UMaine prepares for Halloween weekend

Haunted hayrides, bright costumes, make-up and trick-or-treating are all images that come to mind during this time of the year. Halloween is less than one week away and it seems everywhere you turn, students are gearing up for this festive holiday that lets you transform into something you're not. However, most college students aren't preparing to hand out candy; they're planning for an alcohol-laden weekend involving their friends. Event invitations to parties are crawling all over Facebook, often with hundreds of guests invited. It's not the general idea of a party that is going to be a problem for students on Halloween; it's the party with alcohol and minors under the age of 21 that will cause problems.

Rachel Boudreau is a sophomore journalism student at UMaine. She is planning on having an alcohol-free Saturday evening with friends at Curva (formerly known as 103 Ultra Lounge) where the fraternity FIJI is holding a Halloween party. "Im not worried about the police busting down Curva," Boudreau admits. "I'm under 21 so I will have a bracelet telling everyone else my age. Im not drinking. I find I have more fun when I'm alert." Last year she went to the same club where a different fraternity was having a party. "I totally get what could happen if I were to get caught with alcohol since Im a minor. But it honestly doesn't affect me."

Boudreau is most likely in the minority of students that will not be drinking for Halloween. Sgt. Bob Norman of the University of Maine police department says that every year he is surprised by students at UMaine with the creativity of the student costumes as well as their belief they won't get caught drinking illegally. Every year the UMaine police work alongside other police departments to prevent drunk driving and shut down parties that are becoming out of control or involve minors. Sgt. Norman is confident is his departments ability to keep students safe this upcoming weekend, "

The UMaine Police aren't the only organization trying to prevent excessive alcohol consumption and drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an entire section of its' website dedicated to materials for officers and other law enforcement officials to use in promoting a safe Halloween. Also included are statistics that are worthy of making anyone jump in fright. Last year alone, there were 73 deaths on Halloween night alone between the hours of 6pm October 31-5:59am November 1. Of those, forty-eight percent were found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or above.

Rich Murphy, distribution and sale manager of Burby & Bates in downtown Orono, notices students buying an excess of alcohol not just on holidays, but every weekend. He says the most difficult part of Halloween is that people are wearing masks and that makes it difficult to ID people when it comes to purchasing beer or liquor. "One time I had a kid come in with a pumpkin on the top of his head," Murphy recalls, "[It] makes it a little bit difficult to identify people."

Whether you're planning on heading out this Halloween or staying in with some candy and a movie, Sgt. Norman puts the overall goal of holidays like Halloween the best, " [...] that everyone number one: has a good time and number two: stays safe."

Draft - Maine students prepare for Halloween festivities

Haunted hayrides, bright costumes, make-up and trick-or-treating are all images that come to mind during this time of the year. Halloween is less than one week away and it seems everywhere you turn, students are gearing up for this festive holiday that lets you transform into something you're not. However, most college students aren't preparing to hand out candy; they're planning for an alcohol-laden weekend involving their friends. Event invitations to parties are crawling all over Facebook, often with hundreds of guests invited. It's not the general idea of a party that is going to be a problem for students on Halloween; it's the party with alcohol and minors under the age of 21 that will cause problems.

Rachel Boudreau is a sophomore journalism student at UMaine. She is planning on having an alcohol-free Saturday evening with friends at Curva (formerly known as 103 Ultra Lounge) where the fraternity FIJI is holding a Halloween party. "Im not worried about the police busting down Curva," Boudreau admits. "I'm under 21 so I will have a bracelet telling everyone else my age. Im not drinking. I find I have more fun when I'm alert." Last year she went to the same club where a different fraternity was having a party. "I totally get what could happen if I were to get caught with alcohol since Im a minor. But it honestly doesn't affect me."

Boudreau is most likely in the minority of students that will not be drinking for Halloween. Sgt. Bob Norman of the University of Maine police says that every year he is surprised by students at UMaine with the creativity of the student costumes as well as their belief they won't get caught drinking illegally. Every year the UMaine police work alongside other police departments to prevent drunk driving and shut down parties that are becoming out of control or involve minors. Sgt. Norman is confident is his departments ability to keep students safe this upcoming weekend.

(insert soundbyte: students will get caught)

The UMaine Police aren't the only organization trying to prevent excessive alcohol consumption and drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an entire section of its' website dedicated to materials for officers and other law enforcement officials to use in promoting a safe Halloween. Also included are statistics that are worthy of making anyone jump in fright. Last year alone, there were 73 deaths on Halloween night alone between the hours of 6pm October 31-5:59am November 1. Of those, forty-eight percent were found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or above.

-------- of ------ notices a definite increase in alcohol sales around Halloween, with students buying an excess of alcohol. (insert more about the buying of alcohol, and what they see)

Whether you're planning on heading out this Halloween or staying in with some candy and a movie, Sgt. Norman puts the overall goal of holidays like Halloween the best.

(inset soundbyte: we just want people to have fun)

Fall Break 2 - another version

Fall Break 2010

UMaine Program Helps Students Succeed (draft)

Halfway through the semester at UMaine, students may find themselves not doing as well in their classes as they may have hoped. Whether students don't understand the material, or simply aren't spending enough time studying, one program is hoping to help students reach their academic goals. The Tutor Program specializes in helping students change, or develop, their study habits and learn how to manage their time effectively so they can have a successful semester.

The Tutor Program is student-run, consisting of over 60 student employees who tutor over 70 different courses at the 100 to 200 level, with over 800 students take advantage of peer-tutoring every year. Tutor Program Director Mary Beth Willette talks about how she feels students benefit from the Tutor Program's approach towards learning. (insert sound-byte #1) Whitney Jandreau is a 4th year Psychology major and has been a peer tutor for the past two years. She has tutored organic and other chemistry, General Psychology, and Biology classes at UMaine and stresses how peer tutoring is not just about memorizing answers. "Our hope is that students can become more independent learners, capable of using their learned study skills in all of their subsequent classes," she says. Willette also adds that tutoring is not something you just drop into once in a while; it's a real time commitment. (insert sound byte #2)

Students may cringe at the thought of their academic success hinging on another students tutoring, but tutors in the program are certified through the College Reading and Learning Association, attend mandatory training before they are assigned tutorees and must have a GPA above a 2.5. Director Mary Beth Willette assures that not just anyone can walk off the street and tutor. (insert sound byte #3) Former peer tutor, Krystal MacCormack, has degrees in Medical Biology, pre Physician's Assistant, and General Biology. She tutored General Chemistry, General Biology and Nursing Chemistry at UMaine. She feels that the tutor program is not only a great resource for people who are just coming out of high school or non-traditional students, but for tutors themselves. "Just being a tutor and learning different ways to study from the training was helpful for me," MacCormack says. "I think it's definitely something that the more you put into it the more you will gain from it, and if you're just looking for a way to get an easy A it's not going to happen." Jandreau adds, "Most tutors also recognize that tutoring builds understanding in fundamental subject material and keeps material fresh, which is extremely helpful for tutors who are in very comprehensive degree programs or who are planning to take a placement exam for post-graduate work such as GMAT, PCAT, MCAT and GRE [exams]."

If you feel like your academic semester could be enhanced by obtaining a peer tutor, the last day to apply for a tutor is October 29. Anyone wishing to set up an appointment can call the program office in 104 Dunn Hall at (207)581-2351. Students must be enrolled at least part-time, 6 credit hours, at the University of Maine, and be willing to dedicate time to their tutoring group once a week. More information about obtaining a tutor or becoming a peer tutor can be found at the Tutor Program website. For those who can't make the time commitment, the program posts e-mails to the announcements folder on UMaine's FirstClass e-mail system, with tips and tricks for students to enhance their learning.

What are YOU Doing Over Fall Break?

Fall Break is the first official pause of school for students at UMaine. I caught up with some teachers, professors, even one students' mom, to find out just how people are planning on spending these precious few days off.

Let's Do This!

Heading out soon to do my man-on-the-street interviews! Let's see what students, faculty, and staff are going to do over their Fall Breaks!

5 Weirdest Dirty Things in Your House

WE HAVE ALL HEARD OF THE PLACES IN OUR HOMES THAT ARE CRAWLING WITH GERMS, TOILETS, SINKS AND GARBAGE CANS TO NAME A FEW. BUT IT’S THE BACTERIA LURKING IN THE STRANGEST OF PLACES THAT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE YOU SERIOUSLY SICK. SO WHAT ARE THESE FIVE STRANGE THINGS IN YOUR HOME THAT CAN MAKE YOU SICK? LET’S FIND OUT…

ONE: YOUR CELL PHONE. THINK ABOUT IT; YOU BRING THAT PHONE EVERYWHERE EVERYDAY. IT SITS ON THE TABLE, NEAR THE SINK, IT MAY EVEN GET PUT IN YOUR PURSE OR POCKETS. THAT HARMLESS PHONE THAT YOU PUT NEAR YOUR EYES AND MOUTH ACTUALLY HABORS MORE BACTERIA PER SQUARE INCH THAN YOUR BATHROOM TOILET. SCIENTISTS FOUND A RANGE OF BACTERIA INCLUDNG STAPH, E. COLI AND SALMONELLA.

TWO: CONTROLLERS FOR THE TELEVISON AND GAME SYSTEMS. SURE IT’S FUN TO TURN ON THE TELEVISION AND WATCH SOME FOOTBALL OR A MOVIE OR YOU CAN INVITE YOUR FRIENDS OVER FOR A SESSION OF GUITAR HERO. BUT THE NEXT TIME YOU PUT THAT MICROPHONE NEAR YOUR MOUTH IMAGINE THIS: A STRAIN OF STAPH THAT IS RESISTANT TO ANTIBIOTICS. IT WAS FOUND ALL OVER TELEVISION REMOTES IN HOSPITAL ROOMS AND COULD BE HANGING AROUND ON YOURS AS WELL.

THREE: A LOAD OF WET LAUNDRY. USUALLY WHEN YOU WASH YOUR LAUNDRY YOU EXPECT IT TO BE CLEAN. HOWEVER, IF YOU DON’T DRY YOUR CLOTHES UP TO ONE-HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY DEGREES FAREIGNHEIGHT YOU MIGHT BE PUTTING ON AN ACCESSORY THAT ISN’T SO COOL SUCH AS E. COLI BACTERIA, WHICH CAN CAUSE A HOST OF INTESTINAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

FOUR: HANDBAGS. ALMOST EVERY SINGLE WOMAN HAS ONE; OR MORE. BUT BESIDES TOTING AROUND LIPSTICK AND PERFUME YOU COULD BE GIVING A FREE RIDE TO WHATEVER TOUCHED THE SURFACE YOU PUT YOUR HANDBAG ON. IF YOU LEAVE IT ON A BATHROOM FOOR IT CAN COLLECT FECAL MATTER, WHICH WAS THE MOST COMMONLY FOUND BACTERIA ON PURSES IN ONE STUDY. SALMONELLA WAS ALSO PREVALENT AND BOTH CAN CAUSE INTESTINAL PROBLEMS.

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS NUMBER FIVE: THE VERY COMPUTER YOU ARE WATCHING THIS ON. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DISINFECTED YOUR COMPUTER KEYBOARD, OR THE SCREEN? LATOPS AND DESKTOPS ARE SNEEZED ON, EATEN OVER, THINGS ARE SPILLED ON THEM AND THEY GATHER DUST MITES FROM THE AIR. WHERE HAVE YOU SET YOUR LAPTOP? WHO HAVE YOU LET USE IT AND WHAT DID THEY TOUCH BEFORE THEY CHECKED THEIR FACEBOOK?