This sin knows your name
If you’re sitting around bored on Thursday night, or don’t want to travel to Gorham for “Thirsty Thursday,” then check out the upcoming lecture, “‘The Sin That Knows No Name: Looking for the history of sexuality.” Join Dr. Howard Solomon, USM’s newest adjunct faculty in the History Department, at 7 p.m. in campus centers A, B, and C at Woodbury Campus Center, Portland, for the event.
Solomon will focus on homophobia, anti-Semitism and millennialism, including millennialist rhetoric and social marginalization. A question and answer session will be held immediately following the lecture.
Solomon lives in Maine and teaches at Tufts University, Boston. He is working with the History Department on developing a GLBTQA studies interdisciplinary program for USM.
Last fall, the provost appointed Solomon as a Scholar in Residence for gay and lesbian archives. Thursday’s lecture is sponsored by the History Students Association, History Department, GLBTQA and Women’s Studies departments.
More parking changes
Facilities Management is working on expanding parking spaces for the spring semester.
Construction for the Bioscience wing addition to the Science Building will begin in March during spring break. Between the new construction and renovations that have already begun in Sullivan Gym, USM will lose its faculty/staff lot between those two buildings.
Dave Early, executive director of Facilities Management is working to create additional parking to make up for the loss of an entire lot. When the parking pinch is cured construction may start sooner, Early said.
Early is seeking out a number of possibilities. He wants faculty and staff to have places to park that won’t infringe on student designated lots. There are plans to expand the metered lot next to Payson Smith, tarring these new potentially permanent spaces, and extend the lot in front of the Alumni house on Bedford Street.
This extension will be laid with gravel and be a temporary solution. This lot would be remove after once construction is completed, Early said.
Another idea is to enlarge the driveways at 120 and 126 Bedford St. Currently, two garages take up space on these properties, and can be torn down. They are “dilapidated” and “an eye sore,” Early said. If the two structures were removed eight more spaces could be made.
Early hopes to create 30 spaces all together. There will be a workshop for USM officials and the city of Portland to discuss concerns ideas and planning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, room 209 in City Hall. The workshop is open to the public.
Chancellor candidates visit campus
Candidates for the chancellorship of the University of Maine System will visit USM this week. Three candidates are competing for the position and will be available for question and answer sessions.
On Wednesday from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Joseph Westphal, a senior policy counselor with Patton Bogg LLP, and assistant secretary and acting secretary of the Army, will be at Payson Smith in room 304, Portland.
On Thursday from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Richard Crofts, commissioner of Higher Education with Montana University System, will be at Payson Smith in room 304, Portland. Bibliography and evaluation sheets for both candidates will be available at the sessions.
A third candidate is also scheduled for interviews on Tuesday, Jan. 29, but this person’s identity has not yet been released. According to University officials, the third candidate’s name will be announced on Friday.
All three of the candidates will be traveling to various universities and campuses throughout the entire University of Maine system. Interview sessions are provided via the Educational Network of Maine. For more information contact Bob Caswell, executive director of Media and Community Relations, 780-4200.
Web DSIS training doesn’t miss a beat
Training begins this week for the highly controversial easy access computer program that makes student records available to all USM employees.
Employees are encouraged to enroll in the Distributed Student Information System (DSIS) training that boosts a “user friendly” information system. DSIS allows access to student records, including social security numbers, grades, phone numbers, addresses and financial information.
According to a previous Free Press Article, “Access is granted without the explicit permission or knowledge of the student. Many students and some staff feel the program could lead to violations of student privacy.”
Training sessions originally began last October, and are offered through Student Information and Research Services.
Before employees can sign up for the training they must read and abide by the “Confidentiality of Student Records Policy” and abide by the “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.”
Training begins Thursday and employees must pre-register by contacting Ellie Hague at 780-5541.