Peers Reaching Out About Drunk Driving

Peers Reaching Out, or PROs at the University of Montana works to educate students about various health and safety issues including the dangers of drunk driving.
According to their data, 1825 college students die each year from alcohol related injuries. They say the majority of those are due to car crashes.
UM News reporter Tara Oster and photographer Bernie Riggs talked with the PROs to see how they educate students about this issue.

An Increase In Coal Train Traffic Gives Residents A Cause For Concern

Residents aren't the only ones who have staked their claims to their homes. Coal dust has nestled its way into their homes as a permanent, but unwelcome roommate. UM News reporter Stephanie Hansen and photographer Scott Ranf found out how coal is currently affecting students who live near the tracks. Arch Coal contributes 16 percent of America's annual coal, making them the second largest coal producer in the U.S. BNSF and Montana Rail link.  would be shipping the coal. 

Taser Usage Comes To The Forefront In Missoula

The recent tasing of University of Montana football players and two more tasings by Missoula police over the weekend have raised questions about the use of the device. Police officers at the UM's Office of Public Safety and the Missoula Police Department use tasers to protect the public. Reporter Emily Foster and photographer Brad Peers found out when officers can legally use them and just how painful their sting feels.

UM Student Helps Special Olympians Stay in Shape

Special Olympics athletes are gearing up to compete with the help of a UM student. Athletes train twice a week at the Missoula YMCA in preparation for the Montana games in March. UM News reporter Annemiek Wilson and photographer Maegan Simmons found out how one UM student is helping special olympians.

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.

Marrow Drive on Campus

Cheryl Cowan said her life's been an emotional roller coaster ever since she found out her dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. He went into remission but found out he needed a bone marrow transplant.The family had his only brother tested, but he wasn't a match. According to marrow.org, seven out of ten patients won't find a match among family members.
Two months ago, the Cowans got a phone call that changed their lives. Nurses told the family that Tim Cowan was going to have a "second birthday." They found a perfect match for his marrow transplant.
UM Pharmacy students are working to raise awareness about the need for bone marrow donors by putting on a marrow drive on December 8th in the UC. UM News' Beth Beechie and Matt DeBray sat down with the Cowans to see how finding a match can change lives.

UM News for November 16, 2011

Find out how the University of Montana students teach us about pine beetles and how Missoula's homeless community shows off their creativity on this week's edition of UM News. Broadcast journalism seniors Tara Oster and Annemiek Wilson anchored today's newscast. Stephanie Hansen produced the show; and Bernie Riggs directed. 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.

Montana Campus Compact applies for Campus Corps funding through 2015

Montana Campus Compact aims to refund its Campus Corpsprogram, an Americorps service group, here at the University of Montana.

Currently, Campus Corps has funding through August of 2012.The MTCC reapplies for this funding every three years. However, funding forAmericorps is in jeopardy due to a proposal from the US House ofRepresentatives to cut Americorps funding all together.

Executive Director at MTCC, Dean McGovern, said the groupwill keep planning as if it will receive all funding. MTCC will know if itsgrant request was successful this May.

In the meantime, there is another service group on campusthat has funding through 2014.

Compact Service Corps is another student service group thatstrives to serve the Missoula community. However, instead of stipends that ahandful of students obtain through Campus Corps, Compact Service studentsreceive work study if they qualify. Compact Service Corps students also receiveeducation awards, like Campus Corps students, but do not have to volunteer asmany hours for these awards.

McGovern said both programs are sound assets to theuniversity. He said he hopes to keep them around to serve the Missoulacommunity for years.

Graduating in Four Years

Senior Katelyn Carlson plans on taking a Wintersession course this January. Carlson said she's taking the class in order to graduate in four years. According to a study by the University of Montana, the class of 2009 had about one thousand students. 38.4 percent of those student graduated in four years or less. On average, it took the class of 2009 about five years to graduate with a bachelor's degree. UM News' Beth Beechie sat down with Carlson to see why graduating in four years is so important to her.

Missoula Police Break Down the Process of a DUI

According to data from the Montana Department of Transportation, there were 7,351 injury crashes in the state of Montana in 2009. Of those incidents, 1,319 or 17.9 percent involved alcohol. Two-hundred and two crashes were fatal. of those, 86 or 42.6 percent were alcohol related.
The numbers don't differ too much in Missoula County. In 2009, out of 922 injury crashes, 147 or 15.9 percent were alcohol related. Out of the 13 fatal crashes of that year, 7 or 53.8 percent involved alcohol.

Montana DOT data shows underage drivers are involved in alcohol or drug related crashes in 6.7 percent of all drug or alcohol related crashes. That's compared to 10.5 percent of the entire population of drivers; no matter their age.

As of the 2008 data, the results for fatal crashes was much different. In alcohol related crashes involving an underage driver, 42.4 percent of those were fatal. Montana DOT says the rate for the entire population of drivers, no matter their age is 40.4 percent.

UM News reporter Tara Oster and reporter/photographer Maegan Simmons went on a ride with Missoula Police to see how they work to decrease the number of DUIs and how they ultimately hope to decrease the number of alcohol related car-accident fatalities.

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.

Missoula homeless express their voice through new magazine

The Poverello Center is known for its work with the homeless. A new project gives the homeless in Missoula a chance to express themselves through poetry, essays, and drawings. "30 Days In" is the new literary magazine that can be purchased at the Poverello Center. UM News photographer Dizhi Ge and reporter Dustin Klemann met one man who's drawing ability is getting some exposure as a contributor to the new magazine.

UM Student Combines Career Passions With Real Life Experience

UM students can find many ways to bring their education into the real world. Reporter Annemiek Wilson and photographer Matt DeBray found out how one student juggles school, work, and volunteer fire fighting in Frenchtown. Click below to see video.

University Of Montana Students Scale Walls For Exercise

Some University of Montana students scale 16-foot tall walls at Freestone Climbing Gym to stay in shape. Reporter Emily Foster found out how the sport of climbing offers a unique challenge for adventurous athletes.

Rutting Season is Here Look Out for Missoula Deer

Flying snow, dropping temperatures and dark skies before dinner can put anyone in a rut. Deer across Montana have a different outlook on the changing season. Rut is the breeding season for deer. Wildlife Biology PhD Student, Sonja Christensen, says Missoula area deer are at the peak of their rutting season. Christensen advises people to be aware of more aggressive behavior from deer over the next few weeks. Reporter Katherine Kettering found out what cautions people should take around deer this time of year. Check out the video below to learn more.