Jonah Lehrer’s scandal sparks debate on how journalists should deal with plagiarizers
Posted on February 20, 2013 by Noah Hurowitz in Perspectives
“Purposeful plagiarism is one of the cardinal sins of journalism from which reporters can never recover their credibility,” wrote Al Hunt, then the Wall Street Journal D.C. bureau chief, in a 1991 editorial. “There is no statute of limitations on that judgement.” The issue of how to deal with plagiarizers seems to be a perennial [...]
Former Free Press News Editor reflects on his time abroad
Posted on December 04, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in Perspectives
It’s 2 a.m. as I write this, procrastinating from writing a 40-page research paper due in 48 hours. This predicament is all too familiar, but the context in which I’m currently disrupting my already disrupted sleep schedule is totally foreign –– like, actually. Usually, I’d go eat some late night or early morning bacon at [...]
University system chancellor visits Portland campus in wake of no-confidence vote
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
University of Maine System Chancellor James Page pledged his support Thursday in helping the University of Southern Maine move on from the recent controversy surrounding a no-confidence vote in USM President Selma Botman. “Everyone I’ve talked to is driven by a desire to see a better University of Southern Maine and a better place for the [...]
Over half of faculty voted no confidence in President Botman
Posted on May 02, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
Over half of all faculty at the University of Southern Maine cast votes saying they don’t have confidence in USM President Selma Botman. The vote needed a two-thirds majority to pass and be considered the will of the faculty. But with a voter turnout of about 75 percent, over 68 percent of faculty who voted [...]
Voting closed for no-confidence vote, awaiting results
Posted on May 02, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
Voting closed at 4 p.m. today for the faculty-wide vote of no confidence in University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman with results set to be announced later tonight. Faculty began casting their ballots yesterday at locations in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston. Ronald Schmidt, a professor of political science and the media contact for the Faculty [...]
Results of no-confidence vote expected tonight
Posted on May 02, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
The results of the faculty-wide vote of no confidence in University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman will continue today, with results expected this evening. The referendum was triggered by a petition signed by 53 senior faculty and given to Botman and the Faculty Senate April 4. Any petition receiving signatures from more than 10 [...]
Multicultural students to observe graduation with community celebration
Posted on April 30, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
Multicultural students graduating from the University of Southern Maine, Southern Maine Community College and the University of New England will have quite a send-off at the 12th annual multicultural student graduation ceremony Tuesday evening. The USM Office of Multicultural Student Affairs is organizing the celebration, which will include food and by students and artists from [...]
Hurowitz: Let something (positive) take over your life
Posted on April 30, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in Perspectives, Uncategorized
I’d like to think The Free Press has made me a better writer than to utter overused sentiments, so I won’t call this last production day at The Free Press “bittersweet.” I’ll just say I’m psyched to be taking a break from spending two full days every weekend in front of a computer, but I [...]
Botman addresses faculty criticism, urges university to move forward
Posted on April 22, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News, Uncategorized
University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman reached out in an email to members of the USM community Tuesday, addressing the recent criticism of her from faculty and highlighting a number initiatives the university is undertaking to increase enrollment. Botman wrote that her commitment, her management style and the decisions she’s made in her tenure [...]
Some faculty accuse committee organizing no-confidence vote of bias
Posted on April 15, 2012 by Noah Hurowitz in News
A faculty vote of no confidence in University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman is tentatively scheduled for the end of this month, but some faculty members have raised concerns over the neutrality of the committee organizing the vote, as well as the process.







