PORTLAND — More than 100 University of Southern Maine students, alumni and faculty entered a university system board of trustees meeting on Monday while chanting, “Invest in USM” and “Stop the cuts” and carrying signs with slogans such as, “Reject austerity.”

The trustees had just taken a lunch break and were about to resume their meeting on fiscal matters at the University of Maine System when the students entered Sullivan Gym, effectively holding up the meeting.

After about 15 minutes, University of Maine System trustee Sam Collins, who is the chair of the board, stood up to address the students.

“I would be concerned if you weren’t here because that would show your lack of passion for your school and your lack of passion for your courses and your professors,” he said. The chants grew louder and some in the group booed.

Collins then asked USM President David Flanagan to speak.

“We need to address higher education in this state,” Flanagan said over the chants. “We’ve seen a decline in recent years.

“The next Legislature needs to take up this cause.”

Collins then adjourned the meeting. When the trustees got up from their seats, some students sat down around the table where they had been sitting and continued to chant.

The students were protesting the elimination of five academic programs that trustees approved in October in an effort to cut $16 million from the university’s budget. The university has cut 50 faculty positions.

The group is demanding a reversal of the cuts.

Neal Young, a political science student who lead the group to some degree, called the cuts “incredibly ineffective.”

“I feel as though the school is attacking the liberal arts,” said Hamdi Hassan, a freshman who is studying history. “I plan on transferring.”

She said she’s begun applying to liberal arts schools in Massachusetts.

At 1:15, the students were still in the gym while the trustees watched the protest from the sidelines of USM’s basketball court.

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