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Lincoln Tiner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Maine and is a prospective student of historic preservation.
The University of Maine System (UMS) cites sustainability as a factor in decisions such as demolishing Crossland Hall and the proposed sale of Handley Hall. Yet, one has to wonder, given their actions, if the system administration knows what that word truly means.
In case a reminder is needed: Merriam Webster’s definition of “sustainable” states it is “of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.” If we apply this to the university system’s responsibility of maintaining campus infrastructure, then they would not be depleting and permanently damaging what I consider perfectly good buildings all to later insist on spending millions for new ones.
In Maine, we take care of our things with the understanding that doing so will make them last longer. If you want your vehicle to reach over 200,000 miles, you don’t neglect to change the oil. With that same logic, if UMS expects to run sustainable campuses, they must invest properly in maintenance.
Handley Hall was donated to the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). In 16 years, the university has allowed this building to go from turnkey to supposedly being so dilapidated that selling it and moving an entire program — while putting it at grave risk of closure — is somehow more affordable. To me, this defies logic.
If UMS simply took responsibility and maintained their buildings appropriately, this would not be an issue. Maintaining a good building is far less expensive than neglecting it and spending money for a new one.
A crucial reminder: This is not their money. It is ours — our tax dollars as hardworking Mainers. And under this current leadership, I believe it is being wasted on failures such as Hotel Ursa and years of staggering salaries for administrators, culminating in the university’s $19 million budget shortfall.
Our tax dollars should be spent on funding — rather than cutting — the faculty, staff, and programs that are teaching the next generation. If we want bright young minds to stay in our state then we cannot continue to allow our university system to be so irresponsible with its finances.
I believe Crossland Hall and Handley Hall are symptoms of much deeper systemic issues with the University of Maine System caused by chronic mismanagement and a lack of accountability to the public. If we are to truly address this issue, then we must listen to those who spend their careers having to work with these administrators.
The University of Maine Faculty Senate recently expressed dissatisfaction with campus and system leadership and the UMA Faculty Senate unanimously passed votes of no confidence in campus president, Jenifer Cushman. Both bodies cited the lack of shared-governance practices with decisions, and at UMA the forced move of programs was cited as a contributing reason for the vote.
I urge our elected representatives to listen to these faculty senates and address this chronic mismanagement. I believe the University of Maine System is well overdue for new leadership.