University of Maine at Presque Isle
Journalism for Northern Maine
What you missed at ISC visits birthplace Native American Umpi ball teams Betrayed: No U-day Appreciation Day of freedom earn wins, honors escape Page, 6-9 Page, 11 Page, 5 Page, 15 Page, 2
Campus p. 2
Community p. 14
Volume 37 Issue 6
APRIL 28, 2009
Done
By Greg Doak CONTRIBUTOR
April has brought a lot of changes to the skyline of the UMPI campus. In a single day, our view of the soccer field went from empty to amazingly accented with the tower and nacelle unit for the wind turbine. Impressive as the sight of the giant tower looming in the horizon might be, the magnitude of the weight of the structure is even more awesome. According to crane operator, Billie, the 1996 crane he operates used to be the largest crane in the area. Only recently have units been built that can lift higher and handle heavier loads. Billie’s crane at maximum configuration can lift as high as 370 feet! With the proper cabling configuration, it can hoist a staggering 232 tons, or in simpler terms, nearly a million pounds! While UMPI’s turbine doesn’t weigh in at close to that amount, it is still a respectable figure. Here’s the breakdown:
Sports p.15
UMPI’s tower finished for Earth Day tower piece #1 weighed in at 76,000 pounds, tower piece #2 weighed in at 61,000 pounds and piece #3 weighed in at 42,000 pounds. The nacelle unit perched atop the completed tower weighed in at just over 55,400 pounds. The blades are the final piece of the puzzle, weighing in at just over 6,000 pounds and spanning over 150 feet. All told, the UMPI turbine tips the scales at a remarkable 240,400 lbs. WOW! At press time, the blades were scheduled to be lifted into place early on Sunday morning. The crew members suspended efforts Saturday afternoon because of the strength of the wind affected their ability to lift and maneuver the blade assembly into place safely. Keep watching in the next few days to come. We should be seeing the blades turning shortly. Then the efforts of Don Zillman, Charlie Bonin and Dave St. Peter will finally be realized. Congratulations to them and all involved…well done!
Editorʼs note: if you scan the horizon from anywhere within miles of Presque Isle, youʼll see that the wind turbine blades are indeed in place.
Lifestyle p.17 Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu
BUSTED! By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
Nancy Reagan’s iconic advice, “Just Say No,” was ignored by three students attending UMPI. On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, campus security caught the three students, joint in hand. Campus security personnel told Greg Daniels, head of campus security, that there was a fight in the Merriman parking lot. Then Don Gibson, area coordinator for resident life, told Daniels, “there was no fight, but that I better come up. They found marijuana in the car.” Gibson had seen the three individuals, who can’t be named due to FERPA, in a black Mazda 3 with several windows open. “While walking toward the vehicle on the driver’s side, he [Gibson] observed smoke billowing out of the windows and recognized the odor of marijuana,” Daniels said. “When he [Gibson] approached, he noticed a CD case on the lap of one of the suspects and on the CD case there was a green, leafy substance that closely resembled marijuana.” “If drugs are found on campus, the police are automatically called. There aren’t just campus ramifications,” Jim Stepp, assistant dean of students said. “Police Officer Christopher Hayes, of the Presque Isle Police Department, investigated and confiscated marijuana and drug paraphernalia,” Daniels said. “He interviewed the three students and issued summonses for possession of usable amounts of BUST, Page 3
Campus
University Times
The University Times Staff 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 Contributors Morgan Berube Lindsey Blackstone Christine Corsello Greg Doak Elizabeth Gagnon Jeff Lovejoy Alex McIntosh Mihaela Pavlova Ben Pinette Chelsea Sadler Julie E. Stephenson Jessica Stepp Jim Stepp Don Zillman Adviser Dr. J The University Times, a nonprofit student publication, is printed at Northeast Publishing Company in Presque Isle, Maine. Articles and photographic ideas for submission may be left at the University Times office Normal Hall, Rm. 102 at UMPI, 181 Main St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Advertising rates are available upon request. The newspaper takes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All rights reserved.
April 28, 2009
BETRAYED: No escape By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
The fundraising activities of Klub Kampus, which the U Times recently brought to light, continue to raise eyebrows all across campus. “The Klub Kampus investigation has been turned over to the conduct code officer for further investigation and resolution,” Greg Daniels, head of campus security, said. The campus community has been asking why this matter hasn’t been turned over to police officials. “By taking the conduct code route, there’s a better chance of punishment,” Daniels explained. Adding to the drama is the recent return of Joshua Eastman, former Klub Kampus member and, for a time, treasurer. Earlier this year, when the investigation into Klub Kampus’s activities began, Eastman had taken a leave of absence from UMPI and left the state for South Carolina, along with Randy Deabay. Jim Stepp, assistant dean of students, who deals with conduct code violations, said, “Leaving does not get you out of trouble for your university actions. The university can still hold hearings as long as we provide notification, at your last known address, that a hearing is taking place.” As with any type of conviction for violating the Student Conduct Code, punishment can range from restitution to suspension or dismissal. If you think you’ll
transfer to another UM school if you do get suspended or dismissed from UMPI, think again. “Suspension or dismissal from UMPI also includes the entire UM system,” Stepp said. Other punishments include putting an administrative hold on your account, which freezes your transcripts, and educational sanctions, which could include you having to make apologies and do written papers and presentations. When asked why he left, Eastman replied, “Better economic opportunities in South Carolina.” “There are no charges against me to my knowledge,” Eastman said. “I don’t see how that would be fair. Prior to that, I didn’t know what had occurred.” Eastman explained that he first heard of the missing funds on the day he officially took office as Klub Kampus’s treasurer. “The vice president of the student senate contacted me. I told her to contact Randy. He was
never contacted until Greg Daniels sent him a letter or email,” Eastman said. Daniels had sent out letters to all possible witnesses involved in Klub Kampus activities. “He (Josh Eastman) was sent the same letter as everyone else. I never heard from him. I assumed he blew me off,” Daniels said. “He’s a witness. We want to talk to everyone. We need all the witness statements we can get,” Stepp said. “No one in that club would have taken the money for personal use. I think it’s a case of misfiled paperwork. Randy put a lot of his personal money into it. To
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES GIVING AWAY MONEY APRIL 30 @ 12:30 P.M. IN THE HOOʼS HUT
my knowledge, he was never reimbursed. Randy’s not the type to do that (take the money). My personal opinion is that he doesn’t have that type of character,” Eastman said. “There were several policy violations,” Daniels said. “I’m happy it’s come to light and we’re going to do something to keep it from happening again.” As for the new fundraising policy: “We’re two meetings away from finishing it. The student senate is working on it with me to finalize it. The interim policy is still in effect where all fundraising goes through Chris Corsello,” Stepp said.
Page 3
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Chrisʼ Corner
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, with our hectic schedules and all of our worries, we miss what’s really important and get consumed with the trivial. We may fail to say hello, please or thank you, congratulate people on something wonderful that’s happened to them, give a compliment or just do something nice for no reason. Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-toair missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy lands. He was captured and spent six years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!” “How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb.
Who packs your parachute?
“I packed your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.” Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb said, “I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back and bell -bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot, and he was just a sailor.” Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone
he didn’t know. So…I ask you…”Who’s packing your parachute?” All of us have someone who provides what we need to make it through the day. Plumb will tell you that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his phys-
Lend a helping hand to the McDonalds Family Benefit Car Wash May 2, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Tennis Court Parking Lot
DONATIONS WELCOME FMI: Tammy Smith (207)768-9544
ical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. We all need these parachutes in our daily life as well…sometimes one type of parachute more than others: depends upon the day! Let’s use Plumb’s experi-
ence to remind us to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead. As you go through this week, this month, this year... recognize people who pack your parachute! For each of you out there who make my days worthwhile and my life meaningful…THANKS for packing my parachute!
Bust
from page 1 marijuana and sale and use of drug paraphernalia.” “UMPI has a zero tolerance policy for drugs,” Daniels said. There are two parts to UMPI’s zero tolerance policy. The first part deals with students who are caught using drugs. “If an on-campus student is caught using on campus, they lose housing. They’re banned from housing for one calendar year — they could be banned for two,” Stepp said. “If an off-campus student is caught using, they are banned from housing. They’re warned that their next offense could get them suspended for the remaining semester, up to a year. As with all other suspensions, if you’re suspended from UMPI, you’re suspended from the entire UM system and you can never live in student housing again.” The second portion of UMPI’s zero tolerance policy involves the distribu-
tion or sale of drugs, “including the giving away of drugs,” Stepp said. The giving away of drugs includes not only illegal drugs, but prescription drugs as well. The ramifications of using drugs on campus can have far-ranging effects. Since the police are involved, you’ll be punished not only by the university, but by the Maine court system. “If you’re a criminal justice major, or education major, and you’re caught, you may as well change your major. Also, more than likely, you’ll never get a secret clearance that’s needed for government jobs,” Daniels said. “Why we punish both ways – campus and criminal – it’s the only effective way to handle this type of situation,” Stepp said. “If you’re going to do drugs on campus, you’re not going to be on campus,” Daniels said.
Page 4
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
From Don’s desk The answer is blowinʼ in the wind The activities of the last week have brought UMPI very much closer to clean, wind generated electricity for our campus. Our hope is that the turbine will be providing AT LEAST $100,000 in electricity cost saving annually. Virtually all of it will be for UMPI’s use. Where electric output exceeds our campus demands, we’re able to sell the excess. Here’s a short course in Wind 101, UMPI style. Feel free to impress your friends, parents and others. WHAT: Our wind project consists of a 600kW RRB generating turbine and blades. It sits atop a 65 meter tower. We are connected to the Maine Public Service grid by underground connections running from the turbine site. The turbine and blades were manufactured by the RRB Company in Chennai, India. The tower came
from North Dakota. Our general contractor, the Lumus Corporation of Massachusetts, did the installation work. Aroostook County businesses did much excellent subcontracting. We needed the complexity of providers to keep to our budget. WHEN: Planning for the turbine started in 2006 with a 20 month survey of our wind source. How strong was the wind, at what heights, at what times? Our wind resource is one category below the commercial quality wind on Mars Hill, 15 miles to the south. We should have quality wind for about 1700 hours per year, however. Some of our best wind comes in late fall, winter and early spring (has it seemed breezy to you lately?) Guess when our highest electric demand times are? After the wind resource had been assessed, we spent from summer of 2007 to
What’s up with Student Exchanges
fall of 2008 in getting University System permission to undertake the project, securing our financing (most from our own reserves), reaching agreement with the contractors described above and securing permissions from the City of Presque Isle, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Federal Aviation Administration (closeness to the airport) and the Maine Public Service Company. Construction began last November. WHY: Multiple factors encouraged the project. We wished to commit the campus to helping to reduce the burning of carbon fuels (coal, natural gas, petroleum) that are a major contributor to global warming/climate change. Our green, renewable wind replaces the generation of electricity by burning of carbon fuels. We also wanted to serve as a pioneer in the use of nonpolluting ener-
gy sources for our students and the larger community. This is a classic function of public universities. Already, we’ve been contacted by numbers of folks interested in doing wind. We’ve opened our files and shared our lessons learned. We also hope to free ourselves from some of the uncertainty of carbon fuel price change during the two decades of the turbine’s expected life. There’s no charge for the wind and we have already installed the hardware. Finally, we won’t be upset if the turbine becomes a very visible symbol of UMPI—green, innovative, daring. WHO: Many, many people had a role in this project. On campus the two heroes were VP for finance Charlie Bonin and director of physical plant Dave St. Peter. They were enthusiasts for the project before I came to Presque Isle. Charlie and Dave have been kind enough to
let me have some of the fun, and, occasionally, the frustration of the project. WHAT NEXT: Approximately two weeks of testing and certification of the turbine and blades will follow this past week’s installation. We expect to have a formal dedication ceremony the week of graduation. Stay tuned for further details. ONE LAST THOUGHT: We have NOT achieved “free electricity.” If anything, we hope the turbine will be a constant reminder of the need to make sensible use of all energy resources. If we have surplus electricity, we can sell it. When we need more electricity than we generate, we will buy it from Maine Public Service. Please use it wisely. But, it will be nice to come to campus on cold, windy days and feel that something very good is taking place.
By Marjorie McNamara
placements and loads of opportunity. The outgoing students for the NSE will be attending school at Ferris State in Michigan, Johnson State College in Ver mont, the University of Georgia, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Tennessee State, Skidmore College in New York and Humboldt College in California. The students going on an international exchange are two going to Scotland and one to Ireland. The fourth student interested is looking at Ireland as well.
After listening to returning students speaking at University Day and hearing the excitement as they talked about their experiences both academically and in outdoor adventures (lots of stories about bears), it really gets me thinking about the great adventures this group of students will find while on exchange. Life is out there waiting. These programs offer a great opportunity for students to get out there and find new experiences. What are you waiting for? See what opportunities you can find with student exchange.
CONTRIBUTOR
Student exchange opportunities at UMPI for 20092010 are looking pretty good. As of today, I have eight students going out on National Student Exchanges (NSE) and three students going out on international student exchanges. Two students are just looking into NSE opportunities and if the schools they choose are still open for exchange, I will try to place them. I also have a fourth student looking into an international exchange. There are lots of
- Pres. Don Zillman
Page 5
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Native American Appreciation Day Everyone bonds By Alicia Sisson STAFF WRITER
On April 17, 2009, the students from UMPI’s Native Voices group held their second annual Native American Appreciation Day. This daylong event was intended to develop stronger connections between education and the Native American culture and traditions of the area’s indigenous populations. The event served as a great opportunity for the university and the Native American community to join forces. It offered a wide variety of activities and presentations from guest speakers who discussed the importance of higher education and Native American culture, talking circles, Maliseet and Micmac/Mi’kmaq craftspeople presenting their work and traditional drumming and dancing. Roughly 120 people
attended the event this year, including students, faculty, staff and members of the public. Jason Parlin, a member of Native Voices, said, “This annual event is a way to help create a deeper awareness of our Native American traditions and culture. We feel it’s important to represent ourselves, and this event seems to be the most productive and positive way to do so.” Guest speaker Fred Metallic, a Native American from Milwaukee, said, “It’s important to bring traditional teachings into the schools. People today don’t see the value of teaching our heritage.” Metallic’s aspiration is to increase the number of Native American students in universities. “You are our future. It’s important to gain an education and pursue your dreams,”
Metallic said. The overall hope for this event was to give people on campus and in the community a chance to come together at UMPI and be exposed to the atmospheres on campus and of the area’s indigenous cultures at the same time. “This year’s event was just as great as last year’s,” a young Native American from the Tobique First Nations in New Brunswick said. “It’s good to see everyone enjoying themselves. This is the perfect chance for everyone to come together and bond.” The event closed with a variety of dancing and drumming, which was the ideal way for the area’s indigenous people to demonstrate their heritage to UMPI. Together, they begin on the path to developing a stronger connection between the educational institutes and the Native American culture and traditions.
Glenda Wysote waiting to enter
A crafty group By Natalie St. Pierre STAFF WRITER
The talent among UMPI’s faculty and staff was on full display Friday, March 20, in the campus center. Wendy Koenig, UMPI’s event specialist, decided that it would be a cool idea to display some of the artistic talent from among our own right here on campus. Paintings and breathtaking photographs graced the walls of the St. John room as if it were a museum in the big city. Quilts by Kathy Davis and Patty Hale hung like wearable art for those cold Maine winters. “Caribou Skyscrapers,’” by Don Sirois, stood tall as a stun-
ning display of camera lens genius. “The Doctor’s Office” shadowbox display was a 1 inch to 1 foot scale creation by Barb Lambert. Lambert made the old-fashioned replica of a cardiologist’s office as a graduation gift for her brother-in-law. “A lot of the piece was made by hand,” Lambert said. Carol Ayoob, cultural affairs director, conjured up memories of girlhood tea parties and secrets whispered among trusted friends with “Stories over Tea.” A piece Ayoob created for a show called “Bitter Homes and Secret Gardens,” an
ever-evolving exhibition, was spawned out of her years of working with battered women. “It belongs to a bigger body of work that I created after years of working with these women,” Ayoob said. The event showcased the never-before-seen-talent of some of UMPI’s finest faculty and staff. Hats off to all who participated this year; this event was a huge success. The exhibition helped to remind us all that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that art can truly be whatever we want it to be. Can’t wait to see what next year brings.
Connecting Learning, Success By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
It’s over. No more tears. No more tantrums. No more, “What do you mean, you didn’t get my e-mail, I sent it last night!” Yes, folks, another University Day has come and gone and not a minute too soon. Despite the tears, tantrums, procrastinators and late nights, University Day 2009 was a resounding success. Throughout the day, the hallways were jammed with students rushing back and forth between sessions. Many students were there for moral support as they watched their friends present. Others were there for the coveted extra
credit a few professors were nice enough to give. In Session I, William Breton, assistant professor of special education, spoke to a modest crowd during his presentation of, “Circle of Courage Application to Attain Positive Student Behavior in the Classroom Culture.” Through his interesting and insightful presentation, Breton spoke of how Native American child-rearing techniques worked to instill positive behaviors within their children. He went on to talk of how teachers, parents and community should strive to work together to instill those same behaviors in children today by using the Circle of
Courage. In Session II, Nadia Harris, UMPI student, brought the house down with her presentation: “‘Thanks, But No Thanks:’ Sarah Palin’s Portrayal in Political Cartoons.” Harris’ presentation was so popular, extra chairs had to be brought in. Her presentation was interactive, allowing the audience to participate with clickers that recorded audience responses. Harris spoke of how the media’s portrayal of Sarah Palin may have influenced voters. With a non-political agenda, Harris’ presentation was humorous and entertaining. Session III kicked off with
Dr. William Davidshofer’s POS/HTY 349’s presentation, “The Russian State, Politics and Economy Today.” Class members made individual Power Point presentations that reflected a topic in the Russian state, politics and economy. Each presentation was well done and all the presenters did a great job. Session V included Dr. John DeFelice’s honors seminar presentation, “Warping the Will: Exploring the Catalysts of Genocide.” This morbid — but valuable and educational — presentation took a look at genocides and holocausts throughout the 20th century. The presentations included topics such as what roles
U-Day
media, religion, psychology and deniers play in genocides and holocausts. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house at the conclusion of this presentation. Congratulations to everyone who presented and lived to tell about it. Thank you to the advisers who dealt with the frantic phone calls and emails. And a huge thank you to the 2009 University Day committee, who worked hard to make this year’s University Day the success it was. And when it was over, there was a huge sigh of relief from students and faculty alike, along with mutterings of, “I need a drink” and “Thank God that’s over.” Till next year.
Every flavor, including vanilla By Alicia Sisson STAFF WRITER
Ever wonder how dull life would be if all of us thought the same, acted the same, did the same things? How boring would that be? Who really wants to live in a plain vanilla world? Fortunately, there’s no danger of that: we’re surrounded by unique people, each with unique gifts. On University Day, Wednesday, April 8, a group of four elementary education majors addressed diversity issues in their presentation “Understanding and Accepting Diversity in Education.” Their particular focus was on mental retardation and strategies for teachers
to use within the classroom. The students emphasized the idea of “mainstreaming.” For those who don’t know what this means, it’s IDEA’s (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) preference for placement of exceptional students in the classroom with all
other students. Presenter Leann Drew offered the audience some helpful instructional strategies for teaching students within a mainstream classroom. “It’s always useful when dealing with a student with disability to use visual aids, break
tasks down into smaller steps for the individual, use handson activities and always refer to and follow the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan).” Group member Amy Barnes gave helpful advice about students with mental retardation.
Barnes said, “When dealing with a student with this specific disability, it’s beneficial for the teacher to use a game called Brain Gym.” Brain Gym is a series of activities that help students physically and mentally prepare for their day. This presentation was intended to place emphasis on how to prepare future teachers to embrace diversity in the classroom. It asked people to please remember that as future educators, parents and members of the community, diversity is a component of our world that enriches it. We must work toward understanding and embracing the diversity that’s around us.
Life and Community
2009 So you think you know By Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER
Everyone was walking to their sessions on University Day. Many local high schools were there. There were many going on at the same time. One looked very good: “And You Think You Know France.” Claire Davidshofer’s French class put this session together. When people were filing in, they didn’t know what to expect. What they got was very entertaining wakeup call. This program was about the manners that American tourists have when they’re in France. A couple of actors went to France to do rude things to see what the French people would do. In France, everyone dresses up and wears nice clothes. The
actors/tourists were wearing tennis shoes and T-shirts. In France, you have to present yourself nicely, and you can’t wear tennis shoes or T-shirts. In the show, the actors went to several different restaurants and acted rudely on purpose. The French knew automatically that they were tourists. The actors demanded steak and they got it. One thing that you should never talk about in France is war, because that just starts a fight. When the actors were eating, they started a conversation with a French couple. “We saved your butts in World War II. How about you pay us back by helping out with the bill?” the actors said. In France there is unified
health care. Workers have a month’s vacation every year. During that time, businesses in France are nearly shut down while people are having fun with their families. The presentation highlighted several things that you should never do if you decide to go to France. One that’s innocent but that can be highly damaging is to bring mums to friends or family. In France, they’re considered a funeral flower and people will get offended if you give them at a time other than a funeral. The presentation was very entertaining and very knowledgeable. So if you want to go to France, all you have to do is follow these guidelines and have fun touring the sites.
?
Genesis of genocide By Natalie St. Pierre STAFF WRITER
This year’s University Day event offered a variety of presentations. None, however, had a bigger impact on the audience than the presentations of members of John DeFelice’s honors seminar on genocides and holocausts. They chose this task to better understand what triggers genocide and why there’s surging denial of it. They presented their findings as, “Warping the Will: Exploring the Catalysts of Genocide.” Before the presentations
began DeFelice said, “I tell all my students that studying this topic is a one -way ticket to hell.” Each group of students presented one of four major topics. The first group explored the use of media as a tool for committing genocide. A second group took a look at the Armenian genocide and the role that religion played in the destruction and dehumanization of an entire race. The third group explored the psychological factors within all of us to commit such acts. The final group dealt with the reality of genocide denial.
For many, this series of presentations served as a first look into a world they knew nothing about. They were unaware that acts of genocide are taking place right now. The purpose of presenting on such a horrific topic was so that others would become more aware of these atrocities in order to prevent further acts from being committed. The class hopes that the presentations served to educate others about genocide and a world far beyond their dor m rooms, this campus and this country.
Connecting Learning,
U-Day
Will UMPI’s Wind Turbine Affect Campus Birds? By Natalie St. Pierre STAFF WRITER
One University Day presentation attempted to answer that very question. During the summer of 2008, several students from SCI 480 (Research Methods in Science) began the first phase of a two to three year study to help determine the potential impacts of UMPI’s new wind turbine project on breeding birds in the area. The group used cameras to peek into the day- to -day routines of savannah and song sparrows. These species of small sparrows densely populate the fields behind the tennis courts where the turbine is. The group used colored bands to help identify individual birds. Group members took
A Savannah Sparrow
measurements and blood samples to help characterize each sparrow’s physical condition. By videotaping the sparrows, the group was able to observe their quality of parenting skills. Research shows that each nest produces an average of 4-5 nestlings. It’s unclear how the wind turbine will affect the sparrow population. But if the breed decides to not populate the area near the turbine due to noise, this could greatly affect the species. Dr. Jason Johnston, along worth future classes, will continue to conduct research now that the wind turbine is constructed to further understand how it will affect the sparrow population on campus.
Kids who will surprise you By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
Childhood is hard for everyone. It’s a time for new growth and beginnings. No two children are alike, so raising them can be challenging and rewarding. This is accepted as a common truth. Granted, when children have disorders, teaching them can be harder for parents or teachers. But it can be done and lead to some extraordinary examples of what it means to be human. So why is it that when autism is thrown into this mix, people think that autistic children are any less unique? Autism is a neurological condition that affects one out of 150 children. It has an impact on their social interaction and brain
functions. Symptoms can be mild, such as being sensitive to noises or liking to do repetitive things, such as counting. Or they can be severe, such as not being able to become an independent member of society, or not having the ability to communicate with others through empathy or understand social interactions. Autism affects more boys than girls, and most are diagnosed with having the disorder by the time they are three. The problem with this disorder is that it varies from person to person: different symptoms can show or not, making it hard for doctors to find a cure and harder for teachers to teach. Due to this, the topic of the presenters on University Day was, “Support for Parents Who
Have Children with Learning Disabilities,” focusing on autism. “April is Autism Month, which is one reason why we decided to do this,” Annie St. Ammand, one of the presenters, said. In addition to this, the presenters believe that if there were more awareness out there of autism, the school years for the children with the disorder could be better for them. After the presentation was over, the floor was opened up for discussion. Many of the parents stressed that they feel that some school systems are not doing enough to help their children get the full education value or guidance of other students who don’t have autism. Although, those parents are willing to meet with their children’s teachers, the
teachers are not always willing to meet with them. “I’m known as that one,” another presenter said. “I can’t get them to do something simple like changing the testing time for math.” The presenter said that the school won’t allow her daughter to test in the in the afternoon for math. She requested this accommodation because the morning is when medication affects her daughter’s ability to understand what she’s being asked to do. She then went on to say that the school would change this, testing her daughter in the afternoon where her ability was best, when the MEA testing came around. “It’s not fair that they do this.” The audience then talked about how teachers would say
that these types of students are just lazy or set in their ways. Those present thought it was the teachers who don’t want to change. “There’s nothing wrong with these children other than that they need more attention and care in order to learn at the same level as their peers,” Dave Michaud, a participant, said. “With patience and understanding, these children can reach their full potential. Heck! They might even become scientists and help build rockets someday.” Overall, the presentation was a success because the presenters wanted to form a support system for parents, which is what they did.
Life and Community
2009
Singinʼ the Blues By Leah McEachern STAFF WRITER
One of the last University Day presentations was “The Blues Beyond the Music: Exploring the Blues in African-American Poetry,” presented by Anthony Scott. He wanted the session to be a musical exploration of blues and jazz and its influence in African-American literature. According to Scott, the blues is a huge component of black culture: all black writing and songs have a touch of it. There are elements of the blues in black literature and
elements of black literature in the blues. Unlike a lot of styles of music, the blues has no straight 4/4 rhythm. It’s divided into thirds. Phonic play and onomatopoeia within the tune itself date back to the musical codes or field hollers of African-American slaves. Call and response lyrics (where the singer says one line and the audience shouts the next line back), riffing, and the AAB rhyme scheme are present even today in things such as black sermons. Scott used Power Point
slides to explain some elements of the blues genre. He also presented examples from black literature, including works from Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston and Sterling Brown. Scott also performed each song on his keyboard as he sang along to it, which made the information presented all the easier to understand. “All of the modern music in the world was influenced by the blues,” Scott said. “Without it, genres like country and hard rock wouldn’t be around today.”
Help. It’s on the horizon By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
As our slogan goes, “North of Ordinary.” We know that northern Maine is not at all ordinary. We’re fortunate enough to live in an area that harbors principles of hard work and teaches us family values. As a way to celebrate these ideas, UMPI hosted its eigth annual University Day, with the theme of bringing community and learning together. For the people who had a chance to go to U Day, not only were they able to go to presentations to see what students have been working on and how learning can have an impact on the community, but they also learned from Don Zillman that the word of the day was, “Wiener.” That’s Robert Wiener. When asked why he was chosen to come to UMPI, Lynn Eldershaw, a sociology teacher, said that it was because of the work that he’s done. He’s one of the few leading activists in his community. From his presentation called, “Preserving Rural Life in Tough Times: Strategies to Combat
Robert Wiener gives hope to a rural lifestyle Shelter, Poverty, and to stabilize Communities,” people got to hear that rural Maine is basically no different than from rural California. “It’s all rural America,” Wiener said. “And rural America has its unique problems.” Some of the many problems that rural America has to face are the stereotypes that people have about rural people. The people here are faced with good ones,
such as hard working, having strong family values and a sense of wanting to help others. But with the good there comes the bad, which are the stereotypes that rural American is gun loving, uneducated and overly religious. Yet as Wiener said, “Everywhere that is now considered urban was once rural.” So why don’t people think of this? “It’s because everyone’s definition for rural is different.”
One reason for this difference, along with the stereotypes, is pop culture. Wiener demonstrated this by showing off the famous painting called “American Gothic.” Some people have formed their ideas of what rural is about from this. To show that everywhere was once rural and everyone has different ideas of what rural really is, he showed parodies of this painting from punk, to the Simpsons, to Sarah Palin, to Nicole Richie with Paris Hilton. Another main point of this was to show that rural places are similar with the same similar problems. The next big problem that Wiener talked about was getting people in into affordable homes. “About 90 percent of homeless people live in rural areas. Though they are not labeled as homeless. Instead, they are labeled as couch hoppers, because they have friends and family that will house them for a night,” Weiner said. Wiener proceeded to talk about strategies and organizations that will help people get into afford-
able housing for low-income families, where they would only have to pay 30 percent or less of their total gross income. Through the help of nonprofit organizations such as California Coalition for Rural Housing Projects, the problem of homelessness in rural American can be eradicated. Once there are homes for people, we can then start on the job market problems that rural places may face. In addition, we would also be able to keep our graduates in rural places, by letting them know they could have the same opportunities in rural places as in urban. When asked why Wiener does his job, he said, “At the end of the day, when I see the smiling faces of the people who I help get a home and that security that comes from owning their own home, I get a little teary eyed, and now that the work I did today was noble work.” For more information on how you can help to be part of the solution or on Robert Wiener’s own organization, go to www.calruralhousing.org.
Page 10
How it works
From top right: Tower #1, Tower #2 in mid air, the crew positioning the pieces, crane operator Carter Doak, the nacelle being attached (courtesy of the Geo Club) and the wind turbine completed.
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Building the UMPI turbine
Page 11
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
ISC meets Philadelphia Freedom By Mihaela Pavlova CONTRIBUTOR
During Spring Break, the International Students Club visited Philadelphia, which is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth most populous city in the United States. The club picked this commercial, educational and cultural hub for its annual trip specifically because Philadelphia played a major role in early American history. Only one-third of the club was able to go on the trip. The six students who traveled to Philly were Bikram Shrestha (club president and native of Nepal), Mihaela Pavlova (vice president whose homeland is in Bulgaria), Anup Prasai (also from Nepal), Neal Jones (from north of the border), and Douglas Miles and Chris Rines (good old-fashioned Americans). All participants benefited from the experience. For one student, it was his first adventure outside of the County. For Anup Prasai, it was a chance to become acquainted with American culture and history. The club held a food sale one week before the trip and successfully raised $400. Although the club faced a money shortage, the
PBL in front of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia fundraising provided a buffer for any unexpected costs that could have occurred. The decision of who would act as an adviser to accompany the club was made just a few hours before departure. Thankfully, Denise Hamel, an administrative assistant at UMPI, accepted the invitation, making the trip possible for the club. After a 14-hour drive, the club was delighted to check in at the
hotel and to relax for a short moment. While relaxing, we decided on the first places to visit. The club only had five days to spend in Philadelphia and wanted to make them count. All ISC members were thrilled to visit the historical sites relating to the American Revolution. We had the opportunity to visit the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed) and the Liberty Bell.
Other historic sites that we visited were The Franklin Institute Science Museum (which contains the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial) and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Additional places of interest that we made sure to see were the Philadelphia Zoo and the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, N.J. The club took a Philadelphia Trolley Works tour in a doubledecker bus. The tour guide
informed us about each stop along the bus-tour route. In addition to the other places, we visited Chinatown, the Reading Terminal Market, Rodin’s and Rocky’s statues, and even Geno’s and Pat’s famous Philly Steak shops. The International Students Club takes participation in University Day seriously. Every year, the club hosts a Culture Fest. This year, the theme was “A Peek at Our Global Communities: Tourism.” The next event that ISC participated in was Foreign Language Day, which took place April 16 in the Campus Center. People who had an interest in foreign cultures, or who just wanted to have good time, sat in on one of the sessions or stopped by Wieden Gymnasium to play international games with us. The purpose of the International Students Club is to help internationalize the campus, to provide a support group for international students and to teach cross-cultural communication. All students are welcome to join the club. If you would like to become part of the club, come to one of our weekly meetings in South Hall, room 311, at 12:30 p.m. every Friday!
All in a dayʼs work By Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER
As you sit watching CSI or some other crime show, have you ever imagined what it would be like to go on a high speed chase? Well, members of UMPI’s Criminal Justice Club can tell you from firsthand knowledge. During Spring Break they went to Washington, D.C. They shared some of their trip experiences, and the process that got them to D.C., during a presentation at University Day: “Law Enforcement Training at the Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C.” In order to go, criminal justice club members had to do many fundraisers. Around campus, they rallied people to donate money through car washes and bake sales. Many
sold raffle tickets. One of the trip’s major events was the trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. During the tour, everyone had a card with a person’s biography and got to see what happened to them during that time. It all started with anti-Semitism in Germany. Among the museum’s many artifacts were Stars of David and a whole room filled with shoes. Before people were exterminated, they had to remove their shoes and clothing. “It’s hard to believe all of the shoes that people wore, in that room,” Sam Johnson said. The box car was also another unforgettable point in the tour. It was box cars that carried people to internment camps and took people from their homes. One major event during that time was the Evian Conference,
with the CJ Club of 1938, during which many countries debated whether to lift their quotas and accept more Jews under threat from Nazi Germany. Although many countries expressed sympathy, none changed their policy leaving many at the mercy of the Nazis. The museum exposes this and many other things – lest we forget. Members of the group also had a chance to go to the Senate, sit in one of the sessions and see what the senators really do. They were witness to all of the traditions and had to go through all of the security. “Thanks to Senator Snowe, we were able to get all of this together,” Lisa Leduc, club adviser, said. In Washington, club members went to the new National Museum of Crime and
Punishment. There they learned about various fingerprints and how you can extract them from a crime scene. The three types are latent, patent and plastic. With latent, you have to expose them in order to see. Patent prints are visible to the eye and plastic prints are visible when a candle, or other wax is touched. A cast of a boot was also made in order to see how you extract one on a crime scene. A shooting simulator was also at the museum and club members had a chance to do the exercise. “No one in the simulator came out alive, or they got their partner shot,” Leduc said. While on the trip, all members were allowed to go on a ride-along with a police officer. Two were involved with a high speed chase. The others weren’t that exciting.
“The adrenaline rush was awesome!” Sam Johnson said. Other people learned that police work was a lot of paperwork and trying to keep people in line. Many problems deal with the overuse of 911. Many people call that number for nonemergancies. What many don’t realize is that public safety officials must respond to any 911 call. The calls tie up precious resources and could keep people from getting the help they need. “One of the best things that we saw was the Pentagon’s memorial for September 11,” Leduc said. Club members packed a great deal into their time in Washington. The time passed quickly but the memories and experiences will have lasted intense and enhance their futures in criminal justice.
Page 12
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
$TART $MART Itʼs all about the Benjamins, baby. By Pamela Perkins - Staff Wrtier
Did you know that in this day and age, a female, on average, only earns up to 77 cents to a male’s dollar? Research has shown this to be true through the wage gap. The wage gap is the gap between what a male makes over a year versus what a female makes for the same type of job with the same background. As a way to bring awareness and education to people about why this happens, UMPI hosted a $tart $smart: The WAGE project event. It was a surprise to see that out of the 14 people who went, most of them were faculty or staff, people who already have jobs. While there, members learned that one of the reasons that a man got a higher starting pay rate is because he asked for it. Females seem to just be happy and grateful that they got a job, so they don’t asked for a higher starting wage. So what is the big deal that John Doe is getting paid $3,000 more for a starting pay compared to Jane? This starting wage was stressed because this is where the female will start to lose money, with a potential to lose up to $2 million over a lifetime. There doesn’t seem to be that much of a difference by years. But when raises come about, this is where the wage gap jumps significantly, and where it’s harder for the female to catch up. It’s all about getting a good starting pay rate, because this will be your baseline for all other raises. The higher the starting pay, the more money you have in your pocket. Another thing that members learned was that some employers have a gender bias. Employers have negative views when it comes to the female employers. If she is pregnant, they see her as not staying around. With a man, they see him as having a family to provide for so they’ll give him a raise. Or if a female has a ring and plans on being married, the employer again thinks that she will not stay around, thus devaluing her over a male worker. Even in the way that employers see and label females as being steady or hard workers, while the male is a known go-getter or a hard charger, is another way of devaluing the female worker. As one audience member said, “For a female to be label as a hard charger or thought as that, then get ready to be called a bitch.” So what were the ways that females could combat against this? Members learned that doing their homework before they go into any job is a good plan. On the Web site http://www.wageproject.org, people can find the average, low and high income for their jobs in an area. With this, they can then go into an interview and negotiate for a better starting wage. Attendees also got tips on how to negotiate. “We (females) can talk about anything, but we rarely like to talk about ourselves. We need to learn to brag about ourselves,” the instructor of the class said. By doing this, we remind the employer of our value and what we can bring to the company. In addition, we can see that we’re worth that extra $3,000 in our starting pay. Another thing that participants learned which was an Aha! moment for some, was that you should find out your living expenses before you get a job. Many people thought that once you get a paycheck, you fit yourself into that paycheck. By doing your homework beforehand, not only will you know how much you should be making, but how much you’ll need to order to live comfortably for the rest of your life. The workshop ended in a mock exercise for people to practice their negotiation and interviewing skills.
≠Pay By Rachel Pinette - Staff Wrtier
For every dollar her male co-workers make, the average female employee earns 77 cents. That’s 77 cents made at the same workplace by an individual with the same title, job training and educational background. An African American woman can expect to earn 69 cents to the dollar. A Hispanic woman? 57 cents. In 1963, the Equal Opportunity Employment Act was signed to prevent such forms of discrimination from occurring in the workplace, so why does such a significant difference exist between the incomes of men and women? Employers aren’t doing anything illegal – it’s the female employees who are selling themselves short. “The wage gap in the United States still exists because women have a tendency to accept a lower starting salary.” Annie Houle explained to participants at the Start Smart workshop on April 7th. “Since women are socialized to be less demanding, many are reluctant to negotiate for better pay and benefits, even if they could really use the extra money.” Houle is the director for the Wage Project; a non-profit organization dedicated to seeking equal pay for women through wage negotiation with employers. The Wage Project recently partnered with the Presque Isle and Caribou branches of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to organize Start Smart workshops for employees in Aroostook County. While the workshops are directed towards helping college students and young professionals, anyone interested in learning about equal pay and wage negotiation is welcome to attend. “We’ve had many male students attend our workshops,” Houle said, “both men and women seem genuinely interested in the matter of equal pay.” Programs such as the Smart Start workshop are particularly crucial during the economic recession, when many employees consider simply having a full-time job to be a miracle. However, better wages promote consumer spending and reduce the number of people living under the poverty line in the United States. Unfortunately, most employees aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to wage negotiations. “Go prepared.” Says Houle, “know the average and median incomes for a worker in your field and location, as well as the circumstances surrounding your workplace. Is there a surplus of available jobs, or are a lot of people competing to fill only a few positions? Knowing these things ahead of time will help you.” The Wage Project encourages employees to take a different perspective on deciding their target income. Houle says that, “instead of trying to make your budget fit your income, make your income fit your budget. Look for a job which can support your needs.” Detailed information regarding how to calculate a budget and find average income figures can be found on the Wage Project’s Web site, www.wageproject.org. As commencement draws near, members of UMPI’s graduating class prepare to find work in one of the most unstable economies the country has known in years. Facing such an uncertain future, male and female employees need every advantage they can gain to succeed in the workforce. Fortunately, the Wage Project and its affiliates are there to help.
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009 By Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER
Many people don’t realize the importance of the First Amendment to our lives. We have freedom of religion, press, speech, petition and right to assemble. But many people couldn’t tell what the First Amendment actually is. People could tell that it had freedom of speech, and it was part of the Constitution. The right to bear arms is not part of the First Amendment, but many people thought it was. If everyone had their amendment rights taken away, then people would realize how important the rights are that they’d taken for granted. It is so important to our country‘s past, present and future. The freedom of speech the amendment gives us means that we can tell people what is happening around the world. What’s written isn’t censored and we get news that way. We learn about the past because of free speech. Freedom of the press is also
important to all citizens. If this were not true, then we wouldn’t know what happens to people around the world and how it might affect us. We can read books and other informational products because of this. The big problem is that only three out of 10 people could
only tell some of the parts of the First Amendment. The Fifth Amendment isn’t part of it, either. That is where you have the right to remain silent and so on. But is it right to not know your rights as a citizen? Other countries have been silenced in things that they say.
But change comes to those who speak. Change happens when people petition for a cause, and people assemble if they want something changed. If citizens didn’t have the amendment, where would the country be? Parts of the amendment
Page 13 that everyone knew were freedom of religion, and speech. “Freedom of religion lets me worship the way that I want and express the feelings that I feel,” Kimmie said. Your rights are part of being a citizen and you have all the rights because of that. Many said that they would be angry if their rights were taken away. “If I had these rights taken away, I wouldn’t be a citizen anymore. Somebody would be able to dictate to me,” Kimmie said. If you could pay off all of you college loans by having your First Amendment rights taken away for a day, would you do it? Surprisingly, many said that they wouldn’t do it because they wouldn’t be able to have a real life anymore. “Loans can always be there and you can pay them. You will have your rights forever,” Beth said. The First Amendment has evolved in it more than 200 years. But it remains a cornerstone of U.S. democracy.
Here comes the sun By Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER
As the easternmost state in the U.S., Maine’s the first to see the sunrise. During the present economic storm, people are peering eagerly for some rays of hope: even if it entails change. In the morning, people do the regular routine of getting ready for work or school. Well, on April 9, UMPI held a business breakfast that made some people change their morning routines. Charles Colgan, Muskee School of Public Service, a leading expert on the Maine economy, came to talk. Many people showed up for the early morning breakfast and talk. People from city council, banks and teachers were there.
Colgan talked Maine’s financial problems. He laid out a forecast about what Maine’s economy was really like currently. The first thing that is important is that you have to learn the three R’s. They are Recession, Recovery and Reinvention. “Right now we are in the recession, more jobs are being lost, and there is no one to replace them,” Colgan said. Presently, we’re at the worst since World War II. Maine is losing more jobs than we can deal with: 2,600 jobs a month. That’s the number that Maine should be making a month. Consumer confidence is getting lower. People don’t want to buy extra things. Another bad thing is that a house’s net worth has decreased. When people’s
income went down, many began living off their housing prices. The recession is becoming a world recession. The economy is interwoven between countries and they are as worried about it as we are. “The federal reserve is managing the money supply and is buying commercial paper, keeping the money supply high. We’re keeping the system going,” Colgan said. The stimulus package replaces one dollar for every three. It causes a problem because there isn’t enough money to replace what’s already gone. In order for it to work, we have to start tax cuts. Maine is still trying to figure out how to use the stimulus money. Some of it could be used for a $2,500 college loan
credit. Many other programs might start up to jump-start the economy. “The recession wipes out 10 years of growth in Maine. We just need to figure out the sign when job losses are slowing down,” Colgan said. For Reinvention, Maine needs to create longterm wealth. If Maine builds windmills or upgrades the transportation system, it will help a lot of people. It will provide jobs to the people who are building and maintaining. “One of the biggest problems for Maine is the aging population. There are so few young people,” Colgan said. When college students graduate, they leave the state. So that leaves the older generation to take their place. If Maine has jobs that require
young graduates, Maine has to make sure that those jobs have the best people for them. “Near 2011 is when the economy in Maine starts to straighten itself out. Maine will try to create more jobs,” Colgan said. Well, what does this mean for Aroostook County? The County will heavily rely on health care jobs, because that’s one of the only areas that has a big impact on the region. Another area is the logging industry, and that will help the economy in the County. Everyone enjoyed the breakfast and gained insightful information about the economy in general and in Maine in particular. Mainers will have to work hard for years to come. But Maine will recover.
University Times
April 28, 2009
Community
Letʼs Take a Trip around the World
From S hip mates P.I . Hi gh’s N e ws By Jessica Stepp CONTRIBUTOR
Remember when you were a kid? Always making promises that you will get out of your home town to visit the world. Going to China, Japan, France, Spain and many other places. Just to get out of here and visiting places that seems so different to you. April 16th, around 81 students from French 3 or 4 and Spanish 3 or 4 had the chance to be part of Modern Language Day at UMPI. The students were welcome by President Zillman. President Zillman gave the small advice of being “aware of the world”. This is a time where we have to watch out and be aware of what’s around us in the world. With people moving from other country’s to our backyard can
have a big effect on us. If we don’t widen our horizons with what is around us, then what is there to do? We need to understand one and another to succeed in a lot of things. After being welcomed, the students moved into groups to travel to five different areas of the world. The different languages and cultures that were involved with this day were; Italy, Puerto Rico, Niger, Russia, France, Migmaq {Micmac}, Portugal, Bulgaria, China, and Poland. After eating lunch, the French and Spanish students learned how to salsa and the Merengue with Maria Correa. Then the students learned how to play Dandi Biyo and Kabaddi. Dani Biyo is when you have a stick that is three times smaller than another stick. You put the shorter stick onto shoes. With the longer stick, you hit the shorter stick in the air. If someone
catches the shorter stick, then it’s their turn to see if someone can catch the shorter stick. In Kabaddi, the rules were changed for this event. In normal Kabaddi, there would be two different teams who stand on different ends of a field or a gym. A player would hold their breath and race to wrestle another player to the ground. In order to breathe, you have to run back to your line. The Kabaddi was played for this event was by having two teams who had flags in their pockets. One team would lock arms as someone from the other team run to get their flags. The team with the arms locked would try to get the person’s flag. As the person tries to get the locked arms team’s flags, he/she has to say “Kabaddi”. They have 30 seconds to finish getting the flags and back to their own sides. The best thing of knowing
Artemis: Goddess of the hunt Leave it to the Beavers By Chelsea V. Sadler CONTRIBUTOR
Artemis was the Greek goddess of the hunt. She took the place of Selene as the goddess of the moon. She favored hunting success, ease of childbirth and recovering from illness. She was not only the goddess of the moon, but also the goddess of childbirth, maidens and disease, as well. Her symbols are a golden bow and arrows and a hind, which is a female red deer. She is associated with the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Artemis’s parents were Zeus and the Titan, Leto. Her brother was Apollo, the god of healing, music and light. She had no husband or children: she was a virgin goddess. She refused to
get married to anyone. The only time she agreed to marry, but had no intention of keeping that promise, was to save Olympus from the threat of extinction. She enjoyed the company of Orion, who was an avid hunter as she was. As the story goes, her brother became jealous of Orion and sent a giant scorpion to kill him. Artemis was very upset about this. But she couldn’t stay mad at her twin for long, especially since he helped Artemis to hang up her image up in the sky as a constellation. Artemis was worshipped in many parts of Greece including the island on which she was born. Her sacred plants are cyprus and walnut trees. Artemis had a very bad temper. If mor-
PIHSʼs Alex Corey at World Language Day at UMPI and understanding other languages and cultures is having the chance to enjoy the difference that there are. They give you the chance to experiment with the world around you. It also
gives you the ability to help if someone isn’t used to the English language to understand them. We were advised to go and spend time over in another country.
Senility By Alexander McIntosh Upon the turquoise fleece – sitting is an old kook, about ninety-seven with twigs in his hair and a beard for mice. The end of the world resting in his goose pale eyes and his shaven voice speaking in hushed rustles: “Christmas came early this year my youngin’ frien’s and Santa’s a bud eigh’ o’er the mud fiel’!” But the streets don’t listen because it’s mid-July and they all know Saint Nick cannot be real.
tals crossed her, they’d suffer her wrath. In one myth, when a hunter caught her bathing, she turned him into a stag to be torn apart by his own hounds. Artemis wasn’t very nice at all. She was, however, powerful and intelligent. You don’t have to a goddess to realize that those both excellent qualities for a goddess.
SportS
University Times
Lady Owls end spring trip with conference wins By Tracy Guerrette CONTRIBUTOR
Haverhill, Mass. - The University of Maine at Presque Isle softball team ended their nine-day trip with two Sunrise Conference wins against Fisher College, 6-5 and 9-6, at Haverhill Stadium on Saturday, March 28. With both wins, the Owls moved to 4-6 on the season and 2-0 in Sunrise Conference play. Both UMPI hurlers, Nicole Russell (Newcastle, Maine) and Emily Moore (Lisbon, Maine) earned their second wins of the season. In the first game, freshman Desiree Smith (Thomaston, Maine) led her team from the plate with three base-hit singles, while Brittany Humphrey(New Gloucester, Maine), Emily Staples (Lisbon, Maine) and Erica Davis (North Yarmouth, Maine) all singled twice. B. Humphrey earned an RBI in
the game. Pitcher Russell recorded a monster triple in the top of the fourth and catcher Danielle Humphrey (New Gloucester, Maine) singled once. Kathleen Higgins (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) also singled once and hit in the game winning run in the top of the sixth. The second game of the afternoon was decided in extra innings with the Owls outscoring Fisher College 3-0 in the eighth. Higgins led her Owl team, with a 3-for-5 performance from the plate, recording two singles, one triple and two RBIs. B. Humphrey went 3for-5 in the game, including two doubles and a single, while D. Humphrey had three base-hit singles. Smith doubled, singled and drove in one run and teammate Davis helped her team with a double and an RBI.
Mid-season baseball report The final score of the
By Isaac Raymond STAFF WRITER
first game was 4-3.
The UMPI Owls baseball team played a double-head-
The
Owls lost game two with a score of 17-4.
er against four-time defend-
Two of the UMPI Owl’s
ing champion Fisher College
players are still recovering
on
from injuries received in
Thursday,
April
9.
Fisher college was undefeated going into the doubleheader, but now has one loss on its conference record, thanks to the Owls. Coach Leo Saucier said that Fisher’s loss was “the first
conference
loss
for
Fisher College in a couple of years.”
April 28, 2009
Sunrise Conference Players of the Week
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Emily Moore (Fr., Pitcher, University of Maine at Presque Isle) Moore earns the award this week after two solid outings on the mound. The freshman from Lisbon, Maine, tossed a 10-0 shutout over Maine Maritime Academy, fanning eight Mariner batters and holding them to just two hits. Moore followed that by scattering six hits over seven innings and recording eight more strikeouts in a 10-5 win over Fisher College.
Baseball Player of the Week – Tyler Delaney (Jr., 2B/SS, University of Maine at Presque Isle) Tyler gets the nod after leading the Owls to a 5-0 week. The junior from Truro, Nova Scotia, was an impressive 21for-25 (.825) and had 15 RBIs, four home runs, four triples, four doubles and 16 runs. Tyler went 4-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs in a win over the College of St. Joseph. He also went 4-for-6 with a home run and six RBIs in the opening game of that doubleheader with the Fighting Saints.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week – Corey Harding (Jr., Pitcher, University of Maine at Presque Isle) Corey receives the award after two solid pitching performances this week. The junior from Plymouth, Maine, recorded eight strikeouts and held the College of St. Joseph to two hits in a 10-1 win. He didn’t allow a hit or a run and added four more strikeouts in two innings in an 11-5 win over Daniel Webster.
complete six-inning game. She allowed only two hits, struck out six, and walked none as UMPI earned the 10-0 victory over MMA. Moore helped her cause from the plate, going 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double in the top of the sixth during a six-run inning effort from the Owls. Sophomore Brittany Humphrey (New Gloucester, Maine) also led her team from the plate with a huge two-RBI single in the top of the fifth. Desiree Smith (Thomaston, Maine), Kathleen Higgins (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia), and Emily Staples (Trenton, Maine) all singled once. In the first game of the after-
noon, junior right-hander Nicole Russell (Newcastle, Maine) earned her third win of the season, completing a seven-inning contest while only allowing six hits in the 9-2 decision. Russell struck out five and walked only one. She went 2-for-5 from the plate, singling twice and recording one RBI. Moore led the Owls with a 2-for-5 performance from the plate and with two singles and a two-RBI double in the top of the first. B. Humphrey singled twice, earning two RBIs, while Cassie Green (Truro, Nova Scotia) doubled and recorded an RBI single. Higgins singled twice and Smith earned a base-hit single.
Moore records shutout as UMPI earns two at MMA By Tracy Guerrette CONTRIBUTOR
Castine, Maine – The their game against Colby- University of Maine at Presque Isle softball team picked up Sawyer College. Jared another two wins on the road on Manzo and Tyson Tash were April 1, beating the Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy 9-2 hurt in a head-on collision. and 10-0. The success in both Both were diving for a fly games was the result of strong pitching from the two UMPI ball. Jared Manzo returned throwers. With both victories, to the campus April 14 to the Owls move to .500 on the season with a 6-6 record. resume classes, while Tyson In the second game of the double-header, freshman Emily Tash is still recovering at Moore (Lisbon, Maine) earned home. her first collegiate shutout in a
Page 16
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
UMPI softball splits with Green Mountain By Tracy Guerrette CONTRIBUTOR
Poultney, Vt. – Two run-scoring doubles by Brittany Humphrey (New Gloucester, Maine) and Emily Moore (Lisbon, Maine), and Danielle Humphrey’s (New Gloucester, Maine) RBI single keyed a four-run, sixthinning rally as the University of Maine at Presque Isle salvaged a split with a 10-6 verdict. With the split, the Owls move to 9-7 on the season. In the first game, Green Mountain earned the 6-4 win behind Brittany Holden’s six-hitter to snap an eight-game losing streak. The Eagles received a two-run hit from Gina
Lorusso and RBI bunt singles by Emily Heale and Karen Davidson in the five-run third inning that carried the Eagles to the win. Davidson had three hits for the winners while Holden, Chamberlain, Heale and Hillary Dernier had two singles each. Dernier had two RBIs. Moore’s double and Danielle Humphrey’s RBI single led the Owls. D. Humphrey also finished the game with three stolen bases. Pitcher Nicole Russell (Newcastle, Maine) earned her fourth loss of the season, allowing 14 hits, while striking out four and walking one. In the second game of the double-header, Brittany Humphrey had three doubles and
two RBIs. Twin sister Danielle drove in three runs with a double and a single and Nicole Russell doubled and singled twice and knocked in two runs to lead the Owls in the 10-6 victory. Desiree Smith (Thomaston, Maine) had two singles and three stolen bases and Emily Moore went the distance for the win, earning her fifth of the year. Moore allowed 11 hits, struck out one and walked none. She also recorded an RBI double in the game. Brittany Holden had three singles and two RBIs for Green Mountain. Emily Heale had two singles and an RBI and Christina Chamberlain hit a two-run triple.
UMPI tops Fisher in double-header Brittany Humphrey Green earns game winning RBI selected Player of the Week By Tracy Guerrette hurler Russell earned her fourth win of CONTRIBUTOR
Haverhill, Mass.– The University of Maine at Presque Isle Lady Owls picked up two more conference wins on April 4 in an afternoon double-header against Fisher College at Haverhill Park field. With the 5-1 and 10-5 wins, the Owls moved to 8-6 on the season and 4-0 in Sunrise Conference play. In the first game, UMPI jumped out to the 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Desiree Smith (Thomaston, Maine) and Nicole Russell (Newcastle, Maine) both singled, followed by Danielle Humphrey (New Gloucester, Maine), who reached first on a walk. Smith got caught stealing third base. Brittany Humphrey (New Gloucester, Maine) smacked a two-run triple to finally put the Owls on the board. Fisher answered back with one run in the Sunrise Conference Player of the Week bottom of the fifth. UMPI earned three April 13, 2009 more runs in the top of the sixth led by Smith’s two-run double. She also doubled Softball - Brittany Humphrey (Sophomore, SS) in the top of the first. B. Humphrey led Brittany wins the award for the first time this season after guiding the her team, going 3-for-4 from the plate, Owls to a 1-1 week. The sophomore shortstop, from New Gloucester, including a double and single. D. Maine, went 4-8 from the plate including four doubles, three stolen bases, Humphrey and Kathleen Higgins (Cole two RBIs and two runs. Three of Humphrey‘s doubles came in a 10-6 win over Green Mountain College of Vermont. She also had a double and two Harbour, Nova Scotia) both earned basestolen bases in the first game of that double-header with Green Mountain. hit singles, while Cassie Green (Truro, Nova Scotia) was a solid 2-for-4 from the Humphrey is currently second on her Owl team in batting percentage plate, singling twice. with .455. Besides earning two base-hit singles,
the season in a complete seven-inning game pitched. She struck out seven, walked five and allowed five hits on the day. In the second game, the Owls were down 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning before rallying three big runs from the plate. D. Humphrey started off the inning with a base-hit single, then was moved to third by her sister B. Humphrey’s double. Higgins followed up with a base-hit RBI single. Cassie Green had another solid game at the plate, going 3-for-5, with a two-run double in the sixth tha proved to be the tying and go ahead run, as the Owls captured the 6-5 lead. Green also singled twice in the win. UMPI earned four more runs in the top of the seventh and held Fisher scoreless to secure the 105 victory. B. Humphrey led her team, going 4-for-5 from the plate, including three base-hit singles and a deep RBI sacrifice fly to left field. She earned a total of two RBIs in the game. D. Humphrey and Higgins finished the game with three singles apiece. Emily Moore (Lisbon, Maine) earned her fourth win of the year from the mound, striking out eight and allowing only six hits. Moore helped her cause, going 3-for-5 from the plate with two singles and an RBI double.
University Times
April 24, 2009
Harold Jones Seminar No Reward in using rewards By Alicia Sisson STAFF WRITER
During a seminar held Wednesday, April 15, Harold Jones, Ph. D., discussed ideas of a new approach to applying the psychological perspective and research to instruction and course planning for educators. Jones described this innovation as “Developing a psychological basis for teaching methods: No Barking for Doggy Biscuits!” Many educators new and old have often used rewards in their classroom as a way to motivate their students. Some teachers may think that this approach works wonderfully. It may become a problem, however, when you realize that the students are simply doing the work just to get the reward. “When this happens we don’t really see a student’s personal goals
being met,” Jones said. Every teacher knows that in order for a lesson to run smoothly, the students need to be motivated. Yet motivation is not the only main goal for educators. Jones asked the audience, which consisted of roughly 20 people, what they thought teaching was all about. Some replied philosophy, others thought theory was the most suitable answer and some replied psychology had something to do with it. As Jones explained, it consists of two things. Teaching today needs to be based on theory and psychology. The methods or ways that you teach should be based upon psychology. “Students learn in three steps,” Jones said. “Patterns, categories and connections: and this is how we should teach.” Students today need to be more motivated and interactive, Jones
said. Teachers can address this with awareness of the students’ interests, curiosity and novelty. The classroom needs to become fun in order for the students to take interest in what they’re learning. This is where Jones believes that teachers begin using rewards, such as a candy bar, as a way to motivate students. Although he frowns on using rewards in the classroom, Jones said, “If the reward is mixed up with incentive, it isn’t as bad.” Educators today and future educators need to rethink the way in which they teach. It’s often hard for teachers to try to meet all the learning styles and personality differences within a classroom. “I doubt any of us will ever be able to teach how we know we can teach,” Jones said. “But we must try or else we are failing ourselves and the students.”
Calling All Men By Rachel Pinette STAFF WRITER
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience some form of domestic abuse in her lifetime. The majority of victims (an estimated 86 percent) who experience domestic violence between intimate partners are women. So it seems to make sense that women are often the target audience for groups trying to put an end to domestic and partner abuse. On University Day, April 8, members of Lisa Leduc’s Studies in Domestic Violence class introduced an audience of listeners to A Call to Men, one of the first national programs directed at educating
men in ways to discourage acts of domestic violence. The fact is that only a small percentage of men actually abuse their partners, and many are interested in taking a more active stance against the problem. A Call to Men seeks to prevent domestic abuse by helping men to recognize sexist or abusive behavior and to break the pressures of the social complex that prevents some men from taking action against situations that are harmful to women. Cultural sexisms, the frequent objectification of women and peer pressure all lead to a general apathy when it comes to recognizing partner abuse. “A Call to Men has helped
me realize how important it is to think about what I say and do,” one of the male students at the presentation said. “We get used to hearing about women in a certain way. So we talk that way, thinking that it doesn’t do any harm.” “Unfortunately, there are still a lot of obstacles that prevent people from understanding this,” a female classmate explained. “Especially in rural communities, where people tend to be more conservative. They think, ‘It’s not my business. I shouldn’t get involved in another man’s home.’” Breaking out of this mentality is particularly important for the police force of a rural area.
“Some of the reserve officers in the area have had as little as two to four hours of training,” Leduc told the audience. “It’s really difficult to step into these situations if you’re not prepared, especially if someone you know – a brother or a cousin - is involved.” In order to better understand what impact domestic violence has had in the area, members of the class are participating in a service learning program through local organizations such as the Battered Women’s Shelter. The endeavor has even attracted the attention of the national administrators of A Call to Men. One of the program’s co-founders, Ted Bunch, will
be speaking in Weiden Hall on April 28. The organization will also be holding a national conference in New York City on May 21 and 22. More information on the conference and the objectives of the program can be found on the A Call to Men Web site at www.acalltomen.org. The presentation put on by UMPI’s Studies in Domestic Violence class attracted listeners who were male, female, young and old. Putting forth an effort to stop domestic violence in all its forms is a concern that is not bound to age or gender. It’s in the interest of both men and women alike to see that no people should have to live in fear of their spouse or partner.
Page 18
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Who was first? By Jim Stepp CONTRIBUTOR
Everyone is always interested in knowing who did what first. When it comes to astronomers, we like to play the same game. In astronomy, Hans Lippershey is credited with creating the first telescope (spyglass) in 1608. It’s almost certain that Lippershey was not the first person to place two lenses in front of each other and noticed their magnifying qualities, but he was the first to try to get a patent for the device. Hans Lippershey was a spectacle maker in Middelburg, Zeeland, in the Netherlands. Legend has it that his children were playing with some flawed lenses. They lined up two lenses and actually created the first telescope. Galileo Galilei is credited with being the first man to turn the spyglass to the sky. Between Nov. 30 and Dec. 18, 1609, Galileo made a series of observations of the moon. But was he truly the first man to look at celestial objects with a telescope? New information suggests he may not have been. It now appears that an
English scientist, Thomas Harriot, may have been first. In July and August of 1609, Harriot observed and made detailed drawings of the moon. These drawings may be found a t http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/har riot_moon.html. The big question is why we still talk about Galileo as the “father” of telescopic astronomy and not Harriot. Put simply, Harriot may have been afraid to show his work. In the 17th century, many scientists were sponsored by rich benefactors. Harriot’s research support came from William Percy, the ninth Earl of Northumberland. Harriot got a pension and living quarters. In 1605, Harriot was briefly imprisoned, along with Percy, because of the Gunpowder Plot. Harriot was released quickly, but was always being watched. In a past article, I mentioned that Galileo ended up under house arrest thanks to publishing his findings and challenging the earth-centered universe. Harriot may have had an inkling that this might occur with him. Harriot was also the first per-
son to observe sunspots in December 1610, months before Galileo. But again, credit has gone to Galileo because Harriot did not publish his findings. He only shared his observations with a group of correspondents in England. For more information about Hans Lippershey go to http://space.about.com/od/bi o g r a phies/a/hanslippershey.htm. For more information about Galileo and Harriot go to http://galileo.rice.edu/chron/ galileo.html and http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/har riot.html. The Night Sky After April 21, the ISS is visible in the morning sky Go to www.heavens-above.com for exact times and locations. You’ll 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 on
April 30, 2009 Sunrise 05:19 Sunset 19:41 Mercury 20:11 – 21:14 Venus 04:10 – 04:49 Mars 04:33 – 04:49 Jupiter 03:03 – 04:49 Saturn 20:11 – 03:23 Uranus 04:10 – 04:49 Neptune 03:07 – 04:49 04/24 12:05 Venus close to Mars (4.1°) 04/24 23:23 New moon
Venus brightest in morning sky -4.5 mag 04/30 16:45 Mercury close to Pleiades (1.4 deg) 05/01 16:44 First quarter 05/02 Astronomy Day http://www.astroleague.org/al /astroday/astrofacts.html 05/04 02:18 Moon 6.3 degrees from Saturn
04/26 03:39 Mercury greatest elongation east (20 degrees from sun) evening sky 04/26 12:33 Moon 1.9 degrees north of Mercury
05/05 1961 Mercury astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. becomes the first American in space http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office /pao/History/40thmerc7/she pard.htm
04/26 21:00 Moon, Pleiades and Mercury within 3 degrees of each other
05/07 Space Day http://www.spaceday.org/
04/28 02:25 Moon at perigee (closest to the Earth :227,446 miles/366,039 km)
05/07 07:00 Meteor Maximum Aquariids (ETA)
04/29
-
Eta-
05/09 00:01 Full moon
03.06
In the Mood for Food By Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER
Waking up to the sweet smell of breakfast wafting from the kitchen is enough to get anyone out of bed. It’s the perfect alarm clock without the blaring sound. Eggs in the morning is the best way to get energy for the day and a great healthy dish. In your dorm room, all you have to do is get some eggs and scramble them up in a bowl. If you want to add some awesome fresh vegeta-
bles, all you have to do is grab the ones that you like and chop them up into bitesized pieces. You can have as much as you want and you can add cheese too. Mix your vegetables and cheese into the eggs and set the bowl in the microwave. Set it for about three minutes or until the breakfast is done the way that you like it. Then all you have to do is eat it all up before the day starts. Hope you enjoy the great start! ultimate takeout pizza!
Sarahʼs Scramble What you need:
Fresh eggs or egg substitute Fresh vegetables - diced Shredded cheese Assorted additional toppings
Crack eggs into microwave safe bowl. Scramble. Stir in vegetables and cheese. Microwave for three minutes or until done.
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Page 19
Get Involved: Club of the Week PBL: PHI BETA LAMBDA By Pamela Perkins STAFF WRITER
Money: can’t live with it, can’t live without it. Well, all right, we could all use more money. UMPI offers some pretty impressive majors in the field of business where you can deal with money. And of course, UMPI offers its student a club for people who are interested in the field, to not only gain experience sharpening their business sense, but also to offer some great travel and fun. What’s this club? It’s Phi Beta Lambda, or more commonly known as the PBL. PBL is one of the largest student business organizations in the
country. Its mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. When the president, Mihaela Pavlova, was asked how the club has been doing, she said, “We have been doing this through our outstanding fundraising events. Our most commonly known event is the food stands that offer a wide variety of snacks for just 75 cents per item. Other fundraisers that we do are the care packages during finals, as a way to help students get through a stressful time in their life.
We are also famous for our bi-annual Tech Fair that gives students and the community a chance to stay informed about recent technology trends.” Along with this, PBL offers members the chance to compete in national leadership conferences and gain recognition for their success. Pavlova said, “Members should be motivated for success and PBL can help people to be. We’ve had members who placed in the top 10, along with bringing back to UMPI significant awards. Like fourth place in the C++ programming and eighth place in busi-
ness law. When PBL went to Rhode Island, we returned with two medals in the categories of marketing concepts and management concepts.” It’s just not only our boys in blue (baseball team) who are getting UMPI national recognition and awards. When asked what else the club could offer students, Pavlova said, “We also travel to other places to attend and compete in national leadership conferences. We have gone to Orlando, Nashville and Chicago in the past. This year, we are going to California. The conferences help us learn new skills and network
Flick Picks - The Spirit By Laura Hunter STAFF WRITER
“The Spirit” – rated PG-13 for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content and brief nudity. Starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson. Hmm. . .a guy comes back from the dead and becomes a vigilante. I liked this movie the first time I saw it, when it was called, “The Crow.” “The Spirit” is based on the graphic novel and from the same guy(s) who brought us “300” and “Sin City.” I loved both of those films, which is why I was looking forward to seeing this one. What a huge letdown. I seriously consid-
ered stopping the DVD and heading out to the theater to see “Hannah Montana” instead. Style-wise, this movie was great. Great direction and cinematography. The costumes were fantastic, if unpractical (seriously, who goes to a meet in lingerie?). But the dialogue and story seemed to be directed to children under 12. Then I wondered: could this be a satire? Then I thought: Even if it’s a satire, it’s still bad. What’s a movie set in the ‘40s without the requisite Nazis? You heard me. Nazis. Add a belly dancer, all kinds of crazy and Scarlet Johansson looking like she’s trying not to laugh at the absurd lines she’s forced to
utter, and you’ve got “The Spirit.” And I haven’t even mentioned the villain who goes by the name, “The Octopus” — cause he has eight of everything. Get it? The Spirit is actually a back-from-the-dead cop named Denny. Denny was dead as dead could get when the Octopus, a chemist who sells his deadly product on the street, injects him with a serum that brings him back to life. When the Octopus realizes what the serum can do – not just bring you back from the dead (because that’s not enough) - but also makes you stronger and able to survive beatings and gunshot wounds, he also injects himself. Voila!
A rivalry is born. The rest of the movie is spent with the Octopus trying to gain immortality and the Spirit trying to stop him. Do yourself a favor. Rent “The Crow,” “300” or “Sin City.” Go to the theater and watch “Hannah M o n t a n a ” instead. Save your money and wait for “X-Men O r i g i n s : Wo l v e r i n e . ” Better yet, read a book. But don’t bother with “The Spirit.”
through workshops and exhibits.” In addition, Pavlova said, “PBL also offers students a chance to develop their managerial skills, which are transferable and extremely valuable in the professional development of any university graduate. It not only teaches you how to work on a team, but also how to run your own business.” PBL meets every Tuesday at 1p.m. in the MIS Lab (Pullen 116). It’s open to anyone who would like to join. For more information you can contact Mihaela Pavlova at mihaela.pavlova@maine.e du.
Page 20
University Times CAMPUS April 28, 2009
Dear Jack & Jill: I love my girlfriend. She’s so great: beautiful, smart, kind. She’s everything I want. We have such a great time together, we laugh constantly. I’m not saying our relationship is perfect. We have our disagreements, but we always work it out. I’m so happy and in love. So what’s the problem? She likes to pop the zits on my
ADVICE FROM JACK & JILL
back. I think it’s disgusting and it totally grosses me out! She starts out by giving me a back massage, but then she just starts popping away! I tried telling her how I feel, but she just thinks I’m embarrassed about the zits on my back! I’m not: I’m really grossed out that she pops them! What can I do? Sincerely, Oozing Puss
Jill: Here I was, ready to eat breakfast. Jack: That is just so wrong. Jill: But he loves her. Jack: I had a girl like that once. Jill: No one cares. Wait, so what happened? Jack: I tried to teach her a lesson by popping a zit on her face. She dumped me. Jill: So, Ooze, learn from Jack
and don’t pop one of her zits. Jack: At least on her face. Jill: Right. Moving on. Ooze, I’m assuming that you don’t want to dump her over this, so you only have a few options. 1) Get over it and let her pop away. 2) Visit a dermatologist to get rid of the acne on your back. 3) Tell her that you read
“somewhere” that she’ll get warts if she continues popping zits. Jack: Or, maybe when she’s done giving you a back massage and you feel her ready to pop one, you turn the tables on her and you give her a back massage! Jill: Not bad. Jack: Thanks. Jill: Till next time readers! Jack: Keep those letters coming in!
Pizza Problem Pizza Problem Previous problem: A tennis championship is played on a knock-out basis, i.e., players are out of the tournament when they lose a match. How many players participate in the tournament if there are 127 matches total? How many matches are in the tournament if 53 players total participate? (www.syvum.com) Solution: One player is eliminated in each match, so if the tournament starts with n players, it will take n-1 matches to eliminate all but one. Thus, if there are 127 matches, there are 128 players. If there are 53 players, there are 52 matches. New Problem: You have twelve balls. Eleven of the balls have identical weights and one ball is different. You have a balance scale, but you are allowed to use it only three times. Can you tell which ball has a different weighs, and if it weighs more or less than the identical ones? (NOTE: Be sure to explain the logic used to find the odd ball, and explain all possible outcomes.) Send your solution to umpicontest@maine.edu by March 13 2009, if you want a free pizza. Watch for the solution and a new problem in the next issue of U Times. Congratulations to Keith Davis for completing the previous problem. You’ll be receiving your pizza shortly.
Comic by Bhava Albert