The SMCC Beacon 10-21-2014

The

OCTOBER 21, 2014

F O R

VOLUME 12 ¤ ISSUE 4

T H E

S T U D E N T S ,

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S T U D E N T S

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The Gubernatorial Race Mike Michaud Working Man Transformed

LePage on Higher Education

Directly out of high school, Mike Michaud followed his father and grandfather’s footsteps and began working at the Great Northern Paper Company mill in his native town of East Millinocket, Maine.

Almost thirty years later, upon seeing the nearby Penobscot River become DEMOCRAT abjectly polluted with “so much sludge you could practically walk across it,” Michaud was inspired to switch gears and seek a position in the state Legislature.

He won the race, cleaned up the river, and since then never backed out of his political work life. He bypassed college altogether, eventually claiming the position of President of the Maine Senate. Since 2003, Michaud has served as the U.S. Representative for Maine’s 2nd congressional district. He remains one of the very few members of congress who never attended college.

Now, as the Democratic candidate in this year’s gubernatorial race against Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Independent Eliot Cutler, Michaud seeks to embrace a new role for Maine.

Michaud stresses the importance of “affordable post-secondary education that maintains our state’s competitiveness and prepares Maine students for the changing economy without burdening them or their families with crippling student loan debt.”

Contrasting from Eliot Cutler’s “Pay it Forward, Pay it Back” plan for college, which would eliminate tuition entirely, Michaud envisions a different approach. He proposes to implement a tuition-free sophomore year for college students. The reason for this is because, according to Michaud, dropout rates during sophomore year, on average, soar due to unaffordability.

He believes that if the sophomore year becomes tuition-free, students will be incentivized to stay in college. The estimated cost to implement this plan is around $15 million, and Michaud has been unclear about how to fund this.

Adamant about the scope of gravity regarding student debt and the lack of college graduates in Maine, Michaud says he believes that “this new investment [in the sophomore year] in the university system can help increase enrollment and bring more students back to our schools, which helps the overall bottom line across the system.”

In the Eggs & Issues gubernatorial debate

For the first time ever Gov. Paul LePage faced off with his two opponents-Democrat Mike Michaud and Independent Eliot Cutler-in a debate held Oct 8th at an Eggs & Issues forum. He addressed some of the challenges USM is facing by discussing his views on higher education.

INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN

Higher education is a big topic for the gubernatorial candidates, seeing as how crucial a role education plays in the economy. To put this into perspective, consider On Friday, October 3, Eliot Cutler sat down this: The New York Times published strong for an interview in his campaign headquarters research demonstrating that graduates with in Portland’s Old Port with Beacon staff mema four year degree earned an average of 98% bers Jason Glynn, Erik Squire, and myself. The more an hour than with no degree. hour-long interview broached a multitude of

That being said, Maine faces some tough education-related topics, from Cutler’s eduissues with higher education. For example, cational plans for Maine’s future, to student Maine has the second highest cost for public debt, to a systems’ merging between the Universities in the nation, per median family Maine Community College System (MCCS) income. Though we have a large percentage of and the University of Maine System. high school graduates, we still rank among the

Beginning with the topic of Cutler’s higher bottom four states with our SAT scores. Pereducation plan, the students each had turns haps this is the reason why 62% of traditional asking questions, about ten altogether. Cutler, incoming freshman at SMCC must take remein response to this first question, revealed his dial coursework. What’s more, Vacation Land’s plan, titled “Pay it Forward, Pay it Back.” This current graduation rate with an associate’s design has already been implemented in Ausdegree, within 3 years, is only at 25%. Finally, tralia with purportedly successful outcomes. only 27% of Mainers have completed a bachIt’s also been proposed but ultimately rejected elor’s degree or higher; two points lower than in Oregon; however, it remains an active posthe national average. sibility for the future there.

LePage was once quoted as saying, “Col With this plan, which is still a bit experilege is not for everyone.” Although, during the mental, “Pay it Forward, Pay It Back” will endebate he did mention that the Maine Comable students to enroll in college tuition-free, munity College System (MCCS) needs to do with the state borrowing funds to make this a much better job at bringing people to their possible, Cutler said. Participants in this plan school and bringing back the trades. In his own would be required to pay back 3% of their inwords he said that “They’re (MCCS is) focused come in the first twenty years of their careers. a little too much on Liberal Arts.”

Because Cutler believes this will incentivize

At the debate LePage also talked about more people to attend college - acknowledging a couple of education programs that he conthat it’s primarily money that hinders people’s sidered as being exemplary. The first one he incentives to pursue higher education - he dismentioned was Maine Maritime Academy. He misses Mike Michaud’s proposal to render the called it “The best education in America, best sophomore year of college free. Cutler argues value in America, and best starting wages in that this proposal is not enough to make any America.” debt-fearer galvanized to enroll.

His opponent Eliot Cutler talked about

Cutler explained the “Pay it Forward…” merging all of Maine’s public universities plan further, saying that students who stay in together for better efficiency. In regard to that or come to Maine after completing any two- or LePage said that he wasn’t completely sure four-year college will be rewarded with tax that he agrees about merging the University of

An Interview with Eliot Cutler

breaks. Under his plan, Maine “will give you a tax credit against your Maine income tax

Maine System out of worry that their different

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Inside

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Hall of Fame Inductions

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Other World

Arts & Features

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Maine Hunger Dialogue Working as a Community to Battle Hunger, Poverty, and Malnutrition

Captain’s Cupboard, our on-campus everyone was for this event as we disfood pantry, has been up to and the cussed our ideas and how to improve significant role the Captain’s Cupon our current projects on another board play in our campus. We were panel. Madelyn Holm, representing joined by Veggies-for-All, a food bank SMCC, discussed the history, misfarm at Unity College, which offers sion, and what we had achieved so a work-study program for students on campus.

Every single person who attended the conference also helped prepare and pack over 10,000 meals for our campus pantries.

All of the participants had numerous opportunities to share experiences with one another, with the organizers for the convention, with the keynote speakers as well as with representatives from Sodexo food services and the Good Shepherd Food Bank. In addition to providFrom left: Maisarah Miskoon, Rik Sawyer, ing food services to schools Madelyn Holm, Daniel Shaw and communities, they both offer scholarships to students such far within our campus. All of this was as the Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger for naught if she and Rik Sawyer, the Scholarship.

Co-Founder of the Cupboard, did not

There were no words to describe push on to make the Cupboard a realhow passionate and enthusiastic ity through experimentation, dedica-

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rono, ME – The Maine Hunger Dialogue conference was held on University of Maine’s Orono campus on October, 16th and 17th. Institutions from all over the state, including Colby, University of Maine Presque Isle (UMPI) and Ford Kent, came to learn from one another while collaborating to come up with solutions to help students and people in their communities.

The panel of keynote speakers for this event was top-notched and inspired all of us to be better equipped to face the hunger issue on our school campuses. We listened to keynote speakers intently as Kristen Miale, the President of the Good Shepherd Food Bank (GSFB), and Dr. Alastair Summerlee, former President of the University of Guelph in Canada and currently the chair of the Hunger Solutions Institute in Auburn, sharing with the room of more than 80 individuals the statistics of how food insecurity has affected the state, nation, and world.

Just the first day alone, we listened to three other speakers, among them Jim Hanna, the Director of the Cumberland County Food Security Council, who quoted that 14.3% of households in the U.S. struggle to put food on the table (USDA in 2013) as well as Alexandra Moore, the Director of Development and Communications at the DC Central Kitchen.

Daniel Shaw and I also represented SMCC on the first panel of the conference as we presented what the

Art Director Graphic Design Photo Editor

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ther World

My Euro-trip: Vienna The City of Music and Dreams

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his is the final installment of my extraordinary trek across Europe.

I hope the reader has enjoyed reading about my adventures, as it was an eye opening experience for me, one that I will never forget, and one I have enjoyed sharing a small slice of with the SMCC community.

After I arrived in Vienna I ran out of funds, so I didn’t eat anything the

Tammy Huisingh Alex Brooks, Jennifer Lague Jennifer Lague, Lauren Michelle

Section Editors

Erik Squire Campus News Maisarah Miskoon The Other World Garrick Hoffman Op & Ed Patrick Doyle Arts & Features Sam Coombs Sports

Contributing Writers

Tayler Chretien, Francis Coletti, Rachel Flowers, Dierdree Glassford, Jennifer Lague, Rebekah Marin, Lauren Michelle, Robert Midura, Kyle Sager, Jeffery Turgeon, Carlin Whitehouse, Ian Ziller

Photographers

Kenneth Reddinger, Lauren Michelle

Web Masters in Training

Adviser

entire day. But, as I like to say, the real journey begins when you run out of money. I would have crashed at my friend’s place, she lives in Vienna, but she was staying in Italy at the time (what are the odds). I ended up staying at another youth hostel and rooming with a middle-aged guy who claimed he was a spiritual healer, or something of the like (oh the people one meets whilst traveling).

The next day I used what little money I had left to buy a nice breakfast, and set out on my day excursion.

My first destination was set for St. Peters Church. The architecture was mind-blowingly intricate and the roof was colored with a mosaic of beautiful designs.

From there I meandered my way around the city enjoying every little eye catcher here and there. The city truly has so much to offer. When I started the day I had no set plan, just a map the hostel handed out. On the map was listed “places of interest,” and after taking a look I knew I would have a full day. I tried to visit as many castles and cathedrals as I could, because I knew each would be visually

tion, and a whole lot of energy.

It was comforting to learn how much people were interested in our model for the Captain’s Cupboard and the homelessness survey which sparked off the entire project as well as the support from the Presidents of SMCC, former President James Ortiz and current President Ronald Cantor, who gave us the space for the Cupboard at the Captain’s House last year.

This article is not a pitch for world peace, or world hunger. The article does not even aim to change your life in the course of the next five minutes. The article, however, hopes to encourage students to participate and do something worthwhile. In doing so, we can and we will affect change in our lives, and in our community. So what are you waiting for?

By Maisarah Miskoon

pleasing to look upon. On the way to each new spot there were a hundred different things that stole my attention.

Vienna is filled with so much history and beauty that it would take a lifetime to fully explore it.

Midafternoon, I was caught up in a downpour of rain for half an hour.

Fortunately I was stuck under an arched building that offered a vantage point of all the incredible surroundings. When the rain ceased I ran to the gorgeous Rathausplatz where there was an outdoor film festival being held. After taking in the view for a bit, I made my way over to the Wien River to walk along it. As I went further up I strolled through the parks sitting along its canal.

Towards the end of the canal I was lead back to the heart of the city.

I saw Vienna House of Music listed on my map and thought I’d check it out; I was glad I did. There was a pianist and violinist playing in the foyer for the public to freely come and enjoy. I sat and listened intently; it was mesmerizing and swept me in completely.

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Jennifer Lague, Tammy Huisingh Chuck Ott, Rachel Guthrie

this is where it’s at www.thesmccbeacon.wordpress.com come and find us.

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The Vienna House of Music, Haus der Musik/KlangGallery

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Speeding up your Windows Computer

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DO

you have a Windows computer that’s booting slowly? When the Computer ages, one may have an abundance of programs installed, or have not done proper configurations after pulling it out of the box. Performing little bit of maintenance can significantly improve your start up times. This little tutorial will just do that!

System Configuration (MSconfig) is a built in utility to disable or enable program applications on Start up.

ITunes, Adobe, Steam etc. are some of the examples of programs one may see listed. MSconfig works in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. To get to System Configuration in Windows 7, go to Start | Type “MSconfig. exe” in the Search area. In Windows 8, go to Desktop | Right Click on Start Button | Run | Within Run type “MSconfig.exe.” The System Configuration utility will pop up and a list of tabs will show. Select the one that says “Startup.” Here you can uncheck or disable program applications. When you apply the changes you’d like in the lower right hand corner a boot may be required. On the next boot up you will notice a difference since

Vienna

(Continued from page 2) When the violinist finished playing he said something that will always stick with me; “when I play, my soul goes out to you, and when you listen joyfully, your soul goes out to me. In that moment, we are connected.” When he and the lady pianist left the foyer the crowd that had gathered cheered for an encore. They came back out and played one last sweet piece.

As I said, this is my last edition journaling my travels through Europe.

Thank you for reading and sharing in a meaningful part of my life. Until our next journey~

By Erik Squire

Page 3 ¤ October 21, 2014

ther World

those applications you disabled are not bogging down the systems resources.

Don’t worry! Just click on your icons to launch the program!

Buying a new Computer usually comes with bloat ware. This means those Best Buy apps the computer comes with if you bought the computer from Best Buy. Each manufacture will place their own software on the computer, like Toshiba. In this case its best practice to use Windows default programs and uninstall the manufactures programs. You will be freeing up space on the Hard Drive by doing so.

To uninstall these programs in Windows 7 you will need to go to Start | Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features. To uninstall these programs in Windows 8 go to Desktop | Right Click on Start Button | Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features. A list of programs installed on your Computer will appear. To uninstall the desired program, right click on one from the list and select “uninstall.” Follow the programs uninstall process. A reboot may be required for some programs after uninstalling.

Another great tip is to Defragment the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) of your computer. Defragmenting takes data located on the disk of the hard drive and compresses it together moving it closer to the center of the disc; thus providing a slight increase of read and write speeds leading to better performance. To Defrag within Windows 7, go to Start | Within Search type “Defrag” | Open up Windows Disk Defragmenter | Select the Disk you want to Defrag. In Windows 8 go to Desktop | Run | In Run type “Defrag” Open up Windows Disk Defragmenter | Select the Disk you want to Defrag.

With these few tips alone, not only are you increasing the computers life span but also optimizing its performance at no cost at all!

By Kyle Sager

Kyle Sager is a member of the Computer Technology Senior Seminar course and is planning on a career in Information Technology. Currently

works as Help Desk Technician in the Technology field. His goal is to excel within Cyber Defense and Network Security in the near future. Check out his work at KyleSager.com

Understanding Google

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ere’s a fast email tip for Googlites.

So your Gmail likes to send your application programs through their mail service. Well that’s not completely true; as with most computer programs it can be made to go through. Google claims security reasons why they do not like .exe and other file extension in attached files to emails. The attached file will fail to load the composed email. It will show a pop up box, it will basically say no you can’t do that, thus, leaving you with the sneaker net, a USB flash drive and possibly harm to the system from jumping down steps.

So you decide to use WinZip to hide the executable file extension; to your surprise Google sees right through the zip file, yea they almost thought of everything. The following step will let you send .exe files through your Gmail account.

At this point you have to change a default setting in windows explorer.

You go into the view tab and under the options you select the folder options and proceed to the view tab and select the “Hide extensions for known file types.” Take the check mark out of the box and leave the box empty. Then click apply and exit. You then need to close Windows Explorer and reopen.

Now you can continue by going into windows explorer and finding the file that you would like to send. You then right click on the file and select properties. “Bahbah.exe Properties” will show at the header, down below is a text box with the file and the extension name. This is where you can change the extension name, now you will have to delete the .exe and replace with .txt.

Here is a brief explanation why this is that way, .bah is a just a way for

the computer to know how to read a file and for which program to open the .bah file. So saving the .bah under a different extension does not do anything to the file.

There is also another option to do the same thing. You can go directly to your files, search for your document, right click on it and change the name from what it was to .exe. Now that you have changed the extension you now email the file to whomever you would like. Now the recipient of the file does have to change the .txt to back to an .exe again to use it.

They do have a wonderful file limit size of 25 MB. To combat this problem area you could use Win Zip, which is a file compression tool with windows 7 and 8, 8.1. Win Zip isn’t the cure all it only does a slight compress so it is limited. This tool is in a file selection when you right click the name file. In the pop up box you select send to in the tab out you would need to select compress file folder. Now don’t worry the file you created has not been lost you have to go back where the original file was, it will be in the same area, and it will be named the same but with a .zip.

Yes there is an option for Google drive with 15 GB worth of storage and more if you fall under certain criteria. However this might cause some personal security problems. Google is known for data mining.

By Robert Midura

Robert Midura is a member of the Computer Technology Senior Seminar course and is planning on a career in networking. A link to this article can be soon seen at www.rmidura.com/ beaconarticle

TARGETED WRITING SESSIONS PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

November 4th

is the day to get out and vote

The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee is excited to offer the following 30 minute information sessions on different aspects of academic writing and reading. The sessions are free and open to students, faculty, and staff. No reservations necessary. Stop by and sharpen your skills! All sessions will be held in the Writing Center area down the right hallway from the entrance to the Academic Achievement Center (in the Library).

Formatting Research:

Robert Vettese 11:30am - 12noon Wednesday, October 23

In Your Own Words:

Gerry Zarrilli 11:00am - 11:30am Tuesday, November 11

The Literary Analysis:

Mike Bove 12:30pm - 1:00pm Thursday, November 20

Citations and Quotations

Paraphrasing Properly

Registering to vote is simple and painless. Check the SMCC South Portland campus for a voter registration station and register there, or visit your town’s City Hall.

A Research Paper in Disguise

What’s the point of complaining about something if you’re not going to vote and try to change it?

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For further information, email Amy Havel at:

ahavel@smccme.edu

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Arthur Miller Lives On: A View from a Bridge And The Mad Horse Theatre Makes it Happen!

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Mark your calendar!

The Learning Commons and the SMCC Bookstore are proud to present an afternoon with SMCC criminal justice instructor, Bill McClaran. Bill will be reading from his new book “Sonny Days”. He’ll stick around for Q&A and a book signing, too!

Wednesday, October 29th 1:00 − 2:30pm Location TBA (check your email or the Library’s website for more specifics soon)

very small. With conviction, I attempted to break their idea with that a small, more personalized theatre has benefits that the larger ones do not; even the nosebleed seats are still perfect (only three rows back) and the action/drama feels closer . . . more there, like you’re

he curtains were to rise at 7:30PM, it was then 6:50PM and I kept driving around the same two streets my GPS had given me, looking for the Mad Horse Theatre. I’d been there before to be awe-struck by their rendition of Orphans, but somewhere between winter and the arising fall I misplaced where exactly Mad Horse was located.

Two walkers (separate) directed me mistakenly to the Lyric Theatre. By doing a once-over of every side road in the area, I found the Mad Horse and waltzed across the lot. I made note that they spell it “theatre” on the way in.

I gave my name and profession (Beaconizer) to the desk. AfPhoto Courtesy of The Mad House Theatre ter being presented as the writer of a part of it. This sort of Proletariat the Orphans review from last winter, I Production feels lost in bigger theatres. felt my general social anxiety lift a bit, I’m relieved that Mad Horse keeps it walking to the concessions. A Captain close.

Eli’s Blueberry Pop was produced and

Before I could launch into a full it tasted very good from the bottle. diatribe, the lights dimmed, the play, I saw a few people I recognized as A View from the Bridge, started. While students from SMCC, we chatted a bit I’m familiar with the works of Arthur before the doors opened. Before the Miller, I found myself wondering what show I was informed that due to the this one could be like, I’d never heard arrangement of the seats, the left side of it. Any fears I had of feeling stagas you go in produces the best view. nant went out the window quickly. A

The seats next to me sputtered monologue started the play, introducoff something about the theatre being

ing certain characters in a wayward fashion, being presented by a lawyer!

Set in NYC, there was a genuine feel that these actors could’ve been planted in the midst of the Big Apple; I felt their woes of big city bad luck. The story, without giving too much away, deals with a more traditional-type fellow named Eddie Carbone who is worried that his niece will be marrying a scum, a scum with bleach-blonde hair who sings and dances!

Throughout I felt a genuine attitude based around the play, the actors and the moods that they set. It just seemed real, like “this really happened.” Nothing appeared false or with me secondguessing any of it, it just occurred and flowed very naturally, with the help of all the aforementioned attitudes.

In what appears to be true Mad Horse fashion, the play concluded with a standing ovation. To my dismay, the actors shuffled quickly away.

It would’ve been nice to speak to them for a second even just to say good job.

They certainly earned it. If you feel this this review is not enough, then please, go see plays at the Mad Horse Theatre! If you loved my review? GO SEE PLAYS AT THE MAD HORSE! It’s right near SMCC! You could walk there! NO EXCUSES.

By Patrick Doyle

STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST Community College Week and NISOD are proud to announce the annual Scott Wright Student Essay Contest in honor of Scott Wright, past editor of Community College Week (1995–2000), recipient of the 1998 Award for Excellence in Higher Education Journalism, and the reporter who brought national attention to developmental education and the unique mission community colleges possess in providing an accessible education.

Student authors are asked to describe an actual faculty member, staff member, or administrator, who encouraged him or her to complete a course, finish a semester, or graduate from college, and describe how that encouragement helped him or her reach their goal. ●● One winning student author will receive a $1,000 check. ●● The faculty member, staff member, or administrator featured in the winning essay will receive a $1,000 check. ●● NISOD will provide a complimentary membership to the winning student author’s college.

It’s starting to get cold; that means soon a lot of us will retire inside and inwardly. I read a lot during the colder seasons because I deplore television and some books are really, really something. Do you have books already set aside for that time of year? I do.

The poems here reflect the time of the year and my brain un-thawing, heading back to the fridge, then to the freezer.

Political Joke Q: What do you get when you cross an Anarchist with an Angus?

A: More bullshit than usual.

Missing Football At the liquor store stands a display made entirely of cardboard; this display mimics a football player with his arm up, ready to throw the ball. My boss today noticed the inflatable football the player was holding is now gone, nowhere to be found in the store.

Please report all missing footballs to Bootleggers Beverage Warehouse in Lisbon, Maine for processing to ascertain the status of a one, missing football.

New York, New York: City of Nightmares

Submissions are due by:

11:59pm CST on 1/30/2015 For complete details, visit:

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I just reserved an Amtrak train to NYC to: A.) See g/f B.) Attend music journalism festival This is not so bad but I feel anxious to be surrounded by writers and artists; the most reprehensible lot since the frat-house.

Should I make a shirt that says “Destroy Music?”

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By Patrick Doyle

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Marin on Movies The Skeleton Twins

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we approach mid-October hearing the movie title “The Skeleton Twins” you might assume, as I did, that it’s just another poorly executed Halloween-based horror movie, but if you’re anything like me you’ll be pleased to know that this movie is much better than the title initially suggests.

A set of twins, Maggie and Milo, played by Kristen Wiig and Bill Hadar are reunited after being out of touch for ten years. The story focuses on the rekindling of their bond as siblings, support systems, and most importantly as friends. Milo and Maggie

have been living on opposite ends of the country while trying to cope with a few very similar issues throughout their time apart. Milo struggles as an aspiring actor in LA while his twin sister seems to be getting her life together with a seemingly quintessential husband, job as a dental hygienist, and home in New York. However, with the two of them unhappy in their current situations Maggie decides to invite Milo to move in with her until he at least can get his life back on track.

During their time together they are forced to deal with their absent minded and free-spirited mother, the linger-

ing doom of their fathers death, and their addictions. The on screen chemistry between the twins swings back and forth between hilariously charming and painfully real. At times it seemed like there was no salvaging their bond, that all they had left was their childhood memories. Thanks to tough love, laughing gas, a few too many drinks at the bar, and karaoke duets the twins are able to mature together and get out of the messes they found themselves in before they reunited.

As one of five children myself, this movie reminded me of the importance of family bonds. Every family is

expected to experience their fair share of ups and downs, but going through it together should only end up bringing the people involved closer regardless of personality conflicts, or differing belief. The Skeleton Twins was a successful reminder of this, which left me empathizing with the characters as each dealt with difficult issues while making me laugh and (almost) cry on multiple occasions.

By Rebekah Marin

CIA... Coffee, Ice Cream, and Art hidden gem is the best way to describe the Cia Cafe that is nooked at 72 Ocean Street, just a short walk away from Millcreek and Hannaford’s.

Priding themselves on local made food, and local art Cia provides an eclectic and cozy alternative than your local franchise coffee shop. Not only is the food filling, but also it is delicious, and every bite makes you want more.

On top of that, the prices are extremely reasonable, and one of the best deals in town include their $7.77 lunch deal, any sandwich, a bag of chips, a pickle and a drink all for less than ten dollars.

Plenty of natural light makes for easy reading, studying, and helps to showcase the wonderful local craftsmen work. A wide variety of art varying from key chains and trinkets handmade with sea glass to extremely unique and useful glasses made from old bottles are there for your purchase, making great affordable and unique options for gifts in the upcoming holiday season.

Another great staple of Cia is their middle initial, I scream you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! Smiling Hill Farms ice cream makes for just the right amount of sweetness to get you through the rest of your day without a sugar craving.

With wonderful seasonal flavors like Pumpkin, you will surely feel the crisp flavor of autumn amongst your taste buds.

The first time I visited it was on International Coffee Day, perfect time to feel out the place. I enjoyed a wonderful chicken salad wrap, with just a half of that I was already full! I was able to keep the rest for a nice snack later on in the day. I also enjoyed my favorite iced chai; the rich spiced flavor of the beverage satisfied my need for fall for sure! One of the best and most vital parts of the light that Cia brings into its customers lives on every visit is the enigmatic and energetic owner who skates as she whips up your latte and serves you your delicious breakfast sandwich on a homemade English muffin. Her passion and determination makes Cia what it is, and it

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shows with every bite, and every visit.

With the owners mission to seek out Maine’s best coffee, ice cream, and art, the owner met up with Wicked Joe, of Brunswick Maine. Collaborating with the owner of Wicked Joe, owners of both establishments realized they were matched with passion, one for art, and one for a wicked good cup of joe. After teaming up they were able to create the taste that you are looking for.

With her passion for art the owner provides a wonderful place for local artists to showcase their work, and efficiently the exhibit changes every 8 weeks, giving regulars something new to experience, and offering new merchandise as well. Currently they have these amazing rusty Iron Art propane tank pumpkins! Creepy and creative,

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER BALZANO

these would make a great alternative to the rotting mess a real jack-o-lantern can cause! Quick, grab them before they are gone!

Want to know what’s up with Cia without stopping in? Simply check them out on Twitter, or go to their website at ciacafe.com where news is posted daily!

Looking for a wonderful place to catch coffee with your parents? Want to study where no one will bother you? Searching for that great present for someone special? I encourage all to visit Cia, at least once, and you will see as I have now on more than one occasion (I cant stay away!) that Cia holds a charm that no Starbucks can hold a flame to.

Till our next bite,

By Dining Dierdree ¤

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Do you ever find yourself working on a difficult math problem at 11:00pm, and then you realize that all SMCC academic support offices are closed?

SMARTHINKING is a Free

online tutoring service for SMCC Students, and provides support in: ■■ Math ■■ Writing ■■ Science ■■ Spanish ■■ Computer Technology ■■ Business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Check out:

smarthinking.com

Run through the sample sessions (on the “services and subjects” tab) to learn more before the demonstration.

Or visit:

smccme.libguides.com/onlinetutoring

Get started here. You will need to login with your SMCC credentials.

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Page 6 ¤ October 21, 2014

rkings The Wo he Inside t acon e B SMCC

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Friday, October 3, two communications students and a photographer all gathered around a table in a small room in downtown Portland. Cameras and microphones were set up, and a sort of undisturbed hush permeated the air. Three Beacon staffers then entered after the set ups were in order and, affecting a professional disposition, they shook hands with the man of the hour: Eliot Cutler.

The independent gubernatorial candidate had agreed to be interviewed by The Beacon, and the roughly hour-long interview enabled the students to ask a list of questions that pertained to higher education. The interview touched upon one specific topic: the merging of the Maine Community College System and the Maine State University System.

With this proposal, we must ask: What are the implications? Who and what will it affect? How will this benefit the state, staff, and students?

Cutler mentioned that the state has a population roughly the same as Greater Buffalo, New York: about 1.3 million people. With this, he asserts that the system does not need to resemble a sort of “Noah’s Ark” structure, with two of each administrative positions that the state funds to make possible. He believes that if the systems were merged and thus consolidated, the state could be spared of unnecessary expenses, and that the saved money could be allocated to better, more practical causes. This would also alleviate college costs. Cutler went on to say that states that have merged college systems have been successful.

To be able to grasp an opportunity of this size speaks volumes of The Beacon’s efforts and reverence for politics, ambition, and persistence. The interview also provided a wealth of information - not only for the governor’s race, but for interview processes in general, among other things - that can be viewed as a tool to prepare the staffers for whatever the future may hold for them.

Cutler was cordial and informative, sometimes speaking assertively and with fervor; other times breaking the gravity with comic relief.

Five days following the interview, SMCC staff, faculty, and students joined over 600 other people at the first gubernatorial debate, hosted by the Portland Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues. Taking place at the Holiday Inn on Spring Street, this event materialized into the biggest Eggs & Issues turnout yet. The attendance number matched the magnitude of the event, because the three gubernatorial candidates had finally gathered under one roof for their first public debate, which had taken many months to occur.

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The topics varied from education, to manufacturing and paper, to MaineCare expansion, and finally to minimum wage and municipal/ state action. Each debater was given just minutes to explain their side, as only an hour was granted for the totality of the debate. The candidates sometimes agreed with each other’s

stances on the myriad topics, but other times the candidates would voice their vehement disagreements.

Both the interview and the debate marked two standout moments for SMCC. The school’s students in particular were not only given the opportunity to proudly participate in these events, but by doing so,

Ballot Initiatives: Why Vote?

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they demonstrated their regard for politics, Maine’s race for governor, and the importance of involvement in these matters. To have SMCC as the means of access to these types of opportunities is paramount for the student body.

By Garrick Hoffman

is almost November, which means it is almost Election Day as well. There are many ballot initiatives that are up for a vote. So you may ask yourself why these are important to us. These ballot initiatives are one of the only ways that we can directly impact the way our country is run. Most of the time laws are made by people we elect rather than by the people as a whole. But this year we have the choice of whether or not to decide how the state is run.

There are two major initiatives this election. The first one is a ballot question for the city of South Portland. It’s a proposed law, like a similar law in Portland, that would make marijuana

legal in South Portland. The other initiative that is being voted on this November is one that would ban the use of traps in the use of bear hunting.

The people who want to support marijuana legalization believe that it is less dangerous than other legal drugs and that there is no reason why it should be illegal. Opponents of the legalization of marijuana say that it is very dangerous to legalize marijuana and they have specific health concerns about it. There are others who think legalizing it would be a decline in morality.

There are two sides to the bear hunting initiative as well. The people who support this initiative say that it is

unnecessary to use traps to hunt bears, and that the practice of baiting and trapping should be outlawed. The opponents of such a law say that it should stay legal and one reason is that bear hunting helps the economy. They also view it as part of their hunting rights.

So whatever side of the ballot initiatives you support, you should vote. Election day is coming, so you should take this opportunity to make your voice heard and vote to make a difference in the way our state is run.

For in a democracy, laws come from the people, and only the people have the right to influence these laws.

Mike Michaud

Accelerated Learning Grant to promote year-long learning at community colleges.” The mission of this “Maine Made” component is to augment the number of college graduates in Maine substantially. He seeks to achieve this by “reducing the cost of a four-year degree, accelerating the process for completing two-year community college programs and strengthening college preparation, starting at pre-kindergarten.”

In a column published this year by the Bangor Daily News, contributing writer David C. Wiggin said that Maine’s “high school graduation rate is quite respectable, but post-secondary education needs much greater support. …We must fund our public university system. We must also make postsecondary education affordable and accessible.” Wiggin went on to say that, “Michaud, D-2nd District, has demonstrated his ability through his success in developing budgets in the Maine Legislature that…provided support for education.”

In contrast, Howard Segal, a Uni-

versity of Maine history professor who also served as a contributing writer for the Bangor Daily News this year, said that once Michaud left his House seat in pursuit of governorship, Segal “had doubts about whether [Michaud] really understood what troubles thousands of Maine citizens about the University of Maine System’s current structure, values, and operating procedures.”

Segal continued, questioning Michaud’s proposals for higher education as well as his overall degree of knowledge in the matter.

Michaud bears a track record that showcases his past on certain educational matters. According to OnTheIssues.org, for example, he voted “No” on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program. He voted “Yes,” however, on an array of bills: $40 billion on green public schools; an additional $10.2 billion for federal education and health and human services projects; and $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.

be materialized, the whole education system needs to work closer together.

According to LePage, Fort Kent has had great success in assisting 24 students, both 11th and 12th graders, by taking them to the college and helping them finish both years of high school.

One student completed a year and a half of college, seventeen students finished the first year of college, and six completed at least one semester of college, all not having to pay tuition.

Lastly, he briefly mentioned the possibility of employers footing the bill for higher education, and then having the state offer them a tax break incentive for doing so. All in all, at the end of the debate LePage had pulled in some laughs, made a few interruptions (but caught himself), and exclaimed that most of his gaffes were in the first two

years of his term.

As far as LePage’s actual history voting/vetoing bills that affect higher education; LePage did veto a $32 million budget to address a gap in the FY15 budget. As the New England Board of Higher Education indicates, part of the $32 million vetoed, included investment in “key education and workforce training programs including $650,000 for the Bridge Year program, $300,000 for Maine’s Graduates and $750,000 for Head Start programs.”

Whoever is elected, come this November, they will have a big task facing them. Let’s hope for the sake of Maine’s future that the winner will be successful in addressing our states education needs and troubles.

(Continued from Page 1) held earlier this month, Michaud said that, “What this region needs is a strong public university system. ...What has happened is a perfect storm here for USM and higher education. State support has been stagnant. Costs have been going up, and university enrollment has been going down. ...What we have to do is bring people together...to focus on that long-term strategy.”

Michaud stresses the importance of having a skilled, educated workforce in Maine to improve the economy and to see an overall positive progression for Maine. He has said that education is not an expense, but an investment for the state’s future.

Under his “Maine Made” plan, aside from the free sophomore year initiative, Michaud plans to “create a tuition guarantee at Maine’s public colleges and universities for incoming students,” and to “establish the Maine

Paul LePage (Continued from Page 1) missions would become corrupted.

The Governor expressed how he finds it a shame that people are going to be losing their jobs at the University of Maine. However, he feels that the University of Maine system needs to reinvent itself. Along that vain, he considers the other excellent example of a successful school to be University of Maine at Fort Kent. One of the things that he considers to be a great achievement for them is their high school outreach. He boasted about their efforts with what he calls the bridge year, or fifth year. That is what he considers to be the model, as he says “K-20.”

He believes for this kind of success to ¤

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By Ian Ziller

By Garrick Hoffman

By Erik Squire

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Terrorism in Mexico

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are fed a continuous stream of news that justifiably fuels concern about the instability and rising violence in fardistant lands such as Gaza, Iraq, and Syria. Yet, even as our media sounds the incessant alarm of Islamic Fundamentalism, daily atrocities and large-scale acts of organized extremism are being perpetrated right here in North America that have nothing to do with religion. One needs only to travel south to find a land teeming with terrorists: Mexico.

Citizens throughout our neighboring country are becoming almost accustomed to discoveries of decapitated bodies by the roadside, public

hangings, and the stench of human remains smoldering in mass graves; all of this with little to no accountability to justice and the rule of law.

It should be no wonder at all why our border is flooded with so many looking to escape. Since 2006, the conflict in Mexico has resulted in over 50,000 deaths. That’s roughly equivalent to fifteen 9/11s.

Just last month, students enrolled at a small, southern teaching college took part in a spirited protest against proposed cuts to the school budget. That story sounds eerily familiar, no? But the plot takes a gruesome twist: 43 of them disappeared, and the evidence points to at least 17

of them being forced to march into the hills to face a submachine gun firing squad followed by an unceremonious funeral pyre – all organized by the local police. Perhaps even more disturbing: anyone with information knows that going to the authorities means they likely join the dead or “missing.”

Think about this for a moment in relation to Greater Portland: what might the brutal inside-job murder of three or four dozen USM students mean for our community/state/nation? How would we hope to bring justice to those who had robbed so many young people of their hope and promise?

“Pay It Forward, Pay It Back” and Beyond

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we move forward to the upcoming election there are many questions to be pondered. One of controversy and interest is the idea to implement a “Pay it Forward/Pay it Back” program in the state of Maine.

This proposal could help families and students who may not be able to afford a higher education attain one. Elliot Cutler believes that if Maine residents were not concerned with the cost of attending school beyond high school we may have a stronger workforce leading to a more stable economy. However, the state of Maine does not currently support a need for a more educated work force as the state continues to turn away big business; such as the casino proposal for Southern Maine and the more recent lost opportunity with Statoil. It is these businesses that have a need for more qualified employees.

The idea that one needs a higher education in order to receive a higher level of pay is not supported by the state. Our salaries are some of the low-

est in the country and that is just one of the reasons students may not find the inherent need to further their education; especially if they wish to reside here in Maine indefinitely. Before a program like this can prove successful Maine must look at what a higher education is worth in dollars here; not throughout the country. This needs to be concrete due to the effort and commitment it takes to complete a two, or four-year degree program.

Kids at the age of eighteen are not necessarily concerned with the cost of the education, but whether or not the payoff is worth the effort. Maine is a tough place to live and raise a family due to the cost of living and the pay that is based on this cost. It does not equal out; we must first make this adjustment, then and only then, will we find an influx in college graduates and others looking to live and work in Maine. The education system here is poor for many reasons. Teacher’s salaries in the state of Maine are far be-

low that of other states and more often than not schools are laying-off those with higher degrees to rehire those less qualified with less experience. This is supported by the state and local cities in order to lower education spending and maintain budgets.

We must have a program in place to keep these highly qualified professionals in our schools in order to improve upon the elementary school system. It must start at the core and K-12 is just that. If we want a higher graduation rate and wish to see our future generation go on to achieve a higher degree we must ensure a promise of the best education possible as well as the opportunity to attain employment upon graduation. “The way life should be” cannot exist without the necessary changes to support living; this needs to be our concentration.

Eliot Cutler

ing fund, and the funds are going out and coming in at presumably the same rate.”

Further, to make the Maine college system more efficient and affordable, Cutler supports merging the community college and university systems, believing this will consolidate college funds while alleviating costs. Because Maine roughly contains a population the same as the Greater Buffalo, New York region - about 1.3 million people he used Noah’s Ark as a metaphor for the current college systems, questioning why there are “two of this, two of that.”

He asserts that consolidating the systems would make the collective system run more efficiently and become more affordable for prospective students. This was the same proposal he made about five years ago, and he claims that states that have merged the systems have been successful.

With the collapse of the housing market dragging down the national economy in 2008, it’s reasonable to look at the $1.1 trillion of student debt and feel some degree of trepidation for another recession in the future.

Cutler was asked what should be done

to “rein [the student debt bubble] in before it bursts.” He replied that, in order to ameliorate this issue, the country will need a federal response, which would come in the form of legislation. He mentioned that Maine’s independent U.S. senator, Angus King, has been extensively involved in this process. But Cutler also said that the “Pay it Forward…” plan will help in this cause, saying that it will eliminate student debt by perishing tuition and creating tax credits for college graduates.

Cutler provided some haunting facts: Maine ranks 34th in the country in the number of graduating seniors who go on to pursue post-secondary training or education. He said this is bad for the state and the individual due to, respectively, workforce deficiency and lower income over the course of a lifetime.

In addition, he said that in 2003 Maine was economically neck-andneck with Massachusetts, ahead of Vermont and Connecticut, and was even outpacing that of the national average.

Since then, Maine has been on an unyielding decline, and in 2013 Maine

(Continued from Page 1) liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis for every dollar you’ve paid on your student debt.”

He believes this provision will encourage young, skilled workers to enhance the state’s workforce and thereby enhance the state’s economy, which he believes is paramount. He remarked that this type of workforce is already in high demand in Maine, with many employers finding their businesses deficient of skilled laborers whom employers need to effectively operate.

When asked how the fund for the “Pay it Forward…” plan will be generated, Cutler explained that Maine will need to borrow a great deal of money.

He said that the interest rates for borrowing are very low, so the state should seek to capitalize off of that.

Students who incur the benefit and obligation would pay the fund back, and the fund would take a percentage of this money by “investing in the next generation, and it becomes a revolv-

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By Lauren Michelle

How might we then react when realizing that our very own habits of consumption were partly to blame for these events?

It is easy to see the folly in much of the policies of “The War on Drugs.” Americans point a collective finger at elected officials and blame them for all that has gone wrong. On the one hand, we have a coalition of governments exerting massive amounts of effort and resources trying to crack down on the “bad guys.”

This has only served to accelerate the growth and development of highly sophisticated criminal organizations vying for the estimated $20-40 billion in profit from trafficking cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine into the United States. Our decades-long mission to stop the flow of narcotics has also lead to a “beautiful friendship” between the military, politicians, and police forces. In Mexico, these parties carry out many of the crimes themselves, or look the other way when the gangsters do.

The same weapons, equipment and cash that the U.S delivers are being used to further galvanize the power structure of the drug cartels.

Yet, underneath it all, Americans’ appetites for putting all manner of “recreational” stuff in their noses, veins and lungs have created this monster. Gram by gram a foundation is laid, upon which the cartels are able to carry out their kidnapping, sex slavery and murder.

Former President Porfirio Diaz once lamented, “Poor Mexico, so far from God, and so close to the United States.” His words ring just as true today. If America truly abhors terrorism, it must hold itself accountable for propagating it – in all its forms.

By Carlin Whitehouse

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was officially behind every New England state, and far below the national average. Maine’s income levels are 40 percent behind some New England states while also lagging behind the rest of the country. Cutler attributes these dismal facts to the lack of an educated and trained workforce, and he believes Maine can recover if the state can make the already-established businesses more prosperous, this being made possible by the aforementioned workforce.

When the topic of energy emerged, Cutler expressed that Maine is a goldmine for energy resources, saying that, “We have the biggest basket of renewable sources.” This includes off- and on-shore winds, solar and tidal power, biomass, and run-of-river hydro. These sources have low life-cycle costs, and he doesn’t believe Maine has been putting forth enough development into them, instead spending too much on high-operating cost resources such as oil and natural gas. He asserts that the current administration has not been pursuing the necessary action to take advantage of renewable resources.

By Garrick Hoffman

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This (Haunting), That (parking), and the Other (RA)

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hat do haunted houses, bad parking, and RAs have in common? They’re all being covered in this issue of Campus Exposed, so buckle your seatbelts and strap in your Chihuahuas (exaggeration absolutely necessary).

The Campus is about to be Halloween-ed out, and it’s going to be Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Pending approval of a decent sized budget by the Student Senate, SMCC is going to turn into Dante’s inferno. Also, as if the Captains House wasn’t haunted enough already (and it is) it will be super haunted by time our students are through with it. A bunch of hellagood campus volunteers are planning on hosting a tour that will most likely start by the graveyard (yeah, SMCC has a grave yard), and end at the Captains House. It should be nothing less than legendary, so make sure you’re a part of it!

The dates are to be determined, but keep your heads up and an eye out (but not too far out; you don’t want it to get mixed up with all the fake eyes rolling around).

On the matter of parking, the Student Senate (SS) has been discussing the issue of students parking where they shouldn’t and racking up fines.

The Representatives of the SS understand how paying a $25 fine can be a struggle to a lot of SMCC goers who run a tight budget as it is. To that end, they will be meeting on Oct 22nd to make some decisions on your behalf to address this problem. One idea being thrown around is painting the tar with a “Do Not Park” sign where students typically park the most (but shouldn’t). If you would like to help address this issue, please come to the meeting held in the Jewett Hall Auditorium.

Finally, the Beacon thought you should know about some people who do a lot for the students on campus; the Resident Assistants. On that note, let us introduce one of Spring Point

Hall’s RAs, Ian Rixon. Ian is a Behavioral Health and Human Services Major; this is his 3rd semester and first month as an RA. We at the Beacon asked him a few questions about what an RA does.

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By Erik Squire

RAs offer support services to residents, whether they live at Spring Point or Surfsite. These services consist

of: general assistance for the residents, mediation for roommate conflicts, assistance with homework, and hosting a monthly activity. The activities that RAs put on are developed to get residents involved, increase learning, and have fun. In fact, Ian is working right now with another RA to host a soccer tournament (details yet to be set), so look out for that!

He further went on to describe an RA’s duty as one of keeping residents safe. Some of the difficulties that RAs have to deal with are vandalisms, inappropriate conduct, and tough situations that may arise between different residents. As all of you should know,

SMCC is a dry campus, which can further present challenging situations for our Residential Assistants.

In semesters past, Ian got the sense that residents considered RAs as inhuman; strict leaders who enforce policy, and were expected to know everything. However, Ian would like to remind students that RAs are just regular people doing the best they can.

Ian considers the ability to help others as the best part of his job. Along that line, he would also like to let residents know, “even if you are not on our floor, or not in our building, feel free to approach any of us (RAs) with your questions.”

Honor Society in Brockton Phi Theta Kappa Regional Convention ‘14

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rockton, MA – Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts played host to this year’s Phi Theta Kappa Regional Convention last week. SMCC’s chapter, Alpha Chi Nu team, attended the 2-day event, which was held on-campus and their convention hall a few block away.

This was the first convention most of our Honor’s Society Officer team has ever attended with the exception of our President, Jason Gylnn.

Besides learning more about Phi Theta Kappa benefits, we were exposed to the many different resources available to members of the prestigious honor society such as: Collegefish.org, a site that enables Phi Theta Kappa members search for scholarships from many colleges around the nation, and the Five Star Competitive Edge, a self-evaluation and empowerment tool that helps members be more competitive to 4-year colleges.

We also learned more about the “Honors in Action” project and College Project, which we have already started prior to this convention. Some of you might have already heard about our project this year for socially responsible divestment from the previous issue of the Beacon, or from some of us going around collecting signatures for a petition for the

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IMAGES COURTESY OF HONOR SOCIETY

Above - From Left: Saman Baghestani, David Stankiewicz (Advisor), Emily Mokler, Tyler Hinckley, Jason Gylnn, Benjamin Bussiere, Faiz Sabean, and Maisarah Miskoon.

Right - From Top Left: Faiz Sabean, Emily Mokler, Maisarah Miskoon, Ali Sekou, Jason Gylnn, David Stankiewicz (Advisor).

Bottom Left: Benjamin Bussiere and Tyler Hinckley.

Student Senate.

Our goal is to encourage the Maine Community College System (MCCS) to replace their fossil fuel investments with equally competitive alternative stocks, such as renewable, or environmentally friendly energy sources. We are encouraging the entire school to get behind us for this worthy cause and get on the bandwagon to help make Maine a better home for all of us to live in, knowing that we have done our part to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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The Student Senate has called for SMCC’s first referendum in a decade and students are able to cast their votes online during the first week of November. We will be setting up two voting booths at the student Noisy Lounge in the Campus Center and Phi Theta Kappa volunteers will be going around with tablets as well. Voting takes less than a minute but every vote counts so please show us your support. Together, we can and we will make a difference, SMCC.

By Maisarah Miskoon

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SMCC’s Outstanding Programs

A look inside the Computer & Electronics Center

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he Beacon went to meet with Howard Burpee, Professor of Computer Technologies, to learn a little about the CEC program. However, he was leaving just as we came in, but kindly directed us to the very knowledgeable Collin Gebhardt to fill us in, instead.

Colin serves two roles here, he is a work study student, and a peer tutor as well. He enthusiastically told us a bit about what goes on in the Center where he works.

Students come to learn at the Computer Technology Department to either become a super user or power user of Windows or Linux. The CEC does predominantly have a Windows focus in this program, but as of late they’ve been moving more towards Linux.

A lot more people use Linux (including students) because it’s cheaper and it’s open source which makes it much easier to modify than Windows. The program also covers how to operate

Pro-Active Advice ad•vice /ed’vis/

guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action.

Dear Rachel,

This semester is definitely getting the best of me. I’m definitely having an issue juggling school work and a social life. I’m currently living on my own while my family is away. It feels like I have no moral support because my friends have their own lives to worry about as well. Can you help me?

each other get through it by being there for each other and helping one another stay on track.

Dear Reader, I, too, used to have the same problem.

Being a full time student and having a full time job is a heavy weight for people to carry, but there are many ways to solve this problem, starting with a planner. A lot of students’ problem is they stretch themselves too thin. If you get a planner and you document everything you know you have planned, you will stay on top of things and be a little more organized.

Make sure in this planner you schedule time for homework, work and a social hour here and there. Staying responsible plays a key factor. When your social time is over, you must have the responsibility to get back on track. Keeping your money organized is a good way to be able to downsize your work hours and have more time to focus on school, which just means staying financially responsible. There are many students in the same boat as you. If you find someone struggling just as much as you are, go to them. You guys can help

Dear Reader, A teacher is there to guide you in the right direction, not to push you down. Just like everyone else, a teacher has a personality, too. His is just one you have to get to know a little better. Over the years, I have found that teachers love it when you come to them with questions. Just as if someone came to you and asked you about something you loved. They take that one question and run with it, and by the end of it all you have learned everything plus some.

I don’t think he is failing you on purpose.

If that’s how you truly feel, then ask him why it seems like you’re bothering him, and if that doesn’t get you the reaction you are looking for, then you should consider seeking help from a peer or even a different teacher in that department. There are alternate ways to success elsewhere.

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Dear Rachel, I’m pretty sure one of my teachers this semester hates me. He is constantly failing my essays and when I ask him for help it’s as if I’m bothering him. What should I do?

By Rachel Flowers

rd Annual Veterans Breakfast and Flag Raising Ceremony

November 3

Breakfast at: 0700 Flag Ceremony at: 0900

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Advisor Amy Lainoff alainoff@smccme.edu

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Windows operating systems, from client machines to server machines (as well as the equivalent of that in Linux). Furthermore, they instruct in things such as databases, web development, PHP (which is structured programing), bash-scripting, startup prompts for Windows and Linux, and all the neat little trickery in between.

Colin also talked about the knowledge students take from this program. In his words “you leave here knowing a little about a lot.” Many students have a focus on network administration, server administration, or even website development. In fact, by the time the students graduate everyone has their own website (it’s a requirement for graduation). Collin explained that once you learn the conceptuality behind most of these courses its very easily translatable into different aspects of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, etc. It’s expected of people in this career field to have a wide range of knowledge.

As far as the jobs students can get after graduating from this program, Collin has seen a lot of people go places. He knows students who went on to Tela Technologies, Texas Instruments, as well as one of the semiconductors factories here in the Portland area. He even knows of someone who went on to be project manager of Net Tel, a telecommunications company in Westbrook. Many people also end up doing their own thing, and work for themselves, or end up technicians for

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companies that didn’t previously have technician jobs.

Let’s just say there’s some pretty great job security for this line of work.

Information Security is a major that SMCC will be offering next semester, and according to Collin there is currently zero unemployment in that industry, in the world.

The Computer Tech industry standards are between $50-60 an hour.

In fact Collin was paid $25hr for his internship. The Hammond Lumber Co didn’t have a technical department.

He became their tech department and set his own wage by charging half the industry standard. Collin also knows someone who has been doing an unpaid internship for that last six months with the Federal Courthouse in Portland. When he’s finished he’ll have just about any door open to him. That’s the thing about his kind of work; you are really building your reputation.

Don’t worry if you’re not too tech savvy, Collin points out that there are people who come in to the CEC program with no prior knowledge, climb the ranks, and get these jobs in no time.

As for him, the program has been great to him. He was working at Better Rest moving furniture around, but he always wanted to work with computers.

He said he finally put himself in a place where he could work and learn at the same time, all while getting paid. That sounds like a pretty good deal.

By Erik Squire

Vote fromIn theNovember 2 – 8 noisy lounge Alpha Chi Nu/Student Senate

The issue: Should the Maine Community College System sell all fossil fuel investments and prohibit and future investments in the industry most responsible for climate change?

Signatures have been gathered, petitions filled, and voices heard. For the first time 10 years the Student Senate is holding a campus wide referendum. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (the creators of this initiative) and the Students Senate have laid out what this referendum is all about.

ref·er·en·dum

For more information contact: SMCC Veterans Club smccmevetclub@gmail.com

Page 9 ¤ October 21, 2014

noun

n

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

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SMCC

Clarke Canfield

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larke Canfield is the Director of Communications here at SMCC. He went to University of Denver and got his bachelor’s degree in Communications, then worked towards his Master’s in Journalism at Boston University. He moved around a lot when he was young. He grew up in Boston Massachusetts, St. Louis Missouri, and Memphis Tennessee.

STAFF INTERVIEW

Mr. Canfield has been with SMCC for eleven months now. The job that he does for SMCC varies from writing and editing all sorts of communications materials for SMCC. For example he manages such things as: SMCC media, media relations with outside media, writes and organizes press conferences, publishes newspaper columns, takes photos, and produces the campus newsletter The Campus Connection.

Previous to working here, Mr. Canfield was a Journalist with the Associated Press; however, he always wanted to work in a college atmosphere.

He enjoys being on campus and interacting with the students, faculty, and staff. He takes pleasure from the variety of writing projects and loves how he is learning new skills.

In Mr. Canfield’s words “It’s a nice campus and I’m impressed with everything about SMCC.”

By Taylor Chretien IMAGE COURTESY OF BEACON STAFF

SMCC VETERANS CLUB The SMCC Veterans Club provides support to veterans and families regarding veterans issues on campus. We do this through activities that promote community service and education on veteran related topics. Membership is free and is open to any student, staff, faculty and family member of Southern Maine Community College.

3rd Annual Veterans Breakfast and Flag Raising Ceremony will be held on November 3rd.

Damnationland Film Festival

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t’s time for the 5th annual Damnationland Film Festival coming right in time for some Halloween frights and excitement! The event was kicked off last Friday the 17th in State Theater, Portland, and will have many more showings up until Halloween! If you would like to get tickets to upcoming showings of this ultimate in local fright nights you may purchase them at damnationland.com.

Last Friday night, guests were greeted by the producers who came on stage to get the party rolling. Eddy Bolz, one of the four producers onstage, announced that we soon will be losing fellow producer David Meiklejohn to the “douchebag city of L.A.” This was followed up by laughs, oohs and awws in the audience. Eddy is one of our finest homegrown Mainers who comes complete with humor, wit and sarcasm intact. He used to work at the indie movie theater on Exchange St. in the Old Port before it closed. Thank the dark lord of the underworld that Damnationland will still be keeping him around, at least. Once their intro was done, he introduced a lip syncing goth dance group called Aquarius Funk. This proved to be a rather dark and macabre dance act, indeed, and a good way to get everyone in the mood for a night of dark fantasy.

The movies of Damnationland are works by some of the brightest film makers that Maine has to offer. This year the films will not only be featured all around Maine but also out of state as well for the first time this year. The movies include Jason Bosch’s Driver’s Seat, Jennifer Anastasoff’s Sui Generis, The Brown Brothers with the movie

Left to Right 1st row - Jesse Hermida, Amy Meuchel, Katrina Weymouth, Bryan Noyes (alum) Left to Right 2nd row - Ted Stern, guest, Josh Szafranski, Tim Gilboe, Alex Fogg Left to Right 3rd row - Adam King, guest, Whitney Cole Please note - guests are not SMCC students PHOTO BY AMY LAINOFF

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By Jennifer Lague

Need help?

For more information contact us at smccmevetclub@gmail.com facebook.com/SMCCVCO

Veterans Club Semester Social @ On the Border Mexican Cafe

Dark,Tom Wyatt’s Anima Sola, Barry Dodd (who is the director for the web series Ragged Isle) with his movie On a Country Road, and lastly, Corey Norman of the SMCC CNMS Department with the movie Tickle. In between each film we were shown a 5 minute short produced by Through the Door Productions.

One thing you will notice about these films and their theme is that some are very psychological thrillers that tap into the darker side of humanity. The writers of these films are not just out to give you a cheap thrill but rather to tap into your fears and disturb you to the bone. This is indeed the start of a new era of horror filmmaking. So, be prepared and bring someone to cuddle up to if necessary.

The other beautiful thing about this festival is that there are, at times, huge laughs from the crowd. So, not only are there disturbing moments but very ridiculous moments as well especially if you have a macabre sense of humor. What could be more perfect for the month of Halloween? I recommend that people get a costume to wear to go see the upcoming viewings and be ready to make it into a very special Halloween party extravaganza! All I can say is if you really have a hankering to see a scary troll that cuts off your feet YOU GOT IT!!!

The event was followed up by a cozy Q & A with the directors and writers of the films. Audience members were allowed to ask questions about what went into the making and how the writers came up with their stories.

It was a fun, local night had by all.

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Our drop-in research workshops may be over, but the Reference Librarians are still around!

Bryan, Meghan, and Derek welcome you to stop by for research help or assistance with MLA/APA citations. You can also make an appointment for a more in-depth consultation.

We’re here to help you!

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The Portland Sports Beat Celtics square off against the Toronto Raptors

of Avery Bradley with less than a second remaining to win the game 92-89.

Before this Bradley tied the game with a mid- range jump shot with eight seconds to go which fired up the crowd and the Celtics players.

“The atmosphere was great, just wish we could have got these fans in Portland a win”, said Boston Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens. “Its great to play in a lot of the places in New England that follow the Celtics and have for a long time.”

This game was the first action of the season for Celtics starter Jeff Green who is coming off an injury. Green saw a lot of action to get his feet under him in this game and the fans of Maine were grateful to see Green play. “Jeff got poked in the eye in the first quarter but besides that looked good physi-

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ortland Maine was an exciting and energetic place to be Wednesday night when they got to welcome the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors to town for a preseason game at the newly renovated Cross Insurance Arena. The likes of some of the NBA’s brightest stars past and present were in the building from Rajon Rondo and Demar Derozan, to Danny Ainge and Cedric Maxwell.

The game was intense, had offensive streaks from both teams and came down to the last shot. The Raptors Lou Williams hit a deep 3pt shot in the face

Today in Sports History: October 21st Carlton Fisk Sends World Series to Game 7

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5k Local Runs

was 1975 on a brisk October night at Fenway Park.

The Boston Red Sox saw themselves down in the World Series three games to two against the Cincinnati Reds with an electric crowd on hand.

The Red Sox were still in their World Series drought since 1918, which made the crowd that much louder. The game was full of ups and down and many different climaxes.

The Red Sox started the game ahead 3-0 and then the Reds would score six unanswered runs before a three run homerun

by Red Sox pinch hitter Bernie Carbo

that tied the game in the 8th inning.

In the bottom of the 9th, Boston had a great scoring opportunity with the bases loaded and no one out. Many fans in AP PHOTO / the stadium thought HARRY CABLUCK they had the game in the bag at this point.

The Reds battled and didn’t allow a single run to score in the inning, prolonging the game into extra innings.

The game went all the way to the 12th inning when Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk approached the plate. On the second pitch of the at bat Fisk smashed the ball high and deep to left field. This moment almost appeared in slow motion as the ball was traveling through to air. Off the bat it looked foul and as Fisk ran down the first base

Nov 1st

Great Osprey 10k Ocean Run Freeport, ME

Nov 2nd

Kick’n It 5K Turner, ME

Nov 8th

Portland Waterfront 5k Portland, ME

Nov 8th

Save Your Breath - Fun Run South Portland, ME

Nov 8th

Wells Veteran Day 5k Wells, ME

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cally. It was his first game and these exhibitions will be a good chance for Jeff to get into game shape,” said Stevens.

Marcus Smart, Tyler Zeller and Marcus Thornton are three new players to the Celtics this season and all had strong games off the bench. Smart, this year’s 6th overall pick in the draft finished with 11pts, 3 steals, and had great energy. Zeller had a breakout game shooting 6-6 from the field with 12pts, and Thornton led the Celtics with 17pts, and 3 steals. All three of these players will be key to the Celtics success this regular season.

Overall, despite the loss, this preseason game was a success. It brought Celtics basketball back to Portland for the first time in 20 years and gave Celtics fans in Maine a great opportunity

to see some of their favorite players play. Another highlight was bringing awareness to the community about the Maine Red Claws and the collaboration work they do with the Boston Celtics and showing that fans have the opportunity to see professional basketball all year right here in Portland, Maine

The Boston Celtics open up the regular season on October 29th home at the TD Garden against the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30. The Maine Red Claws open their home season on November 21st at 7:00 against the Canton Charge.

By Sam Coombs

AP PHOTO / HARRY CABLUCK

line he would lure the ball fair with his hands and create one if the most iconic pictures and moments in World Series history. A walk-off home run off Reds pitcher Pat Darcy in the 12th inning to take the World Series to a game 7.

This iconic moment felt like rejuvenation for baseball fans in New England and Red Sox fans across the nation. As Fisk dance around the bases the noise was deafening and fans began to run on the field before Fisk even reached home plate. As he reached home plate there was a mob of his teammates and fans from Fenway

Park jumping for joy as the Red Sox were going to play again for a potential World Series Championship. They went on to lose in game seven but regardless this is still one of the most known moments in Red Sox history.

Since this moment the pole has been named the Fisk Pole because of this historic hit. There are now seats on the green monster at Fenway Park and the Fisk Pole is now a very popular attraction for fans.

By Sam Coombs

Exclusive Offer for Southern Maine Community College students, faculty & staff

No overdraft fees.

No monthly fees.

No hassles.

Any SMCC student, faculty or staff member that opens a Hassle Free account at the MillCreek KeyBank Center between 10/21 & 11/21 will be eligible to win a Kindle Fire HD

FMI - Contact Libby Reynolds at (207) 767- 5991 To be eligible to enter to win a Kindle Fire you must open a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account or other qualifying KeyBank checking account between 10/14/2014 and 11/14/2014 and make direct deposits within 60 days after account opening. Direct deposit transactions are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits. The value of your gift will be reported on Form 1099-INT. The Kindle Fire can be picked up at the MillCreek KeyBank Center located at 25 Market Street, South Portland, ME. Offer is not available to individuals who have had a KeyBank checking account.

If you close your account within 180 days of account opening, you will be charged a $25 account early closure fee. Accounts overdrawn or closed at the time of gift fulfillment are not eligible for this offer. Accounts titled as Trust Accounts, Estate, Non-Individual, and No Access are excluded from eligibility.

Offer is subject to cancellation without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer. Other miscellaneous charges may apply. In addition to the KeyBank Hassle-Free Account all other personal checking accounts except the Student Checking Account qualify for this offer. Normal account service charges apply to these other checking accounts. ©2014 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC. ADL7206.02

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Page 12 ¤ October 7, 2014

Melissa Sanborn and Scott Nappi To Be Inducted into SMCC Hall of Fame

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wo outstanding individuals: Scott Nappi, and Melissa Sanborn will be inducted into the SMCC Athletic Hall of Fame on November 1st at 5:00 p.m. in the Campus Center here at SMCC. Nappi was a standout baseball player for the Seawolves as Sanborn standout in softball. The Hall of Fame, whether it is professionally or at a small college, is always a terrific honor. It shows that the people being recognized were not only hard working and highly skilled at their craft, but were respected by their teammates and respected on and off the field.

While at SMCC Nappi was known for his all around talent offensively and defensively, but especially known for his speed. Nappi ranks number one all time in school history for stolen bases. Nappi for his efforts was also a two-time YSCC conference player of the year in 2008 and 2009 which were his only years with the team. The Seawolves were 54-25 while Nappi was on the team and also captured a YSCC conference championship. Nappi’s hard work and dedication to the sport made him a good leader while an athlete at SMCC.

Sanborn while playing softball for SMCC won YSCC first team honors in both seasons she was on the team and ranks highly in every offensive stat.

Sanborn is 6th all time in homeruns, 7th in runs and 8th in RBI’s. To put up great numbers like this in only two full seasons is impressive and shows the passion and skill Sanborn played with.

“Both inductees were instrumental to their teams success when they played here and were leaders in their respective sports,” said SMCC Athletic Director Matt Richards.

Tickets for the ceremony are $20 dollars and can be purchased through the SMCC athletics department (207741-5927) or by contacting Richards at mrichards@smccME.edu.

Congratulations on this honor for both Scott Nappi and Melissa Sanborn and the Beacon Newspaper wishes them well in their future endeavors.

EVENTS

UPCOMING

By Sam Coombs

PHOTO BY LAUREN MICHELLE

SMCC Sports Reports

Women’s Soccer Recap

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the SMCC women’s soccer season comes to an end, there are many great things to reflect on throughout their fall season. The Seawolves record finished out at 5-7-1 with many strong performances to speak of. The best stretch of the season was a 3 game winning streak in which SMCC beat CMCC twice and St. Joes of Maine. The Seawolves outscored

their opponents 23-0 during this winning streak. SMCC had a lot of strong play from their freshmen, which can only mean superb things for the future of SMCC women’s soccer.

Freshman goalkeeper Aime Worcester was exceptionally good in net this year only allowing 21 goals throughout the entire season. She finished with 66 saves and an 1.73 goals against average which was top in the YSCC. Another freshman Katy Cyr was the leader offensively for the Seawolves tallying 9 goals and 2 assists this season. Cyr also led the team in shots and played aggressively on the offensive end all season.

The Lady Seawolves also got strong play from leader Danielle McCusker, and Zyrah Glustra who sustained great energy throughout the season while providing a range of options offensively.

The Seawolves season ended in the first round of the YSCC playoffs against Unity College who was one of the strongest teams in the conference.

They lost the game 2-0, but defensively played a sound throughout. Overall from both teams it was a defensive game and the Seawolves just couldn’t find the back of the net. There were a total of 8 shots between both teams, as the ball was often in the neutral zone.

The Seawolves should not be upset with the effort they displayed in this contest and all season. They worked hard and had some great games. The strong play from the freshmen this season shows that the future could be bright for SMCC women’s soccer.

They were a streaky team all season but when they put everything together were a tough opponent to beat.

If the Seawolves can strengthen their offensive game over the offseason they could win a lot of games. Worcester looks strong in net and with a combination of her strong play and an improvement offensively, that would translate in more wins and hopefully a further run in the YSCC playoffs.

By Sam Coombs

PHOTO BY LAUREN MICHELLE

Women’s Soccerteam flexes as they enter the YSCC playoffs

Woman’s Basketball

Nov 5; Maine Maritime Academy - 8pm Nov 8; Berkeley NYC - 1pm

Men’s Basketball

Nov 1; NAVY Prep - 1pm Nov 5; Maine Maritime Academy - 6pm Nov 8; Berkeley NYC - 3pm

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THURSDAY, OCT. 30 | FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MUHSANA ALI USM SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK & THE MUSKIE SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE PRESENT:

“Creative Placemaking, Community Building and Transcultural Challenges”

Senegal-based artist Muhsana Ali speaks about her creative placemaking and community art practice, including the Mart Community Project in Mart, TX. Ali, a Pew Fellowship and Fulbright Scholar recipient has exhibited her work throughout Europe, Africa and the United States. Ali’s skill and talent as an artist are matched by her ability to bring diverse groups of people together through artistic projects and a shared passion to revitalize their environment. Please join us for this special evening.

Presentation 4:30-6 PM | Wishcamper 102 Exhibit & Reception 6-7 PM | Wishcamper Lobby

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Le Louvre Comes to SMCC Large Scale Drawings in the Captain’s House

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o all the creative students who need a space to showcase artistic creations; we have a solution. The walls of the Captain’s House are now available for art exhibits. Your work no longer has to go unseen, and you don’t even have to be in the Art Department

The current exhibition in the Captain’s House, which showcases recent work completed by Drawing II students, are representational, largescale studies of the SMCC campus locations. The drawing students used charcoal, white chalk and conte on paper to capture the landscape and architectural references found around campus. While the drawings initially read as straightforward representations, the students distorted the space and shapes within the composition to tweak the logic of perspective. The students were able to focus on how they wanted to present the subject matter.

After hearing about this show I checked it out for myself. The drawings contained dynamic, textured, and ornate compositions; every piece embodied individuality, which is a likely outcome when your parameters are so freeing. I was completely amazed by the entirety of the class’s work. My ability to observe the artist’s perspectives come to life created a peaceful feeling. What amazed me more was the student’s overall ability to master the foundations. Every piece had great composition, profound use of contrast,

texture, perspective and line quality.

One of my favorite pieces is by Nelea Mihaila. If you go to the second floor, take a right and look at the 3’ by 5’ on the right wall you will see the whimsical tranquility of nature meeting its inevitable destruction. It is blanketed with creative depth and detailed layering. The foreground unites with the abstracted background, which intensifies the feeling of rustic destruction. The precise and meticulous line quality in unison with the tree branches furnishes a paralyzing serenity.

As students we have an amazing opportunity to either flaunt our skilled trades or marvel at them. Either way we are here to learn and expand our minds. After this exhibit is finished Michelle Lessard-Terry has reserved a section for an open house to showcase her CNMS portfolio, and in early December Kate Sibole’s Senior Portfolio CNMS students will feature their work in print, video, photo and web. Because there is ample space in the building we still want students to submit outside work. So check this show out and stay in touch for more to come!

If you have something you want to show to the SMCC community please contact Shane Long, slong@smccme. edu, or Chuck Ott, cott@smccme.edu to schedule an opportunity to have your work exhibited.

KOREN SULLIVAN

NELEA MIHAILA

RYAN MCALEER

By Francis Coletti

HUY NGUYEN

DANIEL LINEHAN

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SARAH CLIFFORD

NAOMI FROHLOFF

IVAN PICKETT

VERONICA JOHNSON

MAYRA BELLO

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The Maine State Gubernatorial Election Coverage expect to see our per capita income increase 18 percent.

by the faculty from the University of Maine, will also help to break down barriers to completion by incentivizing students to get past their sophomore year. Once students are two years in, the rate of completion increases.

That’s good for individuals, but it’s also good for the overall economy.

When I was a young man, you could graduate from high school and get a good job in the mill. In a few places, you still can. But that option is disappearing for most people and in most places. More and more, every job in the workplace is demanding a high level of training and more education.

We also need to support efforts to encourage students who have college credit but haven’t finished their degrees to return to school and finish their program. There’s great opportunity to increase the number of people in Maine with a degree through a sustained effort in this area.

The state appropriation to SMCC has been relatively flat, increasing by only 1% and has even gone down a couple of years recently (FY 2009-2010 & 2012-2013).

Do you think community colleges need more money and if so, how would you ensure that happens?

LePage once said that “college was not for everyone;” however, only 27% of Mainers have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, below the national average of 29%, do you feel that enough people in Maine have a degree?

We need to increase funding for both the community colleges and the University of Maine System. Education will be one of the highest priorities in my budget, but it will take time to get our funding levels to the place they need to be.

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ast semester a commitment to cover the race for the governor’s seat was made by the Beacon writing staff. The goal was to gain access to the candidates in order to interview them, with the focus on higher education. The process of securing, preparing for, and carrying out an interview can be daunting, exciting, excilcerating and even frustrating.

Two years ago, the Beacon secured interviews with the Maine senatorial candidates: Angus King, Cynthia Dill, and Charles Summer. Angus King and Cynthia Dill both agreed to have their interviews video taped while Charles Summer agreed to answer questions via email.

With that type of success, the writing staff that pursued the gubernatorial interviews had high expectations for this set of interviews. In the end, the Beacon secured 1 interview with Eliot Cutler, which was video taped and will be available on the SMCCBeaconNewspaper, YouTube channel, received answers to a questionnaire that was sent to Congressman Michaud, and disappointingly did not have the opportunity to interview, or receive answers from Governor LePage.

Below are Congressman Michaud’s responses to the questionnaire that the Beacon sent a few weeks ago.

Chuck Ott

Beacon Faculty Adviser What are your plans for higher education in Maine?

What is your plan for strengthening the Maine Community College System?

There are two economic approaches to higher education: One sees higher education as an individual good; the other sees it as a public good.

Right now, we’re out of balance and too much of the burden of getting a college degree is falling upon individuals, while public support has been flat or falling.

I see education as a public investment that strengthens our economy, helps our state grow and gives our people the best chance to be successful. Having more people in Maine with a college degree helps everyone and is most certainly a public good.

To grow Maine’s economy, we need more people with a college degree.

Many say the next bubble to burst in our Nation’s economy will be student debt, do you think Maine is immune to this problem, and if not, what should we do to rein it in before it bursts?

I do not support the plan and do not think it will work.

Earlier this summer, Oregon realized that it’s “pay-it forward” plan faced major, and perhaps insurmountable, problems. The costs were enormous and the details unworkable. In addition, the plan doesn’t actually reduce the cost of a college education, it just changes how a student repays the debt. It’s too complicated and it won’t accomplish its stated goals.

No, Maine is not immune to the problem. While Maine’s community colleges and universities are a pretty good deal, our state’s low per capita income make a college education unaffordable for a lot of people.

In my Maine Made plan, I’ve proposed policy ideas that I believe will help to make college more affordable, reduce student debt and break down barriers to on-time completion.

I think we have to be willing to look at big, innovative ideas like this, but we also have to be willing to except that once we dig into the details they might not work. After looking at the details, I don’t think “pay-it forward” will work and there are better, simpler and more direct ways to reduce student debt and the cost of higher of education.

The first proposal is to make the sophomore year free for instate students at Maine’s universities. Research shows that a high number of students drop out between their first and second year, often citing cost. The program creates an incentive for students to stick with it, and once they get beyond the second year, they’re more likely to complete their degree.

Maine’s community colleges are working on numerous sustainable initiatives. What would you do to strengthen that niche and foster further development?

Secondly, I would create an Accelerated Learning Grant for Maine’s community colleges. The way federal financial aid works, Pell Grants can’t be used for summer studies. The grant would reduce barriers to students’ success by allowing students who qualify for financial assistance to take classes in the summer, reducing the amount of time for program completion.

SMCC is doing some amazing work around sustainability. I had the privilege of attending an event at the Sustainability Center earlier this year and I was very impressed with the work being done there.

I’m committed to expanding the development of clean, renewable energy in Maine. As the Maine Technology Institute recently reported, this sector is poised for growth and is already creating good-paying jobs.

In both cases, we can reduce the cost of higher education and reduce student debt.

Maine’s current graduation rate from college with an associates degree within 3 years is only 25%, how would you propose we increase increase attendance and hopefully thereby increase the completion rate?

My Maine Made plan places a priority on a number of initiatives that will require workers with the skills SMCC is teaching.

My Accelerated Learning Grant will help by allowing students to complete their degrees more quickly.

I have set an aggressive goal of reducing the use of home heating oil by 50 percent by 2030.

I also think that we can increase graduation rates by starting earlier with students. If we invest in early childhood education and pre-K programs, if students are at grade-level in elementary school, then they are much more likely to be successful in high school and college.

The first step is to invest in energy efficiency and weatherization, which requires a trained and skilled workforce. The payoff for efficiency is incredible and can help homes and businesses reduce their energy costs. That’s good for families and employers and it’s good for the environment.

There’s good work going on right now at the community college to help students navigate college. We need to expand and support programs such as the Achieving the Dream at Eastern Maine Community College. The program places a priority on student supports, including advising, mentoring and tutoring.

Maine is the only state in New England without a plan for solar power. That has to change. SMCC is already providing the infrastructure to make it possible to grow solar power in Maine.

Whether it’s a focus on wind energy at NMCC or weatherization training at WCCC, my plans would not be possible without the work going on at the community colleges.

Perhaps most importantly, Maine’s community colleges are leading by example and providing students with the skills to be successful in this important and growing field.

The partnership between the community colleges and the private sector is critical to our economy and our ability to transform Maine’s economy.

There are some rumors that the MCCS should merge with the University of Maine System, what is your position on this?

I do not support the merger of the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System as Eliot Cutler has proposed. The two systems have different missions and combining them would undermine the effectiveness of both.

Yes. I believe that the cost of college is a deterrent. As I mention above, I have a plan to provide direct support to in-state college students to help them afford to attend the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System.

Over their lifetimes, people with college degrees earn significantly more than their counterparts without a degree. If we were able to increase the percentage of the Maine population with a college degree to the New England average, we could

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Candidate Eliot Cutler proposes a model similar to Pay it Forward, which is currently employed in Oregon and Australia. Do you see an adaption of that being successful in Maine? How would the funds be generated to make this plan function?

22.2% of the average Mainer’s median family income is required to pay for our four year public universities. The U.S. average 16.9. We have second highest tuition costs per income level in the nation. Despite the fact that universities benefit the economy enormously, by helping people get higher paying jobs, do you think that the high cost of tuition may be a deterrent for Mainers to attend college? What are your plans to make college more affordable? How do you incentivize more people to attend college?

Do you see the job market in Maine expanding for future college graduates? In what ways do you see it changing, if so? What role does higher education play in Maine’s economic development?

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We also need to increase the number of people with other types of post-secondary training, including technical and vocational training.

FY 09 Actual 12,469,289.00 FY 10 Actual 12,240,837.00 FY 11 Actual 12,633,707.00 FY 12 Actual 12,661,249.00 FY 13 Actual 12,302,468.00 FY 14 Actual 12,949,022.00 FY 15 Budget 13,009,740.00

Statistics show that Americans with four-year college degrees made 98 percent more an hour on average in 2013 than people without a degree. With that in mind, consider this:

I support increased investment in early childhood education and pre-K. Early investment delivers results throughout a student’s educational life. I want to put Maine on a path to funding K-12 education at 55 percent, as voters have demanded. And I will invest in higher education, with a focus on breaking down barriers to completion, holding the line on costs and reducing student debt.

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We must increase the number of people in Maine who have a college degree. It’s critical for our economy and for expanding opportunity for our people.

I would, however, push the two systems to make it easier for students to move from one system to the other and, when possible, to collaborate on things such as institutional buying that might be able to reduce costs for both.

My plans will reduce the cost of a four-year degree by 25 percent. My sophomore year free plan, which was endorsed

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