Author: USM
Destinations
Monday
The Free Street Taverna, at 128 Free Street in Portland, presents a free hip-hop open mic night hosted by Boondox. Sign up is at 8 p.m., and the rapping commences shortly thereafter. Ages 21 and over are welcome. Call 772-5483 for more information.
Moving forward with Coach Venditti and women’s hockey
Coach Venditti has turned the University of Southern Maine women’s ice hockey team into a very competitive Eastern College Athletic Conference division III program. This year will not be any different than the past three years with Venditti at the helm.
Student plays touch on Shakespeare, Elvis Presley
This year’s student-written USM Theatre productions, “Ghosting” by Michael Toth and “Goin’ to Graceland” by M. Calien Lewis, play this week at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center, 76 Congress St. in Portland. The one-act plays, directed by USM faculty members William Steele and Thomas Power and featuring student actors, explore themes of redemption, renewal and pilgrimage.
Meet Joe Student
Anna Blice
Age: 23
Major: Undeclared
Hometown: Stafford, VA
What brought you to the area and what do you think of it?
My job as a Sign Language Interpreter at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf brought me to Maine. I love it here.
Letter from the Editor
Oftentimes we receive letters to the editor in criticism of our actions. Sometimes I find these criticisms unfounded, and when I do it’s usually because of a lack of knowledge about the mechanics of The Free Press. I feel inclined to clarify a few issues brought up by reader Jason Libby.
Candidate for Democratic Nomination visits Maine
General Wesley Clark, candidate for Democratic nomination, was adamant about his support of NATO and the importance of strong allies. He served as Supreme Allied Commander for NATO from 1997 to 2000.
“We need to become an inclusive nation, not an exclusive nation,” he said referring to Bush’s unilateral action.
Ernie Pook’s Comeek
Preview of the USM Men’s Hockey team
The University of Southern Maine Men’s Ice Hockey team captured another win last Tuesday (prior to press time) in Waterville Valley, N.H. against Plymouth State 4-2. The non-conference game played in the Waterville Valley Ice Arena was decided between the pipes as junior goaltender Matt Collaton (Oakville, Ont.
Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry…St. Patrick’s Day?
To walk into the State Theater on Nov. 13 was to immerse yourself in the very definition of a punk show. At every turn there was a teenager or 20-something with dyed hair, ripped clothing, tattoos and multiple piercings. The Dropkick Murphys and their touring partners had come to assault the ears and anarchic minds of Portland.
FOOTPRINT
This week is “Holiday Survival Week” on the USM Portland Campus. The Healthy USM Portland Wellness Committee has put together a schedule of activities that offer participants a less stressful and more satisfying holiday season at a lower cost to body, soul and bank account.
After years of shortfalls, USM seeks new ways to save money
After six months of discussion, the University Review and Improvement Committee, or URIC, put together a complete report of their findings, which they presented to President Pattenaude this past week. The report is part of a planning process to cut costs, develop long-term savings, increase revenues and enhance the USM educational and occupational environment.
Girls & SPORTS
Monday Night Football
I am thankful for Thanksgiving. The annual turkey day feast, which mandates a nap, copious amounts of pie consumption and NFL football on a weekday, occupies rarefied ground among American holidays. Its biggest weakness may be that it ushers in the holiday shopping season.
Staffer Speaks
When you talk about coaching excellence in college basketball there are but a few names that will quickly come to mind. Names like Walter Rupp, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K.), and Bobby Knight may be some of the first you or your friends may come up with.
Videoconferencing made Pollin meeting possible
Last week’s conference with Robert Pollin was conducted in a glass-walled meeting room at the back of Luther-Bonney’s computer lab on a television using special equipment. Videoconferencing is rare at USM because of budget and time constraints. The conference was made possible by a special machine with a camera attached that uses the internet to communicate, making the miles between the speakers seem to evaporate.
Tim Hoffman
HEALTH BEAT
It’s the week before finals and you feel stressed and anxious. Stress is inevitable and a basic fact of life. However, not preparing yourself to cope with stress can be potentially harmful. Here are some ways to help you manage this difficult time in the semester.
Mike Myers ruins “Cat in the Hat”
The new Universal Studios film “The Cat in the Hat” is intended as a children’s movie. But comedian Mike Myers turns Dr. Seuss’ fun loving and troublesome cat into a neurotic character with a potty mouth, and the adult jokes that director Bo Welch tries to sneak in are not appropriate for kids.
Down with SCHLOCK & AWFUL
Political talk radio has long been a medium monopolized by Republicans. With the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, the Republican viewpoint has had an iron grip over talk radio for years, with hardly any liberal-minded voices ever having a chance to break through.
UMass professor, author speaks with USM economics class.
Students in Associate Professor of Economics Susan Feiner’s class spoke with UMass Amherst professor and author Robert Pollin using an internet videoconference last week about his new book, “Contours of descent: U.S. economic fractures and the landscape of global austerity.
Word Search
USM Athletics Scoreboard and Schedule
Scoreboard
Women’s Basketball
Nov. 25 vs. Bates, Win 84-61
Coach Gary Fifield wins his 400th game
Dec. 2 vs. Bowdoin, Loss 59-52
Men’s Basketball
Nov. 25 vs. Bates, Win 62-60
Nov. 28 vs. Colby, Loss 83-64
Nov. 29 vs. St. Joseph’s, Win 64-58
Dec.
The Holiday Season…
An occasional guest column by Andrea Thompson McCall
Even before the turkey leftovers were gone, tinsel and mistletoe began appearing and the traditional shopping rush marked the beginning of the season we euphemistically refer to as the Holiday Season.