On thanksgiving day this year, Governer Baldacci reported that he wants to cut $13 million from the state’s public education to help cover a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program. This was reported in the last issue of the Free Press. We won’t know if the motion makes it through the legislature until we come back from break this spring.
achewood
Monday Night Football
I am not surprised by the recent revelation that Halliburton is overcharging the U.S government for oil its importing from Kuwait to Iraq. That is what happens when a contract is handed out without a bidding process to a subsidiary of a company once run by our vice-president.
Question of the Week
“I think all states should follow. It’s not the government’s place to decide who is allowed to marry who and to force their moral beliefs on others.”
“Yes, I definately think other states should follow Massachusetts’ lead.
Garage to open January ’04
When classes resume this spring, the new parking garage on Bedford Street will be ready for use. The garage, which will hold 1,150 parking spaces, will be open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.
Students enrolled for classes at USM have paid a mandatory transportation fee.
Bound for Z
HEALTH BEAT
This year’s flu season looks to be a doozy. It is off to an early start. Despite the current national shortage of flu vaccine, there is still a way to get vaccinated. Wyeth Vaccines has recently developed FluMist, the first nasal-mist flu vaccine in the U.
Student Activity Fee-Increase vs. Index
As the semester comes to a close, the Student Activity Fee Adhoc Committe (SAFAC) is still considering changes to the student activity fee, including a proposal to continually raise the fee from now on to match national inflation. The committee continues to raise awareness of the services the fee is prviding on campus.
USM Athletics Schedule and Scoreboard
Sports Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 27
Men’s Ice Hockey at Codfish Bowl, Boston, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Men’s Ice Hockey at Codfish Bowl, Boston, 2 or 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Women’s Basketball at Grand Canyon Classic (Gordon), Phoenix, 12 EST
Men’s Basketball at Grand Canyon Classic (Goucher), Phoenix, 8 EST
Wednesday Dec.
Advising complaints prompt evaluation
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which houses the largest number of majors on campus, is forming a committee to evaluate advising within the college. The committee’s primary task will be to explore alternative advising models.
Interim Dean of CAS Luiza Deprez said she sees a need for improvement within the advising program.
Jack Duffy
Sports for the Layperson / Sports Trivia
Sports Trivia
Which USM track athletes were recently named captains of the Men’s and Women’s indoor track teams?
Answer:
Junior Claton Conrad, N. Yarmouth, ME, and Chris Roux, Sanford, ME, were named captains of the men’s team.
Kim Brewer, Bristol, Vt.
USM celebrates a Holiday Season
Last week, USM celebrated the holiday season with festivals on the Portland and Gorham campuses. ARAMARK hosted a Holiday Luncheon Buffet for the entire USM community: students, faculty and staff, at the Woodbury Campus Center cafeteria. Inside the building anyone could feel the spirit of holiday season: the walls, ceiling and the tables were decorated with snowflakes and fur-tree branches, and soothing live jazz music was provided by the International Association of Jazz Educators, a student organization in the School of Music.
Girls & SPORTS
Briefly…
Bioscience wing expanding
A $4.4 million expansion on the new bioscience wing will result in three more floors on that building, for a total of five stories. The expansion is slated to be completed in Nov. 2004. The money is coming from the same $60 million state bond that funded the UMS-wide wireless internet project.
Crime on Campus
Dec. 3
Ryan Treuhaft, 21, Portland, was arrested for disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest. He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail, where he was additionally charged with harassment.
Dec. 4
There was a drug violation on the Gorham campus.
Seekonk crafts an engaging and relaxing debut
Sometimes you can have a total change of heart after experiencing a new type of music for the first time. When I first I played this CD I mistakenly blurted out, “Oh great, another slow, heart wrenching, artsy feminist album about something that I am just far too simple to understand!” But upon closer examination, I found that I had been wrong.
Strong script and acting drive “The Missing”
Director Ron Howard’s new film ‘The Missing” is a western/suspense thriller with well-defined themes of religious faith, the strength of family and a woman’s fight to overcome adversity. Co-stars Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett are a great team and also give powerful performances individually.
achewood
Destinations
Monday
The Free Street Taverna, at 128 Free Street in Portland, presents a free hip-hop open mic night hosted by Boondox. Sign up is at 8 p.m., and the rapping commences shortly thereafter. Ages 21 and over are welcome. Call 772-5483 for more information.
Moving forward with Coach Venditti and women’s hockey
Coach Venditti has turned the University of Southern Maine women’s ice hockey team into a very competitive Eastern College Athletic Conference division III program. This year will not be any different than the past three years with Venditti at the helm.
Student plays touch on Shakespeare, Elvis Presley
This year’s student-written USM Theatre productions, “Ghosting” by Michael Toth and “Goin’ to Graceland” by M. Calien Lewis, play this week at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center, 76 Congress St. in Portland. The one-act plays, directed by USM faculty members William Steele and Thomas Power and featuring student actors, explore themes of redemption, renewal and pilgrimage.
Meet Joe Student
Anna Blice
Age: 23
Major: Undeclared
Hometown: Stafford, VA
What brought you to the area and what do you think of it?
My job as a Sign Language Interpreter at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf brought me to Maine. I love it here.
Letter from the Editor
Oftentimes we receive letters to the editor in criticism of our actions. Sometimes I find these criticisms unfounded, and when I do it’s usually because of a lack of knowledge about the mechanics of The Free Press. I feel inclined to clarify a few issues brought up by reader Jason Libby.