University of Montana students wrap gifts for the Adopt-A-Family, Adopt-A-Vet programs.

The University of Montana teams up with the Salvation Army, the Poverello Center and Valor House this holiday season for the 15th annual Adopt-A-Family and third annual Adopt-A-Veteran programs. Campus Corps team leader Shanna Ungate says participants can select families and veterans in need and help provide them with gifts, clothing, and other requested items. UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Dizhi Ge chatted with some UM students who say they're happy to help the Missoula community.

Montana landowners fight back against the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Montana land owner, Karole Lee, says it's important that land owners remember that they the stewards of the land. Lee owns five and a half acres in the Clancy area and says she strives to maintain the trees on her property; because healthier trees are less likely to be infested by mountain pine beetles. Lee advises other land owners to keep their trees well watered, as well as to remove the smaller weaker trees to enable the larger healthier ones to grow. UM doctoral student and pine beetle expert, Ryan Bracewell, says it's important that land owners can identify the trees on their land, and how susceptible they are to pine beetle infestation. Reporter and photographer Faith Cronin and photographer Scott Ranf dug a little deeper to find out what methods land owners can rely on to get rid of pine beetle infestations. To learn more about the mountain pine beetle you can watch Part I of this two part story or visit the Forest Service website.

UM Graduate students get hands on with Mountain Pine Beetles

UM Graduate students share research about the Mountain Pine Beetle with local landowners and concerned citizens. Beetle Expert and UM Doctoral Student, Ryan Bracewell, explains the impact the pine beetles have on our ecosystem.  Trip participants met at the Montana Natural History Center and took a bus up to the Lubrecht Experimental Forest owned by the University of Montana.  Photographer Scott Ranf and reporter Faith Cronin rode up with other beetle enthusiasts and experts to learn a little more about the little bug that's causing huge problems.  For more general information about the Mountain Pine Bark Beetle click here. and be sure to stay tuned to part 2 with our developing story.

7th Annual Griz for Kids Toy Drive

Volunteers toughed chilly temperatures to help collect toy and cash donations at the Grizzly football game November 5th. The Griz for Kids Toy Drive offers help to families in Western Montana during the Holiday season. This year they raised nearly $3,000 in cash donation and hundreds of toys. Toy drive coordinator, Sheila Callahan, says the goal is to make sure every child has a present under the tree. Former Griz Center, Chris Orwig, is thrilled the toy drive he started is still ongoing. For more information about receiving or donating to Griz for Kids click here. UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Scott Ranf went down to see how many toys were collected.

Caras Park Hosted the Second Annual Treasure State Shred Fest

It took seven truck loads of shaved ice, 35 riders, and the ambition to carve Missoula into the freestyle map. Avid snowboarder R.J. Higgins says Shred Fest is a great way to show the Missoula community what freestyle snowboarding is all about. Local sponsors such as Lost Trail and Glacier Ice Rink supported the event. UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Maegan Simmons attended Shred Fest to see what it takes to be a freestyle snowboarder.

Alternative Smoking on the University of Montana Campus

The University of Montana's Tobacco Free Policy went into effect this August semester. UM student William Kincaid is one of many students exploring alternative cigarettes. He says he's smoked for 11 years, but no longer on campus. Kincaid admits that he hasn't smoked for the last six days because of the looks people give him. To find out more information about the UM Tobacco Free Plan click here. UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Scott Ranf have the story.

The UM campus served as the stage for a variety of dances performed by UM dance students.

Dance on Location showcased everything from juggling and ballet to hoolah-hooping and expressive theatrics. The audience strolled from location to location enjoying a different style of dance at each stop. The two day event was coordinated by The University of Montana School of Theater and Dance. All of the dances were choreographed and performed by University of Montana students. Dance major, Emily Cohen, says the event is an excellent way for young choreographer like herself to learn new skills. Reporter/photographer Faith Cronin chatted with Cohen to find out how her first Dance on Location twirled out.

UM News for October 5, 2011

University of Montana senior broadcast journalism majors Beth Beechie and Adrienne Ellsworth anchor today's edition of UM News. Faith Cronin produced and Dizhi Ge directed the broadcast. UM News airs Thursday mornings at 8:25 a.m. on KPAX-TV in Missoula and KAJ-TV in Kalispell. UM News is a production of the Department of Radio-Television and the School of Journalism at the University of Montana.

The University of Montana hosts dancer from India to promote new minor.

Indian dancer Aniruddan Vasudevan visited the University of Montana campus to promote the addition of a new South and Southeast Asian studies minor.

UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Matt DeBray take you to Vasudevan's performance in the PARTV Building on campus at the University of Montana.


To read more about the new classes that will be available, click here.

UM News for September 21, 2011

University of Montana broadcast journalism majors Adrienne Ellsworth and Faith Cronin anchor this week's edition of UM News. Katherine Kettering produced the newscast. Maegan Simmons was the director. (Click below to see this week's newscast.)

Air Quality Affects UM Athletes

Burning fires continue to send smoke across the state decreasing Montana's air quality. UM News reporter Faith Cronin and photographer Dizhi Ge take us to Washington-Grizzly Stadium to report how the smoke is affecting UM's athletes. (Click below to see story.)

UM Smoking Ban Changes Tailgating

The University of Montana is now one of 530 colleges nationwide to ban the butts. The campus' tobacco free policy extends to tailgating at the Grizzly football games. How will the fans react? UM News rReporter Faith Cronin and photographer Katie Radford talked to fans and foes of the policy at the season opener. (Click below to see the story.)

To view the policy in its entirety, click here.

UM News September 14, 2011

Welcome to the new year of UM News. UM senior broadcast journalism majors Tara Oster and Faith Cronin anchor our broadcast. Stephanie Hansen produced and Matthew DeBray directed this week's program. UM News is a student-produced news program at the University of Montana School of Journalism and Department of Radio-Television.