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Glen Cummings, USM President Welcome back As we begin a new semester and a new decade, I welcome you back to the University of Southern Maine. I hope you had an enjoyable holiday and treated yourself to some well-deserved relaxation. This spring will bring us new challenges to be productive, to care for each other…
By: Cullen McIntyre, Sports Editor Cam Labrie, of the Men’s Indoor Track & Field team is sprinting into his final season with the Huskies. The exercise science major of Tamworth, New Hampshire graduated from Kennett High School as a two sport athlete in soccer as well as track. Labrie claimed second place in the 400-meter…
Lizzy Boudah, Staff Writer When the holidays come around, students find themselves scrambling for not only finances, but for finals as well. This time of year can lead to a lot of stress among students and professors alike. While there may be happy music and celebrations of all kinds, many students find themselves isolating themselves…
By: Lillian Lema, Staff Writer The Career & Employment Hub at USM has a unique team of advisors that help students and alumni gain experience in the workforce and explore career directions. Each career advisor has a unique story of how they ended up in their career path. Career advisor Stacy Stewart found herself pursuing…
By: Jordyn Tibbetts, Guest Writer The Maine Historical Society’s, “Holding up the Sky”, artwork captures a cross-cultural view of Wabanaki Art. Wabanaki people have been in what is now Maine and Canada for at least 13,000 years. the tribes that are considered Wabanaki are Wolastoqewi (Maliseet), Mi’gmaw (Micmac), Panawahpskewtəkw (Penobscot) and Peskotomuhkatiyik (Passamaquoddy). The word…
By: Chelsea Marquis, Staff Writer After several years of planning, USM now has funding to construct a new 550 bed residence hall and student center on the Portland campus. A student committee will be formed to give students a voice in the design of the buildings. The idea of constructing a residence hall on the…
By: Cullen McIntyre, Sports Editor Intramural sports at USM is a place for students, on-campus or commuting, to come together for a relaxed and competitive environment. For students who do not participate in the athletic programs on campus, competing in intramurals is a fun and easy way to compete in the various sports offered during…
By: Zoe Bernardi, Community Editor It’s 1983. Microsoft Word is a new invention. President Ronald Reagan is serving in office. Ed Barks graduated from USM with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics. Barks, originally from New Britain, Connecticut and was the first person in his family to graduate college. He says…
By: Ryan Farrell, Staff Writer Taika Waititi’s controversial satire is finally showing in the Portland area. This colorfully dark comedy shows the true nature of blind nationalism, specifically when it supports a fascist regime. The film is predictable at times and isn’t always historically accurate. However, its anti-hate message transcends the time period. Both Watiti’s…
By: Cullen McIntyre, Sports Editor Numerous reports of inedible items being found in food at Brooks Dining Hall in Gorham has spurred controversy across campus and social media. Mason Henley, a junior nursing major and resident assistant in Philippi Hall, discovered a sharp object in his wrap. “I needed to talk to the manager. The…
By: Emma J. Walsh, Staff Writer This past summer, USM senior Tyler Walsh, 24, interned with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP). The internship presented a wonderful opportunity for Walsh, a General Biology major, to protect the ecosystem. He acquired the internship through Professor Lasley-Rasher, a Biology professor at USM. According to a video published…
By: Lizzy Boudah, Staff Writer It is no doubt that students in college may face the struggle of having emotional setbacks. In 2013, the American Psychological Association wrote that, in a survey of college students, 41.6% identified as having anxiety. Anxiety can be very hard to live with if untreated, and as the years go…
By: Zoe Bernardi, Community Editor @Umemeportland is the most well known and active student-run meme account for USM. The Instagram account has over 1,200 followers and almost 200 memes that vary from Glenn Cummings, Woodbury and the classic reply-all email responses. The creator of the account prefers to be anonymous as they are just a…
By: Abby Nelson, Staff Writer In the Old Port on a Saturday night, music played by street performers echoes across the cobblestone. Whether it be a loud voice belting from blocks away or the melody of a saxophone ringing down the alleys, there is no question live music is a part of Portland’s nightlife. Before…
By: Amelia Bodge, Staff Writer The opening of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in One City Center in Portland promotes activists to hold demonstrations in protest on October 14th. The Department of Homeland Security agency which is commonly referred to as ICE has been the source of growing tensions in Maine and nationally….
By: Alyson Peabody, Editor-In-Chief Last Monday, my letter introduced issues affecting the Free Press and my life outside of the paper. Shortly after the letter went live, I received a phone call from a USM alum who experienced the same issues during their time as a student. Hearing that this is nothing new, that it…
By: Cullen McIntyre, Sports Editor Basketball fans in Portland are getting a once in a lifetime experience this season, as 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall joins the team on a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics. Fall, who was signed by the Boston Celtics after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, will now appear for…
By: Alyson Peabody, Editor-in-Chief Acts of intimidation from USM employees toward student leaders will not be tolerated. There are 256 documented purchase order violations and several folders containing intimidating emails written by USM employees toward members of the Student Senate and other Student Communication Board entities. Violations include not meeting the quota for three signers…
By: Lillian Lema, Staff Writer The United States has been known as the home of the brave and land of the free. However, the journey to be part of this nation isn’t always an easy one, at least not for USM student Bhan Karam. “Home is where I feel a sense of peace where I…
By: Max Lorber, Arts and Culture Editor On Saturday, November 2nd, Sullivan Gym on USM’s Portland campus will be transformed into a vast second-hand record shop for WMPG’s 24th annual Record Sale fundraiser. WMPG listeners and community members have donated hundreds of vinyl records, which will then be sold by volunteers to help support the…
Byline: Emma J. Walsh, Staff Writer The recent power outage brings forth options for students on how to deal with emergency situations on campus. On Thursday October 17th, A windstorm resulted in the loss of power across both USM campuses. The loss of power left students with no wifi, electricity, or hot water. Classes, activities,…
By: Tyler Tripp, Staff Writer “Portland is a little city, but it certainly packs a punch”, Katherine Slevin said with a smile. The same could be said about Slevin and her small business startup, The C. Love Cookie Project. The C. Love Cookie Project is a Portland, Maine-based company that was incorporated in 2017 with…
By: Max Lorber, Arts and Culture Editor Work-study employees Liz Trumbley and Donna Blackwell huddled together with a box of matches on the walkway leading to the USM Art Gallery in Gorham. They were lighting tiny candles and placing them into the glowing white paper bags that lined the path. As the evening darkened, the…
By: Alyson Peabody, Editor-in-Chief Lillian Lema, Staff Writer At an Oct 8 public forum sponsored by the Anti-Racist Action Network, members of the USM community came together to discuss how the University of Everyone could improve for students of color. The Anti-Racist Action Network made up of undergrads, grads and Ph.D candidates in various programs…