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MARCH 30, 2009
BETRAYED
Misappropriation of funds leads to new fundraising rules at UMPI By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
UMPI always prided itself on its relaxed fundraising atmosphere. But now some people have taken advantage of it. Earlier this year, UMPI authorities became aware of a situation involving the now defunct Non-Traditional Students Club, also known as Klub Kampus. During the fall 2008 semester, Klub Kampus held a fundraiser, raffling tickets for an opportunity to win a $50 gas card. The supposed winner of that raffle was Kevin Kilcollins, a staff member with UMPI’s computer services. On the day of the drawing, December 13, he contacted Jason Perry, then vice president of Klub Kampus, and asked who won. Perry told Kilcollins that he was the winner. “I figured it would be a couple of weeks,” Kilcollins said about receiving his prize. However, by the end of January, Kilcollins still had not gotten it. “The next thing I heard was that there was an investigation. And then Greg came to talk to me,” Kilcollins said.
Greg Daniels, head of UMPI’s campus security, became aware of the situation when he received a complaint about Klub Kampus. During his investigation, Daniels discovered that the missing prizes were just, “the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “Things started to come together. Things happened that shouldn’t have happened. There was no accountability in that club,” Daniels said. Daniels, working together with Student Senate President Chuck Weiss, Dean of Students Chris Corsello and other UMPI authorities, began to piece together not only the puzzle of the missing prizes, but that of the missing money from Klub Kampus fundraisers. Weiss became aware of the situation in January 2009. “Some people had been talking to me. They noticed that they [Klub Kampus] didn’t have any money in the fundraising account. I thought it was an error at the business office,” Weiss said. When it became clear that this was no error, Weiss went to Dean Corsello. “We became aware of a situa-
Lifestyle p.15
Taken to task By David Hamilton EDITOR
tion involving one of the Klub Kampus fundraisers. During the course of that investigation, other areas of concern were discovered,” Corsello said. “Chuck Weiss came to me and told me that there was no money
going into the fundraising account and that we’d had two or three fundraisers,” Perry said. “I kept trying to find out why Kevin hadn’t gotten his gas card. They just kept passing the buck. Randy BETRAYED, Campus 8
UMPI’s new fundraising rules - Dean Corsello must approve any solicitation or communication for fundraising - Organizations must number and account for raffle tickets - Organizations must publicaly announce winners - Donors must know exactly what their donation are for - Clubs and organizations must account for who is staffing the fundraising event and who is selling for it - Organizations must deposit all funds into their UMPI accounts
You know the story: the economy is in a meltdown that’s reaching all the way to the University of Maine System. On March 5, as stocks continued to plunge, members of the UMPI community and surrounding communities gathered in the campus center multipurpose room with the University of Maine System Task Force. The goal was to brainstorm how to make the UMaine system more financially viable. What came about was an outpouring of frustrations with the system and a defense of why UMPI should remain intact. Mike Knopp, an UMPI professor, led several parts of the discussion with counterarguments against closing smaller campuses. The idea of closing smaller campuses to benefit the system as a whole first surfaced at the University of Maine at Orono’s task force meeting when some professors and graduate students brought it up. Knopp pointed out that although Orono is the flagship school, it isn’t running on a fiscally sound basis — whereas UMPI is. Out of the seven Maine system campuses, UMPI is the only one running in the black fiscally. “The more you take away local control, the more it harms the infrastructure,” Ray Rice, professor and chair of arts and science at UMPI, said about reducing the autonomy of small TASKFORCE, Campus 8
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The University Times David Hamilton Editor Sarah Graettinger Advertising Representative Rachel Pinette Online Editor & Art Director Jack & Jill Advice Columnists
Staff Writers Sarah Graettinger David Hamilton Laura Hunter Leah McEachern Pamela Perkins Rachel Pinette Alicia Sisson Natalie St. Pierre Chuck Weiss Contributors Lindsey Blackstone Christine Corsello Patric Edward April Flagg Elizabeth Gagnon Tracy Guerrette Jeff Lovejoy Alex McIntosh Marjorie McNamara Amanda Morin Mihaela Pavlova Ray Rice Shirley Rush Todd Russel Chelsea Sadler Julie E. Stephenson Jessica Stepp Jim Stepp Don Zillman
March 30, 2009
From Don’s desk Good news... finally Let me reflect on two very important weeks for UMPI that concluded with Friday’s splendid Spring Ball. St. Patrick’s Day was well celebrated by all in attendance. But now to the big things. Vice President Sonntag and Professor Lu report a very productive visit to China. Read Mike’s blog — http://blog.umpi.edu/msonntag/ — to get the full flavor. Most important, UMPI and the Bohua Educational Group (representing six Chinese universities with approximately 90,000 students) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will bring Chinese university students to campus for a year or two of their academic programs, will allow UMPI students to study in China and will allow all variety of faculty, staff and community collaborations. Mike and Zhu-qi will report further on this highly important event for UMPI. All parts of the wind turbine tower have now arrived on site. Take a walk up the dirt road for a look. The nacelle and the blades should have reached the U.S. on March 13.
Give up?
We expect that assembly will start in April and should be completed by graduation. We are also delighted that SAD 1 is seriously exploring one or more wind turbines on its properties. We have been working closely with its leaders. The budget news continues to trickle out slowly. As of Friday, best estimates of the stimulus package benefits for campus were modest. I’ve seen estimates that for this year the entire System will receive between $5 and $6.5 million. That will help our bottom line. It will not remove the budget constraints under which we have been operating. Further, as everyone emphasizes, this stimulus package covers only this year ending on June 30 and the following two years. We cannot make long-term investments based on the stimulus package. I’ll rely on Vice President Sonntag to put out a complete list of faculty and staff publications, conference presentations, service learning projects and statewide and national contributions to the public welfare. It is impressive and speaks wonderfully well to
UMPI’s growing reputation. So do the kind of events we bring to campus. No better example could be found than astronaut Pam Melroy’s talk to more than 200 on March 9. Thanks to Professor Wood for bringing her fellow Wellesley alum to the County. Last, we all continue to bask in the recognition of our baseball team—the road warriors. If you haven’t seen the original March 1 New York Times monster story, let me or Keith or Rachel know. We all face the happy risk of identifying ourselves with UMPI (or UM Pea as the Times’ reporter pronounces it) and immediately being asked about our baseball program (both women’s and men’s). Since the Times article, Sports Illustrated online, radio stations in Phoenix and Virginia, ESPN, and George Steinbrenner’s network have followed up with Coach Leo and the players. We’ll keep you posted on further developments. -Pres. Zillman
Congrats UTimes Staffers! You made it back alive.
Adviser Dr. J The University Times, a nonprofit student publication, is printed at Northeast Publishing Company in Presque Isle, Maine. Articles and photographic ideas for submission may be left at the University Times office Normal Hall, Rm. 102 at UMPI, 181 Main St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Advertising rates are available upon request. The newspaper takes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All rights reserved.
It’s Eric Pelkey in his renegade days 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 (102 Normal Hall or faculty mailroom). Material also can be left in the mail slot on the office door or be e-mailed to utimes@maine.edu. The University Times does not impose length restrictions on letters to the editor, but advises “the shorter, the better.”
University Times
March 30, 2009
Page 3
Chrisʼ Corner You can ask any musician’s and they will confirm what I am about to tell you. Sometimes, when you are playing music with a group of musicians you reach a point: it’s a feeling, really when everything hits just right. It’s an ecstatic moment when the individual training of each member comes together. And, for a moment, you forget the technical aspects of what you’re doing and you feel your way into the music. Great feeling! Many musicians call it, “hitting a groove.” If you know people who play, ask them about it. You’ll see the smile slowly creep across their face. They’ll use some inadequate words, as I have, to try to describe the emotion. But you might get lucky and feel some of the energy escape from these
Hitting a groove
people. For the non-musician, the best description of the moment I’ve ever heard is in a Paul Simon song, “Late in the Evening,” when Paul (yep, we’re on a first name basis!) sings, “When I came back to the room, everybody just seemed to move and I turned my amp up loud and began to play. It was late in the evening and I blew that room away.” It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing with the Boston Symphony, the Notre Dame Marching Band, REM or a garage band. The feeling is the same. I’m lucky enough to know about this emotion because I had a brief career (if you can call it that) as a drummer of a band called Miss-try. Yeah, we took a considerable amount of kidding about our
name – it was indeed a MYSTERY why we thought we could be a band. I had about as much rhythm as a pile of gravel. But I was the drummer, the rhythmic soul of the band. Needless to say, the band did a lot of soul searching and frequently came up empty -handed. But every once in a while, we ‘d be playing somewhere and we’d hit that groove. And we were no longer five goofy gals from Iowa. Instead, we were musical goddesses, capable of touching people’s hearts and souls with our music. Great feeling! So, why have I gone to all of this trouble to tell you about a feeling that only a musician can feel? Well, because I’ve managed to find a way to experience that feeling outside of music and I think
Dean Chris Corsello
others can, too. Mine comes when I’m working – I guess that’s why I do what I do. It’s happened here at UMPI. Not every day, of course, but often enough that it’s recognizable. All of us lead hectic lives. Sometimes things don’t go as well as we would like – sometimes, we even have what we would call a crisis. It’s not always important what those difficulties are, but what’s happened during them and trying to resolve them. A group of individuals gather their collective training, experience and knowledge and respond and react to each other’s moves in a rhythmic style. Each member has an instrumental (get it?) part to play in resolving the issue. Somewhere in the middle of the issue, I get that feeling.
Everyone knows what everyone else is supposed to be doing. There are moments when an individual rises in a solo effort and we each appropriately play our supporting role. And, as a group, we “hit a groove.” Great feeling! It’s not easy to build a community and work with individuals until you can hit that groove. As a group, that groove allows us to touch the hearts and souls of those who need it. It’s been happening this year. Students, staff and faculty coming together, raising issues, working collaboratively to resolve them – this is hitting a groove. If you haven’t experienced it, I can assure you, it’s a great feeling! In the spirit of the story…ROCK ON!
University Times March 30, 2009
4 Stimulus Bill What’ll it do for UMPI?
Astronaut touches down at UMPI
By Sarah Graettinger
By Natalie St. Pierre
At UMPI, the campus is worried about the economic problems and how they will affect people. President Zillman has a lot to say on the matter. Right now, we’re waiting to see how much money the campus will get from the Stimulus Bill for the next three years. It appears that the system will get $6 million for the next year and $4.6 for the two following years. The chancellor has to decide how much goes to the individual campuses. “We can’t spend it on anything that we want. The federal government has a say in what we can do,” Zillman said. UMPI also has investment opportunities and has to hold down the money that the campus already has, taking advantage of some time investment opportunities. This is a quick solution to the problem and probably will prevent layoffs for a while. “It does take away from personnel layoffs, and we are doing the best that we can,” Zillman said. The campus is not going to hire many new people in the near future. Positions are in limited number. There will only be replacement for retiring teachers or personnel. The wind turbine will be a great help to the campus. Once it generates power, the campus won’t have to use so much fossil fuel and pay such a large power bill. “It’s been slower getting information out. The budget has to go the legislature and they have to decide how much money goes around the UMaine system. The good news is that we will get the same amount for the next budget, but a zero percent increase,” Zillman said.
If someone had asked U.S. Air Force Colonel Pam Melroy what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’d have answered with a resounding, “I want to be an astronaut.” Melroy said she grew up, “fascinated by everything to do with the sky.” When asked if she ever dreamed of being anything else, she replied, “I always knew I wanted to be an astronaut.” During her visit to UMPI on March 9, Melroy spoke of human space flight, the space shuttle and her work on the International Space Station. She gave the audience a glimpse into what space travel is truly like. Slide after slide depicted the impossible: all the while she made it possible. She walked us through the names of her crew on her last flight coined the STS 120 Mission. She explained how it that the crew’s job to haul the Node 2 named “Harmony” to the space station and connect it with the already present Node 1. This was huge, because Harmony was the component that linked all the laboratories housed within the space station together. Once that was done the
STAFF WRITER
crew had to detach, move and repair the P6 Solar Ray, a section of the large system of solar panels used to generate electricity for the entire space station. Melroy has successfully logged more than 900 hours of shuttle flight time, which equates to roughly 38 days in space. Having a strong family support system
aided her in attaining her goal. “My parents led me to believe I could be whatever I wanted to be. There’s no question this is what I was meant to do,” Melroy said. Melroy also touched on NASA’s future plans to send people to Mars. “ Some student is sitting in school right now, who will
be the first person to step foot on Mars.” As she spoke these words one could see the eyes of our youngest audience members light up at the thought that perhaps maybe they might have the chance to one day bear those footprints. Jim Stepp, our resident astrology guru, thought the presentation was “nice because it was geared for everyone from children to adults.” Stepp saw Melroy’s visit to UMPI as a “great opportunity for the university as it shows the campus to be a good resource.” Melroy’s visit opened up a world that most in the area wouldn’t know much about outside of films and textbooks. Stepp added that he “really enjoyed her sense of humor.” Melroy doesn’t view herself as an extraordinary person who has done extraordinary things. “I don’t see myself as special. I’m just a regular person.” She is, however, aware that some might see her presentations as motivational. She knows that there’s a chance that her talks could spark someone to say, “ If she can do it, I can too.” Colonial Melroy’s visit to campus was made possible as a part of UMPI’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
with UMPI, going back to when it was the Normal School. “UMPI produces good employers and employees for the area,” Stevens said. Larry Shaw, Maine Mutual Group Insurance CEO, echoed Stevens’ comments. “MMG needs a vast amount of talent to meet our needs. UMPI has always been helpful with new employees and creating a young professionals institute in response to the need,” Shaw said. Shaw added that UMPI is a big selling point to people com-
ing to this area and that losing the university would be detrimental to the area. The task force is charged with forming recommendations “regarding the size and role of the chancellor’s office; structure, funding and oversight of common functions serving all universities and funding levels, missions, and relationships among universities.” Through frustrations voiced, it’s clear that some of the problems that the system is facing now center on a history of mismanagement that the task force looks to change
with its recommendations. Benjamin Franklin once said, “We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.” Despite the campuses’ differences in the past they are now forced down a new path, due to the failing economy. The competition between campuses will never go away, but during these times of hardship they have the chance to learn how to communicate with one another again and form a system that works better for the faculty, staff, students and the state of Maine.
STAFF WRITER
From left: Pam Melroy, Natalie St. Pierre and UMPI President Don Zillman
Taskforce
from page 1 schools. Rice also commented on the cutthroat competitiveness between system schools and the lack of leadership from the chancellor’s office over the years. Criminal justice professor Lisa Leduc agreed with Rice’s points, adding that the system promotes competition, which removes the chance for collaboration with departments at other UMaine universities. Presque Isle community leaders also stepped up to speak on UMPI’s behalf. City manager Thomas Stevens brought up Presque Isle’s long relationship
University Times
March 30, 2009
Campus 5
Somewhere under the rainbow
By Natalie St. Pierre STAFF WRITER
Friday, March 13 marked the return of one of UMPI’s most popular annual events: the Spring Ball. This year the ball was coined The Emerald Ball, paying tribute to Celtic heritage and the ever popular luck of the Irish. The dorms Friday evening were abuzz. Sounds of blow dryers and radios blared as girls raced back and forth between rooms in search of that perfect shade of eye shadow or lip gloss. A mixture of after-shaves and body wash overwhelmed the air as guys showered and primped in preparation for the big night. Students, faculty and staff gathered to laugh, dance, and
even limbo the night away. As usual, the event didn’t disappoint. Friends gathered Dean of Students Christine Corsello and UMPI student Desiree Smith faced off for first place in this year’s limbo contest. Desiree came out on top in the end, but to ensure there were no hard feelings, the two shared a hug in the name of good clean fun. UMPI senior Michelle Phillips and her boyfriend UMPI graduate Kirk Robinson came dressed to impress in there luck inspired attire. Michelle was all a glow as the pot o’ gold at the end of Kirk’s rainbow. Dancing, singing and the dean doing the limbo: Spring Ball 2009 was a smash. Getting low at the Ball
Wearin’ of the green By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
Kirk Robinson and Michelle Phillips
As a way to celebrate the traditions of St. Patrick’s Day, the UMPI Pride Committee decided to call this year’s Spring Ball the Emerald Ball. Decorating leprechauns decked out the Campus Center in gold, black and green, along with hundreds of shamrocks. There was even a green water fountain that guarded the desserts. If guests forgot to wear their green, they got the chance to pick up a green pin, one of the souvenirs. Some guests even decided to play along with the theme and dressed up as the rainbow
with the pot of gold that can be found at the end. Others decide to just go with the semiformal attire. This ball marked the 13th anniversary of the tradition. Keith Madore, the host of the ball, said, “We finally have a bar here!” Those who were not of age to drink still had the chance to have mock drinks, such as Irish floats or Irish smoothies. Guests who decided to go with the limited seating at the dinner got to dine on chicken or beef, a variety of vegetables, rolls and their choice of cake or cheesecake for dessert. Entertainment con-
sisted of an energetic dancing leprechaun, the talented singing voices of Erin Pelletier, who is the senior class president, and David Rudolph, UMPI alumni, and the young dancers from Moon Studios. The guests, who just wanted to dance, were lined up by the door, waiting until they could go in. While they waited, some of them decided to get their pictures taken: another souvenir the event offered. As soon as the doors opened to them, the center was full of booming music from X-Press and people just wanting to have a good time.
University Times
Campus 6
March 30, 2009
Dude looks like a lady Ms. UMPI pageant a smash-hit
Itʼs snowinʼ green!
By Leah McEachern
By Alicia Sisson
The second annual Ms. UMPI pageant was held strutted its stuff on Friday, March 6. It’s a unique event wherein male students dress up as women and modeling clothing and demonstrating their talents in a fierce competition for the Ms. UMPI crown. The senior class hosted this fundraiser event. All the money they raised went toward their graduation banquet. Wieden Hall was packed with students and staff wielding digital cameras and cell phones, ready to capture as many Kodak moments as possible. Police tape, pylons, handcuffs, and wanted posters decorated the stage. Erin Pelletier, the senior class president, and Keith Madore, the director of alumni relations, who insisted as being called “Charlie” for the evening co-hosted the pageant. After a brief introduction about the event and the senior class, Charlie asked that the curtain be raised to reveal his “Angels.” There was nothing angelic about four guys in bikini tops and hairy legs, but the audience burst into laughter as they introduced themselves. The contestants were Anita Johnston (Ben Costello), Malina Shervakov (Robert Allen), LaKiesha Brown (Josh Gaither), and Destiny Precious (Kurt Whisler). After introducing themselves, they leaped off the
Blizzard of Bucks, the #1 campus game show, came to UMPI Monday evening, March 16. The zany game show allowed contestants to compete in various games for a chance to win an all you can grab trip to the cyclone of cash. The game show includes total audience participation, cash prizes, T-shirts and more! The game consisted of three rounds of competition with five participants in each round. Each round required the contestants to perform tasks that to most would be embarrassing, from drinking prune juice from a baby bottle to placing a plunger on their heads and unraveling toilet paper that was placed on the plunger stick. Contestants were eliminated one by one, until there was one winner left per round. After two hours and three rounds of embarrassing laughter, the crowd was left with two participants with faces full of whipped cream, trying their hardest to find a piece of bubble gum within the pie with just their mouths. Once all the embarrassment was over, contestant Katie was left standing with the chance to enter the all-you-can-grab cash cyclone. Katie managed to grab roughly $35. “It’s a lot harder than it look’s” Katie said. Katie then got the chance to get more money on an all-or-nothing question where she won $125. When Katie was asked what she was going to spend all her money on she replied “I’ll use it for gas to go home on break.” Even though many might consider what the contestants went through embarrassing it was a great event that was filled with laughs for everyone.
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
Contestants Kurt Whisler and Josh Gaither vie for the Ms. UMPI crown stage and ran throughout the audience, shooting at each other, the spectators and themselves with water pistols. After modeling sportswear, contestants proceeded to show themselves off in the talent portion of the competition. Josh Gaither left the stage and wandered through the audience while energetically performing a dance routine to “All the Single Ladies.” Robert Allen, whose character was from Russia, also performed a dance routine, but was in a mock drunken stupor when he did so. Ben Costello did a series of poses with some milk and a banana. Kurt Whisler demonstrated a back massage, stretched and presented some vegetables he had grown himself. Afterward, each contestant
was escorted onto the stage for the evening wear portion of the pageant and asked a series of questions. When asked what his dream job was, Gaither replied “An official nail painter, OMG!” Allen, who was dressed in a trendy black garbage bag, said that if he could travel anywhere in the world, it would be Russia. When asked if he could pick some place outside of Russia, he raised his vodka bottle and happily replied, “Moscow.” Costello stated that he thinks we should have a woman president someday because, “Penguins are cute.” He then called a heckler in the audience stupid when he was told to wax his legs. Whisler proudly announced that he was part of several non-
profit organizations such as “scuba diving for the deaf kids with cancer” and “the national women against the clubbing of endangered seals.” At the end of the show, the judges decided that Destiny Precious was the undisputed winner of the Ms. UMPI pageant. He/she let out a delighted shriek when presented with a tiara, a bouquet and a diary to write his thoughts in. All runners-up were given a tiny trophy, a box of chocolate and a box of tissues. The pageant was a huge success and a hilarious way to spend a Friday evening. It will surely become a long running tradition in years to come. The senior class will host another fundraiser on April 3: a spaghetti supper and auction.
bility for club and organization fundraising. These new rules are already in effect and all clubs and organizations on campus are to follow these guidelines. Jim Stepp, assistant dean of students and student senate adviser, is drafting the new fundraising guidelines. They’ll be, “completed relatively soon,” Stepp said. “We really just want to try to
firm up our accounting,” Corsello said. Sadly, these rules come too late for many on the UMPI campus. Kevin Kilcollins has given up hope that he will ever receive his prize. “If I’m not going to get the gift card, I’d just as soon like to get my 10 bucks back,” Kilcollins said.
“We wanted to make campus activities more viable to nontraditional students. We wanted nontraditional students to be able to attend more activities on campus. I feel bad for not knowing about it. For not knowing enough. Now I don’t want to join any UMPI organizations. It’s too little, too late,” Perry said. But for those who have lost
Betrayed from page 1
Deabay would tell me that someone else was supposed to be taking care of it. Then they would tell me that Randy was the one who was supposed to be taking care of it. He [Randy] always told everyone that everything was going smoothly.” As a result of this investigation, there are now new rules to ensure that there’ll be strong accounta-
faith with the fundraising activities on campus, Student Senate President Chuck Weiss has a message for you: “I’m a firm believer that everyone else is very honest and trustworthy. Don’t lose faith in all organizations just because of one person.” Editor’s note: The UTimes was unable to reach Randy Deabay for comment.
University Times
March 30, 2009
Community
7
Winter Carnival From Shipmates P.I. High’s News
Achievement through fun
By Jessica Stepp CONTRIBUTOR
Feb. 23 to 27 was a week of fun and excitement at PIHS. It was Winter Carnival week. The class of 2009 set Disney as the snow sculpture theme. All the classes had movies that they had to work with. The class of 2009 movie was “Aladdin” and 2010 had “The Lion King.” The class of 2011 showed off “The Jungle Book,” while 2012 had “The Little Mermaid.” Because was a snow day, Its theme, PJ day, was combined with Tuesday’s the which was class theme day. We still had all of our classes Tuesday. Deck the Halls, one of the big events of Winter Carnival, was cancelled this year because of Monday’s snowstorm. That caused all the classes to work hard for points. There are five big events for
Winners, class of 2010 air band Winter Carnival: Deck the Halls, Wildcat Idol, Battle of the Bands, Air Band and snow sculptures. On Wednesday, the theme of the day was school spirit day. Our morning was filled with different activities.
Everyone was required to be at Wildcat Idol, based on the tv show “American Idol.” A boy and a girl from each class sang. Three teachers judged them…not being too harsh, of course. The winner for the girls was senior Ann Elisa. Matt
Graduation changes From the Arcturus Caribou High’s News By Ben Pinette CONTRIBUTOR
Changes in education are inevitable. Governor Baldacci, in his State of the State address, spoke of extending the current laptop program to include high schoolers in the one-on-one laptop program. On the say day, President Obama suggested that the school day and school year be extended. The Maine legislature has already decided to change the current graduation requirements. Starting with the 2012-2013 school year, there will be only one
diploma based on the new Maine Learning Results. All students will have to become proficient in eight areas: English Language Arts, math, science and technology, social studies, world languages, visual and performing arts, physical education and health, career and education development. The diploma will be based on standards in the Maine learning Results as measured by credits. The definition of a credit is the successful demonstration of the content standards in the Maine Learning Results specified in units of study or syllabi. Out of the eight areas, students must be proficient in English/language arts, math, science and technology, and social
studies. Students will select one of the other four areas to meet the standards in health or physical education, visual or performing arts, world languages or national industry recognized standards. Also, each student will have to take a PLP or Personal Learning Plan as Web based models. They will be available by summer of 2009. Students need to meet the standard on the common assessment or in career and technical programs as needed. The report was approved on Nov. 25 by a vote of 11 in favor, one abstention and one opposed to the plan. This class of 2016 will be the first to graduate under the new diploma.
Flora, also a senior, won for the guys. Other activities of the day included Apples to Apples, Cherry Ball, a marshmallow eating contest and many more. Sadly for the students, we had to have afternoon classes. Thursday was class shirt day. Before Christmas break, every class votes on a design that a classmate made. On Thursday, the events were Battle of the Bands, tug-o-war, Rock of Ages, Spike the Log, Class Feud, Faculty/Student Quiz Bowl, Air Band and more. Battle of the bands songs include “ It’s Not My Time” by Finger Eleven, “Umbrella” by Rihanna, “Facedown” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and “Teenage Wasteland” by The Who. For Air Band, each grade chose a song that’s related to the theme and created a skit to go with it. Class resumed after lunch. On the Friday, we had regular classes in the morning. The finishing events included snow soccer, cage ball, arm
wrestling, faculty versus students volleyball, Dance Like the Stars, and Here Comes the Bride. The points determine who wins. That’s why we work so hard for them. Seniors won with 2,355 points. Junior’s came up behind with 2,180 points. Sophomores gained 1,770 points with the freshmen behind them with 1,305 points. Some were upset that their class didn’t win but we have to over look it. We all have to work together. Some might not be as successful as other people but we can make it. Orison Swett Marden, “Achievement is not always success, while reputed failure often is. It is honest endeavor, persistent effort to do the best possible under any and all circumstance.” Some were upset that their class didn’t win but we have to overlook it. We all have to work together. Some might not be as successful as other people but we can make it. In the words of the motivational speaker.
Dog of the Week Name: Simon Approximate age: 5 years Sex: Male (Neutered) Breed: Border collie/ Lab mix Description: Black and white, short hair, tall ears and a long tail. Vaccinations: Yes Current Address: Central Aroostook Humane Society Future plans: To be adopted by a loving and caring family
Simon arrived at the Central Aroostook Humane Society March 1 as a stray from the Woodland area. He is strong and energetic with a sweet disposition. He loves to play with children and other canines. Simon is very photogenic and loves attention. His favorite activities are playing outside
and going for walks. He also enjoys performing tricks, such as shaking paw, for his favorite treat: hotdogs. Although Simon enjoys making friends with the many animals at the shelter, he hopes someday to get a chance to share his great personality with a loving and caring family just like you.
University Times
Leave it to the Beavers Washburn High School news Community 10
Drawn by Lindsey Blackstone
By Morgan Berube CONTRIBUTOR
Nov. 29, 2008 was the day that almost changed the rest of my life, the day that almost ended my senior basketball season. As many have heard, I fractured my neck in a basketball scrimmage this year - my senior year. But not many know this: The doctors estimated that if the fracture was another quarter of an inch over, they probably would have had to immediately fly me to Bangor. There was a high risk I would have been paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of my life. In addition, injuries like mine are occasionally fatal. The doctors told me the night I left the hospital that I would not be returning to the basketball court to finish the
The Almost Day season. The road ahead included wearing a neck brace for about eight weeks, possibly having another soft brace for two months and of course physical therapy. The truth: at that time, it never crossed my mind how lucky I was. I was devastated about not being able to play basketball my senior year. I’m not going to lie to you. If there was any way possible, I was determined to get back on that court. Being a senior definitely made the situation worse. The feelings I experienced were mixed. I had begun and ended my basketball season all at once.
Cat of the Week Name: Leo Approximate age: 3 ½ years Sex: Male (Neutered) Breed: Domestic long hair Description: Copper tiger with white stripes and big paws Vaccination: Yes Current Address: Central Aroostook Humane Society Future Plans: To be adopted by a loving and caring family
Leo has a very laid-back attitude. He enjoys lounging around in his bed and taking naps in the afternoon. In order to keep Leo’s long, fluffy hair looking healthy, he will need to be brushed regularly. Leo has lots of love to offer interested families. Besides his calm and collected attitude, he also has a
very distinctive appearance. His unusually large paws resemble a pair of mittens, which makes him special. Leo would make the perfect friend for any cat lover. He enjoys life and would love to spend his days cuddling with you. Come see Leo at the Central Aroostook Humane Society today!
hoped and prayed for some sort of miracle. Sitting on the bench watching was not the easiest thing in the world. In fact, it hurt me at times. I do have to admit, though, I wasn’t going to abandon my team. I was at every game, neck brace and all, to show my support for the girls.
I was in pain, confused and uncertain about my future in athletics. My last basketball season in high school would be spent on the bench with a neck brace. Week after week, I
Miraculously, within eight weeks of the accident, I was back on the court again. It was quite a shock for everyone. I had the opportunity to play in the last four games of the regular season and in two games at the tournament in Bangor. Personally, I would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout this journey:
March 9, 2008
my home community, my family, my friends, my team and coaches and many others. You are the ones who deserve the recognition for helping me recover so quickly from such a devastating injury. You are the people who kept my head held high, the people who motivated me to stay strong, the people who gave me a reason to want to return to the court. I would also like to send one special thank you out to my physical therapist, Troy Caverhill, for enabling me to return back to the court safely with no restrictions. My physical therapy program and Troy physically and mentally made me a stronger individual and I believe have pointed me in the direction I want to pursue in my life. Every day I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to have a second chance. Now there is no doubt, I most certainly do believe in miracles.
Decking the halls with purpose Washburn National Honor Society spreads holiday cheer while helping Battered Women’s Project By Lizzy Gagnon CONTRIBUTOR
The month of December is a time in which love, joy and peace are thick in the air. It’s a time of giving and helping out those who need help the most. The Washburn National Honor
Society decided to do its part and bring some holiday cheer to a family in need. The NHS adopted a family from the Battered Women’s Project. This is an organization that works toward meeting the needs of victims who have been domestically abused. To help the family, the NHS held a holiday fundraiser in order to get enough money to purchase multiple gifts for each family member. The NHS members sold ornaments and candy canes to the students and faculty of WDHS. The ornaments were a huge success and sold out very
quickly. Besides selling ornaments to raise money, NHS members also spent a lot of time rolling pennies gathered during a penny drive for the family. By the time they’d rolled all the pennies and sold all the ornaments, they’d made a total of $254. Everyone considered the fundraiser a huge success. NHS members were overjoyed that they were able to brighten the holiday season for a deserving family. It just goes to show that with some effort and dedication, happiness can be passed on to others.
University Times
March 30, 2009
In memory of Harold N. Flagg Watching over us since March 3, 1992 One More Waltz April Flagg
the waltz was done that flowing sway.
Numbers whispered in my ear One, two, three, four My girl, the waltz is nothing to fear.
I see his green shirt, his slow graying hair, in my bright pink skirt, we made quite a pair.
My response, that of a teen, tradition is restrictive I can’t be seen!
I remember his scent, a spicy woody smell, that seems to linger, wherever I dwell.
But, I followed his lead storing yet one more lesson learning it with amazing speed. My eyes looked down, I watched our feet as he spun me around. He lifted my head. You must hold the eyes, his loving voice said. Scents filled that room lilacs, roses, spice, and food and flowers in bloom. I’m learning the beat watching his face, forgetting the heat. The music faded away
The feel of his hand, as he tapped out the beat, on the small of my back, my first high heels on my feet. To see his lined face, That tanned in the sun, Another dancing lesson, even just one. The waltz seems so old, when you’re only 13. Then a grandfather lives forever, The future unseen. My one true wish with each beating pulse, to return to that time, for just one more waltz.
Aphrodite By Chelsea V. Sadler CONTRIBUTOR
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of physical love and beauty. Nobody knows how she was born. According to the myth, she was born from the waves of the sea and the west wind was the first to see her. He blew her to the island of the three Graces, the minor goddesses of beauty. They helped her become presentable to the other Greek gods and goddesses. To prevent any fights among the gods about who would wed her, Zeus chose his son Hephaestus to be her husband. Hephaestus was bewildered by his good fortune and spent time making lavish jewelry for her. Aphrodite was beautiful and she knew it. She flaunted her beauty in the presence of the other gods who became jealous of Hephaestus. One god in particular was his brother Ares, the Greek god of war. Aphrodite had many priestesses. In our society today they’d be considered prostitutes. During Aphrodite’s festival, the priestesses could have relations
Writer’s Block By Julie E. Stephenson
Community 11
By Elizabeth Gagnon
with as many men as they pleased. One of the most popular wars in myth is the Trojan War. According to mythology it was Paris, the prince of Troy, who started it. Aphrodite told Paris that if he gave her the golden apple, she would give him a beautiful woman, Helen, for his wife. Helen, however, already had a husband. So Paris abducted her and made her his wife. This angered her first husband, and as a result, the Trojan War began. Aphrodite is still wor-
Beat your head against walls And your hands against desks Pens snap in half And pencil lead breaks Ideas refuse to become sentences And frustration builds Finger nails are chewed And lips are bitten Eyes roam walls that give no answers And annoyance mounts Pencil and paper meet And produce no results So much for finishing your poem or paper But, it seems to me that you have a problem… All writers will have a block Big or small that makes them stop A sickness that likes to point and mock A terrible trouble called Writer’s Block If you can figure out how to get rid of it… let me now…
Even though Aphrodite was a much loved goddess, she was also a troublemaker interested in only bettering things for herself. In other words, she was probably the most humanlike goddess in Greek mythology.
House of mystery
CONTRIBUTOR
Words cease to flow Rhyming flies out the window
shipped today in a religion called the Cult of Aphrodite. Places in Asia, Sicily, Carthage, Cyprus and Cythera have temples and shrines in her honor. In her temples and shrines, the cult allegedly practices ritual prostitution. The word “aphrodisiac” comes from the practices of the Cult of Aphrodite.
Nathaniel Hawthorn published “The House of the Seven Gables” in 1851 after his immense success with the popular classic, “The Scarlet Letter.” “The House of the Seven Gables” is a story that follows the history of a mysterious mansion. This classic piece of American literature is set in a tiny New England town. The story revolves around a seven gabled house and the Pyncheon family that resides in it. Hepzibah and her brother, Clifford, are the current residents of the house. Due to a shortage of money, Hepzibah opens a shop in part of the house in hopes of making some revenue to help offset the hardships she and her brother are facing. Judge Pyncheon, a cousin of the siblings, offers aid to Hepzibah. She rejects his
help and sends him on his way. Phoebe Pyncheon, a pleasant young woman, shows up at the house unexpectedly. She is a distant cousin of Clifford and Hepzibah. While
visiting with her relatives, Phoebe falls in love with Holgrave, a man who lives in the house of the seven gables. Holgrave has been very busy writing the complete history of the mysterious Pyncheon family. Eventually Judge Pyncheon shows up once again at the Pyncheon household. Hepzibah goes to find Clifford and when she returns to Judge Pyncheon, he is dead. Clifford and Hepzibah flee from the house in fears that they will be convicted for the murder. The mysteries of the house begin to unfold and the novel ends happily for Hepzibah, Clifford and Phoebe. “The House of the Seven Gables” is a must read for those who enjoy classic American literature. The twists and turns will grab readers’ attention and keep them captivated for the entire novel.
12 By Alicia Sisson STAFF WRITER
Since the UMPI Owl baseball team’s recent encounter with the New York Times, its become the main attraction for many television and radio stations. “I’ve received phone calls and e-mails from all over the country, from people wishing us luck to donating funds to help out our team,” head coach Leo Saucier said. The UMPI Owls’ baseball roster consists of 16 young men ranging from freshman to senior year students. Although they may seem small in numbers, their heart and dedication for the game is enormous. This season, the Owls have 37 away games scheduled, with an at-home double-header planned for April 22. If the weather permits and the baseball team has the chance to play at home, it will be the first in four years. The long winters and record breaking snowfalls in Presque Isle, have caused problems for the baseball team. “Most of the snow doesn’t start to melt here until late April
UMPI Baseball Team on ESPN
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University Times
ports
March 30, 2009
UMPI baseball hits one out of the park or early May. Most teams are just finishing up their season when we are still looking at three feet of snow on our field,” Saucier said. The New York Times described our baseball team as “A College Baseball Team, Always on the Road.” When asked how they feel about having to travel great distances to play ball, everyone replied with similar answers. “We don’t mind it. It’s what we have to do to play” The Owls’ closest scheduled game this season is in Boston, Mass., which will still take the team on roughly a six-hour road trip. Many would complain about having to travel on a small bus to play baseball. But not this team. “It takes some getting used to, but we do it and don’t complain,” Tyler Delaney, a junior infielder, said. Brandon Bulware added, “Traveling gives us the chance to see a lot of things.” Which they certainly did, traveling 22 hours to play one of their last games, which took
them all the way to Ferrum College in western Virginia. Because of all the snow piled up in the Owls’ baseball field, weekly practicing has also been an issue. It’s impossible to practice outside. “So we use what we have, which is a single basketball court gymnasium,” Saucier said. The team didn’t seem to mind as they carried on with their throwing warm ups and batting practice. This is a way of life that the team has become accustomed to over time. “It’s not the best facility, but we either practice in the gym or we don’t practice at all,” Delaney said. Saucier described his players as extremely hard working, dedicated and self-motivated.
By Sarah Graettinger
years. That makes sense because of all the snow. “U-M-P-I! Let me hear your battle cry!” one person shouted after the team came on TV. The team has to travel a lot in order to get to the games. Team members build bonds, traveling long miles together on the team bus. Now the university is getting national recognition and many people realize that people live above Bangor. It will be the talk on campus for many months to come. Good job, guys!
STAFF WRITER
All over campus, you hear about the coverage our baseball team got in The New York Times. Because of that article, the team has national recognition and was on ESPN Friday, March 20. Many people crowded around televisions waiting patiently. People were chanting, rooting for the team because its members were on television. UMPI’s men’s baseball team hasn’t had a home game in four
In the batting cages with the Owls “They love to play baseball and love the competition,” he said. Although, at the time of the interview, the Owls hadn’t yet had a victory this season, their hopes and goals are set high, nonetheless. This season the team hopes to see an improvement from last year. The goal is to win more games, especially conference games, and improve the pitching staff. In the end, they’ll accept losing if necessary
because they’ll know they did their best. It’s obvious that this team has immeasurable love for the sport of baseball. We’re happy to have them be a part of UMPI and wish them the best of luck this season. If you’d like to stay updated on the UMPI Owl’s baseball team, you can watch their interviews with ESPN, YES Network and Yankee Magazine or visit their Web site at www.owls.umpi.edu/baseball.
The Spring 2009 issue is out! Upcountry: A Journal of Sights and Insights
Featuring new work from Anthony Scott, Katrina Anderson, Gordon Gillis and more Visit us on the Web at http://www.upcountryjournal.blogspot.com/ For more information, contact desiree.ellis@maine.edu
University Times
March 30, 2009
UMPI UPDATE
Basketball
By Tracy Guerrette CONTRIBUTOR
Men’s basketball AllIndependent Release: Freshman Ben Rosser (Caribou, Maine) was named Rookie of the Year for the NCAA Division III All-Independent Conference. He was also selected to the second Team AllIndependent along with teammate Devon Peaslee (sophomore from Woolwich, Maine). Very impressive for both young men. Women’s basketball AllIndependent Release: Senior Erica Davis (North Yarmouth, Maine) was named Player of the Year in the All-Independent Conference and she was also selected to the First Team AllIndependent. Sophomore Megan Korhonen (Littleton,
Maine) was selected to the AllIndependent Conference Honorable Mention Team. Women’s Basketball All-State Team: Erica Davis was named to the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Second All-State! Erica led the entire state of Maine this past year in points per game, rebounds per game and steals per game! This is amazing because she competes with all the other Division III universities throughout the state (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, USM, MMA, UMF, UNE, etc.) 2008-09 Sunrise Conference Women’s Basketball Awards: Erica Davis was named to the First Team all-conference and Megan Korhonen was named to the Second Team AllIndependent.
20082009 First one listed is Outstanding Scholar Athlete. Students must have at least 3.5 GPA for consideration
Maine at Presque Isle)
Women’s Cross Country Hannah Smith (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Michelle Phillips (University of Maine at Presque Isle)
Women’s Soccer Shanae Armstrong (University of Maine at Fort Kent) Erin Pelletier (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Katherine Moody (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Teresa Morley (SUNY Canton)
Men’s Cross Country Emerson Wright (University of Maine at Presque Isle Aaron Schmersal (University of
Men’s Soccer Trevor Hews (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Emlyn Jacoby (University of
Sports 13
The ball’s always in her court By Alicia Sisson STAFF WRITER
Erica Davis, a native of North Yarmouth, Maine, is continuing in the spotlight in women’s college basketball. A senior at UMPI, Davis has broken records and received many awards for her outstanding talent. She was recently named the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association second Team All State for her outstanding play throughout the season. She also earned MWBCA Co-Player of the Week, NAIA Women’s Basketball Division II Player of the Week, co-player of the year for the All-Independent Women’s Basketball teams. Davis broke a game record at UMPI when she reached 49 points in a single game. She also led the state of Maine (among all Division III universities) in three different statistical categories. Davis is a second year transfer student from South Portland Community College. When asked if it was UMPI’s basketball program that brought her to Presque Isle she replied,
“No, I didn’t know much about the women’s basketball team here until once I got here.” The university’s physical education program was what brought Davis to campus. She enjoys her time here at UMPI. “My experience here has been fun. I like it here even though we are hours away from any big town entertainment,” Davis said. Besides basketball, Davis also plays softball and volleyball, works at a local grocery store and is a full time student. When asked how she juggled such a full schedule, she replied, “I have to manage my time very carefully. I have a lot of late nights.” Even with a schedule like that, Davis still finds time to enjoy the small town environment and all the snow. Davis has been active in sports since junior high, where she started her basketball career. Over the years, she has enjoyed working with others and takes pleasure in sharing the enjoyment of success with others. In the future, Davis
Davis for two hopes to have an opportunity to become a basketball coach or join a women’s travel team. Not only does she show what she is capable of on the courts, she also demonstrates her strength to manage a heavy schedule. That’s the kind of determination that can lead to success in any area.
Sunrise Conference Scholar Athlete Awards
Maine at Fort Kent) Chad Parker (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Zachery Clayton (College of St. Joseph) Women’s Volleyball Ashley Ames (University of Maine at Fort Kent) Megan Korhonen (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Women’s Basketball Julier Vander Wiel (SUNY Canton)
Chelsea Boudreau (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Megan Korhonen (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Sonya Newton (Fisher College) Teresa Morley (SUNY Canton) Men’s Basketball Yair Gal (University of Maine at Fort Kent) Adam Pearce (University of Maine at Machias) Brian Korhonen (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Goran Nagradic (University of
Maine at Fort Kent) Softball Erin Pelletier (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Nicole Blanchard (Fisher College) Sonya Newton (Fisher College) Baseball Eddy Delcarmen (Fisher College) Don Charette (University of Maine at Presque Isle) Chad Viger (College of St. Joseph) Tyler Delaney (University of Maine at Presque Isle)
Some to the scholar athletes, left to rignt: Chelsea Boudreau, Hannah Smith, Chad Parker, Emerson Wright, Trevor Hews, DJ Charette and Tyler Delaney
University Times
14
The Other Voice
March 30, 2009
Scribbles
Most moral army By Jeff Lovejoy CONTRIBUTOR
The Israeli Military Advocate General has— FINALLY—called for criminal inquiries into the conduct of Israeli troops during their assault on Gaza. The request came in response to soldiers’ testimonies that described loose rules of engagement, troops firing on unarmed civilians, and troops intentionally vandalizing property during the three-week assault on Gaza. Ehud Barak, Israel’s Defense Minister, said that the incidents would be examined
but added, “We have the most moral army in the world.” If that wasn’t morally offensive enough, Israel’s president recently sent a letter to Iran praising its people but saying it needed to get rid of its “hard line leadership.” What was the Bible story about taking the speck from your neighbor’s eye while ignoring the beam in your own? RELEVANT OR RELICS? For those of us who came of age in the newspaper era, the stories these days are sad. No, not the regular news,
but that about the papers themselves. I can remember spreading out The I or The Boston Globe on many a lazy Sunday while living in Manhattan or in Worcester, Mass., and feasting on the treasures within. But in the last two weeks both the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Rocky Mountain News in Denver have ceased publishing. The San Francisco Chronicle is dangling. Ten more papers are on the verge of bankruptcy or at least contemplating the same for lack of readership and advertisers. One is the
Globe. Many of these intend to keep an online presence and, while I enjoy reading online news, there’s something very different about the experience of the paper itself in one’s hands. Future generations will never know that experience, except perhaps as museum curiosities. SORROWFUL MYSTERIES It has happened again, and I’m no nearer an answer this time than last. Natasha Richardson has suddenly left us, and I say “us” even though
I did not know her personally. Perhaps it was the suddenness, the fact that I saw so many of her movies and her husband Liam Neeson’s movies and her mother Vanessa Redgrave’s movies. But again, I did not know her yet I feel a deep loss. I recall several years ago a commercial that sang about cotton being the “fabric of our lives.” And I wonder anew about just what makes up this fabric and how it can feel so torn for so many inexplicable reasons. We are fortunate to have had one such as her walk among us.
Respect Respect is something that we hear a lot about these days. Speaking as an outsider to this present day high-tech culture, I have come to realize that this word and its concept mean different things to different people and different peoples. For the original boat people who came to these shores some 500 years ago, who now prefer to be called Americans, it means something completely different from what it means and has meant to the original people of this land. For those newcomers, it means a deferential regard for a person who is in some position of power, some position of esteem or some other manmade high office. Hence you have the phrase, “you may not like me, but you will respect me.” What this phrase really means is that you will respect my position of power, authority, status: aka this manmade high office.
This to our people is not respect, it is fear: the fear of someone’s position of power and authority. If the people in positions of power and authority are jerks then it will be difficult for someone to respectthem, but they will be shown deference out of fear. If people do not give respect, they cannot expect to receive respect. This is how our people feel. For us, respect begins with each individual. If people have respect for themselves, then they will be able to give respect to others. For our people, it is a twoway street: to receive respect, you must be able to give respect. The newcomers they brought with them their understanding of that concept of respect. That understanding has its roots from back in the days of nobility, kings, queens, high priests, noblemen and so on. People in positions of some power who could potentially bring grief into one’s life, home, family and future. Over time, this
understanding evolved into a great number of different understandings regarding the concept of respect. For our people, respect means respect for oneself, respect for others as fellow human beings, respect for all of creation, respect for all of our relationships and respect for Creator. As in most things that the newcomers do, the concept of respect developed around manmade, intellectual, artificial, fearful and negative based beliefs and values. Their intellectual and fear based arrogance and pride prevents them from recognizing, acknowledging and accepting certain things as a given from the spiritual and/or Creator realm. They cannot accept the idea that we are all the creation of a higher spiritual power and that this spiritual power was placed within each and every one of us at conception. Through this spiritual
power, we are all connected, one to another. This was done to serve as a constant reminder that all of creation is connected and related. We should all love and respect one another as fellow human beings as well as fellow strands in the great web of life: all related, all connected and all worthy and deserving of respect. As has already been mentioned, respect to our people is practically a part of our genes. We are taught to be respectful to, care for and share with other human beings. From the time of contact we have treated our Euro-American brothers with respect as fellow human beings. The respect that we as a people have extended to our Euro-American brothers has not been returned. Instead, our Euro-American brothers have misinterpreted our respectful ways as a sign of weakness on the
part of our people. They think that because we do not openly oppose, confront or make war with them over the theft of our land, that this is a sign of weakness. They judge our people and our respectful ways by their own violent and destructive values and beliefs. As Traditional Elders, we are taught that we have to go out and share our traditional teachings. These are teachings that explain that we are all connected, related and one, and that we must love one another or die. Writing and sharing our traditional teachings is my way of fulfilling my responsibility to the Ancestors, the People and the Seventh Generation. I am part of creation. I refuse to be part of its destruction. All my relations, Dan Ennis, Traditional Elder
Lifestyle University Times
March 30, 2009
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Creepy fingers wiggle out a huge audience By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
Have you ever had one of those days where you couldn’t find something - say your car keys or cell phone? And you looked and looked, and finally found them, but it was in one of those last looked at places? Well, how not normal would finding them in a can of sealed Pringles be? It’s pretty normal for magician Norman Ng. Norman Ng (pronounced Ing), who is a native of Portland, Maine, has been a magician for 17 years. He not only had audience member’s mouths agape and eyes in wonder with his magic, but also had people laughing so hard that
some almost fell out of their seats. Though Ng was feeling under the weather, he is a true performer and believes, “the show must always go on!” Ng is a regular performer in the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. His love of magic started when he was only 8 years old. His first paid gig came when he was about 12 years old and he performed a show for a 5- year- old boy. The whopping paycheck that Ng got and later spent on comics and candy was only $20, but that performance hooked him into wanting to do magic for a living. His parents and just about everyone else in Ng’s life
Ng in the act tried to discourage him from magic, by saying, “Magicians don’t get paid! Why you want to be that!?”
“Death is Never Bliss” By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
“It’s a beautiful world…but there is no time for love between 9 and 5.” That was one of the many poetic lyrics from the band Whaddyasay to get the message out that poverty in this world is not OK. When the lyric says, “there is no time for love between 9 and 5,” it goes to show that some people are too busy with themselves and their own worries, or are too busy wanting to make money, that they don’t think of people who might be going to bed hungry tonight nor do they see if their neighbor is all right. February 13, the day before the year’s most love-full-keeping-youin-my-thoughts day, was when Andrew Bellamy, a member of the band Whaddyasay, decided that he wanted to put on an Oxfam Benefit Concert to help raise awareness and money for people in poverty and injustice sit-
uations. He was able to get two other bands, Mark Shaw and Tigriod Substance, along with UMPI student Harrison Kilpartick, to help him entertain the audience there. When asked why he wanted to do it, Bellamy said, “Poverty is an important issue. I wanted to put on an Oxfam Concert for a while and I’m happy that it’s finally come true. I wanted to do something that would get people’s attention. We need to raise money [for poverty], and Oxfam is a good organization to do that by.” (Oxfam is an organization that started in England and is now international. It helps to fight poverty and injustices within the world, along with giving hope and skills for jobs to people that it serves. Anyone can help out and for more information on Oxfam you can go to their Web site at www.oxfamamerica.org) As for the group of people there, Bellamy did help to raise aware-
ness for the community of Presque Isle, but not so much for the students’ community of UMPI, as most of the students there where volunteers or performers. The people who where there, did get a good show. Most seem pleased by the music being put on, and Mark Shaw was the biggest hit. When I asked two of the volunteers, Carlton Sanders and Matthew Bartlett, why they wanted to help out this event they had this to say. “I want to give back to the community and help to honor the children [who are part of the many injustices that Oxfam helps to fight against],” Sanders and Barlett said, “It helps to give another day to the children. This money could be life or death to some of them.” All in all, this event was good, helping to raise about $150 for poverty, and there is hope that there will be another Oxfam concert next year.
Their criticism didn’t stop Ng from learning all that he could and fine -tuning his art. He believes that what is or seems impossible to some people is an opportunity made for magicians. Along with making his skills better, he also worked on his comedy act of the show.
semester. There were close to 200 people there, the largest turnout so far, since advisor Heidi Blasjo, has been in that position. She hopes that the shows will just keep getting bigger and better from here on out. According to the crowd’s reaction there, it might.
“Watch as I make this water disappear! Ok, you’re right. I can’t make it disappear, but I can make it change color!”
Uniformly rave “He was awesome! Totally worth it! Amazing. That was a kick-ass performance.”
“UMPI? You guys call yourselves that? That’s cool! Though it does sound like something out of Willy Wonka.”
Many in the crowd hope to see Ng coming back to UMPI. Though in the meantime, UMPI’s audiences will just have to settle for watching clips of Ng from his Web site, which is www.normanmagic.com.
Ng was brought to UMPI by Owl Productions as next to the final booking for the
Felini bids adieu to Reed Art Gallery By Natalie St. Pierre STAFF WRITER
Friends, family and colleagues poured into the Reed Art Gallery one last time on Friday, March 6, to pay tribute, to play music for and celebrate the artistic works of UMPI’s own Renee Felini. Felini’s art exhibition, Creating Community, showcased her personal community of home and the objects the make up its character. When asked about the purpose of such an exhibition Felini replied, “It was about creating a community with my home and sharing it with a community I’m a part of now.” As for how Felini feels
about her experience throughout this process, she replied, “It’s been great. It’s been like having people come visit me at my home.” Felini draws confidence from art claiming, “Art is my vehicle.”
University Times
Lifestyle 16
Origami Helmet By Leah McEachern
March 30, 2009
Get Involved! Club of the Week:
Take the top corner of the new triangle that you’ve created and fold it halfway down. I’m sure you all remember sitting down –see image— at the kitchen table when you were little with a Repeat step 8. stack of old newspapers and learning how to –see image— make paper pirate hats that you’d wear with Fold the bottom point of the original square pride as you imagined all sorts of adventures. shape just past the middle of the helmet. By Pamela Perkins But do you know how to make more than just a Then, fold the base of this new triangle up in STAFF WRITER hat? Follow these instructions, and you’ll be the order to partially cover it. only kid on your street with a paper samurai hel- –see image— Tuck the bottom point of the original square met! Before I took a Native inside of the helmet, and you’re done. Instructions: American film class with Get a perfectly square piece of paper. Richard Zuras, I didn’t realize I would suggest making a few of these on a Fold it in half so that it looks like a triangle. how ignorant I was when it Fold two of the corners down to touch the third, few tiny pieces of paper before you move onto a came to Native Americans. I big piece of wrapping paper or newsprint. Once making it a square shape again. knew that Natives being porTake one of the corners that you folded down you’ve made a few of these for practice and feel and fold it so the point is higher than the top cor- that you’ve got the basics down pat, feel free to trayed in the movies as wearing get a little creative using a variety of different loincloths and feathers, living in ner. types of paper. Any type of paper works well tepees and being better shoots –see image— when making this helmet, and you can even try with a bow and arrow than Repeat step 4. making one out of tinfoil! Robin Hood any day of the –see image— week, were all just stereotypes of what Hollywood made Natives out to be. But there was one stereotype that I believe I didn’t realize until I was done with the class. This really shocked me, because I wondered if it would make me seem like I was a racist in some way. Then it made me think that I couldn’t be the only person who thought that way, which then only made me wonder if that made me seem even more of a racist. It was the movie stereotypes that shaped my thinking, it still bothers me. What haunts me is that I thought that tribes of Native Americans or all the tribes in general had died off, or that there are just a handful of lone survivors, who will eventually die out. Either way, I saw Native Americans as a dead group. This isn’t true at all! Native Americans are living, significant, irreplaceable parts of society. Native Americans are an important part of our UMPI community, which is where this week’s club, Native Voices, comes in. Michael Best, president of Native Voices, echoes his concerns with the stereotype that I just mentioned. Best said, “I think it’s in the UMPI Campus Center - Multi Purpose Room really important for the university community to see Native $5 for adults - $3 for kids 10 and under Americans as we are in 2009, ALL YOU CAN EAT! not just as a thing of the past. STAFF WRITER
NATIVE VOICES
Friday, April 3 @ 5 p.m.
5th Annual senior class spaghetti supper and auction
Native Voices is a way to experience and understand our individual tribal cultures, whether we’re Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot or any other tribe represented on campus.” When asked what the club could offer to students and the community, Best said, “The club is a great way to contribute to educating students and faculty on Native American culture, through Native Appreciation Day. It’s also a great way to meet and mingle with the largest minority on campus.” This is perfect for an individual like me, who has lived her whole life where the majority of people are Caucasian. It’s important to learn that the Native American stereotypes are wrong, as well as to learn about another’s culture. In keeping with learning about other cultures, the club is hoping to send a group of students to the Gathering of the Nations in New Mexico on April 24 - 27. As a way to help fundraise for this trip, club members will be raffling off a handmade native basket from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick. You can buy a ticket from any of the club members. Native Voices members are made up of Native American students, non-Native students and faculty. The officers are as follows: Michael Best, president; Dan Smiley, Vice President; Jason Parlon, Secretary; and Shirley Jewell, Treasurer. The club is open to new members at any time. Best thinks that the club is in a good place right now. It offers its members a lot to keep them busy. Native Voices meets at 12:15 p.m. on Thursdays, room 211, South Hall. For more information, you can contact Best at Michael.best@maine.edu
University Times
March 30, 2009
In the Mood for Food Keeping healthy on a budget
By Sarah Graettinger
Lifestyle 17
Chicken ʻnʼ Rice What you need:
STAFF WRITER
Want to try something new and exciting? On a tight budget and watching what you eat? Well, eating a cup of rice is a very good idea. All you have to do is get a microwaveable bowl and cook white rice according to the directions on the box. After the rice is cooked, mix in chicken or any kind of vegetables that you like. It’s an easy lunch or dinner. Enjoy this scrumptious meal.
White rice - 1 cup Chicken
- 1/2 cup
Vegetable - 1/2 cup
In a microwave safe bowl, prepare rice according to package directions. Stir in chicken and/or vegetables. Toss lightly. Enjoy! NOTE: You can easily adapt this, multiplying by the number of people.
“Houston, we’ve had a problem” By Jim Stepp CONTRIBUTOR
I love movies about space. Most of these movies are science fiction, such has “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Capricorn One.” There is one space movie that I like that’s based on real life, however. That movie is “Apollo 13” with Tom Hanks. This movie is based on the events that surrounded Apollo 13’s failed trip to the moon. Apollo 13 was to be the third manned flight to land on the moon. It had a crew of three astronauts: Commander James A. Lovell, command module pilot John L. “Jack” Swigert and lunar module pilot Fred W. Haise. As an attempt to show it did not have triskaidekaphobia (fear of 13), NASA scheduled the launch of Apollo 13 for April 11, 1970 at 13:13 CST (2:13 p.m. EST). April 13 was not a possible launch date because the launch site would not have been lined up properly to fly to the moon. On April 13, 1970, an electrical short caused an explosion in an oxygen tank. The explosion resulted in a complete loss of two oxygen tanks and electrical power. Discussion began immediately after the accident to determine how to get the astronauts back to the
Earth safely. The command module had power and oxygen, but only enough to last a few hours. The crew ended up shutting down the command module and used the smaller lunar module as a lifeboat for the return to earth. After circling the moon, Apollo 13 started its trip back to the Earth. Because the electricity was reduced, the ship’s guidance computer had to be shut off. The astronauts had to guide the capsule back to the Earth by hand. This was done by sighting a star out the window and adjusting the flight path by lining up the star with a fixed point on the glass. If the capsule was off by as little as half a degree, the capsule could have either skipped off the Earth’s atmosphere or the capsule could have burned up during reentry. Despite all of the difficulties, Apollo 13 made it back safely to the Earth. In many ways, Apollo 13 was the most successful – unsuccessful flight ever in the history of NASA. In other worlds, although Apollo 13 did not make it to the moon, the astronauts did make it home. When we think of Apollo 13, we often think of the line “Houston, we have a problem.” This appears to be a misquote, however. A study of the
audio of the incident shows that James Lovell said, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Chalk this up to your useless trivia of the day. The Sky over Presque Isle Through April 2, the ISS is visible in the evening sky. After April 21, the ISS is visible in the morning sky. Go to www.heavens-above.com for exact times and locations. You will need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times. The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s West longitude and 46d40m45.6s North latitude. To get a free sky chart, go to www.skymaps.com 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. 03/30 04/10 04/20 Sun Rise 05:36
06:15
05:54
Sun Set 18:59
19:14
19:28
Mercury Not Visible
Not Visible 19:58 – 20:58
– 05:24 04:47 – 05:06 Jupiter 04:52 – 05:45 0 3 : 5 4 – 05:24 03:39 – 05:06 Saturn 19:29 – 05:28 1 9 : 4 4 – 04:43 19:58 – 04:03 Uranus Not Visible N o t Visible 04:48 – 05:06 Neptune 05:17 – 05:45 04:05 – 05:24 03:46 – 05:06 03/31 1727 Sir Isaac Newton died in London, England. 04/01 22:17 Moon at Perigee (closest to the Earth, 229,916 miles/370,013 km) 04/02 1958 President Eisenhower proposes the creation of NASA http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office /pao/History/Timeline/1958. html 04/02 10:34
First Quarter
04/07 01:57 Moon degrees south of Saturn
6.3
Venus Not Visible 04:42 – 05:54 04:33 – 05:06
04/09 1959 NASA announces the names of the seven Mercury astronauts h t t p : / / w w w pao.ksc.nasa.gov/history/merc ury/mercury.htm
Mars
04/09 10:56
05:47 – 05:45 0 5 : 0 1
Full Moon
04/11 launched
1970 Apollo 13
04/11 10:12 M e r c u r y Perihelion (closest to the sun 28,589,755 miles/46,000,916 km) 04/12 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space http://russianarchives.com/gal lery/gagarin/ 04/12 1981 First Space Shuttle Launched http://www.nasa.gov/mission_ pages/shuttle/main/index.htm l 04/13 1970 Apollo 13 experiences an explosion on the way to the Moon 04/13 03:22 Titan’s shadow begins to cross Saturn, eclipse ends after sunrise (7:51 a.m.) – telescope needed 04/14 22:46 Mars degrees south of Uranus
0.5
04/15 1452 Leonardo da Vinci born 04/15 20:00 April active until 4/25.
Lyrids
04/16 05:15 Moon at apogee (farthest from the sun, 251,178 miles/404,232 km)
University Times
Lifestyle 18
March 30, 2009
Snow, snow go away! By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
A popular indoors children’s song that goes, “Rain, Rain go away, come again some other day,” could be replaced with snow or chilly temperatures for the people in northern Maine. Winter can last all the way into May here, making it feel like a desolate place, along with making it feel that summer is never going to return. Student Keith Davis spoke for many when he said, “I’m sick and tired of the cold temperature, and I’m ready for summer.” That’s where the UMPI Pride Committee came in! They decided to have a Hawaiian Luau theme dinner and event in the café. When asked why they were putting on the event, Bonnie DeVaney, the chair of the pride committee, said, “Hopefully this will be a way to help brighten up the spirits of the students. We know that Maine has long winters, but we wanted to plan an event that could help bring some sunshine to people, and give them a new change of pace.” So committee members got together with Aramark to see
Keith Davis swings his hips to the top what they could to do to brighten up people’s sprits. The café was decorated with pine trees, paper parrots and flowers. Even the food displays with the calories of the food being offered were decorated to this theme. All were offered free leis to help get them in the mood. Then, as soft Hawaiian music played, they chowed down on pineapple pizza, spare ribs and huli huli chicken. Diners had the chance to drink smoothies, which were a
big hit. Many had at least seconds on the drinks. Next came a hula hoop contest to see who could keep the hoop going around the longest. There were a lot of laughs seeing people try to get the hoop to just go, let alone keep it going. What did students think about the event? Reanne Thompson said, “It was a nice idea. It was better than the same thing (that is usually offered for diner).”
Flick Picks By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
“Twilight” – Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality. Starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Available now on DVD. Wow. Just wow. And not in a good way. All that was missing was a white steed and Snow White’s theme song, “Someday My Prince Will Come.” It had teen angst and body glitter galore. There were good acting, good visual effects, good chemistry between the actors. So why did I cringe painfully throughout the movie? The story. Now look. I’ve had my moments when I’ve wished for a big, strong, unrealistically hot man to come along, save me and make everything all right. It’s a feeling that lasts for about two minutes before I remember, “Oh yeah. I have two hands with opposable thumbs and a brain. I
can hang up this picture / change a light bulb / hook up the Wii without a man.” P o o r Bella. She never has this moment. She is e ve r y cliché in the book concerning the helpless damsel in distress. Is she smart? Yes! Is she capable? Yes! And damn if “Twilight” author Stephanie Meyer doesn’t turn her into a helpless, obsessive freak who would have any man running in the opposite direction. There’s teen angst -and then there’s obsession. Admit it. During the teen years, we’re all
guilty of at least one midnight drive-by to see if the significant others really are home or if they’re lying and out with those anorexic whores . . .so yes, there’s understandable teen angst and what it’s all about. Then there’s obsession, which is what “Twilight” is all about. Ladies – and gentlemen – obsession is not love. Obsession is not normal.
Keith Davis, winner of the hula hoop contest, said “It was nice to see a change and it helps to keeps things exciting.” Although most there agreed that it was a nice idea, not all of the students were happy with the theme diner. “It would have been nice if they had some normal food being offered as well, in case people didn’t want the theme dinner,” Alanna Venturo, another diner, said.
Obsession is not h e a l t h y. And that’s the problem with “Twilight.” Thanks to t h e “Twilight” saga, we can look forward to yet another generation of young girls (and not so young girls – I’ve seen those T-shirts on campus. You know who you are) growing up, believing that obsession is love, waiting for their Prince Charming to show up and save them. Watching this movie, there’s hope. Maybe the movie won’t have Bella as helpless. During the Portsmith scene,
William Coppola III said, “It was nice, and I wish they would do more events like this.” So when asked if the pride committee would have other events like this, Chris Corsello, the dean of the students, said, “It’s possible that we will. Some other theme ideas that we had where a local Country Night, or an International Night, where we would have recipes from our international students to be offered. Though if any students have any suggestions about a theme that they would like to see, we (pride committee) are most willing to hear about them.” Heidi Blasjo, a pride committee member, also had this to say about the event. “It was a way to make the student’s dining experience more unique. We also know that everyone is at that breaking point where they need a rest, and hopefully this can make them get over the hump until the real break comes along. It’s just a way to help students get their minds off of the snow and remember that spring and warmer temperatures are around the corner.” All and all, the event did just this.
there’s a moment when you hope that Bella will find her inner Buffy and manage to put down a couple of the baddies before Edward shows up. No such luck. Kristen Stewart does her best with the material she has to work with. Viewers almost believe her when she says, “I’m not scared of you.” But not quite. As for Robert Pattinson. . .you could have replaced him with Hayden Christianson and viewers wouldn’t have noticed the difference. Pattinson is an angelic, brooding vampire, devoid of human emotion. As Edward, he is just as obsessed with Bella as she is with him. If you enjoyed the book, you’ll enjoy the movie. The movie stays pretty true to the book, it’s well acted and the chemistry between Stewart and Pattinson is undeniable. If you’re not a fan, “Twilight” will have you bemoaning, “Where, oh where, have all the strong female heroines gone?”
University Times
March 30, 2009
Lifestyle 19
Congratulations Stephanie In a recent issue of the University Times, we ran a short story written by one of our staff writers that was only partially completed. The idea was to print half of the story and stop it abruptly with a cliffhanger. We then invited our readers to submit a brief write-up with what they thought the best ending for the story would be. ...quietly crept out the window and slid down the tree that grew up alongside their house. She climbed onto her brother’s old bike, which he had outgrown long ago and was much too big for her,
and slid off into the shadows to investigate. And now as the heavy footsteps were right on her tail and more could be heard coming towards her from either side of her in the
After careful consideration, our judges decided that Stephanie Corriveau, a freshman and biology major, had presented the best entry. Corriveau was awarded a ten dollar gift certificate for the oncampus bookstore and looks forward to any future contests that we may run. When we left, Jill had...
brush, she now realized why her father was always so harsh with her. She was much too curious for her own good, and something bad always happened whenever she started to explore—he was
only trying to teach her to be more cautious, although his methods left a little something to be desired. Something bad always happened, just like when her brother fell down the stairs,
and just like when she shot the cow. That was why the monsters were after her now, and she kept wishing with all her heart that they would just go away.
The rest of the story, by Stephanie Corriveau Jill’s heart began to pound in her chest and she could feel the adrenaline trickling through her veins. Her pedaling quickened and she experienced a burning sensation rising through her legs. In her desperation, she drove her bicycle right into the dark, ominous forest. Jill believed that the monsters were still following her, hidden in the shadows and ready to pounce at any minute, but she was not willing to look behind her. As Jill moved further into the depths of the forest, she could see a ghostly, glowing light in the distance. Again, her curiosity got the best of her and she lost any fear she previously had of the monsters. When Jill attempted to maneuver through the forest, her bike wheel hit into the root of a tree. The bike toppled over and Jill was thrown to the ground. As she slowly brushed herself off, she could hear a rustling noise in the nearby bushes. It’s the monsters again, she thought, and she hurried to get back onto her bicycle. Just as she was preparing to leave the area, a small, black cat emerged from within the bush. Jill scanned the forest, trying to figure out where this animal had come from, when she
noticed a tall, dark figure walking toward her with arms outreached. Jill screamed as the silhouette grabbed hold of her. Then it spoke in deep tones. “Just what do you think you’re doing out here at this time of night?” “Let go of me, you monster!” cried Jill. As Jill turned for a closer look at the figure, she realized it was actually Bob, a man from her town who enjoyed spending his time hunting in the woods. He let go of Jill’s bike and chuckled. “Well, I know I’m not always the nicest person, Jill. But don’t you think calling me a monster is a little bit extreme?” Jill blushed in embarrassment as Bob proceeded to pick up his cat. He turned back to her and said, “I heard your bike fall a few minutes ago. It seems like you got a few scratches from the accident. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll get you a bandage?” She decided that it was best to clean herself up before she went home, so she agreed to follow him. As they walked through the woods, Jill realized that they were nearing the glowing light. Bob led her to an opening where she
finally discovered a fire was the source of the light. Jill saw a tent and some other gear and came to the conclusion that Bob had lit the fire because he was camping there. She let out a deep sigh of relief. “I thought the glowing lights were ghosts!” Bob rummaged through a kit that he had in his tent and returned with a bandage. “You sure have a curious mind! First monsters, now ghosts! Didn’t anybody ever tell you that ‘curiosity killed that cat’?” At that second, the man’s cat meowed, and he glanced down at it with an apologetic look. He then turned his gaze back toward Jill with a concerned expression on his face. “Why don’t you have a seat? I think there’s a story that you should hear about being too inquisitive. You’re lucky that you weren’t seriously injured tonight because of your curiosity to investigate the forest.” Jill relaxed into a chair that was near the fire. As Bob helped her put on the bandage, he drew a deep breath. “I used to explore a bit myself. There was one night I decided to climb up a tree, just to see if
there was a monster of some sort at the top. When I grabbed hold of one of the branches, the flashlight I had been holding fell to the ground and shattered. Since there was no light, I couldn’t tell where the next branch was, and I slipped. I injured myself pretty bad and nobody was around to help me. I learned a valuable lesson that day, which was that being too curious could lead me to do dangerous things.” Bob paused and then laughed. “You know there’s no monsters and ghosts, right? It was your curiosity that led you to believe that these things were lurking around you. Maybe next time, before you go investigate, you should consider these things and also the possibility of getting hurt. Especially wandering around alone at night in the woods….” Jill felt rather humiliated about the choices she made and thought that what Bob told her was right. She thought back to how her father was angry with her when she fired the gun – he was only concerned that she would injure herself. As she reflected on these thoughts, she realized that Bob had finished applying the bandage. He
motioned for her to rise. “I’ll help you find your way back through the forest,” Bob said. “It’s probably best that you get home. I think you’ve had enough curiosity for the day.” The cat darted off and the man followed it, while leading Jill’s bike through the trees. When they finally came to a clearing and Jill could see her house, Bob gave her the bicycle back. Jill thanked him for helping her out. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I just hope that you’ll remember what I told you,” Bob said. Once he had disappeared into the depths of the forest, Jill snuck back into her house. When she got upstairs into her bedroom, she quietly slipped into bed. Just as Jill was about to close her eyes, she heard a rattling noise coming from the corner of the room. Jill’s body snapped upright and she was about to go investigate. Then Jill froze as she realized that it was a slight breeze blowing on her window blinds. As she rested her head back on her pillow, she thought back to what Bob had said. She’d had enough curiosity for the day.
University Times
Lifestyle 20
March 30, 2009
ADVICE FROM JACK & JILL Dear Jack & Jill, I have a problem and I hope you can help me. I’m going on a school – sponsored trip soon and I’m really excited except for one thing. I can’t stand one of the other people going. This guy is a real jerk. He’s conceited, arrogant, thinks he’s an expert on every subject under the sun and won’t let it go until you agree with him. Most of us just agree with him to shut him up and get some peace and quiet for a few minutes before he starts in again on something else. I honestly think that this guy just likes the sound of his own voice! We’re going to be traveling by bus, so there’s no way I can avoid him – and it’s a eight hour trip! I’ll be able to avoid him once we arrive, but until then, how do I keep from saying something I’ll regret? I kind of feel sorry for him, but at the same time, I’m out of patience. Help! Sincerely, Stuck
Jack: Oh, man. How many of us have had to Jill: Because I’m the smart one. deal with that type? Jack: Oh yeah. So, Stuck should gather the rest Jill: Too often. And no one is ever consistently of the group and confront the guy? right. Jill: No, that’s too aggressive. I would suggest Jack: Except for us. having the leader of the group – captain of the team or president of the club – along with Stuck Jill: Well, yeah. That goes without saying. sit down with the guy. Jack: So, it seems to me that you have a couple Jack: And say what?! “Dude, you’re acting like of options here. You can drop out of the trip. a jackass, knock it off ?” Jill:
Not really fair to Stuck.
Jack: You can tune out with the help of your iPod.
Jill: Why do I work with you? No, not, “Dude, you’re acting like a jackass, knock it off.” Start with something positive: “Dude, we really appreciate all that you do for us and our group. You’re dedicated, you’re thourough, you get things done.”
Jill: Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. Jack: Jack:
Aha! Then go into what the problem is.
Well, there’s always murder.
Jill: Right. “As much as we appreciate all that you do, some of us are concerned by the way you Jill: Not unless you want to finish your educa- …,” Fill in the blank. tion from San Quentin. Jack: Think it’ll work? Jack: True. What do you suggest, Jill? Jill: Well, maybe Stuck should bring the iPod Jill: I’m afraid there’s only one thing to do. just in case. Till next time readers! Confront the guy. Jack: Keep those letters coming! Jack: Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?
What Killed the Dinosaurs by Sandy Igel
Comic by Bhava Albert