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Working with chemicals in an enclosed environment poses several safety risks. One of the most prevalent safety risks present in a laboratory is the inhalation of toxic fumes. When chemicals are inhaled, they can have numerous negative effects, such as eye, nose, and throat irritation. Depending on the quantity and type of chemical used, the potential impact of exposure...
When it comes to a truck, there are many things you can do to help it look its best. Whether you are buying a new truck or altering one you have had for a while, you can do a lot to make it shine the way you want. The simplest way to do this is to install aftermarket modifications...
By Haley Hersey, Staff Writer
Fourth-year English major with a K-8 pathway in education, Kacey Foerster, has been conducting research on the effects of reading to Alzheimer patients, due to having been nominated for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Being a part of the UROP allows Foerster to conduct official research with funding and a faculty mentor.
Kacey Foerster’s grandfather...
Byline : Kayley Weeks / Staff Writer
Over the years, black students at USM have been forced to make their own safe spaces, and nobody has commended them for their leadership, activism, and organization efforts. “Instead we were demonized. We were told that we were too much. We were told we were too loud. We were told that we were...
The new year is here. How is everyone feeling? While resolutions are all good and well, sticking to fresh patterns, ambitions, or techniques to improve our lives can be demanding. As a college student, the difficulty of maintaining and achieving goals lies in the pressure to continually create success for the future. Don’t let the weight of society’s or...
Byline : Kayley Weeks / Staff Writer
Dana Casey has been able to draw since the day she first picked up a pencil. Drawing has always been a part of her life. “I do not remember a time that I was not interested in art,” says Casey. Her interest in art really solidified during high school when she took a...
Let’s face it—not everyone can be a people person. As good as collaboration and interpersonal skills look on a resume, they’re not always going to be your biggest strengths. That’s okay! It’s important to find a career that matches your skillset and helps you feel satisfied and fulfilled at the end of the day. For some people, that might...
By Haley Hersey, Staff Writer
COVID-19 continues to present new academic challenges and difficulties for students, especially students at USM. The pandemic resulted in modalities of classes to change from how they were originally posted when students signed up for classes. For many, the new modalities of their classes were not compatible with their learning styles. The switch to Zoom...
As you complete your college education, you should be beginning to amass an impressive personal library—one you should continue to build throughout your life. But having a full complement of books isn’t as simple as buying them, shelving them, and otherwise leaving them alone. You’ll need to do basic upkeep for most of your books, along with some specific...
By: Amelia Bodge, Staff Writer
For just about everyone wearing either a mask or face covering has become a part of their daily lives and has become the easiest way for people to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Along with these newfound accessories though comes many questions. Which is better reusable fabric masks or disposable? How often should...
By Lydia Simmons / Staff Writer
Socializing during this pandemic is something that many people have struggled with in a time when it’s required, and safer, to interact from a distance. For greek life at USM, socializing and making in person connections is a big part of the process. In the time of Covid-19 creativity and the internet have...
By Kayley Weeks / Staff Writer
Olivia Richmond is currently a junior at the University of Southern Maine. She is studying Art Education with a double concentration in Painting/Drawing and Ceramics. Richmond is from a small farm town in central Maine called Jefferson. She is a residential student, but has recently made the switch to remote learning for the holiday...
By Haley Hersey, Staff Writer
Martin’s Point Health Care has recently donated $5,000 to the University of Southern Maine, which was used to open a food pantry on the Gorham campus, states a press release from USM’s Office of Public Affairs. The initial closure of campus due to COVID-19 inspired Martin’s Point to donate a total of $20,000 to be...
While you’re attending college, you may already feel the weight of your student loans and worry about how you’ll afford to pay them off. If you have extra money at the end of the month, whether from your work-study job or another part-time job, putting a little toward your impending loans may cross your mind. The answer will vary...
Right now, it’s nearly impossible to plan for life after college—or even over break. So, keep all your options open before you’re required to “adult” full-time. One possibility is the “skoolie” lifestyle trend. More individualists are converting buses for on-the-road travel and adventure. The increasingly popular reasons to live on a school bus make it perfect for the young...
By: Emma J. Walsh, Staff Writer
The Elliotsville Foundation recently returned 735 acres of ancestral land to the Penobscot Nation. The land includes the sacred headwaters of the Pleasant River, which is a tributary to the Penobscot River. The surrounding acres of this land is already owned by the Penobscot Tribe.
The Elliotsville Foundation was created by the family of Roxanne...
No matter what type of home you have, you may not have enough window space. Construction in some decades didn’t emphasize natural light the way modern construction does. Most people are familiar with the benefits of natural light in a home, but not everyone has the luxury of living in a place with sufficient window space.
People who love plants...
By Haley Hersey, Staff Writer
On a local and national level, the 2020 election was full of controversies and high stakes for many. Deciding whether or not to vote in any election is an important decision. Voting is a right of every United States citizen, but it is also the civic duty of citizens to vote. After Joe Biden was...
The Free Press wishes everyone a safe and healthy Thanksgiving this year! You can read more about what will be on our holiday menus here. While this year families might do zoom calls and smaller gatherings, the traditions of asking about the current, watching movies and football, are still alive.
Take a walk down memory lane as The Free Press...
Happy Thanksgiving, this year we have to be extra grateful for what we have, and for those, we surround ourselves with. In this new normal of socially distant meals, we are relying on smaller dinner parties and more facetime calls. Staying in touch with those you care about and checking in to let them know they are loved. USM...
Harsh winter weather is just around the corner. For many students, this may be your first time owning and caring for a car in the winter. To keep your vehicle running smoothly during the change of seasons, consider what car maintenance you should do before winter strikes.
Check Your Lights
As winter approaches, the sun starts to set earlier in the...
By Kayley Weeks / Staff Writer
Emily Colby is a senior at the University of Southern Maine. Her major is Health Science with a minor in Fine Arts. She plans to attend graduate school to further her education after her graduation this spring. Colby is from Lunenburg, Vermont and she is currently residing on campus at USM.
Her art career stems...
By: Lydia Simmons / Staff Writer
In a world where people are feeling more distant than ever, especially in the age of Covid-19, there is a growing need to connect with others in our communities and beyond. Each person has their own individual stories, a series of key moments that have shaped them into the people they are today.
It’s...
By : Sophia Sturdee / Staff Writer
The University Theatre Department offers a variety of courses for theatre and dance majors, and those that are interested in learning more about the performing arts. Many of their programs are largely hands-on and experiential. They learn through dancing, acting, singing and producing. Many things that take in person classes. These courses...
