“With discussing any vision, the elephant in the room certainly is the economy and the challenges that we have as an institution, financial and otherwise. We’re not alone; institutions across the country are faced with this,” said UMaine President Robert Kennedy.

While faculty is working to soften the blow budget cuts are having on the university, the cuts are necessary for moving forward, Kennedy said. Janet Waldron, vice president for administration and finance, predicted at least a 5 percent increase in tuition and fees during the next four years.

These challenges have also led to cuts in faculty positions. Professor Tina Passman questioned the recent elimination of Angel Loredo’s position as Associate Dean of Students.

“We’ve had to cut one-third of staff and Student Affairs,” Dean of Students Robert Dana said. “One-third of our front line has been laid off, including Dean Loredo. This was one of the first noticeable blows to the student body, as far as budget cuts go.”

“We can’t survive without change. The challenge that we have is making some changes, but inevitably there will be some cuts that will negatively affect the institution,” Kennedy said.

Student Government Rep. Nate Wildes presented the General Student Senate’s research into the adoption of a new software portal at the university — an aspect of the chancellor’s restructuring plan, which the board of trustees approved Monday.

“It would cost $20 per student, per semester,” Wildes said.

Student Government is still gathering information regarding the implementation of the program.

“As current students at the University of Maine, our job is to consider what we think is a benefit for our current enrollment at the university, and I see it as a benefit,” Wildes said, concerning the Government’s position.

Some faculty are unsupportive of the proposition.

“The cost of this is completely ridiculous,” Sen. Craig Mason said. “Is it worth it to students to take away hundreds of scholarships from students each year? We need to consider the fact that these expenses add up and make a huge difference in the long run. Those of us with finance experience can see this.”

Mason went on to express that the adoption of a new software portal was not in the best interests of the university, and that students should re-think their opinion.

“Our intentions are to help the faculty and administration make this decision from the student’s point of view. We’re looking at what the decision-makers have on the table and are doing our best to give the public a student’s point of view about it,” Wildes said.

UMaine is the state’s only land-grant university and is also one of the top 100 research universities in the nation. Kennedy cited the need for unrivaled recognition for the university across the state to encourage public support.

“What this is about is the public perception of the University of Maine, and over the past five to 10 years, that has changed drastically. Our support has been declining,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said a major goal for UMaine is to earn a place in the top 50 universities in the country.

“If we continue to do what we’ve been doing, I’m confident that we will achieve that. Many would argue that we are as good as or better than the universities on that list,” Kennedy said.

The senate discussed options for raising awareness about educational benefits for potential UMaine students. Passman suggested the university create an ad hoc response group to come up with new ideas to get the public involved, which would involve targeting high school students to generate interest in the university and offer information about the educational opportunities within the state.

“Is there some way of getting in the schools and getting data from kids? That’s our audience; that’s our market,” Mason said.

Sen. Janet Fairman suggested more data be presented to the public outlining the benefits of a UMaine education.

“Do we have objective data on what distinguishes the quality of our programs, such as graduate rates and other indicators we could use to differentiate the quality of our education?” Fairman asked. “There’s great data, but the public isn’t informed of it.”

UMaine faculty is working to create an image for the university that presents its benefit in comparison to other universities in the state, without portraying a competitive or conceited atmosphere.

“We need to talk about the quality that we have. Our quality is there, and we speak to it, but it has to be the quality that we project as in institution, not trying to say that we are better than the other institutions. That will not work in this state,” said Provost Sue Hunter.

Faculty also addressed the issue of Maine residents leaving the state to find education elsewhere.

“If programs aren’t here but they’re offered elsewhere, students will just go to the other University of Maine campuses, such as Machias or Fort Kent, or to Massachusetts or New Hampshire, where those programs are offered,” Mason said. “We need to provide data that students will leave the state of Maine to get education elsewhere.”

At the close of the meeting, the senate announced the New Challenges, New Directions, a program aimed at achieving long-term financial sustainability has been approved, and Hunter has been re-approved as Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

I propose we reschedule school and work calendars to include holidays for this sort of natural event. In many ways, these days are better than celebrating people who may or may not have killed other people or holy days that not all of us partake in. There are no exclusions and no bad feelings associated with a natural phenomenon. There is no glorified violence. Isn’t this what indigenous people the world over did before we stole their holidays and relabeled them with religious names they had never heard of?

What if the university gave out free coffee because they knew everyone had been up late the night before, like they do during finals week? What if it were an official holiday every time it snowed for the first time, or every time a solstice rolled around?

I invited friends, but only one was willing to give up sleep. Another friend said he’d wake up at 2 a.m. and look out the window. I told him it doesn’t quite work like that. For a meteor shower, you have to be committed. You have to be prepared to see the best show of your life or just a few shooting stars here and there. It takes patience.

If I had been impatient or had valued sleep over experiencing natural phenomena in 2001, I would have missed one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life: sky-length meteors, sometimes two or three at a time, fireballs that exploded and left lasting colored streaks in the sky. I don’t remember what classes I was too tired for in the morning or what homework I was avoiding. You don’t remember the little things when a major event like that happens.

I am not a sports person, but when the 76ers made it to the NBA finals, I walked my dog in the evening and could hear shouts erupt from each house every time our team scored a goal. People invited each other over to watch the game, rooted for their team and cheered at every shot. Even I was excited, and I knew nothing about basketball. They say shared events are what make a community strong. I think Mother Nature could use a few more fans cheering for her.

There was a bit of a sporting event feel early Tuesday morning. From the field where we were watching the sky, my friend and I could hear people in the parking lot, exclaiming when they had seen one or cursing at what they had missed. I immediately felt a bond to them. We had something in common: We were rooting for the same team. Later, when I walked down the street alone, looking to the sky for a few extra sightings, I ran into two other people who were doing the same thing. We chatted. We stood in silence. We ooh-ed and ah-ed together. With such a great excuse to build community, we only wished more people could have been outside with us.

I wanted to be able to tell all my sleeping friends how many meteors they had missed, but I lost count the second I decided to keep track. We must have seen a good 50 or so in two hours. One even lit up the sky and left a trail, like Mother Nature’s homemade fireworks. People shouldn’t miss events like this. If enough of us get out there next year, we can show the university the day after the Leonids meteor shower should be declared an official holiday. I’d be all for exchanging it for Columbus Day, if that’s what it came to.

Anya Rose is a graduate ecology and environmental student.

Ross Wolland, vice president of Student Government Inc., says students have asked dining services for some time for debit and credit service on campus. Dining services has tried to accommodate them, Wolland said, but due to “software glitches” and issues with service providers, there have been delays.

This January, the era of taking $20 from the ATM to pay less than $2 for coffee is coming to an end.

“We agree [debit and credit service] would be a convenience,” said Janet Waldron, vice president of administration and finance.

According to Waldron, that’s why the Marketplace in the Union and Wells Commons will accept all major debit and credit cards starting in January. The service will expand to other venues from there.

“Students are shocked to arrive at UMaine and see that in the 21st century, we don’t have [debit/credit capabilities],” Wolland said. “I’m glad it’s finally here.”

What makes this development even better is that from what is known right now, this convenience won’t cost students, faculty, staff or visitors anything.

“We’re not anticipating an increase in price,” Waldron said.

Now is a time where most of the news coming from different corners of the administration involves budget cuts, layoffs and the death knell of academic programs. It’s refreshing to know that next semester, members of the University of Maine community will have their lives made a little bit easier by Dining Services.

The University of Maine should be a center of critical thinking. Mr. Warsame, author of the op-ed “Fort Hood is a great opportunity for anti-Muslim sentiment,” would do well to do more of it. That killings have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity and every other religion is not new, and it is not a crime to be Muslim in America.

Many thoughtful Americans have questions about Islam because it is unfamiliar. Perhaps Mr. Warsame could use the pages of your newspaper to enlighten us on the attitudes of Muslim Americans toward other religions or how some may pervert Islam to erroneously connect it to killing and mass suicide bombings. Or about what non-Muslim and Muslim American soldiers can do to protect our military bases.

German Americans and Japanese Americans can tell you that it has always been difficult for people of foreign origin to earn trust and respect, especially during wars against their countries. But there are Muslims in the American military doing just that right now.

We depend on those of you in academia to tell us something new, not recycle the animosities of the likes of Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck.

— Carroll Hoke

Thanks to UMaine hockey fans!

On behalf of the Maine Hockey team and coaching staff, I am writing to thank all the students who have attended our games this season.

The support of the fans has always been great here at University of Maine, but our student section in the balcony is what really makes the Alfond Arena’s atmosphere so unique and awesome. You lift us when we’re down and motivate us to fight through adversity. You build momentum for us when we’ve got the lead, and make it tough on our opponents.

After a couple tough seasons, players and coaches didn’t know what to expect this year from the Alfond crowd, but we have been blown away with the enthusiasm and vocal support from the students in the balcony this season.

As a result, our team has responded with a 3-1 start at home, with big wins over Michigan State, Vermont and Boston University. You have pulled us through some very close games and contributed greatly to these victories.

Thank you for standing behind our team when we need it most. We really appreciate it.

— Tim Whitehead, Head Coach of Men’s Hockey

Music-themed games are just for fun

Kegan Zema made unfounded claims about the games “DJ Hero,” “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” in his piece, “The Beat Report: ‘DJ Hero’ set list kicks out the jams, makes DJs rock stars.”

As a musician, I am not threatened by “Guitar Hero” or “Rock Band,” nor are many other musicians I associate with. They aren’t a threat to my love of playing guitar because they are geared toward people who don’t have the money or time to learn how to play an instrument. It allows them to experience the feeling of a cheering crowd in their own living room. Learning to play an instrument is hard. Games like these allow someone to enjoy the idea of being a rock star or DJ without giving up months of their life.

If Zema had taken time to look at these games, he would have seen a wide variety of classic hits along with many current songs from new bands. This also includes a wide variety of genres not limited to classic rock or metal. Some bands with little to no recognition have been allowed access to a large listener base through these games. It isn’t just old dried classics from the ’60s and ’70s.

The article says “DJ Hero” provides “no transferable skills,” but it’s still more like the real thing than “Guitar Hero” or “Rock Band.” Most musicians acknowledge that these games help people improve rhythmic skill and demonstrate the difficulty of playing in unison with a band. Thinking fans of these games are trying to be a real band is silly. It’s a fun game, but they don’t have the time to learn how to play real guitar. Talented guitar players who try to play their own songs on “Rock Band” will find it a humbling experience. It’s this simplicity that is attractive.

It’s fine for someone to prefer “DJ Hero” because of musical preference. But making a claim that it has more up-to-date music or it resembles the real thing any more or less than it’s guitar-based counterparts is ignorant. All these games are intended merely for entertainment, not to teach musical skills.

— Evans Goff

Publishing write-ins undermines process

Last year, only 12 percent of the University of Maine voted in the Student Government election. This wouldn’t be quite as bad if 11 percent of those voters didn’t go to write-in votes. When is the last time a write-in vote ever won an election? Yet for some reason, students feel compelled to write in their friend’s name, some obscene comment or something just plain mean. Why do you think the few students who take the time to vote would do this? I’ll tell you why: Because The Maine Campus publishes all grossly inappropriate votes cast during Election Day.

This encourages students to cast a meaningless ballot, which could throw off a narrow election, as we had this year. It gives the students less of a voice. It is our right as American citizens and students at UMaine to choose who we want to represent us.

Publishing write-ins also allows students to write hateful messages that will appear in the next newspaper. Last year’s “Anyone but Ross” is just hateful. I’m sure Ross did not appreciate the negativity that those votes cast.

It’s kind of ironic that there are “Maine is not for haters” signs all around campus while our own paper is setting such a negative tone. The Maine Campus should not be taking the voice away from its people, much less tearing its students apart by publishing hateful words.

— Kaitlyn Burrell

Why call only iPhone users insufferable geeks? I believe BlackBerry, or “CrackBerry,” users were the first to hold that distinction. They’re the ones who live and die by push email, constantly checking what text messages they’ve received.

I don’t know why you are just targeting iPhone users when BlackBerry users would be more likely the leaders in the world of arrogance.

— Constable Odo

It’s like complaining about having a large phallus: Everyone wants one, but not everyone can have one. And when you whip it out, everyone goes “ooh” and “aah” at its splendor, so you feel somewhat smug about the whole thing.

So what’s the problem with having a big you-know-what?

— Sean

Socrates was a large, pink-eyed white rat I purchased from a pet store last January. I had kept him for nearly a year, thinking he was fine by himself. He functioned normally and appeared healthy. He was friendly and eager to be held and petted. The following summer, I found out I was wrong.

I contacted Robin Rushlau at Mainely Rat Rescue — an organization that saves unwanted and often misunderstood pet rats — and she suggested a major diet overhaul for Socrates. She said to avoid store-bought food, which is nutritionally incomplete and can cause health problems. She also recommended I neuter him, so that he could live with the two females I was going to adopt.

Socrates drastically changed. He put on weight, his coat became shinier and fuller, and he became much more active. When finally introduced to his new lady friends, I was able to see how imperative it is for rats to have cage mates. Socrates was a big squishy bean bag to the new girls. They would pig-pile on top of him as he slept, and he’d happily close his little eyes as they excitedly groomed him and stomped all over him.

When I adopted another rat from MRR late last summer, he was the mediator when the females were introduced to one another. Two of my females, Maria and Rosa, proved to be extremely dominant, and the new female Cynthia wasn’t much better. When they started in with their typical rat “boxing” — where they sit on their hind legs and push, grab and paw at each other — Socrates stepped in. He ran up to them, sat on his hind legs and simply put his paw out in between them, as if to say, “Enough!” When all four rats were put back into their cage, Cynthia ran to hide behind Socrates while he slept.

It wasn’t unusual to find the two of them cuddled up in a hammock or sleeping in their little plastic hut. He was a friend to everyone. As soon as you called his name or made a kissing sound, he would eagerly come running to the front of the cage to greet you. Socrates spoke with his silence.

Last Sunday, I opened up the cage to check on the rats. In the little plastic house laid Socrates’ lifeless body and Cynthia, with one tiny paw resting on his face.

I had never expected losing him to be hard. Losing any animal, big or small, is always difficult and emotional. This time it just felt different. Not only did I lose a part of life as I knew it, so did his three friends.

My boyfriend mentioned to me that day that now I had room for another rat. Well, I did have room — I technically had room for several more, but I was so upset I told him I didn’t need more rats.

Less than 24 hours later, I broke down and had two more rats reserved to adopt through MRR. There are always animals that need homes. I had the room and the funding to give two more a happy life. I decided to do just that.

One of my professors had a similar experience. Melissa Spencer, head of the equine program at the University of Maine, adopted her horse Muffin in 1983 when she was 12 years old. Muffin was 5 years old and a retired Standardbred pacer. It is a fairly common misconception that a retired Standardbred is worth little. Spencer made it clear this is not the truth.

Muffin was awarded a silver medal by the Maine Dressage Association in 1992 and was pinned National Champion several times in the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization. Before Spencer met her husband or had her children, she had Muffin. Spencer and Muffin were a part of each other’s lives for 26 years.

Spencer had to put Muffin down about a year ago.

Losing an animal is losing part of your life. What we never lose is what we learn from them. Although sometimes the pain is overwhelming, if we close our hearts and doors, we’ll never know what others are waiting to touch our lives.

“A pet is never truly forgotten until it is no longer remembered.” — Lacie Petitto

If you have any pet- or animal-related questions you would like to see discussed in this column, please feel free to contact the writer at jessie.darkis@umit.maine.edu.

Norma and Arthur Lewis, played by Cameron Diaz and James Marsden, respectively, are faced with a decision when Frank Langella’s character, Arlington Steward, arrives at their suburban home early one morning in December 1976. Steward leaves a mysterious box in their custody. It is topped with a button protected by a glass dome. He gives them 24 hours to choose between taking the moral high ground by keeping the dome closed, or embracing a financial windfall and pressing the button. After some hand wringing, a choice is made. But that’s where the story begins, not where it ends. When Steward arrives to begin the next phase of his relationship with the couple, things get ugly. Conspiracies are uncovered, secrets are revealed and nothing will be the same for this couple ever again.

Unfortunately, the more “The Box” tries to explain its labyrinthine plot, the less sense it makes. Exposition builds at a dizzying rate, incorporating government conspiracy and alien invasion subplots, and the simple moral conundrum gets lost in the shuffle. Director Richard Kelly seems desperate to rationalize everything that’s going on, and that was a mistake. He isn’t content to have Steward represent a supernatural power — he wants to propose a plausible explanation, and it doesn’t work at all.

Diaz and Marsden are good choices for the leads. Both are attractive and earnest, and it’s hard not to be sympathetic with their characters’ financial struggles, especially in light of the current economic climate. Their son, played by a bland Sam Oz Stone, is something of a nonentity. It’s hard to recall a poignant moment he’s involved in. Recent Oscar nominee Langella brings seriousness to a role that could easily be laughable. The actor’s gravitas may be the movie’s most important asset. A campy Steward would have steered the film into the realm of self-parody.

Kelly is known for favoring obtuse material. His “Donnie Darko” was a cult hit, but the follow-up, “Southland Tales,” was an epic disaster. He’s fond of big, engaging ideas that give people plenty to chew on and discuss as they leave the theatre. “The Box” is arguably more accessible than either of his previous works but still rests off the beaten path enough that it will alienate people expecting something more straightforward or less dense. Despite its flaws, “The Box” remains intriguing, but as its mysteries are solved, the prevailing sense is one of frustration rather than satisfaction. If anything, the movie is an interesting, flawed failure.

Grade: C-

Tuesday night, the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs traveled to Knoxville to take on the University of Tennessee Volunteers. With Tennessee being ranked No. 11 in the country, it seemed like a good chance the Vols would be improving their record to 2-0. As expected, that’s what happened.

But it would be remiss of me to not discuss the fashion in which Tennessee won the game. Plain and simple, they embarrassed the Bulldogs. The final score was 124-49. Did I mention that both of these teams are Division I programs? Or that this was the seventh match-up between the two since 1996? It’s not like this was the first time these two teams ever played. The average margin of victory for Tennessee in the previous six meetings was only 17 points.

The score at halftime of the game was 66-14. UNC-Asheville had just two field goals in the first half on 26 attempts. The first made field goal didn’t come until there was only 3:10 left on the first half clock. As a player or a coach sitting in that locker room at halftime, what do you do? Is there anything you can say at that point to make your team want to go back out on the court? If I were the athletic director at UNC-Asheville, I would have called the coach at halftime and told him his program was cut in fear they might go back out and get beaten by 100 points. Anyway, they could use the extra cash on something more important, like the womens’ water polo team.

After the game, coach Eddie Biedenbach had this to say: “I am embarrassed for UNC-Asheville, for Tennessee folks, because we wanted to come in here and make them learn, make them a better basketball team. All we did tonight was give them some exercise.”

Don’t give yourself so much credit, Eddie. I’d be willing to bet that Bruce Pearl (Tennessee’s head coach) broke more of a sweat than any of his players. They got more exercise laughing at your embarrassing excuse for a basketball team from the bench than they did by actually stepping on the court.

As an athlete, I can’t understand how anyone would let his team get beat like this. The level of talent on these two teams is not the same, however just a little bit of pride and effort from UNC-Asheville could have made all the difference. It makes me sick to see a bunch of Division I athletes who are on scholarship come out and not even compete. If it were up to me, the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs wouldn’t play another game this year.

After the Colts secured a gift win via a reprehensible call in the final two minutes against the New England Patriots, they are in the driver’s seat in the AFC. They are currently sitting at 9-0 and, looking at their remaining schedule, it is entirely possible this team could finish with 14 or more wins. Like New England, the Colts have relied heavily on the pass to set up the run this year, but the combination of Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown have been dynamic when called upon. It doesn’t hurt that Peyton Manning is having one of the most efficient passing years of his career (104.6 passer rating) and that the offensive line is giving him gratuitous amounts of time to find his targets (eight sacks allowed in nine games). If the defense continues to hold together without Bob Sanders, then they will be tough to bring down in the playoffs.

2. New England Patriots (AFC East Champ)

The Patriots are the beneficiaries of a surprisingly weak AFC East division this year. The Bills looked to have improved their offense with Marshawn Lynch returning from an injury and the offseason acquisition of Terrell Owens, while the Jets looked like a sleeper after they stormed out of the gates and held New England’s potent offense to just nine points in a loss. Both squads have fallen into mediocrity though along with the Miami Dolphins. New England, meanwhile, has been led by a rejuvenated Tom Brady who is on pace to record 34 touchdowns and almost 5000 yards. Add in a patchwork run game that has done just enough to keep opposing defenses honest and the offense has been spectacular. There are still a lot of questions about the defense, especially in the secondary, but they will play well enough to easily give the Patriots the division crown.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North Champ)

The Bengals have been disproving doubters and disparaging gamblers the whole season. With their second win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, it looks like they have finally earned some credibility. They are 7-2, Carson Palmer has been playing as well as he ever has, Cedric Benson has been a revelation at running back and a usually soft defense has been one of the NFL’s best this year. The Bengals’ only losses this season are courtesy of a miracle touchdown in the waning seconds by Brandon Stokley and the Denver Broncos and a boom or bust Houston Texans team that was firing on all cylinders. As long as Cedric Benson’s strained hip is not a lingering concern, then Cincinnati should be a team to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West Champ)

The Chargers and the Broncos will both beat up on Kansas City and Oakland while they battle it out for the division title, but I see San Diego coming out on top. They have a slightly easier schedule going forward and their offense has a lot more stability, especially with LaDainian Tomlinson back. Phillip Rivers has found his definitive go-to-guy in six-foot-five wideout Vincent Jackson. Jackson, along with tight end Antonio Gates, gives them two dangerous red zone targets. After a tumultuous start to the season, San Diego has won four straight games, and they will ride that momentum to a division title.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

It looked like Pittsburgh might be in a world of trouble after Willie Parker was ineffective out of the gates, but Rashard Mendenhall has more than stabilized their running back situation. Roethlisberger has been great this year, though he could use some more protection from an offensive line that has allowed 27 sacks. The imposing defense, meanwhile, has shown weakness against the league’s best quarterbacks, which is potentially problematic when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning join them in the playoffs. Their cupcake schedule the rest of the way essentially ensures them at least a wildcard spot in the competitive AFC North. They have three “gimme” games at home against Oakland and at Kansas City and Cleveland to go with two matchups against the division rival Baltimore Ravens. Assuming a split against the Ravens that would put the Steelers at 10 wins. That should be enough for a playoff spot.

6. Denver Broncos

The Broncos, led by ex-Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, have been surprising people all year ever since they surprised Cincinnati with their week one miracle win. The excommunication of disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler and the early season troubles of “prima donna” receiver Brandon Marshall left this team with a suspect offense. But Kyle Orton has filled in admirably for Cutler, Marshall has since gotten his head on straight and the defense has outperformed all expectations. There are signs, however, that the Broncos’ surprising season could be just an aberration. They have lost their last three games after starting out 6-0, and there defense has given up an average of 28.5 points in those losses compared to just 10.6 in their wins. Add to that uncertainty over the questionable status of Orton, after sustaining an ankle sprain in their previous game, for their matchup against the Chargers this week and they could really be in trouble. Nevertheless, I see them doing just enough to earn a playoff berth in the top-heavy AFC.

The restructuring plan is the culmination of a more than year-long effort to rework the academic, financial and administrative aspects of the university system. The plan includes advice from higher education experts, the administrations of the seven system campuses, professors, students, faculty members, the chancellor and the board of trustees.

The meeting will begin with the board chairperson’s comments, followed by those of the chancellor. The board will then vote for student representatives before moving on to the plan.

The board of trustees came to UMaine on Feb. 25 to hear the community’s suggestions for and concerns with the plan. The chancellor and members of the board came to UMaine on Oct. 28 to hear final concerns on the plan before drafting its finished version which will come before the trustees Monday.

Visit mainecampus.com Monday afternoon for updates