In September of 2020, The University of Southern Maine proudly unveiled the art installation on their Portland campus. The installation itself, named “Glacial Retreat” has bold translucent blue walls that spread to the surrounding ground. The color brings the viewer’s thoughts towards the ocean and ocean creatures. The intention behind the piece, was to bring…
Author: USM Free Press
Detectable Trace of COVID-19 Found in Campus Wastewater
By: Cullen McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief According to an email from President Glenn Cummings on Thursday addressed to students, faculty and staff, a “detectable level of SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in our Gorham Campus wastewater.” As a result of the wastewater sampling that was implemented in August, all in-person classes and events will be held remotely on Friday….
Artist of the Week : Morgan Richardson
Morgan Richardson is an art student at the University of Southern Maine on track to graduate in 2022. Her major is Art with a concentration of digital art and photography. She is originally from Oxford, Maine, but she is currently living in Bethel, Maine. Richardson has been making art for as long as she can…
The Best Ways To Get Donors’ Attention
In addition to adjusting to online schooling, student organizers have had to navigate the new landscape of fundraising. Many huge donation opportunities are in-person events, which are now being delayed indefinitely to prioritize student and staff safety. Especially with the shift toward digital donating, much of an organization’s campaign success relies on the number of…
Best Strategies for College Success
Regardless of your field of study or learning style, there are a few important tactics for acing college courses. These are the best strategies for college success in the classroom. Plan Ahead Term papers, midterms, and research projects are all immensely time-consuming tasks that can quickly go awry without the proper time management. To succeed…
Seasonal Affective Disorder and Light Therapy: Light Boxes in USM Libraries
USM Health and Counseling Services staff see many students who complain of “winter blues” or “winter depression”. This is also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). S.A.D. is a pattern of mood changes, occurring at the same time each year; it usually begins in the late fall ( now) to early winter months and ends in the…
Sebastian “Seabass” Pettitt: The Voice Behind USM Athletics
Sebastian Pettitt, or “Seabass” has been bringing USM sporting events to life with his voice for the last four years as a play-by-play announcer for just about any and all sporting events. Seabass has done over 400 NCAA games in his career but is most likely calling men’s and women’s soccer as well as field…
Creative Hobbies for Tech Lovers
As technology becomes more prominent in the world, the ways that you can utilize it are also continually expanding. If you’re looking for a fun hobby that can expand your horizons for your future career, doing something rooted in technology might be advantageous for you. Check out this short list of creative hobbies for tech…
PTSD: What is it?
By: Lizzy Boudah, Staff Writer Imagine you’re walking down the road in July, when most of your neighborhood is having a bunch of festivities and celebrating with beautiful shows of light and the loud booms of fireworks in the distance. You find yourself captivated by the sensory admiration of all that is happening until you see…
Music on Your Mind; How Music can Heal
Music on Your Mind; How Music can Heal By Shea Shattuck-Faegre “In this life, in this life, in this life In this, oh sweet life We’re (we’re coming in from the cold)…” –Bob Marley and the Wailers, Coming in From the Cold I will tell you that music has proven to be an invaluable tool…
Keep in touch! Is there a “correct” way to maintain friendships?
Long-distance friendships/relationships used to mean two people staying in touch who are separated by the distance of living in two states, attending different universities, or hours away from each other. Yet in light of the pandemic, long-distance friendships can mean two people living in the same town that are unable to see each other due…
How and Why to take a more Balanced Approach to Your Phone
By Victoria Libby Psy.D. The tension we are experiencing right now with technology is profound. We have never needed it more to connect, to learn and to work, but the lack of separation we have from our screens is negatively impacting our sense of well-being and our ability to concentrate. More and more research is…
Husky Hero of the Week: Zachariah Hoyle
Zachariah Hoyle, the senior history major out of Sidney, ME was running to the end of his cross country career at USM when it got cut short due to COVID-19. While running is important to Hoyle, it isn’t the only thing and that is what makes him the Husky Hero of the Week for the…
External Factors That Impact Sleep for College Students
College is a hectic time in a person’s life. In fact, between classes, homework, friends, and extracurricular activities, there never even seems to be enough time for a break. This is why it’s so crucial that you’re finding ways to get an optimal amount of sleep. These are a few common external factors that impact…
Community or Immunity? How freshman balance making friends and staying safe
One of the many fears students have coming back to school this pandemic season is, how will this semester compare to all of those before? As upperclassmen try to settle into their new schedules, adapt to a routine foreign to them, and far different from before. While the world is constantly changing and no one…
Online College Supplies Checklist
Most college students seek the “college experience”—whatever that is exactly. Let’s just say COVID-19 is giving you one of the most unique college experiences. Whether you planned on doing some or all of your classes online, the novel Coronavirus forced millions of students into online classes. While you might need a backpack, notebooks, and pens,…
How Simulation Is Used in Medical Training and Research
Medical and nursing schools now routinely use simulators to train students in medical procedures. Learn how simulation is used in medical training and research here. Medical Education and Training The days of using citrus fruit to practice injections have been replaced by robotic medical mannikins. These dummies can be programmed by computers to behave as…
USM Baseball: Striking out COVID-19 and the Competition this Fall
The sounds of the song “Ramblin’ Man” by the Allman Brothers Band can be heard on a Thursday afternoon on the University of Southern Maine Gorham Campus. This is only one of many songs that accompany the USM Baseball team as they continue their pursuit of excellence on the baseball field. While the school has…
Husky Hero of the Week: Ciera Berthiaume
Ciera Berthiaume, the senior Women’s Soccer player out of Windham, Maine, who led the Huskies in goals scored and assists in the past two seasons is the first Husky Hero of the Week for the “COVID-19 Fall Sports Season”. In past issues, The Free Press would highlight a player and their impact on not only…
5 Places to Get Your Art Fix in Portland, ME
By : Kayley Weeks / Staff Writer Since COVID-19 has hit, in-person art events have been difficult to find. Here are five eccentric places to get your art fix right in Portland, ME. Portland Art Museum Portland Art Museum on Congress Street is the oldest and largest art institution in Maine. The museum is…
Movie Talk : The Devil All the Time
By : Samuel Chapdelaine / Staff Writer Based on the 2011 novel written by Donald Ray Pollock, The Devil All The Time is a substandard movie that honestly could’ve been a fantastic TV series. Before I attack the movie, I have to at least give a round of applause to this star stellar cast. Tom…
Tips for Driving a Side by Side
Though there are many reasons you should get a UTV, the thrill of the ride is easily the top choice. However, there are important techniques to practice as you get started so you and friends can off-road off-campus. To have the most fun as quickly as possible, use these tips for driving a side by…
Totally remotely stressed! Does less time on campus mean more time to fill?
Since moving to online classes from being in-person in early March, people have been adding more and more to their already busy lives. Since we are mostly working and taking classes online, we must have more time to fill the extra space we have and have more time on our hands. People have been starting…
Dealing with Depression
By: Lizzy Boudah, Staff Writer When a student first starts at university, they have an entire world unknown to them. They can expect physical changes such as exhaustion, but what some leave out are the emotional changes as well. Factors such as “…high debt. They also have fewer job prospects after graduation…” (Kerr, 2017). Such drastic…