Maine committee still deliberating Weekend meetings are possible

A University of Maine appeals committee looking into the school’s suspension of student-athletes Paris Minor and Stefan Gomes is expected to meet over the weekend.

University of Maine spokesman Joe Carr said Friday that the committee met Wednesday night to set up the process and began looking over documents.

“The committee will meet several times over the next few days. There could be more beyond that. They’ll meet over the weekend at least once. They’re being very diligent,” Carr said.

Minor and Gomes, members of the Black Bears football team were suspended from the university on Sept. 26 for their involvement in a sexual assault with a female university student that is alleged to have occurred at an Old Town apartment in June.

The Old Town Police Department investigated allegations and chose not to charge the pair. The Penobscot County District Attorney’s office has yet to file charges against the men.

The suspensions were called for after a review of the allegations by the UMaine Student Conduct Code Review Board, the school’s mechanism for dealing with code violations.

Minor, a 21-year-old from Woodbury, N.J. and Gomes, 21, of Hyannis, Mass., were juniors at the university. They have appealed their suspensions.

UMaine president Peter Huff assigned Robert Whelan, a lecturer and the associate chairman of the school’s English department, Anne Pooler, the associate dean and associate professor in the college of education and development and Michael Scott, an instructor in the university’s new media program to a committee to hear their appeal.

A lawsuit has also been filed on behalf of Minor and Gomes at U.S. District Court in Bangor against the UMaine trustees and president. Gomes and Minor are being represented by Harry Richardson of the Bangor law firm of Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger.

The suit alleges that the former football players were denied due process at the hearing which resulted in Minor and Gomes being suspended. It also alleges the university acted with improper motive because of the men’s race (African-American) and accuses the committee of engaging in a conspiracy to deprive the plaintiffs of their constitutional rights.

Blue-White game today

The University of Maine’s hockey team will have its annual Blue-White game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Alfond Arena.

And senior Tommy Reimann, who had offseason shoulder surgery, will be on defense after being moved from center.

Reimann had 12 goals and 23 assists in 42 games last season. He played the first five games on defense while Maine waited for Prestin Ryan to become eligible. Then he was switched to his natural center position.

This season, Maine has to replace captain Peter Metcalf and veteran Michael Schutte on defense.

“I don’t care where I play. Just put me out there,” said Reimann. “It’ll be interesting. On defense, you can see the whole ice. You can see the play develop so you can make that first pass which is the most important for a defenseman to make to get the puck out of the [defensive] zone.

“If they need me to play defense for the whole year, I’ll do it. If not, I’ll be happy to go play center again,” said Reimann. “We’ve got some young freshman defensemen and when they get used to the Division I level, hopefully they’ll take my spot.”

Maine coach Tim Whitehead said, “We want to get off on a good note and put our best foot forward. If Tommy can help us on defense, let’s do that. If the other guys develop quickly, we’ll pop him back up front. He’s a smart defenseman. He makes good simple plays with the puck.”

Reimann said his shoulder feels fine “but it’s still a little sore. It’ll be another month before I’m pain-free.”

The game, which will feature two 25-minute halves, will also give fans their first looks at new goalies Frank Doyle and Jimmy Howard, who will replace Matt Yeats and Mike Morrision.

Fort Kent sophomore Kirk Levesque and Randolph freshman Ray Jean will battle for the No. 3 job.

Tickets will be $2.

Sophomore winger John Ronan (dislocated finger) and transfer defenseman Jeff Mushaluk (hamstring) won’t play.

Mushaluk, who had two goals and six assists in 36 games at Lake Superior State last season, must sit out this year due to the transfer rule.