UMaine’s Safe Campus Project was founded in 2001 to raise awareness
on campus about the presence of sexual and domestic violence in a
community where many would be surprised to hear of its prevalence. Safe
Campus offered specialized counseling services to affected University
members for six years before the government grant-funded program was
deemed to be so highly valued by the campus community, it was continued
as a freestanding organization based out of the Women’s Resource Center.
The last coordinator of the Safe Campus Project resigned in June, and
a replacement coordinator has not been instated. The program itself is
now being reconfigured as the “Sexual Violence Response, Education and
Prevention Program.” Dean of Students Robert Dana claims that this
replacement program will more than adequately perform the same functions
as the Safe Campus Project and perhaps do so even more thoroughly
across the campus community. Now that it will be based out of the
Division of Student Affairs, it will thus be more incorporated into
programs like Residential Life and Greek organizations, perhaps gaining
greater influence.
The foreseeable issue with the effectiveness of the new program has
nothing to do with whether the same services are being carried over from
the old one, or if they are more widely advertised within certain
sectors of the campus community. It is not a question of whether the
counselors will be equipped with the same level of specialized training.
The main concern is that the anonymity and confidentiality of the
Safe Campus Project, which previously distinguished it from other
counseling services available on campus, will no longer be guaranteed.
As a more independent program, Safe Campus chose to interpret legal
constraints liberally in order to more effectively advocate for the
students who retained their services. Incorporated under the Office of
Student Affairs, the new Sexual Violence Response, Education and
Prevention Program will be obligated to take certain legal action in
response to reports of sexual violence, compromising the usually highly
valued element of confidentiality provided by services like Safe Campus.
It is an unfortunate likelihood that this new configuration of the
old program could result in fewer reports of sexual and domestic
violence. Victims of sexual violence are far less likely to report
incidents to the proper authorities than they are to seek counseling
that offers a confidentiality clause. An administrative organization
that necessarily handles reports of sexual assault in a way that avoids
legal liability will, at least for that reason, be a less effective tool
for outreach and prevention.
Dean Dana has agreed that in light of the apparent increase in sexual
violence on college campuses nationwide, sexual assault response
services need to remain oriented toward assisting the victims. However,
it is worth considering that the new mechanism at UMaine for providing
those services may be less effective, simply by virtue of their
different relationship to University administration, and this potential
change merits a watchful eye from the community.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Belcher’s Prior Achievements Don’t Diminish Horrific Actions: 12.3.2012
Not only has the death of a University of Maine alumnus over the
weekend greatly affected the UMaine community, but the nature of the
death has left a haze of miserable confusion in its wake. Famed
linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs Jovan Belcher, a since-graduated
UMaine football star, unexpectedly and inexplicably fatally shot his
girlfriend and himself in a bizarre murder-suicide on Saturday. While we
may never truly know what prompted his actions, they have stirred up an
unusual dilemma.
Of course Jovan is mourned by those who survive him; the Black Bears, the Chiefs, the athletic families of which he had been a member and those who were affiliated with him personally are all grieving, wishing for solace for those affected by this tragedy.
He was reportedly kind and friendly, was a member of Male Athletes Against Violence and of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and was overall generous with his time and energy during his years at UMaine. People are mourning the loss of the man they knew who sported such exceptional qualities and talents.
Unfortunately there is a cloud of mystery and ambiguity surrounding what drove him to commit the appalling crime that he did. Perhaps it is because we don’t understand. Perhaps it is because he was someone who had such a positive impact on the UMaine community during his time here, that the news of this incident has been met with more sympathy and bemusement than anger and blame.
However, it is important to keep in mind, for the sake of generating a just and fair public response to this painful situation, what exactly the actions were that he chose to take, as well as their consequences: He fatally shot his girlfriend, following an argument they had, in their home in front of his mother. He killed himself in front of his coaching staff at Arrowhead Stadium after he encountered them in the parking lot, causing a subsequent total lockdown of the facility. He left his 3-month-old daughter an orphan. He acted selfishly and without regard for the physical or emotional trauma those acts would inevitably cause. To minimize this is a disservice to those directly and indirectly affected by his apparently uncharacteristic behavior.
In the Sunday game following the troubling events of the preceding day, the Chiefs held a moment of silence before a game in which Belcher would likely have played. That silence was dedicated not to Belcher, for whom they were undoubtedly grieving, but for victims of domestic violence at large. This display of sincere appreciation for the issues at hand that surround Belcher’s death could generate a more grounded reaction to the situation than the one those too blinded by their grief could be responsible for. Their example is not only sensitive to the facts but inspires those of us who need some perspective on the true victims of this devastating incident.
Of course Jovan is mourned by those who survive him; the Black Bears, the Chiefs, the athletic families of which he had been a member and those who were affiliated with him personally are all grieving, wishing for solace for those affected by this tragedy.
He was reportedly kind and friendly, was a member of Male Athletes Against Violence and of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and was overall generous with his time and energy during his years at UMaine. People are mourning the loss of the man they knew who sported such exceptional qualities and talents.
Unfortunately there is a cloud of mystery and ambiguity surrounding what drove him to commit the appalling crime that he did. Perhaps it is because we don’t understand. Perhaps it is because he was someone who had such a positive impact on the UMaine community during his time here, that the news of this incident has been met with more sympathy and bemusement than anger and blame.
However, it is important to keep in mind, for the sake of generating a just and fair public response to this painful situation, what exactly the actions were that he chose to take, as well as their consequences: He fatally shot his girlfriend, following an argument they had, in their home in front of his mother. He killed himself in front of his coaching staff at Arrowhead Stadium after he encountered them in the parking lot, causing a subsequent total lockdown of the facility. He left his 3-month-old daughter an orphan. He acted selfishly and without regard for the physical or emotional trauma those acts would inevitably cause. To minimize this is a disservice to those directly and indirectly affected by his apparently uncharacteristic behavior.
In the Sunday game following the troubling events of the preceding day, the Chiefs held a moment of silence before a game in which Belcher would likely have played. That silence was dedicated not to Belcher, for whom they were undoubtedly grieving, but for victims of domestic violence at large. This display of sincere appreciation for the issues at hand that surround Belcher’s death could generate a more grounded reaction to the situation than the one those too blinded by their grief could be responsible for. Their example is not only sensitive to the facts but inspires those of us who need some perspective on the true victims of this devastating incident.
New Black Bear Business Program Makes Job Search Easier: 11.19.2012
There is certainly no shortage of newly minted university graduates
floundering around in stagnation, miserable, directionless and jobless
and envying their peers with the nepotistic business-owning relatives
looking to usher them in for sure-to-be-successful interviews. Some
students are lucky enough to stumble across esteemed professionals in
their field and can cultivate relationships with them that might one day
yield promising job prospects. Occasionally a spontaneously chosen
internship leaves a student perfectly poised to take on a permanent
position as soon as his or her diploma is framed and ready to mount on
the wall behind the newly name-plated desk.
In the absence of this great fortune, alumni connections are the next best bet for networking, as anyone who has ever been a member of a close-knit campus organization, sports team, academic department or even graduating class can testify. The Black Bear Business Network, a new comprehensive online directory compiled by the University of Maine Alumni Association, will allow current students and alumni to connect or reconnect with each other easily and efficiently.
This is meant to be a resource for any user who wants a job, is looking for a specific job, or has already found success and is looking to give back the time and resources invested in their education during their years at UMaine.
All students hope that their university will help facilitate their job search once they have to venture out beyond the security of its walls, and there can be no easier way than to go online and find people in your field who share your connection to the university and who have an interest in your success just because you drink to the same Alma Mater. Students are encouraged to use the Black Bear Business Network as a way to get in touch with alumni who might grant an interview, give a reference or even provide something as abstract as personal insights about the foray into the professional sphere; however, it is a resource meant for more than just networking and enhancing employment opportunities, post-graduation.
This network that will provide a way for students to reach out will also provide a readily accessible port of call for alums who want to reach back to the university. Keeping a connection to the school after graduation dignifies the education it administered and honors the individual student experience.
The network has the potential to provide instantaneous and wide-ranging access to your history here — whether that involves your graduating class, the program you were enrolled in, the professors you will never forget or the campus itself — and will make it that much easier to remain invested in the success of the institution and its currently enrolled students, and to pay tribute by way of sharing your success with the young hopefuls. Prior to the establishment of the Black Bear Business Network, such a way of anchoring oneself to the university did not exist.
Beyond providing a way for students and alumni to contact each other more easily, the potential of this network to help keep UMaine graduates employed and successful may not have yet been fully realized. Over the next couple of years during its continued formation, it will likely gain direction and build momentum, enhancing and expanding the opportunities it seeks to offer now. But even in its early stages, the project has great potential to achieve its goal of aiding the university community, if only the community would take it up to its advantage.
In the absence of this great fortune, alumni connections are the next best bet for networking, as anyone who has ever been a member of a close-knit campus organization, sports team, academic department or even graduating class can testify. The Black Bear Business Network, a new comprehensive online directory compiled by the University of Maine Alumni Association, will allow current students and alumni to connect or reconnect with each other easily and efficiently.
This is meant to be a resource for any user who wants a job, is looking for a specific job, or has already found success and is looking to give back the time and resources invested in their education during their years at UMaine.
All students hope that their university will help facilitate their job search once they have to venture out beyond the security of its walls, and there can be no easier way than to go online and find people in your field who share your connection to the university and who have an interest in your success just because you drink to the same Alma Mater. Students are encouraged to use the Black Bear Business Network as a way to get in touch with alumni who might grant an interview, give a reference or even provide something as abstract as personal insights about the foray into the professional sphere; however, it is a resource meant for more than just networking and enhancing employment opportunities, post-graduation.
This network that will provide a way for students to reach out will also provide a readily accessible port of call for alums who want to reach back to the university. Keeping a connection to the school after graduation dignifies the education it administered and honors the individual student experience.
The network has the potential to provide instantaneous and wide-ranging access to your history here — whether that involves your graduating class, the program you were enrolled in, the professors you will never forget or the campus itself — and will make it that much easier to remain invested in the success of the institution and its currently enrolled students, and to pay tribute by way of sharing your success with the young hopefuls. Prior to the establishment of the Black Bear Business Network, such a way of anchoring oneself to the university did not exist.
Beyond providing a way for students and alumni to contact each other more easily, the potential of this network to help keep UMaine graduates employed and successful may not have yet been fully realized. Over the next couple of years during its continued formation, it will likely gain direction and build momentum, enhancing and expanding the opportunities it seeks to offer now. But even in its early stages, the project has great potential to achieve its goal of aiding the university community, if only the community would take it up to its advantage.
Students, Take Advantage of What UMaine Marketing and Communications Can Offer: 11.12.2012
We are often in awe of our own inspired ideas, so much so that it
becomes second nature to ignore them, and they get lost in the shuffle
of our exceptional brain activity. Many brilliant notions that strike us
just slip through the cracks before we have a chance to process them,
especially because as students we are exposed to new information and are
having new experiences and readjusting our own goals and philosophies
on a daily basis.
The richness of our academic setting often being the source of such inspiration, our half-baked theories about pursuing excellence are typically ones that, if developed, would be embraced and taken on by several other members of the university community. However, the task of advertising and recruiting support for our schemes is daunting, and well-meaning, though we may be, we more often than not deign to even try to get them off the ground.
Thanks to Pathway 3 of UMaine President Paul Ferguson’s Blue Sky Project, the resources previously at students’ disposal for such endeavors have become infinitely more accessible, with the promise of continually improving ease of usability and navigation for UMaine community members who want to garner support for their causes and organizations.
At the Communicators Summit held Wednesday and attended by members of the university’s many departments, a proposal for how to enhance communication across the university was introduced. This integration of departments may not seem like it would have tangible benefits to students — indeed, it sounds fairly theoretical and it would be hard to describe without sounding like mere lip service to warm, fuzzy ideals like unity and community — but there are in fact some significant changes being implemented that are worthy of mention and, dare we say, praise.
Individual students and specifically student organizations, already established or still undergoing processes of formation, can — if they choose to utilize it — benefit directly from this reorganization no matter what phase of planning they have reached so far. Anyone affiliated with the University of Maine can reach out to the division of marketing and communications —the former Department of University Relations — for help with website design, advertising, literature and student outreach. Students can easily access the UMaine photo database for their promotional materials and are privy to individualized guidance from the marketing and communications division’s marketing team. This is going to be an invaluable resource for students who want to get their organizations off the ground and for those who simply want to more effectively publicize their group and reach higher levels of success.
To any student who has ever wanted to take an idea out into the public sphere and test its rally potential, or for anyone who wants a more constructive way to advance a preexisting organization, this is something to be celebrated. The first edition of the comprehensive UMaine directory and a unification of the university logo are just a couple of ways this concept will be implemented on a policy level. How it is taken up by the community will be a test of its capacity to strengthen our sense of identity.
The richness of our academic setting often being the source of such inspiration, our half-baked theories about pursuing excellence are typically ones that, if developed, would be embraced and taken on by several other members of the university community. However, the task of advertising and recruiting support for our schemes is daunting, and well-meaning, though we may be, we more often than not deign to even try to get them off the ground.
Thanks to Pathway 3 of UMaine President Paul Ferguson’s Blue Sky Project, the resources previously at students’ disposal for such endeavors have become infinitely more accessible, with the promise of continually improving ease of usability and navigation for UMaine community members who want to garner support for their causes and organizations.
At the Communicators Summit held Wednesday and attended by members of the university’s many departments, a proposal for how to enhance communication across the university was introduced. This integration of departments may not seem like it would have tangible benefits to students — indeed, it sounds fairly theoretical and it would be hard to describe without sounding like mere lip service to warm, fuzzy ideals like unity and community — but there are in fact some significant changes being implemented that are worthy of mention and, dare we say, praise.
Individual students and specifically student organizations, already established or still undergoing processes of formation, can — if they choose to utilize it — benefit directly from this reorganization no matter what phase of planning they have reached so far. Anyone affiliated with the University of Maine can reach out to the division of marketing and communications —the former Department of University Relations — for help with website design, advertising, literature and student outreach. Students can easily access the UMaine photo database for their promotional materials and are privy to individualized guidance from the marketing and communications division’s marketing team. This is going to be an invaluable resource for students who want to get their organizations off the ground and for those who simply want to more effectively publicize their group and reach higher levels of success.
To any student who has ever wanted to take an idea out into the public sphere and test its rally potential, or for anyone who wants a more constructive way to advance a preexisting organization, this is something to be celebrated. The first edition of the comprehensive UMaine directory and a unification of the university logo are just a couple of ways this concept will be implemented on a policy level. How it is taken up by the community will be a test of its capacity to strengthen our sense of identity.
Obama the Best Option to Lead U.S. Into Future: 11.5.2012
As voters, we know there is a fine line between a candidate who is
the “lesser of two evils” and one who has simply made some questionable
policy choices but who has ultimately been a genuine force for good.
This Tuesday when — not if, but when — you hit the polls, we urge you to
vote to reelect President Barack Obama.
Mitt Romney has failed to show a principled approach to any issue, domestic or foreign, and seems to struggle with his conflicting endeavors to tell people what they want to hear and to blindly uphold the ultraconservative values of the Republican Party. President Obama has managed to make some mistakes during his tenure so far: for example, target killings of American citizens allegedly associated with terrorism, and failure to close Guantanamo Bay. But much of the change that Barack Obama promised, he has delivered in spades.
President Obama’s Affordable Care Act has achieved the most sweeping health care reforms since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. This legislation allows individuals under age 26 to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies — this is a big one for young adults trying to cope with college expenses. His actions have reduced drug costs for people on Medicare, and provided preventive care such as free immunizations, mammograms and contraceptives. Because of President Obama, insurance companies cannot deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, seizure disorders or mental illnesses. In fact, as of 2014, health insurance companies must accept all applicants.
When the president took office, the economy was in a sad state of affairs. Trying to turn around an economy the size of the United States is like trying to change the direction of a heavy revolving door — it’s a gradual, painfully slow process, and you take great caution not to be overzealous with your movements. Growth since Obama took office has been slow, but it has been and continues to be positive. The president’s $840 billion stimulus bill has continued to inject funds into the economy. It created and saved 2.5 million jobs, controlled the rate of unemployment.
Under President Obama, Congress has actually passed tax write-offs for new business equipment, and temporary tax cuts for hiring the unemployed, both stimuli geared toward the benefit of small businesses. Also at Obama’s direction, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and tightened regulations on banks and other lending institutions, to reform the circumstances that put us into the mess we found ourselves in by mid-2000. Despite the common misconception to the contrary, he has in fact reduced the budget deficit by nearly $300 billion since he took office.
Including but not limited to the killing of Osama bin Laden, the president has aggressively attacked the leadership of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. He said he would take us out of Iraq; he did. He said he would set a withdrawal date for our forces from Afghanistan; he has. He is working to help resolve the civil war in Syria. He has worked to balance the very difficult task of being strong but diplomatic — forceful without resorting to force — and these efforts have been largely successful. Our reputation internationally has finally begun to recover from the “cowboy” reputation that George W. Bush built for us during his eight years in office.
In the areas of Supreme Court appointments and civil rights, Obama has truly shone. He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act into law. The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule has been repealed. The U.S. Department of Justice has stopped enforcing DOMA against constitutional challenges. Unlike Romney, Obama has had the courage to affirm his support of same-sex marriage, an act that required extraordinary political courage.
Obama has been a force for the furtherance of most goals and ideals shared by college students and other members of our generation. His advocacy for tolerance and social justice and his sympathy for the financial struggles that plague so many Americans to different degrees, make him not only the better man for the job but one actively deserving of the vote you have the power to cast.
Mitt Romney has failed to show a principled approach to any issue, domestic or foreign, and seems to struggle with his conflicting endeavors to tell people what they want to hear and to blindly uphold the ultraconservative values of the Republican Party. President Obama has managed to make some mistakes during his tenure so far: for example, target killings of American citizens allegedly associated with terrorism, and failure to close Guantanamo Bay. But much of the change that Barack Obama promised, he has delivered in spades.
President Obama’s Affordable Care Act has achieved the most sweeping health care reforms since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. This legislation allows individuals under age 26 to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies — this is a big one for young adults trying to cope with college expenses. His actions have reduced drug costs for people on Medicare, and provided preventive care such as free immunizations, mammograms and contraceptives. Because of President Obama, insurance companies cannot deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, seizure disorders or mental illnesses. In fact, as of 2014, health insurance companies must accept all applicants.
When the president took office, the economy was in a sad state of affairs. Trying to turn around an economy the size of the United States is like trying to change the direction of a heavy revolving door — it’s a gradual, painfully slow process, and you take great caution not to be overzealous with your movements. Growth since Obama took office has been slow, but it has been and continues to be positive. The president’s $840 billion stimulus bill has continued to inject funds into the economy. It created and saved 2.5 million jobs, controlled the rate of unemployment.
Under President Obama, Congress has actually passed tax write-offs for new business equipment, and temporary tax cuts for hiring the unemployed, both stimuli geared toward the benefit of small businesses. Also at Obama’s direction, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and tightened regulations on banks and other lending institutions, to reform the circumstances that put us into the mess we found ourselves in by mid-2000. Despite the common misconception to the contrary, he has in fact reduced the budget deficit by nearly $300 billion since he took office.
Including but not limited to the killing of Osama bin Laden, the president has aggressively attacked the leadership of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. He said he would take us out of Iraq; he did. He said he would set a withdrawal date for our forces from Afghanistan; he has. He is working to help resolve the civil war in Syria. He has worked to balance the very difficult task of being strong but diplomatic — forceful without resorting to force — and these efforts have been largely successful. Our reputation internationally has finally begun to recover from the “cowboy” reputation that George W. Bush built for us during his eight years in office.
In the areas of Supreme Court appointments and civil rights, Obama has truly shone. He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act into law. The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule has been repealed. The U.S. Department of Justice has stopped enforcing DOMA against constitutional challenges. Unlike Romney, Obama has had the courage to affirm his support of same-sex marriage, an act that required extraordinary political courage.
Obama has been a force for the furtherance of most goals and ideals shared by college students and other members of our generation. His advocacy for tolerance and social justice and his sympathy for the financial struggles that plague so many Americans to different degrees, make him not only the better man for the job but one actively deserving of the vote you have the power to cast.
Students Need to Step Out of Their Comfort Zones: 10.29.2012
Remember your college admissions essay? The one you wrote about how
you were going to make the most of the opportunity to attend any of the
fine institutions you applied to: You promised to grow as a student, as a
citizen, as a person.
Students are increasingly projecting a general sense of apathy in regards to campus life, which may send the wrong message to those admissions officers who held your claim you were going to strive for excellence in higher esteem than your barely above-average high school GPA. For those of us who sought — and most often received — some sort of financial aid, our scant acknowledgement of on-campus events shows a lack of willingness to engage with new opportunities, instead content to enjoy what we’ve received and carry on selfishly in pursuit of our personal goals. Whose parents would genuinely be happy that their fresh-faced, college-bound son or daughter turned out to be the kind of student who couldn’t be bothered to look up from their micro-universe of reading responses, Instant Netflix and Thirsty Thursdays and influence school policy, or acknowledge the arts and culture community so many have worked so hard to establish?
In exchange for what ultimately amounts to little time and money, students had the chance Wednesday to see two renowned, relevant stand-up comedians at the Collins Center for the Arts. Of the nearly 12,000 students currently enrolled at the University of Maine Orono, only 230 purchased tickets to see Michael Ian Black and Mike Birbiglia — not only are they both entertaining, they are also as good of an excuse as any to get out of your dorm and out of your head. Is the chance for two Mikes on mics to change up your midweek mindset not worth the $20 and half of a Wednesday evening?
Another lackluster student turnout this week was for the UMaine Student Government elections. Voting for student body president, vice president, and on a referendum proposing to increase the student activity fee was a process that took literally seconds — except for those who agonized for hours over sassy write-in votes — and which was made easy and obvious by the balloting system set up on FirstClass. Just over 2,000 students voted on each of the questions, which, as it turns out, is not even enough to have rendered a favorable vote for the referendum, which it did not receive, valid. Apparently more than one-third of the student body needs to participate in a vote in order to invoke a policy change, and a measly 25 percent could be bothered this time around.
This may not be entirely representative of the level of student interest for any given on-campus event. Perhaps popular comedic entertainment, student government leadership and elections seeking to directly influence how much all students pay for tuition just don’t rank high enough on the list of priorities. This begs the question, though — just what is enough to inspire participation around these parts? A football game? A funky bluegrass spectacle at the CCA, featuring a recent inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? A presidential election?
Just remember, the next time you’re choosing to rinse and repeat your previous night’s activities instead of taking the smallest of chances on trying to enjoy campus events geared toward exactly you, ignoring your school-sanctioned options doesn’t make you independent or alternative. Even a polite disinterest should be scolded as squandering an opportunity to be potentially entertained or enlightened. No man is an island, so Donne your best frock and go trust in the potential that your surroundings can influence you in profound and unexpected ways.
Students are increasingly projecting a general sense of apathy in regards to campus life, which may send the wrong message to those admissions officers who held your claim you were going to strive for excellence in higher esteem than your barely above-average high school GPA. For those of us who sought — and most often received — some sort of financial aid, our scant acknowledgement of on-campus events shows a lack of willingness to engage with new opportunities, instead content to enjoy what we’ve received and carry on selfishly in pursuit of our personal goals. Whose parents would genuinely be happy that their fresh-faced, college-bound son or daughter turned out to be the kind of student who couldn’t be bothered to look up from their micro-universe of reading responses, Instant Netflix and Thirsty Thursdays and influence school policy, or acknowledge the arts and culture community so many have worked so hard to establish?
In exchange for what ultimately amounts to little time and money, students had the chance Wednesday to see two renowned, relevant stand-up comedians at the Collins Center for the Arts. Of the nearly 12,000 students currently enrolled at the University of Maine Orono, only 230 purchased tickets to see Michael Ian Black and Mike Birbiglia — not only are they both entertaining, they are also as good of an excuse as any to get out of your dorm and out of your head. Is the chance for two Mikes on mics to change up your midweek mindset not worth the $20 and half of a Wednesday evening?
Another lackluster student turnout this week was for the UMaine Student Government elections. Voting for student body president, vice president, and on a referendum proposing to increase the student activity fee was a process that took literally seconds — except for those who agonized for hours over sassy write-in votes — and which was made easy and obvious by the balloting system set up on FirstClass. Just over 2,000 students voted on each of the questions, which, as it turns out, is not even enough to have rendered a favorable vote for the referendum, which it did not receive, valid. Apparently more than one-third of the student body needs to participate in a vote in order to invoke a policy change, and a measly 25 percent could be bothered this time around.
This may not be entirely representative of the level of student interest for any given on-campus event. Perhaps popular comedic entertainment, student government leadership and elections seeking to directly influence how much all students pay for tuition just don’t rank high enough on the list of priorities. This begs the question, though — just what is enough to inspire participation around these parts? A football game? A funky bluegrass spectacle at the CCA, featuring a recent inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? A presidential election?
Just remember, the next time you’re choosing to rinse and repeat your previous night’s activities instead of taking the smallest of chances on trying to enjoy campus events geared toward exactly you, ignoring your school-sanctioned options doesn’t make you independent or alternative. Even a polite disinterest should be scolded as squandering an opportunity to be potentially entertained or enlightened. No man is an island, so Donne your best frock and go trust in the potential that your surroundings can influence you in profound and unexpected ways.
King Best Choice For U.S. Senate Seat: 10.22.2012
The state of Maine is going to miss Olympia Snowe’s presence in the
U.S. Senate. For 18 years she has been a voice of intelligence,
principle and political astuteness — a Margaret Chase Smith-style
Republican with an ability to be bipartisan when bipartisanship is
sorely needed. Improvements in health care coverage, sustainable energy
policies and economy recovery are just a few critical areas where we
need statesmanship and leadership as well as bipartisanship; Snowe has
been a pillar of all of these things during her three terms,
representing Maine as a U.S. Senator, which begs the question of who is
up to the task of filling her shoes.
Of the three candidates seeking her seat — Republican candidate Charlie Summers, Democratic candidate Cynthia Dill and and Independent candidate Angus King — King will be the most worthwhile replacement.
King’s experience as Maine’s governor, elected as an Independent for two terms, renders him more prepared for the demands of political office than are his opponents. At a time when bipartisanship is at a premium, he has a record of being able to work with people on both sides of the aisle.
King will likely be the most effective advocate for solutions to the problems that college students confront. He understands that affordable post-secondary education is essential for a better quality of life in the state of Maine. It would be misguided to assume that a college education should necessarily be pursued by every Mainer; King understands this and supports investment in both traditional college degree programs and post-secondary technical training.
King also supports programs that invest in young entrepreneurs who want to establish and grow businesses in the state. He recognizes that crushing student debt is hampering and hindering our state and country’s economic recovery. He knows that a student facing crippling student loans cannot start a business. He knows that heavy student debt renders young graduates unable to stimulate Maine’s economy by buying houses, starting families or making financial investments — even staying in the State of Maine at all — and has crafted specific, substantive proposals for reform.
King believes the student loan industry must be reformed and has proposed specific, substantive ideas to that end, including the idea that the federal government should generate plans to control interest rates on student loans.
Both Summers and Dill have strengths, and an endorsement of King is not to say that either of the other two candidates has no redeeming qualities. However, neither is moderate. Rather, both tend to be confrontational and polarizing. At a time when those are the qualities that have caused Snowe to refer to Congress as broken, ultimately leading to her departure from the Senate, it hardly seems advisable to elect people who would tend to escalate that dynamic.
Additionally, Summers in particular has proven himself to be no friend to university students: As Governor LePage’s Secretary of State, he led the Joe McCarthy-esque investigation into a nonexistent problem of voter fraud among college students a year ago; he has staunchly opposed Maine’s tradition of same-day voter registration on Election Day, in no small part because of his concerns about the integrity of student voting; and he has pledged to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act, a repeal that would prevent those of us under the age of 26 from being insured under their parents’ health care policies.
Angus King’s appreciation for the diversity of problems that Mainers encounter, as well as his understanding of legislative processes and accountability for leadership responsibilities, make him an ideal candidate to assume Snowe’s Senate seat — particularly in the interests of students.
Of the three candidates seeking her seat — Republican candidate Charlie Summers, Democratic candidate Cynthia Dill and and Independent candidate Angus King — King will be the most worthwhile replacement.
King’s experience as Maine’s governor, elected as an Independent for two terms, renders him more prepared for the demands of political office than are his opponents. At a time when bipartisanship is at a premium, he has a record of being able to work with people on both sides of the aisle.
King will likely be the most effective advocate for solutions to the problems that college students confront. He understands that affordable post-secondary education is essential for a better quality of life in the state of Maine. It would be misguided to assume that a college education should necessarily be pursued by every Mainer; King understands this and supports investment in both traditional college degree programs and post-secondary technical training.
King also supports programs that invest in young entrepreneurs who want to establish and grow businesses in the state. He recognizes that crushing student debt is hampering and hindering our state and country’s economic recovery. He knows that a student facing crippling student loans cannot start a business. He knows that heavy student debt renders young graduates unable to stimulate Maine’s economy by buying houses, starting families or making financial investments — even staying in the State of Maine at all — and has crafted specific, substantive proposals for reform.
King believes the student loan industry must be reformed and has proposed specific, substantive ideas to that end, including the idea that the federal government should generate plans to control interest rates on student loans.
Both Summers and Dill have strengths, and an endorsement of King is not to say that either of the other two candidates has no redeeming qualities. However, neither is moderate. Rather, both tend to be confrontational and polarizing. At a time when those are the qualities that have caused Snowe to refer to Congress as broken, ultimately leading to her departure from the Senate, it hardly seems advisable to elect people who would tend to escalate that dynamic.
Additionally, Summers in particular has proven himself to be no friend to university students: As Governor LePage’s Secretary of State, he led the Joe McCarthy-esque investigation into a nonexistent problem of voter fraud among college students a year ago; he has staunchly opposed Maine’s tradition of same-day voter registration on Election Day, in no small part because of his concerns about the integrity of student voting; and he has pledged to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act, a repeal that would prevent those of us under the age of 26 from being insured under their parents’ health care policies.
Angus King’s appreciation for the diversity of problems that Mainers encounter, as well as his understanding of legislative processes and accountability for leadership responsibilities, make him an ideal candidate to assume Snowe’s Senate seat — particularly in the interests of students.
UMaine Dining Services Improve Student Experience With New Additions: 10.15.2012
A kitchen is the heart of any home, and Black Bear Dining has been
mining for ways to elevate the University of Maine’s to gold status.
Lunch hour at University Dining locations may not always have had the same allure, but innovations and improvements in their methods and products have qualified the Union Marketplace venue for a five-star rating.
The Bear’s Den, which only a few short years ago was beginning to disenchant its potential patrons, has been fully reinvented and wholeheartedly embraced by UMaine students and faculty as a setting for social and academic livelihood. From a lackluster pub-style joint that ultimately lacked a menu and would not accept out-of-state IDs, the Bear’s Den has evolved, responding to students’ suggestions as to cosmetic changes, new menu items and extended hours. Now, with the incorporation of the Starbucks, previously located in Union Central, the Bear’s Den is a well-deserving destination at virtually any time between 7 a.m. and at least 9 p.m. every weekday, with evening hours on Saturdays.
An increase in food being made in-house and the incorporation of local ingredients and menu options is another change to the Bear’s Den that has students feeling like we’re in a great place, but these trends are not unique to the pub and cafĂ©, a setting where one might almost expect them. From soups and bakery items made on site to serving local cheeses, Dining Services has doubled down to demonstrate its commitment to supporting locally sourced goods. Nature’s Palate’s organic food options and an array of dietary considerations throughout the Marketplace ultimately levy a more healthy experience and leave no one wanting for flavor or variety.
It’s all well and good that the Union locations have expanded and enriched their menus, but does that really outweigh the cramped quarters and nightmarishly long lines in the Marketplace that inevitably occur between afternoon classes? As a matter of fact, Dining Services has taken steps to address this common deterrent, too. Three popular venues — the pizza, sandwich and grill stations — now offer the opportunity to place orders ahead of time, available through to-go service Tapingo and accessible through their website and app. This is bound to free up some elbow room in the Union around noon. For anyone who has ever experienced trying to buy a sandwich between a class that ends at 12:15 and one that starts at 12:30, it’s going to feel like flying first-class and will give students carbs to burn during the post-cafeteria cross-campus sprint.
As the days grow shorter, so will the wait for the coffee and wintertime comfort food we crave after classes. And as the snowy outdoors becomes a less appealing setting for spending free time, it’s really going to give students the warm fuzzies to know one of the campus services most integral to their physical health and well-being not only has their best interests at heart, but also works to stay current and to cater to students’ desires.
Lunch hour at University Dining locations may not always have had the same allure, but innovations and improvements in their methods and products have qualified the Union Marketplace venue for a five-star rating.
The Bear’s Den, which only a few short years ago was beginning to disenchant its potential patrons, has been fully reinvented and wholeheartedly embraced by UMaine students and faculty as a setting for social and academic livelihood. From a lackluster pub-style joint that ultimately lacked a menu and would not accept out-of-state IDs, the Bear’s Den has evolved, responding to students’ suggestions as to cosmetic changes, new menu items and extended hours. Now, with the incorporation of the Starbucks, previously located in Union Central, the Bear’s Den is a well-deserving destination at virtually any time between 7 a.m. and at least 9 p.m. every weekday, with evening hours on Saturdays.
An increase in food being made in-house and the incorporation of local ingredients and menu options is another change to the Bear’s Den that has students feeling like we’re in a great place, but these trends are not unique to the pub and cafĂ©, a setting where one might almost expect them. From soups and bakery items made on site to serving local cheeses, Dining Services has doubled down to demonstrate its commitment to supporting locally sourced goods. Nature’s Palate’s organic food options and an array of dietary considerations throughout the Marketplace ultimately levy a more healthy experience and leave no one wanting for flavor or variety.
It’s all well and good that the Union locations have expanded and enriched their menus, but does that really outweigh the cramped quarters and nightmarishly long lines in the Marketplace that inevitably occur between afternoon classes? As a matter of fact, Dining Services has taken steps to address this common deterrent, too. Three popular venues — the pizza, sandwich and grill stations — now offer the opportunity to place orders ahead of time, available through to-go service Tapingo and accessible through their website and app. This is bound to free up some elbow room in the Union around noon. For anyone who has ever experienced trying to buy a sandwich between a class that ends at 12:15 and one that starts at 12:30, it’s going to feel like flying first-class and will give students carbs to burn during the post-cafeteria cross-campus sprint.
As the days grow shorter, so will the wait for the coffee and wintertime comfort food we crave after classes. And as the snowy outdoors becomes a less appealing setting for spending free time, it’s really going to give students the warm fuzzies to know one of the campus services most integral to their physical health and well-being not only has their best interests at heart, but also works to stay current and to cater to students’ desires.
Lack of Response from Grove a Real Tragedy: 9.24.2012
You’ve likely heard it said that it’s the little things in life that
mean the most. The flip-side of this sweet, needlepoint-worthy phrase is
that the Devil’s in the details. A series of unforeseen – but not
unforeseeable – problems and unmet – but not unreasonable – expectations
are ruffling the feathers of several tenants of The Grove, a new
student housing complex near the University of Maine.
Approximately 600 students had high hopes for what it would be like to live in the new apartments. Initial plans indicated a slightly elevated level of luxury from what many students were used to – people flocked there for the stylish, spacious accommodations that were advertised.
Unfortunately, what some of these dissatisfied renters have found is that their new digs hardly delivered the promised height of decadence. On the contrary, issues with defunct appliances, construction detritus and what now looks like an escalating mold problem have left a few feeling slighted.
It can’t be said that UMaine students are presumptuously seeking a self-indulgent standard of living, though some have scoffed at the discontent that is beginning to surface. Structural issues that may constitute safety hazards are legitimate cause for complaint, but the more reprehensible offense has been the lack of response to some of the residents’ concerns. While some students have reported having their reported issues promptly addressed, others have been brushed off or ignored entirely.
The Grove management’s passive attempts to pacify students come, sadly, as no real surprise. One might expect that in the wake of some bad press they’ve received in recent years, Campus Crest – The Grove’s parent company – would have improved their customer service protocol, in the interests of saving face with what remaining schools might still favor their facilities’ facades.
Before mildew at The Grove sent a spore-sensitive student to the hospital, there was a much more widely publicized issue with Campus Crest constructions that infamously left tenants seeking medical attention. Last year in Texas, three students were hospitalized for three or more days as a result of stepping out onto the balcony of a second-story apartment that collapsed under their weight. Rather than accept responsibility for poor integrity of the design, Campus Crest somehow deflected blame onto the students, saying that the porch was meant for decorative purposes only — another egregious example of poor communication, exacerbated by the existence of a door leading out to the faux, but fully accessible, landing. Further, their failures to create a satisfactory forum for discussion left Washington renters in a pinch in 2007, forcing students to find alternative housing while construction crews finished finessing the lodging that had been leased to them months prior.
Maybe the negative reports on the quality of life in The Grove can just be chalked up to a new system still working out its bugs, or maybe they’re symptoms of a bigger problem that’s working its way further into the foundation. In either case, if Campus Crest wants a quick, easy and cheap way to improve morale, they had ought to start consistently responding to complaints — better yet, to do so in a manner that demonstrates some accountability and encourages their residents to expect eventual headway.
Approximately 600 students had high hopes for what it would be like to live in the new apartments. Initial plans indicated a slightly elevated level of luxury from what many students were used to – people flocked there for the stylish, spacious accommodations that were advertised.
Unfortunately, what some of these dissatisfied renters have found is that their new digs hardly delivered the promised height of decadence. On the contrary, issues with defunct appliances, construction detritus and what now looks like an escalating mold problem have left a few feeling slighted.
It can’t be said that UMaine students are presumptuously seeking a self-indulgent standard of living, though some have scoffed at the discontent that is beginning to surface. Structural issues that may constitute safety hazards are legitimate cause for complaint, but the more reprehensible offense has been the lack of response to some of the residents’ concerns. While some students have reported having their reported issues promptly addressed, others have been brushed off or ignored entirely.
The Grove management’s passive attempts to pacify students come, sadly, as no real surprise. One might expect that in the wake of some bad press they’ve received in recent years, Campus Crest – The Grove’s parent company – would have improved their customer service protocol, in the interests of saving face with what remaining schools might still favor their facilities’ facades.
Before mildew at The Grove sent a spore-sensitive student to the hospital, there was a much more widely publicized issue with Campus Crest constructions that infamously left tenants seeking medical attention. Last year in Texas, three students were hospitalized for three or more days as a result of stepping out onto the balcony of a second-story apartment that collapsed under their weight. Rather than accept responsibility for poor integrity of the design, Campus Crest somehow deflected blame onto the students, saying that the porch was meant for decorative purposes only — another egregious example of poor communication, exacerbated by the existence of a door leading out to the faux, but fully accessible, landing. Further, their failures to create a satisfactory forum for discussion left Washington renters in a pinch in 2007, forcing students to find alternative housing while construction crews finished finessing the lodging that had been leased to them months prior.
Maybe the negative reports on the quality of life in The Grove can just be chalked up to a new system still working out its bugs, or maybe they’re symptoms of a bigger problem that’s working its way further into the foundation. In either case, if Campus Crest wants a quick, easy and cheap way to improve morale, they had ought to start consistently responding to complaints — better yet, to do so in a manner that demonstrates some accountability and encourages their residents to expect eventual headway.
All Votes Apparently Not Created Equal: 9.10.2012
Every vote counts.
This is a familiar mantra, uttered time and again with each election cycle, as various veterans of voting try to encourage civic engagement in those less inclined to submit a ballot. It is a phrase prescribed by political practitioners everywhere, meant to promote participation and inspire optimism in the face of impossible odds.
While it certainly warms the cockles to hear it said, this notion will cease to carry any clout if those choreographing the election processes can justify casually changing the game at a moment’s notice. What happened to Ron Paul’s Maine delegates in Tampa, Fla. at the recent Republican National Convention illustrates the potential for a serious decline in morale when the “equal votes” concept isn’t upheld.
After the Maine GOP convention in May, Paul had earned the representation of 20 of Maine’s 24 delegate nominations. The apparently huge increase in support since the results of the February caucuses indicated that Paul’s campaign had some serious boots on the ground, and that those boots were made for walking.
However, the RNC rules committee seemed determined that the other shoe would certainly drop. Eventually they indicated in their credentials report that the delegate selection process had been fraught with improper procedure. The committee officially reassigned 10 of the positions to Romney supporters in the interests of “fairness” the day before the RNC began, leaving Paul with 10 and Romney with 10.
As this obviously further stacked the deck in Romney’s favor, Paul supporters endeavored to overturn the ruling. Efforts to register their grievances, however, were essentially snuffed out. And since they weren’t allowed to speak, they made no efforts to hold their peace as the convention commenced with only half of Maine’s support for Ron Paul represented.
It is rarely the case that the race for political office leaves all involved with a one hundred percent satisfaction rate. But this utter dismissal of delegates, absent a legitimate opportunity for them to dispute the decision, shows a lack of respect for the election process. What sort of confidence in the system is this coup supposed to inspire? As Maine goes, so goes the nation — and Maine Paul backers certainly balked at the sting of betrayal when their delegate count was commandeered by their own party convention’s Credentials Committee.
Every delegate’s vote is tallied to determine to party nominee in the presidential race. Needless to say, if those votes are vetoed by the very organization overseeing their submission, the final count misrepresents the will of the people.
Such a manipulation of the method by which everyone’s voice is meant to be heard will quickly leave an impression that some votes aren’t worth a damn after all.
This is a familiar mantra, uttered time and again with each election cycle, as various veterans of voting try to encourage civic engagement in those less inclined to submit a ballot. It is a phrase prescribed by political practitioners everywhere, meant to promote participation and inspire optimism in the face of impossible odds.
While it certainly warms the cockles to hear it said, this notion will cease to carry any clout if those choreographing the election processes can justify casually changing the game at a moment’s notice. What happened to Ron Paul’s Maine delegates in Tampa, Fla. at the recent Republican National Convention illustrates the potential for a serious decline in morale when the “equal votes” concept isn’t upheld.
After the Maine GOP convention in May, Paul had earned the representation of 20 of Maine’s 24 delegate nominations. The apparently huge increase in support since the results of the February caucuses indicated that Paul’s campaign had some serious boots on the ground, and that those boots were made for walking.
However, the RNC rules committee seemed determined that the other shoe would certainly drop. Eventually they indicated in their credentials report that the delegate selection process had been fraught with improper procedure. The committee officially reassigned 10 of the positions to Romney supporters in the interests of “fairness” the day before the RNC began, leaving Paul with 10 and Romney with 10.
As this obviously further stacked the deck in Romney’s favor, Paul supporters endeavored to overturn the ruling. Efforts to register their grievances, however, were essentially snuffed out. And since they weren’t allowed to speak, they made no efforts to hold their peace as the convention commenced with only half of Maine’s support for Ron Paul represented.
It is rarely the case that the race for political office leaves all involved with a one hundred percent satisfaction rate. But this utter dismissal of delegates, absent a legitimate opportunity for them to dispute the decision, shows a lack of respect for the election process. What sort of confidence in the system is this coup supposed to inspire? As Maine goes, so goes the nation — and Maine Paul backers certainly balked at the sting of betrayal when their delegate count was commandeered by their own party convention’s Credentials Committee.
Every delegate’s vote is tallied to determine to party nominee in the presidential race. Needless to say, if those votes are vetoed by the very organization overseeing their submission, the final count misrepresents the will of the people.
Such a manipulation of the method by which everyone’s voice is meant to be heard will quickly leave an impression that some votes aren’t worth a damn after all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)