USM senior wrestling captain Mike Morin (Fryeburg) earned his 100th career win as he stormed through the 165-pound bracket, helping lead the Huskies to a fourth place finish at the Ted Reese Invitational on Saturday at the Costello Sports Complex in Gorham.
USM loses to Bowdoin in closing seconds
USM’s improbable second half comeback fell short with three seconds remaining when Bowdoin’s sophomore guard Will Hanley (New Canaan, CT) laid in the ball for the 68-66 win in Gorham last Tuesday.
The Bowdoin Polar Bears saw their 41-23 halftime lead vanish at the hands of the Huskies, led by junior forward Cortez Isaac (Washington, DC), who lead all scorers with 34 points.
Women’s B-ball falls to undefeated Bowdoin
Bowdoin College’s women’s basketball team held the lead over the USM Huskies the entire game on their way to a 60-47 win last Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.
Bowdoin’s forwards dominated the Huskies on both sides of the court all game. Senior forward Caitlin Hynes (Rockland) scored a game high 20 points and had nine rebounds, while senior forward Leah Rubega (Norwich, CT) put up 12 points and had a game-high 13 rebounds for Bowdoin.
Man arrested after on-foot chase with campus cops
Police arrested a man who was on the Criminal Trespass list on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Police responded to a call that a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt was loitering in the area of the Health Services trailer.
When police responded, Cainan took off on foot. The officer chased Cainan and caught him at the Science Building. Lt. Kevin Conger of the USM Police said he didn’t know why Canain was on the trespassing list, which bars individuals from setting foot on USM property for varying lengths of time.
Police to increase patrols of library
Before he was homeless, Tom was a Psychology major at USM.
“I remember being in English class. I was so nervous, I ran out of there and never came back,” Tom said of his days at USM in the 1980’s. Last Tuesday, Tom sat on a bench in the hallway outside of the Glickman Library on the Portland Campus, nervously thumbing through a copy of the New Testament, reciting phrases from memory, and debating whether or not he should start drinking again.
Faculty union and System office clash on new contract
After nearly eight months of negotiations, the University of Maine System and its faculty union continue to lock horns over issues of compensation and academic freedom on a new two-year contract.
The Associated Faculties of the University of Maine, which has around 1250 members, has tried to maintain faculty positions in exchange for keeping wages and benefits flat, but UMS has said they can’t promise professors won’t lose their jobs, according to union leaders.
Forum solicits student input in USM restructuring
Student body president Maggie Guzman has a warning for students about the impending restructuring of USM: “They should be scared,” she said.
The We Vote coalition – headed by Guzman – will host an open forum to solicit input from students on USM’s impending implementation of the Plan on Dec. 3, which could leave the school with a very different look come next fall.
“Students may come back [from winter break] and find their major is on the chopping block,” Guzman at a meeting of the coalition before Thanksgiving break.
Web site lets students compare professors
Picking a class schedule can be particularly stressful time for students. Students have to meet all their requirements, make sure classes don’t have a time conflict or fill up before they can get a spot and for many, one of the most important considerations in choosing a class is the professor.
No one wants a professor who is notoriously difficult, inconsistent, or boring. So how does one know? Certainly you can ask around or just pick arbitrarily and hope. Or you can do what more and more students are choosing to do and turn to the internet.
RateMyProfessors.com is a web site that was founded in 1999 by a Californian software engineer. The site has since been purchased by MTVu and subsequently expanded, now containing more than ten million ratings for countless professors at collegiate level institutions across the nation.
Letter From the Student Body President
I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and have come out of your turkey comas ready to tackle the last few weeks of the semester.
So far this year, you’ve witnessed some distinct changes at USM; such as the combination of Advising Services, Office of Early Student Success and Career services into the Student Success Centers- which are located on all three campuses.
As you may have heard, this is the first of many changes that USM will be undergoing over the next few years. These changes are in part due to budget cuts. Our administrators are working tirelessly to make very difficult decisions on our behalf, with the intention of obtaining the best possible outcome for USM past, present and perspective students.
Where to shop in Portland for: CLOTHES
If the over-crowded, Christmas song infused Mall scene is too much for you this season, but you still want some trendy clothing to compliment your winter wardrobe, there is still hope. Here are three shops in downtown Portland that can meet your vintage style clothing needs without making you take out another loan.
Review: John Mayer “Battle Studies”
Everybody knows John Mayer’s 2001 bubblegum sex-pop ditty, “Your Body is a Wonderland” and its endearing combination of quiet guitar strumming and sweetly graphic lyrics.
Somewhat less well-known is that Mayer may be one of the best guitarists alive today. He’s won every major music award (including 13 Grammys) and jammed with blues and jazz giants like Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King and John Scofield. He was even named one of the “New Guitar Gods” by Rolling Stone in 2007, placing him alongside Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
His fourth solo album “Battle Studies,” which came out two weeks ago, isn’t as good as some of his earlier work, but it still delivers 45 great minutes of music. Personally, I hadn’t been so excited to pick up a record since Dave Matthews Band released Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King this past summer. After practically running out of Bull Moose with “Battle Studies” in my hand, I immediately threw it in my car’s CD player and began my listen.
Restaurant Review: Shima – Stylishly Scrumptious
For years now, Yosaku, that Japanese place on Danforth St. near Brian Boru, has been my favorite place in town to go for sushi. But I’m starting to reconsider. After two delicious meals last week at Shima, the new French / Japanese fusion restaurant that just opened on Fore St. across the street from Rosie’s, I think my loyalties are beginning to shift.
To begin with, Shima has a menu vast enough that I may never become familiar with it all as well as a constantly shifting set of specials. I opted for a special – the tempura-fried, fish-wrapped spinach – since it didn’t sound like anything I’d ever had before, and I figured it’d be wonderful to try. Indeed, it was. Served on a plate full of a sauce which tasted distinctly French, it was a flavorful dish far surpassing my simplistic prior experiences with sushi.
Device Review: MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
The MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is the size of 10 stacked credit cards, and it works wonders. Simply turn it on wherever you are and BANG! You have a wi-fi network that you can connect to on your laptop or other device to surf the Web.
During one afternoon drive between Lewiston and Brunswick, my fiance was able to stream video from her Web cam and browse the Web at the same time – all at a relatively fast speed. As I write this review, I am using the MiFi card to connect to the Internet where I normally wouldn’t be able to – in Rumford, Maine at my grandparents’ house.
Movie Review: Amelia Earhart
Almost everyone has heard the story of Amelia Earhart. She attempts to fly around the world and goes missing somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Don’t be alarmed by the overdone subject matter, however, this film is nothing like that paper you wrote on her in sixth grade.
The Extra Point
Growing up in a town where basketball and soccer are the priority sports, you could say that the variety of competition that a young athlete exposes themselves to is miniscule.
Athletes like this play their respected sport- and I mean just one sport- year round. They compete in AAU basketball tournaments, premier soccer events, fall baseball, etc. They sacrifice their weekends to sharpen their skills in sports they have dedicated themselves to. Is focusing on one sport year round in the best interest for a young athlete though?
I firmly believe that athletes should look to venture out of the cocoon that is their one sport, and give themselves a chance to participate in others. I’m not saying that dedicating oneself to a particular sport is bad, but an athlete needs a variety of competition or else they’ll either be worn out by the time college comes into play, or they’ll be sick of playing the same sport over and over again.
Jasud becomes USM’s first men’s cross-country All-American
Senior Tyler Jasud (Rumford) became USM’s first ever men’s cross-country All-American as he finished 22nd out of 276 of the countries top cross country runners in the 2009 Division III National Men’s Cross Country Championships in Highland Hills, Ohio on Nov. 21.
Jasud completed the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25 minutes, 58.1 seconds. He improved from his 2008 finish at the DIII Nationals by 21 places, and improved his time by approximately 52 seconds.
Jasud’s All-American honor adds to his already impressive line of awards that include the 2008 Little East Conference Runner of the Year and multiple LEC Runner of the Week accolades.
UNE tops USM men’s basketball in first game
The USM men’s basketball team traveled to Biddeford on Nov. 17 to take on a UNE Nor’easters squad that features players from all over the country. Unlike last year’s season opener, the Huskies were upended by UNE in a shooting duel 82-70.
UNE’s performance was backed by four Nor’easters who were in double-figures and a team effort that featured 45.3 percent (25 for 64) shooting from the field to edge USM.
The Huskies managed to keep the score close as they trailed 43-34 after the first half of play. USM is burdened with limited selection right now as they are without several of their key players that benefited last year’s team.
USM employee masters lifestyle through Martial Arts
Joe Johnson leaves his Buxton home every morning and makes his way to the Brooks Students Center on the Gorham Campus. He takes pride in his work as a custodian at the USM Dining Hall, working extra hard until he clocks out at 1:30 p.m., when the real fun begins.
Three years ago Joe wasn’t in a great place. He was stressed because of pressure from work and at home, and his blood pressure was through the roof at a mind blowing 198 over 100. His wife told him something needed to be done. That’s when Joe discovered the world of Jukado.
Jukado is a form of martial arts that combines Karate, Kung Fu, Akiado and Judo, and involves open hand and weapon skill. It focuses on discipline, respect, and mentality, and has really taught Joe a lot.
USM women’s basketball drops season opener
Last year the USM women’s basketball team opened their season with a 77-57 win at home against the UNE Nor’easters. This year UNE came out with a vengeance as they buried USM 72-55. The loss marked the Huskies first defeat in a season opener since 1989.
UNE used a combination of balanced scoring and tenacious defense to shut down the annually dominant Huskies.
USM kept up with the Nor’easters in the first 20 minutes, trailing by just four points as the score rounded out to 37-34 at half. UNE showcased an accurate shooting performance in the first half as they shot 47.1 percent (16 for 34) from the field, including a 50 percent effort from 3-point range (5 for 10).
Men’s ice hockey prevails with win over St. Michael’s in season’s first game
The USM Huskies jumped off to an early lead in their season opener when freshman Ben Maclaughlin (Beverly, MA) intercepted a clearing pass by a Saint Michael’s College defender directly in front of the net and put it past junior goalie Brendan Rimmer 46 seconds into the contest. The Huskies held the lead the entire game, beating the Purple Knights 3-2 Friday night at the USM Ice Arena in Gorham.
USM increased their lead midway through the first period when junior Zach Joy (Dover, NH) took the puck from the opposite end, skating through Saint Michael’s defenders, to beat Rimmer with a wrist shot. Senior Chris Travis (Scituate, MA) and junior Mike Carpenter (Minot) were credited with assists on the goal. The Purple Knights struggled mounting any attack during the first period and were out-shot 12-6.
Two cases of H1N1 confirmed at USM
USM’s Health Services has stopped testing for the H1N1 virus after two cases were confirmed in the University community.
USM budget deficit $4.8 million in 2011
USM’s budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2011 is expected to be $4.8 million and by FY 2013, the total deficit could reach $13.9 million, according to a Tuesday evening blog post from President Selma Botman.
After months of talks, fraternities and USM reach accord on partying in Gorham
Two fraternity brothers stationed at the corner of College Avenue and School Street stood smoking cigarettes while students in white t-shirts hustled past towards Sigma Nu for the highlighter party Saturday night.
Having two brothers on the corner during events is only part of the new behavioral guidelines for off campus student organizations at the University of Southern Maine, which came into effect that Friday. Four more brothers, along with chapter president and spokesperson for the fraternities Brian Boyt, stood at the end of the Sigma Nu driveway, controlling the crowds coming in. However, these precautions, now part of the behavioral guidelines, are nothing new for Sigma. “The majority of the stuff in the document, we’ve already been doing,” said Boyt.
State deficit could double
The State of Maine can’t seem to figure out how much money it doesn’t have.
Last month, Governor John Baldacci announced the state was facing a $200 million deficit due to lower than expected tax revenues. But the most recent estimates point to a $300 to $400 million shortfall in the current two year budget. The total amount of tax revenue generated in October was nearly $27 million below expectations, leading lawmakers and analysts to believe the recession has hit Mainers harder than expected.