Racin’ Rodney
He’s at it again.
Rodney Mondor, assistant director of Student Involvement and Greek Affairs is about to embark on another international trek.
He left yesterday for Montreal’s Olympic Park, the starting place for this year’s Canada to U.S. AIDS Vaccine Ride.
Over 3,000 riders will travel 400 miles by bike, passing several states before reaching their final destination of Portland.
They leave Tuesday and arrive at 4 p.m. Sunday in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park.
It’s Mondor’s fifth AIDS ride in as many years.
He joins 38 other Maine riders who he’s been training with over the summer. Each of the riders raised a minimum of $3,400 to be used for AIDS research.
Mondor has participated in several long-distance bike rides in different parts of North America.
Parking fees on the rise
In order to cover rising operation costs, the University has raised the price of parking decals and parking fines.
Effective this semester, parking decals will cost $35 a year, a raise of $10 from last year. A one-semester decal went up $5 from last year, and will now cost $20.
“The good news is that a decal for parking in the Marginal Way lot (in Portland) will now be free,” wrote Chief Lisa Beecher.
All parking ticket fines will cost $25 per violation now. It used to cost only $10.
Parking violations for unauthorized parking in a handicap area, blocking a fire hydrant and impeding snow removal will still cost $50.
The costs associated with all of USM’s parking operations are met by revenue from three sources: the sale of parking decals, money collected from parking meters and parking fines.
Police rental costs heightened
Since July of 1999 USM police officers have been available for hire. Now, due to increased operating costs, those officers will cost event coordinators a little more money.
Effective this semester, each officer hired for a special event will cost $40 an hour, with a three-hour minimum length of time. Each public safety assistant will cost $15 an hour, also with a three-hour minimum hiring length.
Welcome Portland students
The Portland campus will have a number of events and vendors available to students the first week of school.
On Tuesday Sept. 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. the parking lots will be filled with coffee and pastries during the Husky Welcome Street Fair. About 20 vendors will also be available to supply students with back-to-school needs from linens to checking accounts. WMPG will provide the music.
On Wednesday Sept. 5, the street fair continues from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and then again from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. Gorham Student Life will host “R” rated hypnotist Frank Santos in Woodbury Campus Center, and from 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. there’ll be a Husky Welcome Back Dance deejayed by WFNX radio. Refreshments will be provided.
On Thursday Sept. 6, come get a piece of the BBQ during the Husky Pride Fest. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the lawn between Luther Bonney and Payson Smith halls, a free barbecue will be served. Events like sumo wrestling, rock climbing and dunk tanks will be spread out. And an accompanying organization and department fair will be held to let people know what USM has to offer. Strange Pleasure, LOKI and Sly-Chi will provide entertainment.