University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 10-22-2007 The Free Press Vol. 39, Issue No. 6, 10-22-2007 Angelique Carson University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Carson, Angelique, "The Free Press Vol. 39, Issue No. 6, 10-22-2007" (2007). Free Press, The, 1971-. 38. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/38 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]. WHAT YOU MISSED FIVE FLIGHTS LANDS ALL IN THE FAMILY page 3 AT USM page 12 page 18 STICKING IT TO THE COMPETITION PAGE 20 Volume 39, Issue 6 • October 22, 2007 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE An Iraqi woman fi ghts to A hole save lives in a lawless land worth ANGELIQUE CARSON fl ed for their lives, Mohammed $12.4M went back. EXECUTIVE EDITOR She now spends more than half of each year in a chaotic, war- Budget crisis means torn country where basic survival When the United States pen- isn’t guaranteed to any citizen, cut jobs and program etrated Baghdad with its fi rst anywhere, anytime. Mohamed is bombing campaign of The War on more than an every day citizen, changes at USM Terror on March 19, 2003, Yanar though. She’s a self- proclaimed Mohammed knew that her life as progressive, international activist ERIKA DIFFIN an architect was over. Something with a master’s degree in a reli- more important had come up. giously fundamentalist country. CONTRIBUTING WRITER Touting war slogans like, In other words, she’s a moving “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” and target. But she knows that. BRANDON BY PHOTO MCKENNEYSTAFF For the fourth consecutive year promising Iraq its liberation “If they want to come and get USM is facing a budget defi cit, from Saddam Hussein’s tyranni- pushing the university’s total fi scal us, they will come and get us,” Yanar Mohammed, who spoke at USM Oct. 11, runs shelters dedicated cal rule, President Bush ordered said Mohammed. “It’s not safe at shortage to approximately $12.4 to saving the lives of women targeted in honor killings. A problem million. bombs to reign down on Baghdad. all to do what we’re doing. But if which has increased signifi cantly since US occupation in 2003. Mohammed watched the scene’s we don’t do it, nobody will and While the fi nal numbers are not expected until November, the esti- live feed from her television set we’re going to turn into another gentle, though she spends most of “The violence against women mated shortfall for 2007 is project- in Toronto, where she’s lived Afghanistan under the Taliban. So her days confronting the horrors has been used as a tool of ven- ed to surpass $4.5 million. USM’s since 1995, horrifi ed. we fi nd ourselves playing a major of war, counseling women who’ve geance between the two kinds of contingency fund has covered the And then she did the unthink- role in resisting the Afghanization seen the worst of it through war militias,” she said. “Women of defi cit for the past few years, but able. of Iraq.” crimes unpunishible in a lawless this year the university will have While frightened citizens Mohammed, who spoke at land. See MOHAMMED to borrow money from the UMaine wealthy enough to fl ee Baghdad USM Oct. 11, is soft spoken and PAGE 14 System. Offi cials estimate fi ve to 10 years before the budget can be balanced and the loan payed back. USM’s budget woes can be Men’s soccer holds on for another win traced back to the start of the Maine community college system in 2003. Since then USM’s enroll- ment has decreased from 11,382 students in 2002 to the current fi gure of 9,851. Chief Financial Offi cer Dick Campbell said in an e-mail interview that tuition rates are signifi cantly lower at commu- nity colleges, providing a more attractive option to students. In- state tuition is $215 per credit hour at USM versus $96 at Southern Maine Community College. Campbell also said USM has not seen the anticipated infl ux of third- year transfers from community colleges because many graduates from those schools choose to enter the workforce after two years. This year’s tuition increases of 7.8 percent for undergraduates and 8.3 percent for graduate students were an attempt to balance the loss in revenue. However, USM has forged farther into debt and will undergo some drastic restructuring measures in the coming months. Interim president Joseph Wood STAFF PHOTOS BY BRANDON BY PHOTOS MCKENNEYSTAFF outlined steps toward correcting the problem in an e-mail interview. Eastern Connecticut tried to hold on in a close match in Gorham last Saturday, but Sinisa Bajic (Belgrade, Serbia) and his Huskies remained steadfast, winning the game, and their place at the top of the Little East Conference, 3-2. For the full story, see page 20. See BUDGET PAGE 4 2 The Free Press | September 10, 2007 advertisement news The Free Press | October 22, 2007 3 What you missed during our break Dylan comes to Portland again ANGELIQUE CARSON Bobby jumped on the harmoni- ca for a couple of songs and send EXECUTIVE EDITOR a ripple of cheers and whistles through the room. Thank God he Bob Dylan fans that went to see did, because it was the only time him play Oct. 4 at the Cumberland I knew for sure that it was really Country Civic Center most likely Dylan. It certainly didn’t sound left disappointed. Though opening like him, and I didn’t have binocu- STAFF PHOTOS BY ANGELIQUE BY CARSON PHOTOS STAFF acts Amos Lee and Elvis Costello lars to see his face from the corner Tony Giampetruzzi, media director for Opportunity Maine shakes the hand of former governor John had the crowd animated and lively, pocket where I dwelled all night. McKernan. Governor John Baldacci and former governor Angus King also attended the commorative their efforts were diminished by a Dylan’s voice may have left event at Abromson Center on Oct. 1. Opportunity Maine takes effect Jan. 2008. dismal performance by Bob Dylan something to be desired, but his himself. band was great. Dressed in identi- While it’d be comforting to cal suits, they looked as polished blame the poor performance as they sounded. A couple of Opportunity Maine celebrates on the Civic Center’s medio- guitar solos during “Tangled up in cre acoustics, Lee and Costello blue,” were satisfying, as was an proved that the sound system was up-tempo version of “Don’t think its win, plans its future surprisingly suffi cient. Though twice, it’s alright.” Lee and Costello boast a stronger Maybe I’m being a little hard on talent in vocals than Dylan has Bob. Maybe he was just drunk and Three Maine governors speak at event, commemorate success ever claimed to, the two put Dylan sloppy that night. I guess he could to shame. have been on a bender when I saw It’s not that Dylan has ever been him last March, too. Opportunity Maine President Andy JOEL C. THERIAULT known for an impressive vocal While it was nice to see an icon Bossie, USM alumnus watches the range, but he’s at least been audi- in town and watch his band jam, it NEWS EDITOR ceremony Oct. 1. ble most of the time. When Dylan may be time for Bob to cut-down took the mic, the vibe in the room on touring and rest the pipes. The Opportunity Maine campaign- of ensuring they could fi nd the took a dive. way they’re sounding, they’re ers returned to USM on Oct. 1 to fi nancial resources necessary to Afterall, what’s the fun in hear- bound to burst sometime soon. At unveil the Opportunity Maine tax achieve their dreams. ing an icon perform your favorite age 66 and already touring again credit card, a form of identifi ca- “Over the last 10 years, 80 per- tune if the vocals are so terrible for the second time this year, it’s tion for recent college graduates cent of the jobs that have been you’re waiting for the musical got to be taxing. enrolled in the newly established created in this country have re- interlude to enjoy it? His voice I stayed throughout the entire program and a physical remind- Opportunity Maine could do for quired an associate’s degree or has reached its raspy, cigarette- show, desperately hoping that this er to sign up for the tax credit the state. higher,” he continued. “There is plagued pinnacle so extensively would be like the fi reworks, saving in January, when it becomes ef- “I’m very proud to have this a burgeoning skills gap in this that he made Tom Waits sounds the big pay-off until the end. fective by law. The organization signature effort and to be here country that’s going to affect our young and velvety. I left still waiting for said pay- brought three Maine governors with these two governors,” said standard of living if we don’t get ment. to the Abromson Community Baldacci, “because I couldn’t more people more education.” Education Center in Portland to think of a better group to say, ‘We help get the word out.