Dear Colleagues:

While my monthly Go Blue messages generally focus on the month we have just completed, I’d like to start this month by taking a look ahead to election day on Nov. 6.

Two ballot measures will have a direct and significant impact on UMaine.

Question 2 would provide $55 million for a competitive-based research and development grant program. Given the ongoing research impact of our faculty, students, and staff, it is fair to assume that a large number of the grants would be awarded to UMaine researchers.

Question 3 would provide $43.5 million for facility improvements across the University of Maine System, the community colleges, and Maine Maritime Academy. UMaine would receive nearly one-quarter of those funds.

As members of the university community, it's important that you are aware of how those bond issues would enhance the academic quality and public benefits of our universities. I encourage you to review the details of the bond issues at www.maine.edu/2007BondsFAQ.

No matter what position you choose to take on these and other ballot questions, on Nov. 6 I hope you will exercise your right to vote, and encourage your family and friends to do so as well.

We were pleased to host a Monday, Oct. 29 news conference announcing a new development that draws attention to university research and its value, especially in the context of the way we approach it in Maine. That event involved the announcement of a new research data network that will help provide the cyber-infrastructure that will help keep Maine and UMaine competitive in research. The new network, funded by a special state appropriation, will expand the capacity we have for transmitting the massive amounts of data necessary to collaborate with statewide partners such as the Jackson Laboratory. Researchers like UMaine Prof. Bruce Segee are excited about what this will mean to both current and future projects.

We were delighted to receive the news in October that Prof. Habib Dagher, his colleagues and students at UMaine’s Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center have received the “Best of the Best” Award from the American Composites Manufacturing Association. In effect, this award means that industry experts consider the AEWC’s Army-funded development of ballistic tent panels to be the best composites innovation of the past year. As you may know, those panels are designed to line tent interiors in combat situations, making those living inside much safer.

As much public attention is focused on university R&D, in the context of discussions about Referendum Question 2, this award demonstrates the quality and value of UMaine research.

The festive celebration of the Red Sox World Series victory provided yet another indication of the wonderful spirit that exists in our community and among our students. I appreciate the efforts of a great many people – led by Associate Dean of Students Kenda Scheele – who planned and executed the celebration.

Our community also has a long history of generous support of important causes, notably through the Combined Charitable Appeal for University Employees (CCAUE). This year’s campaign is underway, under the capable leadership of Sharon Buchanan and Andrea Gifford. This year’s goal is to top last year’s campaign total of $114,000 – money used by community agencies to provide support to people in communities around Maine, especially in this part of the state.

I would like to highlight a few outstanding October UMaine events, and recognize some of those who helped make them happen.

- We will long remember Friday Oct. 5, when former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen and legendary journalist Bob Woodward visited UMaine for two well-received events, a William S. Cohen Papers Forum and a William S. Cohen Lecture. Congratulations to Jan Staples, the Cohen Center’s director, and Paige Lilly, the Cohen archivist at Fogler Library, for their leadership in organizing these wonderful events.

- Just a few days later, we celebrated the opening of the new Student Recreation and Fitness Center, a facility that has exceeded our sky-high expectations. The Rec Center, as it is commonly called, has instantly become a hub of community, student-centered activity. Rec Center Director Jeff Hunt and the entire staff have done a wonderful job establishing the programming and organizing all the details necessary to assure a successful start.

- Homecoming Weekend, as always, featured a memorable series of events as alumni and other friends returned to UMaine to renew connections and enjoy the Homecoming activities. The UMaine Alumni Association, with President and Executive Director Todd Saucier, puts a tremendous amount of effort into organizing Homecoming, and their work is much-appreciated.

- Bill Hockensmith and the staff at the UMaine Bookstore recently unveiled the holiday ornament the store will sell this year to support the UMaine chapter of Colleges Against Cancer. The bookstore staff does this every year – choosing a different community service-oriented student organization to benefit from the sale of an attractive, UMaine-themed ornament.

- UMaine student Michelle Morneault and Prof. Mary Rumpho-Kennedy led campus efforts to organize contributions to support the Pink Tulip Project, a breast cancer awareness fundraising program that culminated in Sunday’s planting of pink tulip bulbs in front of Fogler Library. Not only does this project raise important fund and boost awareness, but it will result in a beautiful springtime display in front of the library.

- The Maine Folklife Center recently published the 40th issue of “Northeast Folklore,” its annual publication that brings to the public parts of the center’s collection of traditional and cultural materials related to Maine. Maine Folklife Center Associate Director Pauleena MacDougall wrote the introduction and an essay on Maine dialects.

- While we were sad to bid farewell to University of Maine Museum of Art Director Wally Mason, who has left for a similar position at Marquette University, we are all pleased that the museum’s new exhibit features the works of the late UMaine art faculty icon Vincent Hartgen. A second exhibition of Prof. Hartgen’s work will open at the museum on Dec. 6. Prof. Laurie Hicks will take over as the museum's interim director.

- Congratulations to Honors College Dean Charlie Slavin and Honors College Associates Lauren Marshall, Isaac Record and Alice White-Cyr on the news that “Minerva,” the Honors College’s annual publication, has received first place in the annual National Collegiate Honors Council publication contest. “Minerva” is a wonderful publication, and we are proud of this recognition.

- Culturefest, UMaine’s traditional celebration of the cultures that enhance our academic community, was a great success during the last weekend of October. Karen Boucias and Sarah Joughin from UMaine’s Office of International Programs and a number of enthusiastic UMaine students organize this event, which is very popular with members of the UMaine community and a good number of people who visit every year from neighboring towns and cities.

- The legendary UMaine Class of 1944 received another prestigious honor at the University of Maine Foundation’s annual business meeting and luncheon. The Foundation recognized the class with the annual President Abram W. Harris Award for outstanding contributions to the University of Maine. Congratulations also go to Foundation President and CEO Amos Orcutt, the Foundation staff and its board of directors for a record year ending June 30, 2007.

- The UMaine Dept. of History hosted a recent event that clearly illustrates the ways in which academic departments can provide invaluable support to Maine’s K-12 schools. Some 50 people were on campus for the annual day-long Teaching History in Maine professional development conference for middle school and high school teachers. This year’s theme was “Maine and New England: Public Images/Invented Traditions.” Prof. Howard Segal served as the primary organizer for this year’s conference.

- UMaine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center recently hosted Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings as part of the center’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center Distinguished Maine Policy Fellow Program. Speaker Cummings, accompanied by Senior Policy Associate Mary Cathcart, spent an afternoon at UMaine meeting with students, faculty members and staff members. The Policy Fellow program brings Maine leaders to the campus to learn first-hand about UMaine teaching, research and engagement.

- Congratulations to UMaine Career Center Director Patty Counihan and the UMaine College of Engineering for another well-received Engineering Job Fair, held two weeks ago at the Rec Center. Some 63 companies participated in the event, where they conducted informal interviews with UMaine students interested in careers in engineering and technology.

- I was pleased to note recently the UMaine athletic department’s efforts to provide community service through the efforts of student-athletes and staff. A series of October events – including student-athlete trick-or-treating Wednesday night to collect non-perishable food for a local food cupboard – really demonstrate the important role these students play in our communities. Congratulations to Blake James, Brandi Rideout and all the coaches and student-athletes who are involved in these activities.

As always, I am pleased to provide a report on just a few of the achievements of UMaine’s faculty members during the past few weeks.

- We were very pleased to announce two weeks ago the appointment of Jeff Hecker, chair of UMaine’s psychology faculty, as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A national search for a dean is underway, and we all look forward to Jeff’s leadership of that college during this academic year.

- UMaine biology professor Michael Kinnison and colleagues from McGill University recently published an interesting paper advancing the discussion of the impact humans have on the habitats of other species. Michael and his colleagues have demonstrated, by looking at more than 3,000 wild animal populations, that human activity is accelerating the rates of evolution in those animals.

- UMaine College of Engineering Assistant Dean and School of Engineering Technology Director Scott Dunning has been named a “Legend in Energy” by the Association of Energy Engineers. That group presents this award every year to recognized leaders in energy-related professions.

- UMaine Dept. of Earth Sciences professors Ed Grew and Paul Mayewski (Paul is director of UMaine's Climate Change Institute), were honored last week with prestigious recognition by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Ed and Paul have been named fellows in that organization, elected by their peers in recognition of "meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications," as described by AAAS.

- Alan Cobo-Lewis has received two awards recognizing his important work lending his expertise to help Maine children. Alan has been honored with the 2007 Autism Society of Maine Service Award, for his work helping to assure that children receive early intervention treatment. He also received the 2007 Giraffe Award, from the Maine Children’s Alliance, for his outstanding work in helping make life better for children with disabilities. The award is so named because those honored “stick out their necks to help in any way they can.”

- UMaine College of Business, Public Policy and Health Dean John Mahon is taking on an important role assisting state government as chair of Maine’s International Relations Planning Committee. Gov. Baldacci appointed John, who is also founding director of UMaine’s School of Policy and International Affairs, to head up this committee, which will do important work to help position Maine and Maine businesses in the global economy.

- Prof. Mary Davis from UMaine’s School of Economics received a good deal of attention last month for an interesting research project looking at the economic effects of second hand smoke on Maine children. Mary, in her second year on the UMaine faculty, has expertise involving issues related to air quality and the environment.

- UMaine political scientists Richard Powell and Ken Palmer have been involved in public discussions related to their expertise in Legislative term limits as Maine voters prepare to decide whether to change that state law. Together with former UMaine professor Matt Moen, Rich and Ken wrote a book about the impact of term limits on the operation of the Maine legislature, and they have been sharing their perspectives with journalists and civic groups in recent weeks. Rich recently gave a talk on this subject at Colby College, while Ken addressed the Androscoggin Rotary Club in Auburn.

- A wonderful honor has just been announced for UMaine earth sciences professor Hal Borns. The Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. has chosen Hal for the annual 2007 “Big M Award.” According to the society, which is more than 100 years old, the award is given to “Maine natives or people with significant Maine connections for outstanding contributions, achievements, service or devotion to Maine and its citizens; for attaining the highest achievements in the recipient’s profession; or for exemplifying the finest attributes of a citizen involved in local, state or national affairs, projects or programs.” Hal will receive the award in December. Past winners of this award include U.S. Senators, members of Congress, Maine governors and other notable civic and educational leaders.

As a final note in this month’s message, I’d like to mention UMaine’s emergency communications system, which we recently tested with good results. Should an emergency occur, we have several ways to get the word out to our community (details are at www.umaine.edu/umainetxt). We are hopeful that more members of our community, including faculty members and staff members, will register with www.umaine.txt, to be able to receive text messages if there is an emergency. This is a cornerstone of our comprehensive messaging system, and we are concerned about the relatively low number of registrants to this point. Online registration can be accomplished at www.umaine.edu/umainetxt. It only takes a minute, it’s free and it can really be useful in a real emergency situation.

Sincerely,
 

Bob Kennedy

President