School Spirit

Walking around campus, I tried to get a feel of what other students thought about the school spirit here at Frostburg State. I talked to a few people, and askem them two simple questions:
1. Have you attended a Frostburg athletic event this semester?
2. What do you think of the school spirit at Frostburg State?

Erin Hickey, a junior from Baltimore who is majoring in sociology and pyschology has yet to attend an athletic even this semester, and believes that school spirit "is ok, but needs to be improved."

Amy Williams, a junior that transferred in from Arizona State University and is majoring in political science has an interesting perspective on school spirit. " Coming from Arizona State I knew that the school spirit would be nothing like a big division 1 school, but for a smaller school I believe Frostburg has a good amount of school spirit."

Victoria McHugh, a freshman from Bel Air, has not yet attended a Frostburg Atghletic event either. She however believes that the school spirit "is good."

Even though I was not able to find someone that had attended a sporting event, it was still interesting to hear different perspectives from students who may not be the biggest sports fans, but still like to represent the University with pride.

Where is SGA?

Many Frostburg State University students do not know how much of campus happenings the Student Government Association (SGA) has control over.  When asked what they would like to see SGA do on campus this year, I received many blank faces.

Marcus Wilson, a senior Business Managment major from Baltimore, Maryland, would like to see SGA become involved in the Lane Center.  He says, "I don't know if they have any control over it, but I would like to see them bring back Sunday meal plans."

Westernport, native Megan Leatherman thinks, "It would be nice to have more multi-cultural events on campus."  The Junior Early Childhood Education major frequently attends these events for classes, but says there are very few on our campus.

Amy Williams is a junior Political Science major and admits, "I'm not sure what the SGA gets involved in."  This is the Edgewater, Maryland, native's first year on FSU's campus.  Although she is interested in politics, she is not aware of our own student government.

Is the fact that few students know what SGA does something the organization should be concerned about?

Should Marijuana be Legalized?

ENGL 490
Korawn Harris

A lot of people agreed that marijuana should be legalized, but everyone had their own opinion about it. Tameka Jones a senior, International Business major at FSU was very vocal when asked the question. She began talking about how marijuana is the reason most of her friends in her hometown of DC is arrested. She said emphatically, "The police could concern themselves with other things instead of something as petty as weed!" Brian Harris who heard Tameka's emotion agreed with her, but had his own ideas about it. He is also a junior at FSU, but he was looking at it from a business perspective. He is an Accounting major, and his first words were, "We wouldn't have to worry about this recession". He feels like if marijuana was legalized, the government could add high taxes to the prices and this would help our society with it's debt. Rashida Reid wasn't as sure as the first two  students because she feels like marijuana affects some people judgement. She like the first two is a native of DC and like Brian, she is an Accounting major at FSU. After thinking about it for a while she said, "It isn't hurting anybody". She feels like everyone smokes marijuana, so it should be legal. They all believe that just like alcohol, it is everyones decision to use it or not.

Hauntings in and around Frostburg State

When asked if they had heard anything about ghost in or around Frostburg's campus three students were able to provide some quality information.

Mike Naylor
4th year, Business, Largo Maryland
"Yeah I think one of my classrooms might be haunted" Mike said he's heard funny noises in one of his classrooms this year when no body is around to make them.

Mason McIlwee
4th year, Business, Boonsboro Maryland
"You should go check out Puccini's Pizza" Mason said that he was told by some employees of the brick oven pizza restaurant that the building was indeed haunted.  "Yeah its haunted...they also have great pizza."

Jessica Horne
Sr, Marketing, Upper Marlboro Maryland
"When i was a freshman living in Cumberland hall someone told me about a haunting." Jessica was told that a student committed suicide somewhere on the third floor in the past, and ever since then people have heard foot steps and have felt the presence of the student.

Have you explored the nature in the area?

I asked three students the following questions about outdoors activities in the area: have you explored the nature in the area surrounding frostburg, if so, where have you been?

Mackenzie Moylan, "Super senior" history major, from Damascus, MD.
"Dan's rock is a classic spot" he explained that as a freshman he would often drive to dans rock to enjoy the view. Fall was the best time, with all the colors changing.

James McCarthy, junior, business administration, Annapolis, MD.
"We used to take our puppy, Bemis, to Finzel swamp all the time." Finzel swamp is a popular hike through and over a swamp. When the trail ends one can take a right into the woods or head left where they will find a quaint pond. "The water was super clear and warm and Bemis loved to frolic in it," explained McCarthy.

Christopher Preston, Bel Air, MD, Parks and Recreation, junior.
Chris enjoys camping at green ridge state park. As a parks and rec major he enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities but camping stood out. When asked why camping stood out he explained, " it's one of those things you can do with everyone, there is no skill required and you can do it in big groups." Chris reflects on playing guitar around a camp fire cooking hot dog on sticks and then taking pitch black walks through the woods, "trying to scare the crap out of each other."

As it turns out...

...people either don't seem to know where their money is going, or really care. So I'll try to clear some things up near the end of this post, and bring some information to light.

Of course, there are some exceptions to this, and such is the case of Krystal Hershaw, a Baltimore native studying accounting.

When asked if the fees we as students pay could be put to something different, not yet funded, she replied "Not so far this year. But last year I wish they would have fully paid the CPR training. It was only free if you lived on campus."

Others find the money is going to the right places.

" Yeah, it [Lane Center] was a good place to start," said Michael Ladford, an Information Technology major from Waldorf. "Not only is food there, but a new computer lab, entertainment center."

Some, like Chemistry major Jesse Henderson, find the fees to be completely fair. "Not too much at all," he said.

http://www.frostburg.edu/budget/budget-resources/budget-graphs/# - Here is a link to the posted budget, both income and expenses, for Frostburg in the 2011-12 Academic year. You'll notice our tuition and fees take up 31.92%, second only to State Appropriations at 32.55%. The total revenue comes out at $102, 360, 000 - quite a sum, but maybe not when compared to other universities.

What really jumped out was the "Restricted" section, funds regulated to a specific, per-agreed upon stipulation. These restricted funds constitute 12.57% of the budget. So what are these funds, and where do they come from? Hopefully, I'll know soon.

You'll also notice below, the outline of costs and construction dates relating to Lane Center. Thought this might be interesting.

Lane Center
Design Start	June 2008
Construction Start	September 2009
Close Building	December 2009
Construction Complete	December 2010
Funding
FY2008	Planning	$1,450,000
FY2009	Renovation/Construction	$18,000,000
FY2011	Equipment	$2,000,000
Total Budget		$21,450,00

Friends with (Healthcare) Benefits: Nearly 1 Million Young Adults Receive Health Insurance Under Affordable Care Act

College students frequently desecrate their bodies as a result of indulging in their favorite vice.  Whether it’s consuming mass amounts of alcohol, participating in unprotected sex, binging on fast food, or abusing prescription amphetamines to stay up all night and study, students are exposed to health risks on a regular basis.  In the past, possessing expensive health insurance remained a pipe dream for many struggling undergraduates.  Today, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an additional one million adults between the ages of 19 and 25 are now covered by insurance.

Referred to as ‘Obamacare’ by Republicans, the ACA established the legal right to affordable healthcare.  Perhaps the most important revision for students, the ACA allows those younger than 26 years old to remain covered by their parent’s insurance plan.  No other age group experienced a gain in coverage.  Another benefit includes the availability of preventive procedures, such as flu vaccines, birth control, and cancer screenings, to students without healthcare.  Also, insurance companies may no longer cite ‘preexisting conditions’ as a reason to not cover students. 

Many students would opt out of purchasing their own healthcare in order to save on expenses.  “I would just roll the dice.  Health insurance is a big scam,” said Mackenzie Moylan, 22 year-old FSU senior.

FSU’s Brady Health center does not accept health insurance and students are responsible for payment of fees at the time of their care.  Although FSU does not have a specific student health insurance plan, the American College Student Association is listed on Brady Health’s website as a provider of student injury and sickness plans.

The ACA provides tremendous relief for students concerned about losing their insurance or having it capped because of an accident.  Unexpected health emergencies serve as an inconvenience for students in the midst of intensive study, the last thing they should have to worry about are medical bills.  Last winter, Bruno Yoffe, senior at FSU, broke his kidney following an epic snowboarding accident.  “I’m now covered until 2015 because of the new healthcare policy,” he said.  Yoffe will return to the slopes this winter with a sense of security towards any future medical treatment needs.  “I can destroy my body all I want and it will cost me nothing,” he said.

The rate of young adults without coverage is almost double the national average because most entry-level jobs do not offer health benefits.  Also, many view health insurance as expendable and choose to gamble on whether or not they would need expensive medical treatment. 

Overall, the ACA represents a vast improvement to American healthcare coverage by closing a majority of the gaps and loopholes in the system.  The act is financially supported through tax increases, as well as a reduction in the growth of Medicare.

Under the new health care law, most Americans will need some kind of health insurance by 2014.

Every year, harsh winter weather triggers an abundance of common cold and flu cases.  Additionally, college students are prone to injuries that are reflective of their lifestyle decisions.  New healthcare rights for college students provide a safer future and help to remove some of the risk out of otherwise enjoyable activities. 

How Do You Define It?

Mental health is a broad subject emcompassing many things with many misconceptions and generalizations. I asked people on campus today: How do you define mental health / illness?

The first person who probably thought I had mental health issues when I approached him said, "I gues mental disorders like ADD, schizophrenia, bipolar...anythingthat means your mind is different than it's supposed to be."

-Michael Ahlfeldt
Undecided Major
Class of 2015
York, PA

I asked one of our librarians the same question; he resopnded with a somewhat puzzeled face, [Well] psychiatry and anti-depressants are the first two things I think of."

-Charles Courtney
Library Technician, FSU Library

The last person I approached gave a much broader and detailed response, "[I think of] depression, bipolar, anxiety, insomnia. Good mental health or bad mental health. Good being well-rounded, healthy; because if you have a better idea of how your physical and emotional should be. Bad also affects [all of this too]."

-Benjamin McCrary
English Major
Class of 2013
Lakeville, Minnesota

These answers all centered around many things that we commonly associate with mental health. According to the surgeon general, "Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity. Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society."

For the full article from the surgeon general, check out the link below.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter1/sec1.html#mental_points

Safety in Numbers or Safety in Gender?

There are many hot-button women's issues on college campuses today. Everything from sexual assault to gender discrimination in the classroom can come up and cause much controversy in our institutions of higher education. These well-publicized issues are important, but what do our students think?

When asked what the number one women's issue on college campuses today is, one might expect a variety of responses. However, here are some interesting reaction from FSU students...

Bridget Willingham is a freshman art major at Frostburg State University originally from La Plata, Maryland. After contemplating the subject of the number one women's issue for a moment, she said, "Girls are more vulnerable." She went on to explain how she feels that female college students can be more vulnerable especially when alone and it is important to remember to travel in groups.

Next, a Graduate student perspective was gained on the subject. Jessica O'Neil from Mechanicsville, Maryland is pursuing her M.S. in counseling psychology at Frostburg State University. She had a particular interest in the subject of women's issues as she is a part of the V-Day campaign. She also had the view that safety (as far as vulnerability to sexual assault and violent in general) is the number one issue for female college students. "Especially at night", she added in order to elaborate on her meaning of safety.

To end, it is important to look at a male perspective on this topic. Mike Schoelen is in his second year at FSU and is studying environmental planning and analysis. His hometown is Frederick, Maryland. Once again, the first thought that came to mind when asked about college women's issues was safety. When asked to specify what exactly he meant by safety, he elaborated by saying, "Off-campus safety is especially important".

With all of the well-publicized issues out there on women's issues, it is extremely interesting that all three of the interviewees had basically the same exact answer with a bit of unique elaboration. More and more these days personal safety and violence seems to be growing as less of an issue for youth in general, and more of an issue for women. Of course, men are also assaulted and they become the victims as well. However, we see more often than not that women are the victims. Ms. O'Neil brought up one great point that I would like to close with. There are ways that women can protect themselves and ways that everyone can do their part to educate and help end this violence on women. The V-Day campaign has the goal to eliminate violence against women and many colleges campuses (even FSU!) has a chapter of the organization. V-Day puts on many educational programs such as "Vagina Monologues". If you would like to learn more about this important organization or if you would like to get involved, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2dt9uj7

Freshman 101: Marijuana

When you enter college you make difficult decisions everyday about what and what not to do. At Frostburg State this is no different because freshman are getting away from the nest for the first time. Smoking marijuana is a common issue freshman are faced with, whether they will or will not smoke. Several students around FSU's campus were asked if marijuana was used more prevalent in high school or college, and why?
Freshman Shahzevb Hussain from Annapolis studying Pre-Med said," marijuana is bigger in high school because there is more peer pressure in high school than there is in college because by the time you have reached college you have primarily established who you are . Also there is a bigger transition from middle school to high school than there is high school to college." Sophomore Whitney Russell from West Hyattsville agreed with Shahzevb. She explained that " high school as much more peer pressure because of the need to fit in. College there are so many different clicks you can be yourself and find a home amongst people like yourself."On the other hand sophomore DeAndre Cooper a Business major from Baltimore said," Definitely college because you are away from your parents and have that much more freedom. You might occasionally try weed in high school but the amount you smoke is more when your in college."
Whether the answer of marijuana being more prevalent in high school or college still leaves room for debate, but we can see drugs play a role in the FSU freshman's life.

Frostburg State University Football: The Truth about the Bobcats

After guiding FSU into a 1-9 record last year, “Trying to get back to our great football tradition and rebuild the school spirit is our ultimate goal” said Tom Rogish, the head coach of Frostburg State University’s football team. But how far away is a goal for a team that has won only three games in the past four seasons? What factors could have caused this “curse”? More importantly, what could it take to bring the Bobcats closer to their goal? This season, the football team continues to stay motivated and work their butts off for more wins to bring home, but football player number 89 Tejiri Erhie, mournfully says “Right now, we are doing terrible. Were about the same as last year, no progress.”

The Frostburg football coaches have a lot of faith in their team. When talking about the team’s record, Coach William Jackson said, “It could be better, but I know they are working hard and that is all that I ask for.” Coach Jackson and Rogish both stressed the fact that the team was playing a very hard division 3 schedule. “They played 5 teams who were top 25 in the nation” said Rogish.

“There are a lot of freshmen on our team who are new to the college football experience, playing against teams with a lot of experienced upper classmen” Coach Jackson explained. FSU’s football team this year carried a number of 54 freshmen on their football team, out of 95 students.

With such a tough schedule, the team is prepared by having hard practices Monday through Friday, and sometimes Saturday. They also have film studying and breakdowns of recorded practices and games, as well as their upcoming opponent’s games. And when it comes down to choosing who gets to start in a game, it is determined by “Production, and whoever works the hardest at practice,” says Coach Rogish. “It’s like a competition.”

Although the coaches are the ones who dictate the team, there is no better source to find out what really goes on during football games and within the team than a football player himself. Like his coaches, football player Marcus Wilson, a junior defensive corner back who has played all 3 years that he has spent at Frostburg, shares that his team has a very tough D-3 schedule. For example, the Bobcats lost against Wesley College with a score of 0-47. Wesley College is undefeated with a record of 9-0 and will be competing in the NCAA championship, Nov. 20 2010. Some of the other teams that have gave Frostburg a loss this season are Geneva College with a record of 5-5, Salisbury State University 7-2, and St. John Fisher College 8-2. These are very good records, considering Frostburg only has won 2 games this season. Wilson believes that this has a big impact on the amount of games that they have competed in.

When it comes to improving the team, Wilson says, “As a team, we could have a much stronger bond.” After going into a little more detail about what Marcus thinks could help improve the team, he also shared that if it were his way he would “recruit some more lineman.”

However, football player Rashad James, also a junior defensive corner back who has played all three years, expresses his opinion on improvement by sharing that “Using the best people at the best positions, we have enough talent that is not being used.” Both Wilson and James agreed that there is a lot of potential and talent on the team.

But another flaw of the team pointed is out by Rashad James; “People try to be their own superstars sometimes, instead of just having faith in each other.”

Ehrie, James, and Wilson all expressed that the team has a lack of a bond. They believe that if the team were a little bit closer together, it would improve the way they play. If he could change one thing, Tejiri Erhie, a sophomore wide receiver, said “I would try to get the players to become a family.”

“More fans supporting us could help us do better,” says Erhie. Wilson and James also agreed that fans and school spirit affect the way the team performs. For a team that doesn’t win many games, motivation is hard to maintain without fans and school spirit. But the Bobcats continue to stay motivated. In fact, criticism and teasing is nothing new to these fellows, as they are used to putting up with it. Some of the football players allow it to affect them in a negative way, but some let them affect them in a more positive way. When addressing the teasing and criticism, Rashad James said, “People tease us because they don’t understand how hard we play and how close the games usually are, they just tease us about losing or the final score.” And as a loyal football player would, Marcus Wilson makes the best of the negative criticism, and says “Sometimes I get angry, but it motivates me.”

There was no hesitation when all of the athletes expressed that the love for the game is what keeps them motivated the most. Their love for the sport is what keeps them focused to work hard at practices and to continue to play for the team. Their passion for the sport keeps them around to put up with the people who criticize and tease them. “It’s just D-3 football. Anybody who sticks it in for this long when we don’t win any games has to love it, I love football.” James said passionately. “The love for the game,” Wilson said, is what keeps him around. Erhie gave just about the same answer, “I love football, I love watching and I love playing.” All three of them plan to play again next season.

As the football players would like to make an improvement, the students on campus still look forward to seeing one. Many students are very supportive and still have hope for the Bobcats, but some students have given up on the team and stopped attending games. In fact, a lot of students agreed that they would go to games if the football team won more often. Jess Brown, a junior and history major, expressed that she would attend more football games if they won more often. “I only went to the games because my friends were going. If they had a better record, then I would have another reason to go more often.”

Another student, Allison Meads, who has attended only one football game, says, “I like football, but I can’t support a team who doesn’t win any games.” But she did agree that if they won more games she would go and watch. This shows that the football team has a big impact on the amount of school spirit, but it could possibly go both ways.

Although students have said that the football teams performance puts a hindrance on the amount of school spirit FSU has, there are still other sports at FSU that help bring the students close together. The women’s volleyball team accomplished an amazing overall record of 34-4. The men’s basketball team in 2009 finished with a 17-10 record. Many other sports teams are known for their good turn outs.

Frostburg students underestimate the Bobcat football team to a great extent. Although students have such high expectations for the team, they fail to realize their attendance could improve the team’s performance.

At the Frostburg homecoming game against Apprentice College, there was a surprising turn out of the amount of students that came out to support Frostburg on that cold snowy day. With all of the support, Frostburg took home a win, with a close finishing score of 25-20.

Coach Rogish and Coach Jackson, as well as the football players, all agreed that school spirit and fans do help. “Anybody would love to go to their own game and see a big crowd,” Coach Jackson says. If students were to be more supportive and attend more games, they might possibly see a difference in the way their Bobcat football team plays.

So now it is pretty obvious that Frostburg State University’s football team faces many obstacles, not only as individuals, but as a team. They are often misunderstood and misjudged, struggle to keep their motivation, and play a hard schedule. They think they have a lack of a strong team bond, but it has been said by their very own Coach Rogish, “At the end of the day they win together and they lose together”. Whether they overcome these obstacles or not they still deserve more than respect for their hard work and effort. Although they haven’t been the most successful in winning games, they are successful in staying motivated to reach their goals. Go Bobcats!

To Salt Or Not To Salt?

Every winter snow transforms the roads of Frostburg from a safe route to a treacherous one. The common solution to the danger is laying salt on the roads. The salt is a quick fix when it comes to the safety of the roads, but what about the long term effects of the salt. Very few people stop to think about the damaging effects the salt is having on the environment. As a matter of fact, the very salt that keeps your roads safe is the same salt that is running into your ground water and is potentially damaging to human health. One of the people whom find this issue worth researching is Dr. Phillip P. Allen of the Geography Department at Frostburg State University. Dr. Allen is conducting a study that will potentially give a deeper insight to the damaging effects of the salt on the environment. The results will hopefully give us a clear understanding of if the salt is really helping us or not. Is driving in the snow worth the damaging effect of not only the environment but possibly our health?

The Great Allegany Run

Great Allegany Run (GAR) is a fitness event in its 30th year in Allegany County.  The GAR includes a 15K foot race from Mount Savage to Cumberland, a 5K in Cumberland, a 2 mile fitness walk, and a Little Allegany Run for Children.  Activities all finish on the downtown Cumberland Mall.

Registration is at the Holiday Inn on

Friday September 30, 2011 from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

And

Saturday October 1, 2011 from 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM

Great Allegany Run

Saturday October 1, 2011

Volunteers would help with the finish on the Downtown Mall or assist with giving water out.  We need teams of 4 to assist with handing out water throughout the run.

If you are interested in volunteering for the The Great Allegany Run, please contact Dave Treber at 301-687-4020, 301-697-9171, or dtreber@frostburg.edu.

Blood Drive

The Pre-Professional Medical Society will have a blood drive on Oct. 6 in Lane Manicur Hall. Donors can sign up for a time slot on the second floor of Compton on Oct. 3, 4 and 5 at the Pre-med table. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

For more information, contact Josh Elmore at jselmore0@frostburg.edu.

Going Green is Old Hat for FSU

The initiative that this country has taken to go green seems like a fairly new concept, but did you know that Frostburg State University has been going green for several years? FSU became a member of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment all the way back in 2007. The ACUPCC has committed to making an effort to stopping the effect our greenhouse gases on colleges and universities are having on global climate, and to eventually progress towards climate neutrality. Learn more about the ACUPCC here.

Learning Green, Living Green is the FSU Sustainability Initiative and their mission is for students, faculty and community members to develop ways to create solutions for ongoing energy problems. More can be learned about the LGLG and its mission and vision at its website. Also, if you are wondering what is happening with FSU and its sustainability program, updates about receent activities can be found at this site.

Free Biomedical Screenings

FSU’s popular student health and wellness initiative is hosting another round of annual bio-medical screenings this fall. Creating Healthy, Informed, Lasting Lifestyles (CHILL) will ask students to participant in their bio-medical screenings on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 8 a.m. to noon. Students will be able to have their blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked at no cost, all while earning CHILL prizes.

To complete the screening, students will need to refrain from eating or drinking anything but water for at least eight hours before the screening. The screenings involve having a vial of blood drawn to check the blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Each student screened will be eligible to receive follow-up care at Brady Health Center, including free consultations with nursing staff and the CHILL dietician.

In exchange for the student’s time, each participant will receive a complimentary breakfast and a free CHILL T-shirt, and will be entered in drawings for other free CHILL prizes. The first 25 students in line each morning for the screenings will also receive a special bonus CHILL prize.

To be eligible for the screening, students must be at least 18 and not have any previous diagnosis concerning their blood sugar or heart health. Students who do not qualify for this screening are encouraged to contact Brady Health Center to make an appointment to have the screening performed at a later date.

Originally launched in September 2008 with a contribution from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, CHILL promotes health practices and education among college students and the local community. Since 2008, CHILL has performed over 1,150 screenings with nearly 77 percent of the results indicating at least one health concern. The goal of CHILL’s screenings is to get students thinking about the lasting impacts that diet and exercise habits can have on their bodies. CHILL hopes to screen 500 students during the 2010-2011 academic year.

To learn more about CHILL, visit www.frostburg.edu/chill or email wellness@frostburg.edu. 

Get Your Flu Shot!

Flu vaccine walk-in clinics will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Brady Health Center. The cost is $20 for the flu shot or $25 for the nasal flu mist, payable by cash, check or Bobcat card – no insurance billing, debit or credit cards.

If you can’t make these clinic times, call Brady Health at x4310 for an appointment.

Badminton Club

The Badminton Club meets in the practice gym from 1 to 3 p.m. every Sunday and provides nets, rackets and birdies. Student membership is $10 per semester. Faculty/staff membership is $30 per semester.

For info, contact Dr. Yan Bao at ybao@frostburg.edu, Dr. Xinliang Zheng at xzheng@frostburg.edu or Qiong Zhou at qzhou0@frostburg.edu.

Yoga Classes at Frostburg State University

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that builds mental and physical strength, as well as spiritual awareness.  Some of the many benefits include increased muscle tone, flexibility, stress reduction, and pain prevention. Yoga is an excellent option for a variety of different athletes and physical fitness goals.  Cross-training with yoga is especially important for runners because the force of the impact results in chronic knee, back, and ankle pain.  FSU is now offering the following yoga class: 

Monday and Wednesday


October 3 - November 9

12:00 – 1:00pm

Dance Studio, Cordts PE Center Room 106

Cost: $120.00

Registration and payment deadline is Wednesday, September 28.
(A minimum of six participants is needed for this class.)

Participants will need to provide their own yoga mat and a blanket, preferably wool or a tightly woven.

People of ALL fitness levels and yoga experience are welcome and encouraged to take this classes which are appropriate for every---"body."  Yoga students will experience how practicing yoga can focus and calm the mind, reduce stress, promote relaxation, improve physical strength, stamina and flexibility, and bring increased body and breath awareness."

Instructor Alex Jenkins is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with training from the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, California.
She teaches vinyasa style, flow yoga classes which includes pranayama (breathing techniques), asanas (yoga postures) and savasana (meditation/relaxation).  Vinyasa translates to "the linking of body movements with breath. 

Send payment and registration to...

Amy Nazelrod

Coordinator 
Activities for Life

Department of Athletics

Frostburg State University

177 Cordts PE Center

101 Braddock Road

Frostburg, MD 21532

301-687-7934

Student Health Services

Many students might not know that Frostburg offers a wide variety of services when it comes to student health. They offer everything from drug testing to crisis intervention to psychological counseling services. Below is the link to further information about these services.

http://www.frostburg.edu/counsel/

What hurts more the body or wallet ?

When thinking about alcohol, one of the many questions that comes across my mind, is how much am I spending? As a college student, money tends to be tight and I thought while consuming lots of alcohol is detrimental to the body (liver disease, cancer etc.), it can also be hurtful to the wallet. When researching online I found http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/ which is site that has information for college students and parents about alcohol, alcohol poisoning, and they also have a calculator that computes how much a year a student spends on alcohol. When factoring my own amount (note I am 21) my total was shocking. I do not consider myself a huge drinker, however, just the amount I drink cost me more than two grand a year.

Moreover, I was searching online for causes of not only students, and adults about why some people abuse alcohol. I found an article from the New York Times that discusses that alcohol abuse can stem from genetics but what I found interesting is that sometimes stress can trigger it. Many college students can relate to college being a stressful environment with papers, exams, and what comes next after graduation. Could this be attributed to the high percentage of underage drinking and alcohol abuse problems ?

Here is the article I found:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/health/02abuse.html?ref=alcoholabuse

The Women's Studies Line-Up

Women's issues have become an integral part of the professional world. Everything from discrimination, to sexual harassment, to wages deal directly with gender. So with this in mind, it would seem that Women's Studies would be an important area of study within universities and colleges. The first Women's Studies department (sometimes known as "Gender Studies") was created in 1970 at San Diego State University. Since then many other institutions of higher education have created full blown Women's Studies departments and even professional degree programs. I decided to take a look at the University System of Maryland to see how its institutions deal with Women's Studies and how they compare to Frostburg State University. So here is the line-up!

Frostburg State University

Department/Program: Yes

Degree: Minor

# WMST Classes: 4

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: 15

Other: Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3e65326

Bowie State University

Department/Program: Not Formal (conc. w/in History Dept.)

Degree: N/A

# WMST Classes: 0

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: 15

Coppin State University

Department/Program: Not Formal (classes w/in Psychology Dept.)

Degree: N/A

# WMST Classes: 4

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: 0

Salisbury University

Department/Program: Yes (Gender Studies/History Dept.)

Degree: Minor

# WMST Classes: 0

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: 26

Towson University

Department/Program: Yes (Women's & Gender Studies)

Degree: Major/Graduate (M.S.)

# WMST Classes: 16

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: Many

Other: Concentrations: Women, Health, & Sexuality; Women in International Context; Women, Leadership, and Public Policy

Blog: http://tinyurl.com/3f9zl5x

University of Baltimore

Department/Program: No

Degree: N/A

# WMST Classes: None

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: None

Other: Women's Studies showed up in various other majors such as U.S. Women's History

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Department/Program: No

Degree: N/A

# WMST Classes: None

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: None

Other: Law school Gender & Leadership Seminar

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Department/Program: Yes

Degree: Minor/Major/Certificate/Graduate

# WMST Classes: 57

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: Many

Other: Everything from Feminist Theory to Women's Self Defense

University of Maryland, College Park

Department/Program: Yes

Degree: Major/Graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.)

# WMST Classes: 42

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: Many

Other: Also offers a major in Black Women's Studies

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Department/Program: No

Degree: N/A

#WMST Classes: None

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: None

Other: Women's Studies showed up in various other majors such as Women in Corrections

University of Maryland University College

Department/Program: Not Formal

Degree: N/A

# WMST Classes: 1

# Multi-Disciplinary Classes: 18

So overall I think that Towson, UMBC, and College Park offer the most extensive programs for Women's Studies. It is also interesting that even though not every university within the system has a formal Women's Studies department, the issues still showed up in different majors and minors. If you would like to check out these universities for yourself, visit the University System of Maryland website at: http://tinyurl.com/3jxhmll.

Frostburg Gets Trashed

Frostburg City Officials have made changes to the routes of garbage and solid waste removal.  

City Officials would like to remind residents: “The City of Frostburg collects trash from residential properties only.  Commercial properties must hire a private collection company.  New multifamily apartments and commercial buildings are required to have commercial dumpsters and private service.  The following applies to residential properties only.”

Officials have released a “Best Practices, Garbage/Trash Collection” feature on their website.  The City asks that residents use plastic trash bags placed in containers designed for trash collection, including lids, pick up loose trash on their property, keep containers inside until ready to place at curb for pickup, and if a collection is missed, please return your container to inside storage or rear yard.  Further guidelines and code enforcement can be found here.

City Officials also ask that you remember to recycle.  In addition to curbside pickups, newspaper, aluminum cans, tin food cans, and magazines can be recycled at the Mountainview Landfill on Route 36, just 2 miles south of Frostburg.  A complete list of recycling drop-off locations can be found here.

Don’t forget that on the second Monday of each month from April to November, the City will also pickup yard waste, such as compost material, grass, leaves, brush, and tree branches up to 4” in diameter.

Please be advised that there will be no trash pick-up on upcoming City Holidays including Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.  A list of city holidays can be found here.

For more information and a complete listing of the new routes of trash pickup, click here. 

Frostburg State Freshman 101

Analyzing the freshmen class of Frostburg State University you will find a unique sub-population. Frostburg State University student’s mainly come from the DMV (Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia), Pennsylvania, and West Virginia area. Some of the main reasons for coming to Frostburg State among the students have been location, tuition cost, diversity, and academic majors.

Noah Majinnasola (Class 2015) “I came to Frostburg State because the tuition cost was reasonable. The price of college is getting really expensive and I really just don’t have that type of money.”
Jordan Zang (Class 2014) “I came to Frostburg because it was far enough from home where my parents couldn’t pop up but close enough where I wouldn’t miss home too much.”

FSU offers a total of forty-five different degree programs from Chemistry to Recreation and Park Management, allowing a wide range of career paths. Students get the convenience of small classroom sizes with 85% of classes contain 30 or less students. Finally 84% of faculty has a doctorates or terminal degrees in the field they study in. With all these components this makes Frostburg a desired place for high school seniors to go.
Going away to college is the next chapter for these freshmen. Frostburg provides these students with the transition into adulthood, with greater responsibility and independence. Freshman living on campus in the dorms will be exposed to sex, drug, and alcohol more without any parent supervision or curfew to worry about. There are currently 828 freshmen this fall semester looking to redefine themselves and step into a new light. Here they can do many things such as sports, sorority/fraternity, clubs, and organizations. Many will be looking to find what they want to do with the rest of their lives and others what they want to do tonight. Whether good or bad Frostburg State University is the start of a long journey for these 828 freshmen!

Impulsive Shopping: A Serious Disease

Many college students start off the year with a lot of money, and end up "broke" before midterms. For instance, what is the first thing that comes to mind once you deposit or cash that refund check? Those shoes you’ve always wanted? Updating your fall fashion ensemble? What you’re going to do with it the upcoming weekend? Or are you going to save it and plan out exactly how you are going to spend it?

Before learning tips on how to save yourself some dollars, you have to determine whether you are an impulsive buyer or a "Get-and-Go" shopper. This is quite simple. When you go to the store to buy the things you need, do you leave with more than you were suppose to get? Or do you quickly get what you need and go? The goal is to be able to get what you need and go. When shopping, it is important to avoid some of the things that trigger impulsive buying.

Loren Brown, a college junior at Frostburg State says, “Being hungry, and thinking you need something is a quick way to spend money.” She also states “going to a store with a lot of money” is another way she buys more then she needs.

Frostburg freshman, Anecia Peirce says, “If there’s a sale and if I sorta need it, I will buy it,”

When it comes to impulsive buying, these college students get sucked into the temptation, but whether or not they give in is what counts. Brown says "I come to my senses after adding up the prices in my head, and then I put stuff back." But Pierce admits "when my mom and I are in Wal-Mart, we always get things we don’t plan on buying.”

Senior, Courtney Dickerson admits she is a impulsive shopper, "especially when it comes to shoes." She always buys more then she needs when she goes the store.

So, next time you are in the checkout line at the store, look at the items you have in your cart. Re-evaluate each item before buying it. Is it what you came to the store for? Do you really need it? Will you regret buying it? Do you have to have it now? Always shop on a full stomach to avoid buying much more food then you need. And most importantly, avoid browsing around the store and don't touch items you don't plan on buying. Just get what you need and go.

Not sure if you are an impulsive shopper? Take this quiz

http://www.funquizcards.com/quiz/shopping/are-you-a-compulsive-shopper.php

Men's soccer

The crisp air, the sun setting, and the lights on at Bobcat stadium, it was a perfect night for soccer. The men’s soccer team had a home game as they took on Waynesburg University on Wednesday, September 14. The bleachers were scattered with close to 200 fans, which included parents, students, and other Frostburg athletes.

The crowd was filled with anticipation as the first 30 minutes of the game were a back and forth battle, with each team trying to establish their game plan. The stadium soon erupted! Ryan Russell made a great play to put the ball in the back of the net to give the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage. The excitement filled the stadium as the crowd was on their feet and exchanging high-5’s. The Bobcats would hold on to their lead entering halftime as the continued to play well.

Halftime marked the point for some of the fans to leave. It was a Wednesday night, and getting late, so some students needed to get home and finish their homework. However at the same time, there were also fans that arrived right after halftime, evening out the number who left. The second half was another good half for the Bobcats. They played solid defense and limited the chances that Waynesburg had to score. The game ended in a 1-0 win for the Bobcats.

This win helped the Bobcats remain undefeated and improved their record to 3-0-1. The students and fans seemed very pleased about the team’s performance and cheered for them as the game ended. The Bobcats put on quite a show, and more importantly accomplished their main goal; to win!

Graduate School Info is Only a Click Away

The typical student doesn't have a lot of time outside of school and homework for researching what to do after receiving a bachelors degree. Luckily, those considering graduate school as an option need only to go to their prospective college websites in order to find the answers they are looking for.

Take Frostburg State University's site, for instance. Under quick links, there's a link for Graduate Study, in which the answers to most of the easier questions about FSU's graduate programs can be found. For example, students interested in entering the Master of Arts in Teaching program will learn that there is a three step process for getting into the program, as well as what is expected of candidates and what students who are accepted into the program should expect.

Information on expenses, financial aid, scholarships, and graduate assistanceships can also be easily found on the frosturg.edu site, simply by clicking on the quick link for Graduate Study. There is also a place to request more information on FSU's graduate programs, as well as to schedule a visit or even go ahead and apply. There is even a career services link that can be easily found through the FSU website for those interested in looking into employment opportunities after either undergraduate or graduate studies.

For those questions that can't be answered with just the click of a mouse, there is a phone directory available on the site as well. So while students may feel they don't have the necessary time or tools to look into graduate study, in reality, they need only a few moments and access to a computer to gain most of the information they need.