Volume 38 Issue 9

University of Maine at Presque Isle

Volume 38 Issue 9

Stephenie Jellett STAFF WRITER

The camping trip you and your friends decided to take seemed like a good idea until you wandered into the woods too far and got lost.

You don’t know where you are. The nice summer day is now turning into a chilly evening. The sun is setting.

You hear branches crack.

The hair on the back on your neck stands up as you realize: No one knows where you are.

This is a common mistake that happens all the time.

Anyone who is just out in the woods camping or hiking can easily step off the trail and get lost. People don’t understand how easy it is to get lost. Now look at this situation from a different angle. See past just the problem of being lost, to being rescued. This is at the heart of a question that one of Maine’s 2009 Policy Scholars, Leah Finnemore, asked: “Who should pay for back country evacuation?”

Let’s back it up just a little bit. So what is the Maine Policy Scholars Program? Once chosen as a scholar you have to pick a policy that you think is overlooked by the government that could use some work. Once you complete your research, you present your information at the Maine Policy Scholars graduation, which takes place April 9, 2010. The deadline for completing the research is one week prior to that date. If it goes further than the presentation, it’s in the hands of the interested parties. You’ll get comments on the research and policy proposal from the panel of experts at the graduation. The experts at this year’s graduation are Tony

MARCH 4, 2010

Journalism for Northern Maine

We Want You!

Cox, Angus King, Kathleen King, Meredith Jones, and Cynthia Higgins. The moderator of the panel will be Senator Elizabeth Mitchell.

Since Finnemore found out in August that she would be a scholar for the program, she has been working with her adviser, Anja Whittington, discussing different policies and which one seemed most interesting.

Whittington told Finnemore about a girl downstate who was

rescued, and then billed $22,000 for it. Finnemore’s deadline to find a policy was at the beginning of the fall semester. During this time, she had to provide some detail about her policy topic to the program moderator/director, Laura Reed. Reed has been a great help through this whole process, providing Finnemore with much helpful information and staying in touch through e-mail and phone. “It’s a very controversial issue,” Finnemore said.

“And it’s also really sketchy.

One in every one hundred people gets billed for being rescued.”

The Maine Warden Service is primarily in charge of backcountry evacuations. It’s a division of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. There are also several other organizations that are involved with SAR throughout the state, including Maine Search and Rescue. The funds

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for this come from people who buy hunting and fishing licences. So when people who need to get rescued don’t have any type of license, they get billed. If they have a license, they’re covered.

“Policies affect everyone, not just individuals,” Finnemore said.

So what’s the issue? Well, some people who are getting rescued are not paying the bill and are not contributing to the backcountry evacuation fund.

But then there’s also the question of whether the current policy does or could keep people from going outside? Will people stay indoors more because it costs so much to get rescued.

Finnemore has done extensive research on this issue. She’s also gone to a conference with all the other Maine Policy Scholars where they talked about all the issues they represent. She’s done various video conference calls to update the experts on her research and get some suggestions, as well. Finnemore has also done a survey about whether people are reckless, and if that leads to needing a rescue. The survey is still open till Friday, March 5. If you’d like to help by weighing in, go to http://www.umpi.maine.ed u/cgibin/remark5/rws5.pl?

FORM=Leahssurvey Finnemore has put in a lot of research for this program, and she obviously cares about this topic.

Let’s hope that Finnemore’s policy makes it past the panel of experts so that this issue can get overlooked but is fixed.

Campus

University Times

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March 4, 2010

“Media” is a plural word. No one person is the media. The word represents a group, a group that’s all around us. Media have received a bad name lately because of a downturn in ethical practices. When someone says media, most people think of The University tabloids. But it’s so much more than that.

Times Staff Media members are watchdogs. They look at what’s happening and ask questions; questions that sometimes have ugly answers, Co-Editors but must be asked.

Lanette Virtanen Landon York Student media are no different. The University Times encourAssistant Editors Sarah Graettinger ages its writers and readers to pay attention and ask questions.

Ben Pinette You never know what you might find.

Staff Writers Kayla Ames Rachel Churchill Stephanie Corriveau Alicia Fournier Sarah Graettinger Angel Hammond Daniel Jackson Stephanie Jellett Mika Ouellette Justin Pelkey Ben Pinette Alyson Robitaille Steve Straight Rene Steele Lanette Virtanen Landon York Contributors Bhava Albert Lindsey Blackstone Christine Corsello Darylen Cote Justin Howe Marjorie McNamara Amber Reed Sarah Sjoberg Jim Stepp Curtis Thompson Don Zillman

Until next time, Landon

Dates for Submissions to the U Times

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

Monday, March 8

Monday, March 29 Monday, April. 12 Monday, April. 26

Any submissions recieved after a deadline will be published in the following issue. If you have any questions please contact Dr. Lowman at 768-9745

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University Times CAMPUS March 4, 2010

From Don’s Desk UMPI Way: Agreeing to Disagree with Civility

A fascinating part of last week’s schedule involved catching up with political matters— both national and state. On Friday, Senator Susan Collins spoke to the Kiwanis Club and invited guests. Her major topic was the ongoing struggle over legislation on health care.

Despite reasons for gloom, the Senator was cautiously optimistic that a substantial majority of both parties could come together on many issues and write a health care bill that the President would sign and that would address some of the significant concerns of the

American people.

In the course of that discussion, Senator Collins reflected on Senator Evan Bayh’s announcement that he was not going to run for reelection. In an unusually candid statement, Senator Bayh remarked that the venomous climate of partisan politics in Washington persuaded him he could do more for the American people by working outside of politics in his home state of Indiana. This is a highly respected U.S. Senator—one of the “good guys” in Senator Collins’ view—giving up the fight in

frustration. Senator Collins was disappointed, but hopeful that bipartisan, moderate legislators would rise again. I can only hope that she’s right.

At the state level, I had the pleasure of a visit with another candidate (are there 25 all told?) for governor of Maine. This is my fourth such visit with Democrats, Republicans and Independents as they visit the County and Presque Isle. All four have impressed me for different reasons as energetic, thoughtful and concerned about the future of Maine. I admire their stamina and their

willingness to listen. Former Speaker the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill correctly observed that “All politics is local.” My conversations and observations with candidates focus on public higher education policy. One of my messages is that in 20 as a higher education administrator in Maine, I have yet to see a “higher education governor”—one who regards public higher education as crucial to the economic, social, and cultural future of the State of Maine and who will use the power of his or her office to advance that agenda.

Will this time be the charm? I’d like to think so, but there’s a long way to go before the November election.

Here on campus, I hope that we can discuss these issues with vigor, yet with civility. People may disagree with our viewpoints on crucial public issues.

That doesn’t make them our enemies. I look forward to welcoming additional candidates to UMPI in that spirit.

Kayla Ames

University, having checked his feet to make sure his shoes matched, dove immediately into his lecture.

Lackner started by describing carbon, the center point of his lecture, as the flavor of the day. It’s what’s happening, according to Lackner. His presentation focused, overall, on energy resources, carbon management and the capturing of carbon from the air. He tried to make us see how challenging the search for plentiful, sustainable energy will be.

“Energy is absolutely critical,” Lackner said.

It’s central to our wellbeing, yet we’re struggling to make and improve it. Lackner has several solutions to our many problems. But he said that the next 50 years will bring about countless other possibilities.

In simple words, the world needs plentiful, affordable and clean energy for all. Water, though affordable and clean, is not plentiful. Other sources are similarly limited. Wind power, though a good idea, does not produce enough energy for everyone to continue living as we currently do. Solar

energy is clean and practically limitless, but it can be expensive. Nuclear energy is flawed because there may not be enough of it. It’s also expensive and there are certain security issues involved. This left Lackner with one option. It was one that was both unexpected and, once explained, surpris-

but not resource limits. Lackner believes that fossil fuels, or more specifically, natural gas, will not run out anytime soon. We’re likely to use them because we have all along. They’re also affordable, but not clean, as of yet. In order to use them, their harmful effects must be reduced or reversed. This is where the capturing of carbon from the air and carbon management comes in.

“Now that I have you all thoroughly depressed...”

Lackner said with a smile before launching into solutions.

Lackner thinks that turning carbon into a manageable form that can then be stored underground is the answer to our clean energy needs. It will be captured, chemically changed so that it will not be able to escape and injected underground. This, according to Lackner, is a safe and permanent storage option.

Companies will build advanced power plants to avoid having to pay to store their emitted carbon. In this way, carbon would be coming out, but it wouldn’t be able to harm the atmosphere.

Lackner has a solution for any carbon that’s emitted. Air extraction can make up for any emissions. Technologies such as those he, his students and his associates have created will redefine air extraction. The pieces of cutting-edge technology work like trees by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The captured carbon can be made into the liquid that can be stored underground.

“Think of these as oversized furnace filters,” Lackner explained.

He said he’s a pessimist in thinking of turning this ship around overnight, but he’s very much intrigued by the idea of coming back. In many ways, he observed, what he’s telling us is only the beginning. It’s as though we’re building horsedrawn carriages, thinking of technologies and methods that within 50 years will be just as basic and outdated. The answers to the question of how to improve our world will change with time.

“I think we don’t have any excuse not to get started,” Lackner said.

Indeed, he’s proven that there aren’t.

Don

Lackner Redefines Our Idea of Energy

STAFF WRITER

The first distinguished lecturer of the spring 2010 semester made his audience laugh as well as think. Dr. Klaus S. Lackner spoke on Thursday, Feb. 11, in the multipurpose room of the Campus Center.

Dressed in a light blue shirt, dark blue tie and blackish suit, he sat among his audience for a while. It was an audience that grew and grew until a majority of the one hundred or so chairs were filled. Meanwhile, the screen at the front of the room showed a video of Lackner discussing his research and piano music played in the background. A podium waited for David Putnam, the man who introduced Lackner. A laptop atop a cart and a camera in the corner completed the scene, into which Lackner soon entered, ready to speak.

Putnam said, “It’s daunting to read this bio in front of me,” in reference to the paper listing Lackner’s many titles and successes.

He also told a story about how Lackner had addressed the United States Congress wearing mismatched shoes. The professor of geophysics at Columbia

ingly sensible: fossil fuels.

In relation to fossil fuels, there are environmental limits,

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University Times CAMPUS March 4 2010

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit with me, their old prior dean of students. In our own little way, we recreated the monthly morning “Coffee with the Dean” session.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering my guests coffee, I went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all my former students

Chris’ Corner Coffee with the Dean

had a cup of coffee in hand, I said, “If you noticed, all the nice- looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it’s normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that‘s the source of many problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it’s just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup. But you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing one another’s cups. So think about this: Life is the cof-

fee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups and they’re simply tools to hold and contain life. So in reality, the type of cup we have does not define, nor change, the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us.”

God brews the coffee, not the cups.... Enjoy your coffee!

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

How Do You Spell COMMUNITY?

Campus Community Tips

“You catch more flies with honey than vinegar” advice we all need to follow to create a pleasant community!

Consideration, compassion and civility go a long way in getting what you need or want.

Offer explanations to students when decisions are made to avoid misunderstandings.

Make time for any questions that may arise.

Make sure you practice active listening when interacting with one another. Turn off your

iPods and cell phones.

Understand it takes time to resolve things sometimes. Patience is appreciated.

Information about how long a request might take to be fulfilled is appreciated.

Never forget that we are a teaching institution and as such are responsible for teaching

social norms, expectations and consequences in higher education with compassion.

Individual students have individual needs. Faculty and staff are advocates for our students. 1 Take the time to help students find the right person to assist with their questions and follow up when possible.

You are part of a special community, whether a student or an employee of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Darylen Cote CONTRIBUTOR

After several months of assessing needs and determining what advice might be useful to staff, students and faculty, the Campus Quality Improvement Work Group has crafted “Campus Community Tips.”

Playing off the acronym COMMUNITY, the list spells out ideas the group believes may help to make our campus community a more welcoming, friendly place to live and work.

The CQI Work Group grew out of a Student Affairs staff retreat in fall 2008. The group looked at UMPI’s strategic plan and chose to focus on “creating a student-centered campus.”

The smaller work group then decided that, because faculty and staff are integral to student satisfaction, the scope of the work group should be the entire campus community.

The first feedback highlighted overall satisfaction with the way students, faculty and staff experience UMPI. Some areas rated lower than others, however. Some people expressed pet peeves or shared ideas that might help

everyone function together more smoothly.

The work group took those ideas and molded them into a list of suggested behaviors and strategies. These should result in students, faculty and staff getting their needs met in satisfactory ways, with the least friction. The group identified common themes and decided that, in the end, each suggestion had to do with building community.

The tips will be part of the new faculty and staff orientation process, and First Year Seminar classes. Each current staff and faculty member will get the list. When asked what she hopes the document will accomplish, Dean Corsello said, “The strength of our community and the quality of our campus depend on each individual taking responsibility for his or her own actions and helping each other along the way. Civil behavior is the oil that makes the machine run smoothly. We all need to pay attention and remember the ‘little’ things when we interact with each other.”

University Times CAMPUS March 4, 2010

SOSW raffle a big success

Angel Hammond STAFF WRITER

As the hand reached inside the bucket to pull the winning raffle ticket and the camera flash went off in the background, suspense was thick in the room. It was one of the few blue ones among the sea of red.

“Sherry Cole” announced Student Organization of Social Work adviser Shirley Rush.

Sherry Cole, a student here at UMPI, had won the exquisite handcrafted Afghan blanket made by Linda McGillivary, mother of social work major Angela McGillivary.

The design of the afghan represents the tartan of the McGillivary family’s native Newfoundland. The drawing took place on Feb. 11 to help fund the SOSW’s New York City trip. For those of you who don’t know, an afghan or “throw blanket,” as it is commonly called, is a blanket or shawl that’s knitted or crocheted from yarn or thread, usually in a geometric pattern. Afghans are

normally homemade and used as gift items. Afghans, or throw blankets, were originally named because they originated in Afghanistan of materials that would decay. Then people would throw the items away.

The raffle raised more than $500. What made it so successful?

“The fact that people really went out there and hustled,” Rush said.

This is just one of the many fundraisers SOSW puts on throughout the year to raise money for various trips and organizations. Whether it’s gathering supplies for those in need, raising money to attend national conferences or preparing for international trips, SOSW can always be found in the community. More recently, members are planning to send used books to a university in Africa. It created a library solely out of donations from sources such as this. SOSW members make sure their charity reaches as many as possible.

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Workinʼ Their Way to NYC Rachel Churchill STAFF WRITER

Over February break, ten 10 UMPI students involved in the social work program embarked on a life-changing journey.

Their trip took them to New York City where they toured landmarks such as the United Nations, Ellis Island, the Tenement Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian. All the destinations helped them learn more about the difficulties immigrants and refugees, both past and present, faced.

This trip, according to Shirley Rush, social work professor and the student organization of social work advisor, replaced the Global Social Work Student Conference that UMPI social work students have attended in the past. Rush also noted the students’ enthusiasm and dedication.

“Through planning, fundraising and a lot of hard work, they have taken responsibility and persevered. They’re committed – great students to work with!”

Rush said.

In November, the students, and their friends and families made and sold more than 160 apple pies. The students also hosted bake sales and raffles. This includes an afghan raffle on Feb. 11.

Many of the students who participated in the trip are also enrolled in SWK 425, Special Topics in Social Work: Critical Perspectives on Immigration - a course complementing the experiences of the trip. These students will also be presenting what they learned during their time spent in New York on University Day, April 14.

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University Times CAMPUS March 4, 2010

National Student Exchange Offers Unforgettable Experience Marjorie McNamara CONTRIBUTOR

The economic downturn has made of a lot of college dreams impossible for many. Students who dreamed of traveling to far-off locations in pursuit of an education were thwarted when the stock market ate up funds.

All is not lost, however! The National Student Exchange makes it possible for students on a budget to attend those ideal universities.

“The National Student Exchange program was the best experience of my life. I had the opportunity to achieve many things, meet lifelong friends and grow as an individual,” Nicole Bossie, UMPI student who attended the University of Southern Florida at SarasotaManatee, said. “If I didn’t have NSE, I never would have been able to afford getting an experience like this.”

National Student Exchange is a program among more than 200 campuses in the Unites States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students attending one of the member universities can choose to participate in an exchange to the campus of

their choice.

For example, a student from UMPI could do a semester at Humboldt University in northern California, the University of Alaska at Anchorage or even University of Guam.

“My NSE experience to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, was a once in a lifetime experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. During my time of exchange, I grew so much as a person. I met tons of new people, made lasting, lifelong friendships and for the first time in my life experienced cultural diversity in the surrounding population. Overall, my experience was the greatest thing that ever happened to me and I wouldn’t give up a day I experienced. I am so open to trying everything now because of the exchange,” Andrew Parker, UMPI student, said.

The application process to enter the National Student Exchange is fairly easy. A $115 nonrefundable fee is required at the time of application. The home campus interviews and selects students based on the minimum requirements set by the National Student Exchange.

These guidelines mandate that students be full time, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and be in good academic standing with no outstanding financial issues.

The National Student Exchange is a great chance for students to experience different cultural societies and engage themselves in another learning environment. After all, travel is one of the greatest educational tools available.

Applications for fall 2010, spring 2011 or summer 2011 are due in the Student Exchange Office, located on the first floor of South Hall, by Friday, March 5, 2010.

Application materials are also available.

Money is everything to everyone these days. Dollar signs and stock market values plague headlines and innertable conversations.

Finally, there’s some relief for college students who can’t afford to finish a degree at their dream institution.

The National Student Exchange is one of the most efficient, wellexecuted collegiate programs in the country. Consider taking advantage of it.

A “Serendipitous” Seminar Staphanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

Dr. Bonnie Wood holds up Ziploc bags full of plastic trinkets. To some, these trinkets may appear as household goods or even toys. But for others, especially students who have taken her genetics class, they’re clearly recognized as her renowned teaching models.

Wood, professor of biology at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, has just recently published her book titled “Lecture-Free Teaching: A Learning Partnership of Science Educators and Their Students.” Although she initially began her teaching career using the traditional lecture methods, Wood eventually began implementing fun and interactive ways to better integrate lecture and lab and get students more involved. On Feb. 11, at the Faculty Noon Seminar, Wood explained how she went about this process.

Perfectly titled “Serendipity: Student-led Teaching Models,” the seminar discussed Wood’s luck at stumbling across the idea of teaching models. While reading journals, Wood found and collected articles that described interesting models that could be used as teaching tools in the classroom. When she was eventually able to test her first teaching model, she found that the students really enjoyed it and wanted another one. From that point on, Wood began to use even more models in the classroom, particularly in her genetics class. She assem-

bled the kits from things as simple as household items.

In Wood’s genetics class, students select models to teach various concepts. An advantage to this is that by teaching the material to their peers, they become the “experts.”

“They’ve just recently learned the material and are more aware of the possible misconceptions,” Wood said.

Students are graded with a rubric that ensures they present the information in both an accurate and interesting way.

“I have to ensure the presentations are of adequate quality.

The rubric gets more specific and elaborate every year. I’ve tried to make it so that I get a more consistent product,” Wood said.

Although there are instances when Wood must correct information, the models are generally well done. She believes that students learn very well with the models by having to learn and present the information.

Before concluding the seminar, Wood led the faculty members in attendance through a teaching model that relates to the four blood types: A, B, AB and O. Participants used red plastic disks to model their type (or create their own type) and learned why specific blood types can’t mix. Wood’s Faculty Noon Seminar offered the opportunity for attendees to not only hear about how her teaching models worked, but to also view how one could be put into practice.

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University Times CAMPUS March 4 2010

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

If you asked most people what type of dead bird is in their freezer, they’d probably answer chicken or turkey. Dr. Jason Johnston, on the other hand, may say a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. You may think this is strange, but for Johnston it’s a normal part of his bird research. You can sometimes find him on campus, watching for birds, binoculars at hand.

Or you may see him setting up nets to capture birds. There’s no doubt that Johnston’s passionate about his research. But what exactly inspired Johnston’s passion? And what else should you know about him, beyond the birds?

Johnston, who grew up in Mapleton, developed his interest in the sciences at a young age.

Beyond the Birds

“Growing up in northern Maine, I was always in the woods exploring things,” Johnston said.

Johnston spent his early college years at Bowdoin working on a biology and environmental studies degree. Following this period, he attended the University of Delaware and then the University of Maine at Orono. It was at these schools that he completed his master’s and Ph.D. Johnston said that he got his first chance to work with birds while at Bowdoin.

During this time, he spent a summer studying gulls in the middle of the Bay of Fundy.

This inspired Johnston to take a course about birds and eventually study them while working on a later degree.

Once he completed his education, Johnston began looking for work. Although he never

imagined that he’d be able to come home to work, he looked for similar places. Johnston said that he was stunned when he saw the posting for his current position. UMPI was looking for his exact interests and skills.

“It was an absolutely perfect job fit for me,” Johnston said.

Johnston teaches a variety of science classes at UMPI. He’s also involved with research.

“I’m generally interested in examining the effects of human activity on birds,” Johnston said.

His research in 2008-2009 focused on how the campus wind turbine would affect the breeding habits of Savannah Sparrows. Johnston’s newest project will begin this spring.

While working in the forests, he’ll study what birds have eaten. He’ll also try to determine if there are enough insects

available for food.

Johnston takes the time to get students interested in the sciences and research, too. He thinks that students should take science courses because a number of decisions in society relate to scientific topics. That’s why Johnston tries to make connections in his classes between topics covered and major public issues, such as genetically modified crops and antibiotic resistance.

He also believes that students should try new and different activities that they have interests in.

“It’s really important for students to be proactive,” Johnston said.

Johnston seems to greatly enjoy his work as a professor.

“I like the diversity of things I get to do. I very much like learning new things and

The Rewards of Giving the Gift of Life

Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

With the offer of tempting prizes, the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Residence Life Office and Kappa Delta Phi NAS chapters held a blood drive sponsored by the Red Cross. The blood drive was a full day event held in the multipurpose room of UMPI’s Campus Center on Feb. 10, 2010. This blood drive is the second one this academic year.

According to Jim Stepp, residence life director, it’s been a tradition since 1987 to hold one blood drive per semester.

Since then, UMPI’s blood

drives have collected more than 3,066 pints of blood. The blood drives are usually successful events on campus, although this one only met the minor quota that was set.

“We had a goal of obtaining 84 pints, which we had hit right on the nose,” Stepp said.

Despite the seemingly low number, many students, staff members and even community members give

blood at these blood drives in support of a good cause. What made this blood drive special is that the donors were rewarded for giving the gift of life. All donors got a raffle ticket that

entered them into a drawing for one month’s worth of home heating oil: a prize valued at around $250. The tickets were combined with tickets from other blood drives in Aroostook County throughout the month of February.

During the month of February, the Red Cross drew one winner per day for the prize which was paid directly to the winner’s utility company of choice.

Meanwhile, in order to attract more students to the blood drive, the residence halls offered their own prize. The

with students,” working Johnston said.

Besides being a professor, Johnston’s a husband to his wife, Krista, and a father to his young daughter, Kathleen.

Although he stays pretty busy, Johnston’s always willing to lend a helping hand.

If you’re interested in learning more about Johnston, visit his Web site at http://www. umpi.maine.edu/~jasonj/.

floors of the residence halls held a competition for which floor could give the most blood. The winning floor, the third floor of Park, received a pizza party as a reward for its donations. The floor’s resident assistant, Bria Ryder, held the pizza party. Ryder’s no stranger to winning: this is the third year in a row that her floor has won this competition, and she was excited.

This competition was a way to encourage students to help others. They got a reward for saving lives by giving a gift that keeps on giving both directly and indirectly.

HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR 2010-2011?

If you are eligible for federal student aid - and have not done this for next academic year, please go on-line and fill out a 2010-2011 application at: www.fafsa.gov DO NOT WAIT- APPLY TODAY!!

(If you wait...you could lose out on some financial aid assistance.)

Any questions, feel free to stop by the Financial Aid Office, located on the top floor of Preble Hall.

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University Times CAMPUS March 4, 2010

North of Ordinary to Caribbean All for Orthopedics second mom.”

Hopkins elected to spend her final semester at Colby and really get some hands-on experience that UMPI couldn’t offer.

While the final semester field experience is no longer required for the athletic training degree, Hopkins wanted to make the most of her time since she only had two classes to finish in order to graduate. Blackstone put Hopkins in touch with Colby and she’s been there since the beginning of this semester. Hopkins spends her days at the health center on

Hopkins said. Since UMPI doesn’t have any contact sports, The terms “hard worker” and she’s getting to see all kinds of “highly motivated” would be new injuries. understatements for UMPI senHopkins said, “Colby is quite ior Hannah Hopkins. She different than UMPI. They knew that her four or five years have 1800 students and 98 perat UMPI were just the begincent of them are on campus.” ning to her college career. She’s So not only is Hopkins learnworked her way through preing a lot from the different types med and athletic training of sports injuries, but she’s also degrees and is now spending learning from the different type her final semester at Colby of campus life and atmosphere.

College in Waterville, Maine.

As she graduates this spring, Unlike many seniors who are she’ll be setting out on a new just eager to graduate from coladventure. She’ll go back to lege in the spring, Hopkins sees Halifax for the summer before this last semester as the reporting to the small end of an amazing time Caribbean island of at UMPI. She also sees Nevis.

She’s been it as the beginning to the accepted to the next phase of her colMedical University of lege career. the Americas, where Hopkins chose to she’ll study for the come to UMPI because next two years. After of the small class sizes that, she’ll come back and hands-on opportuto North America for nities it had to offer and two years of clinical knew this was something study, followed by a she could benefit from. four-year residency She was amazed at the and then end with a professionalism of the one-year fellowship.

UMPI admissions staff, After she completes as she received a phone the next nine years of call, e-mail or letter from school, Hopkins hopes them at least once a to one day be in week. orthopedics.

“Mike Sullivan sold When asked about me on the athletic trainall of the years of ing program,” Hopkins school she has left, said.

Hopkins quickly said, Sullivan was the head Hannah Hopkins plies her craft at Colby College “I’m not ready to be of the athletic training in an office yet.” department in 2005 when campus working under the Hannah Hopkins has Hannah chose to come to guidance of Dr. Paul Berker gone above and beyond to make UMPI. and Jimmy Woodlee, physician- her UMPI experience a memoWhen asked about her most s’ assistant. Each day she rable and beneficial one. memorable experiences at spends a few hours at the health “UMPI’s g reat,” UMPI, Hopkins said “I’ll center, treating anything from Hopkins said. always remember all the fun the common cold to a twisted She’d recommend it for times in the training room, ankle. She then heads over to all students considering it. men’s soccer practice in the fall the training room to treat the But she has some special when the first snow fell and men’s lacrosse team, her ath- advice for those who might knowing when it was time to letes for the season. be interested in pre-med and have fun and when it was time “We’re four days into the sea- athletic training. to be serious.” Hopkins also son and I’ve already seen six dif“Don’t do both: you’ll go said “Barb Blackstone is like a ferent types of injuries.” crazy!”

Rene Steele

STAFF WRITER

Justin Pelkey STAFF WRITER

Professor Kimberly Sebold is adding the finishing touches to a project that began a year ago.

The Medieval Faire is set to premiere on March 23, in Wieden Hall. It`s an event you may have heard of, but are unsure what it is. Just what does Sebold have planned and what is she doing in the basement of Normal Hall?

The faire is aimed at middle school students from around Aroostook County. She`s decided to open the doors, however, to the UMPI community as well. Sebold describes the event as a showcase of various activities of medieval times.

“There are eight different stations,” Sebold said.

“Medicine, heraldry, food, music, textile, weaponry, monastery and stained glass making.”

As the students enter, volunteers will hand out “passports” designed for all students. The passport will have their names and a brief historical story. The passports will also assign them to a medieval class, ranging from peasant to royalty. UMPI students and volunteers at each station will explain what life was like in medieval times. Some examples include what you could expect to eat and how men shaved.

“I couldn`t do this if I didn`t have help from others with talent,” Sebold said with a laugh.

“I have no artistic talent.”

From the beginning, Sebold has been able to find volunteers willing to help. She began brainstorming last fall. She said that she has her student, Megan Pryor, to thank for helping her with research. Last fall, Sebold also had her medieval history class help her. Some of those students have graduated since then, but continue to volunteer

Riding to the Faire on a Papiermâché Pig

their time. There are students such as Jeanie McGowan.

McGowan sat with Sebold in the basement of Normal Hall.

She helped craft a pig, as well as other various objects, out of papier-mâché. Sebold laughed when she explained how she sent an e-mail to UMPI staff members, asking for newspapers. Within minutes, she had replies.

“I`ve got newspaper. We`ve got plenty of newspaper,” Sebold said.

Sebold has used the money she received from a grant, as well as the money her medieval history class has raised, to purchase various artifacts. Sebold has gathered a collection of medieval replicas: copper toothpicks, dining utensils, fleece, scalpels, bone saws and other artifacts. The item she seems most proud of is a trivet she received from England. The trivet is about 9 inches high and 12 inches across. It was made out of cast iron. Iron pots and kettles would rest on top. The whole thing would then sit in a fire for cooking. Sebold explained that her trivet has a twin that was made at the same time - an exact replica. This sister will be used during the filming of the upcoming Robin Hood film, featuring Russell Crowe.

Can we expect to see the Medieval Faire again next year?

“I hope,” Sebold says, “We`ll see how they like it.”

She said that she`d like to do it every other year. She`d like to be able to add more things each time, such as having a station dedicated to pottery, as well as a wool spinner.

Sebold`s always looking for volunteers to lend a hand. If you`re interested, send an email to her at kimberly.sebold@umpi.edu.

University Times CAMPUS March 4 2010

Alyson Robitaille STAFF WRITER

Whether it be basketball, track, baseball, wrestling or cross country, most of us have a sport we enjoy. But many of us know little about one longterm health problem that could affect our future in more ways then one. MRSA, otherwise-known-as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus – in other words, a staph infection - used to be more common in hospitals and nursing homes.

Nowadays, doctors and nurses are seeing the disease in communities and athletes.

The problem with this is that most athletes have no idea what this disease is or how to cure it. Well, here are the things that athletes and pretty much everyone should know and remember.

Staphylococcus Aureus is a type of bacteria that healthy people carry in their nose or on their skin. Although 25-50 percent of people carry these bacteria in their noses, it doesn’t make them sick. Other locations that are home to these bacteria are groins,

MRSA: What Every Athlete NEEDS to Know

armpits and the genital area.

Staph can cause various infections such as pneumonia, deep skin infections and blood and joint infections. It can also

can look like anything from a spider bite to a boil. This may cause problems, because most people just assume it’s a spider bite. It also can look like cel-

cause pimples. This is all common in the typical person.

MRSA, however, is an antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph) infection. It

lulitis on the back of your legs, a cut that’s filled with pus or blisters on the face filled with fluid called impetigo.

This is important for athletes

to know because they’ve become the common victims of these bacteria. Athletes get this disease due to areas where equipment may rub and break skin, such us the hands, knees or elbows. One athlete becoming infected may mean the whole team will get infected. MRSA is very easy to spread: it’s spread through contact and outbreaks are most commonly known to happen in locker rooms, dorms and schools.

When asked what precautions to take, Marshell, a registered nurse at PINRH said, “You must wash your hands.

Prevention is the key. As for contracting this disease, public areas are a home for this and many other deadly diseases.”

If you suspect that you have MRSA, don’t pick at the suspected site whatsoever. Tell your coach, athletic trainer or doctor immediately. If you do have MRSA, the doctor will drain the infection and wrap it.

You need to avoid any contact with other people until the leaking of the wound stops.

One very important thing to know is that you must wash your hands after re-wrapping

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9 the wound. You also need to disinfect everything that you have contact with, such as a TV remote, with alcohol wipes.

In 2005, MRSA caused around 94,00 life-threatening illnesses and about 19,00 deaths.

A quick survey on Facebook and throughout UMPI dorms revealed six out 15 people didn’t know what MRSA is or how it’s contracted.

One student, asked “Who is MRSA?” when asked if she knew what MRSA was.

So, why is this important to you? Because MRSA is easily spread, it threatens and kills thousands every year. Many people are unaware of the dangers that MRSA can inflict. That’s why we need to spread awareness. If you have MRSA or suspect that you do, always wash your hands and avoid contact with other people. You must make sure you visit the doctor until your MRSA has been fully treated.

The sooner you get it checked out, the better. Never forget that a simple bump on your face, leg or arm could affect the rest of your life.

10

University Times CAMPUS March 4, 2010

Valentineʼs Day at Chez UMPI Kayla Ames STAFF WRITER

You want a splendid Valentine’s Day feast, but you don’t want to break the bank.

Where do you go? Bangor?

Portland? Boston? How about the UMPI cafeteria? That last choice may surprise you. But on Thursday, Feb. 11, that’s the choice a lot of students made.

The cafeteria was festive, in a simple, elegant way.

Silverware was wrapped in red and black napkins, readily available to all those who passed the front register. An arch of pink and red balloons welcomed students, creating a two-colored rainbow over their heads. Each dish had a label, and each label had a picture that somehow related to Valentine’s Day. White tablecloths covered the tables. Each had been littered with chocolate hearts wrapped in colored foil. They shone like silver, red, purple, pink and gold jewels, dropped by the handful but meant to be eaten rather than treasured.

Staff members served a number of themed dishes for students who wished to engage in the spirit of the holiday. The salad bar remained the same as usual. Everything else changed in accordance with Valentine’s Day. The Action Station, known for stir-fries, let students make their own ravioli. They chose from a variety of pasta, sauces, vegetables, meats and cheeses. The main meal consisted of steak, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted broc-

coli and polenta margharita.

Pizza, always popular, came in the form of margharita pizza.

Basically, the cheese was mozzarella and the topping was tomatoes. Other options included pasta fagiole, Tuscan chicken, Italian sausage and pepper sub and beer-battered calamari.

The salad was made of kale and dried cranberries, appropriately sweet considering the occasion.

If anything was more elaborate than the meal, it was the desserts. There were cheesecake and piles of candy, including Hershey kisses and tootsie rolls.

The candy was only slightly more abundant and various than the cookies, which had numerous toppings.

Some were drizzled with chocolate, others topped with green, rainbow or chocolate sprinkles and some were chocolate chip.

Sophomore Sam Johnson said of the meal, “It was really good, and with the new guy, could you go wrong?”

He referred to Mike Webster, the new chef manager, whom many of us know from his regular appearance at our tables as we eat. While the rest of the staff shows consideration by feeding us and helping us celebrate, he shows consideration by asking us questions. Whether through decorations or questions, one thing remains the same: the fact that members of the staff, from the organizers to the cooks to the servers, obviously care. And after all, isn’t Valentine’s Day meant to be celebrated by those who care?

Chili?! Where?!

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

You’re walking into the campus center, you round the corner by the old WUPI radio station, you’re nearing the stairs and you come across a scent that smells like hot spices, ground beef, beans, onions and tomatoes. You wonder where this amazing smell is coming from, so you follow your nose and turn right at the top of the stairs. You see tables full of hot, fresh chili, waiting for you to eat and digest.

Physical education majors put on this tasteful event on Tuesday, Feb. 9, because they’re fundraising to go to Indianapolis for the National Conference of American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The students will get the opportunity to meet some of the writers who wrote the textbooks they use for classes and to discuss new ideas on physical education. The cafete-

ria staff generously donated the food. Eager eaters paid $5 for their chilli. Among those who went and supported the PE majors were Aaron and Rachel Tomlinson, Todd Russell and his wife, Dean Corsello and Amanda Morin.

their flights and accommodations. The students themselves are responsible for their registration fee. The students going to the conference include: Jason Walsh, Corey Langille, Walker MacIntosh, Josh Williams, Chris Moore, Billie Martin and Cyndi Trapnell.

Chris Standefer, adviser, will be going as well.

Chris Moore, a physical education major, said, “I’m very excited for the trip because I’ve never been anywhere outside of the Maritimes. It’s exciting to go because of the people we meet, the things you learn at the conference and the places we get to go.”

The PE majors have done other fundraising, such as selling hockey getaway tickets for the Maine Black Bears versus UNB. They’ve also done 5050 raffles at basketball games.

The PE majors have raised enough money to pay for all of

The chili supper was a success. Everyone’s looking forward to the conference. Thanks to their hard work and fundraising, there’ll be a lot of PE majors who should have a good time in Indianapolis, while they gain some knowledge!

Listen to the brand-new WUPI 92.1 “THE OWL” for these shows: M-F 12-1 p.m. “’80s Lunch with Ben Pinette”

All ‘80s Requests at 768-9711 from the days of Pac-Man, Madonna and The Breakfast Club

Mondays 11 a.m. - noon “Sports Talk with Sam Clockedile”

Tuesdays 1-3p.m.

We Salute You w/ “The Trooper”

Love sports talk? Sam will keep you informed of events during his time slot

Want to rock? Hear Tom’s deep music playlist in action.

Call him at 768-9711 for requests!

Tuesdays 4-6:00p.m.

“Adam & Ryan versus Sports”

Saturdays 6:30-11:30a.m.

Dan’s Country Show

Listen in to Ryan McPhedran and Adam Tilsley’s unique sports show. Ryan promises special guest call ins and much more!

Hear the most classic country and best variety!

Want to be a part of WUPI-92.1?

Come to our meetings every Thursday from 12:30-1p.m. in Normal 102

and find out how can have your own show!

University Times

Community

March 4 , 2010

11

Leaving on a Jet Plane: Experiencing Life in the Dominican Republic

Daniel Jackson STAFF WRITER

What do you think of when you hear the name “Dominican Republic?” As a political science major, I instantly thought of a Caribbean island nation plagued by decades of turmoil and instability. When I decided to embark on a short-term mission trip to this island nation, I was slightly apprehensive. I asked myself, “What in the world am I getting myself into?!” close to a thousand times a day. How would the people in my group react to someone they’d never met? I had no choice but to wait and find out.

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, a nation that’s recently made headlines after a tragic earthquake rocked the already volatile nation. Since the end of Spanish colonial rule, the Dominican Republic has become a major tourist destination. Due to the ever expanding economy and more

available jobs in the services industry, up to one million Haitians now reside in the Dominican Republic, many of them illegally. My job while in

out the application to go on the trip, I faced the daunting task of raising $1,500 to go on the trip.

Through various donations, I got the money to go. I was sup-

the Dominican was going to be working with some of these Haitians who have started to carve out a new life.

My journey began back in September 2009. After filling

posed to leave on Feb. 11. Due to bad weather, however, my trip was delayed a few days. I was finally able to leave on Feb. 15, finally starting my journey.

After a long day of traveling to

Can you OD on Chocolate?

After a connecting flight from Portland to JFK International Airport in New York City, we finally boarded our flight that would take us to Santo Domingo. We left at 12:25 a.m. The flight takes close to four hours. After an uncomfortable flight sandwiched between two Dominicans who felt the need to argue over me in loud, rapid Spanish, I was relieved to be on the ground. We now had to claim our luggage and meet up with Tanis Derolus, our pastor while we’d be in the Dominican Republic. The humidity immediately hits you as you leave the plane. How was I, a boy born and raised in the County, going to survive?! The following issues of the University times will detail my work and experiences alongside the Haitians of San Pedro de Macoris. We’ll experience how they’re working to build a solid, secure future, not just for themselves, but for their children and generations to come.

Wellness Center holds annual Chocolate Festival

“Its just a fun day all Right” with chocolate.” around for the kids. They To sample any of the chocoChocolate lovers got their can eat chocolate, then go late, there was a $10 door fee. annual chocolate fix at the play in our bouncy house As you stepped inside, you Ben Pinette

the Portland International Jetport, I had an overnight flight ahead of me.

Sitting in the airport, I began to reflect on how I got to this point and what the coming days would bring. I had a slight idea of what I would be doing – perhaps teaching English to children in the school, perhaps doing construction on the second floor of the school or the church. When the call to board the plane echoed over the PA system, my stomach did a flip.

Walking down the ramp toward the plane, the excitement began. I couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring. Whatever Tuesday held was going to be amazing and a rough plane ride wasn’t going to deter me.

STAFF WRITER

Caribou Wellness Center on Feb. 13.

The Caribou Children’s Discovery Museum once again teamed up with the Wellness Center to bring a day of chocolate to the town, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The festival took place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and featured an auction of donated items with all of the proceeds going toward the Discovery Museum.

Nancy Chandler has been behind the idea for this festival and a children’s museum in Caribou for more than three years now.

and play games such as guess how many M&M’s are in this jar, play Wonka Bingo and even play “The Price Is

found numerous stations that had different kinds of chocolate from different vendors to be sampled. There were everything from Cadberry chocolate to chocolate coffee and even local dealer Robin Jenkin’s chocolate sauce made on the Loring Air Force Base in Loring.

“Over 160 items were showcased.” Chandler said.

Raffle tickets for a $1,000 savings bond and a bird feeder were available. Children had

opportunities to participate in craftwork, including making bookmarks and chocolate moose drawings.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to bring families together, especially when everyone seems to have cabin fever around this time.”

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the festival are going toward the museum to be built in the former RadioShack location in the downtown mall.

For more information

about how you can help donate to the start of the museum, call Chandler at 764-9241 or visit www.cariboudiscovery.org.

12

University Times COMMUNITY March 4, 2010

Home is Where the Heat Is Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Winter and northern Maine go hand in hand. How to keep warm through our longest season is always a hot topic. People devote a lot of mental energy to the subject. So the University Times decided to mosey around and asked 20 students how they kept the home fires burning.

Despite being one of the most expensive heating sources, oil was the most common home heating source, with 14 of the 20 students using it to heat their homes. This follows the trend of the Northeast region, which, according to Energy Information Administration, is the highest consumer of home heating oil with around 40 percent of households using oil for heating in the Northeast alone.

You might have thought that with the abundance of forests in Maine, wood would be the most popular heating source. But in reality, it came in second place with only four students using it to heat their homes. This doesn’t include the one student who used wood pellets to heat his home. That too, may be surprising given their recent popularity due to rising oil prices.

Out of the survey, only one student used an alternative

heating source to wood or oil.

This student used propane to heat his home. Propane, although popular in other regions of the United States, is not as widely used in Maine.

This could be because propane is more expensive than heating oil with the average price per gallon around $2.90 compared to $2.66 for oil according to the Maine Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security.

The results of this survey reflect home heating trends in northern Maine today. It indicates that Mainers need to use alternative heating sources available to them in order to reduce their dependence on foreign oil. That’s where most heating oil used in Maine comes from according to Maine oil dealer, Dead River Company.

To reduce dependence on foreign oil and create jobs for the state, Mainers need to use local, environmentally friendly sources of heat such as wood to heat their homes rather than oil.

This way along with helping the environment by reducing oil consumption, Mainers will also help their pocketbooks by saving money through the use of cheaper energy sources and the creation of local energy-related jobs.

A Great Way to Enjoy the White Gold of Presque Isle Alicia Fournier STAFF WRITER

Picture yourself taking a ride on an isolated trail covered in freshly fallen snow.

You’re speeding through a series of twists and turns to places only few are able to experience. Snowmobiling is a growing recreational sport that’s enjoyed by many riders every winter season. Despite the high expense of gear, fuel and repairs, the sport is quite pleasurable.

Emily Bartlett, a sophomore at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, said, “It’s a chance to get outdoors.... I enjoy the scenery and it gets me out doing something.”

Riders find it very relaxing to be able to have a sort of escape from everyday life.

Believe it or not, there are several trails, connected by an intricate system created by numerous partnering clubs.

Among these clubs is the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club. The best trails around are right here in Presque Isle.

Many riders travel from southern Maine to snowmobile up in northern Maine.

Jake Tripp, a senior at Gray New Gloucester High School who often travels to Presque Isle to ride, said, “There’s usually more snow and the trails are better maintained.”

Back in 1968, a group with a high interest in the sport of snowmobiling banded together to find ways of encouraging more participation. Members

soon started speaking with land owners in the area in hopes of acquiring permission to pass through their land in order to connect their trails. Once they got permission, they spoke with other snowmobile clubs from surrounding towns to form the ITS: the International Trail System. This trail system covers the entire length of Maine and is kept very well maintained. At first, people used bed springs, old customized farm equipment and rectangular metal boxes called “skip drags” to groom these trails. But they soon realized easier and more effective ways to smooth out the trail.

They went as far as doing work on them in the summertime to get them perfect.

Adam Curtis, a resident of Presque Isle, said “The trails are maintained very well. They could start grooming earlier, but they’re always mint!”

Another objective of the club was to bring people together.

Members started up group rides, dances, suppers and overnight trips to achieve more involvement. Around 1985, once the club had a stable number of members and a widespread trail system, members of the club and the community built a clubhouse. Sadly, it burnt down in January 2009. But with the support of the members and their families and local businesses, they rebuilt it. It was completed only a year after the fire. You can find this incredible clubhouse just off State Park Road and conveniently on ITS

83, which is the major northsouth trail. The club just had an open house last Sunday to show it off to its members and the town and also to celebrate the great achievement.

The popularity of these snowmobile clubs was growing fast, so six dedicated snowmobilers formed the Maine Snowmobile Association to help organize all of the town clubs as a whole. The MSA now consists of nearly 300 town clubs in Maine. The Presque Isle Snowmobile Club has won awards for being the largest club multiple times. Even though it’s not the largest today, it still is very lively with more than 150 individual and family members. Oh, and did we mention the 45 businesses that contribute as well?

“The people (of Presque Isle and of the surrounding towns) are all very nice,” Steve Anketell, an experienced snowmobiler from downstate, said.

They’ll continue to hold their club rides with the last one this year on March 28. They’ll leave from the clubhouse and go to Chapman. Then they’ll go to Squapan Lake and on the Walker Siding Club trails, then over to Washburn and back to Presque Isle for lunch at Bonanza. If you have any ideas for other rides, they’re always open for new ideas. If you have any further questions, you can call the chairman of the board, John Graves, at (207) 762-9251.

13

University Times COMMUNITY March 4, 2010

Conversing with Crew-Industries Steve Straight STAFF WRITER

Crew-Industries is a group of locally affiliated MCs and beatmakers consisting of D.J. Drew (Andrew Margison), B.T. (Tim Thorpe), Ill-type (Reed Moody), Taz (Kyle Gray), Praise (Vincent Perkins), Squid (Seth Perkins), Styles (Travis Styles) and their newest member, J-Dub (Justin Wimbush).

The group formed when D.j> Drew and B.T. met a few years ago and began recording songs using a webcam. The group has grown in size and variation since then and has upgraded its equipment immensely. Drew has his own home studio, using a converted closet for a booth.

The guys were drawn to hiphop for a number of reasons.

For some, it’s a way to vent their feelings and frustrations. For others, it’s a way to get their story across. Some just love to make music. They’re open to working with anyone who has a passion for rap and has some

microphone skills.

When asked if there are any local artists they’d like to collaborate with that they haven’t, D.J. Drew responded, “The only name that pops into my mind is Meshwell, but they’re broken up. I’ve always wanted to see what they could do in the studio.”

Ill-type mentioned Parker Brown, who goes by P Breezy on the mic, and local guitarist and song writer Alec Lizzotte.

B.T. said “I’d like to try some metal stuff out,” and has interest in collaborating with Knee Deep in the Dead, “because I love live bands.”

The group members think that the state of mainstream hip-hop is in rough shape, saying that a lot of the better rappers are in prison or have sold out. They think that the majority of good rap music right now comes from underground artists like themselves from areas that are not nationally recognized on the rap scene. They think

Please join us in a Barbara Bush Family Literacy Grant panel discussion.

Tuesday, March 9, 12 p.m.

Campus Center University of Maine at Presque Isle How do we serve people in our community who cannot read well, better?

Are we doing enough in our community to improve literact rates?

All are welcome. Please e-mail Jim Morgan at njmorgan@nmcc.edu for more information.

that artists like themselves have to try harder to be noticed and that other musicians in the genre who have already made it do not have to rely as much on lyrical ability so much as focusing on making the next hit.

B.T. said, “Hip-hop is like a tree. You gotta go back to the roots. The roots keep that tree alive.”

D.J. Drew added, “If you look at rap in the mid 90s, guys like Tupac and Biggie had a message. Now most rappers

just care about money.”

When asked what goes into the perfect beat, B.T. grinned and said, “A nice bass line, or course. Everyone loves bass, that heart pounding boom!

Everyone loves that.”

Taz said that as far as songwriting goes, “You need a nice hook.”

When asked what inspiration to, “life’s problems.”

B.T. added, “My family inspires me and CrewIndustries is like a family

to me.”

The group made its first release (We Run P.I.) from the ground up, with all the artwork and album printouts designed by them. The second time around on The Breakthrough album, the group members still designed the album art but had it professionally labeled and printed, bringing a higher quality to the release. They’re now working on their third project, The Upgrade Mixtape. CrewInudstires’ current goal is to finish 10 tracks a month, hoping for 120 by the end of the year.

So far, they completed 12 in January and are making good on that resolution.

You can hear some of CrewIndustries’ music on it’s Facebook page. The officially Web site, Crew-industries.com, is under construction. As of righ now, the group doesn’t perform. But if you’d like to hear members play, add them on Facebook and request for them to play at UMPI!

Looking for a job?

Wanting a career change?

Then come to the

Job & Career Fair Wednesday, March 17 11 a.m-1:30 p.m.

Campus Center Door prizes and give aways will also be featured For more information, contact Career Services at 768-9750 or e-mail barbara.devaney@umpi.edu

14

University Times COMMUNITY March 4, 2010

ISS Gains Some Tranquility

Taking the Court Nerve Free Sarah Sjoberg CONTRIBUTOR

Justin Howe CONTRIBUTOR

On Feb. 8, the space shuttle Endeavor launched from the Kennedy Space Center at approximately 4:15 a.m. This mission’s primary objective was to add the Tranquility module and the Cupola module to the International Space Station. On Feb. 21, at 10:22 p.m., Endeavor landed at Kennedy Space Center after a flawless mission. After the successful mission, the ISS was around 90 percent complete, with all the major American components completed. It’s scheduled to be completely finished in 2011.

The shuttle had six astronauts on board: mission specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, pilot Terry Virts and commander George Zamka. It was the first launch of 2010 and it was one of the only night landings ever.

During its mission, there were three extra vehicular activities, mainly attaching the two modules.

The Tranquility module is primarily extra living space for astronauts onboard the International Space Station. It contains advanced life support systems such as recycling oxygen and water. It also holds beds for crewmembers and living space. The Cupola module is an observatory module. It has seven windows that create a panoramic view around the space station.

With the two modules attached, the United States’ involvement with the rest of the construction of the ISS will be limited. With the completion date in the near future, it’s exciting to see the finish of an international project that has cost many billions of dollars and taken years to build.

Test Your Sled Dog IQ Cutris Thompson CONTRIBUTOR

Everyone has heard about the dog sled races.

Everyone loves the dogs, but how many people know how rare some of the dogs are? Not only are the dogs trained and conditioned, some of them are bred to run. One of these rare bred dogs is the red husky.

The red husky is a rare breed because of its coat, eye color and ear color. In order for the husky to have a red almost white coat, both parents need to have the recessive trait for that color. The process is similar to humans being left-handed: it’s a recessive trait that both parents must have in order for a child to inherit it. Unfortunately, the recessive trait for having a red coat is close to the gene that causes huskies to have two eyes of different colors. For what is considered a true red husky, you need two brown eyes, which is another recessive trait. The last recessive trait for having perfect red or white husky is white tipped ears instead of the normal black ones.

For a husky to have all three of these traits in the wild is very slim. In fact, most think that the only way to have a red or white husky is to have one bred for just that reason. Many experts believe that none live in the wild. So if you’re watching the dog sled races or just happen to see them training, take a moment to look at the dogs and realize just how really special they are.

On Feb. 15, 2009, the Lady Beavers earned the opportunity to play basketball on the Bangor Auditorium floor. I, was among the honored this year.

As a junior, this was the fourth time I experienced basketball on this hallowed auditorium floor. My freshman year I didn’t see any playing time, but my sophomore year I started as a varsity player.

We made it past the quarterfinals, but lost in the semifinals by a large margin. I made it through those two games, but I don’t think that I’ve ever been so nervous in my life. I

felt like a whole big ball of nerves!

There are so many eyes on you, waiting to see what you can do. The pressure took away from the excitement of my experience. It’s really tough to play on this floor as an underclassman. As a junior high player, the closest you came to this famous floor was to watch your high school idols compete. I was never nervous then, only full of excitement and expectation. I convinced myself that this year, my junior year, would be different. This year I took on a new approach to the Bangor Auditorium.

I told myself I wouldn’t be nervous, because nerves don’t

help your game. If anything, they hurt your game. Because I changed my mentality this year, I had my best performance on the floor thus far.

Although my team did not advance to the semifinals, I was proud of my teammates for the game we played. I was especially proud of myself for not letting my nerves get the best of me. Once you put the jitters behind you, you can actually enjoy what it is you’re doing: playing basketball. You can’t let nerves affect how you perform. I definitely enjoyed myself out there this year, and next year I also plan to take the court “nerve free.”

Itʼs time for Some Imagination Amber Reed CONTRIBUTOR

High School’s chapter of Destination Imagination is now underway! This year we proudly showcase two fantastic teams with helpful guidance from our adviser Mrs. Tracy Reed. One team, made up Dakota Koch, Kyle Huston, Zach Davis, Jacob Reed, Felicia Cochran and Lindsey Blackstone, call themselves “Pies for the Public.” The other team, known as “Employees of the Month,” consists of Amber Reed, Cody Frank, Cameron Huston, Sarah Sjoberg, Marly Spooner, Marcie Cheviot and Adam Wilcox. Both teams are working very hard to put their performance together for the regional competition held in Bangor at the Eastern Maine Community College on March 20, 2010.

Pies for the Public members have to concentrate on certain elements for their challenge. Their problem solution must focus on robotic technology, creating an original

story that envisions and shows how at least one character’s life can be changed by the use of robotic technology and design. This involves the creation of their very own robot known as “DI-BOT.” Team members have a number of challenges must create a method to change at least one prop or set piece into the robot or at least part of the robot.

They must create a scene change that enhances the presentation by providing an effective transitional link from one scene to the next. Lastly, they have to create two side trips and integrate them into the performance.

Employees of the Month members have to present an original story dramatizing how a character experiences a flip or a point of view change about something or someone. They, too, have a number of challenges. They must design, construct, and feature at least one puppet as a character in the story. They must create a live visual art that has to be completely done

at competition during the skit.

And they have to create two side trips and integrate them into the presentation.

Both teams have to make sure all those elements fit into their team created skits with an eight-minute time limit. Both teams have worked very hard since December 15, 2009 and things are coming together very nicely. Both the teams are very proud of what they’ve put together and can hardly wait to show their stuff to their audience on March 20, 2010.