By Liam Nee
For The Maine Campus
The University of Maine General Student Senate added two new members to its body, allocated $1,600 to the Woodsmen’s Team and granted preliminary recognition to two clubs during their 22nd meeting of the 34th session on Sept. 17 in the Memorial Union’s Bangor Room.
Three senators join GSS, one resigns; nominations continue
Three new senators were sworn-in by Vice President Aaron Ortiz to begin the Sept. 17 meeting. Alexander Collins of Detroit, Mich.; Ryan Brann of Windsor; and Robert Begin of Jay are now the newest additions to the GSS body.
Fourth-year nursing student Sean Sibley announced his resignation from the GSS body. Sibley served on both the Services and Policy & Procedure committees.
Nomination periods for Sergeant at Arms, Graduate Student Senate Representative and Legal Services Liaison resumed. Sens. Jennifer Karod and Tanner Adams were added to the list of Legal Services Liaison candidates.
Nominations for Fair Election Practices Committee members began. Sen. Jake Dumas nominated three GSS members. Shortly after, FEPC Chair Bartley Kelliher nominated his first, non-GSS staff member.
Woodsmen’s Team funded $1,600
The GSS approved a funding request of $1,600 by the Woodsmen’s Team to be used for “entry fees and hotels [during] their fall 2013 season,” according to the resolution.
The Woodsmen’s Team plans on attending three competitions from this month to Nov. 2013 at Unity College in Unity, the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. and the University of New Brunswick in New Brunswick, Canada.
Fourth-year student Nicole Whitney spoke on behalf of the Woodsmen’s Team.
According to Whitney, other sources of expected funding include: $330 from club dues, $950 from fundraisers and $1,066 from UMaine’s School of Forest Resources.
There are 17 members on the team, and the expected cost of the fall 2013 season is $4,771.
The amount funded to the Woodsmen’s Team is less than the club expected, but SOC member Sen. Justin Conant says the committees thought process was “providing [the club] with a jump start,” up until the meet against UNH, “so that they can cover the rest with fundraising.”
Two clubs receive prelim recognition
CrossFit Black Bear and UMaine NCWA Wrestling Team received preliminary recognition from the GSS.
CrossFit Black Bear is a non-profit affiliate of CrossFit, Inc., a fitness company known for its functional movement at high intensity strength and conditioning program, CrossFit, which is practiced by thousands of gyms across the world.
The University of Maine’s Campus Recreation department recognizes CrossFit Black Bear underneath its umbrella of programs. According the club’s Facebook page, their motto is: “You can puke when you’re dead,” and “Workout of the Day” events are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 a.m.
CrossFit Black Bear received a 5-0-0 “ought to pass” recommendation from the Student Organizations Committee prior to coming before the GSS.
UMaine NCWA Wrestling Team is perhaps the latest addition to the UMaine’s wide array of club sports teams. The National Collegiate Wrestling Association recognizes the team as part of its Division II Northeast conference along with 16 other schools including: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University and Yale University.
Nearly three decades ago, during the ’70s and ’80s, UMaine had its own varsity wrestling team that kept a winning percentage of 54 percent over its 19-year existence. It was discontinued in 1988 due to a “lack of in-season conference affiliation and difficulty of obtaining home meets,” according to UMaine’s “M” Club.
According to Jordan Fogg — a second-year construction management engineering and business administration student, who spoke on behalf of the club — the team has already raised over $3,000 in fundraising, and a good turnout at the President’s Dinner earlier this fall has the team expecting over 80 members.
UMaine NCWA Wrestling Team received a 4-0-0 “ought to pass” recommendation from SOC prior to coming before the GSS.
Auxiliary Services’ Young, Sibley speak on health services
Dick Young, auxiliary operation director of Auxiliary Services, spoke on the recent changes within the health services department on campus along with Cutler Health Center office manager Renee Sibley.
Young says Cutler Health Center, which is run by Eastern Maine Medical Center of Bangor, offers appointment and walk-in services. University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a student-run volunteer organization closely tied to Cutler, provides on campus ambulance service.
According to Sibley, regular and walk-in appointments are serviced Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., respectively. Any student or staff member can utilize Cutler’s services, and family care can also be provided.
X-ray service is on-site three half-days per week, lab service is offered Monday through Friday, massage therapy operates on Wednesdays, physical therapy can be accessed three days per week and a podiatrist is available twice a month. A taxi service is also available, even outside regular business hours, for any reason there may be for transportation to EMMC.
Young says the insurance isn’t mandatory to be seen at Cutler.
“We work with the financial aid office — through Perkins loans, etc. — to make sure [all students and staff members] are able to get the service they need, regardless of where they’re coming from.”
Exec reports
Both President Kim Dao and Vice President of Student Organizations William “Nick” Smith mentioned plans of an upcoming event to help familiarize students with OrgSync. As of Sept. 17, the event was expected be held on Sept. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Wade Center for Student Leadership.
In addition to mentioning the OrgSync event, VPSO Smith said Club of the Month would no longer be awarded.
“Some months we would get two applications, others we would get seven,” Smith said. “Club of the Semester will be much better because [the winning organization] will have the option of making better use of a larger amount of money.”
Club of the Semester winners will receive $300, compared to the $100 prize Club of the Month winner earned last year.
Other funding
Women’s Lacrosse was funded $510 for their fall season; Women’s Ultimate Frisbee was funded $350 for Red Tide Clambake 2013 during early October in Portland; Maine Peace Action Committee was funded $200 for their office budget; Strong Mind-Strong Body, Inc. was funded $200 for their office budget; and The Wildlife Society was funded $196 for an upcoming national conference.