F r i d a y, J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 2 | T h e S p e c t r u m
3
Emma Heaton Co-News Editor Phone: 231-5260 | Email: co.news1@ndsuspectrum.com
News
Additional Live Real Mentor training sessions scheduled Ashley Fremder News Reporter The LIVE REAL Mentor Training Program, sponsored by NDSU, seeks to educate students, faculty and staff on issues related to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as equip them to educate others about these topics. This specialized training program began in fall of 2009 and since then, approximately 1,900 students, faculty and staff have completed the training, with the majority being students. Every year or two beginning in 2001, a survey has been administered to a sample of NDSU students regarding alcohol and other drug usage.
According to the most recent CORE survey completed in fall 2010, the percentage of underage students who abstain from drinking has increased to almost 38 percent. The average number of drinks consumed each week by students is also heading in a positive direction after hitting a high of 6.5 in 2005. That number is most recently down to an average of 5.1 drinks per week. Many organizations and departments on the NDSU campus have gone through the training, including a large majority of Greek Life, the Residence Hall Association, the library staff, as well as students from all over campus involved in various activities. “This program is not about alcohol being a bad thing, but about the consequences that
come when people abuse it,” said Erika Beseler-Thompson, assistant director of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention at NDSU. The program offers five training sessions each semester, and interested students, faculty and staff need only attend one. After having completed the one-hour training, those that participated can identify themselves as official Live Real Mentors. While the training sessions for fall semester have all been completed, there will be five more sessions starting spring semester. The following are dates and times of the spring sessions: Tuesday, Jan. 31 at noon in the Prairie Rose Room; Thursday, Feb. 14 at noon in the Arikara Room (this date will be a marijuana-
Bison serve continued from page 1 number will dramatically increase this year. “We hope as many people will participate in the activities as possible. The sky is really the limit,” Skoy said. The NDSU Volunteer Network works with more than 40 different non-profit organizations in the community and has serviced more than 25 other non-profit organizations in the past. This year, 49 nonprofit organizations were invited to participant in the service plunge. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, activities will take place from 9 a.m. until noon and 1 until 4 p.m. Breakfast and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union for those participating in the first session. Lunch for all participants and registration for those volunteering in the second shift will begin at noon. The NDSU Volunteer Network will spend time working hard to place students in groups with different nonprofit organizations who are in need of help. Some groups may be combined to have a chance to experience the service project together. Following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Tuesday, Jan. 17, speaker Dan Danielson, administrator at the New Life Center, will be discussing the problem of homelessness in
the Fargo-Moorhead area from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. This presentation includes information regarding all the individuals who are impacted in the community by homelessness with over 350 documented on the streets each night. “We thought Dan Danielson would be a good speaker and would greatly contribute to the program during service days,” Skoy said. During the second half of Service Days, Jan. 18 through 21, the NDSU Volunteer Network is partnering with Campus Attractions to show the movie “Pay It Forward” in the Memorial Union Century Theater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. “This movie will hopefully show participants what its like to give to your community and how greatly it can impact the community, the organization as well as themselves,” Skoy said. In addition to the movie, representatives from various non-profit organizations will be available to discuss future activities and how to get involved with events happening within each organization at the Non-Profit Opportunity Fair on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 12:30 until 3:15 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Engaging in non-profit ac-
tivities could potentially provide an internship opportunity for some students. From 3:30 until 5 p.m. on Jan. 19, Mary Jo Lewis will be holding a workshop about servant leadership in the Memorial Union Arikara Room. Lewis’ knowledge and experience will provide a great opportunity for participants to learn about the significance of servant leading. Concluding Service Days 2012 will be one last project. On Friday, Jan. 20, Campus Attractions will host a service related event for MU Live, making fleece blankets to donate to the Linus Project. “We hope the participants will walk away with a greater understanding of how important non-profit organizations are to the community as well as recognize some of the talents, skills and how they can impact the community by serving,” Skoy said. Sponsors of the service plunge week include the Memorial Union, Volunteer Network, Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation, First Director of Volunteer Services, Firstlink and Campus Attractions.
specific training session); Wednesday, Feb. 29 at noon in the Prairie Rose Room; Thursday, Mar. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Room of Nations; and Wednesday, Apr. 25 at 4 p.m. in the Room of Nations. All rooms are located in the Memorial Union. The LIVE REAL Program is also able to cater to the needs of organizations and entire departments with specially scheduled trainings available to be completed during meeting times. For more information on the LIVE REAL Mentor Training Program or to schedule a training session for an organization or department, please contact Erika Beseler-Thompson at erika.beseler@ndsu.edu or by phone at 701-231-5478.
Service Events
Days
2012
Jan. 16 MLK Service Plunge – Memorial Union 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Jan. 17 Dan Danielson speaks on Homelessness in Fargo-Moorhead – MU Room of Nations 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18 Movie: Pay It Forward – MU Century Theater 7 p.m. Jan. 19 Non-Profit Opportunity Fair 12:30 until 3:15 p.m. Mary Jo Lewis speaks on importance of servant leadership – MU Arikara Room 3:30 until 5 p.m. Jan. 20 Movie: Pay It Forward – MU Century Theater 7 and 9:30 p.m. MU Live: Make fleece blankets for Project Linus – MU Lower Level 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.
NDSU vs. UND Tuesday, Jan 17th at 7pm @ The Ralph Engelstad Arena Buffalo Wild Wings is a proud sponsor of NDSU Athletics and is your Pre- & Post Game Headquarters.
Cate Ekegren Co-News Editor A large herd of Bison fans didn’t migrate to Frisco, Texas for the FCS National Championship game on Saturday, Jan. 7; instead, they came together in Fargo and all across the rest of the country to cheer on NDSU in their first ever NCAA Division I football championship. NDSU hosted a watch party for Bison fans in the Memorial Union Great Plains Ballroom during game time, offering free pizza, snacks and beverages while the football game was projected on three screens. More than 200 students, staff and faculty attended the watch party in the Memorial Union for the festivities. Seim Hall Director Carol Jergenson brought her husband and 9month-old son to watch the game and many new international students who hadn’t even begun their first class at NDSU were also present, proving it doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been at NDSU: Bison pride runs deep. Cam Knutson, student body president, also attended the Memorial Union watch party and cheered loudly from the front row. “It was a bit of a bummer not being able to go to Texas, but this is really cool seeing everyone get together on campus,” Knutson said. The first half of the watch party was fairly subdued. Bison fans cheered quite a bit, but it was during the second half when everyone went
crazy. After Travis Beck’s game-changing interception with nine minutes left in the game, everyone in the ballroom was on their feet chanting, “Let’s go, bison!” “It’s everywhere,” Knutson added. “It’s not just our little university. It’s much bigger than that and that’s amazing to be a part of.” The Bison football team pulled off an impressive display of defense in the second half, leading to victory. An announcement was made that there would be a welcome home celebration at the Fargodome as soon as the team’s flight landed later that evening. At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, more than 500 Bison fans stood outside the Fargodome entrance cheering as a caravan including three coach buses and police escorts pulled up. Governor Jack Dalrymple, NDSU Athletic Director Gene Taylor, Coach Craig Bohl and members of the Bison football team took turns speaking to the crowd of fans, expressing their gratitude for the abundance of support. “We have the best fans not only in North Dakota but in the entire country,” Taylor said. “You’re the reason why we got through the playoffs at home; this kind of crowd, this kind of noise.” “We went out there today to kick some ass and guess what; we just kicked some ass,” Taylor exclaimed.
Jan. 21 Movie: Pay It Forward – MU Century Theater 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Providing a variety of services for both men & women
Continue the Tradition and Cheer on the Men’s Basketball Team!
Fans celebrate championship win in Fargo
Located in the basement of the Memorial Union 701-231-7425