University of Maine - Prism Yearbook (Orono, ME)

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the libe !n 187-1 the UMO library was in Fernald Hall, in what is now the Chemistry library It was only open for a few hours during the week. There were no places to study; the library was only a place to borrow and return books. For a time there was no official librarian, the lirst paid li- brarian on record started her duties in 1888. There were 230 volumes and 416 pamphlets in the fledgling library In September Fogler Library closed early on weekends in an attempt to save money. ' There were so few people in the library during those hours that we thought we could close early without protest. University Librarian James C. VlacCarnbell explained. Students did protest. If one must travel to he Bangor Public Library to find an academic itmosphere to concentrate and study effectively in then this says little for Maine's largest edu- ational facility warned one student in a letter to the Campus. 1 ogler reopened its doors on weekend even- ings after less than two weeks of the ill-fated plan 28

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think about it During lhe campaign for governor there were ominous rumblings of what James B. Longley s election would mean for UMO. After Longlev s election the first head to roll was that of the Chancellor of the whole uni- versity system. Donald R McNeil, who re- signed under pressure from l.onglev Next came the battle over the Governor s proposed budget for UMO. Was the Governor cutting the University budget by 4 million? Because of these reductions, we can'I guar- antee that some students can finish the pro- grams thev have started, charged Acting Chancellor Stanley Freeman. freeman said, if the Governor's budget went through the Legislature unchanged, it meant reduced placement and counseling services for students and elimination of some majors. In the midst of the budget hassle, the Gover- nor stirred things up more by calling for the resignation of all fourteen University trustees. The resignation demand was denounced as po- litical interference and a threat to the Univer- sity’s independence. No trustees had resigned as of April. Governor l.onglev decided to come to UMO to defend his budget before the Student Senate March 4. Over 300 students packed into Ben- nett Hall to hear the Governor s defense. He came out swinging with both fists Why aren t you concerned about the waste of human resources before you attack a budget with half-truths and without having done your homework' Longley charged Demagoguery said The Campus in an edi- torial on Longley s speech. The Governor used every political ploy in the book to pit students against trustees Would students now plunge into studying the intricacies of a multi-million dollar umvei sity budget in an effort to do their homework ? What would student sentiment be? In mid-March the President c UMO raised the possibility of a hike in tuition ■ : $o0 .md in room and board of $100 27

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