Volume 41 Issue 3 by University Times

inside this issue:

University of Maine at Presque Isle

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Volume 41 Issue 3

Walk on the art side Details on page 7

Meow, meow... Details on page 6

Journalism for Northern Maine

Visit us at utimes.umpi.edu

Lending a Hand and Rocking Out Ben Pinette

STAFF WRITER

It was a rare sight in the Wieden Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 5 where you would have found people standing and dancing to the beat of Haitian music from Revelacion Maranatha, a Haitian band made up of more than 20 members. Community members as well as UMPI students and faculty came together very early on to stand up and start clapping and to move around. Revelacion Maranatha’s very positive message early on was evident throughout. “American does have freedom, and we’re going to show that tonight. As American citizens, love is a national word,” Luisnol Eduardo, one of the lead singers of the band, said. Their songs proved just that. Revelacion Maranatha sang a few church hymns that most of us have heard before, including “Shine Jesus Shine,” “Open the Eyes of My Heart” by Michael

W. Smith and even a few Spanish songs that got everyone moving, this included a special version of “Happy

Revelacion Maranatha Birthday” for one lucky audience member. By the middle, a few daring students from the front row made their way to the front of the auditorium, and eventually went on stage to dance with the group. Included in that mix, thanks to a shout out from one of the band members, was social work

Everyone up and moving.

professor Shirley Rush. “I was terrified. I don’t like to be in the spotlight and would have gladly shrunk under my

I love music that rocks the soul,” Rush said. Revelacion Maranatha officially started up back in 1987 with just six members. Today, the band has over 16 members and travels the entire U.S. performing. Over the years, they have traveled specifically to the Dominican Republic and, through their performances, encouraged people to donate to the Haitian hospital. “Once you’ve been to the Dominican Republic and visited the bateys and the beautiful people and children with their eager faces full of hope and joy, you are hooked. It’s amazing experiences that you don’t soon forget,” Eduardo said. By the end of the concert, very few people were still at their seats. Almost everyone else was at the front of the

auditorium soaking it all in. Jason Fortin, a sophomore here at UMPI, was one of many dancing. “They totally rocked it out. They exceeded my expectations from the beginning,” Fortin said. Regardless of whether you went to the Maranatha concert, you’re encouraged to donate to the Good Samaritan’s Social Services. Proceeds will benefit malnourished children, women’s health, HIV testing, clean water, school supplies and uniforms for children. You can find more information on their w e b s i t e , www.revelacionmaranatha.co m, or email them with questions at info@laromana.org. You can also listen to some of their music on their exclusive MySpace page, www.myspace.com/maranatha dr. A little will certainly go a long way.

seat in Wieden if I thought I could’ve avoided the stage gracefully. Having said that, being on stage was a way to participate with this awesome group of performers as a very small way to symbolize global friendship. It was a splendid way to begin the semester,” Rush said. Overall, Rush had very positive things to say about her experience. “I had a blast at the concert. The sounds of the music, the rhythm of the dance and the joy in the souls of the performers are still bouncing around in my mind, heart and soul. I was disappointed that there weren’t more people in the auditorium to celebrate the work of these young folks. It’s so important for us in Aroostook County to engage with the rest of the world, whether we travel afar or host Breanna Pelletier (left) and “Queen Bee” those who have traveled to us. Rush take the stage with the group.

Shirley

The University Times Staff Editor Lanette Virtanen Assistant Editor Kayla Ames Stephanie Jellett Staff Writers Kayla Ames Cole DuMonthier Nicole Duplessis Eric Edgecomb Stephanie Jellett Mika Ouellette Ben Pinette Jessie Rose Lanette Virtanen Kelsey Wood

Contributors Dick Harrison Jessica Stepp Jim Stepp Linda Schott

Adviser Dr. J

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

ampus University Times

Dear readers, The first day of fall is Sept. 22. The leaves are changing and so is the weather. Pretty soon all of us will be bringing out and wearing our hats and gloves. So before that happens, get out there and enjoy what we have left of the warmer weather. For those of you who canʼt wait for the snow to fly, donʼt worry, the snow will be falling before you know it. For now, to see whatʼs happening on campus, check out the upcoming events that are in this paper. See you around campus, Lanette Hello everyone, I canʼt believe that weʼve been in school now for three weeks: time has just been flying by! In addition to school, Iʼm involved in three programs/clubs. Thatʼs why itʼs important to find that perfect balance between school, extracurricular activities and a social life. School work should always come first. But itʼs important not to burn yourself out and enjoy college life. There are lots of fun activities coming up. I hope to see you there! Until next time, Stephanie

September 21, 2012

Greetings, This is my first official issue, since I wasnʼt here for the Welcome Back paper. So, hello and welcome to another year at UMPI! Over the summer, I took two online classes, worked and got some reading done. In all, it was very productive. Though Iʼll miss the relative relaxation that comes with those golden days, Iʼm looking forward to learning. After all, Alexander Pope said, “A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring [from Greek mythology, sacred to the Muses].” Iʼm ready to drink deep from the Pierian spring, and I hope you are, too. Oh, and speaking of golden days, thereʼs a beautiful pillow featuring sunshine and palm trees down here in the media lab. Weʼre currently raffling it off! Come by soon – you have just as good a chance of winning as anyone. Thank you and have a pleasant day, Kayla Correction: If you’re interested in joining WUPI, please contact the station manager, Nicole Gray, at nicole.n.gray@maine.edu.

Dates for Submissio ns to the U Times

Oct. 5 Nov. 5

Oct. 22 Dec. 3

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

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Linda’s Letter UMPI: Beauty to Inspire

When I arrived on campus last June, I was struck by the beauty of the campus. The grass was green. Flowers were blooming around almost every building. Living in the president’s house felt like living in the middle of a gorgeous park. As I spent more time on campus, however, I began to see parts of campus that were in need of attention. I noted especially that Preble Hall, where prospective students and their parents enter to talk with our office of admissions, needed care. Convinced of the impor-

Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

tance of initial impressions, I asked that Preble Hall be first in line for rejuvenation. If you walk by the front of Preble today, you will see fresh paint and renewed landscaping. And these are just the beginning. Over the coming year, we will gradually freshen up buildings and landscaping on other parts of campus. We will also add color to campus. The two key entrances to campus— Preble Hall and the Campus Center—will get colorful welcome banners. Light poles down the central campus walkway will have UMPI pennants.

Finally, the international flags will get updates. None of these efforts cost a great deal. We are using donations given as part of last year’s annual fund campaign for repainting and refreshed landscaping. And we’re soliciting donations for the flags and banners. These changes to our campus will signal to all that we take great pride in the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the excellent work we do here. The high quality of our institution will visually impress prospective students and their parents will

be visually impressed with the high quality of our institution. Those of us who work and study here will continue to be inspired by the beauty of our surroundings. Keep an eye out for the coming i m p r ov e m e n t s . And let me know if you see something that you believe we should address!

Linda Schott

Do You Wanna Rock?!

They’ve been to the land of fire and ice, hammered out geological specimens and learned about stream dynamics in the rain. They’ve offered baskets full of goodies and camped out in Vermont. As fortune has it, they’re also looking for new members. You could be doing this and more soon enough. These trip-takers and environment-enthusiasts make up the geo-ecology club. Despite its title, it accepts anyone interested in science, be it geology, ecology or anything else. They’re active in the annual Planet Head Day, an astronomy-based fundraiser for cancer, as well as NEIGC and GSM, or the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference and the Geological Society of Maine. The official club advisers are Dr. Kevin McCartney and Dr. Chunzeng Wang, though David Putnam regularly helps out, too. McCartney is presently on a research sabbatical in Poland. He has a blog

that can be found at http://connect.umpi.maine.e du/~kevin.mccartney/, after scrolling down and selecting the third link toward the bottom of the page. Currently, the club president

meet Wednesdays at 12 p.m. in Folsom 201, the GIS lab, though the location has been known to change to the geology lab or cafeteria on occasion. When asked what he’d like to see happen with the club,

Club adviser Kevin McCartney (pointing) and member Chris Staples (back to) in front of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. is Gary Parent. The vice president is Andrew Hunt, the secretary is Kayla Ames and the treasurer is Sarah Ames. They

Parent listed several items, the first of which dealt with recruitment. “Membership has been

steady in the club, but I’d like to see it grow a bit,” Parent said. Aside from membership, he’s also concerned with community involvement and exposure. He’d like the club to become more visible, not just around college, but in the surrounding areas as well. Members will be working on fund raising too, and everyone is busy coming up with ideas. They’d love to have more people to help them brainstorm. “[We’re] always looking for sponsorship and funding, donations,” Parent said. Any money they make will likely go toward upcoming trips. In the last few years, geo-ecology members have been to Iceland, Vermont and Washington, D.C. From October 12 to 14 of this year, they’ll be going to New Hampshire for another NEIGC meeting. “I’m looking forward to NEIGC again. That’s always a fun trip,” Parent said. They have a trip to the Grand Canyon planned for March. They also took part in the Club and Community Fair

on Sept. 20. If you were unable to attend or simply want more information, feel free to contact Parent at gary.parent@maine.edu. Of course, the geo-ecology club isn’t the only science-oriented organization on campus. There’s also the bio-medical club. They’re dedicated to giving back to the medical community as well as learning more about what’s available in the field of health. Any questions relating to that club can be sent to Bryan Jennings at bryan.jennings@maine.edu. Getting involved has many benefits, so consider becoming a member of one or the other or – better yet – both! Whether you want to crack a geode, develop a deeper appreciation for and understanding of the great outdoors or are mainly passionate about traveling, the geo-ecology club can serve you well. It’s already taken some students as far as Iceland. Believe it or not, it can take you even further. All you have to do is join.

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Jim’s Journal

Making It in School

I hope school is going well for all of you. By the time you read this article we’ll be entering the third or fourth week of school. Many of you may have handed in at least one homework assignment and may have had a quiz or two by now. If you haven’t yet, you will soon. Hopefully, you’re all doing well in your classes. If you aren’t, I have a few suggestions for you. My first piece of advice is that if you should get help if you’re having a problem and get help as soon as possible. Don’t wait. The best place to get help is from your instructor. Talk to your instructor and ask what you can do to bring your grade up. Odds are, your instructor will suggest that you work with another student, get a tutor or work on your time management. Your instructor’s advice is very important because he/she knows the class better than anyone else. If you are advised to seek tutoring or you feel you may benefit from tutoring, go to the Student Support Services office in the Center for Teaching and

Learning and sign up for a tutor. The Center for Teaching and Learning is located in the South Hall lobby. Don’t wait — do it as soon as possible. Tutoring is free and can help get your grade up. My second piece of advice is to handle college like you would a job. Give yourself a set time to do your college work. In a job, you have a starting time and an ending time. Occasionally, you even have overtime hours. Let’s say your first class is at 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Your last class during the week ends at 4:00 p.m. If this is the case, consider doing your college work from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. The exact times may vary based on your available time and when your classes are, but try your best to make these hours continuous. When you’re not in class, find a place to go that will permit you to get your work done and do it. Don’t chat with friends, don’t take a nap, and if you’re a resi-

Dick Harrison

Association. October was chosen for the celebration because National Coming Out Day already was established on Oct. 11. October also commemorated the first March on Washington for LGBT rights in 1979. LGBT History Month is intended to encourage honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The fourth annual UMPI Gay Days are Oct. 1-3. They begin with Gay Blue Jeans Day, a celebration that origi-

dential student, don’t go back to your room. So where should you go? Go to an empty classroom or the library. Wherever you go, find a place that’s quiet and has few distractions. If you do this and stick to a start and stop time, you’ll do better in class. If you find you need more time, adjust

the start or stop times or spend extra time (overtime) on an assignment. If you have time left over time, work ahead. This is important. Don’t stop working. Start a paper that may be due later in the semester or start studying for a quiz or test. During the fourth week of the semester, the Dean of

Students’ Office will be working with your faculty to implement UMPI’s early warning program. During the early warning program, the faulty are asked to let the Dean of Students’ office know if they have students who may be having issues in their class. These issues may include low attendance, missed work, not participating in class and other problems. Once this information gets to the Dean of Students’ office, one of several individuals may be asked to contact the students who are having difficulties. If asked to meet with a staff member, it’s important to set up a meeting as soon as possible. The staff members will work with you to find ways to improve your chances of getting better grades. Education is valuable, but it takes a lot of work. There are people who want to help you, ways of making your life easier, as long as you’re willing to pursue or take advantage of them. Keep these tips in mind, and remember that you can make it. Best of luck to all of you!

Gay Days Kick Off LGBT History Month CONTRIBUTOR

October is LGBT History Month, first celebrated in 1994 and founded by a Missouri high school history teacher. An early coordinating committee included representatives from the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, the Gay and Lesbian Library and Archives in Chicago, journalists, teachers, scholars in women’s studies and the National Education

Jim Stepp

nated at Rutgers University in 1974. It takes place on college campuses throughout the United States. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear jeans to show their support for equal treatment of the LGBT people on campus. This year’s keynote address is Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 12:30 p.m. in the Campus Center. The Jewish chaplain from Colby College will speak on “A faith-based approach to marriage equality.” Rabbi Rachel Isaacs,

who is the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, is the first openly lesbian or gay rabbi ordained by the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary. She also teaches Hebrew and Judaism at Colby. Movie night, featuring the film “Question One,” is tentatively scheduled for the Oct. 3. On May 6, 2009, the Maine Legislature enacted “An Act to End

Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom.” Shortly thereafter, 55,807 signatures were gathered, putting the law on hold and putting the issue for voters to decide by referendum. On Nov. 3, 2009, voters repealed the law 52.9 percent to 47.1 percent. This film is about that tug of war over marriage equality. UMPI Gay Days is cosponsored by the GayStraight Alliance and the Diversity Committee.

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Hollywood Comes to UMPI Mika Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Have you ever watched “Hollywood Squares” on television and wished that you could be a contestant? Have you ever wondered what being on the show would be like if the “squares” were not celebrities but people you know? UMPI CAB answered these questions for a few lucky students by hosting a game of “UMPI Squares” during WOW, or week of welcome. The “squares” were made up of 10 different UMPI staff members. The “squares” were: Jim Stepp, Jannie Durr, Mary Lawrence, Erin Benson, Jessica Blackstone, Charles Johnson, Kim Anne Perkins, Lisa Udasco, Candace Roy and Tricia Pelkey. UMPI student Jason Fortin was the show’s host. All of the “squares” were excited about their positions and even encouraged students who were in the Owl’s Nest, where the game was taking

UMPI Squares in action.

place, to come play. Two students would volunteer to play for each round. Like in both Tic-Tac-Toe and the real “Hollywood Squares,” one student would be an “X,” while the other would be an “O.” The squares were asked questions about either UMPI history or random trivia while the students had to determine if their chosen square’s answer was true or false. There were seven rounds and each student that won in each round got a prize. The prizes included UMPI T-shirts and sweatshirts, UMPI Owls team banners, a water bottle and a backpack. The winning students included Adam Bailey, Carly Langley, Eric Edgecomb, Abby Woodstead, Kody Gates, Richard Landry and Mika Ouellette. These students not only got prizes from this game but a fun bonding experience with UMPI staff members as well.

Heroes and Enemies Cole DuMonthier STAFF WRITER

On Thursday, Sept. 6, Student Activities had a showing of the 2012 movie “The Avengers.” Although originally planned to be an outside event, the threat of stormy weather forced the movie indoors. Despite the moving inside, the event was well attended by both new and returning students. The showing was complimented by popcorn served by the Student Activities staff. “The Avengers” was directed by Joss Whedon and was approximately two and a half hours in length. The movie throws several classic comic book superheroes together to battle the forces of evil. Among this super group is the Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and agents from the defense force known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Despite their differing personalities and methods, they work together to save humankind.

All of the heroes in “The Avengers” have their own related movie or movies, which helps to give some backstory on their characters. While you

don’t need this added information to enjoy “The Avengers,” at times it helped add just a little more depth to the film. Although it follows the fairly

typical course of superhero action movies, there was a nice added effect of seeing childhood heroes working together to save the earth – or, if not that, then at least avenge it. In the end, the movie was a great success with a good showing from the student community. It was an exciting pulsepounder from start to finish that combined stunning special effects with childhood fantasies. As one student at the showing said, “It was really good to see so many people, especially new students, attending the event. I really hope that people keep showing up to events like this.” Here’s hoping that the next showing is as well attended as this one. It was a good way to wrap up the first week of classes, and at the same time, gear up for the rest of the semester.

6 Who Let the Dogs – And Cats – Out? Unive r si t y T i m e s

Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

When members of Phi Eta Sigma walked through the door, dogs barked as if welcoming them. Friendly furballs of all sizes and shapes wagged, looked up expectantly and moved just a little bit closer. But the Phi Eta Sigma members weren’t returning home, and the animals greeting them weren’t theirs. Rather, these volunteers from UMPI’s national honor society were visiting the Central Aroostook Humane Society on Saturday, May 5. After joining Jim Stepp, the club’s adviser, and Rebecca Stepp, club president, for brunch at their place on campus, the group drove to the humane society. The volunteers included Sarah and Kayla Ames, Stephanie Corriveau, Danielle Pelkey and Jimmy Stepp, son of Rebecca and Jim.

Jessica Stepp CONTIBUTOR

I hope that everyone is having a great start to a new semester and making many new friends as well as working hard toward doing great in class. I also hope everyone is trying to find different ways of being active on campus and within the community. Student Senate is working toward improving the community within the campus. To show how Student Senate is working toward improvement, let me explain about the mission statement, motto and committees of Senate. The mission statement goes as follows: “Student Senate’s mission is to serve UMPI students and the community by using available resources to educate, advocate and empower for the student body while facilitating positive working relationships.” What does this mean? This means that Student Senate can act as a middle person between

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September 21, 2012

They arrived around 1 p.m. and worked until 3 p.m. – that is, if you consider petting cats and walking dogs work. Corriveau, Jimmy Stepp and Kayla Ames spent most of their time in one of two rooms containing older cats. James Stepp and Sarah Ames put in time playing and petting as well. They soon moved on to the maternity ward. There, pregnant cats or those who’ve recently given birth are housed while tending to their kittens. Meanwhile, Pelkey and Rebecca Stepp gave several dogs some much-needed attention and exercise. “It was really funny when some of the cats started scrambling after a ball of paper that we kicked around the floor. They loved it and it was great to see their energy and excitement at getting to play,” Corriveau, a recent UMPI graduate, said. Rebecca Stepp commented that

the trip Phi Eta Sigma takes to the animal shelter every year is one of her favorite service projects. “It’s a great break from the studies and everyday hustle and bustle of the day. This year was neat because it was primarily

students and faculty/staff. As members of Student Senate, each senator is supposed to keep a positive relationship with both students and faculty/staff. In other words, our mission statement is saying that we are able to help students create different goals and accomplish them. “Educate, advocate and empower,” is our motto. Student Senate is able to educate by making sure that students and student groups understand the number of policies there are. We also hope to help students improve their education with the understanding that there’s always someone around to help. We advocate by helping the student’s voices be heard in the different committees that we are part of. One example of this is the Board of Trustees (BOT). Our BOT representative goes to other UM schools to meet with other BOT members once every other month to discuss

focused around the cats. And I am more of a cat person than a dog person, typically,” Rebecca Stepp said. The volunteers had fun with the animals. But their time

there was also a sad reminder of how little room some animals have while stuck in shelters waiting for homes. Also during this visit, the volunteers learned that a lot of cats had ended up in shelters because their owners already had too many animals. So they were evicted or forced to surrender some. “They seemed really lonely in their cages,” Corriveau said. “But when we let them out, they came alive. It was great to help the shelter workers out as well. I’m sure that they’re busy with all of the caretaking duties they need to perform.” PES members such as Corriveau are chosen based on academic performance. Membership also includes a

service component. “Phi Eta Sigma requires five hours of volunteer work a semester. But they make sure you have plenty of opportunities, and it’s always fun. I love being able to help, especially animals,” Sarah Ames said. Even if you’re not a member, there’s plenty you can do to help. Whether you’re interested in donating time, money or merchandise, dogs, cats and humane society personnel alike will appreciate it. They’re always looking for towels, trash bags, old blankets, treats, grooming items, bedding, toys, laundry detergent and newspapers, to name just a few things. To find out more, visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society’s website: http://centralaroostookhumane society.org/. What would the animals like you to know? Come one, come all. No matter what you do for these loving animals, you’re sure to have a ball.

the number of student issues throughout the University of Maine system. Student Senate wants to be able to help encourage and motivate students to fulfill their goals and this is how we empower the students. We help make sure that there are different ways for students to get out in the UMPI community and achieve these goals. If there isn’t something available, we make it available. As a senator, you’re required to be on one of our four committees. The committees are budget, student affairs, constitution and programming. The Student Active Fee (SAF) is paid by most students and goes straight to Student Senate’s budget committee. Budget committee then works with over 30 UMPI clubs on their budgets. SAF is given to clubs so they can plan events on campus. This is one reason why being active on campus is a good idea — so you

can see how SAF is being used! The Budget committee tries to give SAF out to all clubs as evenly and fairly as possible. Constitution committee helps students create new clubs if they can’t find one that seems to fit them. For example, if five or more students want to form a movie club, constitution committee members help students create it. They also help make sure that current clubs are staying focused on their individual goal. Student affairs is a committee for both student groups and students. This is the committee you would go to if you want Student Senate to help improve the campus. A couple student issues we’ve helped with are student parking and the owl’s nest. Our newest committee is programming. The programming committee plans both social and committee servicebased events. These events are sponsored by Student Senate

and are different ways for students to get to know us. They include pizza parties, ice cream socials, clean-up campus days and much more. These committees meet at different times and change every semester based on the committee member’s class schedule. To find out more about Senate as a whole or one of these committees, please feel free to come to a meeting or contact us. If you stop by during one of our Tuesday’s meeting and see the door close, you’re welcome to come in and join us. We close the door sometimes to reduce noise level from the hallway. Student Senate meets every Tuesday at 12:40 to 1:45 p.m. in the alumni room. Our meetings are open to anyone, so feel free to stop by and learn more about us! Office: Campus Center 104 Email: umpi-senate@maine.edu Phone: 768-9561

Getting to Know Us

University Times

ommunity September 21, 2012

If You Display It, They Will Come Kayla Ames

STAFF WRITER

Art, art, everywhere, and plenty of time to think. If you were wondering, that’s what it was like on Sept. 7, also known as the First Friday Art Walk of the semester. Several artists displayed their work at locations throughout town. Anyone interested in painting, “up-cycling,” socializing or even just good food could have joined the many walking through stores and restaurants, enjoying the sights and sharing thoughts with other passionate people. In keeping with past art walks, the one on Sept. 7 started off in the Reed Art Gallery on campus. There, Adriano Farinella’s work seemed to fill the room with light and air. His exhibition is called

“Bardo: An Exhibition of Recent Paintings.” It centers around clouds and sometimes landscapes. “A few of my friends and I went out for the Friday Art Walk and had a great time. We started out at the Reed Gallery and now I can’t wait until the closing reception so that I can hear the artist, Adriano Farinella, talk about his work,” Lanette Virtanen, an art major and regular art walk patron, said. Farinella’s pieces will be available for viewing until Oct. 6. His closing reception will be the day before this. Not very far away, another artist was sharing and receiving compliments. Lydia Jane Brown is one year away from graduating from USM and says she loves art because “anything

Mark Shaw and his daughter, Jordyn, entertaining at Wintergreen.

goes.” She also loves sharing her work with others and mostly uses drawing and painting to express herself. “I went to high school with the artist who showed in Wintergreen this month [Brown]. She attends school in southern Maine but made a special trip to the County to share some of her latest work with the place she started from,” Karrie Brawn, one of the attendees, said. Mark Shaw and his daughter, Jordyn, supplied music playing guitar as well as putting their own twist on older but also very modern songs. The latter included “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” Bob Dylan’s “Shelter From the Storm” and “Rumour Has It,” originally by Adele. Russell Mount presented in Morning Star Art & Framing. His exhibit is called “Waterbirds”: a good name since that’s the subject of his wood carvings. In addition, Peter Parker and a few other musicians performed. They helped lend the event a welcome, soothing background. Nilda’s Bakery generously supplied treats. Merchants On the Corner, The Cubby, Bou’s Brew Pub, Catholic Charities and LiveWell United also participated. Merchants On the Corner hosted a beer tasting with five samples to enjoy. The proceeds went to the Kiwanis Club, a local group dedicated to serving children and com-

munities. They also offered assorted appetizers, and the place was packed. The Cubby featured an exhibit called “Trash to Treasure,” where objects were “up-cycled” from throwaway items to art.

special focusing on events that have taken place in Presque Isle. Subject matter included independent wrestling, motorcross and the fair. LiveWell United, meanwhile, recognized Shelby Wilcox, designer and

One of Lydia Jane Brownʼs art pieces at Wintergreen. Everything on display was made by Cubby staff members and local patrons. The Cubby and Catholic Charities shared a theme. Suzzanne Toussaint, the latter’s artist of the hour, takes things that are old, broken and forgotten and makes them usable or attractive again. She gives them new purpose. Gwen’s Gourmet, begun as a hobby then made into a business by Rick Braggs, sells homemade goodies and was also part of the festivities. Bou’s Brew Pub welcomed photographer Christine Stroud, who did a country photography

creator of its window mural as well as the publisher of The Aroostook Commons. She displayed numerous pieces from over the years. The event lasted into the night, with art authorities and amateurs alike connecting over food, original work and a friendly atmosphere. “The art walk this month was outstanding and I can’t wait to see who is showcased next month,” Virtanen said. With any luck, time will fly by, and we’ll be seeing a new batch of inspiring artwork soon.

University Times

September 21, 2012

ports

Owls Rule Over the Knights

Eric Edgecomb STAFF WRITER

Five goals secured the win for the boys soccer team on Sunday, Sept. 9. The first goal of the game was made by number 24, Kobe Askir. Askir’s goal was assisted by number 8, Joel Massa. The second goal of the game also belonged to the Owls as Kobe Ashkir scored again. The early 2-0 score had the Berkeley Knights flustered. They did, however, secure two goals by the end of the

game. This wasn’t enough to overcome the Owls, who scored another three points. Number 14, Tyler Harding, secured the third goal for the boys. The fourth goal was scored by number 19, Jeremy Tarr, with an assist by number 3, Chad Caverhill. The final goal was scored by Joel Massa with an assist by number 10, Seth Cote. During half-time, the Owls drew a random ticket to give one lucky fan the chance to win a shirt by shooting a soccer ball from the half field

mark. The selected ticket belonged to Tim Tarr. The first shot fell a bit short of the goal while the second rolled to the left of the goal. On his third and final attempt, he kicked the ball straight into the goal, earning a cheer from the crowd. The game ended and the Owls won, victorious d e s p i t e t h e i r o p p o n e n t ’s g r a n d n a m e. L e t ’s h o p e they do just as well next time and there will be as many, if not more, people to cheer them on.

Seth Cote in white playing against Berkley.

Student Activities Office Events Calendar Fall 2012 Thurs. Sept. 27, 8-9:30 p.m., Open Mic Nic with Jason LeVasseur Thurs. Oct. 4, 7 p.m., Wieden Aud., Comedian: Jasper Redd Sat. Oct. 13, 10 a.m., Owl’s Nest, UMPI’s Amazing Race Oct. 15-19 Alcohol Awareness Week Wed. Oct. 24, All Day, Owl’s Nest, Purple Pinkie Project Thurs. Oct. 25, 10 p.m.-1:00 a.m., MPR Halloween Dance *Student ID Required for Dance* Wed. Oct. 31, 5-6:30 p.m., Kelly Commons, Halloween Dinner & Costume Contest

University Times

oice

Dick Harrison CONTRIBUTOR

September 21, 2012

While You Were Away…

Welcome back, returning students, and welcome to new UMPI students during this, the third week of your Fall 2012 semester. While you were away… At the Olympics in London, 27 openly gay and lesbian athletes earned seven gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Their events included bicycle racing, triathlon, dressage, handball, beach volleyball, archery, soccer, tennis, field hockey, basketball and diving. They represented Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden and the USA. In the Paralympic Games, two “out” participants were Claire Harvey, captain of the British women’s sitting volleyball team, and British equestrian Lee Pearson, who is the winner of nine gold medals from prior games. Who came out over the summer? TV’s Anderson Cooper, actor Jim Parsons from “The Big Bang Theory” and a woman that Wikipedia describes as “the first known astronaut to have been in a long-term same-sex relationship,” Sally Ride, the first

American woman in space. Progress on marriage equality: Another federal court struck down as unconstitutional parts of DOMA, the socalled Defense of Marriage Act; this is the fourth such ruling in recent months. When states grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the federal government treats these marriages different from oppositesex marriages because DOMA

ried, opposite-sex couples enjoy. Courts have held that this violates the 15th amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires equal treatment under the law. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party includes a marriage equality plank in their platform and calls for the repeal of DOMA. By contrast, the Republican Party platform calls for a federal constitutional

broadcast during the GOP convention in Tampa, the Republican Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, urged voters to support marriage equality for all. David Koch, who, with his brother Charles — “the Koch brothers” -- has spent millions to help elect Mitt Romney. He’s one of the founders and largest funders of the Tea Party and a delegate to the Republican National

Anderson Cooper.

Jim Parsons.

Sally Ride.

defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. A same-sex couple may be legally married in Iowa, Washington DC, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, New York or in one of the Native American tribal jurisdictions of Coquille or Suquamish. Yet they are denied joint tax filing and other benefits under federal law that mar-

amendment banning same-sex marriage and stripping rights from legally married same-sex couples, a vigorous defense of DOMA, and reinstatement of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. At the same time, Delaware Governor Jack Markell said he thought that marriage equality in his state was “inevitable.” In a TV ad

Convention; yet even Koch supports marriage equality. A number of high-profile business executives have voiced support, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, their CEO Steve Ballmer and General Mills CEO Ken Powell. Corporations endorsing marriage equality include Starbucks, Amazon.com, JPMorgan Chase, Nike,

Expedia.com, T-Mobile and Google. The Jim Henson Company — the Muppets — responded to homophobic remarks by chicken chain Chick-fil-A’s COO and withdrew from a licensing agreement to supply toys for that restaurant’s kids’ meals, stating that they will not partner with the fast food chain on any future endeavors. At the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte there were 486 openly LGBT delegates representing all 50 states. At the GOP convention in Tampa, there were “a handful” of openly gay delegates. In June, Gay Pride was recognized with a ceremony at the Pentagon. In San Diego, military participants in that city’s Gay Pride Parade were permitted to march in uniform. And during a promotion ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a proud wife placed a star insignia on her spouse’s uniformed shoulder and Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith became the country’s first openly gay general. This is less than a year after the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the policy that banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Comedian Judy Gold says, “Being gay is not a choice. Being closeted is.”

The views expressed in Voice do not necessarily reflect those of the University Times or UMPI. We welcome your contributions but reserve the right to edit them.

University Times

ifestyle

10 The Reel Deal: ‘Expendables 2’ September 21, 2012

Stephanie Jellett STAFF WRITER

Rated R for strong, bloody violence 2/5 Stars What do you get when you combine all the major a c t i o n s t a r s ove r t h e year s, lots of explosives a n d re a l l y ch e e sy l i n e s? T he Expendables 2! Let’s f a c e i t , w h e n yo u h ave action stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Je a n - C l a u d e Va n D a m m e, Je t L i , Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Wi l l i s, Arnold S c h w a r t z e n e g g e r, Te r r y Crews and Chuck Nor ris, t h e re ’s n o t g o i n g t o b e much “acting” going on.

T h e e n t i r e m ov i e i s blood, action, violence and more blood. This sequel, which follows the popular movie from 2010, gives a new name to explosives and guns. If you thought the first movie was over the top with action, you better prepare yourself for the sequel, because there are bigger guns and bigger explosions. The plot of the movie begins with Church (Willis) assigning Ross (Stallone) to a mission to retrieve something from a crashed plane. But what seemed to be a simple mission ends up costing the life of one of the crew members and the loss of what he set out to get. Ross decides to hunt down

the villain to seek revenge and take back what was his but learns that every secret has a deeper meaning. There really isn’t a major story line—honestly, it’s rather dull. There’s no twists or anything that really make you think and it’s pretty predictable. Just the fact that Chuck Norris is featured in the movie and pops up at random times really makes it hard to take seriously—you just can’t help but laugh. “Expendables 2” is also jam packed with cheesy lines from other movies the actors are in. For example, during one scene, Schwartzenegger says, “I’m back!” and then Willis chimes in with, “You’ve been back enough. It’s time for me to be back.”

This is an obvious reference to the popular Terminator movies. Swartzenegger then yelled “Yippie-ki-yay!” which is a stab back at Willis for the Die Hard series. If you’re a sucker for action movies, there’s no way you won’t enjoy this

movie. “Expendables 2” deliver s non-stop action from start to finish. On the down side, it contains some predictable one-liners. Overall, don’t spend your money unless you’re a big fan of their genre or these actors.

It’s every Mainer’s fantasy: sun, palm trees, endless sailing. Would you like to have that? Then buy a ticket for the great U Times raffle! Now, we won’t be sending you to Tahiti: that would be too fleeting. No, instead you have a chance to win this beautiful pillow. It will keep the spirit alive forever. It’s handmade by Dr. J’s 90-year-old mother. It measures 16 by 16 with a cover that can be removed for cleaning. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. All proceeds will fund a U Times staff education trip in March 2013. Drawing will be October 2. For tickets, contact Lanette Virtanen (lanette.virtanen@maine.edu), Kayla Ames (kayla.ames@maine.edu), or Jacqui Lowman (jacquelyn.lowman@umpi.edu). We’ll be happy to let you examine it. The photo is good, but it’s even better in person. Thanks for the support. Good luck!

December 21, 2012 – The End of the World? Univer sit y T i m e s LIFESTYLE S e p t e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 2

Jim Stepp

CONTRIBUTOR

Many of you may have heard the world is coming to an end later this year. Over the remainder of this semester, I’ll be writing about the events that are connected with this prediction. Should you be worried? Should you hold off on buying your holiday gifts? Should you max out your credit cards? You may not have to pay them back. In the next few issues, I hope to give you the reasons why your answers to all of these questions should be NO! On Dec. 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar will end its 13 baktun. Since the Mayan didn’t appear to produce a 14th baktum, many authors have used this date as the date the Earth will be destroyed. It’s worth mentioning that the Mayans considered the changes in baktuns as times of new beginnings and not necessarily endings. There are many events that are predicted to happen on or around 12/21/12. These include potential effects from a galactic alignment, large solar storms, shifts in the Earth’s Magnetic field and the close approach of a wandering rouge planet named Nibiru. It’s these events we’ll be discussing. Prophecies about the end of the Earth have been made throughout time, but we’re still here. The website www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm lists more than 240 dates that have been given as dates the world will end. This s i t e , http://www.2think.org/hundr edsheep/skeptic/predictions.s html, lists several more dates that are linked to the 21st century and the destruction of the Earth.

THE NIGHT SKY

The International Space Station is visible in the morning sky from now through October 5. The International Space Station is visible in the evening sky after October 9. Go to www.heavensabove.com for exact times and locations. You’ll need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times. The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s West longitude and 46d40m45.6s North latitude. To get a free sky chart, go to www.skymaps.com Sun and Planet Visibility Planet visibility times are based on the planet being at least 5 degrees high and 30 minutes from either sunrise or sunset. Event Sun Rise Sun Set Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn

09/21 05:18 17:30 17:42 – 17:48 01:36 - 05:18 18:00 – 19:12 20:42 – 05:06 18:00 – 18:36

Event Sun Rise Sun Set Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn

10/05 05:34 17:07 17:18 – 17:30 02:06 – 05:36 17:36 – 18:42 20:00 – 05:24 17:36 – 17:54

09/22@09:48 Northern fall

begins – September Equinox 09/22@14:40 First Quarter Moon 09/25@17:00 September Equilux – Day and night are equal 09/28 50th Anniversary of Canada’s first satellite launch – Alouette, 1962

09/29@02:15 Uranus at opposition, directly behind the Earth and closest to the Earth approx. 2,851.500,000 km or 1,771.800,000 miles) 09/29@11:06 Spring begins in Mars’ southern hemisphere.

09/29@22:18 Full Moon 10/03@02:15 Venus 0.1 degrees from Regulus 10/04 The Soviet Sputnik 1 becomes the first human-made satellite to orbit the Earth. This was the beginning of the Space Race, 1957 10/04@18:00 Dracoid Meteor Shower 4/meteors per hour 10/04@19:37 Moon at Apogee, furthest from the Earth, 405,100 km or 251,700 mi 10/05@00:01 Mercury 3.1 degrees from Saturn 10/05@18:00 Dracoid Meteor Shower 6/meteors per hour 10/05@20:30 Moon 3.4 degrees from Jupiter 10/06@18:00 Dracoid Meteor Shower 9/meteors per hour 10/07@18:00 Dracoid Meteor Shower 11/meteors per hour, possible outburst could raise this up to 60/meteors/hour. 10/07@21:00 Dracois Meteor Shower Maximum 10/07@22:30 Mercury at Aphelion, furthest from the

11 Sun, approx. 69,817,300 km or 43,382,500 miles 10/08@02:33 Last Quarter Moon 10/08@18:00 Dracois Meteor Shower 10/meteors per hour 10/09@18:00 Dracois Meteor Shower 8/meteors per hour 10/10@18:00 Dracoid Meteor Shower 5/meteors per hour 10/12@07:30 Moon 6.3 degrees from Venus 10/14 65th Anniversary of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, 1947 10/15@07:02 New Moon 10/15@Moon 4.4 degrees from Saturn 10/16@19:52 Moon at Perigee, closest to the Earth, 360,700 km or 224,100 mi 10/18@17:06 Moon 4.6 degrees from Mars 10/19@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 6 meteors/hour 10/20@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 8 meteors/hour 10/21@04:00 Orionid Meteor Shower, 10 meteors/hour 10/21@14:00 Orionid Meteor Shower Maximum 10/21@22:32 First Quarter Moon.

Experience the beauty of autumn at UMPI