A piano plays in the cold March night, while the clear, distant resonance of a soprano carries all the way from Russell Hall to Corthell’s neighboring parking lot. Inside the theatre, one set of double doors leads into a room that generally serves as a workshop for set construction; tonight, however, there is the rhythmic shuffle-thump of rehearsing dancers.
War is bad. Men are pigs
On Russell Hall’s main stage, there is a Greek palace of sorts, complete with pillars and multiple levels, done in pastel pinks, blues and purples, the curves and strategically centered door a clear metaphor for the female form. An effeminate man with a flowing white beard approaches the audience, introducing himself as Aristophanes, then proceeds to remind us of standard audience protocol-no cell phones, flash photography, note the emergency exits-before cautioning that the following is not a play for the timid.
Calendar of Events
Can-Am Sled Dog Race. The annual Canadian-American Sled Dog Race in Fort Kent. Okay, yes, it’s a haul, in the dead of a never-ending winter. But it’s huskies and they’re sledding-250 miles, people. This is why winter was invented. Plus, there’s no admission for spectators, so if you feel like ditching classes and taking a trek up north, your very own Jack London-worthy adventure awaits.
Lifestyle
I am almost 23, and until a few weekends ago, the closest thing to skiing I had ever done was at my friend Elizabeth Taylor’s house in the sixth grade. After bribing me with a Rider Strong poster from Tiger Beat, she convinced me to strap on her parent’s cross-country skis and slide around her “backyard” (read: a hill with a patio).
FootPrint
Part-time USM student, Dana Artz, writes about her travels in Australia where she is currently living and working as a waitress.
Australians call their country Oz-as in that exotic land peopled by Dorothy, Toto and the Tin Man. After just two weeks here, it’s clear that I’m not in Kansas anymore.
From the mountains
To “sandbag” someone is to tell them a climb is easier than it really is. When they go up, they flail all over the place. This provides amusement for those on the ground. Sounds kind of sick, doesn’t it?
Perhaps every male-dominated sport has a similar degree of machismo.
Question of the Week
Question: What is your most memorable parking garage moment? “I haven’t been in one, I walk to school.” Ralph Burns (Undeclared Junior) “When I had to wait a half an hour to get out of it.” Sarah Wentworth (Undeclared Sophomore) “I always get good parking spots.
Meet Joe Student
Name: Hamida Suja Year: Freshman Major: Biology What are your future plans? To become a medical doctor. Where is your hometown? South Portland, but I was born in Somalia and also lived in Saudi Arabia. When did you move to the USA? In 1998 when I was 12. My father played the lottery and won.
Diane Russell: A Mainer on the move
Diane Russell, media studies major and a staff writer for The Free Press, recently started an internship at Portland Magazine and interviewed Hollywood star Alan Alda.
Q: I understand you’re doing an internship with Portland Magazine. Tell me about your debut article.
Man caught stealing from Ice Arena lockers
On Feb. 25, USM police charged 51-year-old Raymond Ledoux of Westbrook with four counts of theft and one count of providing false identification after Ledoux entered the men’s locker room in the Ice Arena and stole jewelry and several wallets.
According to Vinnie Degifico, Manager of the Ice Arena, a score keeper, Tim O’Carroll, saw Ledoux retrieve an empty trash bag from a trash can and throw it over his shoulder before entering the locker room, so as to look like an employee of the Arena.
Student Senate helps fund Symposium
After extensive discussion, the Student Senate voted in favor to fund $3,807 of the $13,507 needed in the budget of the second annual Thinking Matters Research & Creativity Symposium.
The original proposal, submitted February 8, requested $2,320, and was increased by the Symposium to $2,407.
Governor’s budget proposal falls short of expectations
Tuition rises every year. It’s a known fact that pressures such as inflation and rising operating costs force the University to raise tuition a little each year in order to maintain a level of quality. This year tuition increases might be steeper than in recent years due to Governor Baldacci’s spartan budget proposal for the next two years.
Campus Crime
Feb. 13 Somebody stole a bicycle from the parking lot of Portland Hall. USM police charged Brendan Ciani, 20 of New Canaan, Conn with criminal mischief after discharging a fire extinguisher in Upton Hastings Hall. His court date is March 7. A complaint was made at 6 a.
In Brief
Senate considers making all seats at-large The 33rd Student Senate will vote on Friday, March 11, if University students should be given the opportunity to change the way senators are elected. If passed, the proposal, introduced by Senate Vice-Chair Andrew Bossie, will add a referendum to the March election ballot which asks the student body if they are “in favor of abolishing Student Senate constituencies.
Demosthenes’ Corner
USM has a variety of illustrious speakers coming here every week. Here is a sample of some of them. This list is not all-inclusive and the number of listings is contingent on space.
Featured Speakers
Doras Chirwa, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator for CARE Zambia, will give a guest lecture entitled “HIV and AIDS in Zambia” on Thursday, March 10, at 4:15 p.
Sketchy cancellation info leaves students in the cold
When the University’s storm line announced the cancellation of all classes, activities and events scheduled for Tuesday, some students rolled back into bed and some made new plans for the day. Few thought to check back with the storm line, the University’s website or local TV and radio news stations, which all said simply that classes were cancelled for the day and gave no further information.
University reacts to student body president
Last month, the Student Senate created a new student-government position at the University of Southern Maine: student body president. The Senate approved the new position as a trial run that will need approval by next year’s Senate. The president will change the structure of the student government and could shift relations between the student body and administration.
Sports Briefs
Women’s Ice Hockey:
USM erased a one goal third period deficit to defeat the Amherst College Lord Jeffs on Sunday, February 6. USM got three early goals in a span of 1:23 of the third period to go ahead and stay ahead, defeating the Lord Jeffs by a score of 4-3 in a non-conference game at Orr Rink in Amherst, MA.
Lounsbury’s made a difference
While interviewing USM senior defenseman John Lounsbury, you’d never know he’s made the All-League team, been the Huskies’ captain for the past two seasons, or that he is single handedly credited for bringing back the winning ways to USM. Lounsbury, a communication major and Winthrop, MA native, was appreciative of the high praise, but felt there were a lot more guys on the team that should be thanked for the turnaround.
heart-comic #22
Bound for Z
Hoopleville
Chamber Singers receive funding from Student Senate
The USM Chamber Singers received $3,900 to help pay for their European tour in the summer of 2005. The amount requested will cover approximately 11 percent of the airfare for the 39 students going on the trip.
Before the Senate assembled, Senate Chair Ezekiel Kimball, Parliamentarian Adam Mirmelli and Senator Mike Barton met with USMCS President Elisa Haveles to discuss whether or not the request would come into conflict with a proposal passed last semester, which prevents the Student Senate from using the Student Activity Fee to “support the activities of an academic class or University administrative functions.
Welcome to the swamp
When most people think of Mardi Gras, they imagine Bourbon Street: Copious amounts of alcohol, wild music and all the debauchery that results from such a volatile mixture. This past Tuesday, WMPG hosted its 10th annual Fat Tuesday (the English translation of Mardi Gras) celebration in the Woodbury Campus Center.