Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2010. This day provides the opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by many to protect our country. Many college students in Maine have answered the call of freedom and are now facing some obstacles that seem invisible but have a very visible impact on their personal life.
I never really understood freedom and a true love for my country until I wore the uniform. I’m proud of it, and want to contribute any way that I can to encourage other student soldiers and veterans to seek help if they need it, and find positive outlets to focus on.
My name is Marlon Weaver and I am one of the growing number of Maine student veterans who battle with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
PTSD presents new challenges and painful limitations in my life, but I have determined to use writing as a positive outlet against depression and PTSD. I enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard in 2002 and was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 with the 1136th Transportation Co. during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The war overseas affects everyone differently, for me, since being home, sudden noises and crowds disturbed me, I was easily agitated, angry and often withdrawn and depressed. I did not want to talk about my emotions and my close friends and family noticed the difference. I would experience horrible nightmares, which caused me to wake up punching the pillow or walls, and there would be embarrassing episodes of incontinence. There was an instance when my daughter came to wake me up, and I was so scared that I knocked her to the floor because I did not recognize her.
I knew then that I needed to get help.
The VA Hospital welcomed me and now provides me with medicines and counseling that helps to combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While at the VA, a nurse explained that her husband, a disabled veteran who has PTSD, found one positive outlet and focused on it, she suggested that I do the same.
With this in mind, I have been writing stories, poetry, songs, anecdotes, articles, and quotes as an outlet during moments of sleeplessness or depression. Many of these pieces are blogs on social networks like MySpace and Facebook. Readers have commented on how these pieces are an inspiration for Maine veterans and their families who are dealing with PTSD and other disabilities resulting from military service and combat.
I am currently attending the New England School of Communications with help from the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. At NESCom, I am learning the skills necessary to earn a degree in Radio Broadcasting. Journalism instructor, Anne Gabbianelli O’Reilly has become a tremendous influence in my life.
She has inspired and encouraged me to have some of my articles published in The Weekly and The Bangor Daily News. She sent me this response to some of my articles by email.
“I’m most impressed with your writing and very moved by the spirit that shines through your words. I can only hope this will inspire others, not only in embracing life and its turmoil, but by inspiring us all to live the messages your writing offers.”
I work very hard every day to overcome PTSD. I still have moments when I get discouraged, but my faith in God and the support of my family and friends give me the courage to stay focused.
This gave me the courage to open up and provide an intimate view about PTSD in my life in “Bruh Man,” a story submitted to EMCC literary magazine, “The Eyrie” and “Crosscut” of Husson, which read,
“…No matter how slow he moves, he can be seen all over the city… Everyone in this city knows who he is…Living off the land and dining in garbage cans, who ever thought their little boy would grow up to be that kind of man…Enjoy your day and please don’t
feel bad, but think about the US citizens whose mind is still in Baghdad…”
John Goldfine, creative writing instructor for Eastern Maine Community College, added this comment to, “Impact,” a personal story, submitted as a blog detailing my overseas vehicle collision.
“When I get something as clean…as this, I hate to see it just sit on a course website without any further literary life…”
Many soldiers and student veterans still want to serve their country despite the negative effects of PTSD. This battle may be invisible to some but the effects can at times be seen by everyone.
Memorial Day in Maine will consist of parades, picnics, and pictures to honor those citizens, soldiers, and students that serve our country. As we remember this day, let’s recognize their battles may not be over.

One of the most important services of residential living here on campus is undoubtedly the Dickerman Dining Commons. This service, however, comes with a price and Michael San Antonio, director of Dining Services for Husson University, knows these costs all too well.
“Students pay a fee for their meal program,” explains San Antonio. “That fee does not cover the cost of taking food out of the dining commons. That would probably drive costs to an extent that would require a fairly substantial increase in the board charge to students.”
He explains that this rule is not meant to be a hassle for students. The reasoning for such a rule is to protect the students. “In dining services we want to make sure that we provide a good quality service but we also have to do it in a financially responsible way on behalf of the students.”
San Antonio recalls a time when the DDC allowed certain items out of the area such as ice cream cones. This was quickly abused by some of the students, with ice cream being thrown at windows and even stuffed in gas tanks of vehicles.
“Based on vandalism that was occurring in the resident halls and other parts of the campus community, [I was asked to] prohibit ice cream cones from leaving the dining commons,” San Antonio says.
Recently students have been allowed to remove ice cream cones from the dining areas again, in hopes that they will behave responsibly.
San Antonio kindly adds that there is a general understanding of why these rules are implemented. “There are times when we need to enforce it publically,” he mentions. “Other times students are really good about understanding why that policy is in effect.”
There have also been rising concerns over how crowded the dining areas are during the allotted meal times. Husson is in the process of developing an architectural plan to possibly solve the issue of limited space.
“There is a campus wide recognition with students, faculty, staff, and administration that the dining commons is less than adequate to the number of students that we now have,” says San Antonio. “The university is looking for ways in how to address that, but we need to address that in a financially responsible way.”
The university’s highest priority is expanding and improving the services offered here for students. However, all future plans take time and money.
“The university is looking at how to spend the money that’s available in a way that will give the greatest impact for student satisfaction,” says San Antonio. He adds that he is unsure just yet of how the budget will be spent, but that the campus will be hearing more about the proposition over the next couple of years.
With over two decades of experience in the dining facility himself, San Antonio has his own ideal image of what the future of the dining commons holds. He would like to see a food court arrangement, giving students more choices. He also would enjoy having a new pizza brick oven as a centerpiece for the dining area.
San Antonio also greatly encourages feedback from the campus community on how they want the future dining commons to operate.
“I would strongly advocate as we’re planning this to involve students in determining what a new dining facility might look like and what kind of services would be available there,” he says.
The dining staff also gets feedback from reviewing their annual customer satisfaction surveys that they receive from the National Association of College and University and Food Services. San Antonio explains that in the past three years, Husson University students have ranked dining services better than other students have ranked their own dining services. The survey also reveals some negative feedback that students have.
“This year for the first time we saw a slight decline in student satisfaction,” says San Antonio. “It was still higher than the national average. A lot of it has to do with the crowding during meal times.”
He adds that the issue of overcrowding during meal times is something that can only be addressed with a new dining facility plan.
Students are also reminded that they should never feel they have to go hungry while attending school. If their schedule doesn’t allow them to eat at the given times, there are other alternatives.
“We purposefully have designed the meal plan to include dining dollars so that it extends the hours students are able to get food,” stresses San Antonio. “Students also should understand that their dining dollars provide them with the opportunity to eat after the dining commons is closed either at Willey’s, Cressy’s, or Angelo’s.”
He also explains that prior arrangements can be made with the dining staff to schedule students at an earlier eating time if necessary, or prepare them a box lunch.
San Antonio concludes that if students have any problems with the dining commons that he encourages future discussions with them.
“I welcome the opportunity for students to ask questions about [the rules], so we have the opportunity explain why they are in place,” he says. The rules, in most cases he says, are there to benefit the student and protect the funds they have already invested into an expensive college education.
Overall, San Antonio wants everyone to feel comfortable when they use the dining commons.
“We want students to feel like a valued guest when they come and dine with us.”

The DDC Has It’s Reasons
Heather Megill

One of the most important services of residential living here on campus is undoubtedly the Dickerman Dining Commons. This service, however, comes with a price and Michael San Antonio, director of Dining Services for Husson University, knows these costs all too well.
“Students pay a fee for their meal program,” explains San Antonio. “That fee does not cover the cost of taking food out of the dining commons. That would probably drive costs to an extent that would require a fairly substantial increase in the board charge to students.”
He explains that this rule is not meant to be a hassle for students. The reasoning for such a rule is to protect the students. “In dining services we want to make sure that we provide a good quality service but we also have to do it in a financially responsible way on behalf of the students.”
San Antonio recalls a time when the DDC allowed certain items out of the area such as ice cream cones. This was quickly abused by some of the students, with ice cream being thrown at windows and even stuffed in gas tanks of vehicles.
“Based on vandalism that was occurring in the resident halls and other parts of the campus community, [I was asked to] prohibit ice cream cones from leaving the dining commons,” San Antonio says.
Recently students have been allowed to remove ice cream cones from the dining areas again, in hopes that they will behave responsibly.
San Antonio kindly adds that there is a general understanding of why these rules are implemented. “There are times when we need to enforce it publically,” he mentions. “Other times students are really good about understanding why that policy is in effect.”
There have also been rising concerns over how crowded the dining areas are during the allotted meal times. Husson is in the process of developing an architectural plan to possibly solve the issue of limited space.
“There is a campus wide recognition with students, faculty, staff, and administration that the dining commons is less than adequate to the number of students that we now have,” says San Antonio. “The university is looking for ways in how to address that, but we need to address that in a financially responsible way.”
The university’s highest priority is expanding and improving the services offered here for students. However, all future plans take time and money.
“The university is looking at how to spend the money that’s available in a way that will give the greatest impact for student satisfaction,” says San Antonio. He adds that he is unsure just yet of how the budget will be spent, but that the campus will be hearing more about the proposition over the next couple of years.
With over two decades of experience in the dining facility himself, San Antonio has his own ideal image of what the future of the dining commons holds. He would like to see a food court arrangement, giving students more choices. He also would enjoy having a new pizza brick oven as a centerpiece for the dining area.
San Antonio also greatly encourages feedback from the campus community on how they want the future dining commons to operate.
“I would strongly advocate as we’re planning this to involve students in determining what a new dining facility might look like and what kind of services would be available there,” he says.
The dining staff also gets feedback from reviewing their annual customer satisfaction surveys that they receive from the National Association of College and University and Food Services. San Antonio explains that in the past three years, Husson University students have ranked dining services better than other students have ranked their own dining services. The survey also reveals some negative feedback that students have.
“This year for the first time we saw a slight decline in student satisfaction,” says San Antonio. “It was still higher than the national average. A lot of it has to do with the crowding during meal times.”
He adds that the issue of overcrowding during meal times is something that can only be addressed with a new dining facility plan.
Students are also reminded that they should never feel they have to go hungry while attending school. If their schedule doesn’t allow them to eat at the given times, there are other alternatives.
“We purposefully have designed the meal plan to include dining dollars so that it extends the hours students are able to get food,” stresses San Antonio. “Students also should understand that their dining dollars provide them with the opportunity to eat after the dining commons is closed either at Willey’s, Cressy’s, or Angelo’s.”
He also explains that prior arrangements can be made with the dining staff to schedule students at an earlier eating time if necessary, or prepare them a box lunch.
San Antonio concludes that if students have any problems with the dining commons that he encourages future discussions with them.
“I welcome the opportunity for students to ask questions about [the rules], so we have the opportunity explain why they are in place,” he says. The rules, in most cases he says, are there to benefit the student and protect the funds they have already invested into an expensive college education.
Overall, San Antonio wants everyone to feel comfortable when they use the dining commons.
“We want students to feel like a valued guest when they come and dine with us.”

Husson University board members have recently announced their decision to discontinue the law school. This decision was made just one month after Husson President Robert Clark agreed to discuss future plans of the law school after the Maine Supreme Judicial Court denied Husson’s proposal to have law students sit for the Maine bar exam.
Clark and Husson Dean of Law Michael Mullane appreciate the efforts put forth by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
“We are grateful to the Supreme Judicial Court for their careful review of our petition, and, we have decided at this time not to pursue a law degree,” Clark stated in a press release.
This is the second time Husson University has been denied this request. Back in October 2007, Husson University made their first attempt at allowing their law graduates to sit for the Maine State Bar Exam. The court denied the petition, citing three different reasons for their decision. Husson University had not yet opened the law school, making it difficult to determine the quality of the academic courses offered. There were also concerns from the Maine State Board of Education, which included evaluating student performance, electronic media dependency, and the requirements for leadership and faculty members. Husson University had not yet had the opportunity to resolve these concerns. Lastly, due to the lack of a tenure system at the university, the law school could not be accredited by the American Bar Association.
The court noted that this time around, Husson managed to begin fulfilling the necessary requirements by hiring two full time professors and one part time professor, all of whom taught at other law schools in Maine as well as Harvard.
Despite ending it’s pursuit of the law school, the University will still offer degrees through the School of Business in both Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies.
Dean Michael Mullane will not be without a job as a recent announcement was made by President Clark regarding Mullane. “Provost Coy-Ogan and I are pleased to announce that Michael Mullane has been appointed to serve as Dean of Graduate Studies,” Clark stated in a press release. “…he will oversee the graduate council and work collaboratively with the academic deans on graduate and first professional doctoral degree programs.” Mullane’s duties will not stop at that, however. His job will also entail overseeing special projects for Husson in addition to his teaching responsibilities.

BANGOR – On April 1st a very special cross-dressing event was held at the Furman Center on the Husson/Nescom Campus, courtesy of GBLT. GBLT is a Gay Straight Alliance group on campus, and it certainly showed that they put a remarkable amount of effort into the drag show. Not only did several students show up, dressed in drag, but there were also three special guests that started the show off.

The stage was set up to resemble something close to a modeling runway. The show began with what appeared to be a voluptuous woman walking on stage. Her disguise was soon destroyed once she began to speak in an immensely low tone. The previously described man-lady was named Chanel Honeywell, and she acted as somewhat of a Master of Ceremonies. She introduced the first act; a woman by the name of Augusta Piddle.

Piddle sported a goatee with glasses, and was wearing what looked to be a pink towel or dress with blue pajama pants. She proceeded to tell a few jokes, which were received wonderfully by most of the audience. Piddle began to talk about meeting a cute guy and asked the audience if he should call him back. The applause of the audience assured him/her that it was a good idea, but unfortunately he received an answering machine. This somehow was the introduction to a dance number in which she lip synced to a Britney Spears song.

Piddle and Honeywell continued to perform lip-syncing routines as well as occasionally talk with the audience. Suddenly a new performer, Katya Lukin (get it?), approached the stage. Lukin’s entrance was very over-the-top, but the way in which it was executed showed that there was plenty of meticulous planning and rehearsal that went into his/her whole act.

Lukin was transported to the stage in a coffin wheeled in by a shirtless man. There was a brief moment of silence, and the members of the audience seemed to be confused. Suddenly Lukin burst out of the coffin and began lip-syncing to a Lady Gaga song.

Lukin, Honeywell, and Piddle continued to perform for a while and eventually the spotlight changed to the contestants in the drag competition. The drag competition involved Husson/NESCom students walking onto the runway-like stage dressed as the opposite sex. There were over ten cross-dressers on stage at one point; men in dresses with stuffed bras and women wearing baggy clothes sporting painted-on facial
hair.

Afterward the cross-dressers were asked to stand on stage while the winner was to be chosen.

The winner of the Drag King contest was Mike Crapper.

The winner of the Drag Queen contest was Tayssa Tay.

“This was just kind of an experimental thing,” said Tay (whose real name is Tyler Cheng) in response to winning. “I just threw caution to the wind and figured I’d try it out.

Drag Show (Video shot by Travis Sweet Edited by Chris Bouchard)

ORONO – After three years of research the University of Maine has put together a plan that would slowly introduce the idea of being a smoke free campus by 2012. The schools smoke free initiative is a three-year plan according to UMaine Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse services Lauri Sidelko. For the remainder of 2010 the university will begin an informational campaign and will offer resources for those who wish to kick the habit. The smoke free policy will be voluntary in 2011, and then mandatory for students and staff by 2012.

“We’re really trying to focus allot on if a person wants to quit, ’re going to try to give them every resource that they can have to do so,” said Sidelko.

When planning for the smoke free initiative was still underway, those who were apart of the plan met and talked with five other colleges that had already formed similar policies.

“What we wanted to see from them was what are your successes and your challenges in this process,” Said Sidleko. “What have you found out, and what can we learn from you? And also at the same time take into consideration all of our specific things at this campus that’s different from some of the other campuses.”

Several meetings and forums were held at UMaine to discuss the terms of the new policy and to get public feedback. Twenty four year old Umaine Senior, Steve Emmons, told the Bangor Daily News that he didn’t know about the meetings and that he doesn’t believe the policy will work.

“The people I know didn’t know about these meetings until after they happened,” he said. “It seems like this infringes on people’s right to choose. People are just going to go underground. They’re going to smoke in their dorm rooms.”
Sidelko says that the meetings were announced in several different forms and that the committee that was responsible for forming the smoke free policy did the best they could to get the word out.

“We put up flyers, we put out emails, we put it in on the UMaine website. We made every effort to make this something that people knew about,” said Sidelko.

The only other college in Maine to become tobacco-free is Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield. Two schools that are working on adopting a similar policy other than the University of Maine are the University of New England and The University of Southern Maine. The Dean of Husson University, John Rubino, believes that UMaine’s smoke free policy is a step in the right direction and has not thrown out the idea of a similar policy at Husson.

“I see that as being a very positive move by the University of Maine and other campuses, and I would welcome discussion on our campus about such a move,” said Rubino.

UMaine is still in the process of developing its enforcement plan. According to the Vice President for Student Affairs Robert Dana the UMaine community would work with repeat violators to achieve behavior modification.

“Those who find compliance to be difficult should ask for help,” said Dana to the Bangor Daily News. “Our goal is not to create an adversarial situation for anyone, but rather to provide the resources necessary to help bring everybody in our community to the point where this is no longer an issue.”

Though the smoke free policy has passed at UMaine, Sidelko says that she is still available for any questions or concerns students, faculty, or the public may have.

(Bangor) – The decision to mandate Apple computers to New England School of Communications’ incoming freshmen has been postponed.

In the beginning of the spring semester a survey was taken by 292 students regarding the Apple mandate. The survey featured nine questions including “Would the purchase of a Mac Book and the annual software fee prevent you from attending NESCom?”

NESCom President Thom Johnson noticed that there was a pattern within the answers.
“Freshmen told us they don’t see a need for Apple computers, but the sophomores, juniors, and seniors said that they absolutely see a need,” he continues said. “The freshman have not taken the classes where they need to use the software like Final Cut. The sophomores [and upper classmen] really seem to appreciate it.”

The survey showed that 90 percent of the students taking the survey have a computer at school, and 60 percent have an Apple computer; 42 percent of the students surveyed agreed that having an Apple computer is an essential took for their future careers, along with the appropriate software.

Johnson posted a letter on NESCom.edu to parents informing them that the mandate for Apple laptops has been postponed, but hemakes it very clear that the idea has not been given up.

“If the economy were better we would have done it this year. The economy has not been kind, and we have the ability to keep most of our [Apple] computers on lease. It made sense to let the students use the computers we have,” he says.

The limited physical space has been an issue for instructors as well as students within the NESCom building. The current Apples in the computer labs are on lease, and Johnson says that next year one of the labs is getting turned into a docking stations.

Johnson wants students to be able to achieve their goals and believes an Apple computer has more value than a PC.

“Windows environment is too slow. In the long run you can buy four PCs in the time that you will buy one Mac,” he says.

“I am so glad we put it off for another year,” tells Nikki Vachon, Director of Financial Aid at NESCom. She understands the struggle that some students may face with the price.

“It keeps me up at night to think that cost is the reason for a student being unable to further education at NESCom. My worst fear is having a parent say, ‘We can’t swing it,” she says.

Vachon wants to find a way for students to afford the Apple computers without having to take out a loan.

“Our default rate just doubled. If our default rate goes up to 25 percent we lose funding. We went from three, to five, and this year to 10,” she added. “My advice is let’s get rid of loans and debt at any cost. We are more expensive than a traditional school, and I don’t want to see students defaulting on loans.”

According to FinAid.com, the student Internet guide to financial aid, defaulting on loans can ruin your future. To default on a loan is the inability to pay it back, and consequences for being unable to pay back student loans, apart from still owing the full amount, include: being unable to enlist in the Armed Forces, being sued for the entire amount of your loan, the default amount to be deducted from wages, having a bad credit record leading to difficulty obtaining loans, mortgages, or even a job, and many other repercussions.

Vachon agrees that from hearing student feedback, the decision to require Apple computers is beneficial.

“Students who fail have told me that it had to do with work schedule, and class time, and other conflicts resulting in being unable to get to the computer lab to do the assignments and use the software,” said Vachon.

Johnson also tells on how the Apple mandate can be beneficial.

“If we impose requirement that students have the Apple software and computers we get discounts on the software from Apple. Students will be able to obtain the software needed for their specific courses,” he said. “Apple will announce their product line and pricing this spring; then we will negotiate student pricing.”

NESCom freshman Dennis Rose does not own an Apple computer, and thinks that the decision to mandate Apples in the future is unfair.

“It’s funny [that faculty members] don’t have Macs, but we need to have them. If Macs are so good why shouldn’t all faculty have them. Seems to me a double standard,” Rose comments.

Vachon is one of the faculty members who don’t currently operate on a Mac, but she tells that all faculty members will be required to use Apple computers. The school funds all office computers.

“The financial aid software we use is not compatible with Mac, at last mention, but I think there is a windows update that will allow [Apples] to use any software that a PC can use. I think my computer is the oldest in the building but it’s still working so I haven’t updated. I think I will have to this summer,” Vachon says.

The entire faculty is going to adapt to this change along with the students. This future change will be one the entire NESCom community goes through together.

Vachon is upbeat about this, saying, “I’m learning Mac since I’m taking web classes and I feel like a dinosaur. Thankfully I have NESCom students in the class that help me.”

BANGOR -Fishing, canoeing, rock-climbing and many more outdoor activities are involved in the spring and summer seasons.

There’s another popular activity added and students who take part in it regularly have spread the word.

It’s called geocaching.

Geocaching, pronounced geo-cashing, is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure.

The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online at www.geocaching.com This high-tech treasure hunting game is played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. It has been around for years and is becoming a huge hit with all kinds of people.

The hobby is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community, support for the environment and a knack for adventure. The game is fun and is all about locating different kinds of treasure that people leave behind purposely for others to find. If someone finds it and wants to keep it, they must put something of equal value into the container for the next person to find and hide the geocache in the exact location they found it.

“Once you start doing it, it’s addicting,” said Kara Chester, a freshman at Unity College. “There are a bunch of hidden locations near my campus and it’s gotten to be such a fun hobby that I’ve told all my friends and family about it!”

A “geocacher” can place a geocache anywhere in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache’s existence and location online.

“Maine is probably the best state for this kind of thing because there’s so much land,” said Jeff Caisse, a junior at the University of Maine who was introduced to the hobby a few years ago. “I’ve done it in other states too and I love finding the neat things people leave for others to find. I did a nighttime geocache once and someone left a book with all kinds of encouraging quotes in it. I felt like I found treasure, it was so cool.”

Anyone can take part in it with a GPS device to try and locate the geocache.

According to the geocaching site, there are more than a million active caches and an estimated three to four million geocachers worldwide.

By visiting the home site and typing in a specific location, the hunt for real treasure is on and the adventure begins.

New York City, NY -
What is the future of journalism? What will the future journalist look like and how will they work? These are great questions for a time like now. A time where the economy is hurting forcing news papers to stop going to press and rely on the internet; a time where said companies are making extreme cutbacks. It’s a scary time for the media business right now.

On March 2nd, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) held a web-inar to discuss the future of journalism. This we-inar was hosted by Sree Sreenivasan, the self proclaimed “tech evangelist” and dean of student affairs as well as professor of new media at Columbia University’s School of Journalism. Sree has done these types of things before for RTDNA, he hosted their “Social Media Boot Camp” and was also named in AdAge’s Top 25 people to follow on Twitter.

Joining Sree was a member of the New York Times, Vadim Lavrusik who currently works on social media and as a digital storyteller for the Times. Vadim studied at Columbia under Sree, as well as the University of Minnesota. While in Minnesota he spent time as a reporter and editor for the fourth largest paper in Minnesota, The Minnesota Daily.

It is safe to say these two men have a grasp at the changes in journalism. Together they were able to put together the PowerPoint like presentation. At the New England School of Communications one teacher and a student gathered to be a part of the web-inar.

Social Media was a hot topic during the presentation, and was referred to as the same way Radio was in 1912, and Television in 1950, or even the web in 1996. They also drove home another strong point, “we can’t forget the fundamentals of journalism.”

According to Professor Sig Gissler, Administrator of the Pulitzer Prize, journalist today need to “convey a joyful entitlement.” In other words have a sense of pride in the job that they posses. The days of giving people their news and that being the bottom line is over, people now more than ever are able to give their influence and communicate back.

It is also a point of change, almost like a changing of the guard in a sense. Young journalist are stepping in and are able to do more. They are not the specialists of one trade any more; they are able to do more. They are able to be jack-of-all trades. This was evident when Sree, or the “old guy”, was unable to keep his microphone connection and his former student Vadim was.

The failure of being able to stay connected shows how ever changing technology and the way it is used changes. The only constant in this world is change. So what does that mean for journalism, where will journalism be in the near future? For more about the web-inar check out the RTDNA website.

Calling organizations and locales to schedule an event is harder work than it may appear to be. After talking with Anne Schmidt from the Student Activities office, it turns out there is more work involved in setting up the big event calendar that students depend on for pastimes.
 
Despite advertisements located all over the campus through mediums such as the Student Activities calendar next to the office, online at the Husson website, bulletins, digital screens near Cressy’s Marketplace, Facebook, Twitter, posters, and the “What’s Happening Folder” on First Class, for some reason students are having a hard time finding these events.
 
Schmidt, as well as students who are employees of programming, is able to come up with events and ideas for students to do all year long by attending the National Association of Campus Activities meetings. There is a regional meeting during the fall and an international meeting in the spring. This is where Student Activities block book events. Block booking consists of group booking an event with other groups, providing cheaper payment rates for entertainers to travel. Some events are suggestions taken from students. Not all student suggestions can be picked, but Student Activities tries to be fair to everyone. Student Activities plans and puts together from eighty to eighty five programs a year.
 
Talking with a couple students, they revealed their opinions about Student Activities.
One student, Robyn Ryder says, “I like student activities… they give us stuff to do. There’s always a fair amount of activities available to students who wish to participate.”
 
While some students are excited about what is offered to them, some students think nothing of it. “I don’t participate,” says Tim Ferris. “And I don’t have an opinion.”
 
According to Schmidt Student Activities provides “an eclectic mix of events” such as comedians, musicians, hypnotists, and novelties. In fact, during the week after spring break Student Activities will be hosting Vicci Martinez, a female vocalist and guitar player from Latin American, at 8 p.m. in the Furman Center on March 23. There will be a Culture Fest featuring Step Afrika, a group of six to nine dancers from all over the world, who perform with a style that is a mix of hip-hop and traditional African dancing March 24 at 8 p.m. in the Gracie Theatre there. Twilight: New Moon will be featuring on March 26 at 9PM in Kominsky Hall. Not to mention Spring Week will have “a lot going on” said Schmidt.
 
If you would like to check out what is happening lately or in the near future, check out the Student Activities calendar at: __http://www.husson.edu/index.php?cat_id=288__.