The administration is looking to students to help change the way USM is run.
On June 11, the school released the final draft of the Strategic Plan – a manifesto outlining eight goals to sustain the school through a period of economic uncertainty.
The plan, which was penned by faculty, students, administrators and members of the general public, went through three drafts before it was released June 11.
Budget cuts are a rising issue in high schools and colleges all over the country. Due to the economic draught that has taken over, schools are forced to cut programs with a good majority of them being sports. USM has even had to deal with this issue and has had to drop sports programs because of the increase of costs in transportation, uniforms, facilities, etc.
The fenced-off play area on the Portland campus that used to be filled with children laughing and playing is now empty and quiet. All that remains is a covered sandbox, an old play house, and blank spot where the swingset used to be.
Last February, to balance last year’s state curtailment of $2.
Many believe that soccer is more of a finesse game than anything. In contrast, the sport can also be known as a very physical bout and that is exactly what was showcased in Wednesday afternoon’s non-conference women’s soccer matchup on the USM Soccer Field.
The head of the University of Maine System on Monday will reveal a plan for the restructuring of the seven campus university to offset an estimated $42.8 million deficit over the next four years.
Chancellor Richard Pattenaude will present his plan to the UMS Board of Trustees Monday morning.
Men’s Soccer
McHugh Leads USM to Second Win
Senior forward Peter McHugh (Portland, ME) scored the lone goal in a defensive battle, as the USM men’s soccer team pulled out a 1-0 victory over Worcester State in a non-conference men’s soccer match-up in Gorham on Saturday.
Campaign promises, lofty goals, finding the time to talk with your constituency, these are things that can easily slip away from a Student Body President once the crush of classes, meetings, and social functions start to kick in with the start of the semester.
The USM Huskies dominated the Gordon College Fighting Scots with a lopsided score of 6-0 in what was non-conference field hockey action at Paula D. Hodgdon field in Gorham this past Thursday.
The Huskies began their intense offensive attack early on; penetrating deep into the Gordon zone until senior forward Caitlin Albert (Scarborough, ME) managed to deflect a shot from sophomore forward Whitney McDaniel (Livermore, ME) into the goal just four and a half minutes into the game to make the score 1-0.
Sound a little far-fetched? I know it did to me when the editor at my summer internship pitched this story idea to me three weeks ago.
Sure Portland has a world-class bar scene, a vibrant music community, and more burrito joints than you can shake a sustainably-harvested stick at, but it hardly has that Columbus, Boston, or Gainesville vibe that people normally associate with a college town.
In countries across the globe, and even in various states, women have the legal right to go topless. But just because women can, doesn’t mean women do. There is a strong sort of taboo against the naked chest of a woman being visible in public. Here in Maine women can go topless, but do we? I’ve lived in Maine for ten years, I’ve been to multiple beaches, countless times, and I have yet to see even one topless woman in public.
It’s Thursday night. You’re old enough to drink and young enough not to have to worry about trucking off to the office at 9a.m. Friday morning. The only problem is that that rent check you just wrote for your new apartment just cleared out whatever was left in your bank account, and you’ve got almost no money to spend.
JN: What was the reason you came to USM? Was it more because of the athletics, or was it for the academics?
DK: Well I went to UMaine in Orono my freshman year and went there for the academics. I walked on to the men’s soccer team there. Then, after losing every game my freshman year, I realized I just wanted to play and have fun.
The atmosphere at opening night of “Company,” the new production that kicked off the fall season of the Portland Players Theater in South Portland on Friday night, was as lively and welcoming as a reunion of old friends.
The building hummed as about 75 local theater lovers flowed in to take their seats before the 8p.
“Inglourious Basterds” is an entertaining ride that will thrill fans of Quentin Tarantino’s other movies but may cause history buffs to squirm. Be warned, the movie is an absurdly fun piece of fiction with little regard for history or even plausibility.
Set in Nazi occupied France, the film is seen through two viewpoints.
The art of book-making is almost as ancient as writing itself. For thousands of years human beings have been designing scrolls and manuscripts and binding pages together to contain the written word. This past July, art students at USM had an opportunity to learn some of these skills as part of the week-long 200-level Book Arts Program at the Stone House, a USM facility in Freeport.
After a ten year winless streak against the USM Huskies, the UNE Nor’easters were finally able to break through their tenacious and defeating spell to beat the Huskies 2-1 during what was a feverish men’s season home opener in Gorham.
Despite a solid offensive attack, as well as consistent dictation in game tempo, the Huskies let mental breakdowns affect their game dramatically, allowing the Nor’easters to capitalize on several key offensive opportunities.
On the first Friday of every month, Congress Street in Portland bustles as locals, tourists and students venture out to peruse the downtown galleries and take in the vibrant scene of street performers and musicians.
This month was no exception. The Portland Museum of Art showcased an exhibit named “Call of the Coast: Art Colonies of New England” that included art from Charles Ebert, Willard Metcalf and Andrew Winter.
At my summer job I am surrounded by a lot of girls. They work with me or come in as customers- they are everywhere. and they teach me things. They have continued to prove to me how society distorts their views of themselves. This big concern came out one day when I was doing what I often do, people-watching through the window.
USM attracted fewer students this year than expected.
According to preliminary enrollment figures, as of Aug. 30, 9,222 students were enrolled in courses: a 1.21 percent drop from last fall’s total headcount of 9,335.
“Bottom line, we’re moving toward an enrollment equal with 2008, which is what we budgeted for, but we are not there yet,” Bob Caswell, executive director of Public Affairs wrote in an e-mail.
In an effort to cut costs and keep students from dropping out after their first year, the University this summer folded the Advising Services, Career Services and Professional Life Development departments into three Student Success Centers located at each USM campus.
The USM Field Hockey team opened their season against the University of New England Nor’easters on Tuesday at the Paula D. Hodgdon Field in Gorham. The Huskies fell behind early and could not make up the deficit, losing 5-1.
In the opener the Nor’easters struck first with a goal from sophomore forward Michele Oswald with an assist by junior forward Taryn Flagg just before the end of the first half.
Viewed from the street, the small building looks like all the other white, clapboard cottages that USM owns along Falmouth St. in Portland. Go in the main entrance and through the sticker-plastered door on the left, however, and you’ll find yourself in the thriving cultural nexus that is WMPG, the community radio station for southern Maine.
Looking for something fun to do next weekend? The 2nd annual Picnic Music and Arts Festival is coming back to Lincoln Park in Portland, located on the corner of Congress Street and Franklin Arterial.
If you missed Picnic last year, you should know that this will be a unique kind of local festival that will be well worth stopping by and checking out.
Although no USM students have contracted the H1N1 flu virus, the school is urging the campus community to be prepared.
In a mass e-mail to students, faculty and staff last Monday, Dr. Kristine Bertini, director of University Health and Counseling, reiterated the importance of cleanliness and precaution in battling the H1N1 – or Swine Flu – virus.