One Last Hurrah for Eichelberger

Found Brady Eichelberger (Wheeler)

By Emily Wheeler/ March 10, 2016

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is an organization that was started more than 100 years ago in New York City. The organization strives to provide children who face adversity with strong, one-on-one support from an adult within their community. With programs in communities all across the United States, and in 12 countries around the world, Big Brothers Big Sisters has impacted many lives.

This organization pairs adult volunteers, called Bigs, with children between the ages of 6 and 18, known as Littles. After an extensive background check and interview process with both the Bigs and Littles, they are matched based on location, personality and preference. From there, Bigs and Littles meet according to their personal schedules and do all sorts of things, from playing catch, to doing homework or even going to museums. The organization stays involved throughout the entire process and provides support to ensure healthy, long-lasting relationships grow between their Bigs and Littles.

At Mayville State University, senior Brady Eichelberger has been working diligently to create a similar program and get it up and running before he graduates in the fall. He calls this program: Big Comet Little Comet (BCLC). Eichelberger has always had a great love for volunteer work and thought this kind of program could really benefit the community. He started working on this project during the 2015-2016 school year. Earlier this semester, BCLC sent out its first set of applications to students interested in volunteering and held their first meeting, finally getting the program off the ground.

According to Eichelberger, Big Comet Little Comet will pair volunteers, mostly consisting of Mayville State students, with area children in the hopes of building strong, healthy relationships. “The Big Comets are then required to spend time with their Little Comet at least twice per month and it could mean a number of things, such as helping them with homework, taking them to an MSU game/event, playing basketball with them, etc.”  

Eichelberger knew from the get-go that it would not be easy to get a program like this started. Luckily, he has not had to work alone. When choosing an advisor, he knew just who to ask. Lonamalia Smith, professor of sociology at MSU, has taken on the role as the advisor for BCLC.

 Eichelberger says, “Asking Lona to be the advisor for the program was nowhere near a mistake. She has unbelievable organization skills and does an excellent job of looking at things in a parent’s perspective, making it easier to understand the worries many parents have. Without her and the other Big Comets, the program would not be getting off the ground so smoothly.”

Even with help, starting an extensive program like BCLC has its difficulties. Eichelberger says, “Seeing as it involves both MSU students and students in the community, there is a lot of extra work we had to do to make sure it would be successful, including packaging and sending out Little Comet applications to each kid at the elementary, middle and high school. Besides sending letters out we had to draft a liability form for both Little Comets and Big Comets, BCLC applications, forms to help with matching, figure out how to go about background checks, make sure the schools were on board, find Big Comets and various other tasks.”

Eichelberger’s only regret was not starting this program sooner. “I’ve been throwing the idea around in my head for about a year now and finally decided to try going through with it.”

Although he didn’t get BCLC started as quickly as he had wished, Eichelberger has high hopes for the program as it continues to grow. “The ultimate hope is that is becomes a thriving program in the community that helps many people along the way.”

Eichelberger plans to graduate in Dec. 2016. While at MSU, he has been involved with a few different programs on campus. Namely, the Cometeers Volunteer Organization, which Eichelberger started alongside his good friend Jacob Allam. Eichelberger has also been very involved with Student Senate, acting as Student President for the last two years.

Eichelberger has loved his time here at Mayville State University. One of his favorite things about MSU is the small school atmosphere. He says, “It’s nice to know a lot of the people you go to school with […]. For the most part we are pretty tight knit and just act as one big, dysfunctional family.”

Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters have taken the initiative of helping our countries children and helping them to succeed in the ways that they deserve to. Brady Eichelberger sees great things for Big Comet Little Comet, even though he may not be here to see its success for himself. As a senior, this program is almost a last hurrah, but one he should certainly be proud of.

"I wouldn't have done anything different"

Bakken works with bass singers during choir practice. (Wheeler)

By Emily Wheeler/ March 31, 2016

 

 

MAYVILLE, ND – The saying goes, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Not everyone can say that they have never gone to work a day in their life, but one professor at Mayville State University feels exactly this way.

 

 

Michael Bakken is the Associate Professor of Music and the Fine Arts Series Coordinator at Mayville State University. Earlier this semester, Bakken announced his retirement. He said that after teaching for over 40 years, he doesn’t want to miss the chance to enjoy his retirement and enjoy waking up “like every day is Saturday.”
 

Music has been his whole life and he feels like it’s in his DNA.
 

In third grade, Bakken began taking trumpet lessons for a dollar an hour. It was right then that he knew he wanted to teach music. He said, “I was just lucky I guess. A lot of people don’t know what they want to do in life, I knew right then that that’s what I wanted to do.”
 

 Bakken graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.S. in Music Education in 1972. Right after he graduated, he began teaching in public high schools. He was teaching at May-Port CG High School when the position opened up at Mayville State.

 

 

 “I often wondered what it would be like to teach in a college,” Bakken said. “When the part-time position opened, they asked me to come direct the choir. Then the full-time position opened up and I asked myself, “Do I want to do this?” I decided to go for it. I kind of needed to recharge my batteries, a new focus in my life.”  

 

 

 Bakken described MSU as a place of opportunity.

 

 

 “Mayville State gave me the opportunity to do what I love and in return I wanted to give students the opportunity to be a part of a team,’ he added, “Maybe you’re not on the varsity football team but you can be part of the choir team or the band team, and be a part of a team effort.”

 

 

 Bakken said that he has many fond memories of his time at MSU, but one thing he will remember the most is how the program has grown through the years. From the band and choir sharing the stage during their first concert, to having about 75 students in choir alone.

 

 

 “There are things I’m going to miss, but miss in a good way,” he said.

 

 

 Bakken is well known and loved by many students on campus and within the Mayville community.

 

 

 Senior Jon Brenden, who has been involved in the MSU choir for many years, said, “I’ve never known someone who loves music as much as Bakken. He’s kind of crazy, but that’s why we love him. We’ll definitely miss him.”

 

 

 Greta Paschke, a music alumnus of MSU and now instructor of music and science at MSU, has worked closely with Bakken for many years. She met him for the first time in her sophomore year of high school when he was her band director.
 

 Paschke said, “I just want to thank Bakken for giving me the opportunity to teach music and for bringing music back to Mayville State.”
 

 When Michael Bakken arrived at Mayville State, the only thing he really had left to work with, after the dismantling of the music program, was a band. Over the years, he has worked to raise money for the music program and to get students involved. His work has allowed the program to grow and brought a music minor back to MSU.
 

 His retirement came as a surprise for many, but Bakken said that it’s time.
 

 “It has been a great run and I want to go out on top,” he said. “These next five weeks is going to be a celebration. We’ve got a lot do to and we get to do it together. And we’re going to go on our way rejoicing.”

Security increase at Alerus Center upsets concertgoers






 

 The Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. is a popular concert and event venue. (Emily Wheeler)

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Emily Wheeler/ January 30, 2016

Grand Forks, N.D. – Fans who attended country music star Jason Aldean's “We Were Here” concert on Jan. 29 were frustrated by the increased security measures taken by the Alerus Center. This was the first event at the venue in which handheld metal detectors were used. This increase also required fans to place any loose items on a table before being scanned by the detectors. All bags were searched and only bags following size requirements were allowed into the concert. Also, tobacco products were confiscated. Some concertgoers said it felt like they “were at an airport instead of a concert”.

Doors usually open an hour before the concert is set to begin. However because of the increase, doors opened an hour and a half ahead of time to allow for any delay. Unfortunately, many attendees seemed to be unaware of this earlier opening. The lines continued down the halls of the event center, into the main lobby, and onto the sidewalks outside. The delay led to some missing most of the first act, A Thousand Horses.

One concertgoer, Ranita Rodriquez, said in a Facebook post, “That was quite ridiculous if you ask me! The concert was already started when we got in and there was still a huge group in the main entrance and down the sidewalk. We even got there 45 minutes early.” She then added, “With that being said..at least our country stars were safe because of all the security wands.”

Another attendee, Katelyn Wertz, said that she had heard about the security increase the morning of the concert. “My friends and I made plans to get there as early as possible. We ended up getting there an hour early and had no issues getting in.”

In an interview with WDAZ News in Grand Forks, executive director of the Alerus Center Cheryl Swanson said “the lines moved slower than they had hoped.” Swanson also said that the Alerus Center is looking to purchasing walk-through metal detectors which would help keep things moving at a steadier pace.

These security measures are considered the ‘norm’ in many venues around the country. They are expected to continue for most, if not all, large events held at the Alerus Center in the future.

The Alerus Center is not the only venue that beefed up their security for Aldean’s “We Were Here” Tour. The Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. also implemented the new bag-size requirement. The Premier Center already uses handheld metal detectors for most of their events.

Many promoters, and even performers, are now requiring higher security measures before a venue can host a concert or event. Live Nation, the promoters of Jason Aldean’s tour, made a statement saying that, “Due to the recent attacks in Paris and in an abundance of caution we have implemented heightened security procedures globally.” It’s likely that many promoters will follow suit and require higher security for their future events.

The fear of terrorist attacks occurring at high-populated, public events has increased in the past year.