USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College

Students from the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently took part in sending medical supplies to Chechnya as part of a class project. The project supports Dr. Khassan Baiev’s efforts to provide medical care to the local population. The class, entitled “Global Past and Present”, is taught by Dr. Barry Rodrigue. Rodrigue has been very instrumental in calling attention to the horrific human rights abuses in Chechnya. In 2008 he was instrumental in having the Maine State Legislature pass a resolution calling on the U.S Congress to take action to help the people of Chechnya and other parts of the Northern Caucasus. The people of Chechnya and Russia have been engaged in violent conflict since 1994, causing thousands of innocent civilians to suffer extreme hardships. “Because things have been so stable and good in America for such a long time we often forget what real suffering is like,” said Lewiston resident and student Travis LaLiberte.

In collaboration with a local anonymous church, students gathered a truckload of medical supplies in April. The supplies will be shipped to Dr. Baiev over the next several weeks.

If anyone would like to help by donating any supplies or contributions to cover shipping costs please contact Barry Rodrigue at rodrigue@usm.maine.edu.

Students from Dr. Barry Rodrigue’s “Global Past and Present” class are pictured with the medical supplies and clothing they gathered for Chechnya. Pictured in front (left to right) are Barry Rodrigue, Hawo Abdille, Tianna Audet, and Sagal Odowa. Back row (left to right) Gordon Bradley, Nicholas Mosher, Mike Akerley, Cody Sirois, Vanessa Sirois, Deb Charest, Deb Harris, Sarah Knight, Lisa Arsenault, Sarah Nicholas, Brittany Nadeau, and Travis LaLiberte.

“Poetry on the Walls,” initiated this semester by Arts and Humanities students Julie Kravetz and Denise Scammon, at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston‑Auburn College, has been completed as part of their final project in HUM/SBS 366 Transforming Words: Poetry & Psychologies of Change with Professor Jan Hitchcock. Kravetz and Scammon selected poems and quotes which reference the writing and reading of poetry.

Based on their research and reading assignments, they made selections that they feel are good reading material for some of the classroom walls at USM LAC. They hope that by implementing poetry into the campus, more members of the community will come to appreciate the transformative effects of poetry on one’s life. The poems that have been installed on the walls include “Introduction to Poetry,” by Billy Collins, and “A loaf of poetry,” by Naoshi Koriyama.

USM LAC Students Julie Kravetz and Denise Scammon help to install a poem in a classroom

USM LAC Students Julie Kravetz (left) and Denise Scammon.

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College Campus Safety Project recently held their first annual “Take Back the Night” Rally day on April 24. The event included advocates, faculty, staff, students, local law enforcement and public citizens.

The first event of this type in the United States for which there has been documentation was in Philadelphia after the murder of young microbiologist, Susan Alexander Speeth, who was stabbed by a stranger a block from her home while walking alone. The slogan “Take Back the Night” was introduced by Anne Pride in 1977 from a memorial she read at an anti-violence rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Officially starting the rally with an opening speech was Clara Porter, Coordinator to the USM Campus Safety Project for Interpersonal Violence Prevention, which is a university-wide effort to promote healthy relationships while preventing and responding to Interpersonal Violence. USM LAC Dean Joyce Gibson provided welcoming remarks to the guest speakers and gatherers. The moderator for the rally was Campus Safety Project Peer Educator, Lindamarie M. McDonald who is a senior in the ‘Leadership & Organizational Studies” program at USM LAC. Lewiston Mayor Robert E. Macdonald was the guest speaker who delivered an emotional message while making it clear that “sexual violence is 100% unacceptable. There is no excuse for it, no justification for it, and no purpose for it…all of us need to continue raising our voices to make those points very clear.”

Director of Community Education, Kelley Glidden from Safe Voices and Client Service Coordinator Sarah L. Wood from the Sexual Assault Crisis Center shared how each agency provide services for those who have been violated and/or affected by sexual assault or domestic violence. USM-alumni -graduate and Coordinator for the Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity Sarah Holmes shared how the LGBTQA community is affected by sexual assault and gave voice to those who could not be present. USM faculty member Linda Pfaffinger, MSW, who is also the Executive Director of “All About Prevention” gave a moving testimonial on how she fought back on sexual assault. There was time set aside for ‘Breaking the Silence” which allowed anyone to share how sexual assault had affected their own lives. Bridget Goyette, President of the Student Government Association at USM LAC and keynote speaker at the rally, was recognized by Clara Porter and Sarah L. Wood for all of her outstanding efforts to ensure that the Campus Safety Project had a presence on campus to carry out their efforts and to promote healthy relationships.

Along with the rally the campus held other events during the month of April including “Consent Day” and the USM Clothesline Project, which allowed participants to remember friends and loved ones affected by domestic violence.

Bridget Goyette was the keynote speaker at the USM LAC Take Back the Night Rally

USM LAC Student Government President Bridget Goyette speaks at the USM LAC “Take Back the Night” Rally. Goyette was the keynote speaker. The rally was part of the Domestic Violence Awareness month activities at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

Students from the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently experienced local government first-hand with a class trip to the State House in Augusta, in March. Thirteen students from the class “Sustaining Democracy” were welcomed to the state house by Lewiston Representatives Mike Lajoie, Peggy Rotundo, and Dick Wagner; State Senator Margaret Craven, along with Representative and fellow USM LAC student, Michael Clarke of Bath.

In addition to a special question-and-answer session with their elected officials, students were offered a guided tour of the State House building, which highlighted the traditions and procedures of the legislative institutions.  The entire class was also recognized at a committee hearing of the Joint Committee on Education.

“It was a great change from the usual classroom atmosphere” says adjunct faculty member James Myall, who organized the excursion.  “I know everyone involved welcomed the chance to see state government in action, and many of the students have told me it enhanced their understanding of local politics, by making everything seem more real.  It’s the kind of practical learning we encourage at USM LAC.”

The State House visit was followed up with an assignment in which students contacted their representatives by mail, urging them to address a problem close to the student’s heart.  “The aim of this trip was to bridge the gap between constituents and their representatives,” says Myall, “and from the enthusiastic welcome we received, and the positive feedback I’ve received from students, I think we certainly succeeded.”

Seated, left to right: Abdikadir Negeye, Myranda Michaud, Elise Boutin, Tiana Audet, Angela Gillespie.  Standing: Rep. Mike Clarke, Rep. Peggy Rotundo, Regina Preston, James Myall, Ashley Harmon, Joshua Gauthier, Nicole Barry, Shalee Bradbury, Sen. Margaret Craven, Rep. Mike Lajoie, Danielle Moody, Steve Camp, Lindamarie MacDonald, Rep. Dick Wagner.

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently announced a new registration initiative for its students. Students that register for fall classes by Midnight, April 27, will qualify to have their name put into a drawing in which five recipients will have their fall 2012 textbooks paid for. The initiative is being underwritten by the USM LAC Student Government Association.

“We are locked into what system sets for the tuition rate, but we can help in other areas of a student’s academic program,” says Director of Communications Dan Philbrick. “Our Student Government organization was very excited about this program and we are very grateful that they have funded it for both the fall and spring semesters.” According to Student Government President Bridget Goyette “We didn’t even hesitate. We are always looking for ways to help students here at USM-LAC. ”

The “Register Early and Get Your Books for Free” program is designed to encourage students to register early for their next semester’s classes. By doing so they are given a chance to have their textbooks for that semester completely paid for. The program is currently for undergraduate students only and only for classes taught at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College. For more information about registering or courses at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, please contact the Student Success Office at 753-6536 or email lacinfo@usm.maine.edu.