USM men’s basketball player Jeremy Jackson hadn’t been in his hometown just outside of New Orleans since August. But Jackson joined his teammates for a holiday tournament in the Big Easy over Christmas break, and the team was able to take away much more than just wins and losses from its trip.
Author: USM
Planning for new Portland campus health center in the works
A cure may be on the horizon for students sick of trekking to Gorham to access University of Southern Maine health services thanks to a project currently in the works to reopen a student health center on the Portland campus.
Portland has been without a health services center since 2010. But now USM health and counseling services and the School of Nursing are teaming up to fill the void and provide services for students in Portland while also providing a learning opportunity to nursing students.
University of Maine System trustees freeze in-state tuition for first time in 25 years
For the first time in 25 years, in-state tuition for undergraduate students at the University of Maine and throughout the University of Maine System will not see a year-over-year increase.
The decision, reached at a system board of trustees meeting on Jan. 23, came after a unanimous vote on a motion proposed by trustee Karl Turner. For now, tuition rates for out-of-state students have not been determined.
Maine should vote for marriage equality
It’s rare that the country gets too worked up about voting in Maine. Though sometimes referred to as a “battleground state,” it’s mostly an honorary title: we’ve gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992; our party caucuses are too late and light on delegates to interest anybody besides Ron Paul. But in 2009, we…
Portland Greendrinks brings awareness to non-profits, beer to the masses
The concept is simple: For two bucks you and a few hundred of your closest friends spend the first Tuesday night of every month at a well-known Portland location to raise awareness for a local non-profit. There, you will meet young professionals like yourself that share the same passions as you do, and make new…
Faculty contract negotiatons continue to stall over pay raise dispute
Representatives of the Associated Faculties of the Universities of Maine met with University of Maine System delegates Friday, continuing mediation over the contract dispute that has left faculty working without a contract for over six months.
Cloud Nothings bring in Albini for ‘Attack On Memory’
It would have been so easy for Dylan Baldi’s next Cloud Nothings album to follow the tried-and-true trajectory that he had been steadily carving out since 2010’s self-released Turning On — and it would have been welcome. 2010’s pop indebted Turning On was a heavily work-shopped collection of slightly-off kilter alt-punk in the vein of…
Ron Paul receives enthusiastic support during speech at USM
Drawing wild applause and cheers, Republican presidential nominee hopeful Ron Paul stumped at the University of Southern Maine Saturday, in the run up to Maine’s upcoming Republican Caucus.
Annual USM Faculty Exhibit brings big ideas to an intimate setting
From a large pile of knotted hay strewn in corner, to a man trapped inside a pair of larger-than-life wine bottles, a diverse mix of abstract-expressionist paintings, organic sculptures, and 21st century new media installations adorn the floor and walls of the USM Art Gallery in Gorham as part of the annual USM Art Faculty…
A&C Recommends: USM Theatre presents ‘Eurydice’
Hell is other people…on roller skates. Or at least that is what the University of Southern Maine’s Department of Theatre’s upcoming production of Eurydice tells us. Opening on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., Eurydice is Sarah Ruhl’s 21st century re-visioning of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In the re-vision, the happy couple have just…
Simpson: Despite playoff loss, Tebow is NFL’s gain
Dubbed “God’s Quarterback,” Tim Tebow has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of Americans this NFL season.
Henry: Making the best of an ominous Mayan forecast
Every new year is a chance to start over, to wipe off all the figurative grime and gunk clean from life’s slate. We are given a chance to set resolutions to better our lives and, if diligent, the lives of others as well. But not this year. Oh, no. This is our final year. This…
Kelchner: Hitchens’ death a winter wake-up call
When the contrarian
UMaine System Board of Trustees votes for one-year in-state tuition freeze
The University of Maine System Board of trustees voted to approve a one-year freeze of in-state tuition rates at their meeting Monday. The decision, based on a motion from Trustee Karl Turner, marks the first year since 1987 that tuition rates have not increased. Tuition increased 4.3 percent last year. “I endorse a one…
Presidential-candidate hopeful Ron Paul to visit USM on Saturday
Ron Paul, candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination, is set to speak at the University of Southern Maine this Saturday. Paul is tentatively scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. in the Hastings Formal Lounge on the Gorham campus, according to Paul Madore, the state chairman for the campaign. He said the itinerary is still being developed for the rest of Paul’s visit to Maine.
How a USM professor became an Internet meme
Two weeks ago, a familiar face from the University of Southern Maine Philosophy Department became something of an Internet star, appearing on the popular news aggregation site Reddit and the blog of Wil Wheaton, an actor best known for his roles on “The Big Bang Theory” and as Wesley Crusher in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” “The…
Efforts to increase enrollment focus on drawing residential students to Gorham
Jessica Harris, a freshman psychology major, is one of the students who received a housing grant for this semester. Without it, Harris said she would have to move back home and forgo an education in Gorham, where she has also developed a new social life.
“I wouldn’t have met half the people I’m friends with if I didn’t live on campus,” Harris said.
A farewell to Marie Stella in ‘from’
Here it is: the nearly three-year career span of of Marie Stella — one of Portland’s most predominant live acts — condensed into an appropriately modest six tracks. It shouldn’t surprise many that the final release from the forward thinking noise-pop four-piece ended up being an odds-and-ends collection from a series of recordings that was…
Leaky, old house perfect fit for USM applied energy program
The USM-owned building at 19 College Ave. was built in the late 19th century as a private residence and has been used for a variety of purposes for the university, though it wasn’t in use when the department took it over in January. The applied energy program will be using it as a laboratory and research tool for students, and, if all goes to plan, the house will become a resource for the community as well.
A&C Recommends: ‘The Red Ruby Heart in the Cold Blue Sea’ book signing
The spring semester has just begun, and to kick it off the USM bookstore has arranged a reading and signing of 2004 USM Stonecoast MFA graduate Morgan Callan Roger’s award-winning debut novel, Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea this Tuesday. “Everyone here at the bookstore is so excited that we’re launching Morgan Callan…
Ambition key to the growing community of Maine graphic designers
The state of Maine holds few educational options for budding graphic designers, but that hasn’t stopped Portland’s creative community from blossoming. Portland is home to numerous design agencies, including iBec Creative at 408 Fore St., The Via Agency at 619 Congress St. and Burgess Advertising and Marketing at 1290 Congress St. Each agency offers a variety of design services for print,…
Behind boarded-up windows, 131washington brings an all-inclusive DIY space to Portland
At the foot of Munjoy Hill rests a small warehouse with a weathered exterior and boarded-up windows, unabashedly displaying its survival through 84 harsh Maine winters — outlasting many surrounding buildings throughout the years. But behind the warped walls and crudely-painted doors lies an ambitious new arts and music venue run by two young artists…
University of Maine System Chancellor candidates speak at USM
The three candidates for the position of University of Maine System Chancellor visited the University of Southern Maine this week, discussing with members of the community how they would guide the system if given the job. The candidates, James Page, Meredith Hay and Rebecca Wyke spoke Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively, answering questions regarding financial…
Yudaken: Zen and the art of bird blogging
Like most people, I had never really considered birding. That was, until Sarah, my significant other, wrote a paper about it. I was deep into Sarah’s paper as she wrote it (her benefit of dating a habitual copy editor), and before we knew it we were pulled over on the side of a street staring…