Leadership is a significant quality to have. Leadership is indubitable indispensable. And we all carry some sort of leadership within us, whether we actively show it or not, whether we have explored it and embraced it or not. There are those who take this attribute to the next level by guiding others. It is so great when these types of students are recognized, publically or privately, personally or socially. Unfortunately, not all of us are given the gratitude we deserve. The appreciation we warrant. The thanks we desire, even if we don’t admit it.

The 2010 Leadership Banquet of UMass Dartmouth was held on Friday, May 7. Many distinguished awards were given to distinguished students who truly deserved to receive such honors; however, many students were overlooked, underappreciated, and this can be quite disheartening. There were numerous awards given, but it felt like only a handful of student leaders took home an award; this is because some students earned more than one award. Why wasn’t each person limited to one win? Why weren’t more students recognized? After all, everyone at the banquet was a leader. Every student organization was comprised of magnanimous leaders.

While all the students who won deserved their awards, the Leadership Banquet should have been more equal, more fair. Sure, if you have a lot of friends or come from a large organization, you are going to get a lot of nominations. Sure, if you are involved with SAIL or Greek Life you will get multiple nominations. But what if you lead well in a small organization? What if you are part of different organizations besides the aforementioned? Does that mean you, as student leader, deserve less?

You can put all you have, exhibit an immense amount of drive and passion, and still go unnoticed. You can be a strong leader, but never be thanked for your effort and your heart.

The painful truth is that you won’t always be recognized and appreciated by others; you won’t always be thanked by the higher-ups; you won’t always get public recognition. So, in the end, you have to look inside yourself and discover who you are. You have to identify your strengths and leadership abilities and that essential driven passion that pushed you to become a leader in the first place. Because only you can keep the flames of leadership burning. Only you can ignite and reignite the fire within. Only you can decide which road you take, and which side-roads you explore. Although it is challenging, you must learn to be proud of yourself, and be proud by yourself. Otherwise, the fire will die, the road will come to a halt, and your non-disposable quality of leadership will be lost.

The Leadership Banquet should find a way to give gratitude to a wider range of student leaders next year. They should reach out to more individuals, as that is how you will make and maintain more leaders.

Leadership is like the sun – without it, the world would be a ceaselessly cold, dark place.

“The Sea” is comprised of eleven soulful tracks, all of which intertwine like a journey in search of hope and beauty after suffering from grief and despair. The lyrics are emotionally driven, idyllically complementing the soothing vocals and tranquil music.

From Capitol Records/Good Groove, the record was co-produced by Bailey Rae with Steve Brown and Steve Chrisanthou, who produced many of the songs on her high-selling debut album, which led to her three Grammy nominations in 2007.

The opening track “Are You Here” is sung softly against a backdrop of delicate music. The easy beat makes you want to simply sit back, close your eyes and unwind. Disarray over lost love is introduced, while the melody resonates with healing powers.

“Closer” is infused with jazzy tones as the track works through the exploration of love with familiar pushing and pulling. Love comes with tension, so it is important for each partner to move in the same direction. The music of the chorus jumps forward, inching closer, closer to what is desired with the words “I wanna, I wanna…get close to you.” The way Bailey Rae holds end notes so gracefully, like the word “you” in this song, makes her music all the more calming.

The music of “I Would Like to Call it Beauty” is serene, paired with soulful vocals and poignant lyrics. It is a hopeful song, recognizing how you are “pushed on by the fingertips of dreams,” even when love and passion are strained. That sheer motivation is what Bailey Rae would like to call beauty.

But after so much serenity and slowness, you might crave something more upbeat, something like Bailey Rae’s past hit “Put Your Records On.” Unfortunately, “The Sea” contains just one upbeat track. “Paris Nights/New York Mornings” is a fun song; it’s a toe-tapper and finger-snapper, but it isn’t quite enough. Had this album been recorded with at least four upbeat tracks, it would be nearly flawless. Although the album is strong and powerful overall, after so much heartache and dawdling melodies, it becomes dull.

Nevertheless, the expressiveness of Bailey Rae’s soulful vocals is implemented throughout the album. The light, airy music and lyrics lift you higher up with each track, until you are floating on clouds, lost in thought. To make the music as pleasing and dreamlike as it is, an array of instruments is used, including electric and acoustic pianos, electric and acoustic guitars, harps, cellos, organs, percussions, tambourines, synths, drums and others.

Sorrow and loss are recurring themes that are trumped by the power of hope, determination and beauty. Bailey Rae reminds us to keep going, to never give up, but to also never forget.

The action/adventure, directed by Dean DeBlois (“Lilo & Stitch”) and Chris Sanders (“The Rescuers Down Under” and “The Lion King”), takes place on an island of Vikings, where their biggest pests are fire-breathing, destructive dragons. The main character, Hiccup (Jay Bucharel, “She’s Out of My League”), is an atypical young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons to become like all the other people of his village. But Hiccup is scrawny and physically weak, especially in comparison to his behemoth father Stoick (Gerard Butler). The massively strong Stoick rules the village, and is quite ashamed of his hapless son. This is the main reason Hiccup desperately tries to kill the perceived most dangerous dragon: the Night Fury.

When Hiccup actually captures his Night Fury, he finds that he cannot kill the dragon, and ends up becoming its unlikely companion. He learns that everything he knows about dragons is wrong.

You will fall for Hiccup’s character, getting emotionally entangled with his story, as well as the strained relationship between father and son. Hiccup’s character is quite inspiring, and delivers messages of hope, unity, acceptance and friendship. He also teaches us to challenge universal (or communal) truths, to think outside of the box and to stand up for what you believe in.

Bucharel does an excellent job at giving Hiccup a voice. His voice brought out the weak and wimpy side, but defiant and strong when needed. Butler’s brawny, Scottish accent idyllically fit the character of Stoick. Hiccup’s tough-chick crush Astrid was suprisingly done well by America Ferrera. Jonah Hill as Snotlout and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin from “Superbad”) added to the brilliance of the cast.

The non-talking dragons were also as intriguing as the talking Vikings. There were a variety of funny-looking, yet possibly ferocious-looking dragons, like the Gronckle. The colors of some dragons were vibrant, others were dark to represent evil. All throughout the picture, the animation was done very well. When Hiccup is riding on a dragon through the sky, the animation brings that flight to life, making you feel as if you are flying that fast and elegant, too (which may be a good or bad thing).

“How To Train Your Dragon” is a must-see for everyone; it’s not just for kids.

If you plan to eat out on a weekend, be sure to call ahead to make reservations; Hemenway’s is constantly packed to the point where they often do not have any tables available for walk-ins. You may have to call in advance, and you may have to wait to be seated even with a reservation, but the food and experience are well worth this slight inconvenience.

Do not worry if cars endlessly line the streets of the city, for Hemenway’s is located adjacent to a valet parking garage, with a door that leads to the front of the restaurant. After 5 p.m., parking there is free.

There are a few tables outside of the restaurant, making for a pleasant place to eat lunch at during the summer. The refined atmosphere is not at all off-putting, but quite welcoming, so long as you’re dressed in at least business casual attire.

Inside there are continual conversations flitting through the air, clusters of people at the raw oyster bar on the first level, and at the bar for booze elevated on the second level. Women dressed in fancy high-heel shoes and men sporting the finest ties congregate at the waterfall spilling over the lobster tanks. The ceaseless talking, however, can get too loud at times and drown out your own conversation.

A waiter, looking just as sharp as the customers, brings you a basket of fresh rolls with delicate butter. Any restaurant that provides free bread right when you arrive has already earned points. When the bread is as fresh and the butter is as soft as those of Hemenway’s, the points are doubled.

At a restaurant like this, you expect the menu to be small because each entrée and appetizer is cooked with fresh ingredients and precision. Seafood lovers and wine connoisseurs rejoice. The wine menu expands the entire back of the two-sided menu; and the wait staff can recommend the ultimate pairing of wine and fish to bring out exquisite flavors you never before tasted.

Many of the seafood choices have local flavor, such as the oysters hailing from Poppasquash, Rhode Island, and Welfleet, Massachusetts. You can try one for $2.75 from the oyster bar. The seafood that is not locally delivered flies in daily, so it tastes just as fresh.

These high standards are what make the food as delectable as it is.

Currently, the menu contains thirteen appetizer options, including beef carpaccio and sesame seared yellow fin tuna. If you want fresh seafood with a lot of flavor, get the clams casino. The stuffing and chopped piece of bacon atop the clam provide a perfect balance of textures and flavors: crunchy and chewy, savory and sweet.

Although the menu for entrées is one-sided, there are plenty of choices to satisfy any palate. From salads to simply fish, and from grilled meats to New England traditions, how do you decide what to try? To taste the freshest seafood around, go with something from the simply fish category.

The grilled mahi-mahi is idyllically cooked, capturing the freshness and that distinct fish flavor. The meat falls apart the second it touches your tongue, melting away slowly, so tenderly and delicately, allowing you to savor the aroma.

Each of these meals also comes with a salad and a side, which is a comforting thought after seeing the seemingly outrageous prices. The mahi-mahi is a flat $24. But even the sides are absolutely delicious. The red bliss smashed potatoes at Hemenway’s will become your new favorite. The smashed potatoes are so light and creamy, with a slight hint of infused butter. The soft texture is soundly balanced with the slight crunch of the red potato skins.

If you’re going to Hemenway’s, you have to brush financial worries aside for the evening. The description of the asiago halibut alone makes your mouth water, but the $30 price tag may steer you elsewhere. So, instead of going out to eat a few different times, go out once and go to Hemenway’s.

Located at 121 South Main Street, Hemenway’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar is open for lunch and dinner. Call ahead at 401-351-8570. Check out their website for further details http://www.hemenwaysrestaurant.com/ and to find out about private dining.

On Tuesday, April 13, rock-pop band The Spill Canvas released five-song EP titled “Realities.” This EP, although short, effectively demonstrates how the band has musically and emotionally matured over the years.

Hailing from South Dakota, The Spill Canvas is Nick Thomas (vocals, guitar), Joe Beck (drums), Dan Ludeman (guitar, vocals) and Landon Heil (bass).

Drummer Joe Beck expressed that the songs from their 2004 debut album “Sunsets & Car Crashes” were written when front-man Thomas was in high school. Then, the band members were completely different people from who they are now; therefore, their music has come a long way.

Beck explains that because you only live once, you always strive to push yourself to a further level, which is what the band has been doing where their music over the past eleven years. Pushing themselves has been important to them, Beck conveys.

“Realities” has a lighter tone and mood than past albums and songs, like “Black Dresses” of their first album. Beck explains that this EP is not so dark because it is a reflection of their lives, explaining “we have a lot more things to be happy about now.”

For “Realities,” the band had a goal of integrating different styles of music into the songs. They do so with a range of instruments from strings to flutes. In some songs, Beck explains, they are “digging back into old recording techniques,” and using inspiration from past bands, like Fleetwood Mac.

The Spill Canvas has been working, writing and recording “Realities” for the past year and half. Although it was “quite the project,” as Beck puts it, it was a fun process in which he and the others learned a lot.

The music video for the single, and arguably strongest of the five tracks, “Our Song” featured on MTV on April 14 and is now on the radio. “Our Song” is addicting from the first moment you hear Thomas’s heartfelt vocals. You become hooked to this song when Thomas sings, “when you look at me with your cinematic eyes, I wanna play the part, but I forget the lines.”

The upbeat music and up-tempo make the track fun and catchy. You’ll find yourself humming this song long after it’s over.

The lyrics depict the contrasted clichéd ideas of romance with the realities of love. The catchy chorus describes some clichés, with “We’ll never be strangers kissing in the pouring rain, chasing after your leaving train. But we know that’s not how our song goes. You’re a waitress in a cocktail bar, and I save you ’cause I’m a big rock star. But we both know that’s not how our song goes.”

To counteract those chick-flick images, the song continues with, “It goes like this: you didn’t like my friends and your mom didn’t trust me. I thought I was slick, but my moves were rusty…sorry if I wasn’t straight out of a movie.”

The video cleverly intertwines a couple rendered in grainy gray with the band as they rock out to this infectious song. The scenes of the couple allude to classic films, like “Say Anything,” that appropriately portray romantic clichés.

When asked how being on MTV has affected the band, either negatively or positively, Beck explains how many of their fans from the beginning have become detached; “they feel we’ve sold out.” This used to hurt the band members, but, fortunately, it no longer does.

But Beck makes expresses that they have not sold out at all. Getting their music on MTV is “an avenue to get our music out to as many” people as possible. Beck feels MTV hasn’t changed who the band is or the music that they write.

Although the band has experimented with different sounds since 2004, the changes come with the evolution of the band, not through MTV.

The other four tracks are “Dust Storm,” “Let Go,” “10,000 Midnights” and “Crash Course.” Each comes with its own hooky lines and tongue-twisting lyrics.

Beck and the band members hope listeners embrace “different ways of expression…whether it be love or addictions” through “Realities.” Beck feels the EP can show that “there’s hope, there is a lighter side of life that you have to grasp onto” and moving forward is a significant part of existence.

The band has just begun touring and will be coming to Cambridge on May 18. They are very excited to play in the Boston area with Tyler Hilton, AM Taxi and The New Politics. You can expect to hear a range of songs from every record.

Beck concludes by expressing that “music will always be in our lives…it’s too important to us” to ever fade. In the future, look for a full-length album. And, perhaps in years to come, some of the band members will move to the production side of the realm of music. Wherever the road takes them, The Spill Canvas and music will be a part of each member forever.

Check out the video for “Our Song” now and keep your ears open. You can order “Realities” from the band’s website, www.thespillcanvas.com, purchase it on iTunes or at one of their upcoming shows.

As a published playwright in New York City, Szymkowicz has written the following plays, Pretty Theft, Nerve, Food for Fish, Deflowering Waldo, Hearts like Fists, Herbie, Poet of the Wild West, Incendiary, Elsewhere, Fat Cat Killers.

Szymkowicz has a blog where he interviews playwrights. For more information on Adam Szymkowicz http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/.

Adam Szymkowicz formal education includes: Playwrights diploma from the Juilliard’s School, Playwriting , 2005 — 2007; An MFA from Columbia University New York where he was the Dean’s Fellow, Playwriting , 2001 — 2004; and a BA from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he was a Commonwealth Scholar, Writing/Drama , 1995 — 1999

This event is sponsored by the UMass Dartmouth Cultural Affairs Committee, English Department, and the Literary Society. For more information call James Marlow at 508.999.8306.

On Tuesday March 3, a wee morning hour break to a 12 inch water main underneath the Chestnut residence hall that sent water flowing down the steps in between it and adjacent Roberts left Chestnut, Roberts, and Maple Ridge without running water for five hours between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The break, due to age, impelled Director of Facilities Dave Ferguson to shut off water to the three dormitories to minimize damage and speed up the repair effort, which was considered concluded after residual water was flushed, and the supply “reenergized,” around 2 p.m.

Students who live on the quad have the existence of an on-call facilities manager, the diligence of Chestnut staff, and Chestnut residents themselves to thank for the speed of repair. Lucinda Poudrier-Aaronson, Director of Housing, believed it was a student who announced the break to their RD, who called the facilities manager, who then called Ferguson, at 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Poudrier-Aaronson got a call seven Tuesday morning pertaining to the break, and once water was turned off, alerted residents in the affected buildings via email that they would have no water until 5 p.m., allowing Facilities leeway in its diligence it needed not to take.

Caroline Munger, a Chestnut resident, reported receiving the email and seeing trucks on scene shortly thereafter, the speed of response an endorsement of the reporting structure between Facilities and Housing.

The timing of the break spared her and her fellow residents the inconvenience of being without water. Most residents were without water for only two hours from the time they rose at noon, in typical college fashion.

The timing also mitigated the fact that the guest privilege suspension active in Elmwood, the only building with water, was not relaxed. Asked why, Poudrier-Aaronson said that relaxing the suspension would have been frivolous because desk attendants do not come on to enforce suspensions until 6, an hour after the repair was scheduled to conclude.

Age, the main factor in this incident, is a quality of most University piping. The main that broke had pushed forty years. It was installed during the University’s first phase of construction when UMass Dartmouth became the first university constructed entirely in Brutalist style.

Because mains can go much longer, there are no plans to replace the piping underneath the quad as part of the planned renovations to our four oldest dormitories. “We don’t go digging to replace them,” said Poudrier-Aaronson, alluding that costs would far outweigh the benefits. The same pipes, notes Ferguson, have benefitted the city of Boston for a century and a half.

“Nip/Tuck” has challenged audiences – and the ratings system – for six incredible seasons, along with its “Final Nine.”

The FX hit show reached its pinnacle in the fifth season, and probably should have ended there; but they kept going, they kept writing, and they kept the creativity flowing. The show, without a doubt, lost much of its original flare after the fifth season, but “Nip/Tuck” fans couldn’t be more thrilled to have the season return.

Quite simply, the show is a guilty pleasure. Like chocolate cake at midnight. You just cannot stop watching. And I must admit that I was upset to hear the show was ending its run. Four episodes remain, including the series finale, and I am counting down until the day my favorite television show goes off the air. Counting down because, well, what will ever be able to replace this addiction? I can’t wait to see how it ends, though I will be rather upset to see it gone.

This season has consisted of ups and downs in all areas, and, with every down, Sean (Dylan Walsh) and Christian’s (Julian McMahon) lives get a little messier, a little crazier, a little sexier, and a lot harder.

As the “Final Nine” unravels, Christian’s long, drawn-out frustration, which has been building up for a whole decade, toward his best friend and partner Christian begins to explode. He resents Christian for ruining his shot at Harvard. He can’t stand Christian for treating others so poorly. A few times, Sean decides to leave the practice and do something more meaningful and humanitarian, by his standards, with his talented surgeon skills. Of course, a sexy woman gets in the way and Sean’s plans to travel to Africa to help the needy there fail.

Christian still cannot make up his mind about Kimber, but he knows one thing: “no babies.” The two are so wrong for one another that they are absolutely perfect as a newly, and finally, married couple. But, as always, their relationship hits a rough patch, and becomes incredibly detached and strained. Kimber even fakes an orgasm! Yeah, Christian was pretty pissed.

And, what would “Nip/Tuck” be without cheating and lies? Kimber and Sean fall into a sex-driven adulterous relationship. It ends just before Kimber commits suicide by jumping off Mike’s (“Saved By the Bell’s Mario Lopez) yacht. I must say that I miss Kimber. At times, I couldn’t decide whether I hated her or loved her; in the end, I know I have loved her. Her character was so well-rounded, with all her perfections and flaws battling one another. Beautiful on the outside, ruined on the inside. And that’s the last we’ve seen of scrumptious Mario Lopez, always parading with his shirt off, abs rippling. He fit his role well.

Speaking of characters gone astray, where is Wilbur through all of this? And Jenna, who you only see maybe once? The little ones seem to be forgotten. Though they wouldn’t add much to the series, they are a part of it, and it is a put-off to see them simply written out of the scripts without so much as a one-line explanation.

Matt has been living life on a clean slate now, something new for him. After his odd mime phase, the writers might have agreed to give him less of a prominent role, for the mime days were too strange, even for Matt.

Julia is too be missed as well. But rumor has it that she will return for the closure to deliver shocking information about Annie and Connor (Sean’s other two children).

The cinematography is as great as ever. The lines are clever. The stories of the patients who visit MacNamara/Troy are as both touching and strange as always, with each tale tying into the lives of the main characters in a beautifully haunting way.

A huge downfall is, well, less sex and provocative scenes in “Nip/Tuck”. Fans of the show love those down-right dirty scenes. Christian bending a patient over his desk, for example. Although there has been some sexy lines and scenes, the last season and the last few episodes do not live up to the show’s reputation. Not even close. Where is that “Nip/Tuck” fire? Where is the passion, or the lack-of (in Christian’s case)? Where is Christian snorting cocaine off Kimber’s ass? Where is Julia turning lesbian, but not getting off from her female lover? Where is Christian and Kimber going to a swinger’s bash and Kimber getting into an all-female threesome to turn on her lover? They all live on DVD, if you can afford it.

If you’re a “Nip/Tuck” guru, keep up with the final four episodes. What ending do you predict? It seems Christian has to die, because what the hell will he do after their practice ends? Other than be a 45-year-old trying to get with 21-year-olds?; or, perhaps, Sean, with his huge heart, will die for the man who he both hates and loves. Maybe there won’t be any more deaths. Maybe they will all live happily ever after. Doubt it. That is not Nip/Tuck-ish. Something shocking, totally surprising, and completely… weird… must happen.

And I sure cannot wait to find out how my favorite series, a huge FX hit, ends its successful era.

But with a mastermind romantic like Sparks, John Tyree and Savannah Lynn Curtis meet, fall in love, and fall apart in a captivating and, of course, heartbreaking tale.

Sparks has opened up the hearts of millions, giving them the sheer belief in true love. His knack for transcending love of the most unattainable into the completely tangible is outstanding. Luckily, several of his heartrending stories have been brought to life via the big screen.This Friday, January 5, “Dear John” will become another major motion picture that started as just a vision in the lovesick mind of Sparks.While “Dear John” resembles “The Notebook” in summary (two young individuals meet in the summer in North Carolina, and are torn apart for inevitable reasons, but stay in touch through written letters), John and Savannah’s story stands as its own.

Unfortunately, this book was written post-Notebook, so it will constantly be compared to the story of Noah and Allie. If Sparks had written “Dear John” first, the book would be worth so much more because it is, ultimately, a far better written novel. The main characters are well-rounded and believable, including John’s autistic father and Savannah’s humble friend, Tim. The emotions exhibited by the characters are written in a way that makes readers get on the same level with them and feel what they feel. Love, passion, fidelity. Jealousy, melancholy, frustration.

The novel is told in the first-person from the perspective of John. It is written as if he were talking directly to the reader, like a conversation of sorts. He speaks in the present tense in the year 2006, letting readers know that he and Savannah are no more, and it was he who ended it. To find out their story and why it had to end, one must read on.

The story plunges into Part I of the book, set in North Carolina during the year 2000. John gives background information about his life, especially about his relationship with his coin-collecting father. Then he recaps how he met Savannah in entrancing detail while on his yearly break from the infantry. Where their story begins is unexpected, yet quite charming. Soon, the growing love between the two feels so real that it becomes challenging to put the novel down.“Dear John” is an easy read with a steady pace that quickens and slows at just the right parts. The pace is controlled with both summaries and scenes, some blooming with detail.

John’s vivid descriptions of Savannah’s characteristics, like the way she laughs and elusively smiles, are touching and relatable. Many can either relate to that otherworldly romance that leaves both partners positively changed. Also many can relate to having a loved one in the army.

After a short two weeks, Savannah and John have sculpted a love that some take a lifetime to master. And then John is sent back to his base in Germany. The lovers learn of distance and patience, of ever-growing affection and how the heart is powerful enough to transform the soul.Before John leaves, he promises he will come back to wherever Savannah is during his next break from the army. He promises to marry her. She vows to wait for him, and that she does. But she cannot wait forever.

Become indulged in the story of John and Savannah. Learn to love and let love go through their tale that is heartbreaking, yet utterly uplifting. And if you have already read or seen “The Notebook,” put the story of those two lovers behind.

A fan of the book “Dear John” can only wonder how it will stand as a major motion picture. Will the beauty and emotion felt while reading the novel be properly delivered in theaters? Will critics just bash Sparks for seemingly lacking in the creative department? It is sure to be a sappy romance that is perfect for dates. But it will also offer universal-like themes that all can benefit from. Anyone who gravitates toward novels overflowing with smiles and tears should pick up “Dear John,” as it sure to leave an imprint before reaching the conclusion.