UMA Alumni Newsletter - University of Maine at Augusta

Transcription

University of Maine
At Augusta
Issue 4, Fall 2010
Alumni Newsletter
UMA Hosts Great Debate
Table of Contents
By Nathan Grant
Cover Article—UMA Hosts Great
Debate
From the President ................... 3
UMA Newsletter Brief .............. 4
Alumni Spotlight ....................... 5
Realize!Maine ............................ 7
Poetry: ......................................... 8
Book Review:


Always On ......................... 9
Composted Tyrant.......... 10
Short Story: Sachsenhausen
Concentration Camp .............. 12
Senior College .......................... 13
Left to Right—Kathleen King „06, Melanie Randall „06, Linda Hadley-Rood „06, Christine
Poitras „03, Nathan Grant „08, Staci Warren „05, Renee Grant, Joyce Blanchard „93, and
WGME News Anchor Gregg Lagerquist
A massive crowd gathered in the Jewett Hall auditorium on
Saturday, September 25, 2010. It was standing room only, with more
than a few people deciding to watch the debate simulcast to the
overflow room set up in the Richard J. Randall Center‘s fireplace
lounge. Each attendee received a free copy of the Kennebec Journal
or the Morning Sentinel, with a special Great Debate promotion
available for new subscribers who attended the event. Richard
Connor, CEO of Maine Today Media and the publisher of the
Portland Press Herald, provided the opening remarks where he
thanked UMA President Allyson Hughes Handley and Alumni
(Continued on page 2)
Concerts at Jewett .................... 14
Commerce Corner ................... 15
Upcoming Events .................... 16
Newsletter Team
Managing Editor & Chief: Nathan Grant ‗08
Creative Writing Editing Master: Janet
Morgan ‗01
Photography & Glamour Shots: Christine
Poitras ‗03
If you would like to contribute to the
newsletter, please contact
Joyce Blanchard ([email protected])
or Staci Warren ([email protected])
(Continued from front page)
Association President Melanie Randall for their
support.
The Great Debate, the first in a series of Great
Debates sponsored by WGME-TV, Maine Today
Media, and WGAN News Radio was free to the
public. The University of Maine at Augusta and
the Alumni Association collaborated with the
large media outlets to host the debate. Gregg
Lagerquist, news anchor and political
correspondent for WGME 13, served as the
moderator for this debate. Susan Cover of the
Kennebec Journal read questions submitted by
people from across the state. In addition to
WGME‘s live television broadcast, the debate was
available as a live video-stream from the WGME
and Maine Today Media websites. WGAN News
Radio also provided live coverage.
UMA Alumni Association volunteers served in
several capacities.
Before the event started,
alumni were on hand to help the candidates with
setting up in ―green rooms‖ where they could put
“An enlightened citizenry is
indispensable for the proper
functioning of a republic.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Above: Gregg Lagerquist and Susan Cover
Above: Libby Mitchell, Shawn Moody, Paul LePage, Eliot
Cutler, and Kevin Scott. Shawn Moody and Eliot Cutler shake
hands before the debate
Left: Promotional poster used to advertise the event
UMA Alumni Association Newsletter
Page 2
From the President
Melanie E. Randall
Welcome Back Alumni!
Hopefully your experiences at UMA during your time as a
student have encouraged you to come back and support our
University as active alumni.
The excitement of a new school year is unlike any other; new
notebooks, classes, and friendships surround us and all are a
cause for celebration.
We, the Alumni Association at the University of Maine at
Augusta, will be working hard throughout fall to support our students, campus, and
community with networking opportunities and promoting our University‘s excellence.
Our Alumni Association has now been active on campus for three years and we are so proud
of the growth and change that has happened.
Our Secretary, Ms. Kathleen King, has been moved from the Office of University
Advancement into the President‘s Office. This change is very exciting and we wish Kathleen
all the best in her new position. We appreciate all of her hard work and dedication to the
Alumni Association and look forward to
her continuing to reach out to our “The excitement of a new school year is
unlike any other; new notebooks, classes,
Alumni and community.
and friendships surround us and all are a
I would also like to welcome Ms. Staci
cause for celebration.”
Warren, who has recently moved into the
Office of University Advancement. We are thrilled to have her expertise and spirit on campus
and look forward to the future of our Alumni Association. Please help me in congratulating
both of these women on their new positions at UMA!
If you have any questions about any of our upcoming events or getting involved with the
UMA Alumni Association, please contact Staci Warren at 621-3299 or [email protected]
I wish you all a wonderful fall semester and hope to see you at one of our upcoming events.
All my best,
Melanie E. Randall ‗06
President, Alumni Association
University of Maine at Augusta
Page 3
UMA Newsletter Brief
From the Managing Editor
How has UMA shaped the lives of alumni who
have graduated? For some, UMA provided a new
way of looking at the world. Others believe UMA
gave them a second chance at life. Still others, as
you will see in this issue, mention how UMA
helped them gain the self-confidence necessary to
succeed. Recently, UMA Alumni have started
giving back to the University. A story recently
published in the Kennebec Journal, Morning
Sentinel, and Portland Press Herald‘s Maine
Sunday Telegram report that UMA‘s Office of
University Advancement is showing an increase
in alumni donations. The Office of University
Advancement, whose Director is Joyce Blanchard
‘93, has already revived the UMA Alumni
Association and enhanced fundraising efforts in
only a few short years. Contact Joyce Blanchard
‘93 ([email protected]) or Staci Warren ‘05
([email protected]) to learn how you can
get involved with the Alumni Association or give
to the University.
Art has always been an
important part of UMA. The
Charles Dana Danforth Gallery will
be showing a new exhibit called
drawing: marks, traces &
imprints, which will feature ten
artists with different themes and
methods of drawing. This latest exhibit
will feature six gallery talks and will run
until October 20th. For more information,
check out the News & Events section of
the UMA website.
In order to boost recruitment and
retention of students, UMA has
embarked on a new project to provide
Presidential Enrollment Mini-Grants. The total
mini-grant pool for this year is $45,000.
Applicants for mini-grants must align with the
theme, Building a Bridge to a Bette Future:
Collaboration for Student Success. The mini-grant
application process is open to faculty, staff, and
student groups. Applications for this year‘s
deadline must be submitted by Friday, October
8th. Contact Jonathan Henry ([email protected]),
Dean of Enrollment Services, for more
information or visit the News & events section of
the UMA website.
The Fall Alumni Newsletter offers many
exciting articles. In this issue, we include two
book reviews. The first is from this year‘s
Colloquium theme, ―communication in the 21st
Century.‖ The book is Always On by Naomi
Baron. The second book is by UMA Alumna Janet
Morgan ‘01, entitled Composted Tyrant. This tale of
intrigue is part of Morgan‘s Killdeer Farm mystery
series. Another aspiring UMA author, Stacey
Jacobsohn ‘83 & ‘09, shares an excerpt from a book
that she is writing called War in the Family.
Richard William Blanchard ‘83 was kind enough
to share his experiences at UMA.
Blanchard is a successful artist
now living in California.
There is much more to UMA
than just a collection of
classrooms. Being at UMA
is an experience, one that
depends on the efforts
of the students and
can
offer
amazing
opportunities for self-discovery.
Page 4
Alumni Spotlight: Richard William Blanchard
Class of 1982
By Stacey Jacobsohn ‘83 & ‘09
paintings, and I am in still in awe of his genius
with a canvas. Back then, he surely left a big mark
at UMA, earning the Distinguished Student
Award in 1982, bestowed by Josh Nadel himself.
Everyone knew Richard on campus – his hair
was like a neon light, and his persona was just as
stunning. He first cut my hair in a classroom
down in the Arts Building, at a slop sink in
Frances Hodson‘s printmaking studio. As time
went by, we became thick as thieves and my hair
got progressively shorter, until I too came home
with a Mohawk and my mother hit the roof. It
was turquoise. We always turned heads at UMA
on our way to the SAC. For you newbies, the SAC,
or Student Activity Center, was located where the
photo lab is now, with a cafeteria and pool tables.
―The Pit‖ is now known as the center of Danforth
Gallery. Richard‘s confidence and boundless
energy were infectious.
Epiphany - Oil on canvas. ©2009 Richard William Blanchard
Printed with permission from the artist
I first saw Richard Blanchard in early 1982,
dimly lit in the Jewett Hall Auditorium; well,
actually, I only saw the back of his head, which
was a stunning bright red Mohawk. As we read
aloud parts for a new play production, ―Dark of
the Moon,‖ I tried to get into the swing of the
play, get over my nervousness…so I studied his
hair. I loved the sound of his voice before I even
saw his face – a gentle, hesitant vibrato, trying to
get a handle on the Appalachian accent we were
supposed to master. I had just transferred from
the University of Southern Maine, where I had
taken a semester in theater after leaving art
school, and was looking for some drama in my
life. I found it with Richard. He and I were cast as
husband and wife, the two leads for the show. We
shared a love for art, painting in particular. He
also was, and still is, a fabulous dancer. I loved his
His bold ―live sculpture‖ exhibit on April Fools
Day in 1983, ―Primitech,‖ drew me in hook, line
and sinker, propelling us for three years into
realms of incredible creativity. Corliss Chastain
and Robert Katz were highly instrumental in
making it happen in the Danforth Gallery.
Richard always pushed us all in Primitech a little
further than we were willing to go, never satisfied
until he had taken every concept to the extreme.
Through it all, he always projected a disarming
humility and a quiet, clear leadership ability to
bring the most out of every situation. Recently, he
shared with me that he had felt no sense of
accomplishment or ability before he came to
UMA. He felt he was, in fact, a mediocre student
in high school, only excelling in art, and had no
idea what to do with his life. Richard‘s guidance
counselor at Winthrop High School, Mrs.
Whitney, steered him toward a UMA class with
Phil Paratore, who mesmerized Richard with his
dreamy painted imagery and became his biggest
influence. This led to a graphics assistantship on
Page 5
(Continued from Page 4)
Phil‘s
textbook,
―Art and Design.‖
Richard regarded
his early exposure
to UMA while still
in high school as
playing a key role
in building his selfesteem
and
confidence to earn
a college degree,
and
he
highly
recommends that
others do the same.
Richard William Blanchard
Bruce Armstrong and Robert Katz also became
strong influences for Richard. It was always an
adventure for both of us to reconcile all the varied
teachings together, and a testament to the balance
of UMA. One lesson from Robert Katz stood out
in particular:
“Robert made it very clear to us that we need
to stay in concept. Design skills help us
make our point clear, but concept drives our
pieces to communicate to our audience. It
triggers our higher imagination and creates
an environment for our observers to be in.
He was always pushing us to see a bigger
picture and stretch our idea of what
materials to use to best get that idea across.
With Robert there were no boundaries.”
Richard now lives in California where he has
operated a business in decorative arts and
painting for over 25 years. He credits his success
both as an artist for others, from demanding
celebrity clients to precision designers, as well as
his success painting on canvas for himself, to the
experience he had close to home at UMA.
His personal collection of surreal land and
skyscapes was recently shown at Slate‘s
Restaurant in Hallowell, where a large percentage
of his work sold quickly. Slate‘s has been very
supportive all along of his art and theatrical
career, having hosted many avant-garde
performances of Primitech where we ―took over‖
the place in improvisation and mayhem. Anyone
who was around in Hallowell back then will
remember the hoopla. In recent years, he
continued occasionally at Slate‘s with a solo career
as ―Zu,‖ refining his voice and production level to
a roaring, loyal audience. His last musical/
theatrical show, entitled ―TruHuman,‖ harkened
all the way back to the exploration we began
while students at UMA, for my assignment in Phil
Paratore‘s ―4D‖ class. I recognized the same
strains based on Charles Ives‘ eerily discordant
music that we performed to then in my father‘s
basement. It seems ironic now that Richard‘s
powerful voice, that always reminds me slightly
of David Bowie, was born in such a meek way.
After we had started to create original music for
Primitech, he asked me, timidly, whether I really
thought he could sing. I assured him that he
could.
As we spoke recently of that journey through
the 80‘s, it strikes us both as important that we
acknowledge not just the outstanding faculty and
school atmosphere, but the community formed by
peer students at UMA. In fact, the three years we
spent collaborating, starting at UMA, were some
of the most productive of our lives; they were just
as important as the schoolwork, and we both hope
to collaborate again in the future.
Only this time I think I‘ll skip the Mohawk. All
set with that.
Richard‘s exhibitions of artwork are listed at:
www.richardwilliamblanchard.com
(Zu‘s) music is available for free listening at:
www.zutruhuman.com
Page 6
Realize!Maine Provides Opportunities for Networking
By Karen Wood—Cynergy
The Realize!Maine network connects over 1,000
young people (age 20-40) in Maine from York to
Presque Isle who are committed to creating
positive change at local, regional and state levels.
This network is dedicated to attracting and
retaining young professionals throughout the
state by providing professional, civic, social and
educational opportunities for young people.
Realize!Maine is the best way for young people in
Maine to stay connected to what is happening in
their state.
The driving force behind the Realize!Maine
network are the eleven regional groups that are
located throughout the state. Each regional group
plans various events and activities for people to
connect, network and engage in the community.
The regional groups offer young people a way to
get connected to opportunities that are happening
in their local communities.
summer BBQs, New Years Eve celebrations, Wii
Bowling competitions, group hiking and
kayaking, and social networking at a variety of
venues including restaurants, museums, and
historic locations. The regional groups also offer a
great way to find information about local artisans,
musicians and upcoming area events.
Most
groups charge no fee or a very minimal charge to
attend, and you can usually become a member
simply by getting added to their e-mail list.
The Realize!Maine network is a great resource
for young people in Maine to get connected.
Realize!Maine will be holding a reception on
October 27th at the MaineBiz Momentum Business
Expo at the Augusta Civic Center. Please attend
this convention to find out more about the
Realize!Maine and regional group network or
check out their website at www.realizemaine.org.
Realize!Maine Regional Groups:
Each regional group puts on various events
giving its members a chance to get involved in the
activities they find most important to them.
Several groups have had events with guest
speakers who spoke about various subjects
including financial management, identity theft,
workplace perceptions, and becoming a meeting
mastermind. The groups have also held debates
with political candidates and meet and greets
with their local representatives. Some of the civic
opportunities groups have coordinated include
volunteer fairs, participating in cleaning up days
in the local community, and collecting donations
or raising money for a needy cause. The social
opportunities that regional groups offer include
 Fusion Bangor (Bangor Area)
 Midcoast Magnet (Rockland Area)
 YPLAA (Lewiston/Auburn Area)
 KVConnect (Waterville Area)
 Propel (Portland Area)
 Cynergy (Augusta Area)
 Momentum (Presque Isle Area)
 Oh (Oxford Hills Area)
 Evolve (Damariscotta Area)
 Hype (York County Area)
 Boomerang Club (Dover-Foxcroft Area)
Page 7
Featured Poetry
Edited by Janet Morgan ‘01
One Rung Down
By Joan W. Nicholson
Early in the evening
about an hour before sunset
they arrive – this colorful pair
Only he is visible – she waits out of sight
He darts to the feeder
grabs a seed and retreats to the
nearby dying maple where she hides
He romances her with his gift of food
Gold and purple finches also resplendent
defer to these elegant birds
who boasts a name just one rung below
Rome‘s Holy Father
Their songs complement
undeniable beauty
Reluctance to be seen
enhances the thrill of
their sighting by a pair
of equally monogamous humans
watching behind shadowed windows
afraid to breathe or move
He whispers to her
that‟s us, you know
At This Hour
By Joan W. Nicholson
At this hour
it should have been empty
Once again
she still occupied the bed
feigning sleep
positioned
with her back to the
door she left ajar
holding in abeyance
another tormenting day
Silently screaming –
pleading for any inquiry
“Are you awake?”
“Are you alright?”
“Can I help?”
We who might have
uttered those words
welcomed her silence
willing to avoid an encounter
that might disrupt our day
Only the faint
scent of despair
desperate for release
rushed through the
barely open door
Page 8
Book Review: Always On
Review by Janet Morgan ‘01
Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile
World
Author: Naomi S. Baron
Oxford University Press, 289 pages, $18.95
Naomi S. Baron, Professor of Linguistics at
American University in Washington, DC, explores
the world of language in today‘s technology. She
delivers insightful information on how electronic
communications work, with some surprising
results. Baron has done the seemingly impossible:
she can make even the most challenged of
computer users see the light.
Subjects such as instant messaging, blogging,
text messaging and multitasking are analyzed,
along with how Facebook, MySpace, email and
Wikipedia may be employed. Each and every
function becomes easier to decipher under Baron‘s
scrutiny. As a person with only a rudimentary
understanding of email, I found this book
enlightening. But it did not come easy. If one
delves beneath the surface – as the author has
done – much may be discovered. The influences
of computers and mobile phones on how we read
and write are not as great as we might expect,
even though many of today‘s college students
groan when forced to read a whole book. Why not
Google the topic and be done with it? Why cannot
the author just write a twenty page synopsis?
That‘s the wonder of SparkNotes, or so some say.
As an insatiable reader, I find this concept
foreign. Yes, I use my computer and mobile phone
every day, but when I want to read, I pick up that
book sitting on my overstuffed bookcase and
settle down to saver every printed word. This
brings me to the added bonus of the splendid
illustrations scattered throughout Always On. On
page 201, for instance, a realtor is showing a
house whose walls are lined with bookshelves.
The client says, ―Holy cow! What kind of crazy
people used to live here anyway?‖ This is the kind
of crazy person who went to the UMA Bookstore
and picked up a copy of this book, just as you can
– and should.
UMA is fortunate to have a chance to meet
Naomi Baron on October 1. She will be available
late that morning for brunch in the fireplace
lounge in the Richard J. Randall Student Center.
Following brunch, she will be the keynote speaker
at Convocation, whose theme is communication in
the 21st century. Convocation will take place
outside at 2:30 pm, weather permitting. Should it
rain, it will be held in the Jewett Hall Auditorium.
Page 9
Book Review: Composted Tyrant
Review by Christine Poitras
Composted Tyrant: A Killdeer Farm Mystery
Author: Janet Morgan (‗01)
iUniverse.com, 300 pages, $17.95
Janet Morgan's second mystery novel is now
available! Morgan, a 2001 graduate of UMA with
a Bachelor's degree in English, has successfully
followed up on her 2008 "Killdeer Farm" book,
Poetic Justice with a brand-new novel, Composted
Tyrant. Tyrant brings back Jessie Tyler and the
other cast of compelling characters introduced in
Justice; characters who, in their own way, get
caught up in their second murder mystery in the
coastal setting of Wyleyville, Maine. This book,
just like its predecessor, are must-reads for any
fan of the mystery genre.
UMA Alumni Association: Call For Works and Recipes
Do you have a relationship with food? What makes your favorite recipes special?
Do they bring back vivid memories and stories? We are looking for your best
recipes with a story behind them, to be published as a collection by the UMA
Alumni Association. This is an open call for students, faculty, staff and alumni
to share original creations in food and legend. No copyrighted materials are
allowed. Any food category is acceptable, as well as any related original writings;
collaborations are encouraged.
Recipes should include ingredients, special utensils or cookware required, clear
measurements, serving number and size, and precise method of preparation. Please
submit materials to Christine Poitras at: [email protected]; additionally,
recipe submission forms will be available in the Bennett Katz Library as well as the
Alumni Office in Robinson Hall.
Page 10
Left to Right—Paul LePage (R), Shawn Moody (I), Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell (D), Eliot Cutler (I), Kevin Scott (I)
(Continued from page 2)
on make-up and prepare for the debate. Alumni
assisted university staff with posting signage for
the candidate‘s green rooms and the overflow
area. The Alumni Association enforced UMA‘s
policy preventing signs for political candidate on
UMA property. Most importantly, alumni were
there to direct people around the UMA campus
and find seats in the full to capacity auditorium.
At the beginning of the debate, each candidate
made opening remarks. In no particular order,
the candidates for Governor of Maine are Eliot
Cutler (I), Paul LePage (R), Libby Mitchell (D),
Shawn Moody (I), and Kevin Scott (I). Each
candidate had a chance to answer questions
randomly chosen from Maine voters. The format
allowed candidates to present rebuttals to the
answers given by their opponents. A lightning
round, consisting of very short answers to
questions about a variety of topics, forced the
candidates to give concise answers on their views.
Closing statements permitted each candidate to
reiterate why they represent Maine‘s best choice
for governor.
The UMA Alumni Association continues its
mission to support community outreach through
educational efforts like political panel events.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of
Independence and the third President of the
United States, once wrote, ―An enlightened
citizenry is indispensable for the proper
functioning of a republic. Self-government is not
possible unless the citizens are educated
sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight.‖
When we as citizens take the time out of our
busy lives to educate ourselves about the issues of
the day, we are better able to make choices about
those issues. Similarly, education prepares us to
choose who is best suited to handle the day to day
governing that enables our civilization to continue
functioning effectively. Please do your part to
exercise oversight of your government by voting
on November 2nd.
Page 11
Featured Short Story
Edited by Janet Morgan ‘01
Excerpt from “War in the Family,” a creative memoir
by Stacey Jacobsohn
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Oranienburg, Germany, 2010
I pushed my father‘s wheelchair with all my
might through the vast camp at Sachsenhausen,
all broken concrete, dirt and sand. The audio
guide informed me that the ashes of dead Jews
were mixed in the concrete. Every step felt like a
sin. The uneven ground bounced and jerked him,
making the audio guide hit his ear. Then the soft
sand stopped the wheels dead and jammed my
left wrist as we headed for the infirmary. I had to
stop and shake out my arm, almost a habit now;
after twenty-five years of painting. With a natural
hyper-flexibility in my joints, I often pause to
adjust bones.
It still wouldn‘t budge in the sand, the hub of
the wheel now off kilter, and me with no wrench.
The oppressive gray of the place was getting to
me, the hopelessness. He could walk no more; the
first small museum had already sapped his
strength, but we were here and there was so much
more to see. I had to rock the chair back and forth
to gain momentum. I heard the memory of the
hum as we struggled along the electrified fence
and death strip, though the tears would not flow.
The pain in my wrist made me feel alive. The
unspoken heartbreak stuck in my throat until I
wanted to scream. Flowers adorned the wall of
the firing range, with personal letters encased in
plastic. Messages to the dead.
We rolled near the gravel strip as I explained to
him what it meant. A sign, black letters on white
wood, said ―Neutrale Zone,‖ but it was anything
but neutral while Sachsenhausen operated; if
anyone stepped on the gravel they were
immediately shot, and the guard who shot them
especially rewarded, probably with a coupon to
the onsite brothel. I imagined the electrical sound
of a body against the fence, assuming one could
get past the gravel and the roll of barbed wire.
The gray sky overhead pushed down. I could
faintly hear the cries, tiny voices in my head, and
smell the corpses burning. How many gave up
and threw themselves onto the fence, or just
deliberately walked onto the gravel, knowing they
would be shot? What did it take to keep going,
what sense of optimism made those who survived
keep trudging, day after day, with merciful death
only a step away? My own daily despair, my
―generalized anxiety disorder,‖ seemed trite,
pretentious.
I struggled to maneuver him to the infirmary
and pathology lab, through the sand, the ramp,
the door that opened the wrong way. We entered
into a room filled only with tables and computers,
and I positioned him at a station, only to find that
the computer wouldn‘t work, and had to move
him once again, fit him with headphones. We
went back to the audio guide for information, and
scrolled through the menu. This was what he
came to see, how the patients were treated, the
medical experiments, the forced sterilization of
the mentally infirm, and finally, just killing them
as though they were rats.
As a doctor, he painfully examined the issues of
―genetic hygiene‖ practiced by the psychiatrists
there. He could not fathom how doctors could
decide someone ―unworthy of life.‖ His face was
grim, gray, as he dutifully clicked on the images
and read the accounts of survivors, descriptions of
deliberate infections with hepatitis, biopsies with
long needles to check livers of infected prisoners,
and I read along with him, sentences like ―you
must hold your breath while I insert the needle or
you will die!‖ A mustached man described the
lack of expertise in the clinic, lay men with no
medical training, once trying to help a man with
Page 12
(Continued from page 12)
diphtheria who was choking, his throat swelling.
The helplessness they all felt as they tried
everything they could think of to help him, even
holding him upside-down, watching him slowly
choke to death. The first prisoners at
Sachsenhausen were not all Jews, and the Jews
were not even allowed the inadequate care of the
infirmary. They were only there for experiments.
My father could have been one of those young
boys experimented on here, injected with disease,
biopsies with no anesthesia. He could have been
killed here. And if I was alive then, being one
quarter Jewish, whatever that means, I might have
been here too, deciding every day whether or not
to step into the Neutrale Zone and just end the
torment. I saw that strength in him to keep going,
to even keep a sense of humor. Every day as a
child, I watched him come home in the evening, a
man in love, happy to be with us, happy to be
alive. And later, when I could fathom the job he
had, listening to stories of terrible suffering and
mental illness all day, I was all the more in awe of
his constant cheerful attitude at home.
This was his self-inflicted penance, his
atonement for escaping the camps. Neither one of
us could cry; it would not let us off that easy. As
we returned to the central courtyard, the sky
opened to a stunning blue and the heat of the sun
spurred us to remove our jackets. It was cruel,
daring us to feel despair under its warmth. I felt
suffocated by the air, numb and cold inside, and
my heart was like a stone sitting in my chest,
beating without permission.
Stacey Jacobsohn lives in Augusta and graduated from
UMA with an A.A. in Art in 1983, and returned to earn
her B.A. in Liberal Studies in 2009, earning the
Distinguished Student of the Year Award. Much of her
liberal studies involved work on her creative memoir
documenting the experience of the Holocaust within
her family; it continues. During her studies she also
explored local alternative currencies, and is now
working for the Mid Maine TimeBank as Coordinator.
Michael Klahr Center—Home of the Holocaust and Human Rights
Center of Maine, located at UMA
UMA Senior College
By Bev Ludden ‘07
The mission of the University of Maine at
Augusta Senior College (UMASC) is to provide
intellectually stimulating learning opportunities
and special activities for persons 50 years of age
and older and their spouses and partners
(members' spouses and/or partners do not have
to be over 50). Participants are encouraged not
only to become members and register for the
courses, but also to join in the effort to plan for the
future as UMASC evolves and expands to meet
the interests of the community. UMASC operates
in partnership with The University of Maine at
Augusta that hosts UMASC on its campus. The
$25 annual membership fee runs from July 1
through June 30. In March, our UMA Senior
College Spring courses begin.
Our courses
normally run eight weeks and the cost is $30 per
course.
For more information, call 621-3551 or e-mail
[email protected]
Page 13
Concerts at Jewett
UMA College of Arts & Sciences
and UMA Senior College
Introducing the 2010-2011 Season
Sunday, October 17, 2:00pm (1:00 pm Preconcert Talk)
Piano Quintet
Chiharu Naruse and friends play Schubert's
popular Trout Quintet as well as other musical
treasures.
Sunday, November 14, 2:00pm
(Snow date November 21)
Masanobu Ikemiya: Classics to Ragtime
A piano recital with commentary. From Chopin
to Gershwin to Scott Joplin, this classically-trained
pianist has a love and talent for classical music as
well as Ragtime and improvisation.
Sunday, December 12, 2:00pm
(Snow date December 19)
Mount View Chamber Singers: Carols in the Round
Talented high school singers from Thorndike,
Maine.
Sunday, January 9, 2:00pm
(Snow date January 23)
Castlebay: Music of the Maine Coast
Julia Lane (Celtic Harp) and Fred Gosbee (12String Guitar, Fiddle, Woodwinds). Songs of the
lievs of those who live by the sea: the deep water
sailors, shipwrights, coasters, fishermen and their
wives.
Sunday, February 13, 2:00pm
(Snow date March 6)
Downeast Brass: Blast Away the Winter Blahs!
Some pops, classical, always exciting, and always
fun!
Sunday, March 13, 2:00pm
(Snow date March 20)
Ladies of the Lake: A St. Patty's Day Speical
A celebration of traditional Irish music by this
popular Celtic group
Sunday, May 15, 2:00 pm
Sing Acapella
Presented by Maine-ly Harmony, along with the
Back Bay Four Quartet, a men's barbershop group,
both competing successfully nationally!
Sunday, June 12 2:00pm
Suzanne Nance - Favorite Songs: Opera & Broadway
Show tunes and opera favorites by talented host
of Morning Classical Music and MPBN's Music
Director. Appeared in Cosi fan tutte, Madame
Butterfly, and Little Women in New York,
London, etc.
Sunday, June 26, 2:00 pm
PORTopera's Young Artists
Pre-concert talk at 1pm by Ellen Chickering. Back
for the 8th time! PORTopera's auditioned Maine
voices. Opera TBA.
Tickets: $10 for adults and seniors, $5 for school students, 12 and under free. Tickets
available at the door, Pat's Pizza in Augusta, Apple Valley Books in Winthrop,
and Mike Davis Entertainment in Waterville
FMI— Please call UMA Senior College at 621-3551 or e-mail [email protected]
or see the concert website at concertsatjewett.com
Page 14
Commerce Corner
A Place for Alumni Businesses
Are you an Alumnus?
Get your business recognized!
Contact the Office of University
Advancement at UMA to get your
business featured in the next issue
of the UMA Alumni Newsletter.
Page 12
Upcoming Events
By Bev Ludden ‘07
Events for October 2010
Friday, October 1
Convocation, reception to follow
2:30 pm, Quad area (if rain, Jewett Auditorium)
For more information contact Bob Stein at 6213447
Wednesday, October 6
French Conversation Table
4:15 - 5:15 pm, Randall Honors Lounge
Guest: Franco-American playwright Grégoire
Chabot. FMI - contact Chelsea Ray at 621-3487
Saturday, October 2
Alumni Homecoming and Annual Meeting
For more information contact Kathleen King at
621-3403
Lecture: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea:
Scots-Irish in the District of Maine
7:00 - 9:00pm
Michael Klahr Holocaust & Human Rights Center
Sunday, October 3
Yankee Small College Conference Golf
Championship
9:30am, Natanis Golf Course
UMA's # 1 golfer Philip Fernald will try to win
the individual honors.
We hope to catch you out there rooting for our
players this Sunday!
Monday, October 4
Hitler's African Victims
1:00pm
UMA‘s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
Studies Program presents a lecture by Colby
Professor Raffael Scheck
Monday-Tuesday, October 11-12
Columbus Day Recess
Roundtable: Is Maine "The way life should be" for
everyone?
7:00 - 9:00pm
Friday, October 15
Jean-Dany Joachim, Haitian poet
7:00-8:30 pm - Fireplace Lounge
For more information contact Chelsea Ray at 6213487
Keep up to date on the latest events by visiting:
http://www.uma.edu/calendarofevents.html
For an updated list of UMA Alumni events, check out the website at
http://www.uma.edu/alumni
Page 16

UMA Alumni Newsletter - University of Maine at Augusta

Transcription

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