University of Maine News

The Portland Press Herald article “Maine, others may soon get to tax Web sales” cited a 2012 study by University of Maine economist Todd Gabe. Gabe’s study found Maine would receive between $18 million and $28 million if Congress authorized tax collections from online and catalog purchases.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently published the Chicago Tribune article “Students hazy on the dangers of hazing.” Mary Madden, a University of Maine education professor, and her 2008 study on hazing were cited in the article. Her study found nearly half of high school students have been hazed.

A Boston Globe feature on Sharon Kitchens, a former city dweller who now lives off the land in Maine, mentioned the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Volunteers Program. Kitchens, who also writes the Portland Press Herald blog “The Root,” expects to complete the program this year and to begin the volunteer requirements.

University of Maine Police Chief Roland LaCroix spoke with WABI (Channel 5) about the vandalism that occured at several buildings on campus Saturday. LaCroix said the case is under investigation.

UMaine’s community-supported agriculture program, the Black Bear Food Guild, based at Rogers Farm, is taking share orders. Half shares, serving two people, are $275; full shares, serving four, are $450. A share purchase ensures weekly supplies of high-quality, organic produce and is an investment in the hands-on learning of future sustainable agriculture farmers. This year, fresh cut flowers will be included in the shares — blooms grown to bolster the habitat for pollinators on the farm. For more information or for share orders, email the Black Bear Food Guild.

Professor of Sociology Steve Barkan has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA). TAA is the only nonprofit membership association dedicated solely to assisting textbook and academic authors.

George Marnik, a University of Maine educational leadership lecturer, was interviewed for the Portland Press Herald article “Principal turnover creates ripple effect for Maine schools.” The article also cited a UMaine study released last fall that found the average Maine principal was responsible for 69 more students, had 53 more staff members and worked 12 more hours a week in 2011 than in 2005.

Two University of Maine political science professors spoke to news organizations about Chechen conflicts following the Boston bombings. James Warhola spoke with the Bangor Daily News and Seth Singleton spoke with WABI (Channel 5).

The Village Soup previewed an upcoming event to be led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator Ellie Libby. Libby will speak about regional school garden programs and their effect on the local food movement at Merryspring Nature Center in Camden on April 30.

Idaho Press-Tribune recently published an Associated Press article on common gardening questions. Donna Coffin, an educator with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, gave advice on how to answer the question, “What’s eating my plants?”

WVII (Channel 7) covered the 6th annual Healthy High 5/10K and 1-Mile Fun Run at the University of Maine on Saturday. Hundreds of runners took part in the race that aims to promote health and wellness for the university and community.

WVII (Channel 7) reported dozens of University of Maine students are expected to shave their heads to raise money for children with cancer. UMaine Circle K, a Kiwanis-affiliated college service organization, will hold its 3rd annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving event on Maine Day, May 1, in the Steam Plant Lot.

The Bangor Daily News and WVII (Channel 7) carried reports of vandalism at the University of Maine. Vandals marked several campus buildings with graffiti Saturday afternoon.

Professor George Denton of the Climate Change Institute, and co-authors Philip Conkling, Richard Alley and Wallace Broecker are recipients of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for “The Fate of Greenland: Lessons from Abrupt Climate Change,” published in 2011. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to science literature. As noted in Phi Beta Kappa news site, previous book award winners include Stephen Jay Gould, Marjorie Garber, Jared Diamond, Harold Bloom and Ernst Mayr.

In May, MPBN will rebroadcast the “Sustainable Maine” series, highlighting the research of Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI), based at UMaine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center. SSI is helping communities solve interconnected economic problems while advancing sustainability science. Information about the MPBN documentary series is online. The rebroadcast schedule is:

• Desperate Alewives, 8:30 p.m. May 9

• Saving our Lakes, 8:30 p.m. May 16

• Basket Trees — Saving a Tradition, 8:30 p.m. May 23

• Pools, Policy and People, 8:30 p.m. May 30

For the fourth consecutive year, Princeton Review has rated the University of Maine as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada.

UMaine is profiled in the newly released “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges.” Four-year colleges are chosen for the guide based on schools’ course offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation to measure their commitment to the environment and to sustainability.

The Princeton Review creates its “Guide to 322 Green Colleges” in partnership with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, with generous support from United Technologies Corp., founding sponsor of the Center for Green Schools.

“This is national recognition of the University of Maine’s leadership and long-standing commitment to being one of the most sustainable universities in the country,” says UMaine President Paul Ferguson. “At UMaine, stewardship of place is a priority in how we live in our campus community, conduct research, and provide service that benefits Maine and addresses global issues.”

The University of Maine’s “Green Highlights” in the guide range from the campuswide Blue Bikes initiative and the Orono Black Bear Express shuttle service that reduce motor vehicle use to UMaine’s Sustainability Council, alternative energy research and the University of Maine Foundation’s Green Loan Fund.

The university is now home to five LEED-certified buildings — three silver and one gold. It has a comprehensive campus Zero-Sort recycling program and a new advanced composting facility, and is a participant in STARS — the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.

The university was a recipient of the 2011 Second Nature Climate Leadership Award recognizing outstanding climate leadership (UMaine received the award representing doctoral institutions). UMaine is a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007 and has been a member in good standing for six years. President Ferguson was elected to the ACUPCC Steering Committee in 2012.

The “Green Guide” is one of UMaine’s multiple national ranking citations. This year, for the ninth consecutive time, Princeton Review also named UMaine one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education. UMaine is featured in Princeton Review’s 2013 edition of its annual college guide, “The Best 377 Colleges.” Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges are profiled in the book, which is Princeton Review’s flagship college guide.

Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745

Due to outdoor recreational events scheduled throughout the day Saturday, April 20, UMaine Parking Services will close campus roads north of Long Road.

Gannett and Hilltop Roads will remain closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the Cub Tracks Youth Triathlon in the morning and the Healthy High 5/10k run/walk in the afternoon.

Parking for UMaine baseball and softball games will be in the Memorial Gym lot.

Orono Black Bear Express shuttle service will not have stops at the Recreation Center Saturday.

The pickup point during these hours will be Hauck Circle.

Siouxland News in Iowa and WRAL in North Carolina were among news organizations that carried the Networx article, “How Not to Get Stung by Bees.”

The article offered advice provided by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

The Maine Edge reported on a project by students in a University of Maine advanced art education course taught by Constant Albertson.

The students are making and selling mugs to benefit the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Alton. Albertson and student Abigail LeBlanc were interviewed for the story.

The Machias Valley News Observer spoke with Alan Majka of University of Maine Cooperative Extension about an Extension program based in Machias to establish free summer meal sites for children.