Killdeer and Hawks
Perhaps the most under-celebrated sign of spring on the Gormah campus returned this week could be seen foraging for food and nest building material on the Paula D. Hodgdon Field. The unnamed killdeers nest in the rocky debris South East of the field. Students who approach too near the nest will see the famous survival technique of the small, long-legged birds. This defense includes an Academy Award deserving performance in which the female fakes a broken wing in effort to lure predators away from the nest.
Speaking of fowl, humanity’s feathered friends, Pale Male and Lola, the iconic hawks from New York City have rebuilt their nest at 927 Fifth Avenue, but due to disturbances, according to the New York Times, the eggs of the latest brood are not expected to hatch.
Student Senate budget delayed
Due to the tabling of a motion to redistribute some of the rollover funds, money left over from last year, the Student Senate was forced to postpone approving the budget, which goes into effect on July 1. Senate rules require for a budget to be approved by the last meeting of the previous fiscal year.
Three new student groups at USM
The 34th Student Senate approved the constitutions of three new student groups during there 29, April meeting.
“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on, geologically speaking, in the state of Maine,” said Jake Johnson, junior majoring in geology, representing the newly formed Geology Club. According to Johnson, he wants the club to expose students to the geological wonders of Maine, including the various gemstones, and old fault lines. “We’d probably take a lot of field trips and have guest speakers from different parts of the country,” he said.
Johnson originally planned on majoring in astronomy when he learned USM did not offer a major in that field. “I did the next best thing,” said Johnson. “I brought myself a lot closer to earth, so to speak.”
Michael McAllister represented the second group recognized by the Student Senate, the Philosophy Symposium. “I think its going to help bridge the gap between the commuters [and resident students] because we’re offering events on campus,” he said leaving the meeting. “[The Symposium] will spur philosophical debates.”
Senators Caroline Young and Daniel Lawrence spoke for the Linguistics Fellowship, the third group approved by Student Senate. “I think its going to exhibit the Linguistics Department interest that exists [around] topic,” said Lawrence. “Our department’s building is way out on Exeter Street…and this will bring linguistic events to the campus.”