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August 2006
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Leader of the band: First female drum major at the U of M sets the pace for the marching band at Spat Camp
Aug. 30, 2006
When the U of M Marching band hits the field at halftime this year it will be led by Molly Watters, the University of Minnesota Marching Band's first female drum major.
Watters, originally from Eden Prairie, is the marching band's 56th drum major and first female drum major. She is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota majoring in political science and sociology. Before being selected as drum major, Molly played the mellophone in the U of M Marching Band, Hockey Pep Band and the Women's Athletic Band. Molly is president of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Currently Watters is leading the band through Spat Camp, the intensive, in-residence preparation camp where students learn music and marching fundamentals that marks the official start of the marching band season. Spat Camp is in-session now and runs through Sunday, Sept. 2.
If you'd like to interview Watters or visit Spat Camp, contact Mark Cassutt at (612) 624-8038.
Old U of M has a farm, U Rah, Rah, Rah, Ski-U-Mah!
Aug. 28, 2006
You’ve heard about family farms and corporate farms, but have you heard about the University of Minnesota student farm. Students plan and operate an organic farm on the St. Paul campus and their farm produces more than vegetables, fruits and flowers.
The farm, called Cornercopia, plants the seeds of learning for the student farmers. The farm actually begins each season in the classroom during the spring semester course Farm Planning and Growing. Many students from that class then extend their learning into the fields as interns on the farm.
“Students have the opportunity to experience the real world of what it’s like to operate a farm and some interns do research on the farm,” said Courtney Tchida, Student Programs coordinator for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.
This year, the student farmers planted 100 different varieties of vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruits. July’s heat created some extra insect problems this year, but the student farmers planned for that.
“We try to companion plant with herbs and flowers. They bring in beneficial insects to control the bad insects,” Tchida said.
The student farmers have been selling their crops during the U of M Farmer’s Market on the Minneapolis campus each Wednesday. They also do office deliveries on the St. Paul campus. The farm is working to become certified as organic by summer 2008.
To interview Tchida, contact Patty Mattern, University News Service, (612) 624-2801.
U of M student on road to recovery after loss of mother, Hurricane Katrina
Aug. 28, 2006
Elizabeth DeSanto is a current University of Minnesota student from Southwest Minneapolis with a heart-warming story related to Hurricane Katrina.
She lost her mom to cancer early in 2005. In August 2005, she decided to move to Loyola University in New Orleans to start a new. Just five days after she got there, Katrina hit, and DeSanto had to evacuate.
Within a week of returning to Minnesota, she was attending class at the U, thanks to an expedited application process for Hurricane Katrina victims. One year after Katrina, Elizabeth is studying kinesiology at the U.
To interview DeSanto, contact Bob San at (612) 624-4082; or Asim Dorovic at (612) 624-0214 or dorovic@umn.edu. rts.
To interview Wildung, contact Asim Dorovic at (612) 624-0214 or dorovic@umn.edu.
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