Shawn JacobsPacer Writer

The UT Board of Trustees and five of its committees met Feb. 25-27 in Memphis to appoint Jan Simek as interim UT System president, replacing John Petersen.

Petersen, who resigned two weeks ago, gave a report on the current status of the university.

SGA President Brittany McGruder attended the meeting.

“The meeting went very well. The atmosphere was a little different, though, this time, due to the resignation of Dr. Petersen. Although his departure was on everyone’s mind, there was still a clear

sense of direction and diligence to achieve the goals set in the agenda,” McGruder said.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Simek at the meeting, and I believe he will do an excellent job as interim,” McGruder said. “He cares for the students of UT very deeply.”

McGruder said the board set a procedural framework for academic program continuation.

McGruder pushed to include student representation in the process.

“I added to the proposal that student representation be included in that framework so that students can have a voice in those decisions,” McGruder said.

Also on the agenda:• Approval of the revised

budget for FY 2008-09• Implementation of a

voluntary retirement incentive program for UT Institute of Agriculture staff• Consolidation of the UT

Knoxville College of Social Work by closing the MSSW program location in Memphis• Awarding of honorary

degrees to retired Gen. Burwell B. Bell and Dolly Parton

Also of interest to students, the board voted to raise parking fees. The Pacer will continue to follow this issue.

___Managing Editor Jay Baker

contributed to this report.

Pac e rIndependent vo Ice of the UnIvers It y of tennessee at Mart In

t h e

Obama: End Iraq combat in 18 months

Ben FellerAssociated Press Writer

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — President Barack Obama consigned the Iraq war to history Friday, declaring he will end combat operations within 18 months and open a new era of diplomacy in the Middle East.

“Let me say this as plainly as I can: By Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end,” Obama told Marines who are about to deploy by the thousands to the other war front, Afghanistan.

Even so, Obama will leave the bulk of troops in place this year, contrary to hopes of Democratic leaders for a speedier pullout. And after combat forces withdraw, 35,000 to 50,000 will stay behind for an additional year and half of support and coun-terterrorism duties.

Just six weeks into office, Obama used blunt terms and

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Volume 81,Issue 21

TuesdayMarch 3

Inside Prof. researches bluebirds

Editorial: Take a break!

Things to do on spring break

Partly CloudyHi 44° | Lo 28 °

new

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pg 02

pg 07

pg 08

Professor’s research focuses on

habits of bluebirds

The Pacer encourages you to take

Spring Break easy and get ready for the rest of the semester.

Five ideas for Spring Break on the cheap.

Sports looks at the upcoming

OVC men’s b-ball tournament

view

poin

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Bracketology

onlinePOLLWhat are your plans for Spring Break

next week?Spend it in the sun at the beach.Go home to see my family.Catch up on schoolwork.Work all week.Nothing!

go to utmpacer.com to vote

see IRAQ page 3

CHAMPS!

Randy Cavin andRyan Williams

Pacer Writers

The Skyhawks captured their f irst regular OVC crown Saturday night with a convincing 79-65 win over the Morehead State Eagles in front of a huge crowd at the Elam Center.

UTM and the home crowd honored Joe Bailey, Djero Riedewald, Olajide Hay and Lester Hudson on Senior Night and they in turn gave the Skyhawk faithful an OVC title by dominating the Eagles in the first half of play.

With both squads fighting for the OVC title, the intensity level was at the ceiling in the Elam Center. Four lead changes occurred within the first 5:09 of play before Lester Hudson hit two 3-pointers and Marquis Weddle followed with a 3-pointer to give the

Skyhawks a 17-10 lead at the 11:56 mark.

Kenneth Faried hit a short jumper to bring the Eagles to within five just before the Skyhawks went on a 10-point run to take a 27-12 lead. The Skyhawks continued to build on their lead, opening up an 18-point lead by playing good defense and hitting timely shots.

The Eagles,however, refused to go away and started cutting into the Skyhawks’ lead by going on an 11-point run with a strong inside game from Faried and Leon Buchanan.

The Skyhawks put an exclamation point on the first half of play on a Benzor Simmons dunk. However, when Simmons came down from the dunk he immediately grabbed the lower right side of his abdomen and hobbled over to the bench and sat out the rest of the game. Head coach Bret Campbell said after the game that Simmons has an abdominal strain and is listed as day-to-day.

The Skyhawks took a 10-point lead in to the locker room, up 36-26.

The second half of play

opened with a three by Maze Stallworth to bring the Eagles to within seven, but Hudson fired off a three of his own to give the Skyhawks a 10-point lead. From that moment in the game it was all Skyhawks as they held the Eagles to only four points in a span of 2:57 while building a 20-point lead on two 3-pointers and a layup by Weddle, a 3-pointer by Hudson, a bucket in the paint by Riedewald and two free throws by Eric Massey.

The Skyhawks continued to play sound defense, to hit critical shots and to hold off the Eagles to gain the No.1 seed in the OVC Tournament. With just under 30 seconds in the game the Elam Center erupted with the home crowd chanting “OVC.”

After the game the Skyhawks received their first OVC trophy

Trustees finance committee meets in Memphis

March snow falls on UTMBIRMINGHAM, Ala.

(AP) — A powerful March snowstorm blanketed much of Alabama and then marched across Georgia on Sunday, forcing some flight cancelations in Atlanta as the East Coast braced for a potential pummeling.

West Tennessee was blan-keted with 3 to 5 inches on Saturday night, though tem-peratures were high enough on Sunday to melt most of the snow.

Eastern seaboard cit-ies along a corridor arcing through Washington, D.C., to Boston and beyond braced amid forecasts of potentially heavy snow accumulations

early in the week as the storm began a trek up out of the Southeast.

Alabama was first up for a rare white blanketing for the South in March. Most roads there were clear, but snowfall totals ranging from 1 to 4 inches forced more than 210 churches in central Alabama to cancel morn-ing services as a precaution. About 2 inches of snow cov-ered Civil War statues in Montgomery.

“I think you can worship in this, it’s so rare,” said Vonda Braswell, throwing snowballs in her front yard instead of putting on her Sunday best.

Men’s b-ball wins first OVC title“Our players feed off the crowd and I think Tuesday night could be another amazing night at the Elam Center. Our players would

certainly feed off of the energy the students can bring.”Bret Campbell

UTM Men’s Basketball Coach

Pacer Photos/Matt cook

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see OVC Champspage 8

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Ashley TottyViewpoints Editor

E-mail pacer_opinions@utm.eduOn the Web utmpacer.com/lettertotheeditor

The Pacer • March 3, 2009 Page 2

pointsViewTo say the past seven months

have been hectic would be an understatement. An election of a new president, budget issues serving as an aff liction to the campus morale and Mother Nature’s inability to make up her mind make the coming Spring Break holiday seem out of place and slightly hard to celebrate.

We at The Pacer want everyone to tune out this coming week. Turn off CNN and watch Comedy Central, get out of your house and play frisbee, enjoy the weather if it warms up and take your eyes off The Pacer Web site for the entire week.

We know that the economic situation in America may have some of you thinking this will be an uneventful break. Indeed, our financial restrictions may have us second-guessing trips to Cancun and Fort Lauderdale; but even if we do spend most of our break relaxing at home

the time off is most definitely well-earned for all students at UTM.

Trade in your classroom woes and tuition concerns for an ice cold brew — non-alcoholic if you must — and savor the f lavor of freedom for the seven days students have been awarded for their hard work and diligence.

When the week is over, we will all return to our normal, busy lives and all of the stresses that come with midterm grades. Academic responsibility will greet us with crooked grins and we’ll all humor it with a smile and a nod as we pursue our final stretch to the summer victory tape.

The Pacer, too, will be here when you return. We’ll present you with the facts and all of the important events campus just as we always have.

Until then we urge all students and faculty on campus to not take the seven days off for granted. It’s shaping up to be a rough year and humanity needs all the relaxation it can get.

In the meantime: Cheers!

The Pacer314 Gooch Hall

Martin, TN 38238

Newsroom: 731.881.7780Fax: 731.881.7791

E-mail: pacer@utm.eduWeb site: www.utmpacer.com

Matt CookExecutive Editor

Jay BakerManaging Editor

Editorial Board

Charlie McIntosh, Life Section EditorCasey Curlin, News EditorJosh Weiss, Sports Editor

Ashley Totty, Viewpoints EditorJennifer DeYeso, Advertising Manager

Joshua Lemons Sports Feature Editor

Regina Emery

Asst. News Editor

Danny Warren Editorial Assistant

Reuben KendallEditorial Illustrator

Justin Hunt Staff columnist

Tomi McCutchen Parrish Faculty Adviser

Contents may not be reprinted without written consent of the Executive Editor.

Copyright © 2008 The Pacer - UTM’s Student Newspaper

Editorial PolicyOpinions expressed in personal

columns are those of the writers and may not reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole. Editorials are the majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Contributions from other students, campus administrators or community members are considered on an as-issue basis.SubmiSSion GuidElinES

Story ideas or news tips may be e-mailed to pacer@utm.edu or presented at our weekly staff meetings, held at 5:15 p.m. every Monday during the semester.

The Pacer welcomes comments,

criticisms or ideas that its reader-ship may have. We encourage you to send a Letter to the Editor through e-mail at pacer@utm.edu or via our Web site at http://www.utmpacer.com/lettertotheeditor/. Letters to the Editor should be no longer than 250 words. Letters must contain the name, major and hometown of the author, as well as contact information. Submissions may be edited for grammar, spell-ing and brevity. StatEmEnt of Publication

This newspaper is printed every Tuesday during the semes-ter. Our press run ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 copies depending on the edition. The University

of Tennessee at Martin earmarks $3.60 per enrolled student to pay for staff salaries and overhead costs of running our office. The cost of printing the newspaper is covered by advertising revenue.

Editorial

views from

TheOffice

The Pacer314GH

”“ What are

you doing for Spring Break?

Charlie McIntoshLife section Editor

“I’ll be sitting in a lawn chair, sipping a margarita ... polishing my gnomes.”

Casey CurlinNews Editor

“I will be recovering from the first half of the semester by sleeping late

and eating a lot of chocolate.”

Joshua LemonsSports Features Editor

“I’ll be pulling my hair out, trying to figure out bracketology.”

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Reuben KendallEditorial CartoonistEditorial Cartoon

Our financial restrictions may have us second-guessing trips to Cancun and

Fort Lauderdale, but the time off is

definitely well-earned for all students at

UTM.

lEttErS

Jared StanleyUndeclared, Post

Baccalaureate

Public Safety Should ticket ‘ramPant’ SPeeding, worry leSS about Parking

I am beginning to think that the department of public safety on this campus (sic). While they are busy writing parking tickets, people are constantly ignoring the speed limit. If the police officers would write more speeding tickets and quit worrying about parking, it would be safe to walk around this campus. One day this week, I was at the BCM and

a big black Ford truck sped down Hurt Street showing off what his truck would do. These incidents are going to lead to a serious accident. Please remember that the title of your department is public safety.

Prof. explains recycling’s importance to campus

If you are the kind of person who cares about your community or would like to just do the right thing, this column is for you. We’ve recently opened our new recycle barn, located at the end of Moody Avenue, past the football stadium.

The gate is open 24 hours a day and you can drop your stuff off in front of the build-ing. We are working on get-ting outside bins set up so you can sort your own recy-clables.

The big green doors will be open from 7-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students from various campus groups will also be volunteering on Saturdays so the barn can be open from 8-noon.

It is better for us if you sort your stuff and rinse out your food wastes when possible.

We take:• All paper and cardboard

(even glossy paper or books)• All seven plastics (from

soft to hard plastics)• Aluminum cans (soda

cans)• Scrap metal of any size

(food cans, jar lids, appli-ances)

• Eyeglasses (donated to the Lions Club)

• Printer cartridges (donat-ed to animal shelter)

• Cell phones (donated to Agape House)

• Food-grade glass (sorted

into green, clear and brown with lids off, we can’t take windows)

• Egg cartons (reused by local farmers)

We are currently competing in recyclemania, a national competition that measures how much schools recycle or compost per person. We are at 3.20 and UTK is at 0.97 so let’s keep it up.

For more information about our program, contact Dennis Kosta, 514-6520, or Angie MacKewn, 881-7370, or e-mail recycle@utm.edu.

Angie MacKewnPsychology Professor “We’ve recently opened our new recycle

barn, located at the very end of Moody Avenue, past the football stadium.”

Angie MacKewnPsychology Professor

The Pacer • March 3, 2009 Page 3News

“Let me say this as plainly as I

can: By August 31, 2010, our

combat mission in Iraq will end,”

President Barack Obama

Obama sets firm date to end Iraq war he inheriteda cast-in-stone promise to write the last chapter of a war that began six years ago. It has cost more in lives, money and national stamina than ever envisioned.

Like Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon before him, Obama came into office with an inherited war he pledged to end without delay. Eisenhower did, in Korea. Nixon didn’t, in Vietnam. Obama says he will.

“Iraq’s future is now its own responsibility,” Obama said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, flanked Obama during the announcement. It was a symbolic statement that top military advisers are on board with a strategy some had openly questioned before Obama’s inauguration.

More than five years have passed since Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq, a statement

that proved false as sectarian violence brought Iraq to the brink of disaster.

Obama did not claim a mission accomplished. Instead, he suggested America accomplished the mission as best it could.

“What we will not do is let the pursuit of the perfect stand in the way of achievable goals,” he said. “We cannot rid Iraq of all who oppose America or sympathize with our adversaries. We cannot police Iraq’s streets until they are completely safe, nor stay until Iraq’s union is perfected.”

He said: “America’s men and women in uniform have fought block by block, province by province, year after year, to give the Iraqis this chance to choose a better future. Now, we must ask the Iraqi people to seize it.”

Obama’s promise to pull home the last of the U.S. troops by the end of 2011 is in accord with a deal that Iraqis signed with former President

George W. Bush.Meantime, Obama is accelerating

the end of the war by withdrawing roughly 100,000 troops by the summer of 2010.

Obama was moving to fulfill in large measure the defining promise of his campaign — to end combat operations within 16 months of taking office. He’s doing it in 19 months instead, and the drawdown will be backloaded to provide security for Iraqi elections late this year.

More than 4,250 Americans have been killed in Iraq, a costly, unpopular enterprise at home that Obama criticized when support for the invasion was strong and few other politicians dared stand against it.

He applauded the armed forces for its successes in Iraq, where U.S. deaths and violence in many parts of the country are significantly down.

He never credited Bush’s buildup of troops in 2007 as contributing to

those improvements.In another break from Bush, Obama

promised “comprehensive American engagement” with nations across the Middle East, noting Iran and Syria in particular. The U.S. has long had a diplomatic frost with both countries over their support for militant groups, among other matters. But they hold great sway in the region, and Obama sees a diplomatic opportunity.

Obama called Bush shortly before he gave his speech to brief him on his plans. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called the chat brief and straightforward.

In his speech, Obama said to the military members: “We will leave the Iraqi people with a hard-earned opportunity to live a better life. That is your achievement. That is the prospect that you have made possible.”

As Obama spoke, the camouflage-clad Marines seemed to be taking a measure of the man. They politely

applauded their new commander in chief at times, and grew more boisterous when he promised to raise their pay and provide more help for their families.

The president also told the Iraqi people they will not be forgotten.

“Our nations have known difficult times together,” he said. “But ours is a bond forged by shared bloodshed, and countless friendships among our people.

Yet he acknowledged violence will remain “a part of life” and daunting problems include political instability, displaced citizens and the stress of declining oil revenues.

Obama said U.S. must end the war, both for the future of Iraq and to allow the U.S. to refocus its attention more firmly on Afghanistan.

___AP writers Anne Flaherty, Anne

Gearan, Jennifer Loven and Cal Woodward contributed to this report.

IraqFrom Cover

Walter HarrisPacer Writer

UTM welcomed Rev. James Lawson Thursday night at the Watkins Auditorium for a keynote presentation at the height of the Civil Rights Conference week.

Bobby Lovett, professor of History at Tennessee State University, gave a background of how Lawson has had a tremendous impact in furthering social justice in American culture for over 40 years.

“I am honored to introduce him because it’s not often that you introduce a national statue and a person that you hold in awe because of his knowledge,” said Lovett.

“I want to commend the university for this 9th annual Civil Rights Conference. I don’t know of a single university anywhere in the country that’s doing something like this,” Lawson said to a full auditorium.

Lawson said that everyone has the potential to become an accomplished citizen as he reflected on his past deeds.

“You are a privileged group, you represent about 8 percent of the people of your generation around the world,” said Lawson.

During Lawson’s speech he made a point to say “that you must see the civil rights movement as a sign of the true greatness of the American people,” as he explained the efforts of great historical figures from that era and their contributions.

Under the guidance of Lawson, a group of committed students used nonviolent activities as a protest to social injustices in Nashville during the 1960s that helped to desegregate the city. Lawson referred to the book called The Children by David Halberstam, which gives insight into these events and time in Civil Rights history.

Adding to the night’s event was the exceptional performance of the UTM Collegiate Gospel Choir. The choir, under the direction of Mykia Campbell, assistant director, and the Rev. Alvin Summers, performed “There’s a Leak in this Old Building” and “Sit Down Servant,” among other songs that were also popular during the Civil Rights era.

Margaret Toston, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, presented Summers, pastor of the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Martin for 11 years, an award for his dedication of service for his contributions to the Civil Rights Conference program since 2003.

Former civil rights leader, activist gives keynote speech

Shawn JacobsPacer Writer

Did you sleep OK last night? Odds are you are in the

majority. Most college students are are struggling to get enough sleep for normal daily functioning.

According to William Dement, M.D., founder of the Sleep Research Center at Stanford University - the world’s first sleep laboratory - has reported that about 80 percent of are sleep deprived.

“UTM is very close to this 80 percentile noted by Dement,” said Susan Buckelew, associate professor of Psychology at UTM, who also advises students to get at least eight hours of quality sleep to achieve optimal performance throughout the day.

Buckelew also said that there are several short-and long-term health effects related directly to the lack of the recommended 8eight hours of sleep.

The short-term effects include mistakes in day-to-day activity where severity differs according to hours of sleep lacking. Memory is also influenced negatively, which directly relates to academics. Other short-term health effects related to sleep deprivation consist of harm to the immune system and poor mood.

“Long term effects are also a concern when looking at sleep deprivation,” said Buckelew. “These effects include shorter life span for those who suffer from the lack of sleep of a long period of time mainly from the combination of immune system deficit and accidents as well as depression and anxiety.”

Buckelew then further explained sleep deficit.

“An individual’s sleep deficit is related to the amount of sleep lost over a two-week span and when that happens the body simply can’t catch up,” said Buckelew. “Alcohol especially increases sleep deprivation.”

“Six hours of sleep with one drink is equal to eight hours of sleep with six drinks,” Buckelew said.

Buckelew also encouraged students trying to multitask to keep normal sleeping patterns. She said it seems that sleep simply doesn’t appear to be a priority for many UTM students.

“There are several positive activities that can be done to help achieve normal sleeping habits,” said Buckelew.

These include attempting to restrict the bedroom to sleep, creating a standard night-time routine, doing some sort of aerobic exercise early in the day to enhance evening fatigue and restricting the use of caffeine throughout the day and especially after lunch.

Buckelew also suggests that if an individual obtains no sleep within 30 minutes of lying down, then they should get up and read a book or do another relaxing activity.

Sleep deprivation causes academic devastation

Martina ConleyPacer Writer

The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, along with other UTM students carpooled to the Red Fern Animal Shelter in Dresden, to help the orphaned animals on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The shelter is home to numerous stray dogs and cats, which the students walked, fed and cleaned kennels.

The fraternity was pleased with the number of students who gave up their time on a Saturday to participate in the community service project. “This is a unified effort; when we see that there is a need within the community, we are willing to accept the

call to fulfill the need,” said O’Brian Fulton, a member of Phi Beta Sigma.

In December, the Phi Beta Sigmas teamed up with Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, where each fraternity sponsored a dinner for a needy family in the Martin community and provided Christmas gifts for each family’s children.

Phi Beta Sigma is currently planning other service projects and looks forward to returning to Red Fern in the future.

Although the weather brought strong winds and a rainy sky the UTM students endured the weather conditions and fulfilled their volunteer work at the animal shelter.

Sigmas help Red Fern Animal Shelter

Pacer Photos/Walter HarrisRev. James Lawson

(Pacer Graphics/Jen DeYeso)

President Baraach Obama speaks about combat troop levels in Iraw as he adresses military personnel at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Friday, Feb. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

The Pacer • March 3, 2009 Page 4News

utmpacer.com

more updates

still no paper cuts

...

more content

Randy CavinPacer Writer

Maymester is an intense three weeks of courses with classes meeting five days a week in three-hour class sessions.

“There are several courses that will be offered online or as an in-person/online ‘hybrid,” said Jerald Ogg, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “In addition, the campuses in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley and Selmer will be offering courses during both the Maymester and the regular summer terms.”

Maymester is set to begin following the conclusion of the 2009 spring semester and run until the first session of the summer term. The term will begin on May 11, 2009 then later end on May 29, 2009. Memorial Day, May 25, will be observed as a university holiday.

There will be four three-hour time slots for classes and they will meet at these times: • 7:30-10:30a.m.• 10:45a.m.-1:45p.m.• 2-5p.m.• 6-9p.m.Students will be allowed to

take a maximum of six credit hours.

There will be housing available to students for the Maymester term.

“What we are looking at right now is a program where you can live in University Housing in Cooper Hall free during Maymester if you agree to live with us during the first term of the summer session. You would sign an agreement that you would live with us for the first session of summer or you would pay for the days that you are there, May 11-29, at the regular daily rate for summer school,” said Earl Wright, Director of Housing.

The cost for housing without signing the agreement for Maymester will be $240.Wright said the reason to put students in Cooper Hall only is to help keep the cost of cooling down during the warmer weather.

“We wanted to make it a good deal. We would like to see Maymester succeed,” Wright said.

There will be financial aid available to students.

“We haven’t worked out all of the processes for Maymester,” said Sandra Neel, Director of Student Financial Assistance. “All of the students need to register all of their classes up front during pre-registration because that way we can process their financial aid forms. With summer aid if you are full-time during the academic year, fall and spring, and you received your Pell Grant for the fall and spring you are not eligible for anything in the summer for a Pell Grant. With Stafford loans, if you use all of you eligibility for the academic year, there’s nothing for summer.”

Neel said in 2010 the rules for the Pell Grant will be changing with year-round Pell.

After you register for classes go to the Financial Aid office and fill out a form and then financial aid will process it for you and have it ready when the semester starts. If you chose to pay out of pocket for Maymester the normal in-state tuition and fees of $221percredithour($230foronline courses) will apply. Fee payments are due by 5 p.m. on May 12.

Brandy Cartmell, Director of Academic Records and Registrar said Sodexo will be offering meals and they are working on the final touches for summer meals.

“This is a really good opportunity to fit some classes in. Early registration is the same as for summer classes. Registration will begin March

30-April4.Summerclasseswillbe offered as normal for first term of summer. We will be more limited for second term of summer with most of the classes being online and there will be possibly some science/lab classes offered because the sciences are more difficult for credit hours and they like to go the whole summer,” Cartmell said.

Neel said with Maymester students can get credit for up to six hours for the three weeks and still go home for the summer and work, if you choose not to attend any of the two summer sessions.

Book loans will be available beginningonApril27.

Ogg said he thinks the Maymester is good for both students and UTM.

“We believe this is a win-win for both the University and the students. It does give the University another revenue stream with which to counteract budget cuts but it also allows students the opportunity to take a class or two and still preserve the ‘meat’ of the summer for any jobs they may have,” Ogg said.

Ogg said that initial estimates of profits for the Maymester are about $120,000.

“ ... but that is entirely speculative since we have not tried this before. We will not lose money as we will not offer courses without sufficient enrollment to break even,” Ogg said.

Each course will be required to have 10 students enrolled or it will be dropped.

Complete information on the courses offered for Maymester will be on Banner before the scheduled time for advising.

A look ahead: Maymester in the making for UTM

Danny WarrenStaff Writer

David Pitts, a professor of biological sciences, is currently conducting a study on Eastern Blue Birds that deals with summer and winter weights. Pitts is also trying to find any connec-tions between the Blue bird weights and global warming.

“The purpose of this study is to determine the average weight of the birds and compare the data with the results of the previous tests.” Pitts said.

Pitts tested this same experiment in the mid ’80s finding that during the two winter months of January and February Blue Birds gain a sub-stantial amount of weight and quickly shed that weight after February. That particular study was over a three year period.

Pitts Said “The average life span of an eastern blue bird is around 500 days. However, this only applies to the ones that live past the nest-ing period.”

Pitts, along with Randy Corlew, senior wild-life biology major, trap Blue birds and weigh them to record their change in weight during the winter months. They also band the birds to keep track of which ones are being weighed.

“During these two, sometimes three winter months, blue bird weight can increase any-wherefrom10to30percent,dependingonthetemperature and food availability,” Pitts said.

“It amazes me, the amount of people that are interested in bluebirds.” Pitts said, “they are very brightly colored birds and they seem to attract a lot of attention from the public”

The fact that blue birds put on in the winter helps with insulation but they are also used

as an alternative energy source when food is scarce.

“I have really enjoyed being a part of this study and glad to be part of something that could potentially lead to discoveries about global warming,” Corlew said.

One major misconception is that all blue birds migrate.

“This is not true,” Pitts said. “The Eastern bluebird in North West TN does not migrate. Every one of them will stay around the same area all year long.

Pitts has a federal bird banding permit that allows him to legally trap and study these birds. He is federally approved and intends no harm to the birds that he studies.

“The traps we use are actually helping the birds, by providing them with food while, at the same time they assist us acquire the information that we need to conduct the study,” Corlew said.

The wildlife society also places nesting boxes on campus, for the blue birds to use as shelter during cold winters. These nesting boxes occa-sionally serve as a place for blue birds to roost at night, keeping them away from predators.

The traps that Pitts uses to capture the birds are temporary and strategically placed all around campus. These traps also serve as feed-ers for the blue birds. The traps are filled with meal worms once per day and are set up in a way that allows the birds to come and go.

“Blue birds are not seed eaters so they can not be caught and tested using sunflower, or any other seed that attracts birds. Blue birds only eat small living animals or, in some cases, fruit, such as holly berries,” Pitts said.

Not being a seed eater can cause problems for a small bird in the cold winter months.

Biological science students conduct studies on local bluebird activity

Wildlife science major Randy Corlew helps trap and study local bluebirds for Professor David Pitts’s research on bluebird winter and summer body weights. (Pacer Photos/Danny Warren)

“We believe this is a win-win for both the University and the students. It does give the University another revenue stream ... but it also allows students the opportunity to take a class or two

and still preserve the ‘meat’ of the summer.”Jerald Ogg

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The Pacer • March 3, 2009 Police Report Page 5

Write for The Pacer

Any students interested in writing stories for The Pacer are encouraged to attend Pacer meetings, held at 4:15 p.m. every Monday The Pacer welcomes students from all majors and any story ideas or suggestions, including feature stories, letters to the editor and editorials.

Photographers are also encouraged to attend. Stories, as well as ideas for potential stories, can be submitted to pacer@utm.edu.

Senior Central

Much like the Skyhawk Central Freshman Experience that helps incoming students make the transition into college, Senior Central is an opportunity for UTM seniors to prepare for graduation. Booths will be set up from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, in the U. C. Ballroom. Graduate Studies and the Records Office will each have information booths set up, as will other tables with information pertaining to graduation attire. Study

aids for exit exams as well as for graduate entrance exams will also be available. Refreshments will be provided and the event is free and open to all seniors.

Senior Voice Recital

Senior Sarah Jenkins will give a voice recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in the Harriet Fulton Theater. The event is sponsored by the Department of Music and is free and open to all.

Art Exhibition

An art exhibit featuring the works of seniors Elaine Gurkin and Christine Toops will open from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 in the Visual Art Studio.

Tenn. Chief Justice Janice Holder

The Friends of the Paul Meek Library will sponsor a presentation by Tennessee Chief Justice Janice Holder at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23 in Watkins auditorium.

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2-24-09 at 7:30 p.m. -Browning Circle-Report of a verbal dispute between two parties.-Subjects separated without incident.

2 32-24-09 at 3:08 a.m. -Lot 14-Subject referred to Gen-eral Sessions for violation of the drinking age law.

42-25-09 at 1:59 a.m. -Browning Hall-Medical assist for a subject who was disoriented.-Found to be coherent.

5.

62-25-09 at 6:40 p.m. -Browning Hall-Subject was charged with simple assault-General Sessions court.

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2-26-09 at 1:06 a.m. -Subject referred to Student Affairs for violation of the drinking age law.

2-24-09 at 6:03 p.m. -University Village C-Fire alarm sounding-MFD determined it to be caused by grease spilled on a stove.

2-25-09 at 3:30 p.m. -Gooch Hall-Subject reported a missing cell phone- Was later turned in and returned to owner.

SAFETY TIP: If you haven’t sIgned up for the emergency text messagIng system on campus-go to the ut martIn publIc safety web sIte and clIck on text messagIng opt-In. It wIll provIde you crItIcal InformatIon If there Is an ImmInent threat to the campus.

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LIFEthe pace of March 3, 2009 Page 6

Charlie McIntoshLife Section Editor

E-mail pacer_features@utm.eduOn the Web utmpacer.com/lettertotheeditor

Literature of Life:The Lucifer Principle

Jay BakerPacer Writer

Explain evil, violence and the rise and fall of nations and ideologies ... not a simple goal for a book. But Howard Bloom approaches these and other issues with intellectual courage through the lens of memetics.

In fact, memetics is a central theme in The Lucifer Principle. Memetics is the evolutionary approach to information transmission. Think of an idea (or “meme”) as a virus: the more fit ideas are able to be copied to (or infect) more minds. Bloom uses Memetics to explain the many faults of the human condition: zealotry, violence, racism, genocide, etc.

But Bloom uses ideas other than memetics to support his thoughts on humanity. He meticulously includes research on evolutionary psychology, biology and neurology in his sweeping coverage of everything from Oliver Cromwell, to Communist China to jihadist Islam.

Bloom uses his thorough research to create interesting analogies. In one, he compares nations to chickens in a barnyard, fighting for a higher position in the pecking order, citing earlier research on chickens. Such a comparison may seem silly and belittling, but it actually fits rather nicely.

Another portion of the book is dedicated to the idea of the “superorganism”: a view of society as an organism and people as its cells. Bloom marries this idea with memetics with great success, describing

how memes take control of whole superorganisms to do their metaphorical “bidding”.

As a fan of the science nonfiction genre, I found The Lucifer Principle to be engaging and easy to follow, yet at the same time full of intellectual depth. If you’re not familiar with memetics, The Lucifer Principle manages to deliver one of the better explanations I’ve seen ... despite being published in 1995, before the advent of viral videos: most people’s introduction to the concept of memetics.

Despite its positives, The Lucifer Principle does seem to reach a bit too broadly. The largest faults of humanity is a big bite to take for a book and it sometimes seems as if Bloom struggles to chew it all in just 466 pages. Also, Bloom seemed to focus on a few topics more than I would have preferred or thought necessary.

Still, The Lucifer Principle delivers. It will have broad appeal to those familiar with memetics, sociology, psychology and history buffs. It’s a great read; pick it up sometime.

Memetics is the evolutionary approach to information

transmission. Think of an idea (or ‘meme’) as a virus: the more fit ideas are able to be copied to (or

infect) more minds.

Jay Baker, Managing Editor

Shawn JacobsPacer Writer

The UTM Vanguard Theatre pre-sented its opening performance of “Fuddy Meers” at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 on the main stage in the Harriet Fulton Performing Arts Theatre of the Fine Arts Building.

Written by David Lindsey-Abaire, this 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright is making a name for himself as one of theater’s great tal-ents.

Fuddy Meers is the hilarious Off-Broadway smash-hit comedy that launched the career of playwright Lindsay-Abaire. The play is a roller coaster ride of a show that tells the story of Claire, an amnesiac who awakens each morning not knowing anything about who or where she is and ends up being kidnapped by her abusive ex-husband and pursued by the current husband. The kaleido-scopic action, which is like a distort-ed fun-house mirror the title refers to, keeps the audience following the ever-increasing mayhem.

Ian Gray plays Claire’s uplifting and jolly husband, Richard. Justin Hunt plays Claire’s pot-smoking

teenage son, Kenny. Matthew Can-non stars as a masked man who limps, lisps, is deaf in one ear and blind in one eye. Claire’s mother, who has had a stoke that left her aphasic and her attempts to say “funny mirrors,” which provides the play’s title, is played by Erica Miller. A trigger-happy lady cop named Heidi is played by Karen Saldana, and a foul-mouthed puppet with his friend Millet are both played by Matthew Maitland.

Anne Albrecht, leading character “Claire,” said, “We are delighted to be able to offer a premiere of this very funny, yet insightful play by David Lindsay-Abaire in Martin.”

UTM cast members included: Albrecht, of Memphis; Cannon, of Martin; Gray, of Memphis; Hunt, of Martin; Maitland, of Bradford; Miller, of Camden; and Saldana, of Nashville. Stage manager of the production was Lizzy Wouters, of Knoxville, and the play was directed by Ken Zimmerman.

This will be the last production in the Harriet Fulton Theatre before renovation and reconstruction of the Fine Arts Building begins next year.

‘Fuddy Meers’ the last Vangard play in current Fine Arts Building

Civil Rights art, poetry, spoken wordWalter Harris

Pacer Writer

Saturday began the ninth annual Civil Rights Conference at UTM with the opening ceremonies being held in the Tennessee room at the McCombs Center. The Ken-Tenn Community Forum — sponsored event enter-tained guests by letting them come together in a relaxed atmosphere that was filled with jazz, spoken word, commentary, and laughter.

Chair of the forum, Joyce Wash-ington, said, “(We) are trying to bring awareness, knowledge, enthusiasm, self-awareness and self-improvement to the communities of Western Ken-tucky and Northwest Tennessee.”

Since its inception in July of last year, the group has helped with voter registration for the past election. The group took a nonpartisan stance while recruiting new voters and remained neutral throughout the election. This approach made it possible to reach out to all members in the community while still having a positive impact.

Helping to make this event mem-orable and a great success was the large display of artwork brought in by Linda Townsend, art broker and gallery owner from Oakland, Calif. Townsend is a friend of Washing-ton and was happy to be a part of the pioneering event. When asked about the contributions she made to the re-ception she said, “People have a need to feel appreciated,” and that she was more than happy to help. Various framed and unframed prints and original artwork were on display and available for purchase at the event.

Nashville resident Mario Coleman entertained the audience as a spoken word artist. He was grateful for Washington’s invitation to the event and said, “You don’t know who your angels are, and what blessings they have for you.” Basically, he said that no matter what happens in your life, the events that occur because of the actions of others will lead you to your destiny.

Coleman’s message was that people need to reawaken that “certain spirit of brotherhood” among men and to acknowledge that chivalry

is not dead when it comes to personal relationships. He performed several pieces that paid tribute to Black History Month.

Dr. Brian Clardy, a history professor at Murray State University, reflected on the recent events of the election and the connections that he has with the current administration. He read a congratula-tory letter that was sent to the White House and talked with the guests.

Event sponsor Ken-Tenn Community Forum wants local citizens to become more aware of how government is organized and forum representatives want to assist those who need to communicate with their elected officials.

Hostess Joyce Washington talks with UTM’s Civil Rights Conference Director Dr. David Barber at last Saturday’s Civil Rights Art and Spoken word exhibit.

( Photo Credit / Walter Harris )

Saturated Skin brings tattoo parlor from Camden to Martin, hopes to branch outCasey CurlinNews Editor

For Marvin Forguson, the history is the root of his passion.Owner of Saturated Skin II tattoo and piercing shop in Martin,

Forguson has a unique enthusiasm for the art of tattooing, which he brings to his shop and attributes to his own experience with tattooing and his appreciation for its past.

“Tattooing is history. The beauty of it is the art,” Forguson said.Forguson opened Saturated Skin II on Friday, Feb. 13, on Martin’s

historic Lindell Street, along with full-time tattoo artist Jake Larty of Phoenix, and his apprentice, Scotty McCoy of Coruthersville, Mo.

“The area is a historical area and I could have put this shop anywhere but I wanted it to go where there is history,” said Forguson.

Forguson’s history with tattooing began when he was 7 years old and a talented artist. When he was 13 he went from being a sketch artist to a tattoo artist and began getting paid for his work at the age of 18.

Originally from Chicago, Forguson, who also goes by “Superman” in the tattoo world, has been in the tattoo business for 25 years. He owned a shop in Indiana roughly 11 years before he opened the original Satu-rated Skin tattoo shop in Camden four years ago.

Forguson believes his extensive experience in the industry makes Sat-urated Skin II the best choice for customers and he and the rest of the Saturated Skin II staff take pride in their customer service.

He discourages those under the age of 18 from getting tattoos and if they insist he encourages them to get them on inconspicuous areas of the body that can easily be covered. Saturated Skin also has a strict policy against doing any gang tattoos.

“I discourage people from doing facial tattoos or anything from the

neck up,” Forguson said.Forguson said Saturated Skin II has over 30,000 flash tattoo patterns

for customers to choose from, but they are most enthusiastic about their custom work.

“We love custom work, we prefer custom. We can do anything that you can bring to us,” said Forguson, adding the most unique tattoo he has ever done was a back mural of a Native American leaving a town.

Forguson said he has not kept a portfolio of his work because it is so extensive, over 200,000 tattoos, but Larty’s portfolio is impressive with various detailed, graphic scenes, gothic Tinkerbells, even tattoos on the eylids. He specializes in free-hand tribal art.

Larty became Forguson’s apprentice in 2007 at the original Saturated Skin shop after Forguson saw that he had a natural talent for drawing and tattooing.

“As soon as I saw it done (tattooing), I was able to do it,” Larty said.“He is a multi-talented, self-taught guy. I saw the talent and I stepped

in,” said Forguson.Saturated Skin II also takes care to provide a sanitary environment

to its customers. Forguson said in all of his 25 years in the industry no shop he has ever owned has ever received below 100 percent on any health score.

Prices for tattoos at Saturated Skin II start at $50 and Forguson said business has picked up but tattooing is a hobby for him and he holds another full-time job. He said he is not in the business for money but for the love of the art.

“To me it’s not about how much money you can make, it’s about how big the smile can be. To me, my main thing is hearing someone say you’re the greatest,” Forguson said.

Photo Credit / Emily Brown

LifeThe Pacer • March 3, 2009 Page 7

Pacer Graphics/Jennifer DeYeso

Josh WeissSports Editor

E-mail: pacer_sports@utm.eduOn the Web utmpacer.com

The Pacer • March 3, 2009 Page 8

SportsMen’s basketball team wins OVC regular season title; hosts first-round game Tuesday night

at half court as the fans poured onto the Pat Head Summit Court to congratulate the team and have their pictures taken with the players and coaches. Next the players and coaches took their turn at cutting down the net, joyfully.

“I’ve been banged up with a couple of injuries, my back, my ankle, and the stitches and stuff like that,” said Weddle, who has been hampered by injuries recently.

“I just tried to stay focused and motivate myself and say to myself ‘I’m here for a reason.’ ”

“We’ve got work to do and I just wanted to come out and put everything aside and come out and play this one game.”

The crowd for the game was a big factor in the Skyhawks’ win and Weddle recognized that.

“Night in and night out, every time they come (the fans) and be like they was tonight, it gives us an extra push.”

“A lot of fans like they have at Murray State, they have good fans and that is how we need our fans.”

“Any way we can get the crowd out we do what we got to do like sell 50-cent hot dogs and popcorn, something else to get them to come out here.”

“It was great tonight. We played hard and played for 40 minutes,” Hudson said about the game.

“We won the OVC Championship but we have bigger goals to go to the NCAA so we still got to work hard and try to win the next three.

“Defense and rebounding (are keys to winning Tuesday). If we defend and rebound we can beat anybody in the OVC.

“If we just got to stay down, limit the other team to one attempt and get down on the glass. They (Tennessee Tech) have good rebounders and we have to keep them off the glass and hopefully get the win on Tuesday,” Hudson said.

“We are going to enjoy this one for a while.” “We were very focused and a lot of emotions played

into the game,” Campbell said.

“Winning the championship and Senior Night at the same time, I was really pleased on how we came out of the gate and initiated the start of the game.

“I don’t know if we could have shot any better during the first 10 minutes of the game and set ourselves apart. Give a lot of credit to Morehead; they are a very good basketball team,” he said.

“That’s why they are one of the top teams in the OVC. They’re talented and they fought back and came within striking distance a little bit and we weathered the storm.” Campbell added the key to the game was long rebounds off their missed threes, turnovers and easy baskets.

Weddle led all scores with 30 points and shot 8-14 from three-point range. Hudson added 27 points and 13 boards and was perfect from the charity stripe.

By winning the OVC regular season title, the Skyhawks get an automatic bid to the NIT Tournament, but if they win the OVC Tournament the Skyhawks will get an automatic bid in the field of 65 for the NCAA Tournament.

The Skyhawks will host the No. 8 seed Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Elam Center. Tuesday night’s game has been designated White Out Night. All fans are encouraged to come out dressed in white and help the Skyhawks to a first-round win.

“Our players feed off the crowd and I think Tuesday night could be another amazing night at the Elam Center. Our players would certainly feed off of the energy the students can bring,” Campbell said.

“It was nice to see the students out tonight and the community and it has a big impact on how successful we are going to be. We want to encourage everybody to come out and fill the Elam Center,” he said.

“We won the OVC Championship but we have bigger goals to go to the NCAA so we still got to work hard and try to win

the next three.”Lester Hudson

Senior Guard

Athletic Communications

After rain and thunderstorms delayed the start of the Chattanooga Frost Classic, The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team picked up a pair of wins over Radford and Rhode Island to push its record to 12-3 on the year and mark the best 15-game start in program history. The Skyhawks cruised 9-1 in six innings in their opening game against Radford; then used a pair of last inning runs to down Rhode Island 2-1.

UT Martin entered the Frost Classic already riding the pro-gram’s best-ever start at the Division I level, but the two wins better the previous best start of 11-4 during the 1991 season, which was the final season at the Division II level and as a member of the Gulf South Conference.

UT Martin opened the Frost Classic against Radford by loading the bases with no outs and posted its first run of the day when Megan Williams lined a single into left field to score Jenny Bain from third. Radford answered with a run of its own in the bottom half

of the first inning, drawing the game all-square at the end of one.

In the top of the second the Skyhawks began to blow the game open, almost all with two outs. Megan Van Ars-dale led the second off with a double, but only reached third as the first two outs of the in-ning were recorded. Bain then reached on her second walk of the game and Greer Long loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Laura Roberts then knocked a three-RBI double to center field to give UT Martin a 4-1 lead at the end of the second.

UT Martin was held score-less in the third inning, but then doubled its score in the fourth. With one out the Sky-hawks loaded the bases again Roberts then singled to drive in Megan Latimer from third and Bain was able to score from second as well on a Rad-ford error. UT Martin then capitalized on a pair of errors from Radford to post the final two runs of the inning, Long scored from third on a passed ball as Roberts attempted to take third on the same play. A throwing error, attempting to

catch Long at third, went into the outfield and allowed Long to post the fourth run of the inning and give UT Martin an 8-1 advantage.

In the sixth inning Long reached on a walk then stole second, getting herself into scoring position. Roberts then used her third hit of the game to drive in Long and put UT Martin up 9-1. In the bottom of the sixth, the Skyhawks’ de-fense again held Radford off the scoreboard and the game was called because of the run rule.

Chelsea Jones picked up the complete game win, improving her record to 5-1, after tossing six innings with six strikeouts and scattering only two hits on the day.

In the second game UT Martin didn’t have as easy of a time with Rhode Island. The Rams were able to capitalize on a leadoff walk and strike first in the fourth inning. After the walk to start the inning Rhode Island moved its lead runner to second on a sacrifice hit, then used a single from Leah Di-Bussolo to push its lone run across the board.

UT Martin had its oppor-

tunities to answer the Rams but left nine runners on base prior to the seventh inning. In the top of the final inning Bain led off with a double to left field then moved to third on a Long sacrifice bunt. Rob-erts then lined a single back up the middle to plate Bain and knot the score at 1-1. Roberts then worked her way to third on a passed ball which set up Williams to get the eventual game-winning single to left and score Roberts. UT Martin had an opportunity to balloon the lead even more but left the bases loaded in the seventh, giving it 12 stranded runners in the game.

Paij Lintz and the UT Mar-tin defense were able to hold Rhode Island at bay in the bot-tom of the seventh and escape with the 12th win of the sea-son. Lintz pushed her record to 3-1 on the year and gave up only three hits in the com-plete game performance. Lintz picked up eight strikeouts on the day while issuing only one walk.

On the day Roberts, who currently leads the Ohio Val-ley Conference in hits and RBIs, led the way again by go-

ing 4-of-7 at the plate with a double and six RBIs, while also scoring a pair of runs.

After a night of steady rain fall made the tournament facili-ties unsafe for play, the remain-ing games of the Chattanooga Frost Classic both today and Sunday have been cancelled. The University of Tennessee at

Martin finishes its play at the Frost Classic with a perfect 2-0 record after wins over Radford and Rhode Island Friday.

The Skyhawks, who are off to the program’s best-ever 15-game start will return to action next weekend when they travel to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic.

University Relations

University Relations

OVC ChampsFrom Cover

Skyhawk softball team off to best start in program historyPacer Graphics/Jennifer DeYeso