Irish and non-Irish alike are out in their finest, greenest attire today in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Besides wearing green and eating corned beef and cabbage, the other activity many people associate with the holiday is drinking.

Traditionally, St. Paddi’s Day falls during lent and celebrates the work of its namesake. St. Pat de-heathenized the country and spread Christianity throughout the isle. Christians in Ireland then had an excuse to take a break from lent for the cause of celebration of St. Patrick and his work. This break probably meant that they had a free ticket to indulge in what they had given up for lent; beer or some other form of alcohol were common lent sacrifices.

Arguably, the modern celebration of many holidays has been taken to extremes. Thanksgiving has become a free-for-all of overeating, Christmas a gift-giving consumer-driven nightmare, and St. Valentine’s Day has become so clad in candy and pink hearts that it is almost too cutesy to handle. The original meaning of St. Patrick’s Day seems to have fallen victim to this “uber-celebrationism.”

St. Patrick’s Day is now more a celebration of Irish nationalism and pride than a day of celebration for the spread of Christianity. I’m not implying that this modern manifestation of the holiday is in bad form or cause for a wagging finger, though. Having pride in one’s heritage (or in many cases someone else’s) and using St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate it is perfectly fine in my book.

I am all for an excuse to party down and drink good-grade green dye, but I am not thrilled about the idea of the major day of celebration of Irish culture being one giant kegger.

Though the holiday does have a historic tie to drinking , this probably should not be the main focus of celebration.

Getting Jig-Gy With It is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Celebrate the Shamrock Right
2. My Lent Intent
3. The History of Lenten Abstinence

A new idea for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is to throw an Irish party complete with traditional foods, dances, costumes, and music.

Food is a must at any party. Irish recipes from back in the time of St. Patrick consisted of only a few ingredients, which means they won’t require much of anything to make. Common Irish dishes include soups, boiled dinners, breads, and breakfast.

A traditional Irish Stew consists of goat, which is replaced by lamb in today’s society, potatoes, onions, thyme, and parsley. Mashed potatoes is also an Irish staple and scallions are usually added to them. Apple pie is a classic for desert.

It is a tradition to in Ireland that breakfast can be served at any time of the day, so if you don‘t want to cook a stew this would be a fun option. A classic Irish breakfast includes bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes and eggs all served with Soda Bread and Potato Farl.

Something important to know is that the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a holy day centered around the spreading of Christianity. Keeping this in mind, the American tradition of wearing green is not something they do in Ireland. Wearing a shamrock is what the Irish do to celebrate the day because it is symbol of St. Patrick teaching the holy trinity.

The American tradition of green beer is just that, American. In Ireland you would be lucky to come across a pub that served green beer. Also, it is not a heavy drinking day for them. Until the late 1970s Irish law would not allow pubs in Ireland to be open on St. Patrick’s Day. This means it’s all right to serve plain beer at your party.

So now that you know what to serve, what to wear and what to drink, you need to know what music to play. Traditional Irish music is played on instruments such as the fiddle, flute, tine whistle, Uilleann Pipes, guitar and the bodhran, which is an Irish drum.

Making an Irish themed play list that includes the instruments is a great way to throw classic Irish tradition into your party. If you and your guest aren’t a fan, U2 is an Irish band so they can be used as a backup.

Dressing in a Celtic style for your party and doing river dance or Celtic Dance is a fun activity for your guests to try. You could also play sports such as Irish Hurling, which is similar to rugby, Gaelic Football, which is a mix between rugby and football, or just traditional soccer. Gaelic Football and Irish Hurling have been around for centuries.

The Leprechaun myth is a tradition of the Irish. These little guys are heavy partiers and tricksters, but are also great dancers and musicians. They have magical powers and wear small suites, waistcoats, buckled shoes, and hats. Having a Leprechaun themed party is always a fun option.

St. Patrick’s Day has been Americanized in many senses and we have our own way of celebrating the holiday. Instead of getting decked out in green, drinking till you drop, and watching every parade on television, consider celebrating like they do where St. Patrick came from. This is way to potentially learn and come to have a greater respect for another culture. n

Celebrate the Shamrock Right is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Getting Jig-Gy With It
2. Professor of Brewology
3. Protocol for Pre-Gaming

Shut Down: Goalie Pat Nagle and left wing Kyle Bonis stopped a Nebraska-Omaha forward from scoring in last Friday’s home game. The bulldogs later went on to defeat Nebraska-Omaha 3–1. Photo courtesy of Ed Hyde | Ferris State Athletics

The nationally No. 8-ranked Bulldog hockey team is heading to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA semifinals after sweeping then No. 18 Nebraska-Omaha at home.

The victories gave Ferris its first trip to the CCHA Championships since the 2002–2003 season and a 12–0 record all-time in CCHA Tournament games at home.

After taking the first contest of the best-of-three, second round series by a score of 3–1 on Friday, Ferris senior left wing Casey Haines scored a game-winning, overtime goal on Saturday to give the Bulldogs a 3–2 victory and a berth in the semifinals.

With a chance to clinch a CCHA Playoff Championship, Ferris head coach Bob Daniels said his team has its goal in sight.

“Our driving force right now is to get to Joe Louis and see if we can come back with a championship,” said Daniels.

Ferris jumped on the board first in the decisive contest when senior left wing Blair Riley netted his team-high 17th goal of the season only 3:21 into the first period.

The lead did not last for long though, as Nebraska-Omaha retaliated with two goals in less than 17 seconds at the midway mark of the first period to erase the Ferris advantage.

Nebraska-Omaha maintained the lead for the majority of the second period until Ferris senior center Aaron Lewicki posted a power-play goal with 6:25 left in the period to knot up the score at 2–2.

With the score tied, neither team could find the net in the final period of regulation despite 12 shots on goal from Nebraska-Omaha and 11 by the Bulldogs, sending the match to sudden-death overtime.

With a chance to finish off the series and prevent a decisive third game, the Bulldogs struck just 23 seconds into overtime when Haines fired a shot past Nebraska-Omaha goalie John Faulkner. The Bulldog bench frantically ran onto the ice and smothered Haines after his decisive goal.

“I was just trying to get the puck on net and I never saw it go in,” said Haines. “Once I saw the students jump, I took off towards center ice to celebrate.”

Riley tallied a goal and two assists for the Bulldogs and senior captain Cody Chupp added two assists in their final contests at Ewigleben Ice Arena. The Bulldogs were 3 for 8 in power play opportunities in the series, while holding Nebraska-Omaha to 0 for 6 in its power play chances.

With the series win, the Bulldogs will face either Northern Michigan or Ohio State in a semifinal matchup at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on March 19, with a spot in the CCHA Championship on the line.

“We’ve got some work to do in preparation for the weekend at the Joe,” said Daniels. “But we’re going to try and come back with a championship.”

Ferris students can get tickets in advance for $10 at the FSU Athletics Ticket Office with a student ID. Fans not in attendance can watch the games on Fox Sports Detroit as well. n

Heading to the Joe! is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Heading to the Joe!
2. All on the Line
3. Nagle Dominant in Series Opener

As part of Granholm’s proposed higher education budget, she is proposing a cap on the amount of that will be covered by the government for TIP students. The TIP is a two phase financial assistance program that helps qualified students pay tuition and make college more affordable.

Phase I covers tuition costs and mandatory fee charges for eligible students who are enrolled in an associate degree or certificate program (or their first two years) at a participating Michigan community college, public university, and other educational institutions.

Phase II provides $2,000 total tuition assistance for credits earned in a four year program at a Michigan degree-granting college or university.

Melissa DiVietri, a print management student that benefits from the TIP said, “The TIP scholarship is important for my education because it adds to my forms of financial aid and helps cover most of my tuition.”

Granholm’s proposal is that the TIP would cap the tuition at an average community college rate. For Ferris TIP students this means that the change to the program would only cover $84 per credit hour instead of the current $316 per credit hour. Her proposal would also eliminate the Phase II portion of the program.

DiVietri said the changes to the scholarship will greatly affect university students and may “force them to go to a community college.”

Ferris President, David Eisler said, “We have lobbied this issue hard at both the [Michigan] Senate and House level.” Students would have to make up the tuition difference the TIP would cover. He projected this would be around $7,300.

Early last week the Senate Higher Education Committee was on campus and Eisler strongly argued against Granholm’s proposal.

In his remarks he said, “The governor’s proposal would be devastating for the program and our students.”  

Late last week the Senate Higher Education Committee put out the higher education budget.  In it they restored the roughly $6.3 million TIP monies Granholm had cut. The House will next be holding hearing in Lansing regarding the issue, where Eisler plans to testify.

“This seemed pretty bleak when the Governor issued her budget, but we are gaining traction on the issue,” said Eisler. “We still need to work through the House, but we are having positive results.”

Even though the fate of the TIP scholarship is uncertain, DiVietri said, “I am still looking for grants and scholarship online because there is never enough money for
education.” n

Higher Education Reforms is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. More Cuts, Less Affordability
2. No More Promises
3. New Doctor of Education Degree Approved

Swinging their way to California: Senior Eric Lilleboe takes a practice swing near a bunker in preparation for the team’s competition against some of the nation’s best teams. Photo By: Kristyn Sonnenberg | Photo Editor

Bulldog head coach Mike Mignano, in his third year with the team, said this is the most talented team Ferris has ever had. The team finished eighth at the NCAA-II Men’s Golf Championships a season ago and is looking to crack the top five this season.

The Bulldogs are geared up to make another run at a national title. Mignano said everything the team does each day is based on the goal of winning a national championship.

“I think in general top five is good, but the guys won’t be happy unless they win it,” said Mignano.

Ferris never finished outside the top five in any event during the fall part of the season. The Bulldogs’ worst result was at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships where they finished tied for fourth.

The team kicks off its spring part of the season with the UC-San Diego Southern California Intercollegiate Tournament in Mission Viejo, Calif. March 22–23. Mignano said the 12-team field consists of six of the top 20 teams from nationals last year, including 2009 national champion Sonoma State (Calif.).

“Obviously we’re going out there with the goal of winning, but more importantly we want to kind of see where we are at in the mix,” said Mignano.

The roster is littered with talent and experience as the team sports four seniors, five juniors, and four sophomores. The team is led by seniors Kurt Valley and Eric Lilleboe. Senior Craig Burrows and juniors Joe Brown and Garrett Simons also had one or more top ten individual finishes during the fall season for the Bulldogs.

“Kurt Valley is without a doubt the hardest working guy on our team,” said Mignano. “He’s our captain, he’s our leader and he definitely sets an example for everybody else.”

The Bulldogs will be hitting the road early in the season as the first four tournaments of the spring will be played in California, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Lilleboe said the team is very deep and expects they will be in contention for a national title in May.

“Getting off to a good start early definitely helps us with confidence, but we would much rather end the year hot at regionals and nationals,” said Lilleboe. n

Driving On is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. On the Rise
2. Golf Swings Into Action
3. Lilleboe No. 1 in Division II Rankings

In all of this moving forward, we inevitably neglect the present.

When a friend calls in need of a ride home from the bar, it takes only 15 minutes to pick them up and take them to their apartment safely. Just those 15 minutes and the assurance that a friend is ok.

It’s not much time. Really, the minutes are negligible; it doesn’t have to be 15. What is important is what happens in that time span and the lasting effects.

Only 15 minutes to call Grandma and make her day by telling her about yours.

Only 15 minutes to open up your calendar and mark the big days coming up in the next few months, and see what you’ve got to do.

Only 15 minutes to look back and see what you’ve already accomplished.

Only 15 minutes to make a salad instead of get a drive-thru cheeseburger.

Only 15 minutes of packing and organizing at night can mean 15 more minutes of sleep in the morning.

Spending 15 minutes everyday working to benefit a charity means nearly two hours of service each week.

Spending 15 minutes reading a newspaper (preferably the Torch) and you may learn something you didn’t know that you wanted to know.

Just 15 minutes less watching television and 15 minutes more doing just about anything else.

It’s only 15 minutes and a world of difference to someone, maybe you. n

Only 15 Minutes is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Savor the Day, Not the Dollar
2. They Call It “Puppy Love”
3. The Road Less Salted

“As with all cultural events we sponsor, Women’s History Month is another opportunity for the FSU community to engage and learn about culture, history and current events,” said Michael Wade, assistant director of the Office of Multicultural Student Services.

Several events will be coming up this month to celebrate women’s history. Nancy Hulse will be giving a presentation entitled “That Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady.” There will also be a fashion show, a biographical recitation, and a 5-Star event speaker.

During Women’s History Month there will be a Virtual Women’s Center online that features the profile of a different woman each week. You can visit the virtual center at ferris.edu/student life/minority/vwc/.

Sharon Robideaux, professor of language and literature and teacher of women‘s studies, said that women have endured many struggles in the past and there are still many obstacles they will need to overcome, which is one reason learning about women’s history is so important.

Robideaux has many reasons she believes celebrating women’s history is important. She commented on the fact that there has yet to be a female president or vice president and there are still many restrictions placed on women in the military.

“Far too often, young women see that young men have strong, powerful male role models,” said Robideaux.

“They don’t see that young women have female role models because history has usually been written by men, and men have usually downplayed or ignored women’s contributions.”

Robideaux said that too often in our society people think the freedoms and rights women have now are things they have always had. She is reminded of an incident that happened less than 40 years ago when she was told by a male co-worker she should quit her job and that women didn’t belong working outside the home.

Women still have obstacles they will need to overcome in order to gain economic equality in the workplace, said Robideaux. She said women will never reach equality with men as long as they are perceived as “newcomers.”

“When the number of female CEOs and company presidents of leaders of industry equal the number of males, perhaps economic equal rights will be possible,” said Robideaux. “Until then, women still earn less than men in many fields, even when they are doing the same work.”

Feminism is something Robideaux says people have misconceptions about. She tells her students feminists are people who believe women have rights and many of them are men working to improve the lives of women they know.

“Feminists aren’t man-hating. bra-burning, hairy-legged monsters,” said Robideaux. “It is an honor to call oneself a feminist and to believe in equal rights for women.”

Robideaux said a greater emphasis should be put on women’s history before students come to college. Many of her students have reported not knowing some of women’s most significant accomplishments. She feels that it is important for people to know about the past so that they don’t repeat its mistakes.

Ferris’ celebration of women’s history is a chance to learn more about the struggles and accomplishments of women. There is a variety of different mediums available to students that will allow them to learn more in an entertaining fashion.

“We have come a long way,” said Robideaux. “Each victory seems to create confidence that other victories for women’s rights are ahead of us.”

Fun Facts About Women’s HIstory

• 1848 — First women’s-right convention meets in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
• 1869 — Wyoming Territory is the first to grant women the right to vote
• 1928 — Amelia Earhart is the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane
• 1933 — Frances Perkins becomes the first female Presidential cabinet member
• 1943 — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is the first professional sports league for females
• 1977 — Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to drive in the Indy 500
• 2010-Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director
• 2.4 percent of Fortune 500 company CEOs are women, which is an increase from .6 percent in 2000
• 17 percent of the U.S. Congress are women and 18 percent of governors are women
• Information from diversityinc.com and history.com

Embracing the Legacy of Women is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Share in the Dream
2. Batter Me No More
3. Women Split First Two Home Contests

With the proper research, resources, and time, filing taxes can be become relatively simple and the last minute rush can be avoided. Should students need to file taxes, the Ferris Accounting Association is one option students can turn to for assistance.

The organization provides students with help on their tax documents for a fee. They charge $6 for completing a tax return plus an additional $2 for each document needed to complete the return, such as a W-2, 1098, 1099 and others.

“The cost is very cheap compared to any other method of completing your tax return,” said James Heine, a member of the Accounting Association that is in charge of the program. “All students have to do is show up, fill out a short questionnaire with information needed to complete their return, and give us their documents.”

All money that is collected goes toward the organization. Any interested students can get help from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in Business 216 every Thursday until April 8. Students must first email the Accounting Association before attending one of these sessions. They can be reached at ferrisaccountingassociation@yahoo.com.

Heine also suggested students take advantage of web sites and programs, such as TurboTax, that assist students in completing their return.

The Internal Revenue Service is offering college students and first-time filers something that can ease the federal tax return process.

Free File is a tax software program provided by the IRS and other private sector partners that allows people to prepare and electronically submit their federal tax return for free. The program follows an easy-to-use service that asks users questions and then completes the appropriate tax forms based on user’s answers. New taxpayers can find and utilize Free File at www.irs.gov/freefile where they can choose from about 20 different program options.

There are two different formats to federal Free File: Traditional Free File which is the step-by-step program that is offered by participating companies, and the Free File Fillable Forms which is the electronic version of the IRS paper forms that do simple math.

Each program has different eligibility requirements but anyone making less than $54,000 can find at least one option to choose. There is no income limitation for the Free File Fillable Forms, but would most likely be the best option for people comfortable filing their own taxes. Both formats are free and allow for free electronic filing.

Students must also remember to file city income taxes as well. Big Rapids income tax forms may be downloaded from the city’s web site, www.ci.big-rapids.mi.us. City tax returns must be filed by April 30, while state and federal taxes are due by April 15.

Returns and remittances with the proper wage and tax statements can be mailed to the city at 226 N. Michigan Ave. or dropped off at City Hall. Payments should be made payable to the “City of Big Rapids.”

Heine said, “The tax return is usually simple and won’t change a whole lot from year to year unless something drastic has changed with their income.”

He also added that students should look into the various educational tax credits and deductions that are available to students.

“The education credits are very common for students that claim themselves,” he said. “If the student puts in a little extra effort to learn about them, it will definitely pay off.”

There are a few different educational tax credits that students can qualify for. Only the one that claims the student as a dependent can claim these credits. Typically they only qualify for one or two, not all of them.

The Hope Scholarship Credit provides a tax credit for up to 100 percent of the first $1,000 in tuition and fees and up to 50 percent for the second $1,000. The maximum tax credit is $1,500 and only applies to the first two years of college.

The Lifetime Learning Credit gives a credit equal to 20 percent of tuition and certain related expenses up to $10,000. The credit maximum is capped at $2,000.

The higher education expenses deduction can be as much as $4,000 for families and individuals meeting certain income brackets. The American Opportunity Credit provides a maximum $2,500 credit for things such as tuition, books, and fees.

It is important for students determine whether or not their parents will be claiming them as a dependent. If their parents pay for more than 50 percent of the student’s expenses, the parents are eligible to claim the student as a dependent.

By taking the proper steps such as having all the proper paperwork in order, giving themselves a good amount of time, and starting early students can limit the amount of time and stress that is needed to file taxes and ensure that the process can go smoothly. n

Tax Tips for Students is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Students Weigh in on Smoking Ban
2. Students Save Cash by Renting Textbooks
3. 6 Alternate Forms of College Financial Aid

Cartoon: Spring Break is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Spring Break Fun for Everyone
2. Cartoon: Kids These Days
3. Cartoon: Eisler Doing His Part…

March 2–26

The Abstract and the Profound, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., Rankin Art Gallery

March 17

Carvin Eison’s “Shadow’s of The Lynching Tree,” 6 — 8 p.m., IRC 120

March 18

OMSS: Women’s History Month Presentation: Nancy Hulse, 7 — 8:30 p.m., Rankin Center Dome Room

SHRM: Managing Health and Wellness Seminar — Hosted by Andrea Wrobel with guest speaker Brenda Walton, 11 — 11:50 a.m., BUS 316

Rebecca Sammel, Ph.D. — “The Perfect Interdisciplinary Text,” 11 — 11:50 a.m., Starr 129

ONEness Keynote Program, 7 — 9 p.m., Williams Auditorium

Critical Thinking Skills, 11 — 11:50 a.m., SCI 102

Reception: The Abstract and the Profound, 5:30 — 7 p.m., Rankin Art Gallery

March 20

Fashion and Hair Rocks, 6 — 10 p.m., Williams Auditorium

March 22

Mock Beauty Pageant, 7 — 9 p.m., Rankin Center Dome Room

March 23

Money Management 101, 11 — 11:50 a.m., SCI 102

OMSS: Women in History Soap Box, 11 a.m. — 1 p.m., Rankin Student Center Atrium

Off Campus

March 19

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, 7 — 9 p.m., Big Rapids Community Library n

Things to Do on Campus, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids & More is a post from The Ferris State Torch. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Related posts:

1. Things to Do on Campus, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids & More
2. Things to Do on Campus, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids & More
3. Things to DO on Campus, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids & More