One student started a Facebook group to advocate cutting certain sports teams or even the entire department, while more people have discussed the matter on UMaine e-mail forums. At the March 29 informational forum held at Wells Conference Center, students demanded that Jeffrey Hecker, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, tell them why their academic programs were being cut instead of athletics.

Athletics has taken cuts. Last year, the department eliminated two teams — men’s soccer and volleyball — and this year, it announced that another $300,000 must be trimmed by May.

So what is the state of UMaine Athletics?

In fiscal year 2009, the department went over its projected $11.6 million budget by more than $4 million, according to UMaine’s preliminary budget reports.

Of the $16 million the department spent in FY 09, which began on July 1, 2008, and ended June 30, 2009, the largest expenditures were for student-athlete scholarships, coaching salaries and benefits, support staff salaries and benefits, and team travel. The department generated about $6 million in revenue and ended the year with a balanced budget.

Athletic Director Blake James characterized the university’s funding as an “investment” and said the discrepancy between projections and actual spending occurs because the fixed costs of personnel salaries take up the majority of each program’s operating budget, sometimes not leaving enough money for the team to play the Division I-required number of games without overspending.

James also said some departmental costs — such as financial aid — are not considered operating costs and are only partially accounted for in preliminary numbers.

“There are different ways of looking at numbers,” James said in an interview Tuesday.  “Salaries and benefits make up a significant portion of teams’ operating budgets.”

James said many teams fundraise through alumni campaigns and clinics to make up costs. For example, the baseball team raises about $70,000 annually. Charitable gifts, the department’s second largest source of income, also help close the gap.

Athletics’ largest source of revenue is direct support from UMaine’s general budget, which accounts for more than half its total income. This funding, which stands at $9.72 million for the current fiscal year, has increased each year since 2005, according to the department’s financial records.

The largest increase occurred between fiscal years 2008 and 2009, with the university allocating $8.6 million to athletics in FY08 and $9.5 in FY09 — an increase of 11.2 percent.

The percentage of the department’s budget that came from UMaine support also rose in this time, from 51.8 percent in 2005 to 58.5 percent last year. James attributed most of this five-year increase to comparable hikes in tuition costs over the same period, leading to higher price tags on scholarships.

“With scholarship costs, we are often at the mercy of tuition fees, room and board, book costs for the university, like any student,” James said.

According to the director, student-athletes can spend the scholarship money they receive on tuition, room and board, fees and textbooks.

The department spends approximately $5.5 million — the equivalent of 200 full scholarships — on financial aid for student-athletes, $4.5 million of which is paid for by the university. James said the remainder of the cost is paid for by athletics. UMaine has about 430 student-athletes, among whom the $5.5 million is distributed in the form of full or partial scholarships. James said most student-athletes do not receive full scholarships.

Financial aid represents about one-third of the department’s annual expenditures. According to James, the program that receives the most in scholarship funding is the football team, which divides an equivalent of 61 full scholarships between its 88 players.

UMaine’s ice hockey teams receive 18 full scholarship equivalents each, although the men’s team, with a roster of 27, has four more players than the women’s team, according to the Black Bears’ Web site. The women’s basketball team is allowed 15 full scholarship equivalents and the men’s basketball team is allowed 14. The softball and field hockey teams receive 12 full scholarship equivalents each, and all other teams get fewer than 10 each.

“The number of scholarships for each team is often regulated by NCAA requirements or league rules,” James said. He explained that each team is a part of usually set a minimum amount of scholarships that can be offered depending on the sport.

The university provided $9.72 million of athletic funding for 2010, the current fiscal year, which is about $2.4 million more than what the FY10 budget had projected it to be and what The Maine Campus reported in a March 29 article. It consists of $1.85 million for staff health insurance and benefits; $4.5 million for student-athlete tuition and fee waivers; and $3.37 million for coaching salaries and operating costs.

According to Vice President of Administration and Finances Janet Waldron, $1.26 million of the funding will come from student unified fees. This represents a fraction of the total UMaine students will pay in unified fees — about $17.3 million — the remainder of which stays in the budget pool to cover other expenditures. The unified fee was $851 per semester for full-time students during this academic year.

James explained that some of the athletics funding is made up indirectly by tuition, room and board and fees paid for by student-athletes. About 63 percent of student-athletes are not Maine residents and pay more than twice as much for tuition as residents do. This percentage is significantly higher than in the general student population, in which less than 20 percent are nonresidents.

According to data available on the university’s Web site, the gross amount paid by student-athletes in tuition, room and board and fees is about $7.9 million. Subtracting $5.5 million in scholarships results in a net university profit of $2.4 million. James said the majority of student-athletes would not enroll at UMaine if Division I athletics were not offered.

“I’m not saying all these kids won’t come here if there’s not an athletic opportunity,” James said. “But they are athletes. You’re going to lose most of them, I think, especially because we’re at the Division I level.” James added that after the men’s soccer team and volleyball team were disbanded last year, every player for both programs transferred elsewhere.

James said having a Division I athletics program raises awareness across the country — using Butler University’s appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament this year as an example. James said the Black Bears’ success brings students to the university, and therefore, brings in more tuition.

“One of the great qualities that athletics brings to a university is awareness,” James said. “The awareness that’s created nationally through our athletic programs is a significant benefit.”

Records show university enrollment increased in 1993 and 1999 — the two years the UMaine men’s ice hockey team won national titles. Enrollment continued to rise after 1999 — when the hockey team was making regular tournament semi-finals and finals appearances — before dropping by more than 300 in 2009.

Athletics generates about 10 percent of its budget through ticket sales, James said. Departmental financial records for FY10 show men’s hockey sold about $1 million in tickets, which is more than the $912,679 it was projected to spend this year in operating costs.

Of the four other teams that sell tickets, football sold $80,893 worth this year, women’s basketball sold $56,064 and men’s basketball sold $28,240. Data was not available for the baseball team because its season is not yet complete. The department sold an additional $65,000 in skybox tickets, which give buyers access to all of UMaine’s sporting events.

James reiterated that he is satisfied with the university’s funding of its athletics program, and he does not think the amount is exorbitant or inconsistent with similar institutions.

“I don’t think we should be funded like Ohio State, Florida, Penn State or any of the big programs,” James said. “But I do think we should be funded competitively. The university does a good job in funding us given the economic situation.”

These donations are in the form of bequests — money that would go to the foundation following the donor’s death — that were left to the language, music and theater programs at UMaine, the majority of which have been recommended for elimination. The university would retain instruction, minors and low-level classes in these areas, according to the interim report released by the Academic Program Prioritization Working Group.

Established in 1934, the foundation manages a collective pool of more than 1,200 individual endowments to the university and invests it in stock options and bonds. UMaine uses the earnings from the investments to fund scholarships, research programs and supplement faculty salaries. The foundation also solicits new donations in the form of gifts and bequests, which are then added to the collective endowment. The foundation has contributed more than $75 million to UMaine since 1934, according to its Web site.

The foundation is overseen by an independent board of trustees — mostly comprised of UMaine alumni — and is generally not involved with university activities or decisions. Orcutt said his knowledge of the proposed cuts comes mostly from reading newspapers.

“We’re far removed from the university,” Orcutt said. “But our donors have heard about the proposals and are expressing some of their concerns, which I have passed on to President [Robert] Kennedy, the provost and the deans, when appropriate.”

Most donors have questioned if UMaine can continue to provide a well-rounded education without foreign languages, music, music performance and theater majors, Orcutt said, and whether students can go elsewhere in the university system to attain high-level instruction in these areas.

Orcutt would not name any of the donors who have bequeathed money to the arts, nor would he be specific about the amount the university could lose, saying only that it was more than $1 million and could be as much as $3 million.

“The thing to keep in mind is that these donors don’t have to give to the university,” Orcutt said. “If their interest is music, theater and languages, and if we don’t have those programs, they can give to another school or charity.”

Alumni Richard and Anne Collins are members of the foundation and have served in a number of leadership roles across campus. The Collins Center for the Arts was named after the couple following their $5 million donation to the building’s restoration project that was completed in February 2009. They are also involved in raising money for the renovation of Memorial Gym.

“I’m very concerned about the future of higher education in Maine,” Richard Collins said Wednesday. “All these cuts are, in many ways, hurting our younger people.”

Collins said he understands the financial pressure UMaine is under and hopes the financial situation will be a platform issue in the gubernatorial race.

“I think the administration needs to be looked at,” Collins said. “At the end of the day, the university’s mission is education.” Collins said that presidents and high-ranking administrators may not be needed at every university in the system and that Maine probably has more public universities than its population needs.

Collins said he believes UMaine is still committed to the arts, but financial issues have put restrictions on that commitment.

“Key decisions need to be made about what’s critical, what’s important and what’s just nice to have,” Collins said. “It’s a difficult situation. It needs to be dealt with. It should have been dealt with years ago.”

Despite questioning some of the university’s decisions, Collins said he and Anne will remain unwavering in their support of UMaine.

Todd Saucier, CEO of the Alumni Association, said he has received more than 40 responses from alumni regarding the proposed academic cuts but painted a less bleak picture than Orcutt. The association is an independent, non-profit corporation that manages relationships with alumni for the university. Saucier said most of the alumni who called graduated from programs suggested for elimination and were looking for more information about the criteria the working group had used.

“We do fundraise, but the primary job of our organization is relationship building,” Saucier said. According to Saucier, only six alumni — who earned degrees in public administration, economics or vocal performance —  said they would stop giving to UMaine if the proposed cuts were approved.

“People act out of their emotions sometimes, but that’s fine,” Saucier said. “Part of my job is to listen and answer as many questions as I can.” Saucier added that a few alumni have commented positively on the working group’s recommendations. He would not comment specifically on the amount alumni have threatened to withdraw.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Eric Rolfson has had a similar experience as the head of the Office of University Development. The development office also raises funds for the university, but — unlike the other two organizations — it is a part of UMaine. The three groups have helped raise $125.8 million for the university since 2005 as part of the philanthropic endeavor Campaign Maine.

Rolfson said donors to the development office, who are mostly alumni, have either been very disappointed with the proposed cuts or understanding of the financial strain the university and the state of Maine are under. Rolfson said most who talked to him were of the first group, but less than five said they were so upset they would not support the university anymore.

About 90 percent of outside contributions to the university come from individual donors, according to Rolfson. He said the long-term effects on charitable giving to UMaine will depend on the outcome of the budget cuts.

“People invest in success,” Rolfson said. “If we’re able to make some cuts, reinvest in other areas and come out a stronger institution, that will yield additional investment. If we come out as a weaker institution, it will decrease investment.”

According to the working group’s criteria for making decisions, both tuition and nontuition revenue generated by each academic program were taken into account for the group’s recommendations. Vice President of Administration and Finances Janet Waldron said the group “definitely looked at the revenue implications,” but some donations — like bequests — would have been difficult to account for.

“If they don’t know for sure that people are thinking about giving a gift, they wouldn’t know to include it,” Waldron said.

Orcutt was in agreement. “I’m sympathetic to the university’s position,” he said. “They have to make these decisions today, and they can’t base them off of what could happen in the future.”

The $5.9 million gap is separate from an estimated $25.2 million gap in the budgets of fiscal year 2012 to 2014, which administration plans on correcting with a number of cuts across all areas of the university. The university’s estimated total budget shortfall over the next four fiscal years is $31.1 million, according to Waldron.

Waldron hosted two budget forums this week, with more than 70 people in attendance at each, to explain the pressing economic concerns for the next fiscal year and the university’s plans for balancing the budget. President Robert Kennedy and Provost Susan Hunter joined the audiences of mostly faculty and administrators gathered at Wells Conference Center.

The $5.9 million gap stems from shrinking state funding, lower student enrollment and reduced funding from endowments and the University of Maine Foundation, Waldron said.

“Part of the reason [revenue] is down is because our outgoing classes are exceeding our incoming classes,” Waldron said.

According to data provided by the university, total credit hours taken at the university dropped 2.7 percent in the fall semester of 2009. Before 2009, UMaine had experienced an annual increase in total credit hours for at least nine years.

Pending approval by the system’s board of trustees, which will probably review the issue in May, tuition for the next academic year will increase 5.5 percent for all students. Waldron said student fees and room and board costs will also increase by about five percent if the board approves the measure.

For undergrads living on campus, this would translate to a $926 increase for in-state students and a $1,706 increase for those from out of state. Waldron said the tuition increase is less than the 9.6 percent tuition increase last fall, and she would like the increase in future years to stay around five percent.

According to Waldron, the university is looking to reduce costs in all areas to cover the shortfall. The largest portion – $2.96 million, or about half of the total budget gap – will be addressed in salaries and wage reductions, while the other half will come from reductions in personnel benefits and operating costs. Most of the 74 positions affected by the university’s plan will come from expected retirements and resignations of staff whose positions will not be replaced, Waldron said.

Waldron projected 15 employees will receive “work year reductions,” which means a cutback in weekly hours or working fewer months out of the year. Furthermore, two faculty members, five salaried professional personnel and one hourly wage worker will need to be laid off.

Waldron said the layoffs were “unfortunate, but necessary,” and she added that the numbers presented are subject to change.

“This is all based on a set of assumptions,” Waldron said. “As with any assumptions, there will be change involved.”

In an interview after the presentation, Waldron stressed that the largest number of reductions have been made in the professional classification of university personnel, which includes administration.

“To the extent that we could cut administration, it has been cut,” Waldron said. “We have worked very hard to cut administration, and we will continue to work very hard.”

Waldron said the shortfall does not take into account a tentative budget restoration by the state legislature, which would feed more than $3 million back into the general university budget. UMaine Spokesman Joe Carr said the measure still needs to be voted on to be approved.

“I think it’s a case of the Legislature understanding the financial need the university has,” Waldron said. “We certainly hope it will happen.”

UMaine has faced preliminary budget shortfalls of approximately $10 million in fiscal years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Waldron said this is a case of conservative estimates and prudent financial management.

“You don’t want to come in under budget and have to make cuts again,” Waldron said. She explained that they have dealt with the budget shortfalls in previous years with the same methods they intend to use this year, such as positional eliminations and reducing administrative costs, where possible.

The university will continue to expand into research areas after securing more than $100 million in grants this year, reduce energy expenditures and evaluate all sales and services to assess potential opportunities for growth. Waldron said the university recently completed a $150 million campaign to solicit private gifts.

The vice president’s presentation is available online at umaine.edu/admin_finance/.

In the current fiscal year — which runs July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 — athletics is projected to cost the university $7.3 million more than the revenue it brings in.

Athletic Director Blake James said the athletic department is subsidized by the university, but that the projected loss of $7 million sounded high. James said he thought the actual loss would be closer to $5 million.

“We try to generate about half of our own budget,” James said in reference to UMaine athletics. “We generate somewhere in the $5 million range from ticket sales, the athletic store and multimedia. We want to maximize revenue as much as we can.” James added that the amount the athletics department brings in depends on how teams perform in the season.

The budget for fiscal 2010 projected the athletics department would generate about $4.5 million in revenue, falling far short of its expected $12.2 million in expenditures. This discrepancy would be covered by revenue in the general university budget, the vast majority of which comes from tuition and state appropriations.

It is common for Division I athletic programs to receive university subsidies, and the amount of these subsidies has grown in recent years, according to a national analysis done by USA Today in January. If the 2010 budget provides an accurate estimate, UMaine is in the 25 percent of higher learning institutions that receives the largest percentage in university subsidies.

The university’s priciest athletic program is the football team, which cost almost $1.2 million this year, according to the report for fiscal 2010. The men’s ice hockey team was budgeted about $900,000, while the women’s and men’s basketball teams are both projected to cost the university more than $500,000.

“We’re evaluating our situation,” James said. Last year, the athletic department was forced to suspend the university’s volleyball and men’s soccer programs, and this year another $300,000 must be trimmed off next year’s budget by May, James said.

“We’re not considering cutting any other sports,” James said. “Never say never, but I don’t see us cutting more teams.”

UMaine currently has 17 Division I sports teams and must retain at least 14 to stay in Division I athletics.

Beyond the numbers, James said the value of UMaine athletics is immeasurable.

“There are so many values,” James said. Athletics “brings the campus community together, unifies students and alumni, and it raises awareness of our campus nationwide.” James also said graduated student-athletes are generous financial supporters, such as former basketball player Richard Collins who, with his wife, donated $5 million to the renovation of the Collins Center for the Arts.

The bulk of sports teams’ operating costs comes from coaches’ salaries and benefits. James said budgeting for coaches’ salaries is troublesome because the athletic department must set the amount before it knows how much revenue the teams will bring in. James does not think UMaine coaches are overpaid.

“I think our coaches do a great job working within their means and giving athletes a first-class experience,” James said. “I’m satisfied with the budget we have, given the financial challenges our state is going through. We get great support from the university and alumni.”

In the wake of the Academic Programs Prioritization Work Group’s report released last week, which recommends drastic academic changes, some critics on The Maine Campus Web site have suggested athletics, not academics, should take the brunt of any cuts.

There appears to be a historical trend in the financial documents from decennial accreditation reports indicating student education has been slipping on the university’s priority list. These reports made by UMaine, which were prepared for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, show the university has steadily decreased its allocations for academic instruction from its peak of 28.3 percent of its budget in fiscal 1987 to only 22.7 percent last year. Instead, the university has spent more on research, which rose about 5 percent in the same time period, as well as institutional support (2 percent) and student services (1 percent).

Susan Hunter, vice president of academic affairs and provost, said although she had been involved in preparing the most recent accreditation report in 2009, she was not aware such a decrease had occurred.

“I would have thought we would be spending more on instruction now,” Hunter said. She said the cost of many factors that affect instruction, such as benefit rates and health insurance, have increased this decade.

Vice President for Administration and Finance Janet Waldron could not be reached for comment by press time.

The university’s Educational and General Base Budget reports from fiscal years 2006-2010 are available for student viewing at the Fogler Library Reserve Desk. The university’s accreditation reports from 1988, 1999 and 2009 can also be found at Fogler in Special Collections on the third floor.

Every American should know the story and hopefully they would have learned about it before they were almost in high school. One of the most famous protests in all of history, the quintessential event was a rallying point for the growing number of colonists opposed to British rule and eventually helped ignite the American Revolution – apparently the English are prone to flipping their wig if you mess with their tea.

I was psyched: These were real men with the courage, conviction, and American impudence to prod the tyrannical dragon that was the British Empire. “Why don’t we have people like that anymore?” I remember wondering.

Imagine my excitement, then, when I heard of the Tea Party Movement. America is no stranger to tax protests, but the modern-day movement is different, with its roots in protests of the 2009 stimulus bill. Participants and conservative organizations who support the movement have been carrying out events throughout the year protesting taxes and government spending.

The movement’s name was taken from the historical event and the taxation-based anger that led to it. Some participants have even created the acronym TEA — “Taxed Enough Already.” The faction is somewhat mysterious, due mainly to the disparate coverage it has received from the mainstream media; on the Fox News Channel, these “activists” are the story of the decade, while on MSNBC, the “teabaggers” are a never-fail punchline.

Nonetheless, the movement is gathering steam. A National Tea Party Convention was held last month featuring none other than Sarah Palin as keynote speaker and tea partiers even appeared in an issue of “Captain America.”

I had to find out what this new movement is really about. Could it be that it represents the revival of the indomitable American spirit and will shake the nation’s citizenry from our cynical complacency?

Nah. The movement has worthy cause for protesting, including the skyrocketing national debt and suspicions of government incompetency, deception and corruption. They uphold the principles of limited government and fiscal conservatism, both of which I value as well. Many aspects of the proponents I support wholeheartedly: their concern for the direction of the country, their desire to affect positive change rather than be complacent, their efforts to distance themselves from both the Democratic and Republican parties, their intention to hold our government accountable.

But despite these positive qualities, the tea party participants do not equate with their Boston Harbor predecessors who altered the course of history with their bold actions. For one thing, the colonists were not protesting taxes in general, only that the taxes had been imposed by people who were not elected officials — hence, “No taxation without representation.”

Tea partiers, on the other hand, are protesting all taxes, ignoring the basic fact that they are absolutely essential. Government at the state and federal levels use this money to run countless programs, without which our society could not possibly function. Funds can be mishandled, of course, and this is reason for concern and even protest, but unless one wants to start their own country, taxes are a necessary evil. Besides, Obama’s administration actually cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans last year, which makes the protesters’ claims look like nothing more than belligerent hot air.

The colonists involved in the Boston Tea Party were calculating, passionate advocates, with the ideas of enacting justice and forming a more perfect union. These newbies, who share a name with the revolutionaries but not much else, seem more like childish naysayers throwing a tantrum, justifiably angry about our nation’s problems but unwilling to attempt to work toward a solution with our elected officials who have the power to do something about it.

Tyler Francke has always been more of a coffee guy anyway.

Fifties doo-wop music played softly over the speaker system as attendees filed in to view pictures of Bakley, which decorated both ends of the room. Vases of fresh wildflowers — Bakley’s favorite, according to her friend Kristina Clements — sat atop white tablecloths around the room.

Though supported and encouraged by several departments, the idea was that of Clements and several other of friends of Bakley’s who wanted to have an event for her on campus for those who couldn’t be at her funeral.

Clements said she wanted to help people with closure. “I hope this brings at least a small amount of peace of mind to the people who are hurting.”

One of Bakley’s favorite places was the Orono Bogwalk in the Bangor City Forest, Clements said. The store-bought flowers were typical of what grows at the bogwalk during warmer seasons.

“We were supposed to walk it together one day, but we ran out of time,” Clements said. She quickly corrected herself; “No, we had time taken from us.”

Clements said many of Bakley’s friends have been banding together for support after the tragic loss.

“Some of us have never even hung out before, but we are sticking together,” she said.

Dean of Students Robert Dana opened the event, describing the impact Bakley had at UMaine during the three years she spent here.

“The best description of her is that she was a brilliant, shining light,” Dana said. “She was well-known and well-loved on this campus. Her loss has left a void that we aren’t going to be able to fill.”

Dana acknowledged the pain many students are feeling and encouraged them to find strength in one another and seek help in on-campus resources if needed.

“There is nothing more unnatural than the death of a young person,” Dana said. “We will be here for you. Just reach out your hand and someone will reach back.”

“The support team throughout the university has been tremendous,” said O.J. Logue, associate dean for the College of Education and Human Development. “The Counseling Center has been great. They really set the stage.” Bakley, an elementary education student, was a student in Logue’s college.

“Her friends have been great,” said Bakley’s former roommate Ruth Worboys, who was in attendance. “With people helping, it’s been getting easier.”

Renaissance, UMaine’s female a cappella group, performed at the event, singing two selections of their own choosing: an Irish blessing song and “Let It Be,” by The Beatles. Bakley was interested in women’s studies, and liked Renaissance because they are a strong female vocals group, Clements said.

“We chose ‘Let it Be’ because of the spirit of the song” said Renaissance President Cassandra Alley. “When bad things happen to good people, it’s hard to understand why. ‘Let it Be’ offers the comfort that there is an answer and there is meaning to be found in these difficult situations.”

During the brief performance, some students in the audience held hands and a few wiped away tears. But many also smiled as the event transitioned into a slideshow made by one of Bakley’s friends. Images of her playing in the snow, making faces, dancing, hugging trees and hiking in Acadia National Park flashed across the screen.

“She lived life to the fullest,” Clements said, addressing the audience near the end of the event. “I remember Jordyn with a smile on her face.”

Paper was provided for attendees to write down their memories of Bakley. The papers will be permanently bound by University Printing Services and given to Bakley’s boyfriend, according to Andrea Gifford, director of student and administrative support services.

In addition to her close friends, faculty members from the College of Education, staff members from the Counseling Center and representatives from Student Affairs, Student Government and the Student Women’s Association were in attendance to honor Bakley and show support for those grieving.

Clements said she also wants to honor Bakley, who loved photography, by having some of her pictures hung in the Advising Room of the College of Education and possibly even the Oakes Room in Fogler Library.

“She was always in the Oakes Room, doing homework,” Clements said, smiling. “That’s where I always saw her.”

Following the event, a light reception was held in the Totman Room, with refreshments provided by Dining Services. About a dozen students lingered, talking, hugging, crying and writing notes.

“It was handled well,” Worboys said of the event. “I liked the slideshow — it was hard not to smile. It’s good that everyone got to see what a happy person she was.”

“A lot of us would like an answer to what happened,” Clements said. “I don’t think anyone will be able to have full closure until we know. Right now, all we can do is wait.”

The investigation into the circumstances of Bakley’s death is ongoing.

“We think about it all the time,” said one Middle Street resident, who asked to have her name withheld. “We all feel so bad. I wish there was something we could do.”

Middle Street, a two-block stretch of road tucked behind the restaurants and bars of downtown Orono, is a fairly active place. Residents walk with spouses, friends and dogs for exercise and pleasure. People are often outside shoveling snow and socializing with each other.

“College students walk up and down all the time,” said Mary Drew, a resident of Middle Street for 15 years. “We all walk in the road because the snow plows cover the sidewalks [in the winter]. The snow banks can be like mountains.”

Students live in a cluster of apartment buildings at the end of Middle Street, farther down than most of the residents. From there, many students walk back and forth from their homes to restaurants, bars or the bus stop.

Despite heavy pedestrian traffic, residents report that vehicles speed through the neighborhood often. “I have definitely seen cars come up and down this road faster than I’d like,” said Tanner Kelleter, who rents out a house across from the accident site but also lives in Bangor part-time.

“There are students who zoom down,” Drew said. “I almost got hit the other day.”

Adding to the danger for pedestrians is the lack of light on Middle Street. The road is eerie at night. A lone streetlamp, about halfway down, illuminates a small portion, while the rest of the street is shrouded in darkness, punctuated occasionally by a house’s porch lamp.

“There needs to be more light on this street,” said Drew, a dance teacher in Orono who plans to petition the Town Council for more streetlamps.

Residents did not recall hearing or seeing anything unusual the night of Bakley’s death. A resident who lives next to the accident site speculated that the snow on the streets and yards may have muffled the sounds of the accident.

“I can’t believe we didn’t hear anything. We were sleeping right there,” she said, pointing to her bedroom window, which overlooks the street.

She said she often hears car tires screeching and people walking by singing or yelling on Friday and Saturday nights. “It happens all the time,” she said. “You kind of tune it out.”

“I didn’t hear anything, but I wish I had,” said another resident who lives across the street. Other residents expressed similar anguish at having slept through the accident and not being able to contribute more to the Orono Police Department’s ongoing investigation.

“We’re heartsick,” Drew said.

The morning Bakley’s body was discovered, residents living in the houses that surround the accident site were awake and preparing for work before the first ambulance arrived around 5:40 a.m. with lights and siren off.

Residents reported initial confusion and horror as they slowly began to realize what had happened. Drew, whose husband had seen the victim’s body, was one of the first to realize that a death had occurred. She immediately called her neighbor who has a 17-year-old daughter and proceeded to alert several other residents of the tragedy as well.

In one case, residents were ordered by police not to leave their house because of its proximity to the crime scene. Others reported being turned away by officers for trying to see what had happened.

“They had sectioned off the street with fire trucks by 6:00 [a.m.],” said Drew. “I stood at the window watching for hours. It was like a crime show.”

Residents said the police marked every tread, footprint and even paw print in the snow as possible evidence, and they checked the tires and vehicles in every driveway on Middle Street.

The police were “very thorough. They were out in the freezing cold for over four hours,” said one resident. Another resident brought coffee to the officers throughout their investigation.

“I really appreciated the care and respect that they [the police] showed the remains,” Drew said through tears. “If that had been my daughter, I would have appreciated it.”

Drew said residents are praying that whoever committed the crime is found. “We have every faith in the police department,” she said. “We watched their efforts.”

Another resident, who has lived on Middle Street for over 25 years, had similar sentiments. “I want them caught and treated the way they need to be treated so the family can have closure,” he said. “Nothing like this has ever transpired on this street before.”

Or somebodies. The heaviest hitters are the lenders, with more than 60 percent of U.S. undergrads holding a average debt of $23,700 according to American Student Assistance, a non-profit organization that helps students manage their loan debt.

But it’s not just loans we have to worry about. Sallie Mae reports that the average college student has also accumulated more than $3,000 in credit card debt. Some also have car payments, insurance premiums and expensive drug habits to cover.

The sad truth is that most of us will experience graduation not as a joyous celebration of accomplishments and the beginning of a bright future but as the end of an extended grace period after which the interest-sucking debt collectors come pounding on the door. Debt has been deeply ingrained in our collective psyche as a necessity of life, but this was not always the case.

Most of our great-grandparents thought debt was foolish. Some didn’t even trust banks — hence, the occasional story of a new homeowner finding a million dollars in pennies stuffed inside a mattress or a hole in the wall.

Even companies that now make millions from plastic originally abhorred debt: A 1910 Sears catalog declared, “Buying on credit is folly,” and the founder of J.C. Penney was nicknamed James “Cash only” Penney for refusing to accept credit as payment.

We’ve come a long way since then. Not all of us are in the red, but we have all been infected with thinking debt is OK — a way of life, even.

I hope MasterCard doesn’t make me pay for saying this, but debt is a bad thing. It makes you into a slave — bound by rich lenders, no longer able to use your earnings as you wish. Nobody relishes the idea of paying off people at interest, so why don’t we make more of an effort to avoid it?

I’ve been lucky: I have in-state tuition, a few scholarships, a good part-time job and my parents help with the rest. Not everyone has these advantages, but there are still a few easy principles you can use if you wish to start climbing out of the hole.

It all starts with discipline. We are fortunate in this country to have the right to take charge of our finances — so use it. If you don’t control your money, your money will control you.

Start making reasoned spending decisions, from how you eat to what you wear. If your credit card is a problem, cut it in half — you don’t need it. If you don’t have money for something, don’t buy it. Here’s a novel idea: Save your money for what you need; buy what you want only if you can afford it.

Get a part-time job. You can likely make as much as you would from a Stafford loan without a cent of interest. It may not be the greatest employ, but it’s bearable for a few years and better than debt.

Finally, start budgeting. It’s easy to learn, and it’s empowering to see what you can and can’t afford without living paycheck to paycheck.

Sometimes, perhaps, debt is unavoidable. But it’s far more preventable than we think. The consequences are real. Irresponsible borrowing and lending contributed significantly to the Great Depression in the ’20s and the recession we’re still suffering today.

Don’t resign yourself to debt as though it were inevitable. There are free resources online for avoiding and managing the problem, and with a little bit of work and self-discipline, we can all be on our way to a liberated, happy future.

Tyler Francke believes a penny saved is a very small amount of money saved.

For some of us, it’s also a time to rage against televangelist Pat Robertson.

It’s no surprise: What national tragedy would be complete without Robertson saying something unbelievably stupid? After all, he is the same beacon of compassion who said the 9/11 terrorist attacks were allowed because of the government’s 30-year tolerance of abortion practices. Survivors were still starving in the Superdome when he theorized that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans because of the debauchery of Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street – never mind that the French Quarter was relatively untouched by the disaster.

So what sparkling illustration of sensitivity and sound theology did P-Rob produce regarding the earthquake? Only an accusation that Haiti’s ancestors are directly responsible, because they made a “pact with the devil” during a slave rebellion over 200 years ago that helped free the country from French rule. “True story,” he assured his viewers.

Actually, Pat, no it’s not. There was a Voodoo ceremony at Bois Caïman that involved animal sacrifice and partially led to the Haitian revolution; however, as historical experts on CNN have made clear, neither the Voodoo religion of the time nor the ceremony in question involved Satanic references or devil worship.

Robertson’s comment, true or not, is baffling given the circumstances — but it’s no more bewildering than any of his routine commentary on catastrophes. If I had to guess the cause of this disorder, other than his gargantuan ego, I would link it to flaws in his understanding of Christianity.

Robertson seems to believe God works today as he did in the Old Testament, when the big guy actually was said to, at times, punish nations for their collective sins in the form of blights, pestilence, droughts and foreign invasions. Many Christians agree, but I think Scripture shows a different picture.

Consider Luke 13, where Jesus discusses two tragedies of the day: the sacrificial murders of Christ’s Galilean countrymen by a Roman tyrant and the deaths of 18 people crushed beneath a falling tower. While Robertson would presume these events were divine judgment, probably related to homosexuality, Jesus’ take is quite different: They died not because they were worse offenders than anyone else, but because death is simply our fate unless we repent.

In Jesus, we see a different view of deity, less clear in the Old Testament. Rather than a thunderous voice or a burning bush, Jesus was a flesh-and-blood man who was “gentle and humble of heart.” Whereas in the books of Exodus and Joshua, we see God’s justice and wrath in the plagues, killings and genocidal commands, in the Gospels we see God’s mercy and consummate love in Jesus’ miraculous healings, self-sacrifice and peaceful, evangelical commissions.

To ignore the character of God as revealed in the most recent additions to the Bible is an egregious error, and one that Pat Robertson seems to make pretty frequently.

I only wish the world worked Robertson’s way: with good things always happening to good people and bad people ceaselessly getting their just desserts. But sometimes, the reality is quite the opposite.

Why? There are many different answers. When asked what sin had caused a man to be born blind, Jesus’ answer was that his blindness was not a punishment, but had been given so “the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Similarly, I hope that good comes out of the unspeakable tragedy in Haiti. I, along with many others, do believe it will.

As for Robertson, please try to be more sensitive in the future. Better yet, next time God tells you where a natural disaster or terrorist attack will occur, as you often claim he does, do us all a favor and go stand right in the middle of it.

Tyler Francke is opinion editor for The Maine Campus.

For decades, a pernicious myth that instances of suicide increase during the holidays has endured. According to a recent USA Today report, this is — thankfully ­— not true. In fact, countless studies have shown the exact opposite — suicides peak in the spring and actually decrease in December.

Maybe it all started with George Bailey, the protagonist of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” whose plunge off a bridge was averted by the timely intervention of a guardian angel. Given the rarity of encounters with angelic entities, especially ones named Clarence, it’s good that holiday suicide attempts are not as big a threat as many think.

But there are dangers. An estimated 10 percent of Mainers suffer from seasonal affective disorder, a cyclical form of depression caused by the exposure to less sunlight in the winter months — especially in our state, where the dreaded season is longer, colder and darker than usual. Also, cutting-edge research by University of Chicago social neuroscientist John Cacioppo shows not only are Americans lonelier than ever, the epidemic is quickly becoming a threat to our public health.

One of the reasons loneliness is dangerous is that it can lead to depression, and though it may surprise some, we college students are far from immune to psychological disorders. In fact, due to the stress of classes, unstable relationships and major life transitions — not to mention this year’s economic crisis — we may actually be more susceptible. Case in point: As of 2008, 15 percent of college students across the nation were diagnosed with depression, up five percent from 2000.

Cacioppo argues that loneliness also affects public health because it is more like a contagious virus than an isolated, individual problem. In other words, loneliness spreads. Think about it: When people are lonely, they tend to be more irritable and less talkative, which creates negative feelings of alienation and depression in anyone they spend time with.

The normal, understandable reaction to a grouchy “Scrooge” is to excommunicate them and hang out with happier people. But not only does this not help the lonely sufferer, you also risk catching the loneliness bug yourself. It is this infectious aspect of the blues that Cacioppo’s team has focused on, saying in their report that loneliness is “both a cause and a consequence to becoming disconnected.”

The implications go far beyond holiday humdrums. At the heart of a healthy democracy lies a socializing populace, interested in political involvement and civic engagement. When people are isolated and depressed, they tend to be more cynical and less caring about societal issues. Is it a coincidence Americans are feeling lonelier than ever at the same time social groups and political organizations, especially on-campus, are struggling to bring people in? I think not.

The more divided and isolated people feel, the less we participate in the important components of a thriving democracy, putting all of us at the mercy of the outspoken, self-serving extremists who are willing to engage.

A more interested and involved citizenry is not going to be created through increased transparency in the political system. If people don’t care about something, they’re still not going to care if more information about it is available. Instead, greater affiliation will only come about by cultivating a culture of authenticity — genuine conversations and true friendships where lonely people are integrated, not shunned. Healthy people make healthy societies.

So, during winter break, I encourage you to reconnect with loved ones and let the joys of honest relationships rejuvenate you from a stressful semester. It may seem overly simplistic to think that sharing a cup of cheer could cure everything from the depressed kid in your hall to societal apathy, but Christmas is the time for miracles after all.

Tyler Francke is wishing you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year’s.