UMaine Students Catch a Falling Star

November 19th, 2009

By Cassandra Coulthard
Journalism major, Dixfield, Maine

Monday night was an exciting event for many people all over the world. The Leonid meteor shower could be seen from almost every location worldwide. It was said that Asia had the best meteor show, upward of 200 meteors per hour, but the back yard of my apartment sufficed just as well.

It was the talk of the campus for the entire day. The Leonid show was mentioned in every one of my classes, so from the start of my day I knew it was something I had to stay awake to see.

If you didn’t get the chance to watch it yourself, try to catch a meteor show next November, they seem to occur around the same time. It is definitely something everyone must witness during their lifetime — add it to your bucket list.

The best time to watch a meteor show is super early in the morning, between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay up the entire time and be functional for my classes Tuesday morning, so I set an alarm to wake up at 3:30 a.m. I felt like I was like I was 6 years old again on Christmas Eve. I let my excitement get to me and I couldn’t sleep. I was so anxious to see the show and worried that I would sleep through my alarm that I was jumping up at every noise.

Finally the time came and my friends and I bundled up to head outside. Most of my friend and classmates met on campus to watch from one of the large, dimly lit fields: the Mall, soccer field, tennis courts, etc.

It was below freezing that night so we grabbed our warmest clothes and blankets to lie on. We sat behind our apartment and searched for the Leo constellation, the point from which the meteors were supposed to appear to originate. We should have had our astronomer-buff roommate with us; we didn’t have much luck finding anything but the Big and Little Dippers. Luckily, the meteors didn’t originate in any central location they appeared to streak across the sky from all different angles and locations.

Watching the Leonids grace the night sky made us feel pretty small in this huge universe. We saw one after another, without a huge delay. Each meteor was different — some would travel fast, others slower, and some left trails of light behind them, while others only appeared for a split second and were gone again. The best meteor of the night turned out to be a bat flying about – ha ha.

We had a lot of fun waking up in the wee hours of the night to watch the light show. We felt like renegades staying up until 5:30 in the morning on a school night. When the clouds started covering the sky we decided it was time to turn in and head back to bed for a couple of hours. We were only outside for about an hour and a half, but it was enough to make a memory for life.

The Leonid show exceeded all of my expectations. While it may have been more fun to join the other students on campus for a group viewing event, it was nice being with my friends in the privacy of our back yard.

The meteors were visible again early Wednesday morning, but I couldn’t stay up two nights in a row. Now that I’ve experienced my first meteor shower I can’t wait for one next year!

Meteor Shower Survival Information

• The key is to be in a safe area that has no surrounding light, this way you get the full experience of the meteors lighting up the sky with out fabricated light interference.
• Choose a wide open location, this way no trees or buildings can obstruct your view. You want to be able to see as much of the sky as possible so you won’t miss any meteors.
• Dress warmly! November seems to be the time of year that meteors are the most visible.
• Bring blankets, pillows and anything else to get comfy; keep in mind that the ground could be wet.
• Bring flashlights and possibly snacks if you plan to be outside for a while.
• It is best to watch the show with a couple people or a group; there is safety in numbers.
• Keep your eyes peeled. Meteors are fast little buggers, so if you’re not paying attention you could miss them.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

The Nutrition Club: A Healthy Alternative

November 19th, 2009

By Jessica Currier
Journalism major, Brewer, Maine

With over 200 clubs and organizations on campus, students are bound to find one that they are interested in. Students join clubs at the University of Maine to gain experience in the field of education, meet new friends, do something fun, and to add to their transcripts. For me, I joined the nutrition club because I am interested in learning about health for myself and for my future.

It was easy to join, all I had to do was go to the first meeting and sign up. They even had free pizza for everyone that was interested in joining! As an official member of the club, I learned what we would be doing for the semester. The meetings are held every other week and only last about 20 minutes. Each member signs up for a volunteer program — we do volunteer work during the first week of the month for four months. Among the options are  volunteering at the YMCA in Old Town, UMaine Recreation and Fitness Center or Ronald McDonald House, or putting on a bake sale in the union.

When volunteering for the YMCA, students work with children in the after-school program, play nutrition games, cook meals for them and give parents a presentation on healthy eating. At the rec center, we give seminars on weight loss and healthy eating. For the other volunteer program, the Ronald McDonald house, members cook a healthy, fresh meal for families who have a family member in the hospital. A few other volunteer programs that the club participates in are bake sales, Relay for Life, and cooking for Manna Soup Kitchen — which was the first program I participated in.

In our group we decided to go apple picking and bake apple pies for the soup kitchen. Unfortunately, we were unable to go apple picking due to the weather, but we bought a couple bags of apples from Hannaford and put together the pies. I also volunteered at the bake sale. We set up a stand in the union and sold a variety of cookies and baked goods, donation only. Many students laughed at the fact that the nutrition club was doing a bake sale, but we did try to have a few healthy options! I contributed to this, and made protein no-bake cookies, which were delicious and are a good post-gym snack. In the end, everyone loved the cookies, and we raised money for the club.

I have really enjoyed being a member of the nutrition club and being active on campus. It has given me the opportunity to meet new friends and taught me new ways to eat healthily.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Hop To It

November 18th, 2009

By Jessica Currier
Journalism major, Brewer, Maine

If you ever want a taste of Maine, I recommend going to The Grasshopper Shop in downtown Bangor. This locally owned boutique is very popular throughout the state of Maine. It offers a range of products including cooking supplies, jewelry, clothing, shoes, books, body care products, home decor and toys.

When I first walked through the door of The Grasshopper Shop, I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the different things throughout the store. The first shelf that I saw was filled with Maine baking and cooking ingredients. There were blueberry-flavored coffee beans, wild blueberry marmalade, blueberry pancake mix, and blueberry syrup — due to Maine’s abundance of wild blueberry fields.

The Grasshopper Shop is probably best known for its jewelry. The selection is one of the best around, in my opinion. Not only do they have regular Sterling silver jewelry, but they also have an assortment of handmade jewelry, which offers shoppers unique options. I was particularly interested in bracelets made out of spoons. The designer melted the ends of the spoons together, bent the spoons into an oval, and the bracelet was complete. Each one had a different inscription or pattern, given by what sort of spoons were used and by which brand they came from.

The clothing selection is targeted toward older adults, and most items are made from organic or natural fibers and are a bit pricey. But I did find a bamboo dress that I really liked — it was casual, dark blue, with a plain v-neck. With bangles, a long necklace, and white tights, I could dress it up a bit.

I also noticed a ton of cookbooks, books to read for pleasure, Burt’s Bees and Crabtree and Evelyn body care products, silverware, candles, purses, sunglasses, dinnerware, lamps and mirrors. After looking through everything, I realized that I hadn’t even been downstairs — the whole floor is filled with toys and fun trinkets for children.

The Grasshopper Shop’s broad range of products leaves shoppers with an opportunity to find something great for anyone. And with their concentration on being eco-friendly, you’ll never go wrong purchasing from there.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Class choices: Keep an Open Mind

November 18th, 2009

By Laila Sholtz-Ames
Journalism major/Honors College, Exeter, Maine

I began my freshman year in 2006 with a road map of exactly what I wanted to do for all four years.

I’m a broadcast journalism major who writes articles for the Maine Campus newspaper and dabbles in photography. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, which classes I wanted to take and what I wanted to study, and I was intent on reaching my goal. I thought that I knew everything I wanted to do.  That’s why, when I found out that I had to take CMJ 343 and CMJ 340 (two radio journalism courses) I was far from thrilled. Despite never having tried radio, I was already convinced that radio wasn’t my cup of tea and I really wasn’t looking forward to a new form of journalism.

In our first class, Anastasia Lima, the graduate assistant teaching the radio lab class (CMJ 343), told us that every class we would be given the chance to create a news broadcast for WMEB 91.9, the campus radio station. In the two-hour class time slot, we are responsible for writing the readers (very quick news stories), editing two packages (longer stories, equivalent to feature stories in newspapers) and writing leads and transitions. Each week, we rotate between producing the broadcast, anchoring, engineering the broadcast and creating the packages, which allows us to garner experience in all aspects of radio broadcast.

When I started the class, I was convinced that radio wasn’t for me. After all, writing for the newspaper — something I am used to doing — does not require getting sound bits or editing clips, or working on voice tone. Even in broadcast, newscasters can rely on visual images to help tell the story. But radio, as I soon found out, is a whole different animal. I was so sure that I wouldn’t like the lack of visuals, and the detail needed in radio, but after a few weeks of listening to NPR, learning to write short, concise readers and creating packages, I realized that maybe I wasn’t as open-minded as I could be.

Now we’re working on our final project. My lab group will be looking at art in Maine, and then we’re going to come together with the three other lab sections to create a documentary, which will be broadcast on the campus radio station. I realize that I was mistaken in believing I had figured out everything I wanted to do in college.

As I get closer and closer to graduation, I know that I really do want to continue writing and probably go into print journalism, but I am glad I got the chance to try radio. My advice to new students: even if you are sure you know what you want to, don’t be afraid to try something new. Go ahead and sign up for that class that you don’t know anything about, and even if a certain class is required and it doesn’t sound as great as you think, it might surprise you. As for me, I’ve already signed up for a new and different course: ANT 441, anthropology of the people of the Pacific Islands. Who knows, maybe it’ll be my favorite class of the year.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Life with a Roommate

November 17th, 2009

Oghenetega Dibie
Computer Engineering major/Honors College, Kaduna, Nigeria

For every senior in high school, the thought of living with a roommate is a big topic worth considering. It can be quite challenging if you have a roommate whose views are opposite from yours. The experience varies as different people with different preferences are paired as roommates.

In my case, it was a little bit difficult. I am a native of Nigeria and was paired with someone from the state of Maine. Our ideas and backgrounds are so different, which made it a little bit difficult for us to interact. First, I felt it was going to be easy to live with a roommate, but that was not exactly the case. The first week went well and after then, we began to exhibit our true characters which caused small differences.

I have an attribute of always keeping everything clean around me, which my roommate doesn’t have — he would always put his clothes on the floor, his books on the chair, he didn’t really care about the state of room. We had small but heated debates about the situation of our room and after a while he began to understand the importance of cleanliness. Now, he actually notifies me whenever I do anything messy. We began to create solutions to all of our differences gradually. In time, he has become a mentor of American culture to me and I have become a mentor of African culture to him. Together, we make a great team.

Though, we started off on the wrong path, we gradually formed a relationship comparable to that the relationship I have with my brothers. I love dorm life.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

A Day of Remembrance

November 12th, 2009

By Laila Sholtz-Ames
Journalism major/Honors College, Exeter, Maine

Last year, my friend Brice was serving his second tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq. He joined the army when he was 18, just after 9/11. Eight years later, he is still serving the country because, as he told me, he wanted to “fight for America and make a difference.”

Thankfully, Brice returned from Iraq this past July and enrolled at the University of California. But Brice, like many other veterans, is sometimes forgotten. That’s why with Veterans Day, it’s important, regardless of one’s political views, to give thanks for veterans all across America.

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans from wars both past and present. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is usually observed on Nov. 11 and honors the 24.9 million military veterans in the United States. The holiday gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of U.S. veterans and their families.

My friend Rachel Olivares, who is the daughter of an Iraq war veteran, said that she felt Americans often take Veterans day for granted.

“My father has been on a tour of duty in Iraq and he’s just done so much for this country,” Olivares said. “And sometimes I think the work that veterans do is forgotten about.”

As I walked around the university, I saw several signs that acknowledged soldiers, as well as ads on television that give thanks for the military. But, as we get caught up in everyday classes, homework and essays, we often forget about the people that are sacrificing their lives for us.

Several organizations on campus did take the time to support veterans, including cadets from UMaine’s Army and Navy ROTC programs, who participated in the annual Veterans Day vigil. The  event took place Wednesday afternoon on the steps of Fogler Library in front of the University Mall and the ROTC color guard stood at attention in full dress uniforms to honor veterans from all of America’s wars. The vigil consisted of teams of cadets posting two rifles and four flags throughout eight 30-minute shifts.

David Welch, a UMaine graduate student, said he recognized the sacrifices that America’s veterans make on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s a really sobering event when we think about veterans, and I think we need to remember their sacrifices,” he said. “Whether it is with parades, ceremonies or picnics, Nov. 11 shouldn’t be the only day to remember our  military veterans and the sacrifices that we often take for granted. As Americans, we must make sure to pay tribute today, tomorrow and every day in the future.”

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Orono’s Newest Restaurant a Hit

November 11th, 2009

By Jessica Currier
Journalism major, Brewer, Maine

Energy, vitality, and life.

These words are what Verve, the newest restaurant in downtown Orono, spreads to its customers, many of whom are students from the University of Maine. Verve is open for breakfast and lunch and offers burritos, coffee and smoothies.

In between classes one day, my friend and I decided to try Verve for lunch. As we walked in, I was really surprised by the homelike environment welcoming us. There were tables along the windows looking out at the streets of downtown Orono, and an area filled with couches and comfortable chairs. Bookshelves filled with books on peace, nature, and the philosophy of life surround the seating area, available for any customer to glance through while enjoying their breakfast or lunch.

After taking in the scenery, my friend and I looked through the menu, which consisted of breakfast burritos, bagels, coffee, regular burritos, and quesadillas. Verve serves breakfast burritos until 11 a/,/, and fillings include scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream, bacon, sausage guacamole and  vegetables. These options (with the exception of bacon and eggs) are also available for the regular burritos, served for the rest of the day until Verve closes at 4 p.m

The fillings are stuffed into 10- or 12-inch white or wheat tortillas, and the burritos range in price from $2.99 to $6.25. I choose the fajita veggie burrito on a wheat tortilla with brown rice, black beans, cheese, guacamole and fresh veggies. A little messy, but overall one of the best burritos I have ever had! Along with my burrito, I poured myself a hot cup of hazelnut coffee freshly roasted by Carrabassett Coffee Co. and sat down to enjoy my meal.

As I ate my meal, I noticed that the bagels Verve serves are from Bagel Central in Bangor (you can read my post about it here). Another popular item on the menu are smoothies made with organic Stonyfield Farm yogurt and whole fruit, which cost $3.99. Smoothie flavors include banana, strawberry-banana, blackberry-banana, mango, blueberry and raspberry. For 99 cents, you have the option to add a booster to a smoothie, such as Power, Detox, Green Defense and Verve for boosters. The Power Booster is organic hemp protein used to build lean muscle; Detox is wheatgrass, dandelion root, and beet power to detoxify and restore body balance; Green Defense is spirulina, kelp, and chlorella, used to strengthen the immune system; and lastly, Verve is bee pollen, ginkgo leaf and maca root, which energizes the body and clears the mind.

The menu at Verve is great for everyone, but especially great for vegetarians because of the fresh vegetables, rice, and black beans that you can put in your burritos and quesadillas. For a quick lunch and break between classes, Verve is a great place to relax and hang out with your friends in downtown Orono.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Culturefest Celebrates International Diversity

November 10th, 2009

By Oghenetega Dibie
Computer Engineering major

This past Saturday, members of the International Students Association showcased the diversity of culture at UMaine at Culturefest. Students at the fair represented countries such as Nigeria, Malawi, Cameroon, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Germany, to name a few. These presentations made me appreciate culture and its diversity at UMaine.

Several events caught the attention of the audience at the Culturefest, including the cultural heritage displays. I personally represented Africa at the African table, and I had the chance to see what African culture means to the general public. On display on our table was a representation of an ancient African god, shoes, dresses, ancient means of communication and more. People generally saw the African culture as interesting as it combined a variety of styles. Other highlights of Culturefest were a samba demonstration and a variety of ethnic foods such as Korean egg rolls and suya (African delight).

The fashion show was arguably the biggest event at Culturefest. I represented Nigeria in this event — I dressed as a native of northern Nigeria known as the Hausa and I accompanied my brother, Ogheneovo Dibie, who dressed as an Urhobo, an ethnic group in southern Nigeria. This event involved people from various countries walking down the stage in traditional dress. About 20 countries were represented at the fashion show, including Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Swaziland. People in the audience said this was “incredible,” not only because of the display of cultural heritage but also because of the unity this fashion show brought.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off

Being a Theater Major is for “The Birds”

November 6th, 2009

By Eileen Nadeau
Theater major, Springfield, Mass.

It’s never an easy task adapting classic dramatic literature and it’s quite another thing to update it for a contemporary audience. Then there are the people who update it by thrusting it into a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world in the style of “Mad Max.”  This is what director Tom Mikotowicz has decided to undertake with Aristophanes’ comedy “The Birds,” first performed nearly 2,500 years ago in Greece. Tonight, this updated classic will open at Hauck Auditorium at the University of Maine.

In the fifth century B.C., Aristophanes wrote “The Birds” as a political satire with Pisthetaerus (played today by Theater major Anthony Arnista) as the hero of the story.  Upon deciding that he’s sick of Athens and wants a new way of life, he takes inspiration from a story of an Athenian prince who is turned into a bird and sets out with his friend Euelpides on a journey to this bird and to persuade him to help create a city of their own and a place he can call home without the bickering and politics of Athens.  But can he create a new city without bringing those things with him?

With a cast of over 30 university students and even more working behind the scenes to build and light the incredible set, the scope of the production was not one of ease. Ambitious set designs by Dan Bilodeau transform Hauck into great, ravaged ruins, drawing the audience into the action by extending the stage right out into the hall and putting the players right in the laps of patrons. The costumes, designed by Frank Champa, highlight the origins of “The Birds” while intergrating modern themes and turning the feathered characters into a gang of punkers.

“The Birds,” which runs through Nov. 15 in Hauck Auditorium, promises to be an exciting night of culture and humor. From the madcap mind of director Tom Mikotowicz and the ancient words of Aristophanes comes the most stunning play you’ll see all year.

Posted in Spotlights | Comments Off

Trial By Lobster

November 3rd, 2009

By Oghenetega Dibie
Computer Engineering major, Kaduna, Nigeria

It sounded strange to people when I told them I had my first lobster few days ago. Yes it’s true, my very first lobster. In my native land, Nigeria, one of the missing species in the sea world is lobsters. I got to eat my first lobster courtesy of the special lobster and steak dinner organized by Hilltop and York Dining. In my opinion, it was magnificent, not just because it was a first in my life but also because of the lobster’s importance to every student on campus.

Well, it was a great to have my first lobster but not so great getting the meat out. I didn’t know how to break down the lobster into edible form. I spent quite a while figuring that out. First, I looked to my left hand side to check on how other students were getting the shell off.  They made it seem easy, so I put away the manual that explained how to take the shell off. I spent several minutes trying to get meat out it but it was all in vain. At last, I had to get another manual – I followed all instructions on the manual exactly and at the end was able to get the shell off. It was a great relief for me to finally get lobster meat, and I enjoyed every minute after I got the shell off. It had a great taste — something I recommend for everyone.

Well, I guess the hard work paid off. As a student at the University of Maine, I have had the opportunity to experience many new things — like lobster. I love lobster, even if I don’t like the work it requires beforehand.

Posted in Bloggers | Comments Off