Volume 40 Issue 9

inside this issue:

Off with the Hair Details on p. 8

University of Maine at Presque Isle Volume 40 Issue 9

I Am Woman Details on p. 16

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

MARCH 16, 2012

UMPI Brings Awareness

Taylor Lawrence STAFF WRITER

Bonnie Devaney.

On Feb. 29, 2012, UMPI celebrated its first Everyone Matters Campaign. Headed

by Jannie Durr, assistant director of resident life, the campaign, hosted by UMPI GSA and SOSW, was started worldwide by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Its purpose is to stop judgment based on diversity.

“The whole program is to get the entire world to think more inclusively about their communities. I like the whole program because it allows freedom of creativity for colleges to shape it and create their own,” Durr said.

The main event, a discussion that took place on the 29th, was led up to by sort of an advertising campaign. UMPI resident assistants were asked to do a video discussing a time when they experienced discrimination. The videos, on YouTube, were distributed through the Dean’s Daily News. Afterwards, the RAs went to residents’ rooms and had them write words on paper leaves describing when they felt discrimination or when they discriminated against someone else. The leaves were then put on a paper tree next to Kelly Commons.

The discussion featured

three diverse speakers, each with a story to tell. Jacqui Lowman and Bonnie Devaney, both UMPI employees, spoke about living and working with a disability. Doug Kimmel, from the Gay, Straight, Lesbian Education Network, spoke about his homosexuality.

All shared warm, personal stories. Ultimately, they spoke of triumph and success. Common themes that ran through the discussions were the importance of a sense of humor and of having someone’s support.

All the speakers underlined that every single person can make a difference. The speak-

ers spoke for 20 minutes each.

WAGM-TV was present, covering the event.

Tammy Johndro, one of many students present at the event, was touched.

“I had always judged people, but hearing the stories of why really changes my view of things,” Johndro said.

GSA member Jeff Rhoades was also present and inspired.

“The event was touching, personal, informative, and I took something away from it,” Rhoades said.

S e e A w a r e n e s s, Pa g e 6

How Much Is Education Worth?

Jessie Rose STAFF WRITER

Education is valuable, but are we willing to put a price on it? According to a recent study, we and our children—our most precious resource—might be suffering for it. Bill Breton, assistant chair of the college of education at UMPI, gave a faculty noon seminar on March 1, between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., that centered around education, training and funding.

“Cost is the reason the least educated deal with the most needy,” Breton said.

But what does this mean for the care and educational quality that the kids are getting?

Breton decided that he wanted to know the answer and wanted to see how Maine rated with others in the country. He was

able to get a list of the special showed that 34 percent had less job for more than seven years.

The survey also showed that education techs’ names and than two years of college edusend them a survey on how they cation. The good thing that the 39 percent were never superfelt about their preparation for survey showed was that 53 per- vised and that 15 percent were this field. He picked names cent of them were in the same never even consulted – alarmchoosing every fifth person on the list. Of the selected, 34 percent responded to the survey.

This was done for the whole state of Maine and wasn’t targeted to only Aroostook County.

The survey showed that 76 percent of the techs were over 40 years old. It showed that 84 percent were women. This was also usually a second income for the family and it showed that women who had children in school were also more likely to take this role, as the schedule was flexible and also because they could be home when their children were home. It also Bill Breton at faculty noon seminar.

ing numbers when all should have had some supervision.

However, 47 percent showed that, when they were consulted, it was very or extremely helpful. Sixty percent showed that they had positive on-thejob training or experience, though less than 50 percent said they received less than seven hours of training within the year. This wasn’t surprising since they are hourly employees whereas teachers have a more consistent salary. When they have seminars for teachers, they would have to pay the techs to attend even though they wouldn’t be working with students that day, which isn’t cost effective.

See Education, Pa g e 6

C

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The University Times Staff Editor Lanette Virtanen Assistant Editor Kayla Ames Stephanie Jellett Staff Writers Kayla Ames Stephanie Corriveau Donna Delong Cole DuMonthier Shara Gardner Sarah Graettinger Kathi Jandreau Stephanie Jellett Taylor Lawrence Mika Ouellette Ben Pinette Jessie Rose Carlos Villoria Lanette Virtanen Brianna Williams Kathleen York

Contributors Chris Corsello Dick Harrison Jim Stepp Don Zillman

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

University Times

ampus

March 16, 2012

Dear readers, With mid-terms just about finished and spring just around the corner, thereʼs so much to look forward to. The snow is melting, the temperature is rising and before you know it, youʼll be able to put away your winter coats. If you enjoy the snow, donʼt worry, itʼs not gone yet.

But thereʼs a lot more to look forward to here on campus, so keep your eyes open for upcoming events, get out, get involved and check out our U Times website.

Lanette Hi everyone!

I donʼt know about you, but Iʼm ready for summer! Iʼm getting pretty tired of the snow, slush and water everywhere, so Iʼve definitely been enjoying the nice, sunny, warm days weʼve been having lately.

St. Patrickʼs Day is Saturday, so donʼt forget to wear green! Have fun and be safe☺ Stephanie Greetings, Iʼm a fan of cold weather, so Iʼm not looking forward to spring as much as most people I know. I do, however, appreciate the seasonʼs beauty, the “altered look about the hills,” as Emily Dickinson would say. She also talked about expectation of flowers. I understand most of you are probably excited about melting snow, increasing temperatures and, yes, reawakened flowers, but please take time to appreciate what we have now. As a child, I remember desperately wanting the last season as soon as it was gone. By all means, move around, leave the dorm room and workplace behind for as long as responsibly possible. Enjoy yourself and, as you wait for spring warmth to make the flowers stir, perhaps pick up a copy of the U Times to further the experience. Thank you, Kayla

D at es fo r Subm issi o ns t o t h e U T im es Apr. 2

Apr. 23

Any submissions received after a deadline will be published in the following issue.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lowman at 768-9745.

Univer si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16 , 2 0 12

From Don’s Desk

3

Embrace the Owls I hope that it is not news to any reader that the owl is the symbol and mascot of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. I love the owl as mascot.

The owl is tough without being aggressive. The adjective most associated with owl is “wise.”

What’s not for a campus president to like about that? We also avoid any of the controversy of stealing human identities for the campus symbol. Ask Dr. J. about the University of North Dakota’s on-going controversy over the Fighting Sioux being the campus symbol on a campus where Native Americans are only a modest part of the university population.

Owls have been particularly on my mind in the last few months. The focus has been on the 30 foot sculpture/statute that stands between the President’s House and Emerson Hall. While it is visible from Main Street, it does tend to be “hidden in plain sight,” as one of our faculty members neatly described it.

The owls have a distinguished history. They are the creation of Bernard Langlais, one of Maine’s most prominent

sculptors. Mr. Langlais did much of his best work in large wooden formats such as the owls. The subjects and the rough wood media speak eloquently of Maine.

Our owls, created in the mid-1970s, were one of Mr. Langlais’ last creations before his death.

For 35 years the owls have observed the passing parade.

They have survived snow, rain, wind and hail. But, not entirely.

A few months ago, we surveyed the state of the wood. The report wasn’t good. Rot was eating away at the sculpture’s base and starting to do some damage to the owls themselves.

Very probably, if we did nothing, the president and some Emerson residents might be wakened some night quite soon by the sound of a collapsing statute.

What to do? We first surveyed campus to see if our

sense of the significance of the owls matched that of, at least, faculty and staff. A strong message came back: “Save the Owls if at all possible.”

Suitably backed, Charlie Bonin, facilities director Bob Aughinbaugh (who has historic preservation work on his ample

resume) and Reed Gallery director emerita Sandra Huck shaped a preservation plan.

In the last week, stage one has taken place. We have taken down the owls— very carefully. Only the base remains.

The owls themselves have been stored at the veterinarian (also known as the garage by Normal Hall). We will let them dry, remove any more hopelessly rotted material and begin a process of preservation of the 27 or 28 feet that remain according to state of the art preservation techniques. Bob has predicted that we may have a century or more of life on the tough old birds.

Our next decision is, where should the owls go?

A strong majority opinion favors moving the sculpture closer to the heart of campus, where the owls will be a daily

presence and become THE symbol of UMPI. Numerous campuses have similar defining, outdoor physical structures.

My alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, has long been known for a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln (in whose administration public higher education was shaped). The statute is a frequent backdrop for TV interviews, campus gatherings, marriage proposals, athletic and academic rituals (pat the owls for good luck on an exam). We hope the refurbished and relocated owls will take on that role at UMPI. Our hope is to complete work by fall 2012 Homecoming Weekend. We look forward to a spectacular rededication ceremony. We are asking friends of campus, of fine art, of owls to help us cover the costs of the renovation project. Already we have a $5,000 pledge from a great friend of the Langlais family.

We will try to provide regular reports on progress on Project Owl. We will also shortly seek advice on the best new central campus location. Stay tuned and Embrace the Owls.

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Unive r si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16 , 2 0 12

Chrisʼ Corner

I have been to the enemies’ quarters. It was an accident, but it happened.

The first time it happened, I was in a Mexican restaurant.

I was having dinner with some friends, and I was very engaged in the conversation.

There is nothing like good food and good conversation for one to lose one’s senses. I was lost in tacos and talk when it happened.

I accidentally went into the men’s room.

There is a strange feeling you get when this happens. There is a certain sense of familiarity and yet a real foreignness.

Something seems wrong but you can’t quite put your finger on it. And then, suddenly, another person appears from around the corner. An alarm starts to scream in my head, but my consciousness can’t figure out why the alarm is going off.

Until I realize I am the wrong gender to be in this room.

Trust me. There is no graceful way to get out of this situa-

Enemy Quarters

tion. Your mouth starts to mumble a half-apology, halfexcuse, while your feet trip over one another trying to get out the door.

Have you ever seen the E.F.

though the entire restaurant turns to look. In these situations, I always picture myself saying something very witty.

Instead, I usually end up walking into something.

Hutton commercials where everyone turns when the actor says, “My broker is E.F. Hutton.” This is what happens when you emerge from the wrong bathroom. It seems as

The most recent time it happened, I was with a very dear friend, so it wasn’t unusual for us to be consumed in conversation. We had just seen a very good movie and we were talk-

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ing about the film’s conclusion.

I was walking along with him and he walked into the bathroom. I walked right along with him. This was a very crowded bathroom – even for the men’s room. Popcorn, soda, candy: you know how that stuff can sometimes go right through you. My friend walked away from me so quickly that he left cartoon-style tracks and a cartoon-style puff of smoke.

I was alone in the enemy’s quarters.

I turned to escape and a wave of men came through the door. I fought my way through them. It is important that you understand that every one of them was looking at me as if I were the world’s most perverted person AND a cheat – because I didn’t want to face the long line of my respective bathroom. I believe my friend walked home that night rather than be seen with

me again.

We have all done dumb things. (OK, I seem to have done more than my fair share of dumb things but, whatever.) I have been told that recognizing your ability to make mistakes is part of maturing.

I would like to say that I must be VERY mature. I make a lot of mistakes.

I know that the winter has been long: so too, the semester.

This time of year, I find that the mistakes become more frequent and more prominent. And probably, like me, you find that it’s harder to gracefully acknowledge your mistakes.

My message this month is to hang in there. The end of the semester and graduation are around the corner, the summer is approaching (at least I hope so) and new batches of incoming students are dreaming of attending UMPI. Take some time to focus on the hope, focus on the possibilities and above all, focus on the signs on the restroom doors!

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Univer si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16 , 2 0 12

Finding the Truth Ben Pinette STAFF WRITER

Over the last five years, it has been no secret that the way we get our news and media has certainly changed.

Long gone are the days where the whole family gathers around the television set at 6:30 each night with Walter Cronkite giving us the world roundup. The way we’re getting our news is significantly different. In this day and age, it’s also about finding the truth in the different media that are at our fingertips.

This question and others were discussed at a journalism seminar entitled, “Information Overload: How Do You Find the Truth?” that took place on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Wieden auditorium. The public was invited to attend this free seminar that featured award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Darrell Dorgan of North Dakota and local media experts Shawn Cunningham of WAGM-TV and Jen Lynds of the Bangor Daily News.. Mass communication and journalism professor, Dr. Jacqui Lowman, was also on the panel, moderating the seminar.

Dorgan was one of the first to speak about some of the changes media have undergone in the last one hundred years or so.

“We first had books, then the Gutenberg Press. Out of that came the telegraph, then radio, then television, and now the Internet.

Media have changed,” Dorgan said.

Dorgan was quick to point out that not all talk radio is news. It’s mostly entertainment.

Blogs, too, aren’t necessarily

local television station WAGMTV for more than 10 years.

She has witnessed the change in how people perceive media, including the use of technology.

“In television, computers have eliminated jobs.

Everything is robotic here at WAGM,” Cunningham said.

According to Cunningham,

puters were not used so much.

“In 1996, at Houlton High School, we had one computer with Internet and that was in the library. Now, at my job here at the Bangor Daily, in the last five or six years, we’ve had to go into social media. The statistics for us are that only senior citizens are reading our paper.

From left to right: Dr. Jacqui Lowman, Darrell Dorgan, Jen Lynds and Shawn Cunningham. news, according to Dorgan.

Later on, Dorgan had this to say about the future of the print newspaper: “I don’t think in 10 to 15 years we will have a daily print newspaper delivered to your door.”

Cunningham has been at

at WAGM-TV, they have had to get with the times, and fast.

They’ve had to add new media such as Facebook and Twitter to their newscasts to keep up.

Jen Lynds, a reporter for the Aroostook County bureau of the Bangor Daily News, remembered a time when com-

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Please complete your International Student Check-in Form. Upon returning to campus each new semester or when you start student teaching, you must complete an international student check-in registration form to have your SEVIS record updated and activated.

You may either come to the South Hall information desk to complete a paper check-in registration form or you may complete this form online at: http://wp.umpi.edu/forms/is-check-in/ (PLEASE NOTE THE URL CHANGE)

It’s all about web traffic now,” Lynds said.

Lynds also had a message to all future journalists who were in the audience, some of whom were in high school. She told them not to take shortcuts, giving Dan Rather and the Killian documents as an example of

5 what can happen if you do.

Lynds was referring to Rather’s reports about Bush’s former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian’s memos that were forged in Rather’s 2004 report. Rather ended up retiring just months after this incident broke out in other news outlets.

Sarah Graettinger, a fourth year international studies major, was in the audience. She is also getting a professional communication minor and has been writing for the U Times for more than three years.

“I think that the future for media is that the Internet is going to become more prominent and that regular newsprint is going to be a thing of the past. Changes are already known, and more people get their news from blogs or Facebook than actual newsprint.… I like the changes,” Graettinger said.

Whether print newspapers and newscasts become a thing of the past, one thing will never change. The news matters and will always be there.

Technology and life have also changed dramatically in the last 50 years. For good or bad, media have been with us our whole lives and will continue to inform, reflect and educate us, no matter how or where we choose to get them.

Want to have your message seen and heard in print or on radio?

Consider placing an ad in our school newspaper, The University Times. Another possibility: our campus radio station, WUPI 92.1 “The Owl.” Contact Sales Manager Donna DeLong (left) at 227-0070 to inquire.

6

Education

Continued from Page 1 The techs’ perceived training needs were as followed: 43 percent felt they needed more with behavtraining ior/emotional/social challenges. That is a high rate when this is what most of their job entails. A little more than 4 percent felt that they needed more training on dealing with stress in children that they worked with. And 7.9 percent showed

Unive r si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16 , 2 0 12 that they needed more training with special education needs.

Some question if the students are getting educated by being with the techs since they have no formal training. In regards to their initial training, 46 percent rated it fair to very poor. How can we expect them to teach our children if they themselves don’t feel like they are being properly trained?

In 2010, no program existed for special education training.

Now, since this survey was done, UMPI has one. This is being done through a team effort with the U Maine system with each campus taking on its own role in the program. UMPI is focusing on paraprofessionals.

As the program gets underway, the U Maine sys-

Awareness

“I’m very intentional about doing student driven programs, tem is looking over what other so whether it is this exact prostates have done well in search Continued from Page 1 gram or something similar, we of ideas for the program. have a community focused area, In conclusion, the facts show Durr has hopes for so I can’t see us branching too far that Maine is higher than the national average, with 17 per- future programs. from something like this.” cent special needs children compared to the national average of 12 percent. This can also be due in part to Maine having lower eligibility standards than other states. Also, more education techs are needed in Aroostook County due to them needing one for each special needs child since the area is more spread out. This is all due to funding.

More funding is always needed to help support education needs. Getting involved in the community and what is happening here in Maine, especially with the educational needs of the children, is something that should be important to everyone, because children Dr. Jacqui Lowman speaking at the “Everyone Mattersʼ are the future.

campaign.

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Univer si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16, 2 0 12

A Surprise Visit board and was only a couple meet another Flat Stanley and professional communication student, said. inches tall. It was the one and from Connecticut.

Lanette Virtanen, the U The shock of seeing Flat only Flat Stanley.

Students in Dr. Jacqui “Flat Stanley” is a 1964 Stanley certainly surprised Times editor, also found Flat Lowman’s evolving media class children’s book written by Jeff some of the students in the Stanley’s visit to be special. got a surprise guest on “It’s great that Flat Stanley Brown. Recently, first- evolving media class.

“I thought it was interest- is getting to see Maine and that grade class members in Mesa, Ariz., made ing. It’s a good idea to help he was able to come to UMPI. their own Flat Stanleys kids learn about different We enjoyed having him in our and sent them to fami- parts of the world,” Mika class and getting to hear of ly and friends across Ouellette, a third-year English some of the places that he’s the country. One of the Flat Stanleys was made by Don and Deb Sirois’ grandson, Tanner, and was sent to northern Maine and UMPI for a visit.

Besides visiting UMPI, Flat Stanley has been taken to a Caribou-Presque Isle basketball game and had his picture taken with the referees. He has been snow-shoesnowmobiling, Ben Pinette training Flat Stanley ing, and has ridden a fouron the radio. wheeler. He has also visited the Fort Kent Thursday, Feb. 16. The guest Elementary School and PCJ 318 Evolving Media class with Flat Stanley. happened to be made of cardCanada, and he had plans to Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

been to,” Virtanen said.

All of Flat Stanley’s UMPI highlights will become part of Flat Stanley’s travel journal, which will be returned to his Mesa first-grade class on April 17, via US Airways. To learn more about Flat Stanley, visit his website at http://www.flatstanleybooks. com.

Student Events 2012 March

19--Dinner and a movie “Forks Over Knives” 6 p.m. MPR 21--Movie Night “Love and Basketball” 8 p.m. Alumni Room

April

6--Cardboard Boat Regatta 3:30 p.m. Gentile 11--University Day all day Folsom-Pullen 12--Dinner and a movie “Unnatural Causes” 6 p.m. MPR

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Unive r si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16, 2 0 12

That’s Using Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

ved. etting sha g t n e r a P Gary

A little Planet Head.

Imagine shaved, painted and ringed heads for as far as the eye could see. That’s what you would have seen on Saturday, Feb. 18, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., if you’d entered UMPI’s Wieden Gymnasium. That was where the sixth annual Planet Head Day took place, not to mention where more than 30 volunteers and, according to event organizers, almost 300 people gathered to show support. What were they supporting? Mostly an organization called C-A-N-C-E-R, or Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery. Overall, though, they were there to honor anyone who has ever had to deal with or might still be struggling with cancer.

Planet Head Day is an event based around awareness and donations. All can

come and get their heads shaved or, if they prefer, wear an elastic swim cap, which volunteer artists then paint to resemble planets, dwarf planets or moons. This year, participants came from all over Aroostook County, New Brunswick and from as far away as Boston. It has become the most important fundraising event for C-A-NC-E-R and, this year, it coincided with the 82nd anniversary of the discovery of Pluto, now considered a dwarf planet.

Planet Head Day, pretty much the only place you’ll find floating fields of painted heads outside a carnival, is also dedicated to celebrating science and education.

Numerous stands lined the sides of Wieden, ranging from UMPI’s geo-ecology club to New Horizons, which

is part of NASA. Knotty Knitters gave free hats to all who had shaved their heads and other tables offered themed merchandise.

“Off with the hair!” said Kevin McCartney, UMPI’s professor of geology and coorganizer of Planet Head Day, as he sat down to get his head shaved.

McCartney, keeping with tradition, got his head painted to resemble Pluto.

There were plenty of others happy to give their hair, time and money. Jeannie McGowan, coordinator for educational outreach with UMPI’s Northern Maine Museum of Science, also organized the event. Louise Calabrese is chairwoman of C-A-N-C-E-R and donated a lot of her time to setting up the gymnasium as well as overseeing volunteers.

Professor McCartney and Shawn as Saturn.

Cunningha m

Unive r si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16, 2 0 12

9

Y o u r Head....

WAGM-TV personnel, including Shawn Cunningham and weatherman Ted Shapiro, made an appearance.

Cunningham donned a bald cap and got her head painted while Shapiro, along with UMPI student Andrew Hunt, maintained a running commentary.

“Planet Head Day was a very fun experience and it is for a good cause. I was glad to have the privilege to be there and meet a lot of interesting people and cancer survivors as well as co-EMCEE the event,” Hunt said.

He got his head painted as Saturn, distinguished by its — in this case — cardboard rings. He and Shapiro gave regular donation updates, posed trivia questions and conducted brief interviews by way of a microphone. Hunt said that he enjoyed being in

good company all day and the fact that the money raised stays in the County.

Since it began in 2007, Planet Head Day has doubled the money raised each year.

Last year donors raised approximately $15,000. As of Feb. 27, organizers had almost succeeded in their goal of making twice that much.

“Fundraising is at $29,000, plus right now, and I hope we can still make $30,000. [I] raised 300 more dollars today at Rotary,” McCartney said.

That much money wouldn’t, of course, be possible without all the people who came out to help their neighbors, or even those they didn’t know but wanted to recognize.

Lynwood Winslow, for instance, volunteered equipment to print photographs and certificates for the various Planet Heads in attendance.

The Caribou and Presque Isle Pizza Huts, barbers from Parsons Street Barbershop, hair stylists from Great Beginnings Hair Boutique, members of the Red Hat Society and every other volunteer, too, deserve our thanks.

We’ve all been touched by cancer. It’s comforting to know so many care.

If you’re interested in helping C-A-N-C-E-R and Planet Head Day organizers succeed in their mission, you can send donati o ns to P.O. B ox 8 11, Presque Isle, ME 04769, or call Louise Calabrese at 207-764-0766. If you want to lear n more or see some of the people involved in th is ye a r’s Pla net H ea d Day, check out the annual YouTube video at: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zIoo3g4aPsM.

d as one painte is th , d a lanet He Another P Saturn.

Kanyon Parent painted painted as the sun.

Planet Head Dayʼs many supporters.

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Eat, Shop, Fundraise Going to the With Phi Eta Sigma Dogs Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

You may have heard of the movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” but UMPI’s chapter of Phi Eta Sigma did their own version of this, except with shopping and fundraising. The group held a Pampered Chef fundraiser party in the faculty lounge of Normal Hall during lunch on Saturday, March 3.

The group is raising funds for their trip to Salt Lake City for the Phi Eta Sigma National Conference in the fall.

Pampered Chef is a company that makes and sells mail-order dishes, cookware and other home goods. It was established in the 1980s by a woman named Doris Christopher who wanted to help average people earn extra money in their spare time by selling the products. Anyone can sell Pampered Chef and can expect to sell up to $500 in products per party.

Becky Stepp, the chapter president, is also a Pampered Chef consultant.

Conveniently enough, the new spring products came out just in time for the group’s fundraiser.

She decided to put these two events together in order to

Pampered Chef products.

both celebrate the new spring products and fundraise for the group. She has been a consultant for the last two years to help put her children through school but enjoys hosting fundraising events such as these as well.

“I love the products and benefits I get from the company. I get paid to party,” Stepp said.

At the event, Stepp performed a cooking demo using products from the Pampered Chef catalog. A chili and cornbread lunch was cooked and served with brownies for dessert.

While they ate, guests had the opportu- Becky Stepp, chapter president of Phi nity to be entered Eta Sigma and Pampered Chef for door prizes, including cook- consultant. books and made nearly $200 at this kitchen gadgets, by playing a party and hopes to have series of trivia games about more fundraisers like it in Pampered Chef. The group the future.

Jessie Rose STAFF WRITER

mals. We’re happy that he’s on the board,” Betsy Hallet, manager of the shelter, said.

For people interested in following Salo’s advice and getting involved in volunteering, has opportunities.

“We can always use volunteers to help out with different things that are happening at the shelter or just to spend time with the animals,” Hallet said.

So while Salo had been more of a cat person before, his love for Buddy and Molly is strong. And he’s taken that care beyond his home to help many animals at the shelter.

You can too.

Our pets say a lot about us – even if they can’t talk. How we get them, why we keep them can be revealing. Take UMPI Professor Allen Salo. He shares his life with Buddy, a bassett hound, and Molly, an English setter. You could say that Salo got Molly and Buddy after a relationship ended and the dogs stayed with him. He was more then OK with that.

“I had wanted a hunting dog, so that’s why she picked out Molly,” Salo said. “But Molly isn’t a hunting dog, she is just a companion.”

Before Buddy and Molly, Salo had been more of a cat person than a dog person. While he still loves his cats, Molly and Buddy are just as important to him. They’re his loving companions who are always eager to see him when he gets home from work. Even after a hard day at work, seeing the dogs when he gets home always makes things brighter.

Salo is also involved with the local animal shelter, Central Aroostook Humane Society.

Here he is a member of the board.

He feels that volunteering and giving back to the community are important factors for students to consider.

“It’s important for students to get involved,” Salo said.

“Allen is a great Allen Salo with Buddy. guy, who loves ani-

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Univer si ty Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 16, 2 0 12

Illusion of the Mind Jessie Rose STAFF WRITER

Can the mind play tricks on you? Have you ever wondered if, when you see people perform on stage, it’s all an act?

Michael C. Anthony came to UMPI to perform as a hypnotist. But was the performance real? Would the students who participated on stage become hypnotized? These were the questions on the audience’s mind.

“This is 110 percent safe,” Anthony said. “This will not affect anyone in the audience. If the person next to you says that they are starting to feel it, just flick them in the face, and they will snap out of it.”

The roar of laughter could be heard throughout Wieden as the show went on.

“You can’t force it. You have to want it to work,” Anthony said.

After the students were in a trance, Anthony had them believing their hands were glued together. The harder they tried to pull their hands apart, the harder they seemed to be stuck. Next, the students were made to relax and soon they fell asleep. They were falling over each other, lounging on the floor, one participant even half on and half off the chair.

After, Anthony painted a picture of the students on a beach, relaxing by the pool

with the ocean off to the back of them. They were made to believe they were in the best shape of their lives. Jeremy Tarr proceeded to throw off his shirt as Anthony made the temperature rise so hot that

think that the person next to them had pinched their butts.

Students jumped up out of their seats, accusing the person next to them of pinching them.

They moved seats so they were no longer sitting next to the per-

other students watched .

“Focus on the belt,” Anthony said.

All were highly focused on the belt. Anthony moved closer, also examining the belt. He made the sound of a

Michael C. Anthony hypnotizing various students. they couldn’t breathe.

Everyone took of their shoes.

Then Anthony told them the only way they could breathe was if they used a shoe as an oxygen mask. All grabbed their own shoe besides Tarr, who grabbed the boot closest to him. As the temperature dropped and people gravitated toward each other to stay warm, Anthony made them believe that when he said the word “Ouch,” they would

Participants under the spell of Anthony.

son whom they believed pinched them. Within the next two minutes, Anthony said it again. The funny thing was that they accused the same person of pinching them once again, even though they were no longer sitting next to that person. In some cases, the person was on the other side of the stage.

Anthony had one of the students take off his belt and he hung it from the microphone stand as the

snake. Students jumped from all directions as they believed this was an actual snake on stage with them. Anthony convinced the students it was just a belt as they had seen him hang it. Next, Anthony laid the belt on the floor and again had the students study the belt. Some moved closer to get a better look to make sure that it was indeed just a belt. Anthony made the sound again.

This time, as students jumped away, some fell backwards out of their chairs. After Anthony called Tarr over and had him sleep again and gave him a new name. He convinced Tarr that his new name was “Cha Cha.” “Coco, it is, right?” Anthony asked Tarr.

“It’s Cha Cha,” Tarr said.

“Cha Cha.” Each time this went on, Tarr became more upset at having to repeat his name, until Anthony finally remembered it. This made Tarr smile.

At the end of the show, before having everyone leave the stage, Anthony had an announcement to make to the participants.

“I have traveled all over the country and have had success everywhere I have gone besides here. I’m sorry but I have to give up. I have tried for the last hour with nothing happening,” Anthony said to the students.

“Try again,” the students said in unison.

“Just one more time,” Christina Hall pleaded.

“I’m sorry, but I will let you all leave the stage now,” Anthony said.

As each student left the stage and their feet hit the bottom of the stairs, all the memories rushed back to them. They could remember the whole show and how it turned out and what they had done.

“Were you just pretending?”

Esha Stover asked Christina Hall as she left the stage.

“No, I wasn’t pretending,” she said.

When asked about the show, everyone had something different to say. Kelsey Cyr thought it was funny. Jessalyn Levesque’s favorite part was when Anthony frightened his audience with the belt-turned-snake.

Next year, we hope Anthony returns. Everyone who attended had fun. The show was great entertainment and good for a lot of laughs.

Unive r sit y Tim es ! CAMPUS ! M arch 1 6, 2 0 12

SAVE THE DATE!

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16th Annual Spring Ball Theme: Fire & Ice FRIDAY, APRIL 27 6:30 - 11:30 p.m.

Join the Univeristy Credit Union on Tuesday, March 20

4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Campus Center.

Dinner is provided.

Please bring a laptop.

Learn About:

- How to land a successful career after graduation.

- Job search strategies and how to get ahead.

- How to be successful financially.

Space is limited, please RSVP by March 16.

Contact Candice Roy at 554-4810

A Movie About Diversity: “Turquoise Rose” Monday, March 19 6:30 p.m. in the Campus Center St. John & Aroostook Room ALL ARE WELCOME For More Information contact: Lisa Udasco at 768-9558

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March 16, 2012

Supporting Your Kathi L. Jandreau STAFF WRITER

The performance of “Potatold.”

Parlinʼs work at the library.

There was quite a crowd lined up at UMPI’s Reed Gallery for the first Friday Art Walk of March. The event began with a short speech and introduction of both of UMPI’s newest art professors, Heather Sincavage and Hyrum Benson. The showcase was called H (Squared). It was an exhibition of the newest work by the two since each of them moved to Maine.

Benson, UMPI’s newest professor of art, originally from Texas, started the night off with a witty speech regarding his background and work.

“I’m enjoying Maine,” Benson said. “The weather’s a little different than northern Texas, but I like the snow.”

Much of Benson’s work at Friday’s exhibition was ceramic pots he had created.

They were all very different and unique, with a great play on space, and even better--they were all usable.

“I majored in graphic design, but always kept a foot in the ceramics door,” Benson said.

Benson described much of his work as “studies in the making.”

“I really enjoy the making of these items, I like taking weird ideas I have and making them into a tangible

for m,” Benson said, just before he introduced Sincavage to the crowd.

Sincavage is a mixed media artist from Pennsylvania who focuses on the female archetype in her work. Her beautiful sketch pieces, all part of a series she has been working on, were lined up on the walls of Reed Gallery and many were struck by how intriguing they really were. Sincavage lit up the room with her spirit and char m as she described the pieces as “work that’s been progressing.” She also informed us that the woman in her portrait pieces was her sister.

What was most likely the center focus for eyes in the gallery that night was Sincavage’s large piece of art which she based on the movement of water, the fluidity and the power of it.

The piece was created from many pairs of jeans, her own and some of which were donated, placed on boards, which flowed and cascaded from the wall to the floor.

“It’s about the idea that we are all evolving creatures,” Sincavage said. “It’s about figuring out what our true identity is, and the reevaluation of self.”

Sincavage went on to describe her piece as, “a metaphor. It’s like the movement of water, just as we are moving through life.”

With that said, it was time for some movement around the downtown area, as there was a great line-up of artists from Aroostook county exhibiting at local businesses that evening.

The first stop was at the MPG Truck and Tractor store on Main Street for some perfor mance art by Carol Ayoob. The performance, entitled “Potatold,” was created by Ayoob after hearing that Aroostook County’s present situation of losing farmers and family farms is only “old conversation.” The perfor mance was played out in the parking lot of MPG and included the reading of reflections on potato farming in Aroostook County.

Participants in this performance stood outside in the bitter cold and dark, in a circle. Lines such as, “The human mind and heart are not dead yet” and “The potato is part of the highest family, relative of the eggplant and petunia, bitter sweet,” were read aloud as potatos were slowly picked out of a small wooden coffin and passed around. The atmosphere was rather somber. As the poetic reflections were read, it became clear that the artists were trying to make it known that potato farming in Aroostook County is still important and that it will not die.

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Community “In the north are found the tools of both building and destruction,” the speaker said.

The speaker was standing inside a potato barrel in the center of the circle. It was a very interesting performance, filled with facts and representing, as well as supporting Aroostook County agriculture.

Further down Main Street, there was much more to see. Karrie Brawn, a student at UMPI, had her exhibit at Oasis Salon.

Inside, she had displayed many beautiful paintings and sketches as well as other forms of art she had created.

There was quite an audience lined up to view her work.

Right next door at Morning Star Art and Framing, Thomas Cote, an Acadian sculptor, was sharing his wood carving work.

Many of the pieces he was exhibiting were Native American-or natureinspired. They were very intricate and detailed.

When asked what inspires him when he carves, Cote replied, “I focus on the challenge of doing something new. I don’t like to do the same thing over and over again.”

In the near future, Cote will be starting a huge project for the Acadian Congress. He will be carving depictions of Acadian life in

the 1800s into very large blocks of wood. Cote creates and sells his work out of Limestone. He also taught art for the MSSM in Limestone for 30 years. Cote is now offering carving classes and has won several awards for his work.

Across the street at the Salvation Ar my, Simon Clair, who prefers to be called by his Indian name, Blawej, which means “partridge,” was showing the public his basket collection.

He creates his baskets out of brown ash, a wood that he gets locally. Blawej creates and sells his baskets out of Bridgewater. There was a small crowd gathered around as Blawej weaved a basket. He has been weaving since he was little boy. A great use for one of his baskets would be carrying potatoes, as they are very strong and sturdy.

Around the corner, at Wintergreen Arts Center, Studio 923, UMPI’s art club was having an exhibition of their work as well. This included work by several upand-coming artists in the local area, as well as music by other students. The exhibit featured a large variety of pieces by these students and they will remain on display in the Barresi Financial Gallery until March 30. This is a great opportunity for the local

people to stop by and see some great work by the UMPI art club.

Last, but certainly not least, sculptor Richard Parlin held an exhibit at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library. Parlin’s work consisted of Brook Trout carvings mounted on wood. Some of them have paintings of rapids, which Parlin was inspired by in Quebec. By looking at them, you would never have guessed that they were carved out of Styrofoam.

The trout were painted beautifully with intricate design and great detail.

They were touched up with a very glossy finish. Parlin sculpts out of Easton and is associated with Feathers and Trout of Easton.

The Art Walk is more than just a show. It is an experience and an opportunity. It gives the community something new to explore, allows local artists the chance to share their work and provides local businesses a chance to promote themselves. If that’s not enough, it’s a great chance to get in some exercise. The Art Walks are held every first Friday of each month and feature different artists each time. So make plans for next April, to come out and support your local community and view some brilliant art work.

Baskets made by Blawej.

Karrie Brawn (Center) at the Oasis Salon.

Photo Credit: Oasin Salon.

Bensonʼs functional watering pots.

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Uni ve r si ty Ti m e s ! COMMUNITY ! Ma rch 16, 2 0 1 2

How Safe Are We, Really?

Shara Gardner STAFF WRITER

In the wake of another school shooting, we more often than not find ourselves questioning the false sense of security that we take for granted living in the County. We are a small town.

Everyone knows everyone. Something like that couldn’t happen here.

Here’s a reality check, folks: Chardon, Ohio, the scene of the most recent school shooting, is a small town— population 5,100. That’s half the size of Presque Isle. The question isn’t can such a senseless act of violence like that happen here.

The question is, when?

The after effects of an event like this move across the country, like ripples on a pond. The direct effects are felt hardest closest to the scene of the shooting, with milder effects the further away you get. What we can’t do is hide behind our ignorance and pretend that this could never happen here. The reality is that it can happen anywhere at any time. Schools and com-

Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

Wh e n wa lki ng arou nd th e U ni ver sit y of M ain e at P re squ e Isle, stud ents m in g le a nd talk to each o t h e r. O n e m i g h t e v e n r u n i n t o a st u d e n t wh o was just elected as the P re sq u e Isle D e m o c r at ic Par ty C hair. Sa m Po rt e ra w as e l ec ted to t his cha i r o n Fe b. 26 at a cau c us.

A c au cus is when su p p or te r s m ee t toge ther and n om in ate a m em ber of a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y. Pe o p l e m i gh t say t hi s means t hat

munities need to do two things. One is to be as prepared as possible so that when faced with a situation of that magnitude, we can be ready to jump into action and keep the damage to a minimum. But more important, we need to

be proactive than reactive.

Even in the midst of the shock and pain of the Chardon High School events, “Local officials, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and several students credited frequent lockdown drills and the

have preventative programs in place. This is key to avoiding being faced with these situations in the first place. It is much better to

quick response of school authorities for helping keep the situation from becoming worse,” (CNN.com article).

“You think it can’t happen here,” Dave Ouellette, CACE director and retired high school principal, said.

“There are several things we can do to try to prevent this from happening. One is to have a good climate and healthy relationships between staff and students.

Every school needs to have a formal crisis plan. A bully prevention program is also a great way to help avoid this from happening.”

“Prevention is the way to go,” Ben Lothrop, vice principal of Van Buren High School, said. “Our school social worker and guidance counselor work with our teachers and students on a regular basis to develop and maintain close relationships. We all do our best to keep our eyes and ears open and to be aware of what’s going on in our school.”

A point that both Ouellette and Lothrop made was that the students are key to keeping faculty and staff infor med about what’s going on in the hallways, locker rooms and other places where they

aren’t always present.

Bullying prevention can be a significant school focus, but bullies know enough to not taunt or harass other kids in front of the staff.

“The students are the best insurance policy to help prevent things like what just happened at Chardon High School from happening in other schools,” Ouellette said.

When tragedies of this magnitude occur, people scramble to make sense of them. T hey get on their soapboxes and point fingers because it always f e e l s b e t t e r w h e n yo u have someone to blame.

Then what happens is that days and weeks go by and we begin to get comfortable ag ain. We settle back into our daily routines and let our guard down. If we all take a litt l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y, k e e p our eyes and ear s open to wh at ’s g o i n g o n a ro u n d us, we can make a dif ference and kee p our schools safe. By giving people a minute of your time, you m ay b e g i vi n g p o t e n ti a l victims their lifes.

toward all political parties is an important task o f b e c o m i n g c h a i r. “ W h at m a d e m e r u n was the feeling that I w a n t e d t o h e l p p e o p l e.

T h e w i l l i n g n e s s t o wo rk together and to work together is something t h a t i s n e e d e d . Pe o p l e n e e d t o vo t e o n t h e i s s u e s that are surrounding s o c i e t y, a n d t o h ave p e o p l e b e aw a re o f wh at i s g o i n g i n s o c i e t y t o d ay, ” Po r t e r a s a i d .

Society and modern issues are just some of

the things that citizens should take into conside r a t i o n w h e n l o o k i n g at the country t o d a y.

Aw a re n e s s o f e a ch p o l i t i cal party can help generate solutions for the future.

Deter mination a n d p o l i t i c a l d e c i s i ve n e s s c a n p rov i d e a c l e a r m e s sage to all community members to help contribute to change.

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o M r.

Po r t e r a , o n h i s r e c e i v i n g this position, because the s u n i s o n yo u r h o r i z o n .

Political Frontrunner

com mun i ty me mb er s a re looking for infor mation about the Democratic pol i ti cal pa r ty.

“S om e o f my go al s a re to m ake Ame ri c an s awa re of wh at’s g oin g o n in t he c o u n t r y, a n d s t a t e a n d encourage participation of th e peo pl e of M ai n e, ” Po r ter a sa id .

A Democratic chair is important because they help other members of the political party org anize, and play a leg al role. Creating a good communication

Sam Portera

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UMPI Baseball Wins Its First Game in February Carlos Villoria STAFF WRITER

The University of Maine at Presque Isle baseball team won its first game of the season against Greensboro College. Even better, that was its first victory in the school’s

After losing the first three game of the season—a doubleheader against Roanoke College and a single game against North Carolina Wesleyan—the Owls came back to play Tuesday night with the desire to change the history of this team.

Dylan Worster (Center) history in February.

For the eighth year and fourth in a row, the Owls head coach, Leo Saucier, has taken teams south to play baseball in February. Always, before, it was without winning any games. But this year was a different story.

As a northern team, going all the way to North Carolina to play baseball is a challenge. This was the first time that the team had played or practiced outdoors since fall ball back in October.

The game against Greensboro College didn’t bring head coach

Leo Saucier good memories. Greensboro College and the Saucier said.

Three years before, Greensboro members of UMPI’s baseball The Owls starting pitcher, College beat the Owls 17-1.

Dylan Worster (Howland, Some of the Greensboro Maine), threw a great game College players had confidence from the mound. He completthat that game would be easy to ed seven innings, one earned win. But it was a completely difrun, one walk and five strikeferent story. outs, taking the ball of the Entering into the game, the game given by the head Owls scored three runs in the coach to the best player of third inning with RBI singles the game.

by Carlos Villoria (Caracas, The University of Maine Venezuela) and Ted Walker at Presque Isle baseball (Caribou, Maine). Greensboro team members are getting scored one in the bottom of ready for the second trip the third inning, another one south next March 23. They in the bottom of the fifth want to keep playing well to inning and tied the game in the try to break the most wins in bottom of the eighth inning. a season (14) record Andy Brown With the ballgame tied in the obtained three years ago. ninth inning, the Owls didn’t team won their first give up and scored three more game of the season. runs with another RBI single by “What a great Walker and Jordan Duffy (Fort game! This game Augustus, Prince Edward Island, was nuts!” sophoCanada) to be ahead on the more right fielder scoreboard 6-3.

Shane Smith said.

In the bottom of the ninth “Guys, this is our inning, Greensboro College first win here in the started to make a threat against S o u t h ! sophomore pitcher Andy Brown Congratulations.

(Princeton, Maine), scoring one You guys deserve UMPI player tags out team member run. But it wasn’t enough for it!” head coach Leo

Come one, Come all

Outdoor Sports Show

from Greenboro.

sp on sored by th e Pre sq ue Isle Fish a nd G a me Clu b

M a rc h 2 6 f ro m 9 a . m . t o 5 p. m .

M a rc h 2 7 f ro m 9 a . m . t o 4 p. m .

Gentile Hall, UMPI

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Reasons to Be Remembered March 16, 2012

Kathleen York STAFF WRITER

I t ’s l u n ch t i m e, a n d t o d ay yo u ’ve o p t e d t o bring your humble sandwich and chips in a flat-bottomed paper b a g.

Yo u a d j u s t y o u r glasses while checking your text messages on your phone. T here are only three at the moment, so you put it away and notice a woman out of the corner of your eye walking down Main Street. She has a backpack-like contraption called a Snugli strapped on her back, which contains a s l e e p i n g b a b y.

Yo u watch her go around the corner before cont i n u i n g o n y o u r w a y.

What do flat-bottomed paper bags, non-ref lective glasses and a Snugli have in common?

They were all invented by w o m e n .

What qualities make a person historic? How many awards she’s won?

Her education?

Her notoriety?

Every year in March, we ask this question as we celebrate Wo m e n ’ s History Month.

Congress ratifies that designation for the month, and the president makes a proclamat i o n i n i t s h o n o r. S o m e observe it as a time to remember women from history who helped s h a p e o u r c o u n t r y.

But when people think of “historic,” they often take a narrow

v i e w. I n v e n t i o n s s e l d o m c o m e u p. Pe o p l e t h i n k in terms of historic e v e n t s o r, s o m e t i m e s , w o r k s o f a r t . Pe o p l e o n and off campus were asked how many names of historic women they could come up with off the tops of their heads.

Ro s a P a r k s , t h e w o m a n famous for refusing to give up her bus seat, was the name that came up the most.

But the question still arises: What makes a woman, or any person, historic?

Why remember at all?

D r. Jo h n Z a b o r n e y, UMPI associate profess o r o f h i s t o r y, s h a r e d his view about the sign i f i c a n c e o f Wo m e n ’ s History Month.

He compared it to a similar commemoration that happened last month: Black History Month.

Slaves and their stories are his area of expertise, he admitted, but their history—the reason for remembering them, their culture and their l i v e s i n Fe b r u a r y — i s much the same reason Wo m e n ’ s History Month is so important. “ I t ’s p a r t o f t h e p i c t u r e, ” Z a b o r n e y s a i d o f w o m e n’s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o h i s t o r y. “ Wi t h o u t i t , t h e interpretation will be l a c k i n g o r t o t a l l y w r o n g.

Wo m e n’s h i s t o r y i n f o r m s i t a n d g i v e s yo u a m o r e accurate portrayal.

It helps to explain what happened, what these p e o p l e d i d . T h e s t o r y,

in the end, is that much m o r e p r e c i s e. ” And what is that story?

Zabor ney was asked to name three women from history that, if given a time machine, he would like to meet, talk to and thank for their work.

After much deliberation (“There are just so many names to choose from!”), he lighted on three.

Ro s a Pa rk s ’ name once again came u p.

Zabor ney also chose Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. A n t h o n y, b o t h o f w h o m are credited with helping start the movement to give women the right to vote in America.

His reason for choosing them was the same.

I t ’s a t h i n g, a t e s t o f c h a r a c t e r, t h a t connects all women f r o m h i s t o r y, a n d p e o ple today who are following in the footsteps of these famous names: their courage.

N a n c y F l e t c h e r, head UMPI librarian, was in agreement, and summed it up like t h i s : “A w o m a n d o e s n’t have to be famous to be a woman in hist o r y. ” S h e a n d m a n y others think that there are many women, many common, everyday people, who are alive today making a difference and who someday will be marked among the greats...the people with a reason to be

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Can you name the following historic women?

Answers on page 19.

1. I’m famous for writing stories about the lives of slaves, most famously “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

2. I’m famous for my work as a physicist, a profession which was discouraged for women at the time.

3. I’m famous for being the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

4. I’m famous for lobbying for black and women’s rights. I changed my name after receiving a vision.

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Unive r si ty Ti m e s ! VOICE ! M a rch 16 , 2 01 2

The Freedom to Marry Dick Harrison CONTRIBUTOR

So you’ve finally met that special someone. You fall in love and make plans to build your lives together as a couple. You tell your families and they’re happy for you. They think, “Finally, my son/daughter has found someone. I thought he/she would be alone forever. I’m so happy.” If you fall in love with someone of the opposite gender, then here’s the scenario: engagement, wedding plans, invitations . . . the whole shebang.

But if you’re one of a minority of people who is naturally attracted to a person of your own gender, you’re in a bind. If you live in Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York state, Vermont, Washington, D.C., Washington state, on the lands of the Coquille or Suquamish tribes or anywhere in the entire nation of Canada – then you can proceed past Go, collect your $200 and get married.

But if you’re in Maine, you’re out of luck. Maine had marriage equality for a short time. A campaign based upon lies and halftruths and scare tactics convinced a slim majority of voters to reverse what the Maine Legislature and gover nor acknowledged –

that all Mainers have an equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This includes the right to marry the person of their choice. Now a campaign to reg ain the freedom to marry in Maine has begun. Over the last few months, Mainers—including a large number of people here in the County—gathered twice as many signatures as needed to put this question on the November 2012 ballot: “Do you favor a law allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples that protects religious freedom by ensuring no religion or clergy be required to perfor m such a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs?”

Anti-marriage equality proponents point to what they call “traditional” mar riage. T hat definition has changed ov e r t i m e. A s r e c e n t l y a s 1967, what was called “traditional” meant marriage between one man and one woman of t h e s a m e r a c e. T h e U. S. Supreme Court found that interracial bans on

marriage violated the Fo u r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t of the U. S .

Constitution. If we still applied that definition, B a r a c k O b a m a ’s p a r e n t s w o u l d h av e b e e n d e n i e d t h e f r e e d o m t o m a r r y.

We n o l o n g e r a c c e p t t h e

notion that a woman is property of her husband and that she cannot own l a n d o r v o t e. O u r s o c i e ty has matured, and as we understand and accept that human sexuality is as inherent a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a s i s r a c e, t h e re ’s a re c o g n i t i o n that all persons are due the same equal rights under the Constitution.

I t ’s o n l y a m at t e r o f

time until Maine will rejoin that g rowing list of states and jurisdictions that acknowledge what the Supreme Court noted, that “marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival.”

Opponents of marriage e q u a l i t y repeatedly reference their b i b l e .

Supporters reference the Constitution.

The last time I checked, our rights and freedoms stem from the Constitution.

After obtaining a state license to mar r y, a couple may go to a judge or justice of the peace: clerg y and the church need not be involved in marriage. It’s a civil contract between two consenting adults.

The opponents of the freedom to marry seem to have difficulty separating their religious marriage from a civil marriage. What proponents of the freedom to marry are asking for is the right to a license from the state, not a sanction or

blessing from any church.

T he courts have acknowledged that, and more and more legislat o r s a re re c o g n i z i n g t h at , t o o . N e w Je r s e y h a s passed a marriage equali t y b i l l ( ve t o e d , t h o u g h w i t h a c ave a t , by G ov.

Christie). A bill has been i n t ro d u c e d i n t h e I l l i n o i s L e g i s l a t u re. A d vo c at e s i n R h o d e I s l a n d a re d o i n g t h e s a m e. C o l o r a d o a n d We s t Vi rg i n i a a re l o o k i n g a t c i v i l u n i o n s. A n d i n Califor nia, where samesex marriage was legal f o r a n u m b e r o f m o n t h s, the challenge to its re p e a l i s f i n d i n g s u c c e s s in the federal courts, based upon the Fo u r t e e n t h x A m e n d m e n t that rejects a double s t a n d a rd u n d e r t h e l aw.

Even for mer Vi c e P r e s i d e n t D i c k C h e n e y, wh o s e d a u g h t e r i s a l e s b i a n , u r g e d M a r y l a n d ’s Re p u b l i c a n l aw m a k e r s t o support marriage equality legislation.

Fr o m Fo r t K e n t t o Houlton, support grows f o r t h e r i g h t t o m a r r y.

Efforts to pass the November referendum are being coordinated by the Aroostook County chapter of E q u a l i t y M a i n e . Fo r more infor mation send a n e m a i l t o Je n n i a t a r o o s t o o k c o u n t y @ e q u a l i t y m a i n e . o r g.

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University Times

18 !

March 16, 2012

i fest yl e

The Reel Deal: ‘Abduction’ Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

PG-13 106 Minutes *** Here’s to another action-packed film. There are the fights and the make-you-hold-yourbreath moments. And you can’t forget to mention the addition of the male hero’s typical love interest. Of course, there’s a little bit of sarcasm implied here.

You’ve heard this story a hundred times before. The question is whether “Abduction” can hold your interest long enough for

you to finish the film.

The movie is about a guy named Nathan (Taylor Lautner), who’s being protected from a man named Kozlow (Michael Nyvquist). Kozlow killed his mother and is after his real father. He’s searching for a secret list that Nathan’s father was protecting and that Nathan now possesses. With the help of Karen (Lily Collins), Nathan plans to take matters into his own hands and go face-to-face with the people who are chasing him. And throughout the movie, the question

remains: will Nathan ever meet his father?

The film’s downfall is that it’s all been done before.

But to be fair, “Abduction” is probably better than some of the movies that you’ve seen.

At least the acting is decent and somewhat believable. If you really enjoy films with action and suspense, then this movie may be enough to fulfill your interest. If you’re looking for something more fresh and unique though, then “Abduction” may not be the film you’re dreaming to see.

Announcing: UMPI’s Creative Spirit Photo Contest Here is the chance for you to show your creative spirit. Share your view of the UMPI campus through your eyes.

Between now and April 20, take pictures of UMPI-- the students, staff, activities, grounds, snow, buildings, etc.

Select your favorite photos and enter UMPI’s Creative Spirit Photo Contest.

Contest Criteria Must be a current UMPI student Must submit your own work Photographs must be 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 Subject must show or be about UMPI (A student may enter up to two photos in each of the 3 categories) Most CREATIVE UMPI Photo· Having FUN at UMPI Photo· Best Photo of UMPI Scene Photos must include your name, contact number, category you are entering, title, specific location where photo was taken and names of subjects if applicable on the back of the photo. The photograph(s) will be returned to the student.

Please bring your photos to the Reception Desk in South Hall by Friday, April 20, 2012.

Pictures will be displayed and voting will be done by students, faculty and staff.

Winners will be announced at the Student Appreciation Picnic on Thursday, May 3, 2012.

For more information: Contact Bonnie DeVaney, UMPI Pride Committee chair, 768-9750, 205 South Hall, Barbara.devaney@umpi.edu UMPI’s Creative Spirit Student Photo Contest is sponsored by the UMPI Pride Committee.

U niver si ty T i me s ! LIFESTYLE ! M arch 16 , 2 012

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Largest Solar Flare in Five Years Jim Stepp

CONTRIBUTOR

In my last article, I discussed solar activity and how it may affect the Earth.

After I wrote, it didn’t take long before a large solar flare occurred that would have an effect on the Earth.

On March 6, 2012, at 7:28 p.m.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a very large flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME) on the sun. The CME and the flare were

associated with a sunspot region known as AR1429.

The solar flare, identified as an X5 class flare, was the largest solar flare in five years. The effects of the flare and related CME should cause problems with radio reception and GPS signals around the world

starting in the early morning hours of March 8, 2012. Material from this flare left the sun and was flying toward the Earth at 4.5 million miles per hour.

In the comic book, the Fantastic Four, a bur st of c o s m i c r a d i a t i o n g ave four astronauts the ability to transfor m into Mister Fantastic (able to change his shape), the Invisible Wo m a n , the Human Torch, and the T hing. Do t h e a s t ro n a u t s o n t h e Inter national Space

Station need to worry about this happening to them? Not really. NASA and Russia have pre pared for such an event.

If the astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) were left unprotected in space during the large

radiation storms connected with X-class solar flares and CMEs they would receive lethal doses of radiation. If the storms were large enough, they would be killed instantly. If they were unlucky, the stor ms would cause radiation damage to their cells and would die slow, painful deaths.

To help protect those in space, the ISS has areas that are protected by lead lining. These areas could act as safe shelters for the astronauts to protect them for up to the two or three needed days for the storm to pass.

So if the astronauts have delusions of grandeur and would like to become a super hero, they will have to wait for a comic book to come out. The solar flares and CMEs that will be occur ring over the next two or three years will not be the cause of any new super heroes.

THE NIGHT SKY The International Space Station is visible in the mor ning sky between March 16 and April 9.

Go to www.heavensabove.com for exact times and locations. You will need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s west longitude a nd 4 6d4 0m45.6s north latitude.

To get a free sky chart go to www.skymaps.com Sun and Planet Visibility Planet visibility times are based on the planet being at least 5 degrees high and 30 minutes from either sunrise or sunset.

Sunrise

03/20 05:34

Sunset Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus

17:45 not visible 17:48 – 22:00 18:00 – 05:12 18:00 – 21:12 20:06 – 05:06 not visible

03/14 Albert bor n – 1879.

Einstein

03/14@20:25 Last Quarter Moon.

0 3 / 1 8 F i r s t e ve r s p a c e w a l k o c c u r re d o n t h e Soviet Voshkhod 2 – 1965.

03/18@19:21 M e rc u r y 4.2 deg rees from Uranus.

03/19@22:11 Moon 5.6 deg rees from Neptune.

03/20@00:14 Spring begins.

03/20@04:26 The ISS passes 0.25 deg rees from Altair.

0 3 / 2 0 @ 2 0 : 0 0 Ve n u s at perihelion – closest to the sun – 107,479,000 million km or 66,784,500 mi from the sun.

03/21@17:19 M e rc u r y passes between the Earth and the sun.

03/22@06:54 Moon 1.5 deg rees from Mercury.

03/22@09:37 New Moon.

03/22@14:01 Moon 5.2 deg rees from Uranus.

03/24@13:30 Uranus

passes behind the sun.

03/25@17:33 Moon 2.7 deg rees from Jupiter.

03/26@01:22 Moon at apogee – farthest from the Earth – 405,900 km or 252.200 mi from Earth.

03/26@02:54 Moon 2.4 deg rees from Venus.

0 3 / 2 7 @ 0 2 : 3 0 Ve nu s a t

g re a t e s t e a s t e r n e l o n g a tion (46 deg rees) – highest point in the evening sky.

0 3 / 2 9 @ 0 3 : 0 6 Ve nu s a t half phase.

03/29@23:13 Summer begins in the northern hemisphere of Mar s.

03/30@14:40 First Quarter Moon.

04/03@14:38 Venus passes within 0.4 deg rees of the Pleiades Star Cluster.

04/03@16:16 Moon 8.3 deg rees from Mar s.

04/06@14:18 Full Moon.

04/07@05:54 Moon 6.0 deg rees from Satur n.

04/07 Moon at Perigee – Closest to the Earth 358300 km or 222600 mi from Earth.

04/09@02:57 The ISS c ro s s e s t h e f a c e o f t h e moon.

04/13@06:42 Last Quarter Moon.

ANSWERS FROM PAGE 16 1. Harriet Beecher Stowe 2. Marie Curie 3. Amelia Earhart 4. Sojourner Truth

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SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!