The Senate met last Thursday for just over two hours to discuss a wide field of issues including rape, building renovation, parking, events planning, and library systematization.
As the Senate began discussion over last week’s alleged date rapes, President Pattenaude had strong words:
“I find that a cowardly and sick act,” he said.
Senator Barden pressed hard for a time-sensitive motion to denounce the attack in the Free Press.
“This can’t wait,” said Barden. The Senate decided that Collette would write a letter to the editor on the issue.
“There’s a lot going on in the university right now,” said Pattenaude. He mentioned that the 1200-car parking garage on the Portland campus will be ready for the Spring semester. $3.5 million of private money will fund additions to the top three floors of the library in Portland, including: computerized classrooms; a vending-style caf?; archives; and special collections. The university has also received the money to add three floors to the new bio-science facility. The president has asked for $1.5 million to upgrade laboratories. The university has three new Master’s degree programs in Biology, Education, and Leadership (at the Lewiston-Auburn campus).
The president stated that increased competition and constraints have flattened state budgets, which directly affects half of the university’s funding. “I don’t think it’s going to change very fast,” he said. He said that the University Review and Improvement Committee has asked the student body to name a representative to the task force for the quality of USM worklife. He said the purpose of the task force is to improve, “how we do our work, and how we use our resources to make us stronger and better.”
The president also responded to last week’s Letter from the Editor in the Free Press, saying that his sense of Freedom of Speech is strong. “I’ve worked in the university for a long time. If I can’t recognize the freedom of speech, I shouldn’t be here.” He said he felt fine about the editorial that appeared in last week’s issue of the Free Press, and that it was necessary in the interest of “keeping people honest.”
The Gorham Events Board (GEB) brought up the cancellation of Ani Difranco’s upcoming concert in Gorham. Contractual restraints have led to the cancellation of her concert at USM, and its subsequent rescheduling at the Portland Expo Center. Only 90 out of 3200 possible tickets were sold, which left Difranco’s management unsatisfied, according to the GEB.
The Board of Trustees student representative Benjamin Meiklejohn said there was a problem with the student governments’ distance from the Board of Trustees. He urged getting input from students on the long-term university planning. “There’s an opportunity to get Fogler considered the main library for the state,” said Meiklejohn He moved to have Fogler be regarded as the system library. For example, it would have a single subscription to periodicals with numerous copies. He also moved to create an outreach to community colleges, to find out what role community colleges play in the university system. Sen. Ben Strout proposed an ad hoc committee to discuss these issues with the Board of Trustees.
“The communications and music departments don’t have enough faculty. The music center has only two tuned pianos,” said Sen. Asher Platts.
Sen. Ben Strout brought up the difficulty of parking at night in Gorham. He asked if it would be possible for students to use faculty parking lots between 9 p.m. and 7 a..m..
Sen. Sarah Hines stated concerns over the crowding in the computer labs. She posed the problem of getting time in front of a computer during exam times.
Sen. Barden suggested that the vending machines should be equipped for the student cards.
Kelly Locke was voted Student Leader of the Month.
James O’Brien was appointed to a commuter student seat.
Sen. Barden announced the Pumpkinfest, which will take place on October 25th at Camp Sunshine.
Jason Cooke can be contacted at [email protected].