University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 11-11-2013 The Free Press Vol 45 Issue 9, 11-11-2013 Kirsten Sylvain University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Sylvain, Kirsten, "The Free Press Vol 45 Issue 9, 11-11-2013" (2013). Free Press, The, 1971-. 103. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/103 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Free Press, The, 1971- by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. News Arts & Culture Perspectives Sports Community EDTalks Gamebreaker Persian conversations Save money New signage 4 7 10 by biking 14 16 Vol. 45, Issue No. 9 the free press Nov. 11, 2013 University of Southern Maine Student Newspaper usmfreepress.org Students have mixed reactions to renovations metic renovation that they have lum itself. planned and already funded is Facilities Management does not on the entrances to the science have any new projects planned for building, both the entrance off the the rest of the 2013 calendar year. courtyard and the entrance off of Planning for the 2014 calendar Falmouth street. Facilities Man- year will be taking place in early agement will be renovating both 2014. “We typically plan our proj- of the entrances and plan on do- ects beginning after the fi rst of the ing work to upgrade the interior calendar year to be done over the space. “We’re going to break it summer.” Bertram said up, replace the lighting, and make Other projects done by Facili- it look more appealing,” said Ber- ties Management this year include tram. the effi ciency lighting program When fi rst year undeclared in Corthell Hall, which costed Stephen Colby was asked about $400,000 over the span of three his opinion on the renovations, years. There was also a complete he said, “I wish that they would replacement of the boilers in Gor- spend less money on renova- ham costing $2.7 million. Some tions and more money on the cur- of these projects are not funded riculum so we don’t have to lose by the university. Projects such classes.” as the effi ciency lighting program “I understand about spending were paid by grants. The majority money on the necessary stuff, like of the projects done at USM are fi xing the pipelines, because those done over the course of a couple were having problems,” Colby years. said. He also said that money Sophomore math and physics should be spent on the curriculum major Alexander Knight, said “I Patrick Higgins / Multimedia Editor so it would help the entire USM wish they would spend money The signs directing visitors to university buildings are some of the series of renovations that have taken place student populace, not just the stu- to make it better for the students at USM this fall. dents in the dorms or on putting in already there as opposed to pret- new stamped asphalt. tying it up for prospective stu- Dakota Wing stallation of the stamped asphalt on more student-oriented proj- The risks of losing the physics dents.” Furthermore, Knight said, Free Press Staff outside Luther Bonney Hall and ects, such as fi xing the drafty win- the department was also trouble- “They should make the process Masterton Hall in Portland, which dows in the dorms. First year un- some to fi rst year undeclared Em- better, not the advertising to get cost $158,000.00, and repaving declared major Caroline Doherty According to Executive Di- ily Collins. “Physics is something students in.” on the Gorham campus, which told the Free Press that work rector of Facilities Management you need. It’s too important to cut USM Executive Director of cost $191,008. should be done on the elevator in Robert Bertram over $7 million from the state university,” said Public Affairs Bob Caswell was When students were asked how Dickey Wood Hall, which has on has been spent on renovation proj- Collins. Collins believes that if contacted for a comment on stu- they felt about the large amount multiple occasions gotten stuck ects at USM this calendar year. money could be spent to repave dent criticism of the renovations. of money being put into cosmetic with students inside. This number will increase to over and improve the interior of the He did not reply by press time. renovations, the majority agreed Facilities Management has $12 million when the projects are Science Building, that money that they had hoped Facilities done over 100 projects in the [email protected] totally fi nished. Some of the most could be more well placed trying Management would spend money 2013 calendar year. The next cos- @USMFreePress recent projects have been the in- to fi x problems with the curricu- Direction Package Board holds fi rst meeting Skyla Gordon chance to come together and work much money USM takes in and the Free Press Staff on how USM is going to go for- amount it costs to keep the school ward into the future,” President running must be addressed. They The Direction Package Advi- Theo Kalikow said to the group. want to come up with strategies to sory Board met for the fi rst time The fi rst meeting consisted of close the gap. This includes fi nd- on Friday in the Brooks Student making introductions, creating a ing ways to increase enrollment Center in Gorham to discuss tac- schedule of meeting dates, clari- and increase revenues. tics and strategies for creating a fying objectives and establishing The second objective is to de- cohesive direction package that ground rules for discussing the velop a clear vision of what the will be presented to the Board of direction package. future of USM is going to look Trustees. The meeting opened with a like. This includes answering Approximately 30 people were speech from Justin Alfond, Maine questions about where the uni- assembled at the meeting in order state Senate president. He said his versity is headed and what its key to represent a broad cross-section hope is that the Advisory Board goals are. of the university community, with could establish a single vision “Most of the fi nancial prob- participants from the Student Sen- for the future USM. “My hope lems are long term systemic prob- for you all is to really do this to- lems that we’ve tried to address ate, faculty, Alumni Board, Fac- Justicia Barreiros / Free Press Staff ulty Senate Budget and Strategic gether,” he said. He also offered through cuts. We can’t cut our Planning commitee, Professional his support to the group. way to brilliance. We need to see Physics professor and department chair Jerry LaSala will be co-chairing Staff Senate, Academic Deans, Two main objectives were iden- the things we do best and do them the Direction Package Advisory Board with President Theo Kalikow. Graduate Student Leadership, tifi ed for the board to address. better,” said Jerry Lasala, the First, the difference between how chair of the physics department and co-sponsor of the Advisory advisors and more. “This is our Board with university President See DIRECTION on page 3 2 News November 11, 2013 USM’s labs to get a makeover thanks to Q2 Jen Smith will be spent, Anderson said in an Free Press Staff email, “The actual bond indicated that funds would likely be used for Last Tuesday’s election may not the Bailey Science Wing in Gor- have been the fl ashiest or most ham, Payson Smith Hall in Port- controversial, but the passage of land, the Science Wing in Portland one of the referendum questions on and facilities in Lewiston. We will the ballot is good news for USM. likely be able to complete a few University of Maine System major laboratory renovations and Chancellor James Page thanked less extensive upgrades to several voters for the passage of Question others. The actual number of labo- 2, the bond issue for funding for ratories that can be upgraded will STEM classroom and lab renova- be dependent on engineering stud- tions throughout the University of ies of the spaces to determine as- Maine System, in a statement. sociated costs. There are plenty of “Those upgrades will create im- candidates and we will attempt to mediate local construction jobs, make the broadest impact possible and they will create a better learn- with the resources available.” ing environment for our students USM needs to update equipment to receive education and train- and renovate lab and classrooms ing for careers that Maine needs, in all of the science departments. Maine employers have, and Maine Mike Callahan, lab manager for students want,” Page wrote. the Biology 106 class, said, “If the Dean and Professor of Technol- biology department does get any ogy Andrew Anderson told the kind of money, the labs still have Free Press in an email, “We are old microscopes that need updat- very appreciative the citizens of ing. There would be a slew of Justicia Barreiros / Free Press Staff emails going around to get some Maine have chosen, through ap- The USM Voter Van, operated by Coordinator of Student Life Dan Welter and graduate assistant Casey proval of the bond, to support monies for improvements in the Lancaster offered trips to the Gorham Town Office to vote every half hour last Tuesday on Election Day. (Left to higher education in general and the department.” right) Junior leadership and communication double major Dan Jandreau, sophomore exercise science major needs of USM in particular.