As we come to the close of another academic year, I find flowers of hope in our small community.  Some of these flowers are growing in the University Times.

First, a tip of the hat to those volunteering in the community and to the "spotlight" article covering their dedication.  Too often (and I include myself) we highlight the negative and forget to mention the good that goes on under our noses.  I was especially cheered to see Ghandi's quote about change headlining the feature.

Second, I thoroughly enjoyed the coverage of the Times' staff trip to NYC.  It is easy to become insulated here in The County.  It cannot hurt for those covering our small community to be exposed to larger realities, other ways of life, and a whole other kind of pace.  That city, in particular . . . well, there are still times when I miss it.  Once you live somewhere for a time, it becomes a sort of home.

The free speech forum, which I had hoped to attend before (once more) weather reared its fearsome head, was another bright light.  It seems to have been well attended and to have encouraged a fair amount of participation.  That there was mention of future such events is heartening.

My one quibble concerns the "poster issue."  I recall a fair amount of space in the Times having been accorded the issue at one point.  But it was a while ago and I frankly have forgotten the particulars.  A very brief synopsis would have been helpful for many.  As I tell my students when they write critiques and arguing papers, be careful when assuming what your reader knows.  A little history or background is often in order.  Likewise, one cannot assume that every reader of the Times has read every issue.

Finally, some back and forth on issues.  And yes, I was partially involved.  Still, it is gratifying to see some discussion on issues in the Times' pages.  I'm sure many writers share my feeling that shouting one's poetry in an empty ballroom might get more response (an echo, if nothing else!).  UMPI is our community.  It's as if we can see the national dialogue (or lack of it) in miniature.  If way too few folks are involved in setting the national agenda and acting upon it, so too are too few doing the same here.  Writing a letter to the editor is not rocket science; if you're jazzed up about something, let us all know.

Editor's note: The following piece is Randy Deabay's opinion and does not reflect the opinions of the staff of the University Times, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, or the University of Maine System.

Notes from a student with a migraine from the liberal bias on Campus...

Offered by a Conservative student, Randy Deabay.

It is truly an amazing spectacle to see a paper with a byline of "The University of Maine At Presque Isle's Student Voice," when one finds three opinion pieces from only faculty and staff in the UTimes dated March 27, 2008. With such a false statement, one has to wonder why a student would even attempt to justify another viewpoint. Well, I do merely to point out that a student with as many years of experience, if not more, can and does have another view on life, and this country's current strife.

Seriously, is the UTimes a paper for students, or one for a professor to continually offer his one sided point of view? Can the editor or adviser offer any substantial reasoning for such actions? Let me see, where should I start with my diatribe of the condition of America, the economy or social inequalities?

Why would anyone want to toast the death of 1 American, let alone the 4000^th? This was appalling to read, and truly an insult of the highest sense to all service men and women. Instead of complaining and whining as so many do every opportunity that they get about the war in Iraq, why were they not part of the military, and offering true leadership? If these complainers feel the leadership is below some standard placed randomly by some liberal thinking person who would rather insult our country, our military and our president, than to offer true worthy suggestions of change and action, then offer true leadership, and not constant complaining. It was stated in an opinion piece "hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, France, Spain, and Britain vehemently protested the war." Do we have true statistics, as the Utimes requires, or is this a number randomly chosen? By the way, the total number of citizens in these countries equals in excess of 547 million. Since hundreds of thousands does not equal millions, one would surmise that less than .18% of the total populations of those countries were against this war. I do not think the argument would hold water. What is your opinion on that argument? Why would anyone believe that protesting in front of the IRS buildings is the correct place to protest this war? I say only one who cannot see the forest for the blades of grass in the meadow in front of the forest.

A liberal stating that money is the reason for this war is stating a fallacy. The majority of supporters of this action are conservative, and there are true statistics that disprove the theory that this action is for money. When one looks into the percentage of money given by individuals, it is found that in the year 2000 self-prescribed conservatives gave 25% more in donations than liberals according to The American magazine. The difference is that conservatives want to give where needed, while many liberals believe that government is the best place to decide who needs assistance. Really? When was the last time you discussed Social Security or Medicare with someone who is on it currently. These programs are mismanaged, in debt, and will be insolvent in 20 years. Those statistics do not show the ability of the government to be able to handle money properly. Other liberals believe that everyone should have free healthcare. Interesting concept, but has anyone looked into the military healthcare facilities, or the amount of paperwork it takes? Has anyone actually checked on the amount of time that simple tests and surgeries take in a state run health care country? Has anyone chatted with a mate from Britain, who can afford it, and where he or she actually goes to have health care provided? No. Liberals again believe that a huge bureaucracy can do a better job than a small community establishment, and it is not proven anywhere that is the case.

While good professors will not be returning to this campus, and the population declines, we have professors using the UTimes for personal battles. Why am I included in a disagreement between two professors who should spend more time teaching than arguing? Where is the true ability of individuals to discern between petty wars and true intellectual discourse? Sadly, this university is seeing incidents of professors not adhering to their true calling, the teaching of substance to all students without bias, or condescension. I would like to know that I do not have to be concerned about which professor I take for courses because they either admittedly have shoved their political viewpoint down student's throats or will possibly hold my political viewpoints and experience against me, and grade me unfairly in their classes. This, my fellow students, should be a concern to all students, not that of two professors discussing the legitimacy of GE in a student newspaper.

Now, here is an opportunity for those who want to say, "See, I told you conservatives do not care." I am tired of liberals with nothing better to do than to blame the government for the stubbornness and idiocy of thousands of citizens during Katrina. I knew that Katrina was going to hit New Orleans three days prior to the event. I knew the concerns, and saw the demands by state and city officials for people to leave. What happened? Several thousand decided to stay. Yes, it was a disaster, and sad, and many prayers went out to those caught in the wake of the disaster, but how could it be the fault of the government? When do professors with a severe lean to the left stop spreading blame on government for it taking time to save stubborn people from rooftops? There was one organization on this campus that took over 30 students to New Orleans, and helped. This organization was Campus Crusades, considered more conservative than liberal. Where were the government-bashing liberals during this event? Did these liberals take time, money, and physical donation to New Orleans, or did they sit in Northern Maine trying to find someone to blame for the disaster? Spreading hatred and discontent is not helping anyone, but taking the inadequacies of one and placing on others undeservedly.

After reading the March 27 issue of the UTimes, I was astounded to have the image of the boy who cried wolf after reading the opinion pieces. How can one complain about the price of oil, and then equate it to trucking companies not being able to deliver items to stores, and feel good about this? Is it not the liberal hypocrites who complain about the price of oil, but fight every alternative fuel source? Wind power will kill some birds. Atomic power may cause a nuclear meltdown. Solar power is too expensive. We then discuss the Gulf Coast, or Anwar--definitely not--will cause disaster in wildlife areas. Stop complaining and using scare tactics while complaining about being in Iraq. Has anyone actually seen the hypocrisy in the whining about oil prices of those who say that Iraq is all about money?