Junior Economics Major

The biggest change to student government, should I be elected, would be that the issues students care about would become the issues the senate cares about. This may sound simple, but consider this: at a meeting earlier this semester, the senate debated for over 20 minutes about the best way to thank the dining commons for lending us a punch bowl. I repeat, 20 minutes – and they were talking about a punch bowl.

Should I be elected, the senate would expand its reach beyond punch bowls. Should I be elected, we will poll students to identify their number one problem, and then we will devote ourselves to fixing it. A certain amount of time at each meeting will be designated to solving the problem. It could be student government’s issue of the week, or issue of the month or issue of the year depending how long it takes to address the concern. We would not quit until the problem was solved. Once we came to a solution, we would hold another poll and move onto the next issue. Just imagine it: student government actually solving students’ problems.

It is time for a change. It’s time for student government to concentrate on the concerns of students. If you want someone who will change student government into a group that actually helps students, and someone who has the experience to pull it off, vote Mike Mayo for student body president.

Rebecca Bode

Junior English Major

I know that many of you are unsure of my capabilities, and may be in the dark about why I am actually running. I want to assure you that I am 100 percent serious about this candidacy, as well as confident in my abilities. Although I have not been a member of student government, that does not affect my ability to think as a student of this university, act as an icon for my fellow undergraduates, make decisions, and execute them. I also believe that since I have not been involved with student government, I am not biased to any particular sides, and can see the picture from a student’s point of view.

I am easy to work with, learn very quickly, and am very open to ideas. I am running because I feel that I would be the best candidate for you, and I know that I am up for the challenge. When faced with pressure, I don’t back down, and this has been apparent throughout this race. Despite people’s opinions of me, I have stepped up to the plate, and pressed on with the election. I am the most down-to-earth candidate, as well as the one who is most concerned with listening to your ideas. My major areas of focus include lighting, filling the Director of External Affairs position, and making sure that student government continues to work for the students.

I have no master plan to dictate or run things my way. I want to accomplish what you want me to. I would be honored to be your representative, to serve you, the student body, the administration, the student government, and the community. You should vote for me because if elected, I know that you will be both surprised and satisfied with the quality of my work.

Cortlynn Hepler

Senior Economics and Psychology Major

My platform is based on a triad of bringing more information to students, firing up student government to be more active, and listening to the students’ voices.

To these goal’s ends, I have already established a Web site, improvecampus.cjb.net, which has what I consider to be some of the key information students should have. My plan to make student government more active is by using current resources to increase accessibility. Examples are the Maine Channel, WMEB 91.9FM, and The Maine Campus.

From the beginning of my campaign, I have been out meeting students while passing out more than 800 flyers. The resounding voice that I’ve heard has helped me determine that my first job as president will be to fix campus lighting. By writing generous alumni and local businesses, I will put in the time and seek grants personally for this project.

The voices that I’ve listened to have also mentioned parking. I want to make the administration and Parking Services take more responsibility when there are lot closings and special events that conflict with student parking. My suggestion is something as simple as getting this information put on 581-SNOW, so that students can prepare accordingly.

I hope that people can relate to my platform and see that I am sincere in listening to the students’ voices. I bring with me the experience necessary to perform this role, but more important, I bring with me the passion to be this university’s next student body president.

If anyone has any questions, please e-mail me directly.

Cameron Lyall, a “Proud member of the [the University of Maine] ice hockey team,” recently wrote a letter to the editor that was rude and unnecessary. His response was to Marshal Dury’s article entitled “Hug me, I’m a cheater” and Dury’s point was that student-athletes should not get special privileges in signing up for classes: i.e. freshman athletes being able to sign up for classes at the same time as all seniors. What has bothered me most in Lyall’s response is his sheer disregard for his peers at UMaine.

Repeatedly he insults most of the student body by stating “it’s just that we are above people like Dury, and more important to the school” and “Exactly what Dury is…average. Sorry, but I never intended to be average in any point in my life.” The arrogance found in this letter is astonishing.

First off, this is an educational facility. If it were not for the “average” people here, or anywhere for that matter, Lyall would not be playing hockey. UMaine should first and foremost be a learning facility, and I suppose that a percentage of the student-athletes here need to realize this. They also need to be at least a little grateful for the fact that we attend school here and “pay for their tuition” as Lyall notes at the end. We are also the ones who cheer them on at a game.

Finally, don’t call me average. I, like Lyall, do not intend to be average and that is why I am at UMaine as well – I too want to make something of myself. Do not underestimate me or any of our peers.

Rob Betz

Sophomore civil engineering major

*Commie profs

Why do the University of Maine professors hate America? In response to the Maine Peace Action Committee’s scathing review of the Iraqi conference that was held, I think to truly be a communist requires one to be godless and hate capitalism. The only groups in the world today that are most closely aligned with the communist professors are the Muslim terrorists in Iraq and France. Both groups hate capitalism and Christianity mostly due to the individual liberties that are required for both to flourish. But why Muslim terrorists? They satisfy the second litmus test that one must be willing to die fighting against groups that worship God.

The communist professors were huge backers of the USSR, but when the United States liberated the communists and they demanded their God-given freedom and individuality back, they did two things: (1) reverted back to practicing Christianity and (2) the now free Jews immigrated to Israel by the millions. Then when things couldn’t get worse, their friends – the communist Chinese – have chosen a new system of capitalism with their major manufacturing capabilities over the past few years. The professors hate Wal-Mart because the Chinese government is moving away from Communism. So who is left to align with? Who really hates Christianity and the United States together? Muslim terrorists hate both for sure.

A group of your communist professors banded together recently to rally against the combination of new business interests in Iraq and a conference at UMaine. Unfortunately, they prefer the Iraqi people to be ruled by a murdering, raping band of Muslim terrorists than to have individual freedom, self-actualization and self-determination. It’s too bad that UMaine professors have the ability to tell students what to think and that some students leave the classroom hating their country.

Philip S. Drew

UMaine Class of 1989

But seriously, the legal print from two of the three, Chase and Visa, indicated that collection of personal information was for the use of fighting against money laundering activities and terrorism. I had to check in the dictionary what the first one was, but the second one sent an immediate signal to my brain. I’m hungry, it said. Then it sent a second signal, and I realized I had in my possession concrete proof that we have learned from our experience of two years ago. We have indeed implemented steps to never again let such a thing happen. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Have you seen those commercials recently where there’s a person talking, except it’s clearly not that person’s voice detailing adventures in credit spending? The point is that identity theft leads to ventriloquism, I think. Regardless, my discovery led me to question the third offer, the one curiously enough from the University of Maine Alumni Association, which featured no such disclosure. Should I be concerned that my school apparently doesn’t care if Osama bin Laden surfaces in order to steal my credit card?

Or perhaps this is a case of a biased sampling. If it is, then perhaps what I really need is more than three credit card applications to appear in my mailbox. Then I can cross-examine each of them in a scientific study involving complicated math problems that feature odd symbols and impossible calculations that would challenge even Albert Einstein – who would obviously needs to be revived somehow so the experiment could feel complete.

Just think. My routine up to this week had been to simply discard these gifts from the gods of plenty, of what I can’t say in a family newspaper. The allure was overpowering this time around. The Chase envelope boasted a recommendation by consumer-credit-cards-guide.com that read, simply enough, “Best Student Credit Card.” The Visa envelope featured a clever Instant Message design: How could I pass on such a thing? The Alumni envelope had a window where a promised Free Gift Offer! turned out to be a sweatshirt that was lovingly embossed with the words “Your School Logo Here!”

Indeed, I was moved. I think I’ll fill out all three applications. How could I possibly choose from among such enticing options? It was a learning experience. I don’t know how I can ever go back to the days where I threw this stuff away. By this time next year I anticipate becoming the proud owner of upwards of 100credit cards, enough I hope to fund an expedition to find Bigfoot. In the event of failure, there will be other applications waiting for me, which I can fill out and then use the cards that arrive to pay off all the other bills.

And they said nothing good comes from spam. Right now, I’m feeling superior to those scientists. I hold in my hands the power of No Annual Fee. Now seriously, what beats that? Oh, right, helping to win the fight against terrorism, one credit card at a time.

Anthony Laplume is a senior English major.

Like “Blackhawk Down,” “Master and Commander” is more focused on the events and the crew, than on any single character. The director’s efforts to reproduce the realistic environment in which a sailor of the British fleet would find himself during the early 1800s are evident from the picture’s sheer volume of detail. Production designer, William Sandell, and set decorator, Robert Gould, successfully manage to recreate the 19th century British style of decoration down to the smallest possible details. The attempt to portray the events realistically does not end there, as Weir has the actors covered in grime, grease, sweat and filth, in contrast to the traditional Hollywood attempts at glossing over the grittier elements of film settings. “Master and Commander” is more in keeping with the amazing work done by Wolfgang Petersen in “Das Boot” than with the mediocre efforts in “U-571.” Director Peter Weir further avoids Hollywood clich�s by not engaging in excessive special effects during battle scenes, leaving out the dramatic fireballs that pervade the action genre, in favor of much more realistic explosions, damage and injuries. Russell Crowe shines in his role as Captain Aubrey in much the same way that he excelled in his role in “Gladiator.” The audience is able, through this movie, to experience the same awe and wonderment as those of the period must have experienced upon discovering all of the treasures in the New World. Peter Weir’s directorial prowess enables him to sail “Master and Commander” into a level of distinction which will no doubt usher it into a place in the Best Picture category of next year’s awards ceremonies. “Master and Commander” is one of the year’s best films and certain to please audiences everywhere.

Most everyone on this campus has at least heard of this group. In some circles, their following has become startlingly similar to that of boy band status. With their amazing vocal styling and corny brand of humor, the Steiners are guaranteed to entertain any crowd, and this past weekend was no exception. They started things off with an amazing rendition of the song, “Shimmering.”

While their singing talent is a given among those in the know, it must be acknowledged that their comedy is downright hysterical. Their show was full of shameless CD plugs and hilarious “Heroes of UMaine” ditties, that were a take off on the popular Bud Light commercials.

After a brief first set, the Steiners took a break and the ladies of Renaissance took the stage. Their singing ability is a force to be reckoned with. Over the past five years, Renaissance has changed and its caliber has evolved with them. The singers completely took the packed lecture hall by storm with their incredible voices. A definite high point of their set was their performance of Sarah McLaughlin’s “Possession,” lead by the absolutely stunning Kat Roy. Their standing ovation brought out a wonderful encore number.

“Renaissance is currently recording their first ever professional CD in Blue Hill with Kokomanya Productions.

We are hoping to release our CD in early to mid spring; the name is to be determined,” Caitlin Whalen, a member of the group, said. “We are also very excited about our recent acceptance to compete in the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella, which the Maine Steiners took third place in last year.”

The Steiners then came back on, all dressed down for their second set and ready to go nuts once again. Their energy is so contagious that it is impossible not to clap to the beat when the time is appropriate. At this time, the humor began to unfold in an uproarious fashion. The Steiners then managed to do something almost impossible by covering Sting’s song, “Fields of Gold,” and making it sound amazing.

For all who missed this past weekends two performances of these two gifted singing groups, it’s not too late to check out their current and upcoming CDs. The Maine Steiner’s most recent recording, “Depth,” can be found at University Bookstore. Both groups will have concerts again next semester.

In one segment, performed by only two of the drummers, the crowd participation became, itself, a part of the show. When it began, only one drummer was onstage, beating simple one-two-three-four counts on a drum and convincing the audience to repeat the rhythms he played by clapping. He would play and then stare at the crowd with a goofy grin on his face that you could not help but laugh at.

As he was playing one rhythm, another drummer walked up and began playing an extremely fast and technical rhythm. When he stopped, the original drummer frowned and looked down, and then walked off into the darkness. He returned several seconds later with a bigger drum. Everyone was able to see what would come next, as they took turns playing and then running off to grab a bigger drum.

By the end of the segment, they were playing at a speed only definable as “obscene,” and when it was over, they were both rewarded with applause and cheers.

In another section, a lone woman sat in the middle of the stage playing a shamisen (a type of Japanese lute). She performed a series of beautiful, oriental melodies. As the piece progressed, she was joined by two other women playing shamisen, producing harmonies to move the soul. Finally, they were joined by the rest of the drummers, creating a musical tapestry both mind-blowing and sonically pleasing.

The energy exuded by every member of Yamato added with the excitement and awe of the audience combined in an awe-inspiring mix. It was an evening of magic put to music through the use of rhythm, the most primal form of musicality ever created by the human race. In few words, Yamato is entertainment at its best.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s 1939 book of poetry, “Old Book of Practical Cats,” “CATS” uses his poems to portray a beautiful musical looking at the lives of a group of junkyard cats. Some of the songs are literally poems written by Eliot just put to music.

Previously, the musical ran for more than 20 years on Broadway in New York City before it was retired. Then in 1999, “CATS” opened again, beginning its tour in New York.

Thursday evening, the touring group of “CATS” came to the stage of the Maine Center for the Arts, performing for a sold-out crowd of young and old alike. The opening number “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” explains most of the premise of the show – there will be a ball for the Jellicle cats, and at the ball, Old Deuteronomy will choose a cat who can be reborn. The show continues on, introducing a few of the important cats to the audience, such as the fickle rock star Rum Tum Tugger, Gus the Theater Cat, and Mr. Mistoffelees the Magician. The most notable musical numbers were “The Old Gumbie Cat,” about a chubby cat who taught mice how to be proper rather than chasing them, and “Growltiger’s Last Stand,” a song about the pirate, Growltiger, and the love of his life, Griddlebone. The two sing a beautiful operatic piece, followed quickly by Siamese cats attacking them.

The cast’s incredible sense of cats and how they move, along with their amazing dance numbers made for a wonderful production.

“Some of the vocals seemed off, but that added to the cat-like sound,” Kate St. John, a junior history major, said.

In some of the original productions, during “The Naming of Cats,” the cast would end on a few sour notes, and a large shoe would be thrown onto stage as if it were from some poor neighbors window who was trying to sleep. This particular production chose not to do that, but you could still get a sense of the purposeful nature of the off notes.

“It was an exhilarating explosion of color and costumes,” Michelle Reynolds, a junior journalism major, said.

From tabby cats to Persians, nearly every kind of feline was represented on stage, and for a few numbers some of the cats even dressed up as mice or roaches. The costumes were intricate and very well put together, somehow turning the human actors into their feline characters very easily.

“For the shows we’ve had [at the MCA] this semester, this is my favorite,” Nicole Norman, a junior social work major, said.

After the final feel-good number of “The Journey to the Heavyside Layer,” a song about the cat’s version of heaven that they are sent to for rebirth, the crowd could be seen smiling and clapping. “CATS” left every member of the crowd feeling purrfectly warm and fuzzy all over.

“That was the story of our season,” UMaine head coach Rick Filighera said. “Started off slow, had a good second period, got punched in the mouth and came back and found a way to win plus dealt with every adversity you could think about in a game. This could be a real good point for us in the season. That’s the point where we are trying to get over the top. This is a huge win for our program.”

In Sunday’s penalty-laden game, the Friars got on the board first when senior defenseman Kelli Halcisak scored at 12:15 of the first period off an assist from freshman forward Karen Thatcher.

In the second period, the Black Bears tied the game at 1-1 when junior forward Cheryl White scored at 12:39 as Providence sophomore goaltender Jana Budgen tried to get back into position. White found a big empty net to score in.

Two minutes later senior forward Meagan Aarts scored in front of the net in her first of two goals of the day.

The Friars tied the game back up at 2-2 at 10:34 of the third period when junior forward Rush Zimmerman found the left side of the net for the goal. Senior defenseman Meredith Roth and senior forward Darlene Stephenson assisted on the goal for the Friars.

Three minutes later, Aarts scored her second goal of the game and the game-winning goal off a rebound on the left side of the net. Senior forward Karen Droog and sophomore forward Morgan Janusc assisted on the goal.

Black Bear senior goaltender Lara Smart made 25 saves while Budgen stopped 16 for the Friars.

“I am happy for the women,” Filighera said. “They deserved it. I hope they cherish it. This is going to be a special moment especially for my seniors for the first time we’ve ever beaten Providence. It’s the number nine team in the country and we busted our butts for a long time to get to this point. So I am really happy for them.”

In Saturday’s game, Zimmerman scored the first goal of the game when she won the faceoff to the left of Smart and passed to Halcisak who fired a shot from the blue line. Zimmerman then tipped the shot past Smart at 3:45 of the first period.

About five minutes later Black Bear freshman forward Sonja Corriveau tied the game at 1-1 on a two-on-one advantage past senior goaltender Amy Quinlan.

In the second period, Halicek notched the game-winning goal at 11:04 of the period when the Friars had a five-on-three advantage. Roth and Zimmerman assisted on the power play goal.

There would be no scoring for the rest of the game as the Friars outshot the Black Bears 35-17. Smart made 33 saves for the Black Bears while Quinlan stopped 16 for the Friars and earned her first win of the season.

“You can not have the chances we get and not finish,” Filighera said. “We did a lot of things well. I don’t know what to say. I am very frustrated, because I am tired of losing 2-1, 1-0, 3-2, 4-3, and 5-4. Coming up one goal short hurts a lot more than it does when you are getting blown out because we are there. This team really needs just to figure out a way to finish around the net. We got to get some ugly goals, but I am happy with the effort.”

The Black Bears will face Harvard on the road next Saturday at 2 p.m. before returning home to play a set with Northeastern on Dec. 6 and 7 at 1 p.m.

At the start of Friday’s game at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass., the Black Bears came out of the gates putting plenty of shots on sophomore goalie Gabe Winer, but were unable to beat him. Dustin Penner and John Ronan had the best chances early, both hitting the post less than ten minutes into the game.

The Black Bears’ inability to score early came back to bite them when the UMass Minutemen took the lead late in the period. Craig McDonald led a rush into the zone, sliding the puck to sophomore Stephen Werner behind the net. Werner didn’t set up for long as he found defenseman James Solon sneaking in between the circles unmarked. Werner got the puck to him for a one-timer that beat Jimmy Howard at 14:58 of the first period to give UMass the 1-0 lead.

UMaine had a great chance to equalize midway through the second when the team was awarded a penalty shot when a UMass defenseman closed his hand on the puck while standing in the crease. Coach Tim Whitehead chose to have his senior sniper Colin Shields take the shot, but Winer stopped his wrister to keep it 1-0.

The Black Bears were able to tie the score with 41 seconds left in the second period when Michel Leveille found Greg Moore in the neutral zone with a breakout pass. Moore split the UMass defense, broke in and wristed a shot passed Winer to tie the score before the second intermission.

The Minutemen got the better of the chances in the third period, and Howard had to come up big a few different times. His biggest save came with 10 seconds left in regulation, when UMass won an offensive zone faceoff clean back to defenseman Thomas Pock, whose slapshot was kicked aside by Howard.

UMass got the only two shots on net in the overtime, both midway through the period in a flurry. Howard made a save on Mike Warner and then had to dive across the crease to make a tough save on Kevin Jarman to keep the tie.

Howard finished the game with 22 saves, while Winer stopped 24 for the Minutemen.

Saturday’s game started much the same way as Friday’s game for UMaine. The first shift of the game saw plenty of opportunities for the Black Bears, but David Cacciola made a few nice saves for Providence. After a Mike Lundin shot from the point was blocked out of the zone, Bill McCreary beat Jeff Mushaluk to the loose puck. McCreary fed it to Tony Zancanaro, who one-timed the puck passed Frank Doyle just 54 seconds into the game to give the Friars a lead.

Junior Ben Murphy tied it at 11:35 of the first on a shot from the corner. Cacciola had trouble handling the shot, as it glanced off his glove, his arm and the paddle of his stick before finding the net. Murphy’s goal was unassisted.

The Black Bears took their first lead of the game on the power play at 6:45 of the second period. Troy Barnes slid the puck to Shields at the left point, where he one-timed a hard shot toward the net. Moore was camped in front and tipped the shot in for his seventh goal of the season, making the score 2-1 UMaine.

In the third period, Providence tied the score at 5:42 on the power play when Stephen Wood grabbed the puck after Chris Chaput won an offensive zone faceoff to him. Wood slapped the puck by Doyle for the tally.

The Black Bears grabbed the lead for good on a great individual effort by reigning Hockey East Rookie of the Week Luciano Aquino. Aquino skated on to a loose puck and used his speed to create a two-on-one. Aquino waited for both the defenseman and goalie to commit to him as brought the puck near the crease. Aquino found Prestin Ryan who pounded the puck into the open net for his third of the season at 13:05 to put UMaine up 3-2.

Immediately after the play, Aquino was drilled by Providence forward Jonathan Goodwin, who was assessed a five-minute major and a game disqualification penalty. Aquino was injured on the play and did not return to the game.

Doyle staved off the final Providence flurry and preserve the win for UMaine. He made 25 saves in the win, while Cacciola stopped 25 in the loss.

The Black Bears are now 10-2-1 overall and 5-2-1 in Hockey East, which is good enough for a three-way tie with UMass and New Hampshire atop the league standings.

The third-ranked Black Bears are off until Dec. 5 and 6 when they will play a two-game league series at Merrimack.

Benton asked the University of Maine and area elementary schools for help collecting the items after a friend at the Pentagon told her he would be flying to Iraq with a USO show in December, hoping to bring six pallets of soccer balls and footballs with him on the plane. Benton exceeded her friend’s request for help and decided to collect care package items, such as water guns, cards, candy, magazines, books and music.

“A lot of things we take for granted over there, and anything like that we have, well, they don’t have,” Benton said. “Reading, for instance, is like gold over there.”

Having participated in Operation Desert Storm, Benton has firsthand experience about fighting overseas and being away from home. Her daughter is currently stationed as a helicopter mechanic in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown. Benton often sends care packages to her daughter, who has been in Iraq since last January. Her daughter reports back that many other soldiers do not receive care packages, which is why Benton decided to include care package items with the sports equipment.

Lyn Dexter, who is coordinating the drive at UMaine, expects the items raised from the collection to dramatically boost the morale of American servicemen and women overseas. She said she has heard reports that soldiers were unable until recently to take showers or use toilets. Providing them with soccer and footballs will give them something to do in their free time, she said.

Benton has even higher expectations for the donated equipment.

“There are a lot of kids over there, and it helps our relations with the Baghdad people,” she said. “If a soldier gives them a soccer ball and kicks it around with them, it looks better to the Iraqi people, and it helps boost [the soldiers' morale].”

Acceptable items include, but are not limited to, magazines, books, shirts, games, cards, balls, music, candy, water guns, toiletries, party supplies, and non-perishable food items.

Both Dexter and Benton ask potential donors not to donate anything that might be considered pornographic. A People magazine would be acceptable, Benton said, but not the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. They also ask that no donations of pork or alcohol are made.

Benton remembered that when she was in Iraq 12 years ago, the servicemen were permitted to wear T-shirts while the women had to remain in their navy blue cover-alls. Despite the heat, they still followed Iraqi customs.

Dexter said she has heard the average age of a service member right now is about 19 years old, the same age as many first year and sophomore university students.

“We all want to help somehow, but most of us don’t know how because they are so far away,” she said. “This is a small way that we can sort of extend our gratitude and the holiday spirit to the soldiers.”

Items can be taken to the Office of Student Employment and Volunteer Programs on the second floor of Memorial Union before Thanksgiving.