to a whisper. “Would you...study?” ~submitted by Anthony Albert

fied intelligence reporters made available to senators wouldn’t have changed his mind. You want to talk to me about being disingenuous? Dennis Kucinich says, “I think it’s inconsistent to tell the American people that you oppose the war and . . . continue to vote to fund the war. Because every time you vote to fund the war, you’re reauthorizing the war all over again.” Logical, no? It has been said, especially of the modern variety of war that, if there were no profit there would be no war. I don’t know much about balance sheets and profit margins, but I do know that soldiers bleed and families suffer. To exult in profits in this context seems to me crass in the extreme. Former President Eisenhower hit the nail on the head in a speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors on April 16, 1953: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.” “Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear.” That is a quote from another time, by none other than General Douglas MacArthur. Isn’t it interesting—and sad—how little we learn? Finally, I leave you with the immortal words of John Milton, “For what can war, but endless war, still breed?”

Notes from a Mad English Professor: Music for a snowy UNIVERSITY TIMES

RAY RICE

Faculty Commentary

I intended this to be a column about Jean Sibelius, a wonderful 20th century Finnish composer, but indeed I cannot listen to nor write of Sibelius without thinking of my father, who would—almost unfailingly—pull out an LP recording of his First or Second symphonies upon the first blustery snowfall of the winter and retire to his den to listen to the starkly northern music—filled Notes with the sounds of snowy landscapes f ro m a and frozen forests—while we (my M ad brother and I) warmed ourselves with mugs of hot chocolate after a family E n g l i s h walk through the fields and pine P r o f e s s o r forests to the abandoned redstone quarry behind our childhood home (long since replaced by a McMansion housing development). “Snow day!” my dad would declare around 7:30 a.m. when the radio stations announced that school was cancelled. It was only years later, after his death this

Thursday, February 28, 2008

past Thanksgiving, that my mother told me the story of a fellow draftsman who went to his superior complaining of my father’s “privilege” of being allowed such days off. Of course, there was no such thing as a “snow day” at ScanOptics, or any of the other industrial plants at which my father worked. But he never tired of telling such tales to his fellow workers, exhorting them (in his own rapscallion way)—every once in a while at least— to put their own mental and physical health first, to spend time with family and self, to make a space for one’s own desires. We each have our myths and stories of family history, our personal connection to a larger narrative stretching back beyond our individual existence. If we are fortunate, these are positive, transformative recollections, ones which supply us with the very kernel of our identities, our sense of stable personal history. When I think of my father, I think immediately of two things: words and music. We lived in a traditional ranch-style house in a bluecollar town (next to the one in which my mother grew up and the city that my father had called home) filled with

Catholics and Protestants and Jews and Italians and Portuguese and Greeks and WASPs. They were the people who built the homes and provided the labor for the families and businesses of the wealthy; they worked at businesses like Milton Bradley or American Saw or Package Machinery or ScanOptics (almost all of them are gone now, moved to Georgia or Texas or Mexico or Saipan; Mitt Romney your “solutions” are at least two decades too late!). Periodic un- or under-employment was a way of life in my hometown, long before such terms came to dominate political campaigns. It was only later in life—perhaps college—that I was to realize that the working class (and bankrupt small businesses and Christmases on careful financial budgets) and classical music and libraries of books ranging from Kahlil Gibran to Isaac Asimov didn’t always go together. For me, watching my parents negotiate monthly hand-to-mouth finances and reading Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and listening to

See Mad Professor, page 14

Scribbles: Ralph Nader, the Red Sox and bees

JEFF LOVEJOY

Faculty Commentary

SPYING ON AMERICANS: President Bush has been keeping up the pressure since his spying bill lapsed some time ago. He claims that he needs it to thwart terrorism. If that were really the case, of course, all he would need to do is drop his demand for retroactive immunity for the telecomm companies and Congress S c r i b b l e s would pass the bill. So he basicalon a ly acknowledges that protecting his B r e a k f a s t friends is more important than pro- N a p k i n tecting Americans. But then we knew that, didn’t we. And, of course, FISA is still in place if he’s that worried about missing calls and e-mails. The President would do well to use the intelligence that’s already available instead of trolling for more. Had he paid attention to that which was available before September 11th, that date might now be just another day that came and went without much incident. CAMPAIGN 2008: I have been fascinated, frustrated, and angry over the last 24-36 hours about the reaction to Ralph Nader entering the campaign as an Independent. The blogosphere is full of such unmentionable bile that I cannot repeat it here. Something like nine out of ten posts I’ve read

attack the man for “messing up” Obama’s campaign and excoriating him for causing Al Gore to lose in 2000. Well, if you think a Presidential campaign is merely a horse race (as the media usually portrays it), then I suppose that would be the understandable response. “Our team’s winning and you just called a stupid penalty on us” is what it sounds like. But if you believe that we are engaged in somewhat of a democratic exercise, then you would welcome Nader’s input. I sincerely believe that, if the Democrats had not taken so many issues off the table, Nader would not have even considered running. At this point he lists a dozen issues on his website, such as our bloated military budget and corporate welfare, that none of the candidates of either party are even willing to mention. As for 2000, Nader understandably bristles. What about the Democrats? he asks. What about caging lists? The Supreme Court? And I would add, what about Republican thugs stopping the recount? If you believe, as I and an increasing number of Americans do, that the election was stolen, you’re hardly going to blame one man for “losing Florida.” But the official media story, whether it be of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the assassinations of King and two Kennedys, the last two general elections, or the tripwire for the Vietnam War, somehow settles into the general consciousness and becomes nearly impossible to root out, even if there is more evidence to undermine the story than to support it.

BEES: So a few million bees have gone missing and their handlers have little clue as to what has happened to them. Big deal, right? Well actually, yes, it could be. I had no idea myself that the figure was so high—that something like 30 percent of our food grown in the United States ( including our own state) is dependent on the pollination of bees. Last night’s 60 Minutes’ report suggested that a new kind of pesticide might be to blame, but Bayer makes the pesticide, so don’t expect an official report anytime soon. Meanwhile we seem to have another threat to our relatively affordable food supply. SPRING?: Officially it’s less than a month away as I write this, yet another 7-12 inches of snow looks to be on the horizon. I suppose it beats floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, but this is really getting to be a bit much. It seems that I spent a good portion of my break clearing snow from roof and driveway, getting the furnace repaired, and breaking up various and sundry ice dams. I am now so sore that I welcome a return to class. It will seem like a vacation. HOPE: It springs eternal, according to ancient wisdom. As a Red Sox fan for many decades, I have put that wisdom to the test and, until recently of course, found it terribly wanting. Sen. Obama has managed to inspire a growing legion of fans (especially the young) with a yearning for possibility. I’ve been around too long to fall See Scribbles, page 14

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Scribbles

continued from page 13

for every campaign slogan to come down the pike, but something seems to be going on. If it is true, as Howard Zinn and a host of others have said, that change boils from the bottom up, then maybe there is hope. I hazily recall a quote from Thomas Jefferson to the effect that an uninformed and uncaring citizenry will bring the wolves to the door. Well, said wolves have been huffing and puffing and blowing the house down for some time now. Maybe, just maybe, an engaged citizenry under a young president can manage to build it back up again.

I don’t know the depth of Obama’s sincerity. The fact is (as with Pandora’s box), once the lid is off, anything can happen. We have seen it happen in the negative, but it can happen positively too. If it is to happen, we must remain engaged. Voting is just a baby step in the democratic process. I’m picturing a sort of cartoon Obama pacing in the White House with his aides in attendance saying, “I said I wanted change, but I didn’t want THAT much change.” Nevertheless, let us hope, together.

Mad Professor

continued from page 13

Beethoven or Brahms or Sibelius (along with The Nutcracker each Christmas on PBS!) was all of a piece. When I think back to the money my father scrupulously scrimped and saved, to the things he denied himself in order to purchase Colin Davis’ version of Sibelius’ seven symphonies, all while providing for a family on a single income—well, when I think back to that and compare it to the privilege I have of doing the same, yet of not having to choose in the manner that my father carefully, scrupulously, assiduously selected what was possible and what was not and when the impossible might finally become possible, I am overwhelmed both by admiration and shame. When I attended college, I was required to take a “Music Appreciation” course. It was taught by a beautifully energetic older man—Dr. Posey—who was always obviously pained at the lack of interest that many of us held for classical music. I still recall the afternoon that he played the second movement of Sibelius’ Third Symphony—a beautiful, limping, melancholic yet wholly innocent waltz-like concoction—and I recognized it instantly from those winter afternoons as it drifted from the speakers of my father’s hi-fi out in his den into the living room where my brother and I were playing Risk or some other board game. Hearing it again on those huge quadraphonic speakers that Posey arranged on the stage was like hearing it anew; no, more like hearing it

differently, from a new perspective, and recognizing for myself the beauty encompassed in the music’s melodies and harmonies. Not long after, I began building my own record collection—soon replaced by those newfangled CDs—and purchasing my own tickets to festivals and concert halls, finding ways (too often through credit cards!) of re-engaging with the experiences of my youth on my own terms. At times, I must admit that I wonder what my 10-year-old son thinks of the music that he is “forced” to encounter in our household: Haydn and Beethoven, Shostakovich and Bruckner, Mahler and Elgar, most especially those plangent yet coldly ethereal works of Sibelius. But then I hear him humming Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony or a tune by Haydn and, just this past weekend, a tone poem by Sibelius (“Tapiola,” to be precise, which I must admit is surely not the most accessible of his works)—all while building his Legos or playing with the cat or simply amusing himself. And it is moments like those that I see the past mirrored in the present and promised in the future. I see myself in him, my father in me, and the choices that we freely make, linking us to those who have cared and nurtured and sacrificed for us, to those without whom we would not be who we are today nor dream of whom we might be tomorrow.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

HAVE YOUR SAY!

If you would like to contribute anything -- articles, drawings, a poem, or an entertainment review -please e-mail your submission to us (utimes@umpi.maine.edu), drop it off at Box 426 in the mail room, or leave it at the UTimes office in the Campus Center. All submissions must be received by Noon the Friday before the issue is released.

Submission deadlines:

Thursday, March 6 (March 13 issue) Thursday, March 20 (March 27 issue) Thursday, April 10 (April 17 issue) Thursday, April 24 (May 1 issue)

For more information, please call Editor Lindsey Perry at 768-9565.

Scavenger Hunt

If you can answer the following five questions, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift certificate for Big Cheese Pizza! The winner for the 2/7 issue was: Mihaela Pavlova.