Last week I found myself on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak. I was covering the men’s basketball playoff game at UMass-Darmouth: innocent enough. But as I took my seat in the relatively quiet gym during the final seconds of the Keene State/Rhode Island College game, the atmosphere began to change.
“How do you find out about all this music I’ve never heard of?”
Once in a while, when I’m hyping a great new band or a generally unheard of musician to a friend, they’ll ask (to paraphrase): “Tyler, how do you find out about all this music I’ve never heard of?”
I used to get this question more often, when I was more active in seeking out strange or unknown artists.
From the Right
I’m a registered Republican. How’s that sit with you? My guess is that it just made at least one person turn to the next page. So much for being open-minded.
To be completely honest, I am a compassionate conservative, which means I’m a person who believes poverty is a top priority and those in it should be taught how to get out of it.
Israeli soldier breaks the silence at USM
It’s August in the Ein Beit Ilma refugee camp in Israel’s West Bank. Argentina is playing Nigeria in the World Cup. “Listen man,” says an Israeli soldier to his lieutenant, an Argentina fan “here and there, this house and that house, they’re all the same, but here they have a TV, man.
Men’s track breaks records, will send Wheeler to nationals
It has been a record setting post-season for the USM men’s indoor track and field team.
Two weeks ago, the team broke three school records at the NEIcAAA championships, including best-ever results in the 4×400 meter relay and the 800 and 5,000 meter runs.
Brandon’s Brew Review
Belgian beers are generally regarded with high esteem by drinkers and critics alike. After finding a niche for this style of brewing in Maine, Allagash has carved out its own prestige in the beer community, and their Dubbel Ale holds up this tradition.
Coming in at seven percent alcohol by volume and sporting a very dark pour, it’s certainly nothing to scoff at.
Setting the facts straight on Tom Manning and “Can’t Jail the Spirit”
I am writing in response to Dustin Gilbert’s “From the Right” column in the March 3, issue of The Free Press, entitled, “Manning gave up his freedom.” Gilbert’s rant is but the latest in a long and tiring series of simplistic and uninformed right-wing written attacks on political prisoner Tom Manning, his supporters, and the organizers of his art exhibit, “Can’t Jail the Spirit.
SIFE students aim to impact USM, community
Standing in front of the trophy case in the School of Business office, you might think we have a dynasty on our hands. Trophies fill the display case, each proclaiming the accomplishments of SIFE. It’s impressive, but it raises a question.
What is SIFE?
The Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE, is one of the largest student non-profit organizations in the world, with over 1600 participating colleges in the U.
HUSKY HERO
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
Sport: Women’s track
FP: How did you feel when you broke the 17-year-old record for the 400 meter indoor race in NYC last weekend?
Emily: I felt pretty proud, that record has been standing for a long time, so it was exciting to break it.
Destroy The Plastique Man
When it was announced this summer that the Rustic Overtones were getting back together, the future of As Fast As was immediately thrown into doubt. Surely, AFA frontman and Rustic keyboardist Spencer Albee couldn’t pull double-duty with two of Portland’s biggest bands.
Under the Circumstances, Planeside livens Portland music scene
Though Planeside is from New York City, the Portland music community has openly accepted them as an honorary “local band.”
Vocalist/guitarist Dave Harris, bassist Ken Hirasaki, and drummer Craig Sala has been performing in Maine longer than most local bands have lasted, and they continue to stay fresh, attract large crowds, and put on some of the most energetic live sets this side of New England.
How to file your taxes
Tax season is upon us. With April 15 looming ahead, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with talk of W-2’s, 1040’s, and other number-letter combinations of seemingly endless paperwork.
Most students avoid the “pen-and-paper” route towards their federal income taxes, opting increasingly for tax-prep software, e-filing, and online preparation.
Featured Faculty
So you were born in Syria? What was it like growing up there?
Well, in the old days of Syria when it was not crowded and chaotic in terms of its politics and regional tensions, the people were quite involved with their lives. There was quite a deal of excitement about the future of the country, especially in the 1950s.
Huskies drop the ball
After a season of winning, the women’s basketball team took a hit in the conference championship game, losing in overtime to Eastern Connecticut, 60-65. They will likely still continue to the NCAA tournament, but have to wait until late Sunday night for the announcement of teams getting at-large bids.
The loss drops their record to 25-3, and breaks a streak of 11 consecutive Little East Conference championship wins. USM has been to the NCAA tournament for the last 13 years in a row, and have gone 21 times since joining the NCAA in 1985.
What made this year different?
“In the past, we’d go to the LEC’s thinking ‘we’re gonna win,'” said senior Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, VT)after their semi-finals win against Keene.
“This year it was a lot tougher, we’ve had to work that much harder. It wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
Multicultural Office hosts Dartmouth speaker, dancers
Vibrant performers, energetic drumming, handmade crafts, exotic foods, and a passionate speaker were housed in the Woodbury Campus center last week for the “Main Event” of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
The day featured a guest speaker from Dartmouth University, Peter James Morgan, who, along with his extensive research about Native Americans in the abolitionist movement, spoke about the history of African American and Native American heritage in New England.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Change. Change is good; change is hard.
I am not a person who does well with change.
You wouldn’t guess it – I somehow managed the move from high school in Minnesota to college here, 1500 miles away.
I dealt with the even larger leap across the dateline when I spent a semester living in tomorrow, a.
Departments, administration speak out on “listed” programs
Earlier this month, Provost Mark Lapping released a list of 26 academic programs to be put on “probation,” facing evaluation in light of the current budget crisis.
With a deadline of April 1 to present a comprehensive plan of reform, departments and their members have been scrambling to meet the expectation, and are trying to make sense of this forewarned, though unprecedented move.
New England Champion
Under the pressure felt only in overtime at the center of a darkened gymnasium on a mat lit by a single brilliant spotlight, sophomore Mike Morin took down top-seeded Jake Tyler of Springfield College and felt the ref holding his hand high in the air.
In the win, Morin, a sophomore from Fryeburg, became the third USM man ever to advance to the national Division III wrestling tournament. He qualified at 165 pounds and led his team to eighth place in the New England Wrestling Association championships held in Gorham last week.
Morin joins the ranks of Adam Farrington, who qualified at 174 pounds in 1999 and 2001, and teammate Steve Valastro (junior, Montgomery, NY), who qualified last year at 133 pounds.
Turbulent season over for men’s hockey
Hockey is a game that relies on momentum. You have to be able to counter-act every good move your opponent makes and create a good opportunities right away; any sudden mistakes will be detrimental to the objective of winning the game. It’s like chess on ice.
The Vagina Monologues and V-Day
If USM women’s vaginas could dress up and talk, they would wear diamonds and stilettos and say things like “wrong hole!” and “slower!”
The questions that spawned these responses were asked to those who attended the annual production of The Vagina Monologues, sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center and the Student Senate.
In support of the arts & humanities program at LAC
February 13, 2008
Dear Dr. Wood, Dr. Lapping, and the entire USM Community,
I’m a graduate student in the American & New England Studies program here at USM, as well as a research assistant for Dr. Donna Cassidy and Dr. Ardis Cameron. It has come to my attention that several programs have been put on a “list” of programs that might be cut from USM’s offerings.
Budget woes go statewide
Taking a page from the USM playbook, the State of Maine is being forced to make cuts as it faces a budget crisis of it’s own. Since about 33 percent of USM’s budget comes from the state allocation, USM’s own predicament is potentially about to get worse.
In January, Gov.
Huskies lose in playoffs, succeed where it counts
The men’s basketball team may not have won the conference championship, but if you consider achieving team goals a triumph, than the Huskies had an extremely successful close to their season.
Coach Karl Henrikson and his team aspired from the start of the season to accomplish three things: to end the season with a winning record and to both host and win a playoff game.
DON’T STAY HOME
March 3
Naked Shakespeare will be presented at The Wine Bar, the hip café in downtown Portland by Acorn Productions. If you missed the recent Naked Macbeth event at USM, you must see what the fuss about being naked is all about. Free donation/ 8pm/ The Wine Bar/ 38 Wharf St.