It’s not everyday that someone with a Neflix Original comes
to Jamestown, but it’s happening Thursday March 21st.
Ben Seidman got his start in Las Vegas, where is
performances are not uncommon. He can be
found performing in hotels and resorts across the country. You could call him a magician but expect some
comedy and storytelling to come with it.
Ben has been featured on TV including The CW and the Travel
Channel. He even guest stars on the
Netflix Original Brainchild. He’s so good that he was a consultant for the
TV show The Mentalist on CBS.
Check him out on Thursday March 21st at 9pm in the Reiland Fine Arts Center DeNault Auditorium.
After four years at the University of Jamestown, I’ve learned a lot about myself and grown in ways I never thought I would. My experience has not at all been what I expected going into college, but it has been amazing.
Initial plans My senior year of high school, I decided to go to UJ where my parents worked as the director of financial aid and the head baseball coach (no, Tom Hager is not like that at home). My initial plan was to major in accounting, someday become a CPA, and lay low while in school.
If you know me, you know that is not at all what’s going on now.
Changing Majors I am currently double majoring in Graphic Design and Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I did keep an Accounting minor and added Character in Leadership to the list as well.
New Activities During my time at UJ, I’ve been involved in chapel choir, concert choir, Relay for Life, Alpha Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa, CIL, student senate, and probably a few other clubs or organizations that I’m forgetting. I’ve made great friendships, gotten to do things I love, travelled to Italy, gained amazing connections, and expanded my knowledge in a lot of different areas in the past four years.
Character in Leadership During my senior year of high school, my mom convinced me to apply for the Wilson Scholarship (which I was not about at the time), where I ended up meeting Liz Hunt who convinced me to join the Character in Leadership program – probably the best decision of my life thus far. I also ended up winning the Wilson, so I guess mom was right about that one – shout out to Judy Hager for that and everything else she’s right about.
I honestly believe the Character in Leadership program is one of the best things this school has to offer; I have learned so much about myself and my beliefs in the past four years that I probably would not have explored otherwise. I have made wonderful friendships that started within the CIL program. I’ve also made numerous friendships through other campus organizations and classes that will all stick with me.
Why UJ is Unique University of Jamestown has allowed me to get involved in things I care about and pursue a field of study that I’m passionate about. After deciding to switch majors, I thought I was going to have to transfer, but Mike Woodley convinced me otherwise. As you can tell, a lot of what I’ve done at UJ has been a result of other people convincing me to do things. The people at UJ are not afraid to get involved in your life and help out in any way they can, and that is unique and wonderful.
I’ve also had the chance to be taught by amazing professors like Liz Hunt, Mary Reed, Mort Sarabakhsh, Amie Aesoph, Chris Hoke, Teddi Jo Paulson, Vicki Greshik, and many others. There are far too many people at this school that have had a great impact on my life to name. My favorite thing about my experience at UJ by far has been the people I’ve met and gotten to know. The people at the University of Jamestown have taught me so much in and outside the classroom. I’ve gained connections with professors, staff members, and fellow students that will stay with me and continue to help me grow throughout my life.
The influence that University of Jamestown can have on a student like myself is great, it is memorable, it is beautiful, and it is important.
Shortly after Spring Break, the home stretch for the school
year has arrived. The Jamestown
Activities Board (JAB) is planning their annual Jimmie Jive Week, a full week
of free events for students.
The week kicks off Saturday March 16th with the
annual semi-formal dance from 9pm to 1am at the Gladstone Inn in
Jamestown. The theme is The Emerald
Ball. Shuttles will be provided to
and from campus in front of the Badal Nafus Center. Food and refreshments will be provided.
On Monday March 18th, the monthly Trivia Knight
will challenge your thinking with a full hour of trivia questions beginning at
9pm in the J-House. Snacks will be
provided. Gather a team of friends (at
least 3 people) and win some awesome prizes.
There are only two more trivia events after this, so it’s never too late
to get started!
Tuesday brings a canvas painting night in the Reiland Fine
Arts Center. Snacks and supplies will be
provided. This is a relaxing time to
focus on what painting whatever your heart desires. The event begins at 9pm in the Reiland lobby.
Grocery Bag Bingo is always a much-anticipated event for
students every semester, but Wednesday’s event gives the winners more “buying
power” with their prizes. Gift Card
bingo will give participants an opportunity to win large gift cards to
businesses college students use most.
Each gift card will be valued at $50, this is in addition to door prizes
giving every participant a great chance at winning a prize!
Jamestown welcomes nationally acclaimed Magician Ben Seidman
on Thursday for a performance that will have you stunned. Ben has been featured on channels such as The
CW and the Travel Channel. He can also
be seen on the Netflix original brainchild. His performance will be held at 9pm in the
Reiland Fine Arts Center.
Go Orange Friday closes out Jimmie Jive Week. Students are encouraged to wear Jimmie
gear. JAB members will be walking around
campus looking for those students. If a
JAB member sees you in Jimmie gear, you may just get a prize that will make
your day.
Be sure to follow JAB on Twitter and Instagram @UofJAB.
As an Ohioan, I had little idea of what life would be like here in Jamestown, North Dakota, particularly since unlike most here I had no family or friends nearby.
Despite all of my hesitations, I decided to start college here four years ago, and I have never looked back since.
I have had a great experience here at University of Jamestown, and I could not have imagined I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. My experience here can be broken down into the following three categories: academic, athletic, and social.Academic Experiences
Academically, I could not have asked for a better education than I have received here. When I initially arrived on campus, I wanted to be a History major, but realizing that this would require extra schooling if I wanted to make any serious money in the field, I decided to pursue a double major in Computer Science and History, instead.
I had little experience with computers, so if it were not for the great and patient professors in the Computer Science Department, especially Professors Lemm, Sand, and Reed, I would have probably abandoned that field of study. However, with their help, I have almost attained the computer science degree and have a job lined up in the computer science field upon graduation.
I have greatly enjoyed my studies in history, as well, for it is a subject I love. The History Department’s professors, Dr. Joy and Dr. Weinzierl, have been a joy to learn from (pun intended). Even though I never had a class from him, Dr. Johnson has been a great adviser, and if it was not for him encouraging me to pursue computer science if I wanted to, then I probably never would have entered the program.
Athletic Experiences
Athletically, it was football that initially brought me to this school, and I have participated in it all four years I have been here. I enjoyed my time with the program, but it did not go quite as I thought it would. I played for my freshman and sophomore years, and then during sophomore year spring ball, I hurt my knee and was never to play again.
I decided to pursue the student-coach route, which I have done for the past two years, so I could still be involved with the team. Even after the season, I have continued on staff to help out the best I can in the final months that I am here. I have enjoyed working with Coach Mistro so far, and I look forward to what he will do with the program.
Social Experiences
Socially, I have met a lot of people through football and just across campus. I have made great relationships with many people, and I look forward to keeping in contact with them after graduation. I have even made a few special friendships that I never thought I would have made. I am especially grateful for these relationships, and I am happy to consider them not just friends in college but friends for life.
Thus, we see that, I have had a great experience here, and while I may have doubted this four years ago, I now see that University of Jamestown was certainly the school for me.
Paul Gibson (middle) with his Jimmie Football teammates.
University of Jamestown Wind Ensemble will perform a Pops Concert on Feb. 17, 2019 at 2 p.m. in the DeNault Auditorium, located in the Reiland Fine Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.
The concert, themed “Heroes,” will feature music from various heroic films, characters, and historical figures. The ensemble will play music about movies like “Captain America,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Wonder Woman,” “Star Wars,” and “Black Panther.”
“This is such a fun concert with music from movies and TV shows. Many of the themes will be familiar to audience members of all ages!” said Dr. Laura Lynch, Assistant Professor and Director of Instrumental Music. “There will also be images projected on the screen with quotes from and about the characters. We’re also encouraging people to live-tweet the concert from our Twitter-Rows!”
The Twitter-Rows will be designated rows where attendees can sit and live tweet the concert by following @UJamestownBands and using the hashtag #UJWonderBand.
The concert is expected to last less than an hour.
This Thursday through Saturday, the Reiland auditorium will be presenting the play Dead Man’s Cell Phone, written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Hunter Carpenter.
Dead Man’s Cell Phone centers around a woman named Jean who answers a dead stranger’s cell phone in a café. She lies about knowing the man and soon finds herself pulled into a world of mystery, love, and loss through the ever-ringing phone.
Though the play is certainly filled with intriguing settings, characters, and situations (think caramel popcorn and laundromats), Dead Man’s Cell Phone also makes statements about life in the modern world. Carpenter notes that the play combines elements of drama, romance, comedy, and thriller to create a truly unique genre that engages the audience. Carpenter believes that the play also raises powerful questions about the role technology has and should have in our lives.
Carpenter states, “We idealize our phone, our technology, more than we realize. When Jean, our main character, finds herself so attached to this cell phone, it causes her to distance herself from what is her actually reality.” Carpenter believes that this play will leave audiences pondering ideas about technology, society, and life as a whole.
While
this is Hunter Carpenter’s first experience directing a play of full length, he
is far from new to the theatre stage.
Carpenter is a senior at UJ majoring in Fine Arts Theatre and Fine Arts
Music. In his last four years, he has
acted in ten University productions and three regional professional
productions, and has directed two one-act plays. Carpenter says that he enjoys directing
because he gets to observe the growth the actors experience throughout the entire
process. He loves watching a cohesive
production come to life.
In
speaking about the play, Carpenter notes that strong language is present in the
play and advises against bringing young audiences. However, for mature audiences who are
interested, he says, “What better place to spend Valentine’s day weekend than
the theatre? This show has laughs,
mystery, love, and drama. If you like a
story that makes you stop and think about society and your own personal life,
then this is a must see.”
Dead Man’s Cell Phone will run February 14-16 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the UJ box office by emailing tickets@uj.edu, or by visiting the box office (open Mon-Fri 3-6pm in Reiland 130).
Stops through North Dakota and Minnesota are scheduled as part of the University of Jamestown Concert Choir’s tour during spring break.
The UJ Concert Choir, consisting of students of a variety of academic fields, will be touring across the two states March 3rd through 10th. Stops in North Dakota include Bismarck, Harvey, and Whapeton. Minnesota stops comprise of Crookston, Maple Grove, and Willmar. They will end their trip in Fargo.
The choir will be performing seven times during the week-long period.
There will also be a stop in Valley City on February 24th and in Jamestown on March 17th.
For a complete list of stops, as well as show times and locations, click here.
There is no cost to attend the concerts, but there will be a free-will offering available to offset costs.
