By Chris Tiner | Co-Editor-in-Chief You see it every time you grab groceries or go shopping. People all across Maine are feeling a squeeze on their wallets, and this is especially felt by young people who are preparing to, or just have, enter the workforce. Expenses quickly start to add up, from rent to paying…
Category: News
Global stakes with local ties
Diverse perspectives on the election and foreign policy, Oct. 24 By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer As the election grows closer, local conversations about what foreign policies will mean for Maines and our daily lives are of the utmost importance. Join the World Affairs Council of Maine and the Muskie School of Public Service…
Politics put simply
Maine Ballot Questions and the Vice Presidential Debate By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer As promised, here are questions three through five that will appear on the Maine state ballot this Nov. 5. Question Three: “Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds…
Meet the News Editor
By Liz Hildebrandt | News Editors Over the course of last Summer, I spent a lot of time evaluating how I would spend my last year at USM between internship opportunities, classes, and finding a job. Last year, I worked at the Free Press as both a writer and a photographer, and I knew…
Budget cuts result in discontinuation of Russell Scholars Program
Former Director of Programs speaks up about the ways the former program helped students By Elizabeth Smith | Web Editor Former Director of Programs, Lisa Hibl, was laid off in May after years of service to USM’s long-standing Russell Scholars program. The student-oriented campus program was discontinued after rising university expenses led to the Executive…
The dangers of Temu and TikTok shop
If You’re Thinking of Getting Dorm Essentials From Temu: Don’t By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer As the United States government’s interest in TikTok dwindles after the mandated forced sale of its parent company, ByteDance, to a U.S.-based company or individual, Temu may be next in their sights. Temu, the most downloaded app of 2022…
Alumni panel and creative workshop
Internationally trained professionals bring their talents to Maine By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer Hosted on the Lewiston Auburn Campus by the USM Libraries & Learning and the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact, Internationally Trained Professionals Bring Your Talents to Maine was a presentation of Marina Chakmakchi’s Roadmap to Success for internationally trained…
Getting to the Source
GA High School Shooting and What you Need to Know By Elizabeth Smith, Web Editor On September 4 at 10:23 am, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office received alerts from local Apalachee High School in Winder, GA about an on-site active shooter. The 14-year-old shooter, Colt Gray, opened fire at the school Wednesday morning, taking the lives…
Politics Put Simply
Election Season is Ramping up in Maine By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer For many young voters at USM, this year’s 2024 election is the first time we will use our voices to vote for the President of the United States. If you’re anything like me, you feel confused and overwhelmed, or you’re nothing like…
Palestine Today Event
By: McKinley Braley, Contributor On Monday, April 22nd, small communities of Maine gathered in the Talbot Lecture Hall for a discussion on the current state of “Palestine Today”. This event was organized by the USM Criminology Department and Maine Students for Palestine and was an extension of an earlier discussion in November. The four presenters…
Huskies Distraught over Parking Ticket Debacle
Fees of Almost $1000 Charged to Students’ Accounts without Their Knowledge. By E. C. Smith, Staff Writer Last semester, USM students on the Portland and Gorham campuses received parking fines of up to $1,000 after students’ accounts were charged without their knowledge. These fees were incurred as a result of the newly adopted campus parking…
Portland’s Palestine Rally
By July Levvesque, Staff Writer On February 2nd, 2024 a pro-Palestine rally was held on the intersection of Franklin Street and Marginal Way at 1 PM. Around 200 people joined Maine’s Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL) and members of the Maine Coalition for Palestine to protest and show support in calling for an immediate…
Cracking Down on Car Break-Ins in the New Portland Commons Parking Garage
What University of Southern Maine’s Parking and Transportation Department Believes Can Halt These Thefts From Happening By: Chris Tiner, News Editor In the swing of the new year, a similar problem has occurred to an issue reported on back in late October of 2023 when the public safety department for University of Southern Maine’s Portland…
Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance
Stories that Move Me By Cammie Breuer- Arts and Culture Editor Hannaford Hall was packed the night of Wednesday, October 4th, but not for a class lecture. The Maine Writers and Publishers Association (MWPA) held a fundraiser to benefit their free community programs and scholarship opportunities. Several Mainers came to share the stories that shaped…
Bike Thefts on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus
Stolen rides: USM deals with three bikes stolen from the Portland Campus in a matter of two days By Chris Tiner- Staff Writer With the University of Southern Maine opening its doors to a new residence hall on the Portland Campus, Portland Commons, and new student center, McGoldrick Center for Career and Student Success, this…
Answering the call
Students for the Sixth Amendment Call for more Defense Lawyers By: Dakota Eddy, News Editor October 3rd was a big day for the Maine School of Law. Students for the Sixth Amendment, a student organization, hosted an event with important figures such as Rachel Rossi, the Director of the Office for Access to Justice at…
The Inauguration of President Edmonson
The New Dawn Blooms By Jared Fairfield- Staff writer On October 12th, Dr. Jacqueline Edmonson was inaugurated as the 14th president of the University of Southern Maine (USM). The ceremony took place in Hannaford Hall with many speeches of praise, hope, and even friendly affection filling the auditorium. The ceremony began with the Osher School…
Press Release
The Free Press – The University of Southern Maine Immediate Press Release October 25, 2023 When someone thinks about the University of Southern Maine, they tend to only think about Gorham and Portland. A surprise for some, but a known fact to many, there is a third campus. The Lewiston-Auburn Campus (LAC),…
Our Beloved Beech Tree
Honoring Over 200 Years of Shade and Comfort By t love smith, Ad Manager On Friday, September 23rd, students, staff and faculty all received sad news in our inboxes about the damage done by Tropical Storm Lee on USM’s Portland campus. Many hearts sank with the announcement that our beloved beech tree, also referred…
Husky Hero
Liliana Sapiel By Dakota Eddy, News Editor One of the amazing things about USM is the continuous effort to make sure all groups of students feel seen and heard. Through Intercultural Student Affairs, students can start Affinity Groups to provide a safe space for growth, learning, and being able to share your culture and…
A Hurricane Welcome
By River Alleyne, Contributor “Stay safe!” That’s all anyone in coastal Maine could say all Friday, emotionally bracing for the upcoming storm, Hurricane Lee. Typically, we experience the tail end of hurricanes that affect the American South—and, sometimes, the Mid-Atlantic—before petering out and delivering a few rainy days and cold winds, but ultimately very…
Maine Food Waste Awareness Week
A Look at Sodexo’s Waste Practices By Sophie Urey, Contributor On Friday, September 8th, Governor Mills declared September 25th through 29th as Maine Food Waste Awareness Week. In the official proclamation, Mills cited somewhat alarming statistics on food waste in Maine: 35% of Maine-produced food is thrown away, but that food could instead be…
The Class of ‘24
An Instructive Guide to Finding a Career After Graduation Elizabeth Smith, Contributor On Friday, September 20, the Career Hub liaison Peter Hoffmann held a presentation for the graduating class of 2024 on some practical and important tips for pursuing a career after college. Hoffman’s debriefing addressed the reality of life after college and the…
Who is David DeLorme?
An article about a former editor of the Free Press By River Alleyne, Contributor USM has had a student newspaper longer than this school has had its current name. The first student publication was named The Oracle and was published out of Gorham Normal School, the former college comprising the Gorham campus, in 1891….