When Bush was inaugurated, America was enjoying heightened economic prosperity, and approval in the worldwide community at its peak. After the terrible attacks of Sept. 11, Bush’s approval polls were off the charts. Since then, his administration has gone on a rampage that has damaged domestic and international interests simultaneously.

At home, the economic boom quickly diminished, and the issue of how to spend the surplus was answered in full by President Bush, who has led us into the largest federal deficit in history. On top of that, he wishes to spend more and to increase the deficit to an unheard of $500 trillion. Almost three million jobs have been lost since he took office, and he continues to do nothing but mislead the people to alleviate the pressure so many unfortunate Americans are feeling. President Bush recently released his annual economic report. To give the false impression that manufacturing jobs were on the rise, the report included fast food positions under that section. The lies and cover-ups do not stop there. U.S. efforts in Iraq have raised more questions about this administration’s credibility at home and abroad. Many believe that President Bush had every intention of invading Iraq from the beginning, and Sept. 11 proved the justification he was looking for. Former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neil admitted that Bush had been planning an invasion of Iraq in 2001.

Statements that Iraq never had weapons of mass destruction from former weapons inspector, David Kay, continue to erode the president’s imagery. Allies who had only half-heartedly accepted this excuse began to question his motives. Recently, the new government of Spain led by Prime Minister Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in a declaration which was not “giving in to terrorists” but reacting to public pressure, announced its opposition to the US-led occupation. The war is unpopular in America, and increasingly so overseas. President Bush’s actions have worsened international relations and resulted in a worldwide hatred of America at a previously unseen level.

The latest official to tarnish President Bush and his administration is Richard Clarke, who in a book released Monday, said that he, as a counterterrorist expert, had repeatedly warned the White House of the al-Qaida threat prior to Sept. 11, and it had failed to do anything. Clarke said Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Advisor, acted as though she had never heard of the term before, and ignored his requests for an urgent meeting to discuss the terrorist group.

All of these accusations have been denied in a round-about way by the current presidential administration. It is increasingly difficult, however, to believe that so many high standing officials so intimately involved with the government could be lying. It seems more likely that these brave men and women are doing justice to the truth and allowing the United States and the world a closer look at one of the most corrupt and deficient governments this country has ever known.

Michael Rocque is a junior sociology major.

The other day I was at a friend’s place who happened to have cable, and I was doing my, “watch as much TV to catch up on pop culture as I can” thing. I think we all know MTV is where the kids come for fresh stuff, so I locked in to soak up my learning. Typical 20 minutes: Kanye West ft. Twista, Usher, really long commercial break, back to Kanye West Twista and Jamie Fox, Usher and Lil’ John, cut to another commercial break. Apparently the kids like marketing more than their music videos these days, or MTV can just do whatever the hell it wants – could be either.

This commercial break seemed like a good chance to check out what else was happening in the world. Maybe I could check out ET on VH1 to find out which celebrities are dating each other, or possibly E! Entertainment Television to play voyeur to celebrity cat fights and public drunkenness as caught by the horrible paparazzi. Thank god I didn’t change the channel though. I might have missed something so spectacular. This routine began to obsess me.

MTV has a new show, called “I Want A Famous Face.” That’s right, it’s a show about normal people with nothing but their boring lives who have plastic surgery to look like the stars. I thought MTV had pretty much dragged the bottom already with shows like: “Rich Girls,” “Newlyweds,” “‘Til Death Do Us Part,” “Sorority Life,” and “Fraternity Life,” but apparently there is still a market for public degradation.

Now let’s be clear, the show in question is driven by looks, ugly insecurities for self-confidence, but this show is about more than appearances. Every person wants to look like J-Lo or Brittany – I think they have the “look like me” market cornered. This trend, however, is not just about looks, it’s about attitude. The tag line from the commercial I saw went something like this: “I want to look like her ’cause all the boys fantasize about her, and I think that would be pretty cool, having every guy thinking about me.” Great, kill your mother now. “Mom, all the boys want to do me, or at least think about me while they masturbate.”

Have we become a society where watching a misled young girl get surgery to look like an almost washed up pop star has become okay? Doesn’t she realize that there will be no market for Brittany look-a-likes in five years? But seriously, it’s fairly sickening to watch a show, and I did, about someone who thinks that looking like some famous person is going to make her life better. The attitude is disheartening. Something even worse than the attitude, however, is that a family network – let’s be honest, the whole family is watching MTV these days – would air such a disgusting show. I’m not that old, but I still remember the days when music television was MTV. Or at least some incarnation of it. I certainly didn’t sign up for my rock and roll rebel network to be some clearinghouse for degrading schlock. Can I get a camera crew to follow me? “I Want a Lobotomy.”

I guess it’s just a sign that I’m old and over the hill. I used to take pleasure in watching people demean themselves publicly, see: “Real World,” “Fanatic,” “The Jenny McCarthy Show,” local sports talk shows. My heart just isn’t in it anymore. It must be me and not the TV industry. They’re going forward. I’m going nowhere. Wait, maybe if I looked like Colin Farrell my life would be going somewhere. That’s it, I’ll have surgery to look like my hero. And the cycle perpetuates itself.

Nate Katz is a junior journalism major.

One enormous problem, however, lingers around Clarke and his allegations: there is absolutely no evidence to prove his statements to be true, and in all actuality, an overwhelming body of evidence does just the opposite.

Christopher Shays, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations, submitted several letters in frustration over Clarke’s “narrow view” on terrorism when responding to more than serious questions during a series of meetings in the last year of the Clinton administration. According to Shays, Clarke said “it would be silly to believe a comprehensive strategy could be developed to combat terrorism.” After extensive questioning, the committee concluded that the information provided to them was “less than useful.” The committee also expressed serious concerns about what $12.9 billion, tended to be spent combating terrorism, WMDs preparedness, and critical infrastructure protection, was being used for.

One of these letters was sent to Condoleezza Rice in January, 2001 expressing concerns about Dick Clarke and his committee. Coincidentally, Rice demoted Clarke from his position as counterterrorism adviser. Though being demoted after many years on the job, and excluded from several important meetings, Clarke was still respected by the Bush administration. Consequently, Clarke praised President Bush for being a great leader against terrorism up until the day of his resignation. In effect, Clarke’s own statements from 2002 refute every argument that he has made. In his resignation letter, Clarke praised Bush for his “courage, determination, calm and leadership” on Sept. 11. He also said that it was an “enormous privilege” to serve President Bush.

Though Clarke said that he was just being polite, he issued press releases that were consistent with his 2002 resignation letter, and if that isn’t enough, he praised Bush, under oath, in his testimony to Congress in 2002. He has made two clashing arguments under oath and is walking the fine line of perjury.

Clarke’s conflicting statements are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many statements and letters on file that show Clarke to be senseless when it came to a terrorist threat. Even some higher-ups in the Clinton administration have had conflicts with Clarke. Of all people, Clinton’s speech writer, Dick Morris, said that he inserted language into speeches that discussed handling terrorism and rogue states such as Iraq, Iran, North Korea and Libya, at Clinton’s request. Each time, Clarke’s committee would delete the language from the speeches during their review.

It is clear that Clarke is trying to save himself from serious turmoil by attacking President Bush’s credibility. Should the Sept. 11 investigations conclude that Clarke failed to do his job, serious consequences could follow.

Clarke’s statements have disrupted the Sept. 11 proceedings and are having an influence on the presidential election. With Sen. John Kerry in the White House, Dick Clarke could get his old job back and stand alongside his best friend and colleague, Rand Beers, who is the top foreign policy adviser for the Kerry campaign. Beers and Clarke go way back. They even taught classes together at Harvard.

It is obvious that Clarke resorted himself to playing the left-wing puppet, and if Kerry starts to defend Clarke, every future comment he makes has the ability to backfire.

Mike Servis is a freshman political science major.

Tomorrow’s Retro Future, a new-wave style duo that consists of John W. (Nate Oldham) and Conrad Marshall (Matt Stanford), put on a show that combines screeching vocals with hard rock, slow ballads, action-filled fight scenes, and a dancing skeleton. If you walk into one of their concerts for the first time with any sort of expectations, you can only assume that you will be wrong. This is not to say they aren’t talented or extremely enjoyable, it’s just that the show they put on is guaranteed to be nothing like you’ve ever seen on this campus before. And trust me, as long as you are open-minded, willing to put your musical elitist attitude aside, and ignore what modern pop classifies as “good,” then you will not be disappointed.

The band played in a nearly full Pavilion Theater on Saturday night as a part of Stanford’s senior capstone project. Stanford incorporated a computer program into the show.

The show began five minutes late, which they excused, since it made them “late, like a rock show should be.”

From there the musicians jumped into their original music.

One of the unique aspects of a TRF show that the band’s cult-like fan base goes crazy over is Adolpho Rolo, the dancing skeleton. Rolo bursts onto the stage and begins flailing his arms and dancing to the beat in a unique way that makes you want to stand up and join him. His face is a mystery, since one can only see his eyes peaking out from behind a cheap, plastic skeleton mask that one can assume would appropriately glow in the dark.

Saturday’s show also introduced fans to Evil Adolpho, a taller skeleton who “flunked out of dancing skeleton school.” After beating him away with a slow, ’50s style ballad (which encouraged the crowd members to grab a partner and slow dance), the band cheered and Rolo danced triumphantly.

The project aspect of the show began after a few songs. Two projections appeared at this point on large white boards placed behind them. Each one showed a life-size band member playing an additional instrument.

“I’d just like to welcome the two newest members of our band,” Oldham said. This was followed by a series of screams and enthusiastic applause.

The screens were controlled by a floor mat from a video game.

“I’m a new media major and I’m interested in the evolution of music and music performance,” Stanford said after the show. “When I think about combining these two things I see lots of room for experimentation. Also, Tomorrow’s Retro Future has always been big on introducing new techniques of music performance to audiences.”

Stanford said he views the project as a success and was happy with how it came out, although it was not exactly what he hoped for.

“I allowed myself some wiggle room by calling this an ‘experiment,’” Stanford said. “It didn’t really matter whether or not we failed, because regardless I can learn from this experience. However, I do feel confident that it was successful.”

This success could also be attributed to the fans that came to the show. The band feeds off the unique and diverse fan base that follows it from show to show. A combination of UMaine students, high schoolers and parents, none of the audience was exempt from potential addiction to TRF’s style.

“I think that our cult fan base has a lot to do with the fact that we’re not just doing the same exact thing as every other band,” Oldham said.

Stanford and Oldham continually thank the fans, acknowledging that they are how the band continues on.

“Thank you all for coming,” Stanford said at the end of Saturday’s show. “It means so much to us.”

TRF will be performing at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at the Bumstock Festival. The band was voted into the festival with the third highest number of votes in Campus Vote 2003 held last November. The band members said that they were disappointed with the time slot they were given, but hope to still deliver a great show.

“Hopefully lots of people will still show up and we’ll be able to give a good show to our fans,” Oldham said. “We joke that there must be some kind of conspiracy against Tomorrow’s Retro Future on campus because we end up getting shafted out of a lot of opportunities to be in shows, but it almost makes it more of an experience when we do get a chance to play.”

Both Oldham and Stanford are graduating this May, which makes the future of TRF uncertain, but they both agree that they do want to continue.

“I’m hoping that we can still find some time to put together some shows, Stanford said. “The collective work that we have done over the past four years seems to be too valuable to just throw away.”

Monday, March 29

* The Bookstore will hold a Preschool Story Hour with readings by Jane Wellman-Little and education students from 1 – 1:30 p.m. Call Holly Williams at 581-1700 for information.

* “Ma Vie En Rose” will be shown following a lecture by Laura

Lindenfeld-Sher as part of the Women in the Curriculum/Women’s Studies Program. This event will begin at 3:10 p.m. in DPC 115. Call Angela Olson at 581-1228 for information.

* Lt. Col. Larry Butkus of the U.S. Department of Engineering Mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy will give a presentation on the investigation into the space shuttle Columbia accident in February 2003. This event will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Devino Auditorium of DPC. Call Darell Donahue at 581-2728 for information.

* Games Night will feature Win, Lose or Draw from 8 – 11 p.m. in the Coe Room of Memorial Union. This event is free for students and is sponsored by Campus Activities and Events. Call Carole LeClair at 581-1793 for information.

Tuesday, March 30

* Fogler Library will hold a PhotoShop Web Graphics workshop from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the Fogler computer classroom. To register or inquire about the cost for this event, call Gretchen Gfeller at 581-1696.

* Elizabeth Allan and Mary Madden will present “Still Chilly? Undergraduate Women’s Perceptions of Classroom Environments” as part of the Women in the Curriculum/Women’s Studies Program lunch series. This event will be held from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Bangor Lounge of Memorial Union. Call Angela Olson at 581-1228 for information.

* 4:30 p.m. is the end of the second third of the semester for withdrawals.

* David Trobisch of the Bangor Theological Seminary will present “Newman Lecture: Saint Paul on Jesus of Nazareth” at 7:30 p.m. at the Newman Center, 83 College Ave. This event is offered by the Catholic Student Association and is sponsored by the Newman Center. Call Rev. Joseph Koury at 866-2155 for information.

Wednesday, March 31

* President Hoff will hold his Monthly Open Office Hour from 2 – 3 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Call Heidi Carlow at 581-1512 for information.

* Maine Bound will sponsor a free belay seminar from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Maine Bound-UM Outdoor Education Center. Call Paul Stern at 581-1794 for information.

* Kickin Flicks will show “Gothika” at 7:30 p.m. in DPC 100. This event is free for students and is sponsored by Campus Activities and Events. Call Carole LeClair at 581-1793 for information.

Thursday, April 1

* Fogler Library will hold a Basic HTML workshop from 9:30 a.m. – noon in the Fogler computer classroom. To register or inquire about the cost for this event, call Gretchen Gfeller at 581-1696.

* Alex Grab, Beth McKillen, Doug Allen and Dan Innis will present “Iraq, Business and the University” as part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Luncheon Series. This event will be held from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the Bangor Lounge of Memorial Union. Call Brenda Collamore at 581-3866 for information.

The plan calls for enhancing the prominence and research capabilities of the Orono campus, the “largest institution in the system and the one best poised for significant enhancement,” while the system’s other six universities would be consolidated into four institutions. All two-year programs would be phased out and passed on to the state’s community college system, according to the plan.

The proposal is designed to reallocate funding and resources based on each institution’s designated mission, thereby meeting the system’s academic and economic responsibilities to the state. With a projected savings of $15.5 million once the plans are fully implemented, university officials hope to revitalize and unify a system that must overcome a projected $50 million deficit over the next two fiscal years.

“I think it’s going to be a challenge,” said James Mullen, UMS board of trustees member and chair of the planning committee. “We have such an enormous deficit facing us.”

The proposed reforms would become the most extensive restructuring the system has ever seen, but are designed to make public higher education in Maine more efficient and responsive to the academic needs of students and faculty, while contributing to economic development in the state, the plan states.

“There’s a tendency over time at all campuses to expand,” Mullen said. “We can’t be all things to all people,” he said, adding that defining each institution’s mission will lessen the overall effects of budget cuts throughout the system.

Under the plan, the system campuses at Fort Kent, Machias and Presque Isle would be consolidated to become the rural University of Northern Maine, with all three campuses remaining open and operating under one administration. The Augusta campus, which currently offers most of the system’s associate degree programs, would fall under the University of Southern Maine and provide bachelor’s and limited graduate programs in public policy and business administration. USM would move forward as the state’s urban campus, with increased focus on business offerings and a limited research capacity.

The University of Maine at Farmington would maintain a capped enrollment as a public liberal arts college, continuing strong teacher training programs, according to the plan.

In addition, the system’s 11 college outreach centers would either become affiliated with one of the four remaining campuses or face elimination, as is planned for the Calais, East Millinocket and Dover-Foxcroft centers, which would then fall under the community college system. The Hutchinson Center, located in Belfast, would remain a satellite facility of UMaine, according to the plan.

The system’s 100 distance-learning ITV sites, a convenience for nontraditional and commuter students, would be eliminated in favor of using more modern technology already available through public schools throughout the state, the plan states.

The plan does not outline the future role of the University College of Bangor, a satellite facility affiliated with the Augusta campus.

As part of the plan’s call for a renewed focus on research at UMaine, Fogler Library would serve as the system’s single research library, a “critical part” of the overall plan, Mullen said.

“I think it’s been neglected for a number of years,” he said.

Fogler’s increased responsibilities would include providing resources to all of the system’s campuses, as well as collaborating with the Maine State Library in Augusta on the development of a comprehensive statewide digital library, according to the plan.

Made public Thursday on the UMS Web site, the plan will take about five years to implement, Mullen said, and will save money by eliminating some administrative positions, centralizing business functions and reducing duplication of services. Officials hope the plan will reduce competition between the system’s institutions by phasing out programs that do not meet each school’s newly designated mission, and rewarding financially those institutions that meet goals concerning student enrollment and retention, budget management and private fundraising, the plan states.

University presidents, who were included in the planning process led by UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal, Vice Chancellor Elsa Nunez, and the board of trustees, would be held responsible for maintaining adequate funding, according to the plan.

Despite the cost-saving measures, however, tuition increases throughout the system may be necessary to overcome an estimated $85 million structural gap in the budget within the next four years, Mullen said, resulting in part from reduced state funding for public higher education in recent years.

“Some tuition increase is probably inevitable,” he said, adding that UMS has avoided the major tuition hikes that have occurred at universities in other states.

Increased financial aid proposed in the plan may help to ease the burden on students, however, with $11 million in additional funding projected for fiscal year 2008, according to the plan.

It has not been determined which of UMaine’s course offerings will be phased out, but students currently enrolled will be able to complete their work, Mullen said.

“We have an obligation to students already involved in certain programs,” he said.

With the plan’s emphasis on improved faculty development, system professors and professional employees would also enjoy a $10.8 million overall increase in salaries by fiscal year 2008, according to the plan. The added funding would bring those wages to 90 percent of the national average, the plan states.

Support for research and scholarship among faculty, as well as providing opportunities for professors to interact with colleagues throughout the system, will help to ensure a “high-quality and well-supported” faculty, according to the plan. Criteria for faculty review would be strengthened, with targets set for endowed professorships and endowed chairs, the plan states

Some system employees, however, could be threatened with layoffs as a result of the proposed centralization of administrative and business functions, Mullen said. Officials have not yet announced how many jobs cuts would result from the plan’s execution.

“We’re optimistic that some of that can be done through attrition,” Mullen said, by not filling positions left open through retirement or voluntary departures.

System officials will continue to visit with staff, students and faculty at each of the campuses to address concerns and accept suggestions before a revised plan is submitted to the board of trustees for approval this fall, Mullen said. Public input gained through previous campus visits was considered during the plans development, with comments coming in “all over the board,” Mullen said.

“There isn’t enough money that seems to be a common theme, whoever you ask,” he said.

The plan can be viewed on the UMS Web site at www.maine.edu/spp, and dates for the upcoming public comment sessions will be posted there as well, Mullen said.

By working with students, faculty and staff, along with the community, the final plan should meet the states educational aspirations for the future, Mullen said.

“The ultimate goal of this is the education of Maine’s citizens,” he said.

Proposed Changes

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

* Maine’s flagship research institute with the satellite facility in Belfast to continue operations under the UMaine umbrella.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN MAINE

Campuses to include:

* Fort Kent

* Presque Isle

* Machias

University College centers assigned:

* Houlton

* Ellsworth

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

Campuses to include:

* Gorham

* Portland

* University of Maine at Augusta would be absorbed, as well as its satellite centers in Lewiston-Auburn.

University College centers assigned:

* Rumford-Mexico

* Thomaston

* Bath-Brunswick

* Sanford

* Saco-Biddeford

* Oxford Hills

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON

* Will remain a public liberal arts school with strong teacher training programs.

OTHER SYSTEM-WIDE CHANGES

* Eliminate presence in Calais, East Millinocket and Dover-Foxcroft.

* 100 independent distance-learning ITV sites eliminated.

The Lady Black Bears were led by their three seniors, forward Heather Ernest from Temple, forward Julie Veilleux from Augusta, and guard Melissa Heon from Somersworth, N.H. Veilleux averaged 7.5 points for the Black Bears; Heon averaged 10.6 points per game and led the team in minutes played. Ernest was named America East player of the year for the second straight season, averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

“You can look at all the statistics and everything that they’ve done for the past four years,” said head coach Sharon Versyp, who has just finished her fourth season at Maine. “What they’ve done for the program and the type of people that they are speaks more than the stats.”

Ernest, a graduate of Mt. Blue High School where she led her team to a state championship, has had a large role at Maine all four years that she has been here. The last player to win two consecutive Player of the Year awards was Cindy Blodgett in 1996 and 1997. In addition to her Player of the Year awards, Ernest has been a four-time All-America East first -team selection. She was named the America East conference championship tournament Most Valuable Player this season as well. She is a member of Maine’s 1,000 point/1,000 rebound club with 1,801 points and 1,032 rebounds in her career at Maine.

“She’s worked very hard,” Versyp said. “She really did a lot to improve herself. She also taught a lot of the younger players, especially in the post how to be tougher.

Veilleux was the only senior to start all 31 games for Maine season. She has played in every game since her arrival in Orono.

When Heon scored in double figures, Maine was 18-1. She was the emotional leader on the court and led the team in assists. The bottom line for the Lady Black Bears, however, is their accomplishment as a team.

“It was an unbelievable season,” said Versyp. “Not many programs can go 25 wins back-to-back each year.”

Next year the Black Bears will play a very tough non-conference schedule that includes teams such as Rider, Florida State, Iowa, Mississippi State and Michigan. A solid group of players are returning to the team next year. Freshman Ashley Underwood seems to be the natural fit to fill Heon’s place at guard. Maine’s key seniors next year will be forward Monica Peterson, and guards Kim Corbitt and Missy Traversi. Traversi scored 20 points in the game against Texas Tech, while Peterson scored 15. Freshman Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa shows great potential and Abby Schrader will most likely be the team’s center. Add Nicole Jay, Katie Whittier, Andrea Gay, Katherine Quackenbush, and Bracey Barker coming off the bench as well as the three incoming freshman, all guards, and Maine could be very good.

“I think next year we’ll be a very good team,” Versyp said. “We’ll just be different.”

Although the Red Raiders keyed in on Maine’s three seniors and held them to eight points combined, Maine still nearly upset Texas Tech, the 14th-ranked team in the country. Traversi and Peterson helped lead the way in a Black Bear effort that just fell short. Next season, Maine will be a different team, and their conference will be even more competitive with teams like Vermont, Boston University and Hartford, all looking strong as usual. However, next year’s team will have something that this year’s team did not have: NCAA tournament experience.

While the Athletic Department will take as many orders for tickets as possible, it is highly unlikely, due to the limited quantities, that they will be able to satisfy many orders outside of the following priority list.

Priority for tickets is as follows:

1. All University of Maine hockey players and their families.

2. 75 tickets will be allocated to current University of Maine students, which is equal to the same percentage averaged at all home games this season at Alfond Areana.

3. Donors to the athletic department at or above $10,000 annually.

Once the above groups have been allocated their tickets, if tickets remain, the athletic department will conduct a weighted lottery, limit two per person, that will take into consideration both season ticket holders as well as athletic donor level during the 2003-04 year.

If fans would like to increase their chances at tickets for this year’s Frozen Four the Black Bear Club and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will be accepting gifts, which are non-refundable, and will increase the probability of securing tickets for the tournament.

At the deadline for lottery sign-up at noon on Wednesday, March 31, the athletic department will also release the methods by which fans can pick them up.

The university has a strict scalping policy and if any fans are caught doing so their eligibility for tickets will be revoked.

All Black Bear Club Donors who placed their orders prior to March 19 are already entered into this Frozen Four Ticket lottery and will not need to place an additional order.

In her fourth and final season, the two-time Conference Player of the Year led the Black Bears to the first round of the NCAA tournament, something they hadn’t done since before Ernest’s freshman year.

When she began her career at Maine, she was expecting the team to go to the NCAA tournament, which it had done for six straight seasons prior to her arrival, from 1995-2000.

After the 2000 season, women’s basketball head coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie left Maine for Michigan State, and in came Sharon Versyp, a little known assistant from Indiana, who had been an assistant at James Madison University. After being recruited by Palombo- McCallie, Ernest ended up playing for Versyp. In her freshman season, Maine finished 12-16. A losing season at Maine was not what Ernest expected.

In her second season the Black Bears improved on their record but again lost in the first round of the America East tournament to Hartford. Fast forward to her junior year, the year Ernest’s hard work began to pay off. Heading into the conference tournament in 2003, the Black Bears, with their 25-4 overall record and 16-0 conference record at the time, looked unbeatable. They advanced to the conference championship game by beating Hartford and New Hampshire, and were one win away from the NCAA tournament. Maine played Boston University in the championship and lost. Versyp told Ernest and the other incoming seniors after the game to “remember this feeling.” She knew they would get another chance at the tournament in 2004, with most of the team’s players returning.

The 2003-2004 season rolled around and a determined Ernest and her teammates were ready to go after an NCAA bid. Maine finished 5-5 in its tough non-conference schedule and then went 17-1 in conference play. The team’s only loss came at home to Vermont on senior night in honor of Maine’s three seniors, Julie Veilleux, Melissa Heon and Ernest. After the game, Ernest grabbed a microphone and thanked the crowd and said “this really stinks,” referring to losing their last home game. She brought a smile to the faces of everyone in Alfond Arena, which helped many people wipe away the tears.

Maine entered the conference tournament in Hartford, again as the No. 1 seed. The women defeated New Hampshire, then Albany, and again faced BU in the conference championship. This time Ernest and her Black Bears would not be denied the opportunity to go to the Big Dance. Maine defeated the Terriers 68-43. The team met Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA tournament but came up short, 60-50. For Ernest what counted was being there. Her team accomplished all the goals it set at the beginning of the season.

“We went out and accomplished everything that was on our goal sheet, which is kind of amazing since not many teams get to do that,” Ernest said. “We were kind of disappointed in the way it ended obviously. We thought we could have played better against Texas Tech.”

Ernest did not have her best game against Texas Tech, but no one can take anything away from what she accomplished during her four years at Maine.

“I missed a couple of easy lay-ups,” Ernest said . “It just kind of happens, you know, the ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Maine fans will remember Ernest for her two Conference Player of the Year awards, her 1,000 points and her 1,000 rebounds. Although, Ernest is modest and does not like to talk about herself much, she did admit she had one personal goal entering her senior season.

“The only goal I had personally was to get over 1,000 rebounds,” she said.

Mission accomplished.

While Ernest found her first few years at Maine surprising, she could not have asked for a better ending.

“I definitely wasn’t ready for the first two years, the way they turned out,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish myself anywhere else. I’m very glad we got the chance to experience the NCAA tournament, not just for the seniors, but for the underclassmen so they know how hard they have to work.”

In her four years at Maine, Ernest made one trip to the NCAA tournament. She understands how hard it is to get there and she was determined make it.

“I’m pretty happy,” Ernest said. “Of course it would have been nice to go all four years but it didn’t work out that way.”

Ernest would not have rather played anywhere else or for a different coach. She has great respect to Joanne Palombo-McCallie but also feels Versyp can continue to do well at Maine.

“I’m happy for her.” said Ernest of McCallie. “She’s very successful. She’s going to be successful wherever she goes.”

McCallie’s Michigan State team lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament this year to Texas.

As for Versyp, Ernest thinks she has a solid team returning next year.

“The girls that didn’t play very much this year are extremely talented because they play against us every day in practice and kick our butts and make us better,” Ernest said. “They can definitely play. They just haven’t had the game time experience, which will come.”

Maine fans will miss Ernest, now that her exceptional career with the Black Bears is over. She may play professionally down the road, but she is not sure yet.

“I might have an opportunity to play overseas,” said Ernest, “so I might do that.”

Whatever she decides to do, chances are good she will be successful. A state championship her senior year at Mt. Blue, an America East title her senior year at Maine, wherever she goes she makes people around her better. She made Maine a winner.

UMaine won the regional semifinal with a stirring three-goal comeback to defeat the fourth-seeded Harvard Crimson 5-4 and then knocked off the third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 in overtime to punch its ticket to the Frozen Four.

“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said University of Maine head coach Tim Whitehead, following Saturday’s win. “We thought the Hockey East Championship game was a big win, and we thought last night was big and we couldn’t top it, but we did.”

The Black Bears had some trouble early in Friday’s game against Harvard. UMaine had great chances early in the game, but could not crack goalie Dov Grumet-Morris. UMaine fell behind late in the period when freshman Dylan Reese scored a power play goal at 17:01 to give Harvard the lead. With just 16 seconds left in the period, Brendan Bernakevitch moved around a mass of bodies and took a shot on Jimmy Howard. Howard made the save, but Bernakevitch batted the rebound out of the air and into the net to make it 2-0.

The Crimson went up 3-0, as Howard tried to poke the puck away from Packard as he moved in on the power play. Howard’s pokecheck redirected off Packard’s shin pad and deflected past Howard just 1:09 into the second.

UMaine’s Todd Jackson got the Black Bears on the board at 2:56 of the second period off a faceoff win by Derek Damon. Harvard regained a three-goal lead when Ryan Maki beat Howard by putting back his own shot to make it 4-1.

“There wasn’t much said in the locker room between the periods,” said UMaine forward Greg Moore. “Everyone knew what needed to be done. We all came together to get it done.”

Whitehead made a goalie switch to start the third period. Frank Doyle replaced Howard. Howard left the game with 29 saves.

The move appeared to work as UMaine started its rally early in the third period. Mike Hamilton took a feed from Jon Jankus and one-timed the puck past Grumet-Morris at 3:55 to make it 4-2 Harvard.

The Black Bears notched a power play goal from a scrum between the circles. After the puck pinballed off a few skates, Prestin Ryan found it and wristed the puck in at 6:14 to make it 4-3.

Michel Leveille tied the game at 12:47 with an unassisted goal, as he pulled up at the left point and waited for Moore and Colin Shields to cut to the net. Leveille put a slap shot on net that redirected twice and in the net to make 4-4.

Then it was Moore who scored the eventual game-winning goal by stealing the puck from a Harvard defenseman at the side of the left circle. He skated between the circles and ripped a low wrist shot that beat Grumet-Morris between the legs at 15:50 to give UMaine the lead 5-4.

“Michel made a nice play to get the puck up to me,” Moore said, “I was able to take it from their defenseman and get the goal.”

Frank Doyle got the win in net by making seven saves. Grumet-Morris stopped 41 shots in net.

UMaine started out on fire early in Saturday’s game against Wisconsin. Shields scored the first goal of the game on the first shot of the game at 1:32 into the first on a hard wrist shot from the left circle to the glove side on junior goalie Bernd Bruckler to give UMaine the lead.

The Black Bears got plenty of more chances, but Bruckler continued to make saves. The Badgers were able to equalize the game at 17:38 of the second period when senior forward Rene Bourque grabbed the puck at the bottom of the right circle. He moved across the goalmouth and waited for Howard to commit to a shot. Bourque then waited for an opening and beat Howard to tie the score at one.

Wisconsin got the better of the chances in the third period, but Howard continued to make saves. The shots in the third period were even at 12-12, but no one could score, forcing the game into overtime.

UMaine was able to end the game early in overtime on a great individual play by the freshman forward Hamilton.

Hamilton collected the puck near the Wisconsin blue line. He moved to the right wing side and the brought the puck into the zone. Hamilton used his left hand to fight off defenseman Ryan Suter and with the right hand on his stick, moved the puck to the net. He took a shot on Bruckler and it trickled over the goal line at 3:27 of the overtime.

After a long review of the goal, it was allowed to stand and UMaine advanced to the Frozen Four.

“I tried to dump the puck in,” Hamilton said. “It deflected off of one of their guys and I went and got it again. I moved around their defenseman and was fortunate to make the play and it ended up well.”

Howard rebounded from his tough performance Friday with 36 saves for the win. Bruckler stopped 26 shots in the loss.

“I just put it out of my mind,” Howard said. “I didn’t want to focus on it. I just needed to come out today and play well.”

“These guys are a great team,” Whitehead said. “I’m so proud that we get a chance to go to the Frozen Four. These guys have worked so hard all year. They deserve this.”

The Frozen Four will be played at the FleetCenter in Boston on April 8 and 10. The Black Bears are set to face Boston College in the semifinal round at 6 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN2.