Category: News

It is election time again at USM. The student senate elections will be held March 15 through 18 on both the Gorham and Portland campuses. This year students will not just be voting in student senators for the 2004-2005 academic year; they will be voting on two ballot questions as well.

The Student Senate debated for three hours last week before finally approving a proposal to give $1,600 of Student Activity Fee money to the Model UN. The group needs the money to send eight students to this year’s World Model UN (WorldMUN) conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

A look at each of the candidates, including their goals, their focus issues, and their extra-curricular activities.

New propositions before the Maine State Legislature are aimed at keeping Maine’s youth from seeking out of state education and employment. Among the proposals are strengthening relationships between universities and the business sector, creating a legislative team to do so and launching a comprehensive state marketing campaign.

Student Senator Richard Cook took responsibility for his son’s death in an email sent out to the Student Senate listserv last Friday evening. “My son died today because of my neglectfulness,” he wrote.

The case is currently under investigation by the Portland Police and is considered a suspicious death.

Darren Ranco, a Penobscot Indian, spoke last Friday in the Luther-Bonney Auditorium. His speech was entitled “Power and identity in state sanctioned science: Environmental racism and the logic of genocide.” Ranco was the keynote speaker in a series that went on all day.

“Phone, Kevin.” A toddle with a fist full of blocks has wandered into the main office area of USM’s Gorham Childcare Center. “That’s the fax machine, Preston, it’ll pick up automatically. Good ear though.” Program Manager Kevin Dean offers Preston a smile, and he returns to the Pre-School room.

It’s not too early to be thinking about doing your income taxes. W-2 forms will be mailed by employers the first week of February. The earlier you file, the earlier you get the refund check to help pay your bills! If you wait until the last minute to do your taxes, save this article with your pay stubs until it’s ripe! Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you have to work, go into debt, or depend on a spouse or parents to help cover school expenses.

March 4 Someone reported being pushed to the floor from behind by an unknown assailant in Portland’s Masterton Hall. March 5 A fire extinguisher was dropped from Upton Hall in Gorham onto the sidewalk below. The extinguisher was removed from the fourth floor of the building and therefore probably dropped from that floor.

Students, faculty, staff invited to discuss long-term planning…

Upcoming seminar part of ongoing series on women’s interests…

Senior Environment and Policy major Sarah Ferriter wants to make the air cleaner around campus before she graduates next December. She is asking USM students to approve an additional fee of $1.00 per student to establish the USM Sustainability Fund. The fund will primarily pay for the extra costs of running USM busses on a fuel made from a mix of standard diesel fuel and a renewable, plant-derived biodiesel fuel called B20.

Monday Planetarium USM’s Southworth Planetarium is holding a six week course in ancient astronomy starting tonight at 7 p.m. The planetarium is located in the Science Building on the Portland campus. Call 780-4249 for more information. Wednesday Movie USM’s Environmental Perspectives in Cinema series presents “All Quiet On The Western Front,” an anti-war movie that won the 1930 Academy Award for best picture.

The Board of Student Organizations (BSO) has raised $15,173.57 this year, which is three times the amount that is usually raised. According to a letter written to the BSO by the Student Senate Chair, Jeremy Collette, during the academic year 2000-2001, the BSO raised $5,521.

The Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) is set to kick off its opening night on Mar. 13 in various theaters and venues in the city of Portland. The festival, now in its 7th year of production, showcases films created by Jewish and non-Jewish filmmakers from all over the world.

Green “Resident Parking” signs were stolen from Gorham’s G-12 and G-13 parking lots…

Gorham campus to host small business exposition…

Progressive Israeli activist keynote speaker for woman’s history month…

Friday conference latest event in sustainability convocation…

The College of Nursing in Portland is making dramatic changes to deal with the current fiscal crisis. In addition to raising the minimum G.P.A. from 2.5 to 2.75, they will also be cutting back significantly on transfer admissions and decreasing their overall enrollment.

WMPG organized its Ninth Annual Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party last Tuesday. While people were partying in the campus center, WMPG was grooving to cool Cajun tunes all day.

“As WMPG has some of the most knowledgeable Cajun music DJ’s in the area, we play nothing but Mardi Gras music all day starting at 6:30 AM” said Tom Flynn, WMPG development director.

The University Police Department recently made a request to purchase two new Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruisers. According to Craig Hutchinson, vice president of Student Life, the Ford Explorer in Gorham and the Ford Crown Victoria in Portland are both beginning to have maintenance problems and need to be replaced.

For all you trecky fans out there, an exciting new development is taking place on USM’s Portland campus. This time next year the Joel and Linda Abromson Center will be constructed, complete with a working skywalk – no, not Luke Skywalker, but close – extending over Bedford Street.

The USM community mourned the death of Edward Said last week with a panel discussion and an exhibition of videos. The prominent and controversial Middle-Eastern intellectual succumbed to leukemia last September, prompting universities throughout the U.S.

Feb 4

An assault was reported behind Joe’s Smoke Shop on Congress Street in Portland. USM Police contacted Portland Police. The person who was allegedly assaulted did not press charges.

Feb 4

Two students in Dickey-Wood were reported arguing about “marijuana and a girl.

Last week, USM’s community radio station, WMPG, lost one if its favorite members: technical director Phil Hersey. To many at the station, he was like family. Hersey was born on May 7 1951 on Long Island in New York City, according to his cousin, Pamela Hersey.

Presently there are no Student Legal Services being provided to students. Due to the resignation of attorney Beth George, the Student Senate is currently looking into replacing her position at Student Legal Services.

They are also looking to improve the quality of the service while staying on budget.