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Articles by Asha Tompkins
USM Dean Of Students releases ‘preliminary Fall update’
Abby Nelson / Arts & Culture Editor By: Asha Tompkins, Editor-in-Chief In an email sent Wednesday, June 24, titled “preliminary Fall update, special DoSE edition,” Dean of Students Rodney Mondor shared important information regarding learning options for USM students this coming Fall semester. “First, USM will have a hybrid experience this fall, with some courses and student services offered in person and others remaining remote or online,” said Mondor.
Juneteenth: USM continues its endeavors to ‘root out racism’
Zoe Bernardi / Community Editor By: Zoe Bernardi, Community Editor & Asha Tompkins, Editor-In-Chief Political uprisings sprout out across the nation and in the city of Portland in order to eradicate racism in the United States. June 19, “Juneteenth,” takes its place in the spotlight.
Letter From the Editor: Racism cannot be tolerated
Over 1,000 protestors lay on Commercial Street in Portland for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd Friday, June 2. Cullen McIntyre/Web Editor By: Asha Tompkins, Editor-in-Chief Photos: Cullen McIntyre, Web Editor “Say his name: George Floyd. What’s his name? George Floyd.” I look around and see history being made. Hundreds, thousands gather in the streets. Their throats are strained and raw as they beg and plead with uniformed bodies.
Veterans Resource Center becomes an online refuge
By: Asha Tompkins, Staff Writer Some were in the Navy, some in the army, others on aircraft carriers and submarines. These are the people who are grudgingly familiar with living a lockdown lifestyle. With such experience, they’ve provided a reassuring haven for students during Covid-19. “The Veterans Resource Center [VRC] serves to support USM students who are veterans and their dependents as they transition from military life to the collegiate atmosphere.
A valuable resource for USM students during COVID-19 outbreak
By: Asha Tompkins, Staff Writer While students across the map are thrown for a loop in their academic careers, USM continues to remind its own students that valuable resources have been established in these times of crisis, specifically the Student Emergency Fund. This fund is available for “students facing immediate financial crises, from unforeseen travel expenses and medical expenses to other financial emergencies,” stated President Glenn Cummings in his Monday Missive on March 23.
COVID-19 puts a hold on study abroad applications
By: Asha Tompkins, Staff Writer According to an update on March 23, students who planned to join the fall study abroad program were informed of the decision to pause applications in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. “We, along with our colleagues both domestic and abroad, continue to closely monitor the situation,” said Emily Zider, the coordinator of education abroad.
10 things to do at USM before you graduate
Julie Pike/Editor-in-Chief By Asha Tompkins, Arts and Culture Editor Ever since you were little, you probably thought of college as a haven of ethereal scholars. You’d live, breathe and die in order to get in. But now that you’re here, time is running out. If you want to make the most of your USM experience, here’s a short bucketlist of ideas. Join a student organization Every student pays an activity fee that’s based on the amount of credits hours they take per semester.
In memoriam of professor Raphael Diluzio
Julie Pike/Editor-in-Chief By Asha Tompkins, Arts and Culture Editor An artist, a devoted teacher, an innovator, a close colleague and a brilliant mind were all things that made up Raphael Diluzio, a USM associate professor of digital art and design. It was with great sadness that the USM community learned of his sudden passing over the weekend of April 16.
A day in the life of President Glenn Cummings
President Glenn Cummings Dionne Smith/Director of Photography Asha Tompkins, Arts and Culture Editor President Glenn Cummings was first in his immediate and extended family to receive a four-year degree. His likes to eat a raspberry Sorbetto from Gelato Fiasco. He listens to soulful Irish pop, a combination of U2 and Van Morrison. He is a normal guy with an immense passion for doing his job. The question is: what exactly does a USM president do?
USM roundabout project: the construction aspect
Photo courtesy of Conrad Well Posted on February 10, 2019 in Arts & Culture By USM Free Press By Asha Tompkins, Arts and Culture Editor The USM roundabout is an on-going, multimodal project and one aspect of its creation is the actual construction that will allow artwork to be placed on the roundabout. The project itself will take approximately 18 months to construct, however the construction starting date has not yet been determined.
Thanksgiving traditions on turkey thursday
Posted on November 18, 2018 in Community By USM Free Press Asha Tompkins / Community Editor Asha Tompkins / Community Editor Asha Tompkins / Community Editor By: Asha Tompkins, Community Editor Everyone has a tradition. Perhaps it’s smearing cake on someone’s face for their birthday, or hosting a cookout on memorial day, or listening to a specific music playlist while writing an essay.
What’s my major?
Posted on November 18, 2018 in Community By USM Free Press Photo courtesy of Taylor Files By: Asha Tompkins, Community Editor What’s My Major? If you’re not sure what major to choose, or you’ve joined a major that sounds good but you can’t choose a specific field of study, then don’t worry: you’re not alone. The Free Press randomly chose a few students to explain what their major is with a time limit of 25 seconds.
What they don’t tell you about… being the program director of a radio station
Jessica Lockhart, program director for WMPG in the studio at their Bedford Street location. WMPG has programming 24 hours a day. What most people don’t know about being the program director of a community radio station is that it runs 24 hours a day without automation, meaning DJs are constantly on shift choosing the music.
“What’s My Major?” Media Writing, Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
If you’re not sure what major to choose, or you’ve joined a major that sounds good but you can’t choose a specific field of study, then don’t worry: you’re not alone. The Free Press will randomly choose a few students on a weekly basis to explain what their major is in a time limit of 25 seconds. Their descriptions of why they chose that major might help you decide what career path is best for you.
A few eerie Maine legends perfect for this Halloween season
As October comes to an end, we await the day of costumes, candy and terror—in that order. Trick-or-treaters may be collecting goodies, but little do they know their feet may be treading on haunted ground. At least, that’s what legend would say. In 1831, a man named William Willis published a 900-page history of Portland. In it, he wrote that three men had been executed. Willis wrote that the first man, Goodwin, threw someone into Casco Bay.
How to register to vote
It’s voting season here in Maine and voting calls for registration. If you’re not voting simply because the guidelines for registration resemble a text book about applied plant sciences from the 1800’s, fear not. Your eyes have come to the right place. First things first: If you’re younger than 17-years-old, or are not United States citizen, then unfortunately you cannot vote. If you’re 17-years-old then you can register to vote, but you cannot vote until you turn 18.
Foreign Language Conversation Tables
Many people dream of taking a break from their research papers and hopping on a plane to a different country to experience new cultures and visit landmarks. However, enjoyable traveling often requires proficiency in different languages, which is an element that can be found at the USM language conversation tables. These tables are volunteer-based get-togethers where students meet in the science building, room 301 A-wing to practice conversing in foreign languages.
The shortest distance between two points
During the season of pulling all-nighters in order to prepare for the next day, it’s likely that people have run late to a class or two on the Portland campus. However, these instances of running late may be due to the time they spend walking from their modes of transportation to classrooms. The routes people choose to take have an impact on the concept of traveling as well as an impact on people’s mindsets about travelling.
People of USM: Abby Dell’Erba
Behind a desk with a laptop covered in multicolor stickers sits a girl wearing a Star Trek T-shirt that depicts Spock motioning the famous hand gesture: “live long and prosper.” Her eyes are fixated on the teacher. Her creativity is prominent to any onlooker, which explains her choice of being an art history major. While freshman Abby Dell’Erba’s journey to pursuing that goal was riddled with hardships, her decision has not been altered. Dell’Erba is a commuter.
The Portland Freedom Trail
It’s unlikely that Portland, Maine is associated with the stomping of feet against cobblestone roads at midnight, with stowaways rushing to hide in unfamiliar houses. However, Portland was a significant part of The Underground Railroad. In 2006, locals joined forces to create a map using the history of the known area to create what is now known as the Portland Freedom Trail. Some of the participants included Portland artist Daniel Minter and Representative Rachel Talbot Ross.
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