PORTLAND, Maine - About 40 students and faculty from the University of Southern Maine gathered this morning to speak out against the decision by the UMaine System's board of trustees to move its next meeting.
They are upset that the Sept. 22 meeting has been moved to UMaine Fort Kent, instead of Portland, where the meeting was originally scheduled. On the meeting's agenda is a proposal to eliminate three academic programs at USM.
The board of trustees says the meetings in Portland and Fort Kent were switched because of weather considerations. Student Meaghan LaSala is skeptical, noting that previous board meetings have been held at northern Maine campuses during winter months.
"Whatever the board's reason for moving this meeting to Fort Kent, it cannot trump the students' and faculty's right to speak out at this meeting about their livelihoods and their future," LaSala said.
The three programs slated for elimination are American and New England studies, Geosciences and the Arts and Humanities program at USM's Lewiston-Auburn campus.
