Evidence of the tight financial times facing the University of Maine System seems to manifest itself everywhere: in meager financial aid packages, in impossibly low class availability, even in budget cuts for university funded publications. Despite the recent university wide budget cuts, one publication continues to thrive even as its identity changes. The staff at The Southern Maine Review, formerly The Maine Scholar, continues to remain optimistic about the future of the publication by looking to alternative ways of funding.
The Maine Scholar was funded through the Chancellors Office for 16 years, with all seven University divisions contributing. Two years ago, the decision was made to change the publication from a system-wide publication to a divisional publication, acquired by USM. The Chancellor could not be reached for comment.
“It no longer served system needs,” said USM Provost Joe Wood, whose office now funds the publication. “It does reflect the work of this University, both materially and symbolically.” According to Wood, funding the Review is creating a financial deficit, but he notes that the publication is an extremely important symbol for academic quality.
Provost Wood said that the U Maine System is still in a tough fiscal crisis, and is fighting deep budget cuts in many departments. “They just shouldn’t spend right now.”
The Maine Scholar has always been housed at USM, which provided office space and money for supplies even when the publication was system-wide. It seemed natural for USM to continue funding the publication even though the System could not.
Managing Editor Wanda Whitten thinks that overall the financial transition has been a good one. “(Now that the publication is funded out of the Provost’s Office) we have a focus. It is easier to ask for outside funding.” The Review raises money through a small but faithful subscription base, and a fundraising campaign called “Friends of The Southern Maine Review.” The campaign allows people to donate as a supporter, contributor, or benefactor, according to the amount of money given. Every “Friend” then receives a free copy of the publication and recognition in the edition. The Review is also currently developing a new marketing plan.
“We had no resources for marketing previously,” noted Whitten. “We used to belong to everyone and no one. It was difficult to make people feel like they have a stake in it.”
Although the transition from being a system-wide publication to a divisional publication has taken longer than expected, Whitten said that the other six divisions in the system were sorry to lose the publication, and that The Southern Maine Review will continue as a financially sound entity.
Kate Brown can be contacted at [email protected]