Dear Future USM Alumni:
Welcome to the University of Southern Maine! This is a phrase you will hear a lot throughout your first couple weeks on campus. I could not be more sincere when I tell you how excited we are that you chose to pursue your higher education here at USM. I hope your time here is not only productive, but enjoyable as well.
As you go through orientation, take notice of all of the fun opportunities that are available here at USM through involvement. Whether you become a member of a student group, a part of the Student Government, go Greek, play sports, write for the Free Press, get involved with WMPG or the Gorham and/or Portland Events Board or even study abroad, you will find that the opportunities are endless.
I would like to take a moment to update you about a brand new way for you to get involved at USM. Through a referendum vote in last year’s student government elections, the executive branch headed by the student body president was created as a separate and equal branch of student government. From now on the student government will no longer be limited to the 21 members of the senate and a single student body president. This provides me with the opportunity to get many more students involved in student affairs and student life within the student government and within the university as well.
With this in mind, I am creating a cabinet of students who will be seated on university administration committees. These committees are responsible for the planning and organizing of university projects, programs and departments. It’s an amazing opportunity for students to meet and talk with university administrators, at the same time representing the interests of USM students in their respective committees. Monthly meetings of the cabinet will take place to get the pulse of what’s happening on campus and to strategize and plan student action. This is an unprecedented opportunity for students to have a significant impact on student life at the University of Southern Maine.
More opportunities to get involved with event planning, such as the 2008 edition of last year’s wildly successful Black and White formal will become available in the coming months. Keep tuned to the Free Press and bulletin boards around campus to keep up with the many opportunities to make this school year a success in and out of the classroom. For more information about these opportunities please e-mail me at [email protected].
Once again, allow me to say welcome to the University of Southern Maine, and I hope to see you out there making the best of your college education.
All the best,
AJ Chalifour
Student Body President