University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 2-26-2018 The Free Press Vol. 49, Issue No. 15, 02-26-2018 Julie Pike University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Pike, Julie, "The Free Press Vol. 49, Issue No. 15, 02-26-2018" (2018). Free Press, The, 1971-. 215. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/215 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]. FEBRUARY 26, 2018 VOL. 49 ISSUE NO. 15 A taste of Portland page 10 I River Plouffe Vogel 2 FEBRUARY 26, 2018 | THE FREE PRESS News Where Huskies#WhereHuskiesBank Bank By the Slice Join University Credit Union for some pizza and a crash course on how to manage your dough! When: February 27th - 12pm March 20th - 12pm Where: Gorham - UCU branch in the Brooks Student Center ucu.maine.edu 800.696.8628 | Federally Insured by NCUA #WhereHuskiesBank Keep moving toward your goals. Choose from over 500 courses on campus and online. SUMMER SESSION Registration begins March 1 through first class meetings 4-WEEK SESSIONS 7-WEEK SESSIONS 14-WEEK SESSION May 21 – June 15 May 21 – July 6 May 21 – August 24 July 9 – August 3 July 9 – August 24 For more information: usm.maine.edu/summer | (207) 780-5230 2018-102 News THE FREE PRESS | FEBRUARY 26, 2018 3 Gun regulations THE FREE PRESS need to change 92 BEDFORD STREET, PORTLAND, MAINE 04101 (207) 780-4084 www.usmfreepress.org in the nation to prevent these. Now proximately 10 minutes. This checks Julie Pike for the big question, how can school prior convictions or red flags. Only a Editor-in-Chief shootings be prevented? dozen states in the U.S. require per- EDITORIAL While I was at Gorham High School, mits to purchase handguns, and only In the wake of the school shoot- they implemented the use of student three of those requires permits to pur- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Pike ing at the high school in Parkland, ID cards to get into the school. Every chase a rifle or shotgun. California ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Mary Ellen Aldrich FL, where 17 people were killed, it outside door to the school was locked, requires applicants to pass a written COMMUNITY EDITOR Dionne Smith makes me reflect on the current situ- and students could only get into the test and enroll in a gun safety class to SPORTS EDITOR River Plouffe Vogel ation regarding gun control in our front entrance doors with their ID obtain a permit. country. It saddens me to say that I’m cards. This prevented anyone getting Already I can pick out areas in not surprised when I hear news of into the school that was not a student which this country can improve on STAFF WRITERS Sarah Tewksbury, Sarah O’Connor, Maverick another school shooting. This news or staff member. Those who were vis- gun control. Ten minutes to do a back- Lynes, Sam Margolin, Emily Adams, Kate Rogers, Samantha still makes me upset and I grieve for iting could speak with the secretary at ground check on an individual is not Hallowell, Benjamin Theriault, Cooper-John Trapp, Elizabeth those involved, but we live in a nation the front door over the speaker phone nearly long enough to deem them Trudel, Azalead Buch, Charlie Wheeler, Jessica Pike, Noor where school shootings are unfortu- to be allowed in. worthy to purchase a gun. It should Ibrahim nately commonplace. While this change created some- not be a quick process to obtain a fire- The news and reactions that follow what of an inconvenience for stu- arm. I support California’s require- COPY EDITORS these incidents are almost always the dents, it was a small price to pay for ments. The mere process alone may same, people play the blame game. their ultimate safety from those who deter people from obtaining a firearm. EDITORIAL BOARD: Parents and the student survivors call Julie Pike, Mary Ellen Aldrich, Sarah Tewksbury did not belong at the school. I believe Where these regulations become for more control on guns, government USM could benefit from this change, tricky is when guns are purchased officials blame it on the mental state of BUSINESS MANAGER Lucille Siegler since essentially anyone can walk into through an individual, online, at a flea the perpetrator, but in all it continues the main buildings on campus. market or a gun show. These people DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY to happen because nothing changes. The answer to the question of pre- are not required to have a Federal Following this specific incident, vention is not simple. It would take Firearms License (FFL), according CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER Orkhan Nadirli news travelled around that there have the effort of an entire country to com- to The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, already been 18 school shootings in bat this problem. I believe the main Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a di- DESIGNERS the U.S. in 2018. However, USA To- efforts need to go into gun control. vision of the Department of Justice. Dakota Tibbetts, Eliza Bachkovsky day found this statistic to be false. Ev- It was a topic of discussion in my These requirements only count for erytown for Gun Safety, a gun control senior capstone class recently, about those who are conducting the sale as DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Lauren Kennedy advocacy group, was responsible for what the regulations surrounding a part of their business. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Katelyn Rice, James Fagan, Samantha initially spreading this. However, if gun control should be. Both sides of Amazingly this is how a person can Comeau you look closer into what this group the argument were identified. On one obtain a firearm without technically labels as a school shooting, they in- hand, people want easy access to fire- breaking the law. Children under 18 FACULTY clude any incident where a gun was arms for their own safety or for leisure may also possess guns if they were discharged on school grounds. This reasons, such as hunting. On the other given to them by a parent or guard- FACULTY ADVISOR Dennis Gilbert includes incidences where students hand, people argue that it’s too easy ian. This is the real place where gun weren’t necessarily present at the time ADVERTISING for people to get a hold of a gun, al- control needs to improve. While I’m of a shooting. lowing firearms to be possessed by the not against a person owning firearms, Some examples that Everytown To advertise, contact our Advertising Manager at wrong people. and I support the right to have one for 207.780.4080 x3 and look at out advertising rates on our for Gun Safety included in their sta- Here’s what currently stands for safety reasons, they should not be an website. We reserve the right to reject advertising. We will not tistic are: in Denison, TX a student federal regulations about gun control. easy thing to obtain. accept discriminatory ads. took a firearm from a police officer, At 18 years of age a person can pur- mistaking it for a practice weapon, chase shotguns, rifles and ammuni- and shot the wall and no one was tion. At 21 years of age a person can Interested in working with us? harmed. In Maplewood, MN, a third purchase other firearms, such as hand- grader pulled the trigger on a police guns. Those who are unable to pur- Visit our website at www.usmfreepress.org for a listing of officer’s gun while he was sitting on available positions or email editor@usmfreepress with a chase firearms include fugitives, those a bench, no one was harmed. USA To- copy of your resume and cover letter to apply directly. deemed a danger to society, those day found that eight of the 18 cases with prior felony convictions, those The Free Press is a weekly student–run newspaper paid reported included ones where no one found guilty of unlawfully possessing for in part with the Student Activity Fee. One copy of The was harmed. Two of the 18 cases were substances within the past year, those Free Press is available free of charge. Up to 10 additional suicides. with restraining orders, dishonorably copies are available for 25 cents each at the office of The While it’s safe to say that school discharged military personnel, unau- Free Press, 92 Bedford St., Portland, Maine. shootings are still extremely com- thorized migrants and tourists, among mon in the U.S., the actuality of those others. Cover Photo: Lauren Kennedy / Director of Photography numbers are inflated. However, this The background check that is re- doesn’t affect the need for a change quired to purchase a firearm takes ap- 4 FEBRUARY 26, 2018 | THE FREE PRESS News Bringing the conversation of sexual assault to USM Student groups work to create a space for supportive discussion an ISO member. Julie Pike Thurston added that the recent news about Editor-in-chief a sexual assault lawsuit against USM brought forth the idea to have a discussion. David In response to the #metoo movement and Roussel, Assistant Vice President for Stu- the Women’s March, the discussion about dent Affairs, emailed the student body about sexual assault has been trending across the this news story in early February. The Port- nation, including right at USM.