Category: News

The Student Senate suspended the official duties of their Election Commission, the body responsible for planning and putting on the spring elections, in favor of ensuring the elections are held before spring break. The elections are planned for sometime between March 15 and 19.

The Albert Brenner Glickman Family Library is scheduled to open its top three floors April 16. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will showcase the building’s renovations and expansions. With over $3 million donated from corporate and private donors, the collaborative effort to provide a more accommodating academic environment is underway.

Theatre troupe holding auditions

The Winter Harbor Theatre Company is holding open auditions for “Serenading Louie” on Monday March 15 from 5-7 P.M. and March 16 from 7-9 P.M. at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center at 76 Congress St. There are openings for two men and two women, aged 25-35.

Last issue, p 1- The classified senate was omitted from the list of contributors to the president’s action plan called “Transforming USM.”

Last issue, p 12- Ed Szalajeski was credited for the “Bacchae” photo. The perfectly peachy picture, was taken by Chris Jovanelli.

Though the statewide University budget cuts were only finalized last week the expected decrease in revenue has affected the UMaine system since November when Baldacci proposed the initial $13 million cut. The stringent emergency hiring freeze introduced in November was the reaction to the inevitably plummeting budget.

Regardless of recent budget cuts, the University is continuing to take steps towards expanding the campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston-Auburn. President Pattenaude has met with a number of groups including the Professional, Faculty and Student Senates to discuss USM’s Action Plan for 2004 – 2007.

After a rash of car burglaries in Gorham last December and January, USM Police found a suspect. They are working with the Gorham Police in an investigation that is still ongoing. The last few weeks have seen a fresh outbreak of car-related crime – this time simple vandalism, with no theft involved.

The Student Senate is looking for a new place to call home on campus. Senators have expressed frustration with the location of the current Senate house at 11 Baxter, across Forest Avenue from the Portland campus. The president’s plan to expand on the Portland campus may provide the Senate the opportunity to move it’s been looking for.

February is Black History month and USM will be commemorating it with a month-long salvo of events, some of which have already taken place. Last week, Bob Brown gave a lecture titled “The Slavery Reparations in the U.S. and Africa” and a separate “Living History” panel discussion explored the effects of the Civil Rights march on Washington.

Jan. 27

Report of computer harrassment. Someone complained to the police about students in the same dorm posting offensive comments in his online journal.

Someone broke into a car in Portland Hall’s parking lot.

Jan. 30

Someone held a cigarette lighter against a bulletin board in Gorham’s student center.

Final budget cuts lowered

Final budget cut totals to the University of Maine System are $850,000 less than the governor originally proposed. The state budget, adopted January 30th, calls for a $4.95 million cut for UMS this year, down from $5.8 million. The state appropriation cut for next year remains $1.

USM plans to look at whether eliminating Winter Session would have potential savings for the institution. Doing away with the program was one of hundreds of suggestions gathered in a series of hearings held by the University Review and Improvement Committee last semester.

Monday

Music

The Movies at 10 Exchange Street, Portland will be showing “The Cooler” starring William H. Macy and Maria Bello. It’s a story of gambling, love, and money in Las Vegas. Show times are at 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Call 772-9600 for more information.

A somber but hopeful speech:

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich called for tuition-free public universities, explained his proposed federal Department of Peace, and preached the importance of love to a packed house of supporters and onlookers in a hastily arranged campaign visit to Portland’s St.

The walls inside the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology are crowded with incubators with labels like “Sea lion kidney” and “Human liver.” On one wall is a large tank of liquid nitrogen, accompanied by a graduate student peering into a microscope.

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.

USM to host city council candidate debate.

Peter O’Donnell and Kenneth Cole III, both candidates for an at-large seat on the Portland City Council, will hold a public debate in the Luther-Bonney Auditorium on Feb. 3 at noon. For more informaion call 780-4200.

Dennis Kucinich-Ohio Congressman

Former mayor of Cleveland

Voted against the war in Iraq

If elected he plans to:

Withdraw from the WTO and NAFTA

Provide single payer health care for all

Repeal the “Patriot Act”

Decrease military spending

Increase education funding

Protect a woman’s right to choose

———————————————–

John Kerry-Massachusetts Senator

Vietnam Veteran

Voted for war in Iraq

If elected he plans to:

Institute a “service for learning program” where

students can earn the equivalent of four years of

tuition for two years of volunteerism.

Like the evolution of the word caucus, the processes for choosing a presidential candidate have also evolved. Caucus originated from the Algonquin word caucuso, translated to mean counsel, elder or the gathering of tribal chiefs. Caucus results across the nation are being tallied indicating the gun smoke is clearing on the presidential nomination race.

Jan. 23

An unmarked police car’s windshield was smashed by objects thrown from students’ rooms on the second floor of Upton Hall.

More thefts reported in the Gorham field house.

USM Police served a summons on William T. McKinnon for criminal mischief.

Last issue p 1- The classified senate was omitted from the list of contributors to the president’s action plan called “Transforming USM.”

Last issue p 12- Ed Szalajeski was credited for the “Bacchae” photo. The perfectly peachy picture, was taken by Chris Jovanelli.

The long-awaited parking garage, with its 1,150 new spaces, is fully operational this semester. Aside from a few glitches in the garage’s layout and traffic signs, faculty, staff and students alike are responding with relief at a guaranteed parking spot on Bedford Street.

Monday

Band

Tarpigh will perform at 8 p.m. at the Stillhouse Studio Theater, 108 High Street, 2nd floor, Portland. Call 879-5498 for information. A $5 donation is suggested.

’80s night

The Alehouse, 30 Market St. in Portland, presents “Vinyl Revival” with TVC (Tim’s Vinyl Collection).

Members of a committee tasked with raising the Student Activity Fee (SAF) have expressed optimism with their plan after speaking with President Pattenaude last week. They have decided to index the fee to the inflation of the U.S. dollar. If all goes according to plan, the committee will bring the proposal to the senate for approval, and students will vote on the issue in March.