The Maine Campus: a little piece of University entertainment

Started in 1875, The Maine Campus newspaper is put out every Monday and Thursday by young writers across campus. This periodical focuses around the latest news, trends, performances, entertainment, and sports reports happening at the University of Maine at Orono.

As a student newspaper, The Campus gives students in the fields of Journalism and Communication the opportunity to get hands-on experience before going out into the workforce. Some students who are not even in this major write opinion pieces for the paper to get their voices heard. The newspaper lets students on campus express their writing and gives them the chance to have others read it.

I am a journalism major and have written for the school newspaper a few times. It's rewarding to see your name in print and get paid for it. Writing for The Maine Campus is not only a resume builder, but also helps students grow as writers with help from their editors, who are also students. To contact the newspaper, call (207) 581-1271, or stop by their office on the first floor of the Memorial Union on campus.

http://www.mainecampus.com/contact/

Studying Abroad

Italy, Spain, China, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Germany, the list goes on. Maybe you've thought a little bit about studying abroad for a semester or maybe even a whole year. Either way, travelling and living in another country is an opportunity to take advantage of.

Each year, several students choose to study abroad in many different countries around the world. Some do it for the education, but almost all do it for the cultural experience along with the education. I have begun thinking about studying in Italy for a semester my junior year as I become more fluent in the italian language over the next couple years.

Learning the traditions of a new culture, celebrating their holidays, tasting their foods, and experiencing their lifestyle is what studying abroad is all about. Recently, there was a study abroad fair in the atrium of the Donald P. Corbett building. On site were many representatives from foreign exchange programs, encouraging students to take advantage of the incredible opportunity. No matter where you choose to study, take in the culture, and bring back something you can teach to those who couldn't experience it first hand for themselves.

http://www.umaine.edu/international/study%20abroad/outgoing.htm

Ben Folds Coming Soon!!

You've probably heard songs including, "The Frown Song," "Hiroshima," and "You Don't Know Me" (featuring Regina Spektor), but now you can see them performed live by Ben Folds on his Spring 2009 Tour. He will be coming to the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine on April 28th.

Born in North Carolina, Ben Folds has been showing off his unique style of piano mixed with punk for the past 15 years. His music has a different sound than most pianists and his lyrics seem to have quite literal meaning to his life. This spring, he will be debuting his new album, "Way to Normal." Songs featured on this album are ones similar to those of his platinum-selling band, Ben Folds Five, a style that hasn't been heard since they were together.

Ben Folds will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday April 28th, the day before Maine Day, at the Collins Center for the Arts. Tickets can be purchased at the box office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. monday through friday, or by calling 1-800-CCA-TIXX. Student rate tickets are at $16.00 and $22.00 for the general public.

http://www.benfolds.com/biography?page=1

http://www.collinscenterforthearts.com/ticket_information.php

My Life...In a Nutshell

By this point you're probably wondering what my story is. Although I may have only lived for 18 years thus far, I have quite an interesting background. My life has been different from others in many ways, some I may care to forget about, but most I am proud of.

I was born and raised in the heart of Aroostook County. I have lived in the same log cabin my mother and father built in the '80s my whole life. When I was 13, my passion for running accrued. Following in the footsteps of my father and two older sisters, cross-country skiing and distance running paved my way throughout my teen years. I have also been playing the piano for about five years and love learning to bake from the best chef I know, my mother.

Currently, my mind is set on pursuing a career in Broadcast Journalism. Dream job: working as an anchor on NBC's Today Show. For now though, I'm busy enough being a student and hoping to be chosen to be an Resident Assistant next year. My family has grown larger over the past year, as my oldest sister was just married in December, and my brother became the father of identical twin girls in January.

So, the future looks bright so far. I'm keeping my goals in perspective and chugging along through the rough patches, because I know it will all be worth it in the end.

Bob Marley: Maine Comedy at its Finest

Born in Bangor, Maine, Robert "Bob" Marley's father claims he had no idea that his son shared the same name as a famous singer. Bob graduated from Deering High School in 1985 and went onto to the University of Farmington earning a degree in Community Health. However, the entire time he knew that being a comedian was his dream profession.

Marley first appeared on the TV station, Comedy Central, and also starred in Boondock Saints. His comedy acts center around life in Maine and are expressed in his thick Maine accent. He also talks in his radio show "The World According to Bob," as well he can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 103.

In a couple of weeks, Marley will be coming to the University of Maine to put on a show for students as well as the general public. Another stop on his tour included Houlton, Maine, just two hours North on March 14th. Tickets at the University of Maine show are available to students, faculty and staff for $5.00. Come see Bob Marley live Saturday April 11th at 8:oo p.m!

http://www.bmarley.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley_(comedian)

Collins Center for the Arts

The newly refurbished Collins Center for the Arts, formerly known as the Maine Center for the Arts, is home to many performances. These include, but are not limited to, theater and dance, as well as orchestral and concert performances. This seasons schedule includes shows such as "Hairspray," "The Way We Get By," and "Lord of the Dance." All of which express a wide array of talent and representation of the cultural arts.

With shows almost every weekend, it is no wonder why the ticket office is almost as busy as the performers themselves. Tickets are available to general public, varying in price and depending on seating. University of Maine students who are registered at least half time are allowed two free tickets to any CCA event each semester. Also, these students are entitled to two $5.00 tickets on the day of or the friday before a weekend show per semester.

The Collins Center for the Arts is located behind the Memorial Union on the University of Maine campus in 1944 Hall. For more information, the box office can be reached at 207-581-1755 or through email at CCATIX@maine.maine.edu

http://collinscenterforthearts.com/index.php

Kickin' Flicks

Two nights a week, with two shows each week, the Campus Activities Board presents Kickin' Flicks. This gives students the opportunity to view movies that were recently in theaters. Wednesday night showings are in the Donald P. Corbett building at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. While Fridays times are the same but movies came be seen in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union.

Last night, Kickin' Flicks premiered "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." With a full house, the DPC building was the place to be at 10 o'clock at night. Many of the students who attended had never seen the movie and were in for a long sit, as the running time was 2 hours, 40 minutes. Overall the audience seemed to be please with the movie, as reviews deemed true of its quality.

Kickin' Flicks has featured many movies popular with the crowd of college students. Just a month ago "Zach and Miri Make a Porno" was shown to a packed room full of students. Prior to, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," as well as the hit-comedy, "Role Models" were also shown.

So, if you're bored and looking for something to do on a Wednesday or Friday night, check out Kickin' Flicks to see what is showing on campus.

http://www.umaine.edu/campusevents/cab/kickinflix.htm

The Art of Henna Tattoo

You may have seen the eccentric brown designs that stain the bodies of women in Northern Libya and North India. This is called “Bridal Mehndi,” also known as henna tattoos. Many women in these cultures have the henna plant based paste draw onto their skin prior to their nuptials and are stained with the flowering designs it leaves.

Henna tattooing was offered as an activity recently in Balentine Hall on campus. With about fifteen students in attendance, the art seemed to be quite popular with the male crowd as well. I myself had a tattoo design drawn on the back of my neck as well as drawing a small peace sign on the inside of my wrist. The art lasts on the skin for about a week as the brown stain slowly fades away.

While the paste used was already prepared in a henna tattoo kit, women in the Indian culture who receive them for social and holiday celebrations make the paste themselves from the crushed leaves of the henna plant. After applying the paste to the skin in the desired pattern and letting it dry, a citrus juice is used to speed up the absorption process. A few hours later, the paste crumbles off and what remains is the artistic red-brown stain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna

Singers end season on a high note

With two shows in one weekend, the University Singers finished their season with a bang. When I attended Sunday’s show at 2:00 pm, I didn’t realize the talent I was about to witness. Made up of a group of more than 70 students, the University Singers also includes Renaissance, the all-women a capella group, and the Maine Steiners, all-men a capella group.

Performing for an audience of all ages, the singers premiered Blessing of the Animals, a song written by Beth Wiemann in 2008 who attended Sunday’s show. A crowd favorite was the performance arranged by Senior Nate Richards, for the University Singers Men. Here a young woman from the audience was chosen by a friend in the group to be sung to by the men, entitled Some Epic Medley, which was more or less a ballad of 80s love songs.

For anyone who has never seen the University Singers perform, it is a show well worth it. My friend and I both agreed we could listen to them sing all afternoon. Led by director Dennis Cox, the group is a talented one and finished their tour strong.

http://www.umaine.edu/singers/

Get Defunkified!

Saturday afternoon was perfect weather for the event taking place by Recreation and Fitness Center. The goal: to get defunkified! Many students, including myself weren’t sure of what to expect, but were rather impressed upon arrival. Walking up to the fitness center on Hilltop, ears were greeted by the sound of Planet Pan Steelband filling the air. I had never heard a steel drum band in person, and must say they had a very unique and catching musical style.

Many students and even some faculty sported tie-dye tee-shirts, as the first 300 people in attendance were given them free. Alongside the steel drum band, those taking part in the event enjoyed copious amounts of free food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies, popcorn, cotton candy, and drinks.

For a little spice of fun and excitement? Many took part in street luge, which consisted of strapping on a helmet and bolting down the hill on what looked like a skateboard. With the sun high in the sky, a game of hack sack was soon underway and the hopes of getting out of the winter funk were reality.

My Beat

My beat for this class focuses on entertainment and social events that involve students on campus. This will allow me to talk to those participating, those putting on events, and those that attend events. Also with this beat I will have the ability to discuss cultural arts and style.

For my news story, I wrote about the musical production "Side Show" that was performed by the students at the University of Maine's Performing Arts Center. This topic allowed me to connect the entertainment and arts taking place on campus to the students who were involved in the play and also those who went to see the performance. This production was both a social event and a work of art put on by students for students and the general public.

The feature story I am working on is centered on the annual Honors College's trip to Washington, D.C. With this, I was able to speak with the Dean of the Honors College as well as several students who attended the trip. This trip offered students the opportunity to experience the cultural side of D.C. as well as explore some of the oldest parts of our nation. This story fits my beat because it is an event that annually involves University of Maine students, giving them a cultural impact and social event.