University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons

Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers

4-7-2008

The Free Press Vol. 39, Issue No. 19, 04-07-2008

Sarah Trent University of Southern Maine

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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]. ALTERNATIVE SPRING USM BECOMES ‘STAR’ SEX ON DVD BREAK PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 12

ATHLETES DO SPRING BREAK TOO

Volume 39, Issue 19 April 7, 2008 PAGE 17 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

24 ‘weather “The more the community sees the school as a key engine to the future of the region, more positive things will happen.” events’ later –Robert Blackwood, Chair of the Board of Visitors

David O’Donnell Staff Writer USM’s Board of Visitors gives In the fi nal days of March, Portland’s snowfall total topped 100 inches for the season – that’s 30 above the yearly average, and a marked departure from last year’s report on university’s future mild winter. So far, this has been the 14th snowiest in the city’s history, and USM has experienced plenty of delays, cancellations and annoy- ances. But don’t blame it for any of our Matt Dodge budget woes. News Editor Last summer, Facilities Management began fi elding bids Just before campus cleareded from local paving contractors, out for vacation, the USMM who turn to plowing snow during Board of Visitors presented a ThThee their slow winter months. The bids report on the future of the uni-ni- BoBoardard constitute a fi xed rate for the entire versity. ooff VVisitorsisitors im-imim- season, and are typically based on The report, called thehe seservesrves aass an aad-d- plementationplementation an estimated 15 snowstorms. “Southern Maine Imperativeve vocacy ggrouproup fforor upup toto the uni- Regardless of what follows, the II,” calls on the local com-m- USUSMM and includes mem- versity.versity. price sticks, and the lowest bidder munity to make a substantialial bers of the business, legal Despite ccurrenturrent walks away with the prize. investment in the university,ty, anandd ededucationalducational cocommunitiesmmunities budgetbudget cconcerns,oncerns, the Over the winter of 2006-07, it which they think is in the bestest eieightght in Maine. Many on the board BoardB df of VVisitor’sii ’ recommen- was the contractors who clearly interests of both the region recommendations for the are alumni. dations do not focus solely emerged with the better deal. and the school. growth and health of the uni- Citing USM as the eco- on getting the school back on Not so this winter – so far, there The Imperative II comes versity. nomic and cultural driver of fi rm fi nancial footing. Rather, have been 24 “weather events.” eight years after the fi rst These goals include increas- the region, the 28-page report the report sets forth long-term So the term “winning bidder” Imperative. It has been called ing research and development, outlines how a “healthy USM goals which aim to boost the may be used lightly. a “report card,” but it also re- earning national distinction, leads to a healthy region, reputation of USM. For the 2007-08 school year, defi nes goals and sets new ex- and improving retention. which in turn leads to a healthy Investment from local busi- Glidden Excavating & Paving pectations, especially in light While the board offers some state.” nesses to ensure the success of was awarded the contract for the of the current fi nancial hole in ideas for how these might be Calling USM the “fuel in the USM can only help the univer- Portland campus, while Peter which USM has found itself. reached, it leaves fi guring out Pinkham Inc. handles Gorham. engine of economic and soci- sity, according to Blackwood. etal growth,” the report presents See VISITORS page 13 JESSICA BY MEAKIN ILLUSTRATION PHOTO See WEATHER page 13 Louraine’s ‘One Blue Pearl’ Beyond the clash of civilizations

Student directs organization for Brandon McKenney Beyond the Clash of teaching about carbon credits Staff Writer Civilizations “My name is Daniel Pearl. The organization is still in de- Monday, April 7, Mary Jones I am a Jewish-American from velopmental stages but was of- Staff Writer Encino, California.” 7-9 p.m. fi cially incorporated in Maine on In his last moments, Daniel January 3 of this year. Hannaford Pearl could not escape the horror It all began on a boat, while Next fall, Rudolph hopes to he had spent the better part of his Louraine Rudolph was cruising begin teaching students at USM. Lecture Hall journalistic career spotlighting. around one of Maine’s numerous Parts of her plans include Following those forced fi nal Free bays. “planned action profi les,” per- words, Pearl would be slain by “I was sitting there on the boat sonalized plans to help both indi- Seating is limited his captors, a group of Islamic and looking at one of the most viduals and groups to reduce their militants inside Pakistan. And beautiful places in the world and carbon output. so another chapter of the Arab- knew we have to save this,” said Her primary focus will be to logue between his father, Judea Christian, and Islamic Studies at Jewish divide had been written. Rudolph, a sophomore theater teach college students, but hopes Pearl, and Islamic scholar Akbar USM. But his voice would not be si- major. one day to include high school and Ahmed. Peck believes students needs lenced. That idea spurred a dream that is elementary education. The presentation will come to to be engaged with issues such as Spurred by the media attention now becoming a reality. Rudolph Reducing your carbon output USM on Monday, April 7. this, if only for the simple real- surrounding his death, Pearl’s is now the executive director of doesn’t have to be costly or time The event will be a moderated ity that Americans are no longer family would quickly found the “One Blue Pearl,” a non-profi t consuming, something Rudolph dialogue with questions from the immune to the bloodshed that has Daniel Pearl Foundation in an organization looking to save the wants people to know. It can be audience in an effort to create a consumed so much of the world. effort to continue his work of world one person at a time. as simple as turning your car off frank and respectful discourse Peck is also confi dent that stu- fostering constructive dialogue “Our mission is to educate instead of leaving it idling. about a very fi ery topic. dents will attend, citing crowds of people about offsetting their between Jews and Muslims. “It is one of the fl ash-points of close to 1,000 at two previous pro- carbon output,” said Rudolph. Part of that effort includes our 21st century,” says Abraham See LOURAINE page 13 a lecture tour, featuring a dia- Peck, Director of Jewish, See BEYOND page 13 2 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 NEWS Campus Events

Monday April 7 more information contact Gillian Schwartz from Northwestern please contact yoorilawson@hot- Student Senate Meeting- Free Press Budget Meeting- Britt 207-775-2126. University will present this lec- mail.com. Weekly meeting/ Room 403, Want to write? Want to tell us ture that is sponsored by USM’s Luther Bonney Hall, Portland what we should be writing? All Tuesday April 8 English Department. Free and Maine Pirg Meeting- Weekly campus/ 2:30pm-4:30pm/ Call Club Volleyball Team, Guys are welcome./ 92 Bedford Street, open to the public/ University meeting/ 7pm-8pm/ Woodbury 228-8501 for more information. and Girls- weekly meetings Portland Campus/ 5pm-6pm/ For Events Room, Glickman Family Campus Center Student on Tuesdays and Sundays/ Hill more information email Sarah Library, Portland campus/ Involvement Desk, Portland. Seminar Series, Copyright gym-Costello Sports Complex, Trent at [email protected]. 4:15pm-6:15pm/ For more infor- Laws-”Media, Technology and Gorham Campus/ 7pm-9pm/ For mation please call 780-4291. Gorham Events Board Animation Graphics”- The more information Please email Mock Interviewing with Meeting- Weekly meeting to plan Center for Law & Innovation and Dani Netland at dnetland@maine. Employer Representatives- Student Group STAND- events for the Gorham campus/ the Maine Center for Creativity rr.com. Students will meet with employers Movie Night: “A Devil Came On SIAC(Husky Hut)-Gorham/ are co-hosting a series of seminars individually to practice their inter- Horseback” - Genocide in Darfur/ 7pm-9pm/ For more information focusing on how copyright laws Free Press Writing viewing skills. They will receive 10 Bailey Hall, Gorham Campus/ please contact aschwartz@usm. affects various creative works. Workshop- Weekly meeting/92 valuable feedback from local em- 7pm-8pm. maine.edu. Admission: $5 for students/fac- Bedford Street, Portland Campus/ ployer representatives. Open to ulty, $10 for the general public, 5pm-6pm/ For more information all majors./ School of Business, and $20 for attorneys seeking email Sarah Trent at sarah.trent@ 113 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland Thursday April 10 Friday April 11 CLE credit/ Moot Courtroom- yahoo.com. USM Job Fair- Sponsored by Physics Club- Pizza Party!/ Campus/ 5:30pm-7pm/ Students USM School of Law, Portland/ Career Services and Professional Science Building Rm 250, Portland must RSVP to Melissa Burns at 3:30pm-5pm/ Please pre-register Model United Nations Life Development. Free and open Campus/ 11:30am-3:30pm. 780-4669 or [email protected]. by contacting the Center for Law Organization Weekly Meeting- to the public/ Sullivan Gym, edu. and Innovation (207) 874-6521 or If you like global affairs and Portland campus/ 12pm-4pm/ email [email protected]. conference planning, please join For more information visit Career Book Signing with Author us/ 217 Abromson Community Services and Professional Life Suzanne Strempek Shea- Winner Education Center, Portland Development. of the 2000 New England Book campus/ 5pm-5:30pm/ For more Classical guitarist Keith Crook performed Award for Fiction/ USM Portland information please email jelena. Safe Zone Project Orientation Bookstore/ 7pm-8:30pm/ For at the Corthell Concert Hall on Friday, [email protected]. Session- Join us to learn more more information please contact about the LGBTQ community Barbara Kelly (207)780-4702, April 4th. Crook plucked and strummed Wednesday April 9 at USM, gain support for being [email protected]. Interfaith Conversations a safe and supportive ally/ 107 his way through a genre spanning show of about Real Life Issues: The Bailey Hall, Gorham/ 1:30pm- Douglas M. Schair Lecture original and existing compositions. Environment- USM Associate 3:00pm/ RSVP required by 4/8 “Beyond the Clash of Chaplains will model respectful - Email sparker-holmes@usm. Civilizations”- Professor Judea dialogue across lines of differing maine.edu or call 780-5767 for Pearl, father of slain journalist belief systems/ Faculty Dining more information. Daniel Pearl, and Ambassador Room, Brooks Student Center, Akbar Ahmed, authority on Islam, Gorham/ 4pm-6pm/ For more in- Meditation Club Meeting- will speak about Muslim and formation please contact Interfaith Please come to our weekly open Jewish cultural issues. This event Chaplain, 228-8093 or interfaith@ meetings to learn and practice is free and open to the public on a usm.maine.edu. methods for fostering peace in fi rst-come fi rst-served basis; seat- yourself/ 208 Luther Bonney, ing is limited/ Hannaford Hall- Lecture: “Law, Justice and Portland Campus/ 2:30pm- USM’s Abromson Community Love in Shakespeare’s ‘The 3:30pm/For more information Center, Portland/ 7pm-9pm/ For Merchant of Venice’”- Regina

Now accepting applications 2008 USM Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

Application deadline: April 25, 2008 JOB FAIR! Applications from all academic disciplines are encouraged. Th is is the big o ne! Eight summer fellowships will be awarded to students interested in pursuing scholarly, April 10, 2008 research, and creative activities. 12 pm - 4 pm Each fellowship will provide: · $2,600 student stipend Sullivan Gym, · $500 faculty stipend Portland · up to $400 for materials and supplies Campus

www.usm.maine.edu/careers/jobfair

Check our website for: Applications are available online at A Listing of Employers, Job Fair Tips for Students & http://research.usm.maine.edu/opportunities/surf Questions to Ask Employers. NEWS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 3 Alternative Spring Break with Habitat for Humanity

Abigail Cuff ey on the outide, “the inside had been Contributing Writer completely gutted,” said Webster. Why go so far, when The students want to bring aware- there’s work to be ness to the cause and not let the event On March 23, seventeen USM stu- be forgotten. People are still living in done at home? dents took off on a weeklong spring FEMA trailers. vacation down south. Typically with projects like this one, Alternative Spring Breaks Instead of going the typical tan- the building materials are funded by the are common among colleg- ning-on-the-beach-in-Cancun route, homeowners themselves. Those fami- es in the U.S. In the Slidell these students worked with Habitat for lies who are able to pay for the supplies area, students from New Humanity International and ventured do, but need help with the physical Jersey, Washington State and on an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) labor – that’s where volunteers step in. UCLA participated alongside trip to Slidell, La. Many handy skills were learned USMers. Just thirty minutes from New on this trip, as one student shared, “I There are many similar vol- Orleans, nearly 85 percent of Slidell’s learned how to cut metal studs. Each unteering opportunities in the homes and businesses were lost to time I do something like this, I learn Greater Portland area. Hurricane Katrina. This area is now something different, whether it is According to Dan Wallace, part of Habitat for Humanity’s mission siding, framing, painting, or insulat- Construction Manager for to promote a “people-to-people part- ing.” These are certainly not the typical Habitat for Humanity-Greater nership, drawing prospective Habitat hobbies of the average college student. Portland, their volunteers families and communities together The group worked on two projects come from many walks of life, with volunteers and resources to build while there: a building to house more including companies, retirees, decent, affordable housing.” volunteers, and a community center. high school and college stu- At a cost of $1,000 per person, stu- The feeling of appreciation was always dents alike. Students as young dents had to raise money for transpor- present, with the residents continually as 14 may volunteer, and there tation just to be able to volunteer. showing their gratitude to the student is really no age limit as long as Funding for the trip “actually started volunteers. you can pick up a hammer. before there was technically even a Many students on the trip were able Currently, Habitat for trip,” says senior Danielle Webster, one to relate their experience to their future Humanity-Greater Portland is of the students who went. careers. “I chose my (criminology and working on improving build- As early as August, the group began psychology) majors because I knew I ing practices by “going green.” raising money through an online auc- wanted to help people and this project Soon volunteers, including stu- tion, as well as bake sales, bottle drives, just reaffi rms for me what I am doing dents from McGill and Purdue, and even selling coupon books. and why I am learning what I am learn- will begin construction on four Students had the opportunity to ing,” says Webster. new houses on Demers Street choose which part of the country they From this trip, the students observed Above, Danielle Webster and Arlita Hallee shovel dirt to fill a in Portland. wanted to work. how residents of Louisiana still have so homeowner’s foundation. Below, Emily Julian paints a mural. Volunteers don’t have to Last year the ASB group went to Bay These women went to Lousiana as a part of USM’s Alternative be skilled carpenters to work; much faith in life, and are just happy Spring Break. St. Louis, Miss., but wanted to choose to have survived. While there, students “anyone who can lend a hand” a place deeply affected by Hurricane met an inspiring couple who had given is welcome, according to Katrina. up all their belongings and moved to Wallace. The challenge is that After fl ying into New Orleans, the Louisiana to help with rebuilding. when working, “you’re never group stayed mainly in Slidell, La. to They currently live on donations. going to know how much is work. On the difference a year makes, the going to get done.” There’s As it turned out, Habitat for Humanity students noticed little improvement in a lot of teaching involved, so International had overbooked the area conditions in the Ninth Ward. you just have to take it one day in Slidell, so the group graciously “Most people…cannot afford to at a time. agreed to work with the Faith Bible rebuild and are living in tents or on When asked about students Church Disaster Relief Team instead. mattresses under the overpasses,” says volunteering in local areas in- Much of the work they did was simi- Webster. stead of down south, Wallace lar to what they would have done for Students were split onto different believes that USM has been Habitat. job sites because of the high number very gracious in working with In exchange for their work, the of volunteers. Activities included mud- Habitat, helping out with proj- Church offered them sleeping quarters ding drywall, fi lling in fl oors with clay ects whenever needed. He rec- in their sanctuary. When asked what and sand and working at a community ognizes that there is a national her initial reaction to the area was, center that will eventually provide need for assistance, and USM Webster replied, “sadness. It has been housing, food and clothes. seems to be “doing it all.” over two and a half years and there are Some students even worked in the He also adds that volunteer- still areas where there is still so much church cleaning out a new warehouse. ing your time in a foreign place destruction.” The group didn’t spend all their time is a great chance to “visit and Among the many signs of pover- working, though, and did get a chance learn about a new place.” ty, the students witnessed “X’s” still to experience some sightseeing and It’s always great when you marked on buildings as well as win- culture, including swamp tours and can do both. dows boarded up. And while some of New Orleans. the houses appeared to be undamaged Volunteer closer to home LLetet uuss knowknow whatwhat youyou think,think, Stefanie Dvorak to construct and renovate homes What happens now that spring wwriterite a lletteretter ttoo tthehe eeditor.ditor. Staff Writer over their own spring breaks. break is over? Do USM students Habitat for Humanity was have volunteer opportunities founded in 1976 by Millard and here in their own backyard? [email protected] While many students took Linda Fuller to provide people “Absolutely,” says Andrea the MTV route and spent their with affordable shelter. So far, Thompson-McCall, the director spring break stumbling through the nonprofi t organization has of community service at USM. the sand at such seaside desti- built over 225,000 houses glob- Alternative Spring Break of- nation as Cancun and Daytona ally, providing more than one fered local options for those who Beach, others donated their time million people with a place to couldn’t travel, and her offi ce to build houses. live. allows for plenty of other chanc- Seventeen USM students and The program’s volunteers es throughout the year for stu- one advisor traveled to Slidell, build suitable homes for low- dents to work on projects here. La., where nearly 85 percent of income families. The mortgage Students can get involved homes and businesses were de- payments and the sale of the with Maine PIRG of fi nd vol- stroyed when Hurricane Katrina homes go back into Habitat for unteer-work through the offi ce hit the area in 2005. Humanity to build even more for community service and civic In Maine, students from homes. engagement, which Thompson- McGill, Purdue, Northwestern Globally, Habitat for Humanity McCall runs. “Opportunities are Connecticut Community College, is located in more than 90 coun- available for students who don’t and SUNY Oswego have been tries. Additionally, those persons want to leave home or can’t,” she working with the Portland af- wishing to volunteer are able to says. fi liate of Habitat for Humanity in any state in the United States. 4 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 NEWS Ben Taylor takes SGA election by a landslide

Matt Dodge News Editor

Experience paid off for sophomore Ben Taylor. The current vice chair of the USM Student Senate won the recent SGA Presidential race carrying a commanding 44 percent of the USM has implemented recycling containers around their campuses as a part of their effort to lower their carbon vote. footprint. The university recently become a member of STARS, a pilot program meant to measure sustainable Taylor’s term as president practices across campuses nationwide. will offi cially begin at the end of the semester, at the same time that next year’s 12 elected senators are offi cially seated so Measuring the ‘green’ that they can approve the bud- geted allocation of the Student the reason for the low turn-out. Activity Fee. In past years, candidates were The other two presidential allowed a full week of cam- hopefuls, Adam Royer and Ben paigning after announcing their (And we’re not talking about money) Skillings, garnered 27 and 23 candidacy. percent of the vote, respectively. This year, due to deadline ex- The remaining 5 percent went to tensions, campaign week went Laura Fellows sustainability progress throughout help formalize it, and help get more write-in candidates. by without much notice. Intern college campuses nationwide. people involved.” However, these numbers Next week, we’ll look more While similar to the LEED rating The testing phase began this might not be representative of system (Leadership in Energy and semester. In order to participate, at what happened, and feature The University of Southern the more than 10,000 students Environmental Design), a program USM needed to be a member of profi le of your next student Maine’s sustainability program is at USM: only 345 voted in the that has awarded certifi cation to a AASHE – which carries a $1000 body president. being brought to the next level: presidential race. handful of USM buildings, STARS annual price tag. Due to a donation, If you’re interested in learn- USM has been selected as one of This is down signifi cantly is a program that takes into account the university was able to join and ing more about student govern- about 90 colleges nationwide to from closer to 600 in last year’s the sustainability processes of the sign on to the STARS pilot stage. ment, stop by their offi ce in the participate in the pilot stage of a election, which was the fi rst entire campus, from building mate- While there are plenty of other Woodbury campus center or new rating system. election to be done online rather rials to food, curriculum, fi nances “green” programs going on around attend the next Student Senate This Sustainability Tracking, than at tables across campus. and more. campus, Greeley believes that this meeting, this Friday from Assessment and Rating System This year, several students STARS is being developed by the one has the potential to help orga- 2:30-4:30 in 403 Woodbury (STARS) is being developed as involved in student government Association for the Advancement of nize the other campus efforts and Campus Center. a means to measure and compare cite the timing of elections as Sustainability in Higher Education create more community. One of (AASHE), and has been launched the long-term benefi ts would be to to the testing stage this semester keep sustainability programs on-  after approximately two years of track as students come and go over preparation. the years. Ultimately, the completed Right now, Greeley and other program will give college cam- faculty and staff are involved in co- puses a system on which to ordinating the data, much of which base their sustainability mea- is gathered by students. surements. Once this common Travis Wagner, assistant profes- system is in place, schools will sor of Environmental Science & be able to compare ratings and Policy, is getting students from his 35&&%2).'&2/- progress – even between schools 300-level class involved in gath- that are very different from each ering data for the STARS project. other in all other aspects. Most of them are helping with STARS works by creating a the environmental categories of series of categories and subcat- STARS, but others have looked for egories in which the school can information from food services and earn points based on its sustain- other areas. !NINVESTIGATIONALMEDICATIONFORMIGRAINESIS ability data. Some of these cate- “This has been a diffi cult task, INDEVELOPMENTANDWEARECURRENTLYENROLLING gories may change substantially actually trying to fi nd this data,” PARTICIPANTSFORACLINICALRESEARCHSTUDY before the testing is complete, Wagner says. “You would think but that’s why this testing phase it’s pretty readily available and it’s is so important. not.” 9OUMAYBEELIGIBLEIFYOU “It’s about involving people Moving toward a more sustain- s!REYEARSOFAGEOROLDER and fi nding out which processes able and environmentally “green- s3UFFERFROMMIGRAINES work and where the barriers are,” er” campus can be diffi cult, says says Dudley Greeley, USM’s Greeley, because “it’s not going s#URRENTLYTREATYOURMIGRAINESWITHBUTALBITAL sustainability coordinator. to change overnight. Measuring a CONTAININGMEDICATIONSSUCHAS&IORICET¸ These categories and points campus’s sustainability indicators will become the standard upon is not an easy task.” which schools will base their Eventually, however, he believes 3TUDYPARTICIPANTSRECEIVE ratings. that not only will this program help s3TUDY RELATEDTESTING Greeley says that STARS will USM become a more sustainable s-ONITORINGBYHEALTHCAREPROFESSIONALS help USM to collect and control campus, but it will also allow all s3TUDYVISITSANDSTUDY RELATEDHEALTHCAREATNOCOST its data. “It’s important,” he says, participating schools to learn more s0OSSIBLECOMPENSATIONFORTIMEANDTRAVEL “to create a common baseline by effi cient processes and be able to which you can compare your compare notes more easily. own situation from year to year; “Ultimately,” Greeley says, “it’s -IGRAINE#LINICAL2ESEARCH3TUDY that’s the way it’s most useful.” about culture change. This process Once implemented, STARS is saying, ‘let’s change this around; will allow USM to eliminate let’s start to measure more than just waste and track its own sustain- the money.’” ability information more effi - &ORMORE ciently. “We’ve had problems with INFORMATIONPLEASE how to measure our ability to CALL  recycle, or buy more respon- sible fl ooring, or paint our walls with less problematic paint, and get some policies and systems &IORICET¸ISAREGISTEREDTRADEMARKOF7ATSON0HARMACEUTICAL )NC developed, and this process is going to help move that forward, NEWS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 5

Convocation 2008 Riding the Freedom Bus

Grace Mueller Some reactions called the closure 7:20 p.m. – We’re in a planning Contributing Writer an act against academic freedom. session for future action in light of The Gloria S. Duclos convoca- our discoveries tonight. Someone tion committee, which chooses a just mentioned the importance of On Wednesday, March 19th, a theme for a series of focused pre- being an ally, and this is some- group of USM students, staff and sentations each year, decided to thing that has been emphasized in faculty traveled from the Portland center on academic freedom this my Politics of Difference class as campus to Lewiston-Auburn year. LAC students organized to well. College (LAC) to participate in a create tonight so that students, too, One can act as an ally by stand- discussion titled got a voice in the series. Tonight’s ing together with someone who is “The Place of Ideology in the discussion will focus on silenced being marginalized, regardless of Classroom.” A part of the Gloria minorities in the classroom, and whether one personally identifi es S. Duclos 2008 Convocation on the student-professor power im- with him or her. Academic Freedom, this was balance this causes. In the university, this seems uniquely a student-led event. like an especially useful tool in USM staff members Gabe 6:10 p.m. - We have been di- building more comfortable spaces Demaine and Pat Finn organized vided into small groups, as I an- for expression, as allies can act to a “Freedom Bus” to travel from ticipated. shift the power imbalance students Portland to LAC for the event, and face in the classroom. one of my professors, Dr. Wendy 7:00 p.m. - The LAC organiz- Chapkis, decided to take our ers made two video “vignettes” to 7:25 p.m. - We Portlanders Politics of Difference class along stimulate conversation. The fi rst are back on the “Freedom Bus” for the ride.

is a scene showing a political dis- and I am thinking about how im- BRANDON BY PHOTO MCKENNEY STAFF Here I present a journal I kept agreement in the classroom, and pressive tonight’s program was. Riders get ready for the Freedom Bus to leave Portland. They drove to document the experience. the diffi cultly students can face if The LAC students organized the to Lewiston, hearing along the way of historical freedom buses, in they fi nd their opinions in the mi- event successfully as an engaging order to attend the most recent event in USM’s Gloria S. Duclos 4:13 p.m. - We “Freedom nority and in disagreement with dialogue, although, as in my case, Convocation. The event on the LAC campus was about the treatment Bus” riders are gathering in the views held by a professor. which might demonstrate part of of minorities in classrooms. Woodbury Campus Center amphi- The second explores student re- the problem, discussions may not theater. Dr. Chapkis had our class ligious convictions, and the ways have been as open as would be write brief essays on an assigned in which they also can be silenced ideal. historical “freedom bus,” and in the classroom. we’ve been asked to read them After each “vignette,” the facil- The next convocation event, aloud. Me and the other woman itators passed around discussion which revisits the cancellation of who wrote about Rosa Parks and questions to grapple with in our Tom Manning’s “Can’t Jail the the Montgomery bus decide to small groups. In the fi rst discus- Spirit” exhibit, will take place split up so we each get to talk. sion, I was the fi rst to speak up, this Friday, April 11, in the Talbot but the facilitator’s body language Auditorium. 4:42 p.m. - We’re on the bus sent the message that he was un- It will feature Svetlana — a cushy VIP coach — and Dr. interested in what I was saying. Mintcheva, the art director of Chapkis is getting things going Self-conscious, I haven’t said the National Coalition Against by describing one of her own bus much since. Censorship Arts Program; Dan experiences. In 2003, she and How odd that at a discussion Chard, a senior history major; other activists protesting the be- of academic freedom, I feel si- Marie Follayttar, a senior art ginning of the war in Iraq were lenced. major; and G. Bug Swenson, a arrested for civil disobedience in The LAC professor in my renowned Kennebunk artist dis- front of Senator Olympia Snowe’s group seems very concerned with playing his “academic freedom” offi ce. They were transported to the issues raised, and asked us stu- art work. Cumberland County jail in a bus. dents what she could do to ensure They will reevaluate the can- I feel so fortunate right now that students feel comfortable to cellation of the controversial to be in a learning community in freely express their opinions in exhibit and look at its implica- which many professors are politi- her classes. I was really touched tions for academic freedom for cally active, and I think that this by this, as she seemed to genuine- USM and beyond, based on is an important aspect of academic ly value our suggestions. new research into the forces and freedom, which is what today is events infl uencing then-President all about. Employees of the uni- 7:10 p.m. - One of the prob- Richard Pattenaude’s decision. versity can participate in actions lems expressed by members of against what they see as injustice, my group is the tendency for some without fearing the loss of their professors to call on students with jobs. minority opinions to express THE conservative viewpoint, or THE 5:23 p.m. - We have arrived at liberal perspective, and so on. ...When it’s convenient for you! LAC and people are mingling. I This habit not only causes these have been staying close to people students to feel as if they are being With UCU’s NEW online account opening program I know. picked on, it also falsely oversim- Become a it’s easier than ever to join! Already a member? plifi es matters. Expand your UCU relationship by opening additional 5:30 p.m. - Everyone is settling In reality there is never a single UCU accounts online! in their seats. Chairs are set up in conservative, liberal, or whatever comma-shaped groups of about opinion on an issue, but rather Member... Log on to www.ucu.maine.edu and click seven, so I sense that small-group many, sometimes similar views Become a Member for more information. discussions will be a prominent held by those that identify within aspect of the event. these categories. Professors can improve by not 5:45 p.m. - For the last fi fteen presenting opinions in this fl at- Prepare • Progress • Achieve minutes, various administrators tened manner, but rather recogniz- UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION and people involved in the plan- ing and approaching viewpoints www.ucu.maine.edu • 800-696-8628 ning of this event have been out- as multifaceted. NEW LOCATION: 1071 Brighton Avenue, Portland lining the history building up to ORONO • BANGOR • FARMINGTON • PORTLAND tonight. In fall 2006, USM closed the “Can’t Jail the Spirit” art show. 6 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 PERSPECTIVES LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Why are they doing so well? They’re the In order to gain the attention of you, our primary source of essential, local news. readers, we needed to write about things CORRECTIONS While I respect and admire the people you cared about. About you. About your working at the Press Herald — because friends. About what’s going on and how it Our week of they’re doing what I aspire to do — I have affects you. to admit that I wouldn’t choose to read This is where the community newspa- mistaken identities their newspaper. per thrives. The national news and the AP Why do I need to read the AP wire sto- wire doesn’t cover high school basketball The photo ries that saw yesterday on my Yahoo RSS games. And I’m pretty sure the national we ran above news-feed? Why do I need to re-hash the news could care less about the current “Artesani’s story I saw on last night’s news? mess at Cape Elizabeth — but I bet the hard work Newspapers are dying. Apparently. So And I’m not asking for more breaking Cape Courier found its way into a few pays off…” they say. news content on their website, which is more hands than usual last week. (3/17) was Call me naïve, but I’m not convinced. what they seem to have begun doing in re- When our Feb. 11 edition featured “My not a photo Over vacation, in an interview with sponse to the news “crisis.” professor’s my boyfriend” and “26 aca- of Emily Justin Ellis, who was writing about the I want local. Portlanders, of all people, demic programs put on probation” on it’s Artesani. It same topic for his Monday column in the should know the feeling. front page, it fl ew off the racks. was of senior Press Herald, I told him that I thought Portlanders “Buy Local.” They eat And because we were able to break the Christa newspapers were simply fi nding them- local. I want to read local. 26 programs story days before the Press Hutchinson, selves again. As editor of the Free Press, I have Herald had it — because our reporters, who, like Artesani, runs the 400 meters Finding themselves in the face of a learned to think on an ultra-local scale. We friends with the student senators, knew to and is a member of the 4x200 relay supposedly apathetic public, or an apa- cover USM. We feature our students — be at that particular meeting — our web- team that won New Englands. Both are thetic young public; in the face of losing my peers; our professors — my teachers site had a record number of hits and was outstanding athletes. It was an editor’s ad revenue and viewers to the worldwide and friends. linked from U.S. News & World Report. error. web; and all of this under an economy that And though I’m hardly in a position to We have the opportunity, when we’re seems to get worse every day. judge our content, since I help create it, not also trying to be in class, to beat and be The column “Some food for thought” I don’t think that the public is apathetic. they are who I, and I think you, want to be better than the Press Herald in our locale, (3/17) named Dennis Gilbert as the I don’t even think that they’re numb, even reading about. USM. author of “Open your mind and read,” after the major media blasts of the last I have two issues of the Press Herald The Press Herald, and other newspa- the March 3 column to which it was re- decade, including Monica Lewinsky, Sept. pinned to the bulletin board above my pers nationwide, should take the time to sponding. The original column was by 11, Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war. desk: one is folded to show Beth Quimby’s fi nd their own locale, and let AP do what student Dustin Gilbert. Dennis Gilbert Not that those events weren’t important — Jan. 25 story, “Faculty grills candidate for it does best. is a professor of Media Studies. They but sometimes, enough is enough. USM president.” Why did I keep it? I’m In regards to the worldwide web, that’s are not related. It was an editor’s error. No, numb isn’t what we are. And if quoted on page four. a whole other can of worms. But if news- people have stopped reading because they The second I’ve kept is only two weeks papers can refocus their coverage, I think “Your student government voting don’t care, it’s because newspapers and the old: the one in which I tell Justin Ellis the rest will come in stride. guide” (3/17) labeled a photo as candi- media aren’t giving them the things they about newspapers. Like I told Justin, there will always be date Katie Dunn. It was actually a photo care about. When I took over as Sports Editor last journalism — there will always be news. of candidate Molly Dolby; Dunn’s According to a 2006 National Newspaper semester, I did so with the intention of im- photo was not pictured. It was a produc- Association report, readership of small, proving what I thought was the weakest tion error. community newspapers is actually up. section in the paper. As a former USM ath- Sarah Trent “Despite stories of readership challenges lete, I knew how much it sucked. It wasn’t Executive Editor and continued pressure from shareholders about the athletes, it was about games. And for even-larger profi t margins at large dai- not even the good games. lies, the community newspaper industry is When I took over as growing and thriving,” said Jerry Reppert, Executive Editor this se- listed then as president of the NNA. mester, I had the same BREAKING TRADITION goal on a larger scale. Donning my red hat (and gloves)

Marie Allen that I had aged gracefully enough Opportunities to be involved Columnist for long enough. abound and yet I am constantly I don’t own a red hat. I have shocked by the lack of involve- red gloves though, so maybe I ment by my fellow Huskies. “When I am an old woman I will start my own society, “The I would have loved to attend shall wear purple with a red hat Red Glove Society.” the recent conference called that doesn’t go and doesn’t suit 92 BEDFORD STREET - PORTLAND, MAINE 04101 Membership would be for those “Change ‘08”. me.” –Jenny Joseph of us who haven’t quite reached I have a hard time fathoming (207) 780-4084 [email protected] the peak (or the top of the body) why more people didn’t. I have three dogs. yet, but are old enough to know I didn’t go because of the EXECUTIVE EDITOR SARAH TRENT One of them, Princess, always that we can get away with saying timing — it was held during the showed the potential to be a great and doing certain things. hours most of us red-hat-and- ARTS EDITOR JENNA HOWARD dog, even after she ate the seat I am starting to grow into my glove-wearers work. NEWS EDITOR MATT DODGE belt in our car. We could see the own voice. When will the University and PRODUCTION EDITOR JESSICA MEAKIN potential there. I am rarely with out anything its leadership grab hold of the fact She is an old lady now. She PRODUCTION ASSISTANT KATIE WILBER to say—just like Princess. that they are ignoring an entire wears a silly bow with great dig- While I don’t object as loudly portion of the student population PHOTO EDITOR BRANDON MCKENNEY nity and has gone from never to the existence of squirrels, I am by holding events such as this WEB EDITOR BETHANY FLANNERY thinking about entering the dining aware that the list of things I can during the hours when most of us room during dinner to being the AD SALES JOSHUA GRISET say openly is growing. are busy trying to earn those ever biggest mooch in the house – be- For example—I hate my increasing tuition dollars? BEN SKILLINGS cause she knows she can. Philosophy Class. How about a Saturday confer- BUSINESS MANAGER LUCILLE SIEGLER If she were a human, she There, I said it and I do feel ence? would be a member of The Red ADVISOR KENNETH H. BRIEF better. Perhaps a section of the con- Hat Society. When I signed up for it, I ference could have been held We have all seen them, groups thought it would be very differ- during the afternoon and evening Editorial & Advertising Policies of older women in red hats, fl aunt- ent. It isn’t, and I hate it. to allow those of us that work ing expectations. They don’t care It had potential though. during the day to attend at least The Free Press is a weekly student–run newspaper paid for in part by what they should be doing, they’re School, for me is fi lled with part of the program. the Student Activity Fee. • We have a gender-neutral language policy. • doing what they want. possibilities and potential. We are a different generation We reserve the right to edit or refuse all materials submitted or solicited Princess now starts rumpuses I don’t have to worry about — has the university ever thought for publication. • Columns do not refl ect the opinions of The Free Press with great abandon and has been what I want to be when I grow up, about changing the way it com- or its staff. • Guest commentaries are sometimes solicited or accepted know to miraculously get over because I am, by legal standards, municates with students who are from members of the USM community; they may not exceed 750 words. • her hip problems if something of a grownup. “of a certain age”? One copy of The Free Press is available free of charge. Up to 10 additional interest is left on the counter. Having realized that the poten- School is what you make it. copies are available for 25 cents each at the offi ce of The Free Press, I respect that about her, and I tial to become a teacher was as Despite a full time job, three kids 92 Bedford St., Portland, Maine. • The Free Press reaches an estimated let her get away with it. inviting to me as leftovers on my and school I seem to have found 11,000 students of USM, their friends and families on the Portland and My temples, rather than my kitchen counter are to Princess, I my home here at the Free Press. Gorham campuses and in the Portland community. To advertise, contact muzzle, have gone grey, but decided to come back to school. There are so many ways to be our Advertising Manager at 207.780.4084 x8. • We reserve the right to Princess and I have a lot more in While my age may allow me to involved, to make yourself heard. reject advertising, We will not accept discriminatory ads. • We welcome common that you’d think. get away with being slightly more The possibilities are endless, I am not quite old enough for letters to the editor. They must be submitted electronically, include the au- fl ippant in class then my younger potential is everywhere. the Red Hat Society, but I am a thor’s full name, school year or relationship to USM, phone number for peers; it doesn’t exempt more Be a part of your college com- potential member. verifi cation and may not exceed 350 words without prior approval from from those god-forsaken core re- munity; make USM whatever you I can see myself wearing ob- the Executive Editor. • The deadline for all submissions is Thursday at 4 quirements, so I struggle on. want it to be. noxious red hats and fl aunting There is potential all around us (And don’t be afraid to wear a p.m. preceding the week of publication. Send submissions to freepress@ conventions, relying on the fact maine.edu. at USM. The school is what we red hat). make it. PERSPECTIVES Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 7 Letters to the Editor FROM THE RIGHT College Democrats I soon realized that I was not alone. Don’t believe the hype around Democrats Many of my peers have received substantial- There are a couple of errors in the article ly smaller aid packages than ever in their aca- “College Democrats” (3/17) which deserve demic career, and very few have been granted Dustin Gilbert Working Mainers suffer as their published correction in the interest of accurate work-study, despite having previously received Columnist taxes and costs of living are con- reporting and an informed student body. and utilized it. stantly rising. First, in the discussion reported on by USM is in a fi nancial crisis. This has led to In an interesting example, Dean Scontras was born and Scontras compared Maine to David O’Donnell, “economic equality” was budget cuts and widespread layoffs, which in- raised in Southern Maine, the never mentioned as a value held by any group fl uence campus morale. Ireland. youngest of seven children. “Ireland was a major exporter member. What was mentioned was equality of As students, my peers and I also feel the af- He graduated from Sanford High opportunity. fects of the administrative decisions made. of potatoes and young people. The School in ‘87 and the University of taxes and (agragarian) economy “Economic equality” sounds synonymous Not only are we worried about how to sup- Maine in ‘91. with communism, a system that commonly port ourselves while taking classes, but are also drove Ireland’s youth right out of Despite being told that he was the country.” breeds equality of poverty and not one advo- subject to employees of the university taking too small to play football, he played cated by any Democrat. their frustrations out on us. He says that once Ireland fi gured as a varsity wide receiver his fresh- out that releasing tax pressures and Equality of opportunity, on the other hand, While trying to fi gure out how to pay my bills man year at Sanford — and didn’t is something far different both philosophically next semester, I was interrogated and dealt with introducing new types of industries win a single game. would fi x the problem, they began and in practice. callously by a fi nancial aid offi cer. I understand His senior year they were 6-2, People’s interests and abilities will always her frustration, but I deserve better than this. to thrive. Now that they’re at the and he went on to play Division IA top of the European Union, people vary; some people will choose more ardu- I chose to come to USM for many reasons, ball for UMaine. ous work for the fi nancial benefi ts it entails, and as someone paying to be here I believe I are returning. “Young people are Years later, he’s striving to staying and exporting potatoes isn’t others will choose a more leisurely existence. deserve as such. defeat the odds again, this time as Incentives for hard work need to remain. A co-worker, currently a USM undergradu- as important.” a Republican taking on a lineup Talking about a March 26 debate What seems most just, then, is to establish ate, has been forced to reevaluate her plans to of power-hitting names in Maine’s policies that allow a person adequate choice in attend USM for grad school in the fall, owing to at the Maine Art Space Gallery, Democratic party. He’s running he put into two sentences what how to live his or her life. This means, at the a poor fi nancial aid package. for Maine’s fi rst-district seat in the preliminary level, ensuring that educational op- Understandably, the university’s situation I’ve been trying to tell my liberal U.S. Congress. friends for years: “the Democrats portunities are available that allow for upward is severe, especially given the fact that student His confi dence is backed by facts, social mobility. enrollment and retention are major issues. But on that stage and across Maine and statistics and examples of where America have begun to take away Bill Clinton may have been a controversial without students, you don’t have a university. this state has been going wrong and leader, but the Democratic policies of his ad- We need a positive environment to learn and the idea that America is exceptional. what’s needed to correct it. It dilutes what is truly American.” ministration allowed millions more people to work in, and without that, we will look else- To the USM student body, he asks attend college than during the last eight years of where. On Maine Republicans and the that you “not believe the hype.” directions the party should take, he Republican rule. The “hype,” he told me when I Second, I cannot recall any group member Financially in need, had an interesting allegory. sat down with him last week, is be- “The Maine Republican party is demoting “free and open debate” to second in lieving Democrats because they’re value to anything: we cherish it as the funda- Hilary Manuel a lot like the Red Sox used to be. “good” and disagreeing with No matter how good they were or mental component of good government. Junior Republicans because they’re “bad” We share Learned Hand’s view that “opin- Media Studies how much they were winning by, — a traditional Mainer attitude. everyone expected them to lose.” ions are at best provisional hypotheses, incom- When Scontras graduated he did pletely tested. The more they are tested...the Everyone bought into it, he says, Granny’s writes what half of the young people from until the team and its fans began to more assurance we may assume, but they are this state’s colleges do. never absolutes. So we must be tolerant of op- trust the talent, rather than the curse. The following response to “Mourning the big “I hopped in my red Volkswagen posite opinions.” Down 3-0 in the ALCS, they came burrito” (Feb. 11) was written last week on our Rabbit and left Maine. On that back—and Scontras isn’t about to website edition: drive I heard a country song on Jeff Doucette forget it. the radio titled ‘I ain’t never comin Senior “The Maine Republican party A friend offered me a quote one day when back again.’” Scontras didn’t plan College Democrat needs to stop believing in the curse I was frustrated by the incredibly inaccurate to either. that this state will always be run by bullshit rumors I had heard about myself. But he did, after spending time Democrats. There’s no better ex- Request for the “Right” “Great minds talk about ideas, good minds in nearly every metropolis in the ample than the Red Sox, even the talk about events, weak minds talk about country working in the tech indus- Patriots. They had Bledsoe, who try. He returned to raise his family, I am writing to commend Dustin and his people.” was a good quarterback with a leg- It is so much easier to project weaknesses and wanting to share the Maine land- endary background, but then he column. In the three years I have been at USM, scape with his kids. no one has been able to stir up as much debate as faults towards others than ourselves. went down and the unknown Tom Not to say that connecting alcohol and drug “When I take my sons fi shing on Brady came in. [Brady] believed in his column, an achievement in itself. the rocks for stripers or play foot- What disappointed me though, was the lack abuse to the restaurant business is a big stretch, himself and the fans stood behind but look around you: do you have any concept ball on the beach, there is nothing him. These patterns of victory, the of mention of the fl ag in the list of things in his else that I’d rather be doing. That is column of March 11. Does Dustin not believe in of how expensive it is to run a reasonably priced stories of the way these teams won, and socially responsible business in this world? the most important thing to me.” this is what the Maine Republican the fl ag as the representation of the living coun- But more than just the family try? Walk a mile in my shoes and then make your party needs to become.” assumptions. man, Scontras is a politician — “Give me one reason why stu- The lack of discussion of fl ag code and the and he’s concerned that the current numerous violations visited upon this impor- dents should stay in Maine,” I Christopher Godin Democrats aren’t doing what’s best asked him. tant symbol was a real oversight. For a person for the state. claiming to be a patriot of the United States, Owner of all the blame for the demise of With the story of his own trip in Granny’s Burritos He says that the governor turned the VW Rabbit and what eventually they should be sure to be familiar with these im- down tech companies looking to portant laws. brought him back, his answer was bring business to Maine, saying simple. “To infl uence change.” The not-punishable nature of fl ag law has that the state wanted to keep an meant people, on a daily basis, get away with The Declaration makes no Opponent’s criticize Scontras’ guarantees agrarian economy and was “more inexperience in public offi ce, but insulting the very symbol designed to represent interested in growing tomatoes in a them. it becomes a moot point when I am unsure which “left” or “right” perspec- glass house.” one realizes that the House of I call on Dustin to address this serious over- On another point, he says that sight in a future column. tive fi rst made this mistake in the recent issues Representatives is not merely a of the Free Press. I caught it in the most recent Ethan Stremling (a Dem. opponent) political stepping stone — it’s for issue, March 17th in Laura Ashworth’s column, and Governor Baldacci aren’t plan- working American citizens who David Brown ning on giving Mainers the oppor- Senior “Some food for thought...” wish to infl uence change and better The following snippet is incorrect: tunity to be independent from the the country’s future. “... the Declaration of Independence, which state. A proud Mainer with Reagan- To Whom It May Concern: guarantees every American citizen the right to Stremling wants to raise the like values, Scontras is striving for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” minimum wage another dollar — meaningful change and real prog- This fall, I will begin my senior year at the The Declaration makes no such guarantees. which will make things tougher for ress toward the goals common to University of Southern Maine and for the fi rst The Declaration is a condemnation of British small businesses. both Republicans and Democrats: time I have not been granted Federal Work rule of the colonies and makes the case for sepa- I spoke up and said that maintaining graduates, eliminating Study. When I reviewed my award, I thought ration. It is not the document that sets out our Democrats like Stremling, who budget defi cits, decreasing the tax there had been a mistake. rights as citizens of the United States. also owns low-income housing, burden, and attracting businesses As a full-time student, I rely on work-study The Constitution sets the framework for, and keep pushing programs that allow that will turn our economy around. to help pay my bills so I can continue my educa- the Amendments (Bill of Rights, etc.) set out our low-income Mainers to live off the Don’t believe the hype around tion unhindered by a full-time, off campus job. rights and the limits on our government. state, while at the same time keep- Democrats. Believe the hype After communicating with the Financial Aid ing those people in poverty — and around changes that will work. offi ce I was rudely informed by an advisor that, Stephen Houser keeping their vote. due to new policies, I had not fallen within the Professor of Computer Science It’s a tactic that breeds laziness Visit www.teamdean08.com for parameters of the work study award. This hap- Director of Information & Technology and dependency on government more information on Scontras and pened despite my standing as a senior, having programs, which breeds Democratic his candidacy. fi nancial need greater than the past and applying voters. well before the priority deadline. 8 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 PERSPECTIVES Your weekly Now where are the laws?

Elisabeth Altshuler faculty at NIU, killing fi ve and can take that would make it more horoscopes Contributing Columnist wounding sixteen. diffi cult for dangerous people to I think the passage of time and obtain deadly fi repower.” growing older has given me a One of these steps is that Writt en by the Free Press staff Sitting at home over February new outlook on the rash of shoot- background checks should be break, I was fl ipping through the ings that have happened in the required for every gun purchase. channels until I landed on the past year (and decade). “That means closing the egre- Aries news, which was reporting on March 21-April 20 For me it is no longer a situ- gious loophole that permits un- the shooting at Northern Illinois ation where shootings happen licensed dealers to sell fi rearms Must...go...Facebook University. You may feel especially drawn elsewhere; they happen at our at gun shows without conducting Listening in awe to the details schools and in our hometowns. any background check,” the ar- to your Facebook account this that were being given, I was im- week. The stars align, telling you This fear has expanded in me, ticle states. mediately brought back to when and it seems to have expanded in Time will tell if tougher gun to network, network, network. Go I fl ipped through the channels at with it. (And love it when you get others as well. laws come to fruition, and in the my grandfather’s house close to In a letter to the Portland Press meantime what the public is left all kinds of happy birthday wall nine years ago. posts). Herald, Sacopee Valley High with are sorrowful reminders of At that time, I, like the rest School teacher Ralph K. Ginorio the tragedies that have occurred. This week, throw a costume party. good dance party (be it mental or of country, was learning of the physical) and of course nobody voiced his opinions on mass A “lie-in” to commemorate last massacre that had taken place at shootings. year’s shooting at Virginia Tech can hold you down, you’re a Columbine High School, where Taurus Libra. He believes that “in a world will take place in Portland (and on April 20, 1999, two students where madmen murder school- at other locations nationwide) on April 21-May 20 This week, skip class and get ice opened fi re on students and fac- Dive in heels fi rst cream. children, we must select, train April 16th from 11:45 to 12:15 ulty, killing twelve and wounding and arm volunteer, well-trained p.m., and I plan to attend. It’s time to rock like that French twenty-three before taking their girl on MTV commercials. Don’t teachers so that they might be The lie-in will feature thirty- own lives. their students’ protectors.” two people dressed in black, to hold back, take on the week’s Scorpio Though I remember being issues like a sequin-wearing, October 22- November 21 Though I empathize with his represent the thirty-two victims frightened by what I was hearing, desire to protect students and fac- of Virginia Tech, lying down si- high-heeled rocker. Balls to the walls. the gravity of the situation didn’t This week, buy a lottery ticket. Take this time while you’re ulty from those wielding guns, an multaneously. really affect me until I turned to article in The New York Times Seeing this will not only feeling ballsy to do something the news on February 14, 2008 Gemini you might not have the guts to titled “Gun Crazy” puts forth remind us of past shootings, it and saw that a gunman had un- something that to me makes more will also show us how far we May 21-June 20 do otherwise. Try for a new job, leashed fi re on students and Beware the Diva secure an internship, put an end sense: “practical steps the nation have to go. This week, this whole month to drama between you and the girl actually, you craaave attention. from that party. Fine. Crave it. But after everyone This week, wave to the guy in the looks at you, consider what they car next to you. FEATURED FACULTY may be thinking of you. You can Photo and interview by Liz Lugosi act the diva, and the spotlight can Sagitt arius be really great for you, but watch November 22-December 20 out for the underdog if you get Feeling Feisty. Do you tend to favor modern philosophers more too high and mighty. Thanks to Mercury, you are than the ancients? This week, upgrade your com- totally freaking feisty right now. No, I actually teach ancient philosophy, and I’ve puter. While this could spur more fl irta- taught it since I came, so it still remains one of tion, umm, let’s just say keep it my favorite subjects. I’m very much indebted to (in your pants) calm for the time people like Socrates and Plato. I think that many Cancer being. Or else you risk making a of the issues that arise in Plato still have relevance June 21-July 21 fool of yourself. Use the feist for today. Playful? making witty jokes, wearing a Under playful Mars, you may feel daring top — anything but mak- Do you agree with him about poetry? any of the following: silly fi ts of ing moves. Initially Plato says things like “philosophy is right joy, loopy behavior, excessive This week, recycle this paper! and poetry is wrong” but Plato himself was very chattiness, bat-your-eyelashes much a poet. So I conclude from that that for coy, you may even come down Plato there’s good and bad poetry, and good poetry a case or two of ‘the giggles.’ Capricorn doesn’t pretend to be more than it is. However the planet effects you December 21- January 19 In some ways I think there are close affi nities be- personally, delight in the spring Go with the Flow tween the philosopher and the poet. I think there’s fever you’re experiencing and let Unexpected events have made something ironic in the fact that Plato himself is a it go to your head. You doesn’t way for a new project, and you very poetic philosopher. And when push comes to want the giggles? should roll with the punches this shove, he’s intent to turn to allegories and meta- This week, have a meeting with week. It’s April, it’s a new month, phors to get at the essence of reality. your advisor. it’s time to register for classes, it’s time to graduate, it’s time to Were you a philosophy major as an undergrad? Leo get a haircut. Go ahead and take No, I was a Russian major, Russian and Soviet July 22-August 21 chances that have to do with the studies. I was doing something supposedly practi- It’s in the air! unexpected. What better time? cal. Then I took an intro to philosophy class and Love. Get your mojo working. This week, accept that invitation BILL GAVIN the instructor said, “I don’t have the answers, but I Springtime. Blossoming. Ro- to an honors society. have interesting questions” and I became hooked, mance. Either rent the sex movies or bewitched. (see arts section, page 11) or try PROFESSOR OF fl irting. Aquarius Did people ever ask you why you’re doing this? This week, bust out the fl ip-fl ops. January 20-February 18 PHILOSOPHY Yes, it’s generally a good way to stop a conversa- Reward System tion - “what do you do?” “I do philosophy.” It’s a good time for you to take a Generally it gets turned into “oh, psychology?” Virgo look at your life, sigh, and relax. How long have you been teaching? or silence. But I get to read great things by great August 22- September 21 Take little breaks to get yourself At USM since 1968, so just about 40 years. When people. Take Charge through a busy time. Set little I came I was the only member of the department You don’t need a second opinion rewards for yourself. Beer after — we now have eight people, plus some part-tim- What would you say to students who are study- to know you’re right, take the your exam. Nails done after a big ers, and we’re a pretty robust department. ing what they love, and getting the same ques- initiative and step in a new direc- job interview. Cheers. tions? tion. Something you may be wary This week, buy somebody fl owers What’s your favorite thing about teaching? It’s important, because the issues that you’ll have of could reap sweet benefi ts. Convincing students that questions are more im- to deal with have been dealt with by some of the This week, tune up your bike. Pisces portant than answers, and that each answer should great philosophers. February 19-March 20 lead to a question. Answers make the world less It’s a kind of dress rehearsal. It’s a way to express You go-getter, way to live in a interesting than questions. yourself logically and succinctly, and not to be Libra Technicolor world this week, Pi- taken aback by issues you’re going to have to face September 22- October 21 sces. It takes an honorable person Who is your favorite philosopher? anyhow. Ass-shaking? to move the way you do, and you William James (1842-1910), who’s not only a For example, one of the courses I teach is “Death Can’t nobody hold you down! Oh can be commended for your big well-known philosopher, he’s the father of Ameri- and Dying,” which I’ve done for about 20 years, no! You got to keep on mooo- dreams. Right now, playing hard can psychology. which is a humbling experience. It’s one that I vin’! Coincidentally, you have to get might be the best way to can’t say I enjoy necessarily, but it’s good to do, fallen into the horoscope of ass- get what you want. Or what you because sooner or later everyone is going to have shaking and empowerment. And think you want. to deal with it. good for you, everyone needs a This week, do your laundry. Arts DON’T Entertainment& STAY HOME

9 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 CHEER YOUR TEAM GET A REAL JOB

APRIL 7 There will be a book-signing at USM with Suzanne Strempek Shea, winner of the New England Book Award for Fiction in 2000. Shea taught in the Stonecoast MFA program, and has written fi ve novels. Check out her latest, “Sundays in Amer- ica - A yearlong road trip in search of Christian faith,” which was written after visiting churches all over the US. Free/ 7 to 8:30 p.m./ USM Portland bookstore/ 780-4702

APRIL 8 Softball, or tennis? You could even alternate be- tween the two, as the USM men’s tennis team takes on Rhode Island College at the Gorham High School at 3:30 p.m., and the women’s soft- ball team plays St. Joseph’s at the USM softball fi eld, also at 3:30 p.m. Games are free for stu- dents/ Gorham/ 780-5431

APRIL 9 Shakespeare enthusiasts: A lecture entitled “Law, Justice and Love in Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’” will be presented by Regina Schwartz from Northwestern University. This event is spon- sored by the USM English department, and is free and open to the public. 4:15 to 6:15 p.m./ Univer- PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXPHOTO SIMOES A ‘coslayer’ dressed as Ryck from the anime “Death Note.” The fan’s costumes made Anime Boston almost worth the sity Events Room, Glickman Family Library, Port- wait. land campus/ 780-4291 APRIL 10 Graduating this year? Not graduating, but inter- ested in making money over the summer? USM’s Fans save Anime Boston 2008 job fair will be a great place to start, continue, or conclude your employment search. Bring many Jake Cowan Most fans spend months creating their costumes using copies of your resume, and meet with representa- Contributing Columnist detailed intricacy to create wardrobes identical to those tives from more than 65 companies and employ- worn by various characters. ers. The job fair will be hosted by USM’s Career The majority of fans at the convention cosplayed, and Services & Professional Life Development. Free Anime Boston invaded Beantown’s Hynes Convention Al and I actually felt out of place for dressing normally. and open to the public/ Noon to 4 p.m./ Sullivan Center over Easter weekend, and just like Christians Countless anime were represented, but the best cos- Gym, Portland campus/ 780-4695 fl ocking to midnight mass, anime fans from all over the tumes we saw came from Neon Genesis Evangelion, East Coast made their yearly trek to this nerd-Mecca. Fooly Cooly, Death Note, Desert Punk and Jin-Roh. While home in Massachusetts for Spring Break, I set APRIL 11 After Al and I waited four hours to enter the conven- It’s looking like a high-seas theme for the Port- out early Saturday morning, accompanied by my friend tion, we were tired but ready to party. Our fi rst stop was Al, to indulge in the prolifi c art form that is Japanese land Pirates tonight, as they take on the Worces- to see the Japanese band The Pillows, perform songs ter Sharks. As if watching a great hockey game animation. from our favorite anime Fooly Cooly. Neither of us had attended an anime convention isn’t enough, it’s also fan appreciation night. Got- In traditional Anime Boston fashion, the show was ta love it. Tickets purchased on game day are before, and unfortunately, neither of us will be attending postponed an hour. Anime Boston again. between $9 and $21 depending on where you While seething and waiting for The Pillows, we were sit, but you can save by buying in advance or at Being super-negative isn’t usually my bag, but taking treated to a special opening performance from Japanese part in Anime Boston was like waiting in line (for four a group rate/ 7 p.m./ Cumberland County Civic pop group, Luv & Response. Listening to Japanese pop Center/ 828-4665 hours!) to see a unicorn and then when it is your turn to stars lip-synch and dance to carbon copy American- fi nally see the mythical steed, it turns out to be a giant infl uenced pop-ditties for 45 minutes is only entertaining APRIL 12 ugly horse. when they tell you and the crowd to, “crap your hands.” The USM School of Music presents the 31st An- There will never be enough space to go into detail After fi nally bobbing our heads to a few of our favorite nual Honors Recital - your opportunity to hear about what went wrong, but here’s a brief rundown: due Pillow’s tunes, we entered a conference room that was some of USM’s fi nest musical talent. This col- to an understaffed crew, a juvenile registration system scheduled to hold a question and answer forum for Adult lection of student solo performances is free and involving thousands of fans and four computers, and Swim. open to the public, but reservations are highly unprofessional organization all around, my Saturday at Adult Swim plays “mature” adult comedies as well as recommended. 8 to 10 p.m./ Corthell Hall, Gor- Anime Boston almost became the worst day of my life. late-night anime on the Cartoon Network. As quickly as ham campus/ 780-5555 Thank God for those crazy anime fans. we sat down, Al and I got up and left after the two people If you didn’t know already, anime fans are a differ- sitting at the podium said, “Sorry, but we have no affi lia- ent breed of sub-culture. There is a Japanese word, otaku tion to Adult Swim. We’re bloggers who have been fans APRIL 13 (oh-talk-ooh), defi ned as anyone with obsessive inter- of Adult Swim for years.” The Portland Stage Company presents “Mag- ests, especially in anime. Al and I gave each other a look that said, “what netic North,” by William Donnelly. This play is a Otaku was invented by non-anime fans to describe the the…?,” then left Anime Boston never to return. tale of marriage, intimacy, and betrayal, told in a fanatics’ insane obsessive behavior. The only reason Al We exited with fond memories and a few pictures of warm and humorous manner. It runs until April and I survived Anime Boston was because of the thou- the die hard fans that defi nitely spent more time prepar- 20. Tickets are $29 for students/ 2 p.m./ 25A sands of otaku and their affi nity for “cosplay.” ing for Anime Boston than Anime Boston did itself in Forest Ave., Portland/ 774-0465 Cosplay is when anime fans hand-craft costumes of running this debauchery of a convention. Everybody their favorite anime characters and then don them for all crap your hands! to admire. I would equate it to an anime Halloween, but that would be discrediting the insane amount of detail injected into these costumes. 10 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT An honor in brass (or bass) USM Honors Recital performers chosen Tyler Jackson In 1978, the faculty of the reers in major opera companies performance,” said Scott Harris, selection of honorees from such Staff Writer music department fi rst selected in New York, Colorado and Santa the director of the music school. a deep talent pool of nominees the best solo performers in the Fe, and some who have founded “This year’s program is especially is a real challenge, and this year music student body, which at the vocal ensembles and jazz groups varied and ranges from opera arias was no exception,” Harris said. On April 12, the USM School time included about 50 students. in New York. to jazz to musical theatre to con- “It is my favorite concert of the of Music will host their 31st Outside the main offi ce in “There’s no reason to believe temporary concert music.” season.” annual honors recital. Each year, Corthell Hall hangs a brass-plated that many of the students per- The university distributes let- a jury of faculty and outside guest plaque with the names of every forming this year will not do just ters personally signed by Harris, The 31th Annual Honors Recital judges select six to twelve of the honors recital performer from the as well,” said Snell. informing parents, relatives, and will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday April fi nest solo performers the school past three decades. Teachers of individual instru- former teachers that the students 12, 2008, in Corthell Concert Hall has to offer. Some of the names of the plaque ments nominate the students, have achieved the honor. on the USM Gorham Campus. “She or he can be a freshman, include those who are now profes- which gives them an audition The audience is always fi lled The Recital is free and open to the senior—it doesn’t matter. Nor do sors of music across the country, before the panel of judges. with those who have been sup- public, and reservations are being grades matter,” said Mary Snell, music teachers in public schools, Students can perform alone or portive over years of practice and taken. Call the Music Box Offi ce the arts promotion director for the students who went on to perform with piano accompaniment. learning. at 780-5555. university. “What’s important is in major military ensembles and “This is the event through “Every year, I hear from the their talent in performance” orchestras, women who have ca- which we honor excellence in solo panel of audition judges that the Honors Recitalists By Jenna Howard

Twelve students will perform in this year’s honors recital, out of dozens who were nominated. The annual recital — in its 31st year — features the USM School of Music’s most talented students in solo performance. They’re nominated by faculty and then chosen by a panel of judges made up by faculty and outside guests. Here are a handful of those chosen. Maya Chapman Cassie Gray Maya Chapman already holds a degree from USM — in social work. Her Proud to be concerns for humanity lend drive to the second degree she’s now perusing in unique, Cassie Gray piano. represents a minority Unlike her fellow music education majors, she is a piano pedagogy major, of performers at USM. which means that rather than wanting to teach general music and learning In a department that is many instruments, she will master her own instrument in the hopes of one dominated by classical day owning her own private studio. vocalists, she sings jazz. The twist, stemming from her social work degree, is that she dreams of “I’d say I’m breaking through tradition,” teaching special-needs children. says Gray. “As far as I know, I’m the fi rst jazz vo- She took a year after her fi rst graduation to retrain her own piano chops calist ever to make the honors recital.” before coming back in full force to master the craft. Generally, she explains, its classical voice in- She has already started down the path toward a full teaching studio, and she’ll be cluded in the recital, and the attitude is that that working with her second special-needs student this month. should be the focus of the vocals in the show. Piano, she hopes, will help improve his fi ne motor skills. The jazz vocalist has been hopping around be- Besides also working in the School of Music Box Offi ce, she earns her keep as a wait- tween schools for some time, looking for the right ress in Falmouth. place for her talent and needs. To relieve stress from a jam-packed schedule? She jogs, when it fi ts in. She began college at Stonehill in Massachusetts, As for the stress of auditioning for the honors recital, “it’s kind of scary—I mean, (the but there was no music concentration, she went on judges) are nice, but you walk in, say hello, and start playing in this huge hall. Sometimes to Washington D.C. to the Catholic University of they cut you off. I prepared two pieces, and after the fi rst piece they smiled and said ‘that’s America, where there was a great music program, all the time we have today.’” but no music education major. A couple days after walking off the stage, her piano teacher called to tell her she She arrived at USM in the spring of 2006, and had made the cut. says with a tone of relief that it is here she will It was same woman who nominated her, and the tight-knit pair rejoiced over stay. the phone at the accomplishment. This year’s audition was scheduled for March 1, but when a snowstorm closed campus that day, Alexis Hardy the try-outs were postponed for two weeks, and re- scheduled for March 15. Alexis Hardy sells vodka. She also works in a costume shop. On school Cassie’s junior recital was on the night of March breaks she takes care of kids at a daycare. 14. Despite her various jobs at Cold River Vodka, the USM theatre Because she’d been so concentrated on her department, and the Portland YMCA, this 22-year-old simply wants work for that show, the two extra weeks to a career in musical theatre. Which is what she is going to be perform- prepare for the honors audition seemed a ing at Saturday’s recital. welcome gift. She initially saw herself getting a degree in English. However, doing The morning after a night performance musicals in high school, her love for musical theater grew with each to showcase her talent, she got up and show, and today she is working towards a bachelors degree in music showcased it again. with a minor in theater. You’d think that might be a confl ict, but With the help of a voice teacher and musical theatre coach, the Lewiston not for Gray. native has risen to the top of the heap and made her way into this year’s “I enjoyed it,” she says. “I felt like I was Honors Recital. getting a taste of a ‘real’ musician’s schedule. Her audition, she said, was perhaps the most nerve-wracking, and she didn’t even Really, whether you have one day or fi ve days to perform in front of the judges. prepare for something like this, if you’re not ready “I had to do my auditions via videotape,” she said, “and I wasn’t allowed to stop the in one, you wouldn’t be in fi ve. It’s about how much tape. You know, if you mess up in person you can just ask to start over, but on video, I couldn’t you’ve cumulatively prepared.” do this. I was nervous, it is completely different, there is no leeway.” It can be assumed that this woman was quite She had another audition that same day, in Massachusetts, for the New England Theater Conference. prepared. To break into a recital as old as this one, In front of paid professionals, “you have three minutes to sing or dance or act, or do whatever you want, basically,” within a traditional department, showcasing a dif- Hardy said. In her three minutes, she sang the piece she will perform at the Honors Recital, along with another selec- ferent kind of sound — well, it must’ve been quite tion, and has gotten a few call-backs so far. In her industry, this is a great sign. an audition. (And should make for quite a perfor- It is also a good sign that Hardy has been in every single musical theater production USM has put on in the four mance on Saturday). years she has been here. From “Titanic” to “Spirit of the Reindeer,” she has graced every show. Hardy said that it’s different to perform musical theatre for an honors recital that only showcases up to 12 students, with judges looking for proper technique like you’d have in opera or classical music; she had to show her technique through the theatre numbers. But, she noted, they were also looking for individuality and commitment to the song, which were probably quite apparent after her audition. She will perform a song called Sixteen Bars, from the off-Broadway “Taxi Cabaret,” about starry-eyed youth going to New York with dreams of fame. Coincidentally, Hardy has planned for the summer of 2009 to include a move to New York City, a furry of audition- ing, and her fi rst attempts at stardom in the world of musical theatre. DVDARTS & ENTERTAINMENTBATT LE Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 11 Let’s talk about sex

By David O’Donnell Two under-the-radar, new-release DVDs engage in head-to-head combat. You don’t have the time or money to go to the theater. Here’s some help sorting through that daunting wall at the front of your friendly, local video store.

Jeff Bridges in The Amateurs. One of the many mismatched pairings in After Sex. Th e Amateurs Aft er Sex Raygun Productionsvs.Nala Films Starring Jeff Bridges, Tim Blake Nelson, Starring Mila Kunis, Mark Blucus, Zoe Glenne Headly Saldana

Andy Sargentee, a struggling divorcee and parent, comes to the After Sex is a high-concept movie about high-concept relation- conclusion that the only way to fi nally do something with his life ships. It’s a series of short vignettes unifi ed by a common theme — is to get his entire small town to produce hardcore pornography. the way in which people are temporarily uninhibited after they’ve The lone voice of dissent takes the tone of, “I’m no choir boy, just gotten their rocks off. but if we’ve made a porno, we’ve made a porno.” Freed from their libidos, they can fi nally confront one another Andy is played by Jeff Bridges, and his dear townie friends with all those honest revelations that probably would have prevent- include Ted Danson (Cheers), Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos), and ed them from shacking up in the fi rst place. William Fichtner (everything else). There is no good explanation After Sex puts up a “diverse” assortment of couples — closeted for the steady stream of familiar faces - this is the kind of fi lm you college lesbians, elderly swingers, detached adulterers — with the usually see at the start of a major actor’s career. arrogant notion that the fi lmmaker just needs some sincerity and a Andy’s thought process is simple: he needs to become relevant gimmick to give them dignity. and successful. Contrary to what the fi lm wants to do, it ends up wheeling them Sex is always relevant and lucrative. A quick glance at the out like a parade of freaks, ready to knock down your prejudices escort ads in the newspaper, the sight of a busy strip club across with edgy dialogue. the street — it all makes way too much sense. The only time we’re not offered the hint of an elaborate back- And they’re not talking about trash here. The local town-folk story is when we’re dealing with a couple of white, attractive, het- study hours of tape and concoct ambitious plotlines, including sex erosexual thirty-somethings at the very beginning. on a helicopter rope ladder in the midst of an explosion. They don’t need any explanation, and all they’re worried about The middle of the fi lm is where it gets tantalizing, because it is coming to grips with their feelings. fi nally gives the actors a tiny little air-bubble of breathing room. After that “normal” couple is out of the way, we can dive into the Unforunately, it doesn’t let itself be just about men reacting gay frat boy with puppy-dog eyes being coaxed out of the closet by to the pornography business (though those are its funniest mo- an overbearing sex demon. ments). I’m not sure if I was insulted for the white thirty-somethings, or The Amateurs is actually about a town coming together in the for everybody else. most unlikely (and implausible) of situations, with the overarch- But that’s just the annoying part of the movie — the rest is simply ing theme that pleasant surprises almost always result from taking half-naked people talking dirty and angrily to one another while chances you would initially disregard as too foolish, ambitious or trying to catch their breath. It looks pretty slick. ridiculous. If you hadn’t read this review, you’d get the surprise of cameos This goes for everything from the production of a porno movie from Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman and Mr. Jones from the Friday to asking the hot saleslady at a furniture store if she’ll have “hot movies. lesbian” sex on fi lm. By the end, you’re left only with a renewed appreciation for the art of storytelling. Letting us know that characters have had stories, at one point in their lives, isn’t quite enough.

Th e Winner… On a technicality, After Sex. Mostly because most of its actors haven’t starred in much better movies, and it’s watchable. I would almost genuinely recommend it for those days when you’re seriously ill and propped in front of a TV, popping in and out of conscious- ness. Especially if you’ve always had a crush on Jackie from That 70’s Show, or spry old Mr. Jones. 12 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

I bought the album, played it endlessly and put the songs on just about every tape I ever made for a girl. State woes, Waiting for Kozelek Portland wails State Th eater closing impacts quality, quantity of music Jeff Beam marshal’s offi ce instead cites a Columnist management dispute. Whatever the reason, the State Theatre is sorely missed. There is a buzz in the musical- When it closed, the number of ly-inclined city of Portland, and it concerts in Portland dropped off is one of pain. The city is hurting immediately. for a medium-sized music venue. Bands had a dramatically dif- Hurting badly. ferent, much smaller, even drea- The State Theatre formerly rier choice of venues – they either served as the provider of qual- had to cram their national tour into ity entertainment to Portland. It a small club, or they’d have to fi ll wasn’t as big as the Civic Center, the 9,000-seat Civic Center. but bigger than any club or bar. It Maine has a hard enough time could hold about 2000 people, and convincing acts to head north of often, it did. their usual travel route. Acts that The kind of bands that played come to Maine usually aren’t on the State Theatre were usually up- their way to anywhere else. When and-coming acts on their fi rst tour, they’re done playing Portland, they or bands whose creative boundar- turn around and go back home. ies stretch further than mainstream Whether the State Theatre is radio. reopened or a new place is built, A number of highly popular Portland needs a medium-sized acts have also graced the stage, in- venue. cluding Jimmy Eat World, the Foo This would boost the Maine Fighters, and Ray Davies of The music scene, increase state rev- Kinks. enue, and create an overall height- The venue was also a great ened sense of excitement in the Sun Kil Moon (front man Mark Kozelek, above) returns with “April,” released April 1, 2008, the long-awaited follow-up chance for local acts to play for a city. to 2003’s “Ghosts of the Great Highway.” larger audience than usual. A rumor fl oated recently that More love could be transmitted Kevin Spacey considered buying between performer and audience, the State Theatre, as an invest- April as there could be more audience, ment, as he’s been known to do more stage. And imagine the around the country. Sun Kil Moon’s drops band’s delight: more people, more The story goes that he came to dancing, more audience telling a take a look, and it looked like it friend the show was great (more would take way too much money just in time for spring fans, more shows). to shape the place up – this coming The State Theatre closed in from a multi-millionaire. Tyler Bussey ining the song titles, that they’d entirely of Bon Scott-era AC/DC 2007. If not even a movie star can Columnist covered YES’ “Long Distance covers (2001’s excellent What’s Many, myself included, be- save the State Theater from rot- Runaround.” Next to the Moon) and making lieved the venue closed due to fi re ting on Congress Street, Portland YES was, and is, Keith’s fa- appearances in fi lms like Almost code violations, but the state fi re After high school, most of my and its musical heartbeat may be vorite band (which is pretty em- Famous and Vanilla Sky. in trouble. friends – scratch that, all of my barrassing and probably explains Sun Kil Moon would eventu- friends – went off to college. I why our band didn’t work out) but ally fi ll the void with their debut started a band. I can be grateful that his misguid- album, Ghosts of the Great Didn’t turn out to be much of a ed YES affection led us to Songs Highway, which many claim is BRANDON’S BREW REVIEW long-term commitment; we broke for a Blue Guitar. Kozelek’s masterpiece, eclipsing up after a highly tumultuous year I bought the album, played it even the best Painters work. Shipyard Brewer’s of only a handful of concerts, a endlessly and put the songs on Ghosts appeared in 2003, couple of demos and one radio just about every tape I ever made though Keith and I didn’t hear it Choice Special Ale session to show for it. for a girl. until 2005, and it dominated our 2008 On the other hand, I could go It was the perfect soundtrack at world. on forever about the songs we the perfect time; the right album to Kozelek’s next effort under the Brandon McKenney wrote, traveling we did, shows usher in my twenties. Sun Kil Moon moniker came in Staff Writer we played, and all the incredible It’s still hard to say exactly what 2005: the album Tiny Cities, which music we discovered together that makes Kozelek’s songs so lovely. consisted of nothing but Modest I’m not a big fan of Shipyard to year. The guitars masterful – ethereal Mouse covers. It was stunningly begin with, so I grabbed this six- At the top of that list is Mark one minute and raging like Crazy – and somewhat surprisingly – pack with a bit of hesitation and Kozelek (and his many incarna- Horse the next, and the lyrics are gorgeous, but whetted my appetite low-expectations. tions – formerly as the Red House evocative, richly painted scenes of for new, original Kozelek tunes. Shipyard puts out a Brewer’s Painters, and now as Sun Kil youth past, love and turmoil. (I don’t even want to imagine how Choice each year — a limited Moon, whose new album April His songs can be terrifi cally it felt to more veteran Kozelek edition recipe from their in-house was just released on April 1). bleak, yet contain glimpses of fans, folks who’d been waiting brew team. Typically, limited edi- I remember when I fi rst heard hope; his songs can warm, sunny since 2003.) tions of anything tend to be a little the Red House Painters. and pastoral, but not without an Fortunately for the devoted, a better than their established coun- Keith, the singer in my band, undercurrent of pain, anger, vio- new Kozelek record has fi nally terparts, so I hoped this ale might was giving me a lift to band prac- lence. come. be an improvement on some of tice, his prized Bonneville blast- What separates Kozelek from A month ago, “Moorestown,” Shipyard’s more bland offerings Like most offerings from the ing cool air in my face. your typical sad-core strummer is the sixth track from April, leaked, (Prelude and their IPA come to ‘Yard, this year’s Brewer’s Choice A plain song spoke through the his restraint: there’s never an over- and it seemed like clockwork: mind). is nothing I would seek out, but is speakers; I turned it up high. fl ow of feeling. Kozelek deals in there I was again, playing a Sun The beer pours out to a golden a decent performer in its style. It was “Have You Forgotten,” subtlety, in weaving simple things Kil Moon record on repeat, get- amber color with a medium head, the leading track from the band’s together into something new, ting lost in it. typical of an English IPA. Brandon likes beer. No kidding. 1996 classic, Songs for a Blue something strikingly, achingly That’s the kind of band Sun Kil The aroma is hoppy with a If you want him to test the waters Guitar, the kind of song that just beautiful. Moon has always been: perfect for sweet roasty malt scent to it, and before you drop cash on your next melts your heart without even The Red House Painters was getting lost, for letting your mind the taste is almost exactly what I six-pack, send review requests (or trying. essentially the Mark Kozelek wander. was expecting: a balanced effort brew-related questions) to free- Keith told me he bought it ran- Band, and Kozelek dropped the The album was released on of sweet malt which fades into the [email protected] with the domly at Tower Records – still in moniker after the completion of Arpil 1, 2008 and is available at bitterness that the hops bring. subject: Beer. business then – because he liked Old Ramon in 1998. caldoverderecords.com. The after-taste is a bit dry for the cover; and, more importantly, He would go it alone for a time, my liking, but the beer is still a because he’d noticed, upon exam- releasing a solo album made up drinkable IPA by most accounts. NEWS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 13 Student turns idea into a Board of Visitors carbon-credit gives report card, program

From LOURAINE page 1 and to-do list An excess of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is one of the leading From VISITORS page 1 causes for global warming, the increase in A Southern Maine the average temperature of Earth’s atmo- “The more the community sees the school as sphere and waters. BRANDON BY PHOTO MCKENNEY STAFF a key engine to the future of the region, more Imperative II: Another way to reduce your carbon output “Louraine has a good positive things will happen.” Recommendations is to purchase carbon-offsets also known as The report also suggests than an antiquated carbon credits. heart, people will gravi- “formula” for distributing state appropriation “A carbon credit is a stock in research of funds must be revamped by the Board of 1. Continue to make and funding towards taking carbon out of tate toward her. She’s Trustees in a way that refl ects the potential and progress toward the atmosphere or preventing carbon going always working for a good importance of USM to the region and the citi- into the atmosphere,” said Rudolph. zens of Maine. becoming a university Many major companies, such as Expedia, cause.” USM has received the same 24 percent of of national distinction are providing this option to customers to help the appropriation since the 1970 despite having among peer institutions offset the company’s carbon emissions. - Kelly McCormick nearly doubled in size. whose mission is to contribute to the Other organizations include the Chicago Rudolph takes inspiration from the books The report also discusses the possibility of Climate Exchange, “the world’s fi rst and forming “programs of distinction” at USM. In economic development, she reads, the people she knows, the natural social health, and North America’s only active voluntary, le- world around her, and a Native American theory, a nationally recognized program could gally binding integrated trading system to attract out-of-state students (and their out-of- cultural vitality of proverb that says, “we don’t inherit the land their regions. Identify reduce emissions of all six major green- from our ancestors but borrow it from our state dollars). benchmarks to house gases,” according to their website. children.” These marquee programs can bring a school comparable universities Right now, One Blue Pearl is made up Interested? Rudolph wants your help. “It like USM to the attention of a student who might beginning in the 2008-09 primarily of Rudolph’s family members. would be awesome to have anybody who not otherwise consider attending the university. But she has enlisted the help of friend and cares about the world as much as I do.” Interim Provost Mark Lapping is similarly in- academic year. fellow student Kelly McCormick to create a trigued by the ideas of such programs. Pointing marketing scheme. For more information, visit www.oneblue- to the growing reputation of the school’s music 2. Secure sustainable “(Louraine) has a good heart, people will pearl.org. program, Lapping recognizes the positive effects fi nancing consistent with gravitate toward her,” said McCormick. a nationally known program could generate. the community’s vision “She’s always working for a good cause.” “We just need to make sure other programs and USM’s mission. don’t suffer as a result,” Lapping said. The Board has also tasked themselves with 3. Invest in program areas Th is year’s winter piled on the snow, trying to fi gure out where USM ranks among of potential distinction peer universities, hoping to parlay high ratings that demonstrate the from the U.S. News and World Report into local quality and value of a investment as a means to build the reputation USM education. but didn’t deepen the budget crisis and quality of the school. From WEATHER page 1 ly reports that the school has only had to pay The report recognizes that fi nding an appro- 4. Sustain and grow for one of those expensive hauls this year. priate and comprisable set of similar universities applied R&D programs can be diffi cult; they suggest the 90 schools of the The only time USM has had to deviate from And he hasn’t been especially surprised relevant to the needs Coalition of Urban & Metropolitan Universities the bid is to have snow physically hauled by the rough weather – he’s seen worse, of southern Maine (CUMU), of which USM is a member, as a start- away, which is no small task. It forces the much worse. He is also quick to point out business and industrial ing point. contractor to use a fuel-hungry, tri-axel that the school has benefi ted by locking in clusters and appropriate Board Chairman and USM alumnus Bob machine, costing the school an additional reasonable prices far in advance. and sustainable for an Blackwood presented the report to the USM $10,000 for all the equipment and hours re- That goes for oil, too – 100 percent of institution with USM’s community in late March. quired. its #2 heating oil was secured at $2.209 per mission, size, and “The Board of Visitors acts as the eyes Ten or so years ago, that process was both gallon, an improvement over what was an- resource base. and ears of the community, telling USM want more common and less costly. It was more ticipated. the southern Maine community wants,” said common because students at the Portland In the end, according to offi cial estimates, 5. Fully implement the Blackwood, “we act as a sounding board for campus were once so dependant on outdoor the school is projecting a seven-percent in- redesigned general program changes.” They do not, however, have parking, before the fi ve-story garage on crease in energy expenditures over the pre- the power to create them — actual decisions and education curriculum. Bedford Street. vious year. Early admits that the fi gure is implementation are reserved for the Board of It also cost less, because they could dump “conservative,” and it is an increase, but he Trustees. 6. Prepare graduates to excess snow just down the road along the has been happy to sidestep some of the big- The original Imperative in 2000, called succeed in a global, Back Cove. The EPA has since put a stop to gest pitfalls of a rough winter. “A Southern Maine Imperative: Meeting the technology-based that, when melting snow was determined to 2009, he guesses, could be a different Region’s Higher Education Needs in the 21st economy through both be a major cause of water pollution. story, and one that needs to be monitored Century,” suggested the ambitious goal of general education and In recent years, the agency has required closely. making USM a top-ranked public university by specialized degree that surplus snow be relocated to certifi ed Judging from today’s prices, the school’s 2010. programs. dumpsites. budget for fuel oil, natural gas and electric- This time around, worsening budget concerns Dave Early has been director of facilities ity could increase by several hundred thou- and lower enrollment have shifted the focus of 7. Improve student management at USM for 18 years. He happi- sand dollars. success and persistence It currently hovers at around fi ve million. the Board’s recommendations. However, the lofty goals of the fi rst report have not been com- in completing pletely dismissed; the Board sees national recog- undergraduate degrees so nition of USM’s quality as a goal that might help that USM is comparable Father of slain journalist to speak on campus address current fi scal and enrollment issues. to peer institutions. The report also recommends fully imple- grams covering genocide and human rights, Pearl and Ahmed are expected to be a major menting the newly designed core-curriculum, 8. Good progress in draw. and seeks to “improve student persistence in growth in noncredit From BEYOND page 1 Organizers anticipate that many who have completing degree programs.” programming, online followed the Iraq war or other Middle East For USM to be comparable to similar institu- education, and regional including a visit from Paul Rusesabagina, peace issues may still be familiar with the tions, the Board insists, it must address gradua- partnerships has been the subject of “Hotel Rwanda.” Pearl incident. tion rates, a serious issue at a school where fewer made. Continue the good The event is expected to be so well attend- Judea Pearl boasts credentials as a profes- than 34 percent of students graduate within six progress in these areas, ed that the University has set up additional sor at UCLA and the author of three award- years. especially expanding rooms in the Abromson center where it will winning books. Ahmed, considered a leading The Imperative II was jointly fi nanced by online education. be simulcast to anybody who can’t fi nd a expert on Islam, is currently a professor at The Davis Educational Foundation and Clark seat at Hannaford Hall. American University and 2004 recipient of Associates Insurance. Although attendance has been relatively the Gandhi Center Fellowship Peace award. The Board of Visitors is currently working small at two similar events this year- includ- with USM and the University of Maine System ing a debate between an Israeli Army veteran The event will take place Monday the 7th to develop a system to measure success in im- and an Israeli citizen speaking out against from 7-9 p.m. in Hannaford Hall. There will plementation of the recommendations. settlements, the well recognized names of be rooms at the Abromson center providing The board aims to provide progress reports a simulcast of the dialogue. every academic year. 14 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 NEWS impede or interfere with stu- dents. Student Body President Chalifour gives Welcome to the love- seat Mar. 29 – 2:19 p.m. Suspicious man hanging out fi rst “State of the University Address” on a couch in Luther Bonney, Ashley Oliver For students with outrageous making female students un- Staff Writer loans after graduation, Chalifour comfortable. Subject was added his support for Opportunity

identifi ed a current student, Maine, a recently implemented On an evening before the program in which students can no action taken. spring vacation, students and get tax credits to pay off their stu- faculty fi lled the seventh fl oor of dent loans. COURTESY OF THE But seriously, don’t the Glickman Library to hear the USM POLICE DEPARTMENT On the subject of the University fi rst annual Student Government of Maine System, Chalifour had forget those ‘belts Mar. 22 Association’s “State of the At these prices? April. 3 – 6:48 p.m. Vehicle stopped some less applauding words. University Address.” Aimed at the allocation of – 6:22 p.m. A vehicle was on College Ave, warned for Student Body President AJ seen leaking gasoline in the funds amongst the Maine univer- driving on sidewalks and Chalifour spoke about the uni- sities — from which USM has parking garage. Portland without seatbelts. versity in both a critical and ap- gotten 24 percent of the allot- Fire Dept and AAA notifi ed. proving manner as he outlined ment since 1970, despite nearly more professional opportunities the faults and triumphs of the doubling in size — Chalifour in southern Maine then in areas The most romantic place cash-strapped school. around other universities in the Cut-rate room & board said “it’s unfair, it’s illogical, and on Earth Mar. 19 – 10:44 Areas of discussion included it’s about time something is done Maine system. April. 3 – 10: 37 a.m. p.m. Two subjects caught USM’s total tuition cost, student about it. We cannot continue to “Students would appreciate Littering: A mattress had engaging in public indecen- events, budget concerns, and lack run such a large university with seeing improvements in three of student involvement. main areas: the right hardware, been dumped on the third cy in parking garage, were such an essential mission in this He noted that, in compari- state, while remaining so depen- logical and useable instructional level of the parking garage. warned to seek alternate lo- son with Colby and Bowdoin technology, and space that is con- Facilities management con- dent on student tuition and fees.” cations. Summons issued for Colleges, USM students end up Chalifour said that the current ducive to learning and teaching,” tacted. open alcohol container in the with much more debt after gradu- system needs to be challenged. said Chalifour. car. ation. His remedy for this trouble “Southern Maine legislators As an example, he cited a Gimme your name! was to reach out to non-residents need to take ownership of USM dying-seagull-sounding heating by offering them more scholar- and its importance to their own unit in Luther Bonney and the April. 3 – 9:36 a.m. Keeping Aerial assault Mar. 13 ships based on GPA and SAT ever-changing climate of Bailey the Peace: Subject outside constituents as well as the state. – 2:52 p.m. People throw- scores. They need to advocate for USM, Hall, which, as he points out, may Masterton Hall trying to ing snowballs off the roof Chalifour explained his plan’s and the University of Maine actually “serve as an advantage get people to sign a petition benefi ts. System in Augusta.” for our earth science majors: it’s of Costello Sports Complex, “This could serve to raise our hard for other students when they using “pretty aggressive tac- warned to stay off the roof. He further explained that state revenue by increasing enrollment, legislators in Augusta need to have to predict how freezing cold tics.” Given permission to while not requiring scholarship or unbearably hot their classroom remain as long as he did not realize that one of USM’s pri- dollars to offset tuition rates.” mary advantages is its location. will be on any given day.” Graduating students will have CKP the campus kitchens project teach • reach • feed • lead welcome to the newest classroom on campus:

the kitchen.

Fight hunger in your community! Email: [email protected]

www.campuskitchens.org PUZZLES Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 15

UPCOMING GAMES Opponents names written in capital letters means the game will be played at home

Monday April 7 Women’s Lacrosse vs. CURRY @ Fitzpatrick Stadium 7 p.m.

Tuesday April 8 Softball vs. ST JOE’S (double-header) 3:30 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE 3:30 p.m. Men’s Lacrosse vs. COLBY @ Fitzpatrick Stadium 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday April 9 Baseball vs. HUSSON 3:30 p.m.

Thursday April 10 Baseball @ Salem State 3 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. THOMAS 3:30 p.m. Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMASS BOSTON 4 p.m. Women’s Lacrosse @ Rhode Island College 6 p.m.

Saturday April 12 Women’s Track @ UMass Lowell Invite 10 a.m. Baseball vs. EASTERN CONN 12 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. WESTERN CONN 12 p.m. Men’s Lacrosse @ UMass Dartmouth 1 p.m. Women’s Lacrosse vs. UMASS DARTMOUTH 1 p.m. Softball @ UMass Dartmouth (double-header) 1 p.m.

Sunday April 13 Baseball @ UMass Boston 1 p.m. Softball @ Colby (double-header) 1 p.m.

CLASSIFIEDS

UNIVERSITY BARTENDING CLASSES START SOON! 1-800-U-CAN-MIX www.universitybartending.com SIGN UP NOW! 16 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 SPORTS HUSKY HERO MIKE ON SPORTS Interview by John Forestell Bett ing on sports isn’t just Adam Ross bad for Pete Rose Year: Senior Mike Tardiff bling at a rate two to three times Columnist higher than all other adults. Major: Health Fitness Heck, I have a few buddies who Sport: Baseball heavily supplement their income This is not a public service an- by living at virtual poker tables, nouncement, just a cautionary tale: using off-shore accounts to accrue be weary of betting on sports. pretty thick wads of cash. FP: How old were you when you fi rst No, I didn’t squander away started playing baseball? On Monday, I got a call from thousands of dollars in student the same mobster-sounding, used- Adam: I was probably 4 or 5, I have a loans to write this column, but I car-salesman that I had spoken to terrible memory though so I may be wrong. did put myself into a precarious a few days before. situation at the hands of my own “How did the game go, Mike? curiosity. Did you make some money?” he On my way back to Biddeford FP: Do you just pitch, or you do you play asked, hoping that his tip had led on the Saturday of the Elite Eight, to my astronomical winnings and other positions as well? I heard an ad on the radio claiming that I would want another. Adam: I’m strictly a pitcher. Once I got that this guy had a free tip on the But I hadn’t put any money to college they took away my hitting biggest upset of the night in col- down. When I told him, he went lege basketball. privileges. crazy. Obscenities ensued and Hardly able to contain myself, I had no idea what I had gotten FP: Do you have any rituals you go I dialed the toll-free number and myself into. Slamming down the waited to hear the booming voice through before a start? phone he told me never to call that FP: What other sports did you play in of God declare Memphis or some Adam: No, I’m not really a superstitious number again (with a few exple- high school? other school dead in the water. tives inserted at his discretion). person. The one thing that may be thought What I got instead was the thick Adam: I played basketball and soccer. Fair enough. of as a ritual is going through the exact New Jersey accent of a man talk- For the next three days, I got same stretching and warm-up routine. ing a mile a minute about betting phone calls from the same omi- and handicaps and spreads. nous New Jersey area code. FP: What made you want to pursue The guy talked as though he FP: Who’s your favorite nation team Over and over they called, baseball further after high school? had already watched the game pushing me to sign up for their and player? happen, as if he, sitting in his Adam: It was what I was best at and most service. Adam: My favorite team is the Red Sox, probably dusty offi ce somewhere What would have happened had passionate about. Plus as kids we all have in Jersey, actually had the power and my favorite player is Josh Beckett, and I placed bets and won something? pro aspirations, but I guess Division III of God. He spoke with conviction I’m not ashamed to say that (Derek) Jeter Would they have felt entitled to baseball suited me just fi ne. and certainty. He wanted to make my winnings? comes in a close second. sure I put down a good bet. Would I have been indebted And I could have — if I’d had to some Tony Soprano clone six the inclination to gamble away hours away? FP: How many different pitches do you the only thing keeping me from FP: Is there anything you want USM to No matter how curious I am throw? the streets of Biddeford — made know about the “real” Adam Ross? to know who is going to bite the Adam: I throw three: fastball, change-up, myself a lot of money thanks to dust or carry home the gold, I will Adam: What you see is what you get, as this tip. and curve. never call a hotline again. boring as that might sound! But I didn’t. I don’t bet. These sorts of things start off But plenty of college students innocently enough. The guy gives do, which is why I’m telling this you a stone-cold-dead-in-the-wa- tale. ter lock and you lose your shirt. U.S. Census statistics say that Worse yet, you win a ton of money between eight and 20 percent of and don’t pay “the man.” college students have dealt with When do the phone calls give a gambling problem, and peg way to the doorbell? When will 18-24-year-olds as showing the the harmless trip to bodog.com worst forms of disordered gam- become a real problem? You bring your S

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www.nelabcareers.org EOE SPORTS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 17 Th e Huskies do spring break Athletes travel for their tan-lines and the fi rst grass of the season

Mike Tardiff Southern Maine shirts on. People were just Just two years removed from having their Staff Writer looking at us.” spring trip located in the Costello Sports Knicknair and Higginbotham are both Complex, where the then-fi rst-year-coach freshmen, and the trips gave them the Frost orchestrated a speaker on sports nutri- chance to get used to playing their sport at tion, a self-defense class and held double- Spring break: to most college students it the collegiate level, as well as some time to session practices, the team is happy with means minimal activity and maximum in- get to know their teammates better. their progress. ebriation, but to athletes at USM it means “I knew a lot of the girls from ice When asked about her friends on the something a little different. hockey, but I got to know the rest,” said softball team, Higginbotham was quick to Whether it’s a trip to New York to fi nally Higginbotham. “All of the girls are awe- point out a few discrepancies. play on a grass fi eld or a cross-country trek some and there are a lot of different person- “They all come back wicked tan, so I to Arizona where cacti and baseball rule the alities.” made sure that I got my tanning bed min- day, athletes and coaches from USM spend While Higginbotham and the lacrosse utes in,” she said with a smile. their spring breaks away from the class- team marveled at the Statue of Liberty and Regardless of the effort involved and the room, but still with the university. the pace of life in Manhattan and Ground sacrifi ce of a “traditional” spring break, ath- For freshman pitcher Jimmy Knicknair Zero, Knicknair, all the away across the letes and coaches alike are happy to forego (Glenburn), spring break meant being away country, was struck by the greenness of the Cancun and Panama Beach for a chance to from his family on Easter and traveling past grass, the fl atness of the deserts and the pro- grow closer as a team. the Mississippi River for the fi rst time. fessionalism of his teammates. Brown-Denico tells the story of her “It was different for me,” Knicknair said. “I learned a lot by just watching the older softball players dressing up in hideously “Usually we have a small family dinner.” guys and the how they approach different old-fashioned clothing bought at a nearby This year, his family was 3,000 miles situations during the games,” said Knicknair thrift shop, and Frost says that she showed away, and his dinners were spent with the of his collegiate debut. plenty of videos on the bus that gave the 30-member team. But all of these great experiences do not new recruits a glimpse of what her team is “If I didn’t have a spring trip I’d prob- come easily. The planning and logistical all about. ably just be at home,” said the south-paw, end of spring break travel is placed largely Pulling out a scrapbook modeled after the who partook in 14 games in 12 days. “I’d in the hands of the players and coaches. “Burn Book” from the movie Mean Girls, much rather spend 12 days playing the In order for the softball and baseball Fost demonstrates that athletes do have a game I love in Arizona.” teams to make their trips to Florida and spring break. Knicknair and his baseball team are not Arizona a reality, each athlete was respon- It’s just a little different. alone. The softball, women’s lacrosse and sible for raising $1,000 dollars to foot the women’s track and fi eld teams all took cost of airfare, hotel and other expenses. spring break trips going at least as far as While Coach Bonny Brown-Denico of New York. the softball team jokingly calls the whole Freshman Erica Higginbotham process “a pain in the butt,” she is quick to (Winthrop, MA) got her fi rst taste of the Big point the importance spring trips. Apple when she traveled with her cohort of “Team building is huge,” she said, “trying lacrosse players on a three-day trip to New to fi gure out what personalities go well with York, where they grappled with lacrosse one another is important. It’s fun to watch powerhouses Manhattanville and SUNY- the excitement building up before the trip. Farmingdale, and spent some time hanging The girls all have a big countdown when out in the city. our preseason starts in January.” “The subway was the best part,” she said. For well-established programs like the “It frightened some people, especially the baseball and softball teams, fundraising has ones from Vermont and Maine. It was crazy become part-and-parcel of the spring trip. with all of us running around with our Coach Ed Flaherty and his baseball team sell advertisements in their media guide, write letters to local businesses soliciting money and hold a raffl e in order to reach their fundraising goals. But for teams like coach Sue Frost’s women’s lacrosse team, only in its seventh year of existence, the task can become a little bit more daunting, which forces more realistic expectations. With the funds to travel to warmer lo- cales lacking, coach Frost took her squad to an area near and dear to her heart: her home state of New York. But just because they didn’t travel by jet or enjoy the luxuries of tropical tem- peratures doesn’t mean that the trip was any less successful. “I brought them to my house and my par- ents made us all dinner. We pulled up in the

big coach bus and we were the talk of the FACEBOOK OF COURTESY PHOTOS town,” Frost said. The trip to New York, though modest, is a benchmark for the program’s progress.

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www.ppnne.org 18 Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 SPORTS Student athletes HHUSKYUSKY HHIGHLIGHTSIGHLIGHTS help each other Baseball Huskies take 8 wins in Arizona and community 4/5 - Of the 16-game opening to their season, the Huskies have only lost four, includ- ing one very close match to Mary Jones Youngsters are given a chance Wheaton on Saturday, which to play games with college athletes Staff Writer SAAC students participate in a variety of events throughout the year. During the ended 5-6. They started the sea- and then watch “the big kids” play son in Arizona with three losses in their own collegiate match. Community Halloween party on October 28, 2008, athletes supervised games and face painting. in a row to William Paterson The primary function of the Other kid-oriented activities in SAAC, Student Athletic Advisory and Suff olk, but rallied to fi nish which the group participates in- drive can be found in the dorms The committee is made up of Committee, is to discuss and re- their spring break trip with only clude visits to the Barbara Bush and sports complex this week. students from almost all of USM’s solve issues for USM athletes. one more loss – and eight wins. Children’s Hospital in Portland The group also participates 22 athletic teams. But the SAAC does much more After several postponements and a backyard skate fundraiser in the many events on campus, Some of the teams current- than that. They’ve become one started by 11-year-old Gorham including homecoming and the ly unrepresented are the tennis due to snow-covered fi elds, of the most active community ser- resident, Mick Manser. spring fl ing. They are trying to teams, women’s track, and men’s the Huskies are scheduled to vice groups on campus. It is very important to the com- have representation in as many lacrosse. open at home versus Husson “We have a huge focus on mittee to consider their positions aspects of university life as possi- According to Ravlo, this is on Wednesday. For an updated community service, especially to as role models. ble—hoping to bring a little spirit something the committee is set on schedule, see the athletic de- the children in our greater com- “As athletes, kids look up to us, back to USM. changing. partment website. munity,” says Shannon Kynoch, a for no other reason than the fact For athletes and sports teams, Whatever the reasons for their senior social work major. Kynoch we can play a sport better than a SAAC provides an invaluable ser- lack of involvement, Ravlo says is co-president of SAAC and part lot of people and put on a USM vice. that it’s easier to help teams and of the women’s basketball and la- jersey,” says Tyler Ravlo, a senior “At Division III we don’t have athletes out when they’re repre- crosse teams. hockey player, exercise physiol- the same kind of budget as D-I sented by SAAC. Events organized by the group Softball ogy major, and vice president schools, and we do have issues include a Halloween party at the Coach Brown-Denico earns of SAAC. “You’re a role model that need to be taken care of,” says If you’re a student athlete and Costello Complex which offers 300th win whether you like it or not.” Ravlo. are interested in joining SAAC, families a safe alternative to trick- Upcoming events for SAAC Kynoch adds that these issues their next meeting is Sunday, April or-treating, and a “Shop Till You 5/3 - The Huskies took a 7-4 win include the Husky Ball, a semi- “cover everything from if teams 13, in the ice arena classroom Drop” day around Christmas time, to split a double-header with formal dance for athletes to be feel they’re being overlooked by in Gorham at 7 p.m. You can at which parents can drop off their held at the Eastland on April 12, the athletic department to [trou- also contact Tyler Ravlo at tyler. the University of New England kids in order to do some gift shop- and a food and clothing drive to bles with] food service and trans- [email protected]. and earn head coach Bonny ping (or go on an adults-only benefi t the Preble Street Resource portation.” Brown-Denico her 300th win. date). Center in Portland. Boxes for the Brown-Denico was last year named the Little East Confer- ence coach of the year, and has a 300-215-5 record over Assistant coach takes life’s failures as reasons to keep pushing 13 years of coaching for USM. The Huskies lost the fi rst game From FARRELL page 20 eligible after their 10th semester ending college career in the eyes Despite all of his failures, Brian of the double-header 4-5, of being a matriculated student. of his peers. To surprise them remains unsatisfi ed until he reach- after the Nor’easters took two “USM had challenged me It didn’t matter so much that all, he graduated in 2006 with a es heights he once thought impos- quick runs at the bottom of the mentally, it had challenged me he was ten years the senior of degree in history (and came back sible, regardless of where they seventh inning. In the second emotionally, but it hadn’t yet chal- his freshmen teammates — that the following year, to no surprise place him. lenged me physically,” he said, so game, the Huskies trailed 1-2, spring was his 11th semester, so at all, to take a second degree in “If I can push myself as far as but completed fi ve runs on six in the fall of 2006, Farrell began the administration was forced to political science). I can go,” he said, “then I haven’t getting his body and skills back in hits in the fi fth to seal their lead cut him from the team. He fi nally fi nished in 2007, but failed.” and the win. tune, practicing in the fall off-sea- Still Brian persevered — and through lacrosse, has maintained Fresh out of college and less son with the men’s lacrosse team. head coach Malcolm Chase asked his presence on campus. than a month after his 30th birth- “I knew I wasn’t going to be him to become an assistant coach. Most people go through the day, Brian has found himself an All-American,” Farrell said, Brian, feeling honored, accept- clichéd trials and tribulations of coming around the bend for yet starting to laugh, “but this was my ed, and has this year entered his life without gaining much, with- another lap on the racetrack. Women’s ‘Rudy’ moment.” second season on the team’s staff. out knowing what they should do And if the last lap is any hint But the NCAA wasn’t quite so Meanwhile, he was pressing on about them, or what they’re ca- toward the future, he will race Lacrosse sure. Though Brian didn’t know it with what had become a never- pable of doing. again. And he will win. Caitlin Albert leads 14-5 win yet, the NCAA deems players in- over Western Conn

“I knew I wasn’t going to be an All-American, but this was my ‘Rudy’ moment.” 4/5 – With a game-high fi ve -Brian Farrell goals, junior Caitlin Albert (Scarborough) lead the Huskies to their second win of the season against conference rival Western Connecticut. It was their second consecutive win, bringing their season to 2-5. !34(-! They came out fast and hard against the Colonials, taking a 6-0 lead before their opponent )FYOUAREBETWEENTHEAGESOFANDANDHAVEBEEN were able to score. Other big UNABLETOCONTROLYOURALLERGICASTHMAWITHSTANDARD scorers included sophomore Jess Knight (Alfred), freshman TREATMENTSLIKE!DVAIRORSIMILARMEDICATIONS YOU Kristy Kendrick (Waterboro) and senior Justene Dorr (Gorham). MAYBEELIGIBLEFORACLINICALRESEARCHSTUDYTOEVALUATETHE Senior goalie Katie Quartuccio (Poughkeepsie, NY) had a stel- SAFETYANDEFFECTIVENESSOFANINVESTIGATIONALDRUG lar 15 saves in the win.

INCOMBINATIONWITHYOURCURRENTREATMENT -Source www.usm.maine.edu/athl

3TUDYMEDICATIONSWILLBEPROVIDEDANDANDYOUWILL RECEIVEREIMBURSEMENTFORYOURTIMEANDTRAVEL

&ORMOREINFORMATIONPLEASECALL   SPORTS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 19

Laxer’s relax with their fi rst win Huskies take 20-3 victory versus St. Joe’s

Brandon McKenney fi rst half, heading into half-time with a 13-1 lead Staff Writer over the Monks. Southern Maine came out again in the second half and continued their dominance, playing like The women’s lacrosse team grabbed its fi rst win a team that was coming from behind the whole of the season in a 20-3 trouncing of St. Josephs last game. Wednesday night. The win brought the Huskies to Each goal looked easier than the last. a 1-5 overall record going into the weekend. Sophomore Erica Robertson (St. Albans, VT) Sophomore Jessica Knight (Alfred) and added another 3 goals while teammate Amy Freshman Kristy Kendrick (Waterboro) combined McNally (Waterboro), racked up two of her own. for 11 goals. Senior Goalie Katie Quartuccio (Poughkeepsie, Knight seemed particularly energized to be play- NY) seemed pleased with her teammates, as she ing alongside Kendrick, her former Massabessic only had to make 7 saves for the win. teammate, sprinting all over the fi eld on her way “Any success I have in goal is because of my to 6 goals. defense,” she said. “It felt good to get our duo back together,” said Although their fi rst win came against a relative- Kendrick. “Jess is one of those players that pushes ly inexperienced St. Josephs team playing in their you to get better and I’m glad she’s my teammate fi rst varsity season, the Huskies seemed content to for another 3 years.” take it. STAFF PHOTOS BY BRANDON BY PHOTOS MCKENNEY STAFF The chilly weather at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Senior Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, VT) uses her height to her advan- “I don’t feel it was bittersweet at all,” said Stadium—where the game was relocated because Knight. “A win is a win.” tage on a draw versus St. Joe’s. At right, junior Georgia Hurd keeps warm, look- snow still covers the fi eld in Gorham—didn’t ing to pass. The Huskies swept St. Joe’s 20-3 for their first win of the season. seem to bother the Huskies as they dominated the Th is week ... Mike on sports page 16 SAAC page 18 Women’s lacrosse page 19 SPORTS Th e Free Press | April 7, 2008 20 Tennis starts strong in conference play Huskies work toward fourth consecutive conference title

John Forestell number two, taking a 6-1, 6-1 win Staff Writer over junior Chris Forster. Steve Lent (Sharon, NH) and Adam Mitchell (Windham, ME) After one of their most impres- each won their singles matches BRANDON BY PHOTO MCKENNEY STAFF sive seasons in recent memory, against UMass as well, Mitchell Sophomore Steve Lent (Sharon, NH) hits it hard in the Huskies’ home-opening match against Bates the 2008 men’s tennis team start- taking home his fi rst collegiate College. At left, sophomore Joshua Warren (Hermon) connects with the ball. They lost to Bates, but went ed right where last year’s Huskies victory, fi lling the number 5 posi- on to take a win in their first conference match. left off. In their home opener, they tion for USM. Junior Matt McGowan Their season opener, versus said Warren, “but we picked up a took down Little East Conference Regardless of the strong turnout (Waterville) and freshman Jake Bates—ranked number seven in couple of guys that have helped rival UMass Dartmouth 6-3. on the singles circuit, Warren said Cowie (Scarborough) fell at the Northeast—was a lost cause, add some much needed depth.” The close competition was that the most important matches number three, 3-8. and the Huskies fell 0-9. Since Warren himself, in his second led by sophomore Josh Warren for the Huskies to win are the To say the Huskies have domi- beating UMass Dartmouth, they season for the Huskies, has yet to (Hermon) and junior Derek doubles. nated the Little East Conference have sustained a non-conference, taste a loss in conference play. Stevenson (Raymond), two of “We’re pretty strong in the top the last four seasons would be an 1-8 loss to Endicott, and their fi rst He took the number two singles only three returning players on of our lineup,” he said, but added understatement. conference loss, albeit a tight one, championship last year, as well this year’s squad, who is looking that “second and third doubles are In 2004 they had one loss in to Salem State, 4-5. as the number one doubles title, to extend their LEC supremacy by where we really need to get points. conference play; 2005 they went The only returning players from paired with the now-graduated vying for their fourth conference It’s crucial to get those wins.” undefeated; 2006 they had one loss last year, Warren, Stevenson, and Craig Spann, and was fi ve times title in a row. Warren and Stevenson made and in 2007, undefeated again. McGowan will need to provide named LEC rookie of the week. Warren, playing in the number nice work of the Corsair’s number The only real deterrent for this veteran leadership throughout the one singles slot, took over the one doubles team, 8-4, and number team has been their play outside of spring in order for the Huskies The Huskies next conference court with a 6-2, 6-3 win over two pair Lent and Mitchell took the conference, where they have to repeat their domination of the match comes Tuesday at home the Corsair’s senior Dave Gogoi, their own win, also 8-4. to play the likes of Colby, Bates, conference. versus Rhode Island College. See and Stevenson fl oated through at and Bowdoin, who are sometimes “It seemed like we were weak them in the Gorham fi eld house at nationally ranked. at the beginning (of the season),” 3:30 p.m. New life, new direction Aft er watching his father die – and come back – Brian Farrell found himself back on track John Forestell pain. Brian had thought for sure While at Greely, Farrell picked Staff Writer his dad was gone. But he’d fought up lacrosse, but was forced to through it. give it up when he moved be- While his father, a harness racer cause South Portland didn’t have “I’m gonna race again, I’m at Scarborough Downs, was in a team. gonna win.” nine-out-of-10 pain, the pair had High school didn’t impress or The words of Brian Farrell’s reached toward each other and motivate Farrell, and he graduated father stumbled off the hospital locked hands. Looking toward his from South Portland in 1996 with room walls and found their place son, as if to assure him that he was what he calls a D-average. BRANDON BY PHOTO MCKENNEY STAFF Brian Farrell (pictured center) at a men’s lacrosse practice, where he’s inside Brian’s head, and the heart actually breathing and alive, he “I wasn’t even thinking about monitor beside the bed began a second-year assistant coach after NCAA rules said the 30-year-old said, “the pain feels good.” college when I graduated high couldn’t play. to etch its sound across his ear- After years of struggling school, I didn’t even bother taking drums: a long line…a beep. A through high school, working the SAT’s,” he said. aspirations outside his regular em- By 2002, he had been accept- long line…a beep. himself toward self-destruction, Nonetheless, he began attend- ployment. ed into the Honors Program and Farrell, 21 at the time, had just and being unsure of where he was ing the University of Southern It seemed as though he was named the student representative watched his father die — and headed — which was looking like Maine as a non-matriculated stu- bound to live up to everyone’s ex- for the honors faculty council. come back. nowhere — his father’s second dent, taking a couple classes each pectations that after high school, In 2004, he became the assistant When his father’s heart stopped, chance at life inspired Brian to semester while juggling four dif- he’d go nowhere. director for “Words and Images” a doctor had tried to revive him. make one for himself. ferent jobs. In 1999, when his father came an annual art and literature maga- Brian had stood in the middle Brian grew up in Cumberland “I was working 80 to 100 hours back to life, things changed. zine published at USM. of the room watching his father, and went to Greely High for one a week, I would go from one shift To say that Brian found direc- He held that title for four years, whose eyes were closed, whose year before moving to South to the next,” Farrell said. tion would be an understatement. but Brian’s involvement with ev- heart was barely pumping. Then Portland and South Portland High For the next few years, Farrell By 2001 he had been accepted erything USM didn’t stop there. all of a sudden, the older man School for his last three years. He continued to work and take class- to USM and began his fi rst semes- jerked forward from the hospital ter as a full time student with the considers both his alma mater. es with no forward movement See FARRELL page 18 bed, eyes open and screaming in towards a degree and no career help of fi nancial aid.