Interviews with USM residential students, who remain anonymous for fear of prosecution, reveal how accessible drugs are on both the Portland and Gorham campuses. From the statistics available on criminal violations at USM, the University says it’s impossible to tell what the numbers reveal about a drug problem on campus.
Portland Hall resident dies in suspected drug overdose
Nick Johnston loved basketball. During his days at Ellsworth High School, no matter the season you never saw Johnston without a ball under his arm. He played basketball for USM his freshman year but due to injuries didn’t play again. He planned on rejoining the team this fall, but he will not be playing next season. Johnston died March 22 at age 22.
Election process perpetuates mediocre Student Senates
This week Elise critiques the underwhelming interest in Student Senate elections.
Health Beat: Taking care of halitosis (bad breath)
What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can contribute to breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled.
Weekly scores and schedule
The weekly sports scores and schedule update
Teams come home from Florida strong
The USM athletics spring season is underway despite the “balmy” April days that we have been enjoying lately here in Southern Maine.
Our baseball, softball and women’s track and field teams have returned from their annual Florida excursions with mixed results from their efforts.
Ballparks, museums, buses, and education all rolled together
Former USM student Daniel Fields recalled his Baseball and American Society experience by saying, “I had a blast! I loved the people and the entire experience.” With a bright smile, Fields said, “I am just waiting now for my son to be old enough so that I can take him on the trip with my Dad.”
Planet Digest: Week of April 7-13
Astronomy shows possibilities… you have the power of choice! Charlie Gould’s Planet Digest
Meet Joe Student: Dorn McMahon
Come in anticipation to see what Dorn McMahon thinks about the inevitable killer cow question
Local band to rock the State with CD release
Take a walk down any of the streets in the Old Port and one is bound to find a flyer on a telephone pole or wall that bears the name Rocktopus. One look in Casco Bay Weekly or The Phoenix and one is sure to see when and where to go to one of their shows. Their name is all over town, but it was not until now that Rocktopus put their efforts into a studio, and released a compact disc of original music. Their debut album “Something Fierce” will be officially available April 12, kicked off with a release party at the State Theater.
Acting barely saves crummy plot
Filled with contrived plot devices, “Bringing Down the House” dangles on the edge of typical Hollywood high concept failure and is rescued only by the strength of its stars and supporting cast. The melodramatic moments sporadically jerk the film away from its amusing premise and execution
Punky’s: more than just a sandwich shop
Punky’s, a name drawn from co-owner Joe Estes’s childhood, is just minutes from campus. Estes, who described himself as a moody and mouthy youth, said, “I went from ‘the punk’ to affectionately being called ‘Punky’ by my parents.”
“Words & Images” expansion unveiled
The staff at “Words & Images,” USM’s literary magazine began their year with a vision, a vision of expansion. They had hopes of expanding their circulation from Maine to nationwide.
Footprint: My sustainable chair
Last month, I bought a small stool from East Africa. It’s old, though no one knows how old. It’s very heavy. It is about two feet tall. It has no joints, being hewn from one piece of wood. The seat is round and deeply concave, like a bowl for kneading bread. The surface is dark and burnished from use. It has three thick legs that curve out horizontally just before they touch the floor.
Letters to the Editor
Read this week’s letters to the editor to see students and faculty to respond to hot issues *other* than the war
Staffer Talks: Can’t we all just talk?
This week’s Staffer Talks brings up the issue of communication between disagreeing Americans
Stressed out by the war? Read these tips to chill out
With American prisoners of war being executed by Iraqis, American soldiers freaking out and blowing each other up while they sleep, and allied forces marching into Baghdad as more Mainers get picked off in helicopter accidents, it is hard not to be glued to the television or cnn.com every moment of the day, hoping for some good news, or at least some new news about the exact coordinates and minute-by-minute movements of our troops overseas.
Senate Update
Report of the happenings of the last two week’s student senate meetings.
Crime on Campus
Report of crime on campus culled from USM police logs
George’s “toxic office” declared fit for use
The office formerly used by Beth George, attorney for Student Legal Services, will now be used for extra office space and as a conference room. George will stay in her new office in the Senate building at 11 Baxter Blvd. The air quality of the office was tested on March 10 by Department of Facilities Management personnel. It was declared free of any contaminants, including carbon monoxide.
WMPG airs alternative news
At a recent meeting, the WMPG board of directors voted to air the syndicated alternative news program Democracy Now. The vote of nine for and three against came after a long period of decision making by the board. Initially, the program was rejected by WMPG but after a wave of listener requests and protests, it was put to a second vote. The program will start on April 14.
Alumnus dies in war
When he attended USM, he was known as Jay Aubin. In death he is remembered as Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin of the U.S. Marine Corps. Aubin, 36, was one of the first to die in the war with Iraq when the helicopter he piloted crashed in Kuwait, killing four U.S and eight British soldiers.
USM professors, students arrested for civil disobedience
Just hours before the first missiles struck Baghdad on March 19, a large crowd gathered in Portland’s Monument Square to protest the attack. The plan was to walk to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office and discuss the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The evening ended with a no-show on the part of Snowe, and 22 arrests were made for “civil disobedience.” Among those arrested were a handful of USM students and several professors
Briefly…
Weekly news briefs