Volume 38 Issue 12 by University Times

University of Maine at Presque Isle

Volume 38 Issue 12

APRIL 8, 2010

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

Education Is Not for Sale

Kayla Ames STAFF WRITER

Today’s universities, including ours, are at a crossroad. Higher education is suffering due to recent economic crises. Tomasz Herzog, associate professor of social studies education, proved this during the faculty noon seminar that took place on March 11. Approximately 15 people attended, most of them professors. They chatted, snacked on sandwiches, oranges and granola bars and patiently waited for the presentation to begin. The atmosphere changed when Herzog began elaborating on a worrisome but growing problem: the increasing commercialization and professionalism associated with higher education. We’ve seen our poor economy at work numerous times. Many of us aren’t aware of its exact effects on education. In the case of colleges and universities across the world, lack of money and a concern for the job market have changed their roles and purposes. Herzog believes that these changes will disturb education, not only now, but also in the future. “It’s the highest time to reexamine the purpose and role of universities and colleges because they are indispensable to the life of any nation,” a summary by Herzog said. This subject should interest educators, parents, legislators, students and social activists. While health care, national security and alternative energy development are the issues we think about most, education should be

of equal priority. As the economic state worsens, education support by the state significantly decreases. California higher education, for example, has lost about 40 percent of its state funding and has been forced to lay off professors as well as raise tuition. California isn’t the only place that’s suffered, though. Funding has decreased in many other states. Herzog made a point of emphasizing the importance of further education, offering solutions to the problem of less funding and the discouragement of a liberal arts degree. Liberal arts programs have fallen victim to the financial cuts and narrowing of educational focus. Unfair misconceptions have been attached to them. As a result, many schools are questioning whether they should be maintained or broadened. Many have come to see the

degree as a luxury, as too expensive. Some say it is harder to get a job with just a liberal arts background. A liberal arts major is supposedly irrelevant or too old-fashioned. None of these things are true, according to Herzog. Credibility, flexibility and power are just some of the benefits of a liberal arts educa-

tion. They help us think outside the box. More students are concentrating on the jobs that will make them the most money now, rather than what they

want to do or the jobs that will bring them more money in the future. Herzog’s message was very clear: these ideas and practices are wrong. In quoting G.K. Chesterton, Herzog said “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” Higher education, including liberal arts, is essential. We cannot let it simply fade away because of economic limitations. There are ways to help ourselves. Education should be about the public good rather than numbers. We should encourage academic freedom and responsibility, incorporate new technologies and acknowledge the place of adjunct professors as equals instead of treating them like second-class employees. Though young students cannot be overlooked, nontraditional students are

becoming more common. Education should be able to adapt to their needs and abilities. Another way we could improve our schools and universities is by making learning a fun and lifelong experience. We need to make education about more than just names and grades. In order to guarantee a bright future, we have to start wanting to learn and recognize the importance of constant education. “Education is not for sale,” Herzog stated. Fellow professors addressed a variety of issues during the question and answer part of the seminar. Some of these issues included the effects of the capitalist model on education, the role of educational institutions in upholding a civic society and the change in public as well as legislative opinion toward higher education. They also talked about the growing American appreciation for materialistic goods, which has influenced our career goals. We are starting to pursue vocational jobs instead of liberal arts and so prefer community colleges to universities. The idea of free and accessible education is spreading throughout the world. We are slowly finding out that learning does not have a price or a limit. G.K. Chesterton described education as the soul of a society. Herzog says it is important to the life of any nation. Whether or not we fully understand its value yet, higher education remains both necessary and priceless.

Campus

University Times

April 8, 2010

Dear Readers, Stay tuned to WUPI 92.1 on Wednesday, April 14, all day long as we broadcast live from University Day. We’ll be giving away prizes on the air live, as well, so there’s no reason not to tune in. Ben

The University Times Staff Co-Editors Lanette Virtanen Landon York Assistant Editors Sarah Graettinger Ben Pinette Staff Writers Kayla Ames Rachel Churchill Stephanie Corriveau Alicia Fournier Sarah Graettinger Angel Hammond Daniel Jackson Stephanie Jellett Mika Ouellette Ben Pinette Alyson Robitaille Steve Straight Rene Steele Lanette Virtanen

Contributors Bhava Albert Marci Cheviot Jonathan David Clark Christine Corsello April Flagg Justin Howe Amber Reed Jim Stepp Courtney Turner Adzm Wilcox Don Zillman Adviser Dr. J The U Times welcomes submissions from the campus community. Send digital versions of articles, photos, etc., to utimes@maine.edu and jacquelyn.lowman@umpi.edu

Dear Readers, We hope you all enjoyed your vacation. Don’t forget that University Day is on April 14 and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone there. Make sure to look in this paper for the pullout schedule with all of the activities that’ll be going on all day. Lanette Dear Readers, The theme of this year’s University Day is “Winds of Change: Propelling Progress and Sustainability.” The obvious association to this is the wind turbine and other efforts that UMPI is making to go green. But looking at it further, you can see that it applies to all of UMPI. Here at the U Times, we like to look at ourselves as representative of progress and sustainability, as well. It’s not hard to see how far we’ve come, looking at issues from previous years. What isn’t as easy to see is the work put in to keep us where we are. Behind the scenes, the crew working has steadily grown, and we hope to grow more. Progress and sustainability: two keys to any venture. We hope to continue exemplifying both. Until next time, Landon

Dates for Submissions to the U Times Monday, April. 12 Monday, April. 26 Any submissions recieved after a deadline will be published in the following issue. If you have any questions please contact Dr. Lowman at 768-9745

University Times CAMPUS April 8,, 2010

From Don’s Desk

My favorite day of the year is coming up shortly— University Day — April 14. If I could invite guests to be on campus for only one day of the year, it would be for University Day. What’s so special about UDay, newcomers may ask. First is the diversity of activity. You can roam from classroom to classroom. In one classroom, students will be talking about a trip to an academic conference in which they participated. In another, they’ll be discussing a research project with a faculty member that resulted in a published paper. In a third, a live theater production will be taking place. In a fourth, students and faculty will discuss a useful piece of collaboration with local middle -schoolers. Literature, business, social work, art, criminal justice: and the list goes on to cover all of

our programs. Second is the close connection of our faculty and our students. Some people still consider college as a series of lectures by professors to an audience of students. The students are asked to take notes and then be examined on their learning. That’s still an important part of higher education. But an increasingly significant part of university education is the s h a r e d research, community activity and national involvement reflected in the UDay activities. Engaged learning.

Steffanie Jellett

old, who is the daughter of the UMPI golf coach Ryan Guerrette and his wife, Jamie, was born without ears. This was due to a condition called bilateral microtia with atresia. The studend athletic advising committee helped to organize and make this event possible. Hannah Shepard, president of SAAC, and Mindy Sullivan, treasurer, along with many others, gave their time. The Guerrettes were very surprised when Sullivan approached them about the fundraiser the committee chose to do. “We were very surprised and excited when we found out,” Jamie Guerrette said. “It’s very nice that they would do that.” Four teams started playing the round robin games. The

Service learning. Undergraduate research. All are names for more active student participation in their education than just absorbing the wisdom of their professors from their classroom seats. Third, UDay regularly

brings one of our most fascinating Distinguished Lecturers to campus. I am confident Frank Schaeffer will live up to that

billing. I especially look forward to meeting Frank in person. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of helping his coauthor, Kathy Roth-Doquet, with some minor legal research assistance on their book, AWOL. Veterans know AWOL is military shorthand for Absence Without Official Leave—a criminal offense in the armed services. Frank and Kathy’s discussion of AWOL centered on the absence of the children of America’s privileged classes from military service and the consequences for American society. A simple illustration of the change over the years involved the children of presidents.

During World War II, ALL of and Eleanor Franklin Roosevelt’s sons served in combat posts. During the Iraq War, neither of George and Laura Bush’s daughters (both of service age and in a military that is 15 percent female) served. Both Frank and Kathy grew up lightly connected to the military. Frank joined the military family when his son enlisted, Kathy, when she married a marine. The book is a wonderful study of the different cultures of the armed forces and the civilian world. Frank will be talking about an equally controversial topic— the influence of religion on modern America. Frank’s personal saga with religion is as fascinating as his experience with the military. We are in for a treat. Don

Helping Bobbi Build an Ear

STAFF WRITER

Bobbi Guerrette On Tuesday, March 16, at 5 p.m., students and the community came out to watch and support a basketball tournament. It was organized to help, fundraise for, and give the gift of hearing to a little girl. Bobbi Guerrette, 3 years

teams were: EM squared; The Uplifters; NLH; and Two Short Guys, Two Not-So Short Guys and One Girl. The teams battled it out, but it was Two Short Guys, Two Not-So-Short Guys and one girl that took the win. The players for the team consisted of Jordan Guy, Kyle Corrigan, A.J. Pennartz, Megan Korhonen and Devon

Peaslee. “I think it had a good turnout. There could’ve been more teams, though,” Korhonen, who was the one girl on the winning team, said,” It’s always good to come out and support.” With that said, the fundraiser made about $400. That’s $400 closer to helping little Bobbi. Sullivan and Shepard also said that they would definitely do more fundraisers. Competitor Sean Daniels said, “I’d for sure do it to help out. It felt really good to help, especially when you can relate to needing the same help. Doing it back was great.” If you’d like more information

on Bobbi and her condition, you can visit the site h t t p : / / b o b b i s b u i l d a n e a r. blogspot.com. Everyone can agree that it was a good thing to help out this family who could always use a n e x t r a h a n d . L e t ’s hope that everything will go great with Bobbi in the future. T h e U M P I c o m m u n i t y ’s pulling for this project for Bobbi to have a positive outcome.

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

Chris’ Corner

I hope all enjoyed spring break and are ready to get back to it! Consider this time of year “hump day”… it’s now slightly after the halfway mark of the semester and sometimes we need a little push to the finish line and a reminder that sometimes bumps in the road are necessary. So – here’s a little story: The Butterfly A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the

remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the

Bugging Around

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

This summer, in the forests of northern Maine, you may spot a familiar face. No, not a moose or even a bear. You’ll see Dr. Jason Johnston, who’ll be conducting some important research in the northern woodlands. In 2009, Johnston received a grant from the Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC) to support this research. After unsuccessfully applying for a grant through the NSRC in a previous year, Johnston decided to try submitting a second proposal. The positive feedback that he received from his first submission made him confident that he could be selected for a grant the next time around. Johnston’s intuition was correct—the Jason NSRC accepted his project that’s called “Effects of Forest Type and Stand Characteristics on Seasonal Abundance of Forest-floor Invertebrates.” So, what exactly does this project involve? Johnston will be studying invertebrates in woodland study sites, possibly

there will be more spiders in mixed forests. The number of invertebrates in the forests can give you clues about the environment and also the other organisms that live there. Johnston has made a prediction about the research. “I predict that the diversity of invertebrates will be higher in forest stands that have higher tree species diversity,” Johnston said. Johnston also feels that important knowledge can be gained from his work. “I hope to have a better understanding of how different forest stands and their prey base provide habitat for different bird groups,” Johnston said. Johnston will be filling two full-time positions to assist him with his work. These assistants will gain valuable Johnston with daughter Kathleen experience. Overall, Johnston’s work will be insects in the forests? These beneficial in comprehending insects are an important part of the relationship between the other forest-dwelling organism- woodlands and the organisms s’ diets. Also, different types of that live in them. To learn about Johnston’s insects live in certain kinds of more visit forests. For instance, Johnston research, predicts that he’ll see an abun- http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/ dance of beetles in coniferous nsrc/projectpages/ongoing.p areas. He also believes that hp?id=133. in areas west of Ashland. In this case, you can think of “invertebrates” as things such as bugs and insects. But you may be wondering why it’s necessary to count the number of

wings would enlarge a n d expand to be able to support t h e b o d y, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kind-

ness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we were allowed to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

Sarah Graettinger

WAGM –TV, where people can learn about how the news is covered and presented. One of the classes that’s offered is Civil War Discussions. There SAGE members will have discussions about battles from the war and about Joshua Chamberlain and the role that he played in the war. Moving to Music is another class offered this semester. In that class, members will move to the beat of the music that will help stimulate the brain and help the body. Members can move the way they feel comfortable and have fun doing it. Journalism Ethics is a class offered during this semester, also. One of the things offered in this class will be ethics about news reporting. Problems will be brought up about different photos and seeing what problems is incorporated in the pictures. Numerous classes are being offered in the semester. This is a great opportunity to learn about numerous subjects in a great setting.

SAGE Luncheon

STAFF WRITER

Seniors of all ages crowded into the Campus Center to learn about what classes were going to be offered for the semester. This program is for discovering new ideas and there are no exams. Classes from art, music, journalism ethics to film will be offered to people who want to take them. This is the 12th year that this program has been running. Many have taken part in the program and have learned a lot about different subjects. There are no requirements needed to take part in these classes. All you have to do is be willing to learn and take part with classmates. The only thing that you have to do is pay $15 per semester or $30 a year. SAGE members can go to events that are on the campus, because they are students. All SAGE members have to do is show their name tags to gain access. There are two fieldtrips offered in the semester. One is to the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge. The other is to

University Times CAMPUS April 8,, 2010

Building an Educated Future: Experiencing Life in the Dominican Republic

Daniel Jackson STAFF WRITER

“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.” Edward Everett’s words rang so true to each one of us on the trip while we worked not only amid the Haitian workers, but as some of us embarked on teaching projects throughout the week. Originally, I was unsure what I would be doing while I was in the Dominican Republic. When I started out, I was with the construction crew. While it wasn’t too bad, I wanted to get some teaching experience. Eventually I approached

Rachel Churchill STAFF WRITER

On March 11, UMPI’s media groups, WUPI and the U Times, held an open house for the UMPI campus community.

Jeri Spurling, the woman on our trip who organized what each person would be doing each day, and told her that I wanted to give teaching a try. Jeri raised an eyebrow and said “Are you sure? These kids can be a handful.” Without any hesitation, I told her that it was what I wanted to do. As a way to break me in, Jeri was going to let me help her teach an architecture class to the seventh-graders the following morning. The next day, I was slightly nervous, but at the same time I was excited. Teaching is some-

thing that has been in the forefront of my mind for the past few months, so I figured the experience would be a good gauge for me to decide on what to do after I graduate in May. To teach the children some basic architecture, Jeri and I brought some note cards and masking tape with us. Children who are educated in the Dominican Republic, regardless of Haitian or Dominican ethnicity, learn to speak Spanish and are taught in Spanish. I’m currently in my eighth year of French, and Jeri’s only foreign language was French. I asked her how we were going to teach a class that didn’t understand her. “Well, I speak some Spanish. I’ll find a way. Should be interesting!” Jeri did a fabulous job. She’s an architect full time back here in the States, and her ability to teach some of these kids across a huge language barrier was wonderful to see. When she couldn’t get the right Spanish

word (“compression,” for example), the students’ teacher was able to do some translating. The students were competing to build the tallest and most durable structure that would hold up under weight. The three boys in the class decided to combine their materials and work together—their structure was one of the first to crumble under a little bit of weight. One of the girls built a structure that wasn’t very tall but held up under the most “weights” we placed on her structure (they

were actually ceramic tiles from another part of the school that weren’t going to be used). She won a brand new ruler to help her with her schooling. As Jeri and I exited the classroom, it was time for me to head back to construction. Seeing how excited I was from the teaching, Jeri said that she would try to schedule me in more teaching throughout the week. It was now time to head back to do more construction (in the 90 degree heat) and then head to the beach!

included iTunes gift cards, certificates from the Sandwich Shop, Big Cheese Pizza, and shirts from Sleepers in Caribou and the UMPI bookstore.

The staffs of WUPI and the U Times want to thank the entire UMPI community for your support, not just on that special day, but every day.=

Media Madness

This was a particularly exciting open house, because it included WUPI’s first campus remote broad cast since it moved to its new location within Normal Hall. About 30 people attended the open house throughout the afternoon and evening, a number that more than doubled last year’s attendance. “I went to the open h o u s e expecting the same type of situation that people are used to: sub-

tle enthusiasm with cheese and crackers. I was extremely wrong,” Buddy Robinson, a student here at UMPI, said. “I went for a couple of hours in the beginning of the afternoon and had so much fun with everyone that I rushed back after class.” This kind of enthusiasm could be seen among the other students, staff, and faculty members in attendance, as well. But while the food and music attracted many, so did the new radio station. When asked an opinion of the new location, one person responded, “I like it. I feel like it’s a nice change and that it’s more accessible for the campus community.” Prizes at the open house

Left to right: Ray Rice, Linda Zillman, Kayla Ames, Kim-Anne Perkins

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

Ye Old Faire

Students learning about stained glass Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

“Welcome to UMPI’s first medieval faire,” is what students heard when they walked through the castle doors. On March 23, a medieval town was set up in

Wieden gym to teach middle school children about medieval times. Numerous booths were there highlighting everything from weapons, peasantry, manners to clothing, music, alchemy, church, fencing, and much more. Children came from

Caribou, Presque Isle to learn about medieval times. All the children got passports to tell them what they would have been. Some were nobles, and a lot were peasants. Questions were in the passport about the numerous booths. “I thought all of the speakers were well prepared. They knew quite a bit and the students were really attentive,” Kim-Anne Perkins, who escorted the children from booth to booth, said. The booths were made to look like a real kitchen or a house, depending what was taught. They all had props that the children could get up and touch. Interpreters made food as an example of what peasants or nobles ate back then. One of the booths was on alchemy, which taught how you would get rid of diseases and how to prevent them. There were bones on

Mike Amey teaching about medieval weapons

display, and there were 20 different colors of urine. Supposedly you could tell how you were sick by what

really liked how she had all of the different colors of urine and explained them,” Perkins said. It took much work to set

Erin Benson demonstrates medieval foods.

color your urine was. “That was one of my favorite booths. You got to learn so much by just listening to them. I

up the fair. Participants painted and made costumes for months in advance. Students in UMPI history class created scripts so that interpreters would know what they were going to talk about. People made papiermâché pigs and meat products to show how nobles ate. “I like how the kids could really relate to the things that were taught in the booths. They were really interested in what was going on,” Perkins said. Judging from all the happy, fascinated taxes, it was a great fair and the students really enjoyed it. All of the different booths taught something different and conveyed the atmosphere of a medieval town. Thanks to all the people who took part and helped put it together.

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

You may think life as a teacher would be draining. Students are constantly asking you questions and seeking your attention. For Dr. William Breton, however, being an educator is anything but tiring. “That’s what gives me the juice: working with the students,” Breton said. Breton, who was born in Lewiston, was raised in a Franco-American culture. “French was the first language in my home,” Breton said. Breton went to high school in Lewiston. He then attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where he received his bachelor’s in education. Breton’s first teaching job was at the high school in Limestone, where he served as an English and social studies teacher. During this time, Limestone had a track system. Breton was in charge of the students who were assigned to track six. He explained that some of these students were illiterate and weren’t really interested in their schooling. Breton had to deal with behavior problems and he wasn’t prepared to handle the situations that he faced. It was this experience that first sparked his interest in special education. Breton then decided to pursue his master and doctorate degrees at the University of Maine at Orono. “This was when the field of special education was first starting,” Breton said.

Youʼve Got to Have the ʻJuiceʼ Now a special education instructor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Breton’s well trained in his field. With the help of Dr. Joanne Putnam, Breton had applied for his job at UMPI and received the position. He decided to move back north to Fort Kent with his wife, who was originally from there. Breton has many years of teaching experience, not only at the college level. Besides working in a few high schools, such as Limestone, Breton was also an education supervisor at a mental institute for teenagers. His work with special education is definitely something that he’s passionate about. Breton has helped establish the M a i n e Association of Directors of Services for Children With Exceptionalities and has directed the Maine Special Education Director’s Academy. In the past, he served two years as president for the Maine Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. Breton has received awards for his work. In addition to these out-

standing accomplishments, Breton conducts research and has created workshops for paraprofessionals in Aroostook County. His latest research has involved studying special eduparaprofessionals. cation These paraprofessionals are the special education teacher’s

Bill Breton

aides who work in the school districts. Breton delivered his discoveries to a national audience in Chicago this past February. He basically found that the paraprofessionals were having difficulty dealing with the children in the special education program. This was because they didn’t think they had the proper training and

supervision to handle the situations they encountered. An important project that Breton’s working on at UMPI is the creation of a paraprofessionals’ associate degree. This degree will specifically help those paraprofessionals, such as the teacher’s aides, get the training that they need for their jobs. Breton would like for the program to begin next year. Dr. Reginald Nnazor, chair of the college of education, spoke about how Breton’s project is in the works. “It is a proposal that he initiated. The proposal is being considered by the University of Maine System,” Nnazor said. Breton has only worked at UMPI for three years, but he’s made an impact on the campus, his coworkers and his students. Dr. Todd Russell, assistant professor of physical education, began teaching just a year after Breton. Russell said that he’s developed a good relationship with Breton because of their histories as public school teachers. He’s noticed that Breton has a good work ethic. “I think he’s very well organized. He likes to do all of the groundwork in advance and be prepared for all of his classes,”

Russell said. Breton clearly takes education seriously. He feels that teachers need to have a love for their job. “In order to be a successful teacher, you have to be willing to share some of yourself,” Breton said. Breton also feels that it’s important for teachers to have a good working relationship with their students. “I think another important element is to have a willingness to listen and the ability to admit that you don’t have all of the answers,” Breton said. Breton serves as adviser for many of the education majors with an interest in special education. One of his advisees, Julie Gendreau, is an elementary education major with a minor in special education. Gendreau has liked Breton’s classes and feels that he’s very supportive. “He begins each course by saying that we’re all A-plus students and that it’s up to us to maintain that,” Gendreau said. Breton takes his job very seriously. He feels that educating future teachers is a crucial role. “If we can influence the knowledge, the values, the dispositions of our next generation of teachers, then we’re going to be in pretty good shape,” Breton said. There’s a saying that it takes a special type of person to be an educator. Breton’s one of those select few. He has a drive to help his students and a desire to better the education program. He’s definitely got the “juice.”

HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR 2010-2011?

If you are eligible for federal student aid - and have not done this for next academic year, please go on-line and fill out a 2010-2011 application at: www.fafsa.gov DO NOT WAIT- APPLY TODAY!! (If you wait...you could lose out on some financial aid assistance.) Any questions, feel free to stop by the Financial Aid Office, located on the top floor of Preble Hall.

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

Sustainable Food and Fun with Judy Wicks Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Surrounded by products local to Maine, such as potatoes, maple syrup and ploye mix, Judy Wicks gave an informative lecture about the importance of sustainability and energy efficiency in business. Interested students, staff and community members gathered in the multipurpose room of UMPI’s Campus Center the evening of March 10 to listen to Wicks speak about her experiences in business and environmentalism. Wicks’ lecture is one of this year’s many lectures from the University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series which was being recorded for television stations MPBN and WAGM-TV for their newscasts. An informal reception, also held at the Campus Center, followed. Wicks, an entrepreneur and self-proclaimed “tree hugger,” owned her own restaurant, the White Dog Cafe, in her hometown of Philadelphia. The award-winning White Dog Cafe, established in 1983, is a leader in energy efficiency. The restaurant was the first in the state of Pennsylvania to

use wind power electricity, a solar water heater and all locally grown organic foods. She also used the restaurant as a vehicle to educate people about the environment through Earth Day celebrations, home and business energy audits and using fryer oil from her restaurant to create biodiesel. All of these practices stem from Wicks’ environmentalism, which shapes her perceptions and perspectives. Wicks complimented UMPI in her speech for its role in her first impression of Presque Isle, as she was impressed by the campus wind turbine. “The first thing I noticed when I came into Presque Isle was the windmill here at UMPI,” Wicks said about her visit to Presque Isle.

Wicks then went on to speak about how she promoted sustainable business and energy practices through nonprofit charity work and national speaking tours. Now, Wicks is in the process of writing a book about her beliefs about business and the environment. Because of her active involvement in this work, Wicks no longer had time to maintain her restaurant, causing her to sell it last year. To ensure that her restaurant would remain the energy star that it is, she kept her property but rented it to the new owners under an agreement that they would maintain her sustainable business practices. The White Dog Cafe is still open in Philadelphia and continues to bring sustainable food and fun to its customers, fulfilling Wicks’ legacy.

The White Dog Cafe.

Lulu and husband Louis Pelletier standing beside his portait.

Paintings Remind us that Freedom Isnʼt Free Lanette Virtanen STAFF WRITER

How often do you think about veterans? On Veterans Day? Memorial Day? That wasn’t enough for Lulu Pelletier. She decided to raise our awareness every day. So she based her senior show on the veterans from around this area. Lucky enough to attend her reception in the Pullen Art Gallery on March 21 you were met with a table full of refreshments and three paintings on the wall behind. Those three paintings were a strong indication of what was to be seen inside the gallery. Once inside, you were surrounded by portraits of veterans. Most were straightforward portraits. But with some of them, Pelletier decided to show a different side. One was a veteran suffering from PTSD, while another showed a scout dog whose owner had been killed. These were strong images that gave you a sense of what Pelletier was trying to portray. As Pelletier said, “It’s important that veterans get the recognition that they deserve and it’s something that I enjoyed doing.” What she paints comes from her heart and has a lot to do with her husband, Louis Pelletier. Two of the paintings

were of him at different points of his military career. Many of the veterans that she’d painted came in for her reception and gave us a chance to see the person compared with the painting. The turnout for the reception was great. Pelletier’s family members were there to support her, as well as art professors whom Pelletier has worked with while here at UMPI. A constant flow of visitors were there and they took a few turns around

the gallery to gaze at the paintings as well as going into the art classroom to see more of her work just inside the door. Leo Paul, yr, an art professor, introduced Pelletier, who seemed nervous about speaking to the group there to see her paintings. If you know her or have even been around the art room, you’d come away with

the sense that she doesn’t seem to be the nervous type. Pelletier has no problem speaking in general, but was anxious about the public speaking aspect of the reception. She had nothing to worry about. At the time of the reception, two of her paintings had already sold. While making her remarks, Pelletier said, “I was pushed by the art professors to try something different with colors, I didn’t like it at first, but once I’d tried it, I ended up loving them.” Andy Giles, another art professor spoke up to say, “Fellow students have learned a lot from watching Lulu about having a tremendous work ethic.” As Pelletier put it, “I’m here from 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., and I do that every day. I started painting the portraits last September.. I enjoyed doing the portraits, but I really love to paint nature or animals.” Inside the art classroom were a series of moose paintings that Pelletier is in the process of painting, as well. Even though she hasn’t finished the series yet, you can see a sample of the other side of what she enjoys painting. Pelletier’s senior show reception was a success. By seeing her paintings, we’re given another chance to remember how important our veterans are and to see how one person can help to bring that back to our attention.

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

Katahdin in Winter: Just Another OAPI Adventure Michael James Howland CONTRIBUTOR

The OAPI group took a trip to Baxter State Park on March 14-15 to hike Mt. Katahdin. Our group consisted of nine brave souls, Anna Turcotte, Amanda Morin, Tyler Hutchinson, Mike Howland, Kim McCrea, Dawn McPherson, Lindsey Perry, Julie French and our guide, Peter Doucette. It turned out to be a successful hike to the top and back. It took strength, courage, team support and preparation. Mt. Katahdin’s elevation is at 5,267 feet not to mention the winter conditions made the climb more challenging. The hike was successful because of a couple of reasons. Our group worked well with each other, we had the proper winter gear and our group leaders, Amanda and Peter, have great experience and energy. The preparation before the big trip was key. For example, if one of the group had forgotten crampons, the hike would have been unsuccessful as a group. We had to be in physical shape, so we trained a few weeks before. OAPI had great gear to use, which made the trip possible. So after going through the gear list a couple of times and doing our final stretches we set out at 8:00 a.m. loaded into the UMPI van. We all were excited to get to the top when the view of Katahdin came to view as we were driving. It was an amazing view. The mountain shot into the blue sky with its white snow caps looking very big. The group met our guide, Peter Doucette, at the parking lot. Peter is an AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide. We went through the gear check one more time and started on our 4 mile tour to Abol

Campground. The weather was perfect. Once we arrived we set up camp, got firewood and relaxed. The mountain was a lot closer now. It was right there; we had an awesome

Made it to the top! view at the campground. Peter and Amanda gave a speech on the trip plan and safety tips. Peter showed us how to read a map and use a compass. Amanda cooked chicken with rice for dinner and the group drank plenty of water to hydrate for the long hike the next day. We were to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to make sure we could hike a steady pace to make it to the summit. If the group did not make it to the top by 2:00p.m., the group will have to turn around. We planned on hiking Abol Trail, which is the most direct route to the summit. We could see the trail from the campsite, and it went straight up. When 4 a.m. rolled around, it was too soon. It was cold and dark. The hike for the summit had started. Peter warned us to expect some high winds up top. You could hear the wind blowing above the trees. The group found a steady pace. It was still dark out, so we were all using headlamps. We ditched the snowshoes, because we didn’t need them. The snow was hard pact from the freeze that night.

Pretty soon, the trail started to get steeper and steeper. We took a water break and strapped on our crampons for better traction. Abol Trail got very steep once we left the trees. Peter instructed us to zigzag up the trail instead of going straight up. The hike got progressively tougher and more dangerous. The wind was getting stronger and we had more rocks to traverse around. The tricky part was not to get caught up in our own crampons, which had very sharp metal spikes sticking out that could catch very easily on our snow pants or the ground and cause a group member to fall. The summit was deceiving from our hike up Abol Trail. Once we reached what looked like the summit, we had another mile of a steady uphill hike to the real summit of Mt. Katahdin. This was where the wind was blowing people over. The power of the wind was strong enough so that you could lean right into it and have it hold you. We were all very exhausted from the steep grade hike and now had to push through the wind. We thought it would never come, but we finally made it to the summit at 10:30a.m.—a perfect time! What a view on top of Maine’s highest peak. Amanda surprised us with Snickers bars at the top, which was a real treat.

We started the hike back down at around 11 so that people would not lose their body heat. Peter made sure everyone got down safely. He instructed us while yelling at the top of his lungs over the wind to stay low so that the wind would not blow us over and to use the back of our heals to dig in. It was scary. Lindsey had a good quote while we were going down a really steep section with the wind howling, “Every time it gets really bad, it makes the bad parts look better.” And it was true. Step by step, we made it and the sun came out and the group relaxed more. The crampons felt more comfortable on our feet and the grade of the slope was getting less steep. It was a real challenge. We all pushed ourselves physically and mentally to the max and it was rewarding. It made me feel good. The experience was awesome. Our group had a blast together; we had some

scary moments, but had excellent support and made it safely. The only injuries we had were bad blisters and some really tight muscles. Sunday was a long day, because after hiking back to camp we had to pick up and walk back out the four mile access trail to the van with fully loaded hiking packs. We were exhausted. At some moments, I didn’t know why I had thought the trip would be fun, and others shared the same thought with me. But the group all made jokes through the good and bad, the rewards on this trip were worth it. The group was fun. The experience of the winds that you could lean into, the view from up top and getting to know everyone a little bit more was totally worth it. Also, finding out where your mental and physical limits are is a rewarding experience that OAPI makes possible. I can’t wait for the next big trip!

The group poses at the top of Mt. Katahdin

University Times CAMPUS April 8, 2010

A Cultural Experience Rachel Churchill STAFF WRITER

Robbie OʼConnell

On March 14th, Robbie O’Connell prefor med in UMPI’s Wieden Auditorium for the first time. An accomplished artist, O’Connell has produced numerous albums and perfor med at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden, along with several others. Born in Waterford, Ireland, O’Connell began playing guitar and singing at the age of 13. In 1977, O’Connell joined his uncles, The Clancy Brothers, and two years later he moved to

Fair shows Glass Half Full Thereʼs optimism despite slow economy

Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

The economy may be down, but that didn’t stop local merchants from showcasing their businesses for UMPI students Wednesday, March 17. Career services, led by Bonnie DeVaney, put on the annual Job and Career Fair. Some of the businesses featured included DFAS, IRS, Husson College, Maine Forest Service, Maine National Guard, TAMC, Citadel Broadcasting, UM Graduate school.

Many who came found the fair to be helpful in showcasing what Presque Isle had to offer. “It’s pretty interesting. It showed me the different types of businesses in Presque Isle that I didn’t know about,” Caitlin Ballard, a freshman from Milo, Maine, said Kristen Boxwell, a sophomore, found it again helpful for her the second time around. “I went to it last year and even if there were a few more businesses here last year, I still believe it’s helpful for anyone

looking for a job and just to learn about what’s out there.” Students could get applications for various businesses wishing to hire, get free pens from Husson University, as well as sign up for a drawing for a T-shirt from Citadel Broadcasting. DeVaney admitted it was a slow year, but she remained optimistic. “We’ve had a decrease in the number of participants, mainly because of the economy and the fact that there are no jobs available. But it’s still a great resource for students to come see. It also seems that people who participate do more than one job, so that frees up the need to hire someone.” Nevertheless, people wishing to find a job or who just have general questions about their career are welcomed to visit Bonnie DeVaney in 205 South Hall or to email her at barbara.devaney@umpi.edu.

Massachusetts. His first solo album, “Close to the Bone,” was released in 1982. Afterwards, he began touring with Jimmy Kean and Mick Moloney. Another of O’Connell’s albums, “Love of the Land,” was voted the number one acoustic album of 1989 by WUMB in Boston. “When my agent called and said he had a gig for me in Presque Isle, I took it. Part of the reason was that I had never performed here before,” O’Connell said as he autographed CDs in the lobby. O’Connell’s performance

included a combination of humorous songs and songs with a deeper meaning and connection to O’Connell’s heritage. With his own book, along with numerous albums, O’Connell enjoys sharing with others not only his love of music, but also his Irish background. With his music, every song has a story. His advice to other aspiring musicians? “Follow your passion,” O’Connell advised. But he said it best when he added, “I think you need to find your voice, and then pursue it. That’s really what’s important.”

UMPIʼs Rendezvous With Destiny Sarah Graettinger STAFF WRITER

If you wanted to experience the true spirit of Mardi Gras, you could go to Rio, New Orleans or- UMPI? If that last choice surprises you, you haven’t talked with some of the many who crowded the campus center on March 12 for the spring ball. This year’s theme was Mardi Gras: Rendezvous on Bourbon Street. One of the great things about the event was the dinner. The ARAMARK corporation helped put the meal together. The menu included roast beef, chicken, jambalaya, salad the list goes on, and on. There was also live entertainment, from an opera singer to dancers and jugglers. The show left many of the diners impressed. Jessica Mayne, a student at UMPI. “The opera singer was

a bit sensitive to my ears, but th e other entertainm e nt was awesome,” Mayne said. Then came the main event: the ball itself. Songs from all genres followed through the night. Many danced all evening, and had a lot of fun. “The dance was fun, crowded, packed, and people were having fun. The music was really good,” Mayne said. There were alcoholic beverages for those with IDs. Many people were happy to have that option. ARAMARK also offered lemonade, water, punch and dry hurricanes. Overall, the dance was a success. Most people seemed to have a good time. Thanks to all the people who put on the dance. We’re counting down for next year.

University Times CAMPUS April 8 2010

Steve Straight STAFF WRITER

WUPI 92.1 FM, as you may well know, is UMPI’s very own radio station. It’s a student organization overseen by Dr. Jacquelyn Lowman. What you may not know, however, is how it operates and what goes on behind the scenes. Station manager Ben Pinette’s duties include overseeing the DJs and handling everyday operations. Pinette hosts a show every week day from 12 to 1 p.m. that includes music from the 1980s. Pinette says, “I really like ‘80s music. It’s music that many of us were born under.” But he plays a variety to keep it interesting. Variety is important to the

Inspecting the Owl: WUPI 92.1 FM station. It two sports shows. Sam Clockedile hosts one on Mondays at 11 a.m., on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m, Ryan McPhereden and Adam Tilsley host the other. Tom Pinette hosts a music show on the station and plays mainly classic rock, sometimes right from his iPod to showcase his favorites. On Saturdays, Dan the DJ hosts a classic country show. The station boasts three studio microphones and is maintained by an engineer based out of Augusta who handles all UMaine system stations. When there aren’t any DJs

around, WUPI runs off an automated system. It formerly used iTunes but now employs the more professional program Sam Broadcaster, nicknamed, “Sam.” Pinette said, “Sam Broadcaster is a much higher

quality program, made exactly for radio.” Currently the station will do PSAs when there is time, live over the radio. It would like an audio recording program, so that it can record commercials to expand their capabilities. Because of the live nature of being on the air, the mics are equipped with the infamous cough button. It can be used to delay the signal up to 30 seconds, to block out any accidental foul language. The station is hooked into the

emergency broadcast system and it keeps an eye on the National Weather Service. WUPI will play local artists sometimes, if they have quality music. So any independent artists are welcome to give it copies to play. The station is now able to broadcast events on campus and will be broadcasting live for University Day on April 14. WUPI encourages people to come to its meetings, Thursdays at 12:30 in Normal 102. So check it out if you’d like to get involved. It also hopes to have streaming Internet radio soon, so that UMPI radio can reach a wider demographic of people. The station takes requests; just call 768-9711. So keep your dials tuned to 92.1 and enjoy the tunes!

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

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

Tuesdays 1-3p.m. We Salute You w/ “The Trooper”

Want to rock? Hear Trooper’s deep music playlist in action. Call him at 768-9711 for requests!

Mondays 11 a.m. - noon “Sports Talk with Sam Clockedile” Love sports talk? Sam will keep you informed of events during his time slot

Tuesdays 4-6:00p.m. “Adam & Ryan versus the World of Sports”

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

Saturdays 6:30-11:30a.m. Dan’s Country Show

Hear the most classic country and best variety!

Want to be a part of WUPI-92.1?

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

and find out how can have your own show!

SchedulebyTime

Winds of Change

SESSION from 9am!3pm

Culturefest 2010

The International Students Club will present the annual Culturefest; this year’s theme is “Winds of Change Around the Globe” Pullen 210 On Campus Bird Research: Wind Turbine Study Results (Pt.1) and Behavioral Dominance in Chickadees (Pt.2) FOLS 205

Session I

Becoming a Social Worker: Academic Preparation for Entry into the Profession FOLS 204

Session III Session II

Politics and Religion in Contemporary America: The Intersection of Church and State FOLS 203

Poster Session:

8:309:30am 9:4010:40am

Environmental Science Class Presentations FOLS 203

Immigration and Culture in New York City FOLS 204

The OverRepresentation of First Nation Students in Special Education FOLS 205

10:5011:50am

Poster Session:

Putting on a Medieval Faire FOLS 204

Propelling the Changes in Autism FOLS 205

Session IV

noon1:15pm

Session V

Winds of Change

University Day - April 14, 2010

Our First Year Seminar Experience FOLS 203

Applying Lifespan Theory to Native American Stages of Life FOLS 105

Student Opinions of UMPI’s Green Activities: A Class Survey FOLS 206 Student Research in Applied Mathematics – Preliminary Reports FOLS 206

LUNCH in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room - a Baked Potato Bar

and featuring the Recent Alumni Award, Honor Society Inductees, U-Day Logo Art Award, and “Pinwheel Project on Sustainability”

1:302:30pm

Professional Regulation of Social Work Practice in Canada FOLS 203

Helping Face the Challenges of Reentry – One Outfit at a Time FOLS 204

Silicoflagellates Recovered from Deep-Ocean Sediments FOLS 205

Student Poetry Reading PULLEN ART GALLERY FOYER

2:453:45pm

It’s a Small World: Molecular Biology Research FOLS 203

Why Your Brain is Like a Shrimp Brain: Glowing Neurons and Fatty Cells FOLS 204

Identity, Perception, and Leadership: Theory, Practice and the Role of the Writing Tutor FOLS 205

Sensory Integration in Education FOLS 206

3:305:00pm

Antigone by Sophocles: A Dramatic Presentation. WIEDEN AUD.

! University Day presentations are all free and open to the public.

ALL DAY SESSION 9am!3pm

Student Clubs & Organizations

Student clubs and organizations have displays in the hallways of Folsom and Pullen Halls

Erasmus and Student Mobility in the European Union PULL 216

Giving Back: Using Communication to Change the World PULL 212

Canoeing Maine’s Legendary Allagash Wilderness Waterway PULL 216

Criminal Justice Club Trip to New York City PULL 212

If you hav e a question University Day committee members are wearing BRIGHT YELLOW T-SHIRTS They should have an answer, or direct you to someone who does

Poster Session: Scope: Not Just a Mouthwash PULL 213

The Darwin Project ! a special presentation on sustainability and sustainable planning & development - 1!2:30pm, Room 118 in the Campus Center Diseases that Changed History and Those who Changed the Course of Disease FOLS 105

How Policy is Made in the European Union: The Governing Institutions of the World’s Largest Economic Entity PULL 212

Inclusive Excellence: Getting the Most Bang for the Buck PULL 214

Marine Geology class presentations PULL 216

You Can Learn from a Cemetery PULL 212

Phi Eta Sigma – National Honor Society Inductions PULL 214

PHOTO: The Boston Globe

Fiscal Responsibility for Backcountry Evacuations PULL 212

“The Soul in Prison”: Change and Co-modification of Public Discourse PULL 216

7pm

Keynote Speaker

Frank Schaeffer Campus Center

Topic: “Social Action & Religion: ‘Hopeful Uncertainty’ in a Fundamentalist World”

! Did you pick up a Bingo Card? Anyone may win prizes when you play Bingo! !

University of Maine at PRESQUE ISLE

North of Ordinary

Propelling Progress & Sustainability

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Community Bronze, Silver and Gold: Junior Olympiansʼ Stories Unfold Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

The medals and trophies seemed to gleam. Music blared from the speakers. Energy filled the air. Although it must have been a tiring week, the Junior Olympians were filled with excitement. It was time to celebrate their achievements. Families, friends and supporters gathered at Northern Maine Community College on March 13 for the Junior Olympics closing ceremonies. Tables lined the room and Maine-themed decorations adorned these tables and the walls. Slide shows projected photographs of both the Junior Olympics events and northern Maine. The crowd was served supper by ARAMARK, which catered about 800 dinners. As supper finished around 7 p.m., the awards ceremony began. Erin Buck performed the national anthem, followed by Brian Mosher, who sang the inspiring Junior Olympics theme song he wrote, “Shining Star.” Then, NMCC President Tim Crowley took the time to thank the Junior Olympians. “The athletes that are here today have inspired children in this region,” Crowley said. The closing ceremonies were sponsored by Katahdin Trust Company. Spokesperson Vicki Smith congratulated the Olympians. “Over the past few days, we have seen the faces of victory,” Smith said. Smith also made a point to wish the athletes well. “It’s our collective hope that you’ve enjoyed your time with us,” Smith said. Afterwards, event director Tim Doak recognized the individuals and volunteers who had made the Junior Olympics pos-

Mandy Pfeifer at closing ceremonies sible. He said that more than 400 people had donated their time to the Junior Olympics. A part of the closing ceremonies was a presentation by Holly Brooks, who has coached Team Alaska. Brooks is a U.S. Olympian who competed in the recent Winter Olympics. She recognized the athletes for their outstanding work and gave them advice for their future. Brooks urged them to consider coaching, which would help them to develop a better appreciation for and understanding of their sport. “Don’t limit your imagination or your goals,” Brooks said. Prior to the medal ceremony, Chloe Wheeler from Presque Isle sang for the Junior Olympians. She performed “Thank God I’m a Country Girl,” a twist on the classic “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver. The crowd quieted, though, once the medals began to be awarded. The athletes were called onto the stage, amid

many hugs and handshakes. Olympians smiled as bronze, silver and gold medallions were placed around their necks. Their fellow teammates in the audience supported them with cheers and applause. Top teams and athletes earned recognition from the different divisions. One major award presented during the ceremony was The Alaska Cup. The division that has collectively achieved the greatest number of points in the Junior Olympics competition gets this cup. The Intermountain region got third place. Team Alaska got sec-

ond. Team New England won The Alaska Cup with its first place finish. As the closing ceremonies ended, the J u n i o r Olympians prepared for a dance that they were to have following the event. Despite the concern that there wouldn’t be enough snow for the Junior Olympics, the week had been a success. Junior Olympians E l e a n o r Magnuson from Minnesota and Corrine Malcolm from Wisconsin agreed that the weather was pleasant. Both sophomore undergraduate students from Team Midwest, they received awards for their place-

ments in the competition. “It’s been wonderful skiing,” Malcolm said. Magnuson also enjoyed getting to see her friends on the team. “It’s so nice having everyone from our region,” Magnuson said. Maddy Pfeifer from New Hampshire also enjoyed the Junior Olympics event and visiting the Presque Isle area. A sophomore high school student, Pfeifer also received a few awards for her efforts on Team New England. “It’s just been so much fun,” Pfeifer said. The Junior Olympics closing ceremonies was a beautiful event to end such an exciting week. As the Junior Olympians walked away with their medals and trophies, you could detect a sense of pride and enthusiasm. It was an honor to have hosted such a grand event in northern Maine.

Corrine Malcolm & Eleanor Magnuson enjoying the closing ceremonies

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Building Hope and Houses

Angel Hammond STAFF WRITER

Habitat for Humanity is a nationwide program aimed at helping reduce homelessness and poverty by working with the community to build affordable housing for those in need. The program incorporates the families in need into the build-

the name of the rescue team that arrived and the number of people who were found living, injured or dead inside the homes. It was shocking.” Ali Carey a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, was also amazed that there was still so much left to be done.

House in progress. ing of their homes with the help of communities and volunteers. Habitat also teaches families how to manage their finances and how to maintain their new homes. On Monday, March 15, a coach bus pulled into the parking lot of the local Motel 6 and was greeted by 49 students set to embark on their week in Bay Saint Louis, Miss.: an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Bay Saint Louis is a small town on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, located an hour outside of New Orleans. Along the way to Bay Saint Louis, the group had a tour of New Orleans. “Many houses that lined the roads as we got there were seriously damaged. Some still were missing walls and roofs,” Moe Paquette, a junior at Burlington High School, said.“ It only got worse as we entered the city” he continued. “It was devastating to see the homes in the Ninth Ward. On the front of the houses that were evacuated there were circles that had

“There were vacant lots everywhere and I can’t imagine what it would have been like to evacuate and come back to find that you no longer had a home,” Carey said. According to the tour guide, even though some people’s homes were still standing, they could not return because the government required that they provide proof of home

ownership, which many families in the lower income areas of New Orleans did not have. “There were water lines along the top of the houses, which showed how high the water rose. I can’t even imagine that an entire house was completely submerged by water,” Tina Gibbo said. She and her husband organize and lead the habitat trips every year. The situation was no different in Bay Saint Louis. There were still empty lots where homes once stood. Next to these lots, however, there were small, new homes. These were the homes that Habitat for Humanity had built at some point over the past five years. “It was exciting to see the progress that volunteers from the community and abroad had made,” Hayley Inkpen, the group’s secretary, said. “So far, over 115 homes have been built by Habitat in this area, and we were excited to add to this number.” For the first two days, the students worked on a home that was partially completed the previous week by students from two other universities. After the students were given instructions from the construction site supervisors, they set off to go hammer that first nail, cut the molding, paint the interior, build the shutters,

Construction of homes for Habitat for Humanity.

install the sub-flooring and build a fence around the house. Part of the group also worked to refurbish the Habitat for Humanity warehouse nearby. “By the end of the day, you could really see the progress that we had made,” Matt Bordan, another team member, said. “In two days, we finished both the house and the warehouse.” On Wednesday, Day 3 of building, the group started a new home. “When we arrived at the

completed home next door for the remainder of the week. They built the frames for the walls and roof, attached the particle board, constructed and attached the gables and built a shed at the back of the h o u s e . “We got a lot done in only five days because everyone worked extremely hard,” Laura Fiend said. “It was an incredible experience. Many of us didn’t know each other before the trip, so it was great to meet other students. I know

Wall going up. site, all there was, was a large slab of concrete,” Carey said. “And by the end of the day, we had framed the entire house.” Many of the members agree that one of the most rewarding parts of the building was raising the four major walls of the house. “Picture 49 students and a few other volunteers lifting and stabilizing each wall.” The students worked on this home and a half-

that a lot of people will stay in touch with the friends that they made on this trip.” Many of the students said that the most unique and fulfilling part of the experience was working alongside those whom they were building the houses for. On many of the builds, the new homeowners help build their homes and are awed by the generosity of strangers. Habitat for Humanity operates all over the world. Throughout the year it is flooded with groups of people looking to help out. Many students wholeheartedly sacrifice the draw of beaches, sand and loud music to put in effort, hard work and time to help those who need it.

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Stephanie Corriveau STAFF WRITER

You come across a can of mystery meat. No, it’s not Spam. But the meat has been cut up beyond recognition. You have no idea where the meat is from and how it was obtained. So, how can you determine exactly what the can’s contents are? This can be accomplished through the use of genetic analysis. At 3 p.m. on March 19, Bronwyn Williams spoke about how important this analysis can be in the field of wildlife forensics. Williams, who is completing her Ph.D. at the University of Alberta, titled her presentation “A Question of Legality: Application of Genetic Forensics in Wildlife Enforcement.” She explained that while working on her master’s, she spent time in a molecular biology lab creating DNA databases. These databases could then be used to compare and identify organisms and samples. “I got to run a lot of the

Working With Bits and Pieces

forensic cases that came into our labs,” Williams said. Williams shared that there aren’t many existing labs that are dedicated to wildlife forensics. Why is this type of forensics so important, though? Today, many laws such as the Endangered Species Act have been passed to protect a variety of organisms. But these organisms are still killed through illegal methods such as poaching. To enforce the laws, scientists may test pieces of meat or other animal samples that they suspect were taken illegally. During the presentation, Williams highlighted three questions that wildlife forensic scientists will ask themselves. The first is: What is it? Researchers will use DNA to determine what type of organism they are working

with. The second question is: Where is it from? This is important in determining if the organism was living in its natural environment or if it had been relocated. The final question that scientists will ask is: Who is it? Sometimes an organism’s DNA samples that are found at a site can be used

to locate the same organism that it belongs to. Williams gave several examples throughout her presentation that demonstrated how these questions could be

applied. Some of the stories related to unlawful meat sales. For instance, in the southeastern U.S., turtle meat is often sold for consumption. It’s illegal to sell marine turtle meat, but the meat is often marketed as freshwater turtle. In these cases, researchers would take DNA samples to determine if turtle meat was being sold and what type of turtle the meat’s from. Interestingly, some of the meat was actually alligator. This turned out to be a common theme in the examples that Williams gave. The labels didn’t match what the consumer was actually buying. “Be skeptical about the products that you purchase,” Williams said.

In the last part of her presentation, Williams spoke about her own research with crayfish. She said these organisms were “invasive” and were rapidly spreading through bodies of water in Alberta. Williams has used DNA techniques to determine where these crayfish may have come from. Williams emphasized how destructive these organisms are. “They’re all showing very quickly the damage they can do,” Williams said. Wildlife forensics has proven that it can be useful in enforcing laws. Williams mentioned, though, that DNA tests are only part of what solves these issues. “Genetics isn’t the only evidence that goes into this,” Williams said. Researchers will also look at other factors, such as an organism’s physical characteristics and traits. But forensics is still a crucial tool for identification. Scientists who work in wildlife forensics put together the bits and pieces, so to speak, to help close the case.

Love music? Love to talk?

WUPI 92.1 wants you!

We’re looking for dedicated individuals to further broaden our program format. We’ll take you in with a broad range of formats!

Just a FEW of the formats you could play:

-Rock (including modern/classic/indie) -Pop -Country -Country -Classical

- Jazz -Dance -Sports -News/Talk -International

Come to our meetings, Thursdays 12:30 p.m., in Normal 102, to get started. It’s that easy!!

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Alicia Fournier

The Heroes of Logging: Difficult and Dangerous Work

STAFF WRITER

Straight from the wilderness comes a great natural resource that is used by everyone, including you. For anything from building supplies to paper products, we use wood every day. Because wood is such a big part of our lives, it can be easy to take it for granted. But the people who bring us this resource actually have a very difficult and dangerous job. Logging is a very big part of the northern Maine economy. There are nearly 400 logging companies in the state of Maine alone, most of them located in the north. Many people recognize that loggers have to go out in the woods, cut down trees, de-limb them, stack them, load them on an 18 wheeler and haul them to the mills where they are processed and turned out to the public. What they don’t know is the extent of dangers that are involved with this operation and what these companies go through in order to get the wood to you. The first consideration is the financial stability of the company. The company needs to be

American Logging Crew, Gerald Pelletier, Inc. making more money than it’s spending, which is easier said than done. Between repairs and fuel for operating the large machines and labor costs for all the workers’ time put in, it can be very costly. Also, the market depends on the economy. Right now the housing economy is down and not a whole lot of

wood is needed. This means that the mills will only accept small amounts, which cuts back on the supply that’s needed from the logging companies. When there’s no need for wood, there’s no need for workers. This puts a lot of stress on a company to cut back on workers or equipment – or

both. With any company, there are going to be setbacks and rough times. For loggers, this time of year is usually spring. When the ground is thawing out, the roads turn into mud runs, which cause problems for the moving of equipment. The truck drivers get stuck and have to have the bulldozer or the skidder come pull them out. (Those machines maneuver through the mud more easily because they have tracks instead of tires.) This causes a loss of time that could be used for transporting the harvest and also is very dangerous to the workers. Many times when large pieces of equipment get sucked into a rut or deep mud hole, they’ll roll over, causing

damage to the machinery and, unfortunately, sometimes to the operators. Another dangerous aspect of this job is dealing with the timber. Loggers’ entire work day entails much danger when working with large trees and extremely heavy machinery. They have dealt with trees falling on them, wood catching on fire while still loaded in the trucks, blown tires, rollovers, breakdowns and, worst of all, the weather. One of the brothers of Gerald Pelletier, Inc., Danny Pelletier, said, “Here in the state of Maine, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a couple of seconds.” Carlton Haggan, a worker for Cousineaus, Inc. for more than 25 years, said, “Mother Nature is a danger in itself, completely unforgiving. The bugs in the summer along with the stifling heat can lead to heat stroke, dehydration and distraction. In the winter, freezing temperatures and icy footing. Loggers must be alert and aware of their surroundings at all times. A good plan and safe practices are the only two things that will keep a logger out of harm’s way.” Loggers also must be cautious of blowing a tire. With extreme heat and a heavy load, pressure has built up inside tires and they could explode at any second just as a bomb would expand and eventually blow. Lester Dube, an experienced machine operator, said, “Working in the woods, it’s not that hard, but you’ve got to be careful what you do all the time. You don’t realize how dangerous it is until things happen. Something that you’ve always got to think about when you’re out there and you’re working: you’ve got to think about safety. You’ve always got to look around you, because you never know what’s going to happen.” The job is simply unpredictable.

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Washburn

A Day in the Life of a Yearbook Photographer Courtney Turner CONTRIBUTOR

Easter Beaver by Lindsey Blackstone

NHS State Convention Amber Reed STAFF WRITER

On March 11th and 12, the Washburn District High School National Honor Society chapter attended the state convention in Orono. This year’s convention was not as successful as last year’s. Our adviser had to undergo emergency surgery. Special thanks goes to Mr. Ben Goodwin for stepping up and taking her spot so that the new members could get the chance to experience the convention. The convention started on Thursday, March 11 with a banquet and guest speaker at Jeff ’s Catering in Brewer. The guest speaker was Steve Coleman. He told his life story about living life with extremely hard struggles. He went from having perfect eyesight to being legally blind in a matter of months, but continued to do his schooling and earn his degree in kinesiology. He’s currently an assistant PE

teacher. He was very inspiring and caught the attention of every member there. He had a great heart, and we learned a very valuable lesson that day. Friday was well organized, but the speakers weren’t as powerful as last year. They had representatives from different colleges and a woman who talked about housing homeless people in Maine. She explained there was a need for more facilities to care for all the homeless people. None of us realized how many people need help in our state until March 12. We all had a good time, and it was a very good learning experience. We are on our way to making a difference, and with everyone helping, we’ll achieve it. When you want to achieve something, don’t let anything get in your way of accomplishing that. Those are two simple things that we learned while at the conference.

When I was asked to be a yearbook photographer, I thought, “This is going to be a blast! This is going to be so much fun! I get to snap photos of people all the time.” Well, to put it lightly…I was wrong. This year has been the most hectic of my academic career to date. I thought taking pictures would be an easy task. All people like getting their pictures taken, right? Wrong! I was completely amazed at just how hard being the yearbook photographer was! Many people actually hide their faces when I approach. I

Adam Wilcox

know these people, I’ve attended school with them most of my life…and trust me, they’re far from shy. But when a camera appears, they disappear! I really didn’t comprehend the number

GOODNESS! No more hearing, “Deadlines are coming. Get the pictures to me.” No more fighting with students to snap a candid for the random spaces in our yearbook. No more creating CDs, assignment lists or standing in cold weather to snap a picture. Finally I’ll be able to sit back and return to my nor mal photography life, taking picture when I want to, not when I’m told. Finally my brain will stop think-

of times my finger would click the magic button throughout the year. Now, two completely full SD cards later, my time as this year’s photographer is coming to a close. THANK

ing…DEADLINE, DEADLINE, DEADLINE! At least after baseball and softball season, oh, and Junior Exhibition. Wait, August Fest is coming up…it never ends!

Imagination Is the Name of the Game

CONTRIBUTOR

D e s t i n a t i o n Imagination is an elementary through high school club that tests imagination and cooperation skills. Teams must create a skit and use it to fit the story line that the state provides. In addition to the skit, teams also get an instant challenge that tests teamwork to complete the task in a set amount of time. Teams have no clue what the instant challenge will be when they attend the competition. The first competition Washbur n District

High School attended earlier this year was regional, where the two Washbur n teams took first place in their divisions. This means that they are eligible to compete at the state level. At the state level, there are more teams to beat. Winning states however means the chance to go to Tennessee and compete at the global finals, teams would perform in front of a huge crowd. To get to Tennessee, the fundraising is intense because each student would need $1,00. So keep your fingers crossed and wish luck to the Washburn DI

teams when they compete for the state title April 10. Go BEAVERS!

University Times COMMUNITY April 8, 2010

Student of the Month Sydney Beckwith

April Flagg

CONTRIBUTOR

Washburn District High School’s March student of the Month is Sydney Beckwith. Sydney is a senior at WDHS and an exceptional student with high expectations for herself. While not involved in a number amount of sports, Sydney loves volleyball and

played a key role in helping Washburn win the girls tournament held in Mach. Although shy, Sydney is a compassionate young lady who has really shone over the last few months in the school. She always has a smile on her face, a pleasant greeting and a hug for any peer who needs it. In addition to her extracurric-

ular and academic activities, Sydney also volunteers her time as a teacher’s aide on a weekly basis. Sydney will graduate in June and plans to attend the University of Maine at Orono with a major in psychology. Washburn District High School would like to congratulate Sydney!

Softball in the Snow Mari Cheviot CONTRIBUTOR

As the snow melts, new life and opportunity stirs. Soon the grass will grow green and the sun will shine bright long into the afternoon. It’ll be softball season once again, and the Lady Beavers are more than ready. Despite the small student population of Washburn High, girls are determined to pull together a promising team. When you are passionate about something, you don’t just give in. The problem of undersized teams has occurred during more than one sport season this year. Unfortunately, the softball

Justin Howe CONTRIBUTOR

season will be no different. Conflicting schedules and injury are common issues many individuals from a variety of schools face. In Washburn, every player counts. That’s one

of the things that makes Washburn’s athletic department

so magnificent. Every player really is needed, appreciated and cared for. Our softball team is struggling with finding enough players, but we’re finding them. Coach Tatlock has done a fine job of making sure of that. Slowly but surely, we’re drawing a variety of teammates from among our peers. Our practices have just started, and our team is still being built, but nevertheless, we’re remaining optimistic. With hard work and teamwork, the Lady Beavers can look forward to a winning season! GO BEAVERS!

baseball field is nearly cleared off. Our field has a new chain link fence, and we have some nice red clay that we will be ready to put down once the field is completely dried off. Mr. Goodwin, our math teacher and soccer and baseball coach, is very excited about this upcoming baseball season. He’s glad to see the number of people interested in playing this year. In previous years, our baseball team had to struggle to get the number of

people required to play. Although the numbers have been low, our school’s team has improved dramatically since Mr. Goodwin began his coaching career three seasons ago. The baseball team is hoping for a good season with a lot of energy, because there are many freshmen playing this year and a group of returning upperclassmen. The goal this year is to at least make it to the playoffs, a coaching first for Coach Goodwin.

Baseball Begins in Washburn

Baseball practice for pitchers and catchers in underway at Washburn District High School. There are currently nine pitchers and catchers practicing. A handful more will begin to practice in a month’s time when the entire team is allowed daily practices. Washburn currently has 15 players and is approximately one month before the first game. With the little snow Maine received this year, the

Drip, Prick, Cut: The Dangers Lurking in Blood Alyson Robitaille STAFF WRITER

Imagine yourself walking through a hospital and all of a sudden you spot a used needle on the ground. What would you do? Some might say, “Well, that’s an easy question. I would just pick it up and throw it away. Wrong. That needle could change your life forever. As a matter of fact, that needle could kill you. In the end, if you come across that situation, you should immediately tell one of the health care workers. Believe it or not, picking up a used needle off the ground in any scene or scenario could permanently change your life. That needle has been stuck into someone’s skin, which means there is blood on it, just like blood from a cut. You should never make contact with someone else’s blood, even if the person is part of your family or your best friend. Why not? You never know what kind of pathogens (germs) the blood could be infected with. There are various types of blood borne pathogens, some of which people know well and others that many people have never heard of. Lilly Lobor, a student at UMPI, knew a few of the major diseases caused by blood borne pathogens, but admitted she didn’t have a full knowledge of all of them. Many people know AIDS and HIV. What about hepatitis B and C and viral hemorrhagic Fever? When asked what diseases come from blood borne pathogens, Ashley Ruest, a student living in the dorms, said, “I don’t know what they’re called, I just know not to touch someone else’s blood.” Does that mean we should have more awareness of blood borne pathogens at

UMPI or as a country overall? Recently in the residence halls there have been problems with blood drips and stains in places that people use a lot. The RAs job is to report it to physical plant. The custodians job is to use the right precautions to clean it up. The student’s job? Don’t touch it. Just report it and don’t make it a scene for attention. The more people there are on the scene, the more risk of someone touching it there is. HIV is human immunodeficiency virus. It is spread through blood, but other ways as well. When people suffer from HIV, their immune system is attacked and they become susceptible to more viruses. AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It occurs when the process of HIV worsens. There is no cure for either of these diseases. Hepatitis B and C are both inflammation of the liver, but each has different symptoms and side effects. Viral hemorrhagic fever is most commonly known by a fever and bleeding disorders and in some cases death. When you come across a used needle, find blood droppings or a rag that was used to clean up blood, you must avoid touching it. You need to report it so that someone trained can use the right infection control methods to disinfect and clean up the blood or needle in a professional way. Remember, that needle, drop of blood, or even a used Band-Aid could change your life forever.

University Times

20 Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Each and every year since 1967, the Junior Olympics gather many athletes, family members and community members in a way that binds them all together. It’s kind of like the greatness of peanut butter and jelly: once together, they make an inseparable bond. This year, the Junior Olympians travelled here to Presque Isle to compete. Run by the Amateur Athletic Union, Junior Olympics are open only to U.S. citizens and have given young athletes a chance to perform on a national stage, against the best competitors in the country. There are 10 regional teams that the athletes are members: New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts); Middle Atlantic ( New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia); Alaska; Rocky Mountain (Colorado); Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington and northern Idaho); Intermountain (southern Idaho, Montana, Utah and Jackson Hole, Wyoming); High Plains (Wyoming-except Jackson Hole— and South Dakota); Great Lakes ( Michigan, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Kentucky); Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota); Far West (Arizona, California, Nevada and Hawaii). The athletes first have to qualify to even be considered for the Junior Olympics. The first step would be to ski in three out of the four qualifiers held around the country. The athletes must have a qualifying time in at least one skate and one classic race. The second step states that there must be 21 men and 21 women per division (not including auto-

SportS

The Olympics: Junior Style

matic qualifiers). The higher they’re ranked, the more likely they’ll be chosen for the team. There are three divisions: J2 (ages 14 and 15); J1 (16 and 17); and OJ (18 and 19). To make everything simpler, the athletes need to concentrate on skiing fast in a total of three races in order to be high on the ranking list. Monday, March 8, was a 1.2 km sprint. The athletes

second, and Hans Halvorsen, third. The J1 women’s division top three were: Isabelle Caldwell, first, Annie Liotta, second, and Gage Fitcher, third. The OJ division’s men top three were: Alex Schulz, first, Skylar Davis, second, and Chase Marston, third. The women’s OJ finals were: Kaitlynn Miller, first, Rebecca Konieczny, second and

lined up at the starting line, and when the sound of the gunshot rang in the air, they took off in a hurry, using both of their poles at the same time, thrusting their bodies forward. The three divisions gave it their all throughout the day. The top three finalists for the J1women’s division were: Corey Stock, who came in first, Heather Mooney, who came in second and Madalyn Pfeifer, who was third. The top three finalists for the J1 men’s division were: Cole Morgan, frist, Eli Hoenig, second, and Haakon Sigurslid, third. The winners of the J2 division for the men were: David Sinclair, first, Jackson Rich,

Corrine Malcolm, third. Tim Doak, the event director, took some time to talk about where the teams were from, who participated and how they had to qualify. He also talked about the weather conditions that Presque Isle has been having recently. “There is enough snow. It is also spectator friendly,“ Doak said. Doak also talked about the different divisions and talked about the New England team last year’s winners. He also claimed that the team to watch out for would be team Alaska. Wednesday, March 10, was another beautiful day. The sun was shining and not a chill in the air. People were worried

about the weather, due to the warmth from Mother Nature recently. They were worried that the sun would start to melt the snow and make the course slushy. Danny Sundali, from Sun Valley, Idaho (outskirts of the Rockies), talked about the weather while having lunch. “This morning it was fine. We’ll see how this afternoon goes,” Sundali said, while taking a bite of his chicken salad sandwich. Sundali also talked about how he liked it up here in Maine and that the elevation and course types were mainly the same as in Idaho. Wednesday brought on a different type of course. The J2s would do a 5 km classic sprint, the J1s did a 10 km classic sprint and the OJs did a 15 km classic sprint. Throughout the day, when the sun was shining, people were still worried about the course. It worked with them though. The course ended up being fine and not slushy at all. The top three J2 men’s division leaders were: Cole Morgan, John Hegman and Matthew Nichols. The J2 women’s division leaders included an almost similar line-up as on Monday; still with Corey Stock in first place and Heather Mooney in second, but Marion Woods took third place. J1’s 10 km women’s finalists were: Annie Pokorny, Annie Hart and Isabelle Caldwell. J1’s men’s finalists

April 8, 2010

included: Scott Patterson, David Sinclair and Silas The OJ 15 km Talbot. women’s finals consisted of Kaitlynn Miller in first place, Liza Goodman in second place and Rebecca Konieczny in third place. While on break, team Alaska took some time to talk about living in Alaska and how it was different from M a i n e . The weather conditions are really different. “There is no such thing as too cold to ski. We would ski in -30 degrees Fahrenheit,” Neil Liotta, member of the team, said. The team also talked about the lack of sun in Alaska. They wake up to darkness, go to school and when they come home, and guess what? It’s still dark. They all agreed that it was really difficult to train in the dark all the time. Austin Hess and Jack Parke talked about how the weather up here has been really nice. “It is super warm up here,” they said simultaneously. After talking about Sarah Palin and saying how Alaskans were “not all like her” the team then concluded with, “we don’t live in igloos, either.” Throughout the week, UMPI students also volunteered at the Junior Olympics. Some volunteer members included Kristen Boxwell, Paul Rucci, Craig Moody, Leah Finnemore, Hannah Shepard, Chandra Wineski, Katie Christofel, Peter Desmond and Aaron Schmersal. The Junior Olympics were a success. People came out supported each and every team that competed this year. It was a fun-filled week for both the community and athletes. For now, the athletes have packed up their gear. Until next season.

University Times SPORTS April 8, 2010

Fans on Ice

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Pitching for Pennies

Rene Steele

STAFF WRITER

On March 16, several young baseball players from around Aroostook County participated in one of the baseball clinics the UMPI Owls offer throughout the season. Coach Leo Saucier and team coordinate different types of clinics in order to raise money for their travel needs. This particular clinic was focused on pitching. As the young players anxiously waited in Wieden gymnasium, a few different Owl players stopped by to get the kids excited as-if they weren’t already. Several young Owls fans asked coach Saucier, Where’s DJ? Is DJ coming tonight? With a smile, coach reassured them that DJ, an apparent fan favorite, would be by at some point during the clinic. Their faces lit up with excitement. While the Owls aren’t a pro team, you could tell the young players looked up to the Owls as if they were. Coach opened with a quick welcome to all of the kids and few parents who decided to stick around. “I’m glad to see you didn’t bring your bats,” Saucier said

as the obvious focus of the clinic had no need for bats. “I’m here to teach you the proper mechanics of pitching, and also give you some feedback on your throw,” Saucier said. Saucier explained to them that in addition to the stretching and drills they’d learn, they would also be videotaped two different times that night to help them evaluate their pitching style. The first taping would be at the beginning of the clinic, before they received any pitching instruction or direction. The second would be at the end of the clinic to see how they had improved. Later in the week the players would receive a personalized video of both their video clips to refer back to when they need some pitching tips. “Your coach can tell you what you’re doing wrong with your pitching all day, but until you see yourself making the mistakes, there is no way you’ll be able to fix it” coach said. After a final overview of what the night had in store, you could feel the excitement from the young 10-to 16-year-

old players as coach got everyone lined up for some warm-up drills. As they began warming up with silly moves and interesting positions, Saucier told them, “You may think this looks funny, but even the pros do these drills.” It was great to see the kids not only learning and being critiqued on their pitching, but also learning different ways to take care of their muscles and bodies for the sport. The night continued on with more stretching, filming and drills. After all of the hands-on and one-on-one attention these young players received, it was clear that the clinic fee of $10 was money well spent. The UMPI Owls will be hosting more clinics as the season goes on to raise money for their travels. Keep in mind that there are now batting cages available for rent at Gentile, money also helping with upcoming team travel. Please contact Coach Saucier for more information by calling (207) 768-9421 or by emailing him at leo.saucier@umpi.edu.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be out on the ice with a skating star? Well, in the chilly arena at the Forum, our local skating stars, the UMPI hockey team, had a fan appreciation night. Students got the chance to play some games and just skate around with the team. It was a dream come true for some, who worshipped the hockey team during the season. The first and only game was called “puck chuck,“ and it technically explains itself. Students took turns chucking the puck to see who could get it closest to the center. Many people got a few good kicks out of it. But they were interrupted by a few people who wanted to race across the rink, which led to the end of the games. J.D. Haddad, Josh Stahl and Chris Moore raced acrossed the rink. You could hear the glistening sound of the ice as the skaters flew down the ice. It was a close call, but Chris Moore took the win. Gordie Scannell also wanted to get in on the action and asked Haddad for a duel. Again, Haddad just couldn’t rack up enough speed. Scannell won the race. The team had a hockey net set up at one end of the rink, and various people took turns taking a shot at the net. Most people skated around and had fun on

the ice, while taking pictures. As the evening wound down, the team and the fans made their way inside to the lobby to eat some pizza from Big Cheese. There were also fruit and vegetable trays available that people could snack on. UMPI hockey fan Brian Shay said, “I thought it was a great event. Students and high caliber hockey players together on the same ice; it was fun.” After a full belly, fans started to depart and say goodbye to their friends and the team. Josh MacKinnon, number 20 on the team, said, “It was a very successful night. The fans deserve each and every bit of it. It’s nice to give back-it’s what we’re about.” Goaltender Paul Rucci talked about the season he and the team had. “It was nice building a strong team and good friendships,” Rucci said. When asked if he would be back in the goal next year, he replied instantly, “Absolutely! It will be my third season. I want to win before I leave and so far this is the closest we’ve come.” Well, if the team played like they did at the beginning of the season, they’ll have no problem achieving anything! They can definitely go for the win next season. And the team can agree that they’re all looking forward to it.

L-R: Josh MacKinnon, Chad Parker, Paul Rucci, Chris Moore and Chad Phillips

Lifestyle

April 8, 2010

April and Space: A Dangerous Place Jim Stepp

CONTRIBUTOR

More than 800 people have traveled into space. Almost all of them made it back: but there are exceptations. The first person to die in space was a Soviet cosmonaut named Colonel Vladimar Komarov, an Air Force pilot. On April 24, 1967, Soyuz 1 began its reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere after completing 17 orbits during its 26 hour 40 minute flight. Everything was going as planned until the spaceship was at about 23,000 feet (7,015 m). At this altitude, the Soyuz 1 parachute lines became tangled and the parachute twisted and deflated. The capsule hit the ground at 200 mph (320 km/h) and burst into flames. Komarov died instantly. Many other men and women have died in space- related disasters. Some of the missions that resulted in deaths were: US – Apollo 1 (Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, Roger B. Chaffee); USSR – Soyuz 1 (Vladimir M. Komarov); USSR - Soyuz 11 (Georgi T. Dobrovolsky, Viktor I. Patsayev, Vladislav N. Volkov); US Challenger STS-51L (Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, S. Christa McAuliffe); and US Columbia STS-107 (Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M.

Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel B. Clark, Ilan Ramon). But not all disasters ended badly. On April 12, 1970, an electrical short caused an explosion in an oxygen tank on Apollo 13. The explosion resulted in a complete loss of two oxygen tanks and electrical power. After circling the moon, Apollo 13 started its trip

astronauts did make it home. When we think of Apollo 13, we often think of the line “Houston, we have a problem.” This appears however to be a misquote. A study of the audio of the incident shows that James Lovell said, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Chalk this up to your useless trivia of the day.

sky. After April 28, the ISS will be in the evening 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.

sunset 19:13 Mercury

19:42 – 21:00

Venus 19:12 – 21:06 Mars

19:42 – 03:30

Jupiter 05:00 – 05:42 Saturn 19:42 – 05:24 THE NIGHT SKIES OVER AROOSTOOK COUNTY All times are listed in Eastern Time. Please add 1 hour for Atlantic Time.

back to the Earth. Because the electricity was reduced, the ship’s guidance computer had to be shut off. The astronauts had to guide the capsule back to Earth manually. Despite all of the difficulties, Apollo 13 made it back safely to the Earth. In many ways, Apollo 13 was the most successful – unsuccessful flight ever in the history of NASA. In other words, although Apollo 13 did not make it to the Moon, the

If you’re interested in finding out more about the brave individuals who paid the ultimate price for space exploration, please go to: http://www.aerospaceweb.org /question/history/q0114.shtml or http://members.shaw.ca/kcic1 /disasters.html. THE NIGHT SKY From April 7 through April 28, the ISS is visible in the morning

To get a free sky chart, go to www.skymaps.com. * All of the times and dates below are calculated by http://calsky.com. You must do the free registration in order to get accurate times. Sun and Planet Rising and Setting For April 10, 2010 sunrise 05:54

Date/Time Event 04/03 02:01 – 03:19 Moon eclipses Alniyat. 04/04@04:25 Mercury close to Venus. 04/05@06:21 Space Shuttle Discovery scheduled to launch. 04/06@05:30 Mercury at dichotomy/half phase. 04/06@05:36 Last Quarter Moon 04/08@19:30 Mercury at greatest eastern elongation – visible after sunset. 04/08@22:48 Moon at apogee – farthest from Earth. 04/10@04:26 Moon eclipses Ancha. 04/10@05:04 ISS close to Altair. 04/11@05:30 Moon close to Jupiter. 04/14@08:28 New Moon 04/15@19:42 Moon close to Mercury. 04/15@20:48 Moon close to Venus. 04/21@14:19 Last Quarter Moon 04/24@17:08 Moon at perigee – closest to the Earth. 04/25@05:48 Moon close to the Pleiades Star Cluster. 04/25@20:06 Moon close to Saturn. 04/28@08:18 Full Moon 08/28@12:42 Moon in inferior conjunction with the sun. 04/28@20:50 ISS close to Spica. 04/30@21:39 ISS close to Vega.”

University Times LIFESTYLE April 8, 2010 Jonathan-David Clark CONTRIBUTOR

So after a few months’ hiatus we’re back and with a couple of new reviews. Recently I’ve checked out two new phones: the Motorola Barrage and the HTC Droid Eris. As college students, we put our stuff through hard times. We forget that things cost actual money (especially when you might be a little inebriated), and sometimes we do stupid things with our phones or computers or our minifridges. But I must say that the Motorola Barrage is idiot proof. I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun testing a phone

Ben Pinette

The Blerd Report

than when I tested the Barrage. I threw it in the snow, mud, rain and anything else I could think of. I threw it down the first floor hall at Folsom, more than once and it didn’t even get a scratch. I had my sister give it to a toddler to play around with, and it came out perfect. This phone is easy to use, nearly unbreakable, fun and once again, it gets 3G coverage up here. It can withstand up to 30 minutes in a meter of water, meaning leaving it outside in your driveway at night isn’t that big a deal anymore. I would say that this is probably the best nonsmartphone on the market, which is why I’m giving it four Urkles out of five.

The Eris, on the other hand, was a big disappointment. After playing around with its bigger, faster cousin, this phone just did not pull its weight. I would say that for a first-time smartphone user it may be ok. But for anyone who has played around with The Droid or the iPhone or even a Blackberry, this phone would just be a disappointment. I would go as far as to give this phone a “not buy”. I’m giving it two Bubbas out of five. On a different note I’d like to announce that Skype has come to Verizon Wireless in this week’s: “Stuff No One Uses Up Here But Really Should!!!” Check out the

information below… and until next time, Stay Blerdy!!! Here’s the Info: Verizon Wireless is bringing Skype mobile to nine of its Customers smartphones. using these eligible smartphones with qualifying voice and data plans will be able to make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls directly from their mobile handsets to more than 500 million Skype users in the world, making it convenient to stay connected without the use of a PC. With the flexibility of the Skype mobile’s “always on” function, users no longer have to schedule time to be at their computers to communicate over Skype.

Users can also take advantage of Skype mobile’s competitive international long distance rates when calling nonSkype numbers. Visit www.skype.com for additional information. More details on Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless: *The application itself is free to download and use. *Skype-to-Skype calls are free and unlimited -- that means customers can use Skype to call another Skype user sitting next to them or sitting in Beijing for free. *Skype-to-Skype IMs are free and unlimited -- customers can IM with any other Skype user without affecting Verizon Wireless data usage.

demand, he believed that more people are watching more movies than ever. The multiple ways that peo-

man who made his living by commentary lost his voice after surgery for thyroid cancer. Through technology, Ebert can now type and his words are converted into sound that resembles his for mer voice. Ebert stated that although what sounds like his voice can be heard, he will never be able to speak again without such assistance Meanwhile, Disney-ABC Domestic Television announced it will cease producing “At The Movies,” the successor show to the movie review programs Ebert had with the late Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel, and later Richard Roeper of the SunTimes. The last show will air the weekend of Aug. 14. Very few, in my mind, would come back to work like Ebert is doing. For this, I applaud him and wish him the very best. It’s a great story to remind you that the will to do what you love can overcome nearly anything.

Stephanie Corriveau

isn’t a part of the workshop, she gets the chance to watch Ryan try to help others. The more she gets to know Ryan, however, the more Chandler sees that Ryan has problems. He may be successful at helping others deal with their pain, but Ryan hasn’t quite helped himself. Perhaps the title isn’t just suggestive of the budding romance between Ryan and Chandler. Maybe it also relates to the feelings that you may have once you come to terms with the death of a loved one. As you can imagine, “Love Happens” is a bit of a tear-jerker. It’s difficult to hear the characters talk about their losses. (The actors make it seem so believable, too.) But the film’s also encouraging. It can remind you of the importance of family and friends in the time of death. “Love Happens” is a pretty decent movie. You may actually find that it’s better than some of the other films that are previewed and given more of the spotlight.

Return of Roger Ebert: Two Thumbs Up

STAFF WRITER

Roger Ebert says he and his wife are going ahead with plans to produce a new movie review television program with the working title “Roger Ebert presents “At the Movies.” The famous movie reviewer wrote recently on his Chicago SunTimes blog that they even know who will host. The Pulitzer Prize winning reviewer wrote that he would like to make “occasional appearances” on the air. Ebert also wrote: “the Thumbs will return,” referring to the well-known “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” reviews. Ebert noted that with the advent of DVD, Netflix, Red Box and video on

Roger Ebert ple can see movies mean’s that more people are able to watch a bigger variety of movies. Recently it was revealed that Ebert could communicate by voice again. The

The Reel Deal: ‘Love Happens’

STAFF WRITER

PG-13 109 minutes With a title like “Love Happens,” you’re probably guessing that this is yet another sappy romance. Well, you’re partially right. It is a romance. But the developing love story isn’t the main focus of the film. S u r p r i s i n g l y, “Love Happens” hasn’t seemed to receive a lot of attention. Jennifer Aniston movies are usually pretty popular. For a film that you probably haven’t heard much about, though, it’s actually better than you’d expect. The movie begins by introducing one of the main characters, Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart). Ryan has written a book to guide people through the grieving process. While hosting a workshop to help attendees deal with the losses of their loved ones, Ryan meets Eloise Chandler (Aniston). Although Chandler

University Times LIFESTYLE April 8, 2010

UMPI Owls Relay For Life Team Fundraiser! All proceeds benefit American Cancer Society 1st Prize: Homemade Adirondack Chair 2nd Prize: Choice of Homemade Basket 3rd Prize: Remaining Homemade Basket Tickets: 1 for $1 OR 7 for $5. Drawing: Friday, April 23 at noontime. To buy tickets, see Laurie in the Financial Aid Office - 232 Preble Hall.