Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Hannah Pingree stopped by the University of Maine on Tuesday to field questions from students and offer her view on how the state is handling issues from the budget crisis to job creation.
Pingree spoke with students in professor Mark Brewer’s American government class, who she said asked more than an hour’s worth of “very hard” questions. They asked her what the Maine Legislature is doing to create jobs in Maine.
“Frankly I don’t know yet,” Pingree told the students. “But the more that you are a part of that process, as the university system is engaged with us; that is important.”
Pingree said the state needs “young people to also step up” and help the state create jobs.
“I encourage you to find ways to create jobs so you can stay here,” Pingree said.
Owen McCarthy, president of the University of Maine Student Government, said visits from political officials such as Pingree are a benefit to students, “especially to students interested in politics.”
When asked about the potential budget cuts facing the University of Maine System, Pingree said she has heard gossip about it in the Legislature, but she doesn’t deal as directly with state financing as Governor John Baldacci. She said legislators would see any potential system budget cuts by January, and it will be “up to the university leadership” on how to meet potential budget targets Baldacci may approve.
When asked about same-sex marriage, Pingree said she was disappointed by the campaign’s loss on Election Day. Pingree attended the No on 1 campaign’s party on Nov. 3 in Portland, where she spoke in support of gay marriage.
“Gay marriage is an initiative younger people seem to be comfortable with, as indicated by the University of Maine vote on that issue,” Pingree said. “I don’t think it’s a question of if — it’s a matter of when, that some kind of a marriage law will be allowed. I think it will happen — if I had to guess — in several years.”
Pingree said she believes Maine voters will vote again on gay marriage in the future and that UMaine’s student votes will be driving the return of the issue. She believes a future initiative will pass.
Guests at Pingree’s reception in Fogler Library included Chief of Public Safety Noel March, Provost Susan Hunter and Associate Dean Kenda Scheele.
“We have these events periodically,” Hunter said. “It’s great for students, it’s great for faculty.”
Hunter said the chance to connect with Maine policy leaders is beneficial to students and the university, which McCarthy agreed boosted UMaine’s reputation.
Mary Cathcart, senior policy associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, said Pingree was the third visitor to campus as a recipient of the Distinguished Maine Policy Fellows Award. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, who came to campus Oct. 29, was the second. Sen. Richard Rosen from the Legislature, R-District 31, was the first.
“It’s been going great,” Cathcart said of Pingree’s visit. She said Pingree “really is one of the most powerful people in the state” and meeting her is equally beneficial.
Cathcart said the center typically invites two public officials to visit campus each semester.
“[Students] learn more about what our government is like,” said Cathcart, who believes the visits from officials help motivate students to think about public service. She said the visits also let policymakers hear from students first-hand and see the kind of research being conducted at UMaine.
“Every year since 2003, we’ve had a more difficult budget job to do, and I know that at the University of Maine you’ve had to be creative and do difficult things and work harder to make it work. And all I will say is, ‘I’m sorry, I feel your pain,’” Pingree said. “I hope that you will work with us as closely as you possibly can during this upcoming budget.”
Pingree ate breakfast at the center Tuesday, visited Brewer’s class and then talked to students of professor Philip Trostel’s public finance course. Afterward she toured UMaine’s zebrafish research facility.
“It’s good to let the Legislature know about the things we’re doing with the Advanced Wood Composites Center, the fish … and how much we can impact the state of Maine,” McCarthy said.
