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Representing the 124th Maine Legislature, Sen. Philip Bartlett, D-Gorham, joined a classroom of students and faculty on April 14 to respond to growing concerns about the University of Maine’s recent Academic Program Prioritization Work Group’s cuts.
In a casual pizza lunch at the Foster Student Innovation Center, Bartlett emphasized the power of local government and encouraged UMaine students to make their voices heard about APPWG’s final report on academic finance prioritization.
“Given its current financial state, the legislature doesn’t want to give more money,” Bartlett said. “Prioritization is necessary. We must ask ourselves what matters most and speak up.”
Paige Case, a third-year chemical engineering student, expressed her concern for the university’s reputation, questioning the rationale behind the cuts.
“Maine is unique and draws in people from other states because it is affordable and values undergraduate research,” Case said. “The university needs more students from other schools, so why would we cut externally funded programs that bring these out-of-state students in?”
“The more people asking these tough questions, the better,” Bartlett said. “Legislators need to be here to see the reality … see how this is affecting students and that’s why it’s important for students to reach out and bring them in.”
Mary Cathart, senior policy associate of the Margaret Chase Smith Center, encouraged students to visit the University of Maine System website, find the trustees from their specific areas and set up meetings to communicate how these cuts are affecting students’ educations.
Comparing it to campaigning for election, Bartlett explained the intricacies of gaining support comes down to reading the newspaper every day, knowing what people care most about and connecting with them personally.
In 2000, the importance of direct contact became evident to Bartlett while he was volunteering for Al Gore’s New Hampshire campaign.
“If you’re not out talking to people, it doesn’t matter,” Bartlett said. “In order to be heard, you must get out there and ring doorbells, speak to people one-on-one and connect with them face-to-face.”
Bartlett said Maine currently has one of the lowest college graduation rates in the country, which creates economic and political challenges.
“Higher education is not valued nearly as much as it should be,” Bartlett said. “We’re trying to change it, but we need more support, more people speaking up.”
Cathart further emphasized the importance of higher education being a state priority.
“Many states specifically have a higher education committee in the Senate,” she said.
“Our legislature currently has a committee for education and cultural affairs, but there is not a committee specifically for higher education.”
According to Cathart, current state education groups are so busy with K-12 and special education that there is little time to focus on organizing a higher education committee.
The lunch wrapped up with more encouragement from Bartlett.
“E-mail, write and call your state representatives. Invite them to come to campus and set up for them to meet with you,” he said. “In order to fully understand the impact these proposed cuts will have on students and the community, it must be witnessed firsthand.”
Bartlett is one of the youngest members elected to be majority leader in the history of the Maine Senate. He is currently in his third term as senator for District 6, representing Gorham, Scarborough and Westbrook.
