Category: News

As you probably know, the state Legislature put the brakes on the Board of Trustees’ “Strategic Plan” which seeks to merge the USM and UMA campuses. As such, higher education in Maine is now in the political arena: The legislature recently passed an amendment barring universities from changing campus names, and pressure from local constituents resulted in the formation of a governor’s task force to address the merger issue.

The Center for Teaching at USM has announced the recipients of this year’s Provost’s Fellowships for Teaching Excellence. The fellowships are awarded annually in recognition of both an educators past contributions to the University, and their future plans.

On April 21 and April 22, the University of Southern Maine held the annual Thinking Matters exhibition at the Portland Campus. The Thinking Matters exhibition showcases student research, scholarship, and creative achievement. Students create posters, oral presentations, hold roundtable discussions, and more to present what they have learned.

Last Thursday, a team of 18 marketing students in identical black t-shirts invaded the grass quad between Luther Bonney Hall and Payson Smith, installing a battalion of three shiny Ford cars between Luther Bonney Hall’s gathering area and a free cookout catered by Aramark.

USM has a variety of illustrious speakers coming here every week. Here is a sample of some of them. This list is not all-inclusive and the number of listings is contingent on space. If you, your student group, club, or etcetera would like to place a listing send an e-mail to joseph.

Apr. 13

Somebody vandalized a vending machine on the first floor of Upton-Hastings Hall. Aramark reported the theft of some of some of their product. This case is under investigation (UI).

Apr. 14

A student reported the theft of a Palm Pilot, and identified suspects.

Occupants enjoying Abromson Center’s modern space

Students have a great opportunity to acquaint themselves with the new Joel and Linda Abromson Community Education Center during the open house on Tuesday, April 26. Rather than specifically catering to students, the Center houses community oriented offices engaging the larger Maine community.

The only appropriate way to begin an article about a European vacation is with a healthy dose of bragging: I’m spending a week in Europe, on a grand tour of Amsterdam, Paris and London. Even better is the fact my airfare, hotel and two meals a day are all included in the $1500 price.

Image a room full of English majors and professors. Throw in some artists for good measure, a bit of food, and the twin buzzes of creativity and critiques. On the seventh floor of the Glickman Library, with a surprising lack of tweed jackets, students and faculty gathered for the English Department Mini-Conference.

Three weeks after a false bomb threat required the assistance of not just the USM police department, but also of the Portland Police Department and the Portland Fire Department, the situation still remains under investigation. The threat came by way of a note being slipped under the door of room 105 in the Science Building.

Surrounded by spanking new wooden placards, the 33rd Student Senate ceremoniously rose and passed into the annals of USM student government history as the 34th Student Senate stood by to fill the chairs. With the exceptions of the arrival of a few new senators and the leaving of a few senior senators, the change was mostly symbolic.

In response to the Legislature’s challenge to the merger of USM and UMA, two members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) resigned in protest on April 5 and 6: Wickham Skinner, vice-chair of the board and Donald McDowell. Both members’ terms would have ended in May.

Their resignation came after the Legislature added an amendment to next year’s budget that identified the names and locations of campuses that the university system must maintain.

After years of negotiations with Portland Plastic Pipe, USM purchased the property for $1.95 Million. Since its founding in 1975, the company has found itself surrounded by USM property. Portland Plastic Pipe will relocate in South Portland over the next 18 months.

USM has a variety of illustrious speakers coming here every week. Here is a sample of some of them. This list is not all-inclusive and the number of listings is contingent on space. If you, your student group, club, or etcetera would like to place a listing send an e-mail to joseph.

Apr. 5

Gorham Police reported an attempted kidnapping or robbery at Key Bank. The suspect was described as a white male with a red bandana. The suspect was last seen jumping the fence behind Key Bank.

A suspicious person was spotted at the Glickman Library in Portland.

Flynn off to school

WMPG’s development director, Tom Flynn, finished working at his last Begathon this spring. Flynn gave his notice and will be leaving his position at the station on May 27, but he won’t be going far.

“I plan to stay very active as a volunteer at WMPG,” said Flynn.

While Capistrano looks forward to the return of the sparrows as a sign of spring, USM has the WMPG Spring Begathon. From April 4 to the 10, WMPG’s sandwich board sign sat in the center of Bedford Street letting the community know it was time to show financial support.

By May 13th, ITMS will finish moving to its new home: A consolidation of the two rooms on the second floor of Luther Bonney, with a new entrance just around the corner from their old one. With this smaller space comes the loss of one staff member, the moving of another and the relocation of some of their lesser used services.

The Portland campus parking garage, with its 1,150 car capacity, opened in January 2004 with good intentions and the promising slogan “We have a spot for you!” However, according to some faculty and some students at USM, those good intentions are not good enough.

After an hour and 22 minutes of extensive and contentious discussion, the 33rd Student Senate voted in favor of “showing support” for a proposal to create a referendum in the upcoming election that would allow voters to end constituencies in the USM Student Senate.

USM has a variety of illustrious speakers coming here every week. Here is a sample of some of them. This list is not all-inclusive and the number of listings is contingent on space. Changes The 33rd Student Senate meeting on March 18 has been cancelled. Featured Speakers Vintage U.

Look out for Tillotson

The USM Police Department sent out a campus-safety-alert for students on the campus to be aware of Eric Tillotson. Students who see Tillotson are asked to call USM police at 780-5211. Tillotson is described as 6’4″ with short wavy brown hair and blue eyes and is known to frequent the Old Port.

February 28 Somebody stole a hockey stick from the Pro Shop. March 1 Somebody threw plastic bottles from the fourth floor of Upton-Hastings Hall. March 2 The smell of marijuana was reported at Woodward Hall. March 3 Marijuana, placed inside of a hand dryer, nearly caused a fire in Payson Smith Hall.

Admit it. You had no idea USM had a provost until you saw his picture in The Free Press. You still have no idea what his job is. You’re not the only one. Talk of Provost Joseph Wood’s self-created Research Initiative placed him in the University spotlight recently, prompting some students to wonder who the provost is, and what he does.