No smoking anywhere on campus?
Two University officials presented a plan that may mean the end of smoking anywhere at USM.
Joe Austin, director of Residential Life and Pamela Clay-Storm, a professional nurse at USM Health Services on the Portland campus discussed plans to eliminate tobacco smoking from all residence halls, as well as the academic, office and all other buildings that are part of the University of Southern Maine campuses. This plan also includes an ultimate goal of eliminating smoking on the campus entirely, which includes all outdoor areas.
Senators were divided regarding the details of the plan, but a majority of the senators voiced their opinion that the University should not eliminate smoking from the entire campus.
“There are plenty of areas for people to smoke on campus, and still be over 50 feet from the entrance to a [university] building,” commented Commuter Sen. Anthony Pergola.
This refers to the current rule, which states students who choose to smoke must do so at least 50 feet from the entrance to any building.
Austin and Clay-Storm hope to have all Residence Halls smoke-free by Fall 2002 and the education campaign to end smoking on USM campuses will be underway in about one year.
There is no March meeting set to discuss this proposal. The February meeting was two weeks ago.
More fee increases?
The Senate Finance Committee is meeting this Wednesday night to discuss a potential increase of the student activity fee.
“We’d like to get as much money as possible to benefit the students as much as we can,” Treasurer LaBerge said.
Such an increase would require a referendum to be voted on by students later in the spring.
Construction update
Director of the Institute for Research in Information Sciences Julie Ellis and Director of the Bioscience Research Institute Brian Hodgkin were also guests at the Senate meeting. Ellis and Hodgkin presented construction plans for the Science Building on the Portland campus.
The new science facility will house biomedical and other labs and will be outfitted with new technology. The cost of the new facility is in the range of $13 billion according to Ellis and Hodgkin.
On March 22, there is a Groundbreaking Ceremony, to which all students are invited. Refreshments and tours of the existing labs will be provided.
While construction is underway, parking will become more of an issue.
“We’re going to add spaces to the lots at Payson-Smith and the Alumni House to make up for the loss of 20 to 25 spaces during construction,” said Ellis.
The projected date for the end of construction is June 2003.
Money for cultural symposium granted
A new proposal by Jeremy Federman and Stefani Citrano was introduced at the meeting. Federman and Citrano are organizing the Academic and Cultural Symposium titled “Crossing Borders: Understanding Multi-Cultural Diversity Through Deafness.”
“The purpose of the symposium is . to create opportunity for USM students to exchange ideas in an academic setting with students from Gallaudet University,” according to the proposal written by Federman.
Gallaudet University is located in Washington D.C. and serves students who are deaf or hearing-impaired.
The proposal was passed easily, at 13-0, and Federman and Citrano’s project was given $1,000.
Resident senator seat filled
Commuter Sen. Pergola nominated Jason Stamp, a resident of Philippi Hall on the Gorham campus, for resident senator. Stamp was appointed.
Finance
The Senate has an estimated $6,000 in its account.
Senators missing
Commuter Sens. Ken Ryder and Gretchen Chesley and At-Large Sen. Laurie Quirrion.
Next meeting
The next meeting is Friday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m. in 113 Bailey Hall, Gorham.