University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 11-12-2012 The Free Press Vol 44 Issue 9, 11-12-2012 Kirsten Sylvain University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Sylvain, Kirsten, "The Free Press Vol 44 Issue 9, 11-12-2012" (2012). Free Press, The, 1971-. 86. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/86 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Free Press, The, 1971- by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. News Arts & Culture Perspectives Sports Community USM Drag Show Featured student group Marrow drive So, why did Junk food in honor of Obama get worse than 3 Giovanni 9 14 elected again? 18 cigarettes? 20 Vol. 44, Issue No. 9 the free press Nov. 12, 2012 University of Southern Maine Student Newspaper usmfreepress.org Students share their Election reactions to the results Kirsten Sylvain noted that he thought it had been a Editor-in-Chief relatively quiet election at USM. victories Nathan Polhemus, vice president Students are giving mixed reac- of the College Democrats, claimed tions following the results of the that the College Democrats had been election last week, but one group re- quite active this election, reporting fi mains xed on following the issues. that their efforts to get out the vote 2012 Before the election results came resulted in 169 students voting the in, students voted, campaigned and last day of early voting and 304 vot- volunteered on behalf of the party ing on election day. In total, that is or candidate of their choice. Vari- 511 students that the College Dems ous groups were active on campus, got to the polls. Figures have also including Mainer’s United. Students shown that Democratic state sen- geared up, rallying efforts, coming ate candidate for district six, James together in the College Republicans Boyle, was elected with 50 percent and College Democrats to organize of votes for him coming from USM in support of the parties with which students. The College Dems feel that fi they af liate, but now that all is said they played a major role in Boyle’s and done, Obama is in the White election, and they were pleased with House. King is in the senate, and the outcome. “We were very happy Question One has passed. that all our hard work paid off. It was One student, a junior social work reinforcement of our beliefs that if major, Colby Williams explained we got out the vote, we could win that he did not vote for Obama, this,” Polhemus said. but instead voted for Ron Paul as a The College Dems don’t plan write-in. “I wouldn’t say I was sur- on going away, either. Polhemus prised with the election,” he said. explained that now is the time for He also explained that for him the the College Dems to come to work two-party system does not allow for even harder. The group wants to people to best express their voices in disrupt the usual apathy that settles the political process. But, he says, in following an election. Polhemus now Obama will not be focused on stressed the importance of involve- the task of re-election. Instead, he ment and vocality on political issues will be more fully focused on im- during the elected offi cials’ terms. portant issues such as the economy. “We aim to be a general voice for However, Williams does not feel local Democrats and a way for stu- that the election results will change dents to get involved,” Polhemus the status quo for USM students in said. The group will adopt an “issue terms of student debt and rising tu- of the month” then a group opinion ition costs. “One billion dollars was followed by a draft of a letter and an spent [on the campaign], but little attempt to sway the votes of local has changed in regard to who’s in or federal politicians to best repre- power,” he said. Question One, he sent the views of students and local explained, seemed to have taken the Democrats. Polhemus mentioned foreground in Maine this election. that he thinks some of the new laws Williams also expressed his con- passed in Colorado and Washington cern about a potentially limited on legal recreational marijuana and amount of student involvement with here in Maine on gay marriage may Top: Photo from the White House Photo Stream. Bottom: Photo by Alex Greenlee / Multimedia Editor, Senator election efforts and the election become “hot issues,” as they are le- Angus King celebrates with a bottle of champagne at the election party Tuesday night with supporters, friends presence on campus in general. “I gal on the state level, but not at the and family. was surprised not to see more about the election on campus,” he said. He See REACTION on page 2 Civic Matters continues growth in fourth year Nate Mooney at USM, said the event is both ret- that USM is uniquely positioned to Over 20 student projects on topics contacted the two USM students News Assistant rospective and promotional in that it be a leader within the University of ranging from bacteria in the mud to update a 1995 study of bacterial celebrates work that is already com- Maine System for its work done in fl ats of Casco Bay to the classroom closures of Maine clam fl ats, the The fourth annual Civic Mat- pleted and ongoing but also encour- the community, owing both to its di- structure of Portland public schools group, which includes organizations ters Symposium will be held in the ages more links between the college verse student body and its location will be presented in posters and oral at all levels of government, non- Wishcamper Center on Friday, Nov. and the community. McCall said in Maine's largest population hub. presentations. profi ts and businesses, looks at the 16. from 8:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The event that Civic Matters was originally a This focus on civic involvement is USM students Josiah Brown and bacteria closure rates in clam fl ats put on by the Offi ce of Community part of Thinking Matters, another something McCall shares with USM Will Gattis didn't have any history and how they affect Maine calm Service Learning will highlight proj- USM student symposium, but the president Theo Kalikow, who said digging clams. Brown, an environ- sales. The work by the two students ects by USM students and faculty focus on research of the latter event “civic engagement is the glue that mental science major, and Gattis, an is ongoing and includes a survey of who serve their surroundings. necessitated a separate home for makes student success and fi scal economics major, thought it seemed clams sold in area restaurants and Andrea Thompson McCall, direc- all of the community work being sustainability possible,” in the open- like a natural fi t. However, when permits issued for clamming by mu- tor of Community Service Learning done by USM students. She feels ing letter for this year's symposium. the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership See CIVIC on page 3 2 News November 12, 2012 From REACTION on page 1 wants to internally change the sen- ate and take a more individual look federal level. This contradiction, he at the issues instead of following predicts, will become an important party lines. Marriage equality, she issue for politicians in the near fu- agrees, was a very important issue. ture. In the future, she hopes to see a more Polhemus summed up the re- open defi nition of family, one in sponse of the group to the election which the same-sex couple will be results. “It was a very good night.” viewed as equal with all other Maine Another student, Kate Wolfi nger, couples. a junior and Biology major, de- Chris Camire, chair of the student scribed her family as mostly Repub- senate, told The Free Press about his lican and explained that she views reaction to the election results. “Al- the election results as someone who though I don't agree with President has heard a lot from both sides of the Obama completely, I stand behind political spectrum. Wolfi nger voted him – he's my President.” However, for Obama, but she explained that he is concerned about the negative she almost didn’t vote because of effects of partisan politics. Accord- the frustration she experienced hunt- ing to Camire, this election is a clear ing for honest candidate informa- example of what partisan politics tion. She also acknowledged that her can do to a country. “Good Ameri- family’s belief that Obama has not cans are pitted against each other been the most successful in terms instead of working together to build of the economy is not ill-founded. our nation for future generations,” She stressed government invest- he said. ments in long-term initiatives in the As the fi rst independent candidate environment and the hard sciences. elected to serve in the U.S. Senate, “Something needs to be done,” she Angus King appears to agree with said, referring to disadvantaged peo- Alex Greenlee / Multimedia Editor Camire. In his acceptance speech, ple living in poor conditions in this King spoke out against partisan Those in attendance at King’s election celebration last week enjoyed meeting their new senator.