Parking peeves
To the Editor:
The parking garage has made more parking available but there are still problems that need attention.
Spaces in the lot between the campus center and Masterton are at a premium. The garage seems to have replaced the Marginal Way parking lot and the bus ride as a last resort for a lot of us. Too many people are parking across two spaces, in some cases deliberately. Most cars I’ve seen taking more than one space are new, expensive, or have been repainted. This morning (March 8) I had to park in the garage because four cars were parked improperly in the lot in front of Woodbury. There is no snow to obscure the lines. The drivers of those vehicles took two spaces out of selfishness. It happens a lot.
On one occasion, I stopped at the USM police station and received a deaf ear from an officer who obviously didn’t want to be bothered.
I am calling on the University to ticket and tow cars belonging to students that are parked in multiple spaces at times that the lines are not covered with snow. I hope other people let the administration know that they want something done.
Another issue is being required to use our USM cards to exit the garage causing traffic backups at times. It is unnecessary to require each driver exiting to swipe their card.
John Plestina
Media Studies major
Nursing enrollment
To the Editor:
Earlier this month, the Free Press reported that the USM College of Nursing and Health Professions proposed to cut enrollments 50 percent within the next three years (“Nursing college cuts enrollment,” 3/1/04).
The campus community should know that we’ve since approved a new proposal that will rely on internal reallocations, increased admission standards, and a focus on alternative nursing education programs (e.g. our accelerated 15-month program) to minimize the impact on enrollments.
More important, this proposal will increase the number of graduates who, in turn, are well-qualified to enter the nursing workforce. In the current academic year, we will award degrees to 109 students, compared to 59 in the 1999-2000 academic year. In each of the next four years, we project anywhere from 130 to 173 graduates, or an average of 150 per year from our programs on the Portland campus and at Lewiston-Auburn College.
It’s important to note, however, that continued fiscal constraints will mean that we simply will not be able to sustain current enrollment levels over the long term and assure a quality learning experience. By the 2007-2008 academic year, we project that the number of graduates will level out at 130, about 20 graduates more than the current level.
We’ll continue to advocate aggressively within the State to increase funding for nursing education in Maine and at USM. If additional resources become available, we will be able to increase the number of students enrolled.
USM’s nursing education program, like many across Maine and the nation– is struggling with increased demand (534 majors in ’99, 784 currently), fiscal and space constraints, and a faculty shortage.
Despite those challenges, it’s clear that as a pubic institution, we have a responsibility to meet the health care needs of Maine by developing a well-educated nursing workforce.
Jane Kirschling
Dean and Professor of Nursing
USM College of Nursing and Health Professions
“Schlock and awful” attack artist
To the Editor
Well, once again Dan Goldstein has made unsubstantiated claims about President Bush without even so much as an attempt at providing sources or proof. He is a shock attack artist at his prime, a perfect liberal spokesperson though because liberals never need to give proof when attacking a conservative.
As to his claims about Bush’s stance on corporate crime, he says that Ken Lay is one of Bush’s closest friends. I’m curious if he asked President Bush who his closest friends are and whether Ken Lay is one of them. Even Ken Lay is expected to receive charges as the investigation continues.
As to the contributions, I will not deny that Enron contributed to the Bush campaign but when you look at Kerry look at the companies that profited heavily off the corrupt Big Dig. They are all Kerry contributors. He voted not to reign in the rampant corruption of that project.
As to the environment, this of course is an ideological dispute. There needs to be a balance between business and the environment, we can’t destroy either. Most of these international environmental treaties Dan speaks of would have devastated our industries. I guess the Democrats really don’t care then if Americans are out of work.
The truth about the Patriot act is that unless you have some tie to a terrorist organization or reasonable cause for the government to investigate you, you have no reason to worry. We are not living in a big brother system yet, but if Kerry is elected we will be much closer to that world. Democrats are renowned for increasing government in all aspects of life.
Dan, I challenge you to provide sources and begin using substantiated claims against President Bush rather than far left rhetoric that has never been proven.
Oh yeah, by the way. VOTE NADER!!!!!
Jonathan Read
Chair of the USM College Republicans
Dazed and Confused
To the Editor:
I am not typically the type of person who writes letters to the editorial. However, upon viewing the Free Press this past Tuesday, I felt compelled to voice my opinion on an article which stirred my curiosity. Sometimes things happen in life and you have to take a step back and say to yourself, “what the #%$! is going on here?”
My eye caught the article because of a plant-derived diesel fuel. Upon further investigation, I learned there is going to be a vote that the students can choose whether they want to pay an extra $1 per semester to switch to a fuel which causes less pollution and helps the environment.
I then proceeded to investigate how much my activity fees were for this semester: $162 for a unified student fee, $40 for a student health fee, $65 for a transportation fee, and $13 for a student activity fee, for a grand total of $280. Where was the vote for these fees?
I am so glad that I am finally able to voice my opinion via a ballot over the $1 bio-fuel debate. Does this situation seem weird to anybody else? Without knowing too much about the internal workings of a diesel bio-fuel bus, it seems like it is a pretty good idea which helps the environment, and an increase in fees from $280 to $281, seems like a no-brainer.
As a side note, in the article about tripling fundraising profits, the girl states that while baking for the fundraisers, she could have been writing papers. Is this a good thing? Sometimes you just have to take a step back and say to yourself, “what the #%$! Is going on here?”
Michael Fraser
Graduate Student Computer Science
Trash it
To the Editor:
Enough with the “comics”! Not funny! Not necessary! Not appreciated! If the “artist” has a reason for this “humor” then I think that he will find it is being wasted on an unappreciative audience. You have pushed the limit on freedom of the press and should not continue to run this type of garbage.
Larry Ricker
Supervisor, Facilities Management
Reality check
To the Editor:
I read Dan’s “perspective” piece on Ralph Nader with great interest. I have, however, a couple of questions and a suggestion. Claiming that Nader spoiled Gore’s victory in 2000, Dan wrote: “Though Nader didn’t gather five percent of the vote, his voter support could have changed the result of the election had they been cast for Gore.” Thus, he concluded, Nader shouldn’t run; and, if he does, you are “taking a blood oath of vengeance upon him.” Dan is right. If Nader supporters had voted for Gore, the Democrats would have won the last election, but since when can one party claim the votes of another party? If the logic here is that we, the voters, should give up our votes to help the non-incumbent party to win the election, don’t you think it would make sense to ask Bush and the Republicans not to run this time. That would assure the Democrats’ victory.
Dusan Bjelic
Criminology
Biodiesel-good stuff
To the Editor:
I would like to encourage the USM community to vote Yes on the
biodiesel referendum question this week. As we elect Student Senators and
consider raising the Student Activity Fee, we can also make a definitive
statement about our university’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier, more
sustainable future.
For the price of $1 per student, per year, USM’s bus fleet can be
fueled with a 20 percent blend of biodiesel and traditional fossil fuel, a mixture called B20. Will B20 alone solve our country’s health, pollution, and national security concerns? No, of course not, but it’s an achievable first step that will help build a local market for biodiesel and promote the
development of other energy technologies.
An ecologically sound society is possible. However, we have to grow it ourselves through small decisions like this one. Once again, I encourage all students to consider voting Yes this week.
Sam Frankel
Sophomore, Psychology
Referenda rundown
To the Editor:
There are two referendum questions on the ballet this time around. First the bus bio-diesel issue. In brief, it is a one dollar proposal for a cleaner and healthier USM community. That buck is further spread out over an entire year, so it is less then a third of a cent a day. Please vote Yes.
You will also be voting on the Student Activity Fee referendum question. A full time student pays $39 a semester for the activity fee. Here’s the crux, it has been seven years since the last increase of the Student Activity Fee, and we have more participation now then ever. Same money and more active students; think about that for a second. Conclusion: Student funding is stale, big time.
We propose to tie the Student Activity Fee to economic inflation. This will keep our money’s value fresh and cost only about two dollars and fifty cents a year. Further, to create the monies needed NOW this proposal will also raise the fee one time by about $6 for a full-time student and even less for those students under twelve credits. So that is six bucks this year and $2.50 in the years to come.
Remember, your Student Activity Fee goes to a hell of a lot of people and you are probably one of them. Here are some examples: The Free Press (see item now clutched) gets about 50 percent of its funding from the Student Activity Fee, as does WMPG (check airwaves at 90.9 and 104.1fm). Here are some more examples: Gorham and Portland Events Board (like you don’t know Joe Frechette), Words & Images (a literary and visual arts magazine) and the Board of Student Organizations (as in all campus student groups).
The Student Senate, who oversees all of these entities, doles out the Student Activity Fee. In the process earmarking money to fund things like the Thinking Matters research conference, student scholarships for Childcare Services, a student health outreach program to the Dominican Republic, Student Legal Services, the USM Navigator and Welcome Week.
*So that is an urgently needed $6 now, and $2.50 later*
Finally, if you still feel you don’t know enough about the issues, go to the polls anyway. Plenty of people will be there to answer your questions. It is your humble duty to make your voice heard. In the mean time, bone up on this edition of The Free Press, where all issues are more deeply revealed.
Oh yeah, Student Senate elections are on the ballet too ; )
Sarah (I’ll be at the booths) Hines and Joshua Force
Student Activity Fee Ad-Hoc Committee Members
Rallying the pro-choicers
To the Editor:
The abortion debate has always been a hot issue, and while abortion is legal, it is not ensured to stay that way. South Carolina has made drastic court rulings that now define the fetus a viable human being. The House has recently passed the “Unborn Victims of Violence Act,” an act aimed to protect the rights of a fetus in murder cases. The Bush administration has passed the partial birth abortion ban law. What is a partial birth abortion anyway? The law fails to define it. Even more shocking, South Dakota has just passed a bill making abortion illegal. The governor of that state intends to sign it. One day we may read the morning paper and find that our right to choose is gone. Will you remain silent, or speak up?
April 25 is your day to speak up. The March For Women’s Lives, a national event, co-sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation; NARAL Pro-Choice America; NOW; and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America will take place on this day. We will march on Washington, proclaiming our right to choose with an estimated 1.5 million supporters, making this what will be the largest demonstration in American history.
Since October the Women’s Studies Student Organization has been planning and fundraising in hopes to send a delegation of students to march in D.C. While the tickets cost $50 from Planned Parenthood, thanks to the Board of Student Organizations, your Student Activities Fee and help from the USM community, ticket costs were reduced to $10 per person.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 Mainers are expected to make the trip to Washington, D.C.
USM will be sending over 80 students on Planned Parenthood buses to attend this march. This number is quite possibly much higher because it does not include those students that have made arrangements on their own. Thus far, USM has the largest delegation of students in Maine attending this march.
If you are not able to attend the march but wish to help, you can support our fundraisers by buying baked goods, donate money, or volunteer your time. For more information, please contact Erin Brown at [email protected] or go to www.ppnne.org/march.
If you want to make a difference and get a deal on your bus ticket volunteer with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Call Laura Harper at 1-800-854-9762 x 103 today!
Erin Brown
Senior Women’s Studies and Criminology
SAF double-take
To the Editor:
Christy McKinnon’s editorial, placed squarely in the news section of the paper (at least online), uncovers some fatal flaws of the move to increase the already hefty student activity fee.
USM has always suffered from low participation. Reasons vary but the results are such that those that do want to get involved, are placed in an incredible position of options and opportunities. It only takes a handful of students to make a difference. Good for the student, bad for the system…
Christy’s editorial makes it clear that the push for an increase in the student activity fee, comes not from the Student Senate, the elected voice of the students, but of the SCB, the watchdog of the FREE PRESS and WMPG.
The current system is set up in place as is for two reasons. One, to make it hard to take funding from the FREE PRESS and WMPG. It’s not impossible, but safeguards are in place to prevent using the budget to punish FREE PRESS for it’s opinions and to punish WMPG for excluding student programming.
The balance is that there are safeguards in place to make it hard to raise the Activity Fee simply because it is a hard tax on the students, most of who do not use the things that the student activity fee provides. I can’t imagine a world where my federal taxes were set to the rate of inflation, where my representatives did not have a chance to alter and adjust. Student Senators and the SCB deserve the same chance. If there needs to be an increase, then put the process in place and let there be debate. The process proposed seems too much like a free ticket for the SCB.
Christy’s attack on the Senate should not go unnoticed. If the Activity Fee is only being pushed by the SCB and only two students, maybe it isn’t a project worth advocating. The SCB and the Senate would better serve the students they represent to look at how spending is conducted now and see where cuts could be made.
Erik Reynolds
Alumni, 1998
Webmaster’s note: The posting of Ms. McKinnon’s editorial in the “News” section of the website was an error. My apologies.