car insurance

Don't let your car insurance provider in on the secret that you're keeping your car in a crowded parking lot away from home.

I did, and they are making me pay.

I heard stories of students having to pay more for their car insurance while staying on campus. I couldn't seem to find any verifiable facts of this anywhere, so I did the only practical thing. I called my insurance company, Geico, and asked if there was any difference.

I meant to do this anonymously, but things got tangled up quickly. The customer service man asked me my name, and upon typing it into his machine, he quickly found I that I have an existing policy with them. He then transfered me to a customer service woman named Andrea, who coerced me into admitting that, yes, I was the college student I was speaking of and that I had my car on campus.

In return for my honesty, she upped my policy by $25 every six months.

She said that this was because the rates that applied were different for every area.

"The area could have higher animal population, higher theft rates, more crashes, worse intersections, or a number of other things to make the rate higher," Andrea said.

I was curious so I got a quote from Geico online using my home address and another one using the school address. I got the same exact premium for both.

The real reason, which Andrea briefly explained to me, is because I'm on my parent's insurance and I'm away from home.

"It's because now you're the one keeping the vehicle," she told me "and because you're under 25."

They had never before asked me or my parents where my vehicle was being kept. If I would have just kept quiet, they would've never known.

fundraising

T'is the season to give.

Anything is appreciated: your time, your money, your old stuffed animals, some flour.

This is the time of the year when everyone starts to catch the holiday fever and suddenly feels a little more generous. Many individuals and clubs around campus are putting in the effort to helps others and they want your help as well.

Can it all be done simultaneously?

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (ALD) is sponsoring a Teddy Bear Drive. They are asking that any unwanted stuffed animals be brought in to be distributed to local organizations to be used in their family rooms or in shelters, and given to needy children for Christmas.

"I believe the fundraiser will have support because we are not asking for donations or asking anyone to purchase anything," said Amber Hartman, president of ALD. "Stuffed animals are a comfort item that often people store away in their houses because they were gifts or because they have special meaning."

Many of us have bags full of stuffed animals. This is a way to get rid of the keepsakes of childhood memories and give a child a chance to make new memories with them. If you want to donate any of your stuffed animals, drop off spots include any RA room, RHD offices, Student Life Office in Rita Bole, and Student Services. Collections end December 9th.

Another charity fundraiser was being put on by ROTARACT, a community service club. For all of November, they collected nonperishable boxes and cans for the Lydon Food Pantry. According to Curtis Mathewson, President of ROTARACT, they have received plenty of support and numerous food and cash donations.

"It isn't surprising to see many groups trying to give back to the community," said Mathewson. " I feel that each cause is important, and no support, whether it be for our cause or another organization's, is too small to be appreciated."

ROTARACT has had food drives like this is the past, and plans to continue having them every fall.

Danielle Lapointe, an RA, is working to get people involved in baking treats to send to troops overseas. She got the idea from www.treatthetroops.org and decided to try to do a the same thing at LSC, though on a smaller scale. With the help of a couple other students, almost seven dozen cookies have been baked and shipped so far.

"I set it up as a program to try and get students involved in a community bigger than just this campus," said Lapointe. "There wasn’t as much support as I had hoped for, but I was very thankful for those who did help."

Lapointe is hoping for more donations of ingredients, money, and time to help send out some more treats to the troops.

Bringing soldiers home for the holidays is another goal people are trying to achieve. There are tins scattered around campus to collect pennies to go towards this. The goal is to charter planes to bring home members of the Vermont National Guard who can not otherwise afford to come home for the holidays.

There are 1500 men and women of the National Guard that are in training in the south before their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in early 2010. Operation Holiday homecoming wants to give them a chance to come home before they have to go overseas.

Hunting

They are awaiting the pull of the trigger.

Deer, bears, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, and raccoons --they're all aware of your intent.

The tranquility, the solitude, and eventually (cross your fingers) the big kill leads people to wake up at the crack of dawn to go hunting.

"There's definitely a huge adrenaline rush when you see an animal that you're allowed to shoot," says Andrew Cochran, a freshman majoring in Psychology. "A lot of people that don't hunt think it's cold-blooded, but it's to be with people and to be in peace."

Cochran has been hunting for six years. He's gotten a 120-pound deer and a 532-pound moose, which he says was huge. He especially enjoys the time he hunts because he shares the experience with his family - most often with his dad.

Ethan Mitchell, who is a freshman majoring in English, said that he enjoys hunting because it gives him time to get away and think.

"It is a tradition in my family," he says. "My father hunts, as did his father, and his father and so on." Mitchell says that as soon as his father felt that he was old enough, he took him through the required steps to get his licence, and took him hunting. He's been doing it ever since.

"The backwoods of Vermont is one of the best places to find relaxation," Mitchell said. "Then of course, there is the thrill of the hunt, the smell of the cold crisp wind. I love it all." He is looking forward to exploring new northeast VT hunting territory this year, including Victory State Forest.

It's not difficult to get involved in hunting. It costs $20.00 to get a licence for the season if you are a resident of Vermont, and $90.00 if you are not a resident. A hunter safety course is required before a first licence can be obtained.

HUNTING SEASONS
Sept. 1 - Nov. 19 -- Black Bear Hunting

Nov. 14 - Nov. 29 --Rifle Deer Hunting

Dec. 5 - Dec. 13 -- Muzzleloader Deer and Second Split Bow and Arrow Deer Hunting

Oct. 10 - Dec. 31 -- Raccoon Hunting

Oct. 24 - Feb. 14 -- Red and Gray Fox Hunting

Sept. 1 - Dec. 31 -- Gray Squirrel Hunting

Sept. 26 - Dec 31 -- Ruffled Grouse Hunting

Sept. 26 - March 14 -- Hare and Rabbit Hunting

Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 -- Woodcock Hunting

“A tie is a tie is a tie.”

“Anybody have duct tape?”

“I feel so pretty!”

Exclamations of last minute preparations echoed across the room.

The Twilight Players were getting ready for their photo shoot for “Rumors”, their upcoming play.

Everyone was busy with something; the cast was setting a scene, adjusting their costumes, and fretting over their makeup.

The attire of the cast reflected the elegance of the characters. The ladies were wearing fancy dresses with high-heeled shoes, pearl necklaces, and perfect lipstick, while the men were sporting impressive suits and double-Winsor-knotted ties.

The photographer arrived and he was ready to work. He crouched down low, stood on tables, and moved from side to side looking for the perfect angles as the cast switched in and out of the scene posing to represent their characters.

“Look shocked! Look bemused!” directed Melissa Leonard, professor of theater and faculty advisor to the Twilight Players. “There you go. Big Faces, big faces!”

Picked by the Twilight Players for its fun and comedic values, “Rumors”, written by Neil Simon, is about four high society couples who gather for what is intended to be a celebration but turns into a mystery of murder.

This play requires a lot of dedication. All members of the theater group, cast, crew, and director, are putting a great amount of work into their production. The cast of the play started working on it eight weeks before the production, says Leonard. For the first six weeks, they put in about ten hours a week. For the two weeks right before the play takes place, they will put in from 20 to 30 hours of work per week.

Besides a sense of accomplishment, there can be another bonus to helping with the play -- Credits. If the students cast in roles enroll in a course tied to the play, THA-2840, they receive three credits. Students who are interested in working behind the scenes can enroll in a second half semester mini-course, THA-2845, and they receive from one and a half to three credits depending on the amount of time they work.

The Twilight Players will be performing this play on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.

Cast

Charcter - Played By

Chris Gorman - Jenn Morin
Ken Gorman - Dave Daly
Claire Ganz - Caitlin Kolson
Lenny Ganz - Daniel Hollis
Ernie Cusack - Owen Fogg
Cookie Cusack - Angela Miller-Brown
Glenn Cooper - Johnny Gallagher
Cassie Cooper - Megan Hinds
Officer Welch - Dave Lewis
Officer Pudney - Teddy Fournier

Major Drop-outs

Some majors at LSC tend to keep hold of their students better than others do.

Drastic changes are seen when looking at the change in number of students in each department from their enrollment in 2005 to their graduation in 2009. Most of the numbers decreased, due to the whole class becoming smaller as time went on, but some departments actually showed an increase in students by graduation time.

Among the highest attrition rates seen in departments are Atmospheric Sciences, with a change from 41 students to only eight students (a 80% decrease), TVS, which changed from 39 students to 16 students (a 59% decrease), and Education, with a change from 24 students to 9 students ( a 63% decrease).

The lowest attrition rates are found in psychology, which started with 17 students and ended with 26 (a 53% increase), English, which started with seven students and ended with 11 (a 57% increase), and Liberal Studies, which began with six students and ended with 11 (an 83% increase).

The psychology department, which includes both psychology and human services, had the highest rates among all the departments of holding on to and even gaining students over the four years.

"People are curious as to why people behave the way they do" said Patricia Shine, Psychology department chair and professor. "In terms of keeping students, I'd like to think it's because we are a department who pays a lot of attention to our students . . . but that's a hallmark of the college at large." She went on to say that the psychology department provides students with many hands-on opportunities that seems to draw them in.

According to the LSC 2008 Graduate Survey Report, 83% of 2008 psychology graduates who responded to the survey were employed or continuing their education. Shine said that the placement numbers are lower in this particular year than past years because of the state of the economy.

"You can do such a broad range of things with a degree in psychology and human services," said Mariah Ogden, who is a sophomore double majoring in psychology and human services. " There are a lot of opportunities."

On the other end of the spectrum, the atmospheric science department (formerly known as meteorology) had the greatest rate of attrition for the class of 2009.

Some students who start just don't know what meteorology is all about, said Nolan Atkins who is is the chair and professor for atmospheric science.

"Many think it is 'storm chasing' or simply presenting a weather forecast in front of a green screen," Atkins said. "Based on student perception, it is likely that atmospheric science is the most difficult major for the majority of students on campus." This is the only major at LSC that requires Calculus I, II, and III, as well as Classical Physics I and II.

Atkins said that he frequently sees people that leave this major to transfer to others within LSC. These often include Business, Natural Science, TVS, Liberal Studies, and Education.

The difficulties to graduate in this major do pay off. 88% of students from the 2008 Graduate Report had jobs or were furthering their studies.

Students who graduated in 2009 included students who came in undecided and picked a major somewhere along the way; others may have switched majors part-way through. Others still were transfers or re-admits that did not enroll at LSC in 2005. Drop-outs as well as all these other factors affected the changes in numbers of students in each department.

Belly Dance from LSC

Belly dance, or Middle Eastern dance, can be freeing says Elizabeth Bergman, who is a lover and teacher of this type of dance.

Bergman, who graduated last May, learned this genre of dance at LSC about two and a half years ago. Middle Eastern dance was once offered as a mini-course which she took.

"I always looked forward to it and always felt great after -- physically and emotionally, I couldn't stop smiling." Bergman said. "I was hooked right then. I felt free, sensual and empowered with Middle Eastern dance."

Belly Dance and Middle Eastern dance are identical as far as the techniques are concerned, but Bergman calls what she does Middle Eastern dance. The only difference is the intent. Belly dance is considered to be more for performing and aimed towards an audience, while Middle Eastern dance is traditional and done more for the dancer's own pleasure. It is a very sensual type of dance with lots of shimmying and shaking that can be done equally well solo or in groups.

"I just enjoy the dancing and it still makes me feel wonderful," Bergman said. She has performed on multiple occasions, one of those times being for the LSC talent show. The other three performances were at various festivals.

Right now she is mostly just trying to learn more about this type of dance, and she encourages others to do the same. She is teaching beginner classes where she teaches the basic movements and techniques of Middle Eastern dance. "I hope to be able to show the students the joys of dance, hope that they discover the confidence that can come with it." The classes tend to run on the small side (from two to eight people) and there is no age requirement to attend.

It is a drop-in class, so it is not necessary to sign up beforehand, though by signing up for four classes, there is a discounted price, along with a registration fee for the first time this is done. A single class costs $10. Classes are held from 6:00-7:00 Friday nights at Dance Images by Heidi, on 173 York Street in Lyndonville. For any more information, Bergman can be contacted at e.bergman83@gmail.com.

Trivia Taxi

If you have a knack for facts, the Trivia Taxi might be the right ride for you.

The owner and driver of this local taxi, Fred Graves, is offering a discounted price for his services if the customer can correctly answer his trivia question. The questions, which are mainly general knowledge trivia that Graves finds from the internet, vary daily. Though Graves' taxi is different than the Cash Cab, which is a game show that surprises unexpectant passengers by asking them questions and awarding them cash prizes, this is where he got the idea from.

He is offering services beyond what you might expect from a taxi service. Graves does deliveries and pick-ups of most any kind, including airport services, on top of giving rides to any requested destination.

Graves just started up the Trivia Taxi about two weeks ago, to make up for being laid off from a local factory. He says it was "one of the unfortunate products of the bad economy." Though he has lost his job, he has not lost his ambition. Business has been slow to start, but he is ready for it to come full force.

Fees for this taxi are not unreasonable. Graves charges $2 initially, then $1 for every additional mile. For example, with the college as a starting point it would cost $6 to get to the Packing house, $13 to get to the the Star theatre in St. Johnsbury, and around $32 to go to Wal-Mart in Littleton. If the trivia question is correctly anwered, $1 is taken off the initial fee.

For any additional information, or to take advantage of his services, call Fred Graves at 626-3182.