Though I’m not a Bush fan and I disagree with his tactics for propelling a war in Iraq I do believe he had the right idea (or at least claimed to) when he began implementing programs to secure this nation from danger after the 9/11 tragedy. He began spending money to insure that what we have invested our time and sweat into building wouldn’t be torn down because of our own negligence and somebody else’s hate. Though I lean in the direction of idealism and am tempted to preach about the unnatural creation of land ownership, I cannot ignore the social construct in which we all reside. It is one of building and buying and if you want to keep what you have you must protect it.
In the past few years the University has increased research funding and acquired grants for building construction and expansions. The University is and will continue to do much to improve its facilities. If you read the front page you were probably impressed by the plans for the library. If you decide to continue on you will encounter more photos and stories detailing plans for the technology oriented Mitchell Center in Gorham and of course there’s the parking garage and Abromson Center . All of these additions will most definitely advance the mission of its branding campaign and increase favor in the eyes of the community and potential students. But what about the maintenance and security of these new facilities? What is being done to insure that these facilities remain stable and secure? Just two weeks ago the building housing WMPG and The Free Press was threatened by a firebomb. Why was there nobody here to prevent this kind of occurrence? There is an officer on duty at Portland Hall from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and an officer on duty 24 hours at Gorham but here on the Portland Campus the University police go home at 1 a.m. On the morning of August 16 a 911 call was dispatched to the Portland Fire Dept at 1:05 a.m.. The Portland Fire Dept. didn’t leave until 1:12 a. m. and then didn’t arrive to extinguish the fire until 1:17 a.m. If there were an officer patrolling the campus during the nighttime hours this kind of activity may have been discouraged. Why are we spending so much money fostering an image to umbrella our facilities if we’re not protecting the facilities from harm?