Machias residents like their school just the way it is.
MACHIAS (AP) – Residents and employees at the University of Maine at Machias said they fear a reorganization of the state’s university system could cause their school to lose its identity and intimate atmosphere.

At a public forum held Thursday to discuss the University of Maine System’s reorganization plans, townspeople and university workers said they like their school just the way it is. Grouping it with University of Maine campuses in Presque Isle and Fort Kent, they said, makes no geographical sense.

“Each of the campuses already serves as vitally important economic, educational and cultural centers for our region,” said Brian Beal, a professor of marine ecology. “How will the merger improve our ability to serve our region?”

UMS officials offered reassurances that they will respect unique characteristics on each campus. Supporters of the university in Machias, for instance, are concerned the school will lose a distinction for coastal studies.

“Nothing about that will be abolished,” said UMS Vice Chancellor Elsa Nunez. “Your identity is around that and we respect that.”

Chancellor Joseph Westphal, Nunez and three UMS trustees appeared before about 200 people who showed up in the school’s auditorium to discuss the reorganization plan.

UMS officials announced last month the most ambitious reorganization since the university system was formed in 1968. The plan includes merging many of the system’s seven universities, phasing out two-year programs and consolidating services in an effort to bring unity and cost-savings to the system.

It would result in the flagship University of Maine campus in Orono, the University of Maine at Farmington, a multicampus University of Southern Maine and a multicampus University of Northern Maine.

The University of Northern Maine would include campuses in Machias, Fort Kent, and Presque Isle.

Thursday’s forum was the second of nine that have been scheduled across the state to discuss the plan with employees, students and others who are interested. Following the public comment period, a revised plan is expected to be submitted to the Board of Trustees for consideration next fall.

UMS officials told the crowd that students in Machias would not be expected to transfer north to finish out a degree, and faculty wouldn’t be asked to leave Machias to teach a semester or a year in Presque Isle or Fort Kent.

When asked about the school’s athletic program, which sent its men’s soccer and basketball teams to national small-college tournaments this year, Westphal said teams, travel and conference play would be worked out in time.

He said how the new University of Northern Maine fashions its future is up to the leadership on each campus.

“The plan is about positioning ourselves to deal with some very, very difficult economic situations,” Westphal said. “The plan is a broad vision of where we need to be, and the implementation is in your hands.”

Questions from the crowd became livelier as the day wore on, forcing acting President Sue Huseman to ask people to speak one at a time and to show respect.

“It was almost like a town meeting,” said Victoria Douglas, a student from Columbia Falls.

Nunez said the forum was much as she had envisioned.

“I expected the passion and enthusiasm for the institution,” she said.

AP-ES-04-16-04 1314EDT