Roya Hejabian prepares for commencement
Posted on April 29, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Roya Hejabian will be celebrating the completion of her third degree, a master’s in social work, when she speaks at USM’s afternoon commencement session this year. Hejabian was the first of her family to escape Iran as a religious refugee. After gaining U.S. citizenship years later, Hejabian’s mother and father were allowed to leave Iran [...]
Commencement moves this year from the Civic Center to Costello
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
USM is splitting its commencement into two ceremonies this year as a result of the ongoing renovations at the Cumberland County Civic Center. “We knew there was some chance the Civic Center would be available,” said Craig Hutchinson, chief student affairs officer at USM, but since the ongoing renovation schedule at the venue was tied [...]
Meeting Noah Hurowitz
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Not all of the graduating student body will get to hear Noah Hurowitz’s commencement speech. This year graduation will be split into two ceremonies, which means that each session will only get to see one of this year’s two student commencement speakers. “Their loss,” said Hurowitz, chuckling. He said at one point that he was [...]
Administration gives specifics on budget cuts at USM, details layoffs
Posted on April 15, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
In an email sent to USM students, faculty and staff on Wednesday, President Theo Kalikow released details on $5 million in cuts, the majority of which showed faculty and staff reductions, to be made to the USM budget for the 2013-2014 school year. Of the cuts, $3.1 million identified to date will come from from [...]
USM merges facilities staff
Posted on April 08, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
The USM Department of Facilities Management is consolidating control of grounds and maintenance staff previously under other departments in a merger aimed at creating greater efficiency in handling facilities related concerns on campus. Currently, the Athletics and Residential Life Departments have their own custodial and grounds staffs to maintain their facilities. Under the merger, which [...]
So, what is a MOOC, anyway?
Posted on March 13, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
“A threat and an opportunity,” USM Professor of Linguistics Wayne Cowart said of MOOCs. Though it sounds a bit like a cuddly science fiction creature, what Cowart was referring to is actually a hot topic in higher education lately –massive, open, online courses or MOOCs. For some, the idea of giving away university-created content in [...]
New weed bill has Portland roots
Posted on March 04, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Maine State Representative Diane Russell has authored a new bill to regulate and tax the sale of marijuana for recreational users 21 and over. Russell, representing Portland’s Munjoy Hill and Old Port neighborhoods, introduced a similar proposal in 2009 but failed to gather enough support to pass the changes to Maine’s existing marijuana policy. Russell [...]
USM Battles Nemo
Posted on February 11, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Record snows hit the USM campuses over the weekend as winter storm Nemo dropped over two and a half feet of snow in Portland and Gorham. Chris Legro with the National Weather Service in Gray reported that, although it was not a record snowfall for many areas of Maine, the Portland International Jetport received a [...]
USM couple ties the knot after fourteen years
Posted on February 11, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Ray Dumont and Rodney Mondor were used to playing different people on stage, but last Tuesday, they walked off the stage at the Portland Players Theater in South Portland with new roles in each other’s lives — legally recognized spouses. The two tied the knot under the lights at the theater in front of over [...]
USM officials weigh LePage budget cuts
Posted on January 21, 2013 by Nathan Mooney in News
Governor Paul LePage has formally presented his supplementary budget for the current fiscal year which outlines cuts to be made to specific state agencies and departments. He also presented his budget for the next two fiscal years along with formalized budget amendments for this year on Friday, Jan. 11. The legislature is currently reviewing the [...]
