Dec 8, 2017 | News |
By Bryan Eldridge – Contributing Writer
The UMF campus recognizes the bitter and stressful emotions that often haunt college students as they Christmas shop for their loved ones, which is why a few community members wanted to provide their own gift ideas for the jolly season without leaving a dent in your wallet.
Screenwriting professor Bill Mesce is in his first year of teaching at UMF and is a resident of Lindon, New Jersey. As a parent of college-aged children himself, Mesce feels as though just seeing your kids for the holidays is a gift. “At this point in your life all your parents really want is for you to show up for Christmas,” Mesce said. “That’s the gift.”
When shopping for your parents especially, make sure it’s something that shows you’re familiar with what they like. “[Parents] would rather it be that small thing that says ‘I know mom’ or ‘I know dad’,” Mesce said. For Mesce there’s only one way to do Christmas shopping right: “Go simple. Go purposeful.”
Brian Weiner, a sophomore at UMF and a first-year CA, is originally from New Hampshire and uses the lack of sales tax to his advantage for ideas such as gag gifts. “A lot of people like gag gifts, so that could be an option,” Weiner said with a sense of optimism.
Like most college students, Weiner understands the importance of shopping on a budget. “You don’t want to spend a lot,” said Weiner. “You could always make homemade stuff. Ornaments are always a good idea.”
Taylor Rossics, a sophomore at UMF and an employee at Everyone’s Resource Depot in the basement of the Ed. Center, knows that the cheaper prices offered by the Depot are very helpful. “The Resource Depot has significantly lower prices than other stores,” Rossics exclaimed with pride.
Everyone’s Resource Depot provides many different tools and materials that can be used to make gifts.
credit: Bryan Eldridge
Along with their low prices, a wide variety of options helps make shopping easier. “We have an abundant variety [of materials] here at the depot,” said Rossics. “We have pretty much anything you could ever need.”
At Everyone’s Resource Depot, finding gifts for anyone is much easier. “Come to the Depot! We have so much that’s so cheap that you could get ten gifts at the price of one,” said Rossics. “There’s really something for everyone here.”
No matter what gift you ultimately decide to get for your loved ones, it’s important to spend time with those around you, especially family. “You have all the time in the world to spend time with friends up here,” said Weiner. “Spending time with family is super important.”
For students who want to visit Everyone’s Resource Depot, it’s open from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Nov 18, 2017 | News |
By Bryan Eldridge – Contributing Writer
UMF students all around campus transformed from their everyday selves into entirely new identities as costumes arose from the dead for another year of the spectacular Halloween Dance.
Every year, UMF holds a Halloween themed dance for students to help get into the holiday spirit and give creative minds on campus a spotlight during a fun and popular time of year. While many shared the intent of going to the dance, almost nobody arrived with the exact same costume.
“I thought it was really interesting to see all the different variations,” said Katie Franke, a UMF freshman dressed as Daphne from Scooby-Doo. “Some people came up with really creative costume ideas.”
The dance is often a great time for many friends to get together for the same event. “I liked how so many people came together,” said Franke. “It wasn’t just some event where no one showed up, everyone was there,” Franke said with enthusiasm.
Franke’s residence hall, Mallett, was one of many to hold fun social events before the dance to keep the students excited about the evening.
“We carved pumpkins, we played [ping] pong with skeletons, we had snacks and people talked [with one another]” Franke added.
Harry Potter even made the cut at the dance, as Dolores Umbridge was found within Mallett Hall. Tommy Hainsworth found the costume very fitting for the popular movie hit.
Tom Cruise from Risky Business and a friendly scarecrow shared a laugh together before they grooved their way into the Halloween Dance. For these two, the stress relief was a much-needed break from everyday life.
“Our favorite part was letting loose and having fun!” said Preston, a first-year student at UMF through an online forum.
The wide variety of costumes at the dance is something that many students look forward to each year and is what often brings them back. Rebecca Reed and Hope Faulkingham, both freshman this year, found this particularly true.
“I had fun with my friends. I think I would go back again next year to see the wide variety of costumes,” said Reed.
“I really wanted to go because it seemed like a lot of people were going and it seemed like fun!” Faulkingham exclaimed with excitement.
Three referees found themselves officiating the noise and excitement levels as they made their own rulings at the dance.
From L to R: Ian Kelly, Spencer Wilkinson, and Bryan Eldridge made their call on this year’s dance.
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Reed
The dance takes place each year at UMF around Halloween time and is sure to be an event you don’t want to miss. For more photos and videos from this year’s dance, visit the Entertainment Redefined Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ERTour/
Oct 27, 2017 | Feature |
By Bryan Eldridge – Contributing Writer
Every residence hall at the UMF campus is preparing to open their doors for yet another Halloween, letting kids from the community come in and get candy from the students during the “Trick or Treat Through the Halls” event.
“Trick or Treat Through the Halls” is an event sponsored by the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) club on campus where kids and families from the community walk to each residence hall on campus, collecting candy from the festive Halloween spirited students in their halls. The event has been a UMF tradition for over 10 years, and always seems to keep the busy residence halls full of laughing children and happy students.
Mallett residents, Katie Franke and Becky Paradis decorate their dorm room in preparation for trick or treats through the halls.
(Photo courtesy of Bryan Eldridge)
Emily Hartford, a junior at UMF and current President of APO, finds the event to be a great connecting point for many students in the same school.
“They get to see kids they might not be able to hang out with outside of school.” said Hartford.
The event aims to provide a safe experience for the families in the surrounding community. “It’s a safer alternative because you’re not wandering through the streets.” Hartford said. “You know who’s passing out the candy [and] you know why they’re handing [it] out,” said Hartford with confidence.
Information regarding the event is sure to reach students and their parents. “We have flyers going out that have all the contact information on it that will be distributed to every school in the district,” Hartford said.
Stephen Riitano, second CA in Mallett Hall and a senior, finds the event engaging for the residents. “It gets people in the hall out of their room and engaged in a similar activity with other people in the Mallett community.” said Riitano. “They all have a similar goal.”
The event in recent years has been a hit, with many eager and busy feet flooding the halls. “The past two years have been a pretty good turn out,” Rittano said. “There’s a large number of kids that come through.”
Kierra Carmichael, a senior at UMF who has been a resident on campus for all four years, enjoys the variety of costumes and anxious kids that visit each year. “[The kids] seem so eager and excited and their costumes are adorable.” Carmichael said.
Carmichael feels the event is very important for connecting with others and brings UMF closer with its surrounding towns. “It connects us with the community so we’re not just a campus.” said Carmichael. “It made me feel like I was part of the community as a whole.”
There are other ways for the residents to be a part of the event besides handing out candy. “Just come down to the lounge and help people give out candy and interact with parents and kids.” said Carmichael. “I think it’s still important to try and be involved.”
The event is scheduled for Sunday, October 29th and will begin around 5:00 p.m.
