Rating: 5 stars

“Behind Closed Doors” is a psychological thriller unlike any of its kind. The novel was an instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller when it was released in 2016. The author of “Behind Closed Doors,” B.A. Paris, wrote her first novel as a fiction story based on suspicions from a friend’s marriage. Through beautiful style and language, “Behind Closed Doors” deals with heavy subjects such as domestic violence and abuse, exposing the dangers of an unhealthy relationship in today’s society.

The two main characters in the novel are Grace and Jack, a seemingly happy couple in love. After meeting Grace while she was dancing with her sister Millie, lawyer Jack Angel swept Grace off her feet with his poise, respect and confidence. Grace and Jack quickly get married and move in together, turning Grace’s world upside down. Grace becomes a prisoner in her home and with threats to hurt her younger sister, Jack is able to keep up appearances and the facade of a happy life while controlling and abusing Grace.

This novel is one of few that has the courage to expose the evils done to so many women around the world. Although it is hard to read at times, it is eye-opening. This book attempts to do what many other powerful novels of our time are doing. They are stirring for change and telling stories that have been long silenced.

In “Behind Closed Doors,” Jack tells Grace that he only chose her to marry because of how easily he can hide her away from the rest of the world, and she was severely punished whenever she tried to escape. Although hard to picture and come to terms with, these types of situations do occur and the depiction of a relationship like this is starkly realistic.

With celebrity cheating scandals and high divorce and domestic abuse rates, there will always be a need for honesty, frankness, and exposure when it comes to toxic relationships. B.A. Paris is an extraordinarily gifted adult fiction writer. Her ability to get you involved in the story and depict both haunting and captivating complex scenarios make this book impossible to put down.

The ending of the novel reveals twists and hidden secrets that show how horrible Jack really is. Grace is a heroine who stands up for herself and for abused women everywhere in this empowering story.

It takes courage to write about things that haunt you or things that society tells you not to talk about. Famous women like Adrienne Rich, Rachel Carson, Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf made history and incited social change when they exposed the evils and problems in the world. B.A. Paris is now added to the list as someone whose powerful writing and voice can help change the course of history and expose the abuse and unhealthy relationships that impact many women.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse or violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233.

At the University of Maine, students can choose from hundreds of different classes, majors and minors, clubs and organizations that center around the study and creation of art. The Lord Hall Art Gallery is one of the many places on campus which aims to showcase various types of art and bring culture to UMaine. Currently lining the gallery walls is an exhibit titled “From the Studio: Student Art Exhibition.” This exhibit will be on display through the remainder of this month, until the closing ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on May 3.

The art exhibit features student work from a variety of different art classes and levels. This allows the featured pieces to include a variety of materials including steel, plaster, ink, oil, metal, screenprint, clay, graphite and watercolor in the form of sculptures, paintings, photographs and drawings.

“I love being an artist because I am able to be creative and unique in the ways I convey messages to an audience,” Delaney Burns, second-year studio art and marketing student, said. “I think that art can bridge gaps to bring communities together and it is inspiring to be a part of that process.”

Some of the student artists who are showcased include Arthur Hubbard, Brianna Benedict, Heather Rae Buzzell, Tehya Boucher, Nathaniel Rawson, Burns, Raquel Garmony, Shelby Haskell and Sean Sadler. Burns chose to focus on printmaking and dealing with nature for the project that is on display in the exhibition.

“For ‘Yellowstone (in Sienna)’ my inspiration was from Yellowstone National Park. I am drawn to natural patterns and textures and how to portray them through printmaking,” Burns said. “My love for nature drives me to create art that can help others understand the importance of protecting our environment.”

Another one of the projects displayed is a piece by Gabrielle Bock titled “Smoke and Snow.” The photograph is an image of dry ice smoking in a glass jar on a bed of snow.

Other projects chosen for the gallery include Jennifer Allen’s “Growing Apart,” which is a sculpture of two steel flat bars interwoven, and an intricate piece by Tehya Boucher that deals with contrasting light and dark colors.

“I love art because it gives me courage to speak up for myself. It also allows me to reflect on my thoughts and emotions in a way I’m not normally able to do,” Tehya Boucher, third-year art student, said. “…The prompt for this piece was to create a shine to something. My first thoughts were about direction and the different paths we take in life, and we stumble around in the dark until we find something that guides us through. This was a way to remind myself that I can make my own light and navigate through any darkness that might come my way.”

New media student Arthur Hubbard created a zine that is displayed in the showcase. Zine pieces are small works comprised of photos, images and sometimes text. These pieces are usually self-published and copied with a photocopier.

“The piece I have in the show is a zine titled “En Masse” which I made for Graphic Design II, ART 350. This is the second zine I’ve made, the last one was created summer of 2018,” Hubbard said. “Making the type of art I do is essentially like having another limb. It’s very much a part of me.”

There are many spaces designated around campus where students can work on their art and sculptures, one being a studio art building located in the Collins Center for the Arts parking lot. The practice and study of art for students is often a therapeutic and important experience.

“I’m studying art because it’s already such a huge part of my life, I don’t know if I have time for another non-related discipline, as much as I love learning about many different topics. They all enrich each other,” Hubbard said.

One of the biggest sculptures in the gallery is an untitled piece by Caleb Harper and Daniel Smiley — a large green sculpture made of plaster. Many of the sculptures in the gallery stand on white pedestals around the room, leaving the space feeling open and inviting.

Not only are sculptures and paintings displayed in the gallery, but there are also art pieces that included found materials and collected items. “The rough guide to usa” is a collection of items in a trunk by Jules Mogul. This piece, like many others in the art gallery represents certain political messages and brings up cultural issues and aspects of American life.

The art gallery is free for UMaine students and is open from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lord Hall is also the site of the faculty art exhibitions and many other events held throughout the semester. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also hosts many art events and showings across campus in order to celebrate and showcase student artwork.

Rating: 4 stars

Netflix is a haven for college students. It is where we go for stress relief, to waste time, to forget about our school problems and also for entertainment. One recently released Netflix original that caught my attention this week is the movie “Set It Up.” Starring Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell and Pete Davidson, this romantic comedy sheds new light on workplace relationships and the roles of men and women in powerful positions in America.

Directed by Claire Scanlon, this one hour and 45 minute film includes many emotional twists and turns. The film stands out because of how easily you can connect with and relate to many of the main characters, which is possible because of how much description and background information you are given on each of them.

Rated TV-14, this movie centers around love interests Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) who are interns in the same office building, working for highly esteemed and wealthy business employers. Hoping to get promoted and kick start their careers, Charlie and Harper struggle under the weight of the pressures put on them by their bosses. They meet while fighting over food after a stressful late night at the office. Harper then devises a plan to get their bosses to meet and fall in love in hopes that a newly budding relationship will distract them from treating Harper and Charlie so poorly.

The movie is modern, funny, emotional and all too relatable for young adults trying to secure a career path after college. Although many original shows and movies on Netflix are often cliche or overdone, this movie is unique in plot and stands out among the typical romantic comedy choices available on the streaming site.

“Set it Up” is available under the romance category on the Netflix website as it develops a romantic relationship not only between bosses Rick and Kirsten, played by Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu, but also between the two main characters.

This movie reminds me of a few others films currently on Netflix that are directed towards young adult audiences. “One Day” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” are 2011 and 2012 movies that have recently appeared on the Netflix app that relate to “Set It Up” in terms of character development and the personalities of the two main romantic partners. These romantic comedies intertwine two people’s lives while also working to develop an intricate plot structure and details about each character’s life and personality that help the audience get to know them.

Movies are a great way to relax after a busy school week and are rewarding both to watch and to experience. “Set it Up” is full of corny young adult jokes, innuendos and just enough sarcasm to make it worth watching and enjoyable. You know a movie is good when you are constantly laughing out loud to yourself, and that is why “Set It Up” is a Netflix original worth viewing.

Rating: 5 stars

Faheem Rasheed Najm, more commonly known as T-Pain, is an American songwriter, producer, performer and rapper. Debuting his first album in 2005, T-Pain was a popular artist for millennials growing up. T-Pain’s hit song, “Buy U A Drank” is one that many fans attribute to making him famous. Headlining at this year’s Maine Day Concert on April 27, T-Pain will be playing hit songs from his previous albums as well as from his newest 2019 album, “1Up.”

Released on February 27, 2019, “1Up” is T-Pain’s sixth album. This album has a unique and different sound, and really captures the essence of T-Pain’s talent as a rapper and songwriter. T-Pain’s voice is what makes this album stand out from the rest of his previous work, as the Auto-Tune causes his voice to be hard to identify and stand out from how it usually sounds. The album is a combination of rap and hip-hop and T-Pain’s voice, lyrics and beats come together to create a very distinct style.

The first song on the album, titled “1Up,” features Profit Dinero. It is an upbeat and bass-heavy hip-hop song with a catchy chorus which makes it easy to sing along with. As the album’s namesake, this song gives us the best of T-Pain. “Goat Talk” features another well-known rapper, Lil Wayne.

My favorite song on the album, “A Million Times,” is the kind of rap song that would appeal to even those who have adverse feelings towards this genre of music. The unique usage of Auto-Tune and obvious talent that is shown through T-Pain’s intricate rhyming and wordplay makes his songs easy and entertaining to listen to.

Although we live in an age where rap music has taken over American culture, and many up-and-coming artists release music every day, T-Pain is an artist unlike any other of his kind. He takes risks and isn’t afraid of what people will think of his new music. He doesn’t stick with his usual style and sound just because he knows that he will get a positive reaction from his fans.

The cover of the album, which is what originally drew my attention, depicts an eye-catching purple sky with lightning streaks. A giant, red-eyed, metal monster takes up most of the album cover, and T-Pain and a friend are staring up at the monster surrounded by fire and destruction.

All of these elements come together to create a new and exciting image for T-Pain and his music. An album cover can only go so far to help the artist if the music and talent don’t match, but in T-Pain’s case, both work together in his favor.

“1Up” is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube and most other music streaming services. To purchase tickets for the Maine Day concert or see the line-up of artists, please visit the University of Maine Student Government Instagram page or website.

On Wednesday, April 3, students and faculty gathered in Neville 402 to listen to “The Personal is Poetic,” a panel discussion on the therapeutic potential of poetry. The event was sponsored by the English department as well as the McGillicuddy Humanities Center. This panel was organized as part of fourth-year English student Kimberly Crowley’s honors thesis.

Crowley received a McGillicuddy Humanities Fellowship to further develop her thesis on the therapeutic uses of poetry and her personal experience with poetry as a healing and coping tool. As poets and academics, visiting Professor Danielle Pafunda and Professor Jennifer Moxley were invited to participate as guest panelists.

“Ever since I was a preteen, I have turned to poetry to process my feelings and the world around me,” Crowley said. “Writing has played a big part in my life so far.”

Crowley shared opening lines from her thesis introduction and explained the relevance of her personal story and reasons for writing the thesis. She also shared with the audience her personal reasons for turning to poetry during rough times in her life. Crowley read an original poem that was included in her thesis and read a piece from Adrienne Rich’s “Diving Into the Wreck.”

“Poetry means more to my life than I can ever fully explain,” Crowley said. “I never thought at the beginning of this year that I would be writing my thesis on the therapeutic uses of poetry, or that it would have become such a big part of my senior year.”

Crowley facilitated the conversation by sharing her thoughts and thesis research, which was followed by Pafunda and Moxley sharing their own personal findings on this topic through their research and published works. Moxley has published collections of poetry as well as translations, and a memoir titled “The Middle Room.” Pafunda has nine published collections of poetry, including “Pretty Young Thing,” “My Zorba” and “Manhater.”

Pafunda shared her personal thoughts and posed the following question to the audience: “Why poetry?” She used this question to dive further into the reasoning for therapeutic poetry.

“It helps to articulate the inarticulable, put words down on the page that we may not have necessarily even thought we were capable of thinking about or producing,” Pafunda said. “Even poetry that hurts us to read can articulate things we haven’t put into language before in really interesting ways.”

Moxley continued the panel discussion by sharing her own opinions on the relationship between therapy and poetry. She read from a few of her collections, one being “The Follow-Through,” and pointed out particular poems she wrote that she found these themes present it. Much of her work deals with the idea of therapy versus art in poetry, and also with Plato and other philosophers ideas of the “mad” poet. This stigma centers around the idea that people who write poetry experience an out of body experience and are in a different headspace when they write. Crowley explained how this relates to the therapeutic uses of it.

Poetry was first introduced as something to be used in therapy for healing or for growth in 1969 when therapist Jack Leedy published a book about the uses of poetry that extend beyond purely artistic. The movement was created as a subcategory of Art Therapy, which was first coined as a term in 1942.

During the panel discussion, Crowley and her fellow panelists talked about how poetry has developed as a form of therapy that is actually recognized and practiced by psychologists and therapists, and that it is an inexpensive way to get your thoughts and ideas out onto the page.

The event concluded with a Q&A session from the audience members, and many students and English department faculty shared their own opinions and thoughts on the relationship between poetry and therapy.

On March 12, in Classroom 2 of the Raymond H. Fogler Library, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) hosted their first book club meeting, titled “STEMinism.” The purpose of the club is to advocate for women pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

“Being a part of SWE gives you so many opportunities to make connections, go on trips, meet women and men in your field of interest and help you find your passion or major,” Kate Macolini, a third-year mechanical engineering student and the SWE outreach chair, said. “We do things like go to National Conferences every year, which can help you network and earn you a future job or internship opportunity.”

One of the goals of SWE is to empower women and to prepare them for the professional world by helping students to meet people in their career field of interest and to help build up their resumes. The first book club meeting was designed to introduce students to each other and to reveal information about the lack of strong female characters in books written in the United States.

Some of the books the club will read include “Hidden Figures,” “Geek Girl Rising” and “Bioinspired Photonics.” The Raymond H. Fogler Library website has a full list of the books for the club.

“Over half of the college degrees in this country are earned by women, yet we still are experiencing a fairly large wage gap and unequal treatment in the workplace,” Macolini said. “These are a few of the books that highlight strong female characters and advocate for women joining careers in these fields.”

The hour-long meeting included an introductory powerpoint, three hands-on learning activities and round tables, and a reflective experience where each woman got to share what she had learned. One of the activities revolved around naming and identifying famous women in the STEM field, some of which included Ada Lovelace, Margaret Hamilton, Grace Hopper and Hedy Lamarr. Their pictures were displayed on the table and matched with their correlating description of their achievements.

An interactive activity also demonstrated bio-inspired engineering. The activity showed club members how building structures, trains and other design ideas can stem from the anatomy of animals and sea creatures. There was also a round table discussion where students could read certain articles about self-advocacy in the workplace, and share tips for applying for jobs, going through interviews and standing up for yourself as a woman in an office or workplace.

“My favorite part about this was learning about women in STEM and meeting other people from engineering,” Angela Wang, a fourth-year chemical engineering student and the President of SWE, said. “It is also important to always advocate for ourselves as women.”

This week’s book club was the first in the series, and SWE meets in the Memorial Union on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. They also organize and host social events throughout the semester, and plan trips to different conferences and events around the area.

Many students at the University of Maine stay fit by visiting the New Balance Recreation Center and attending one of the dozens of fitness classes they have to offer. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Recreation Center, second-year student and personal trainer Anna Kay teaches a weekly Zumba class.

“Every time I teach this class, it always pumps up and elevates whatever mood I’m in. I can never leave upset or down on myself,” Kay said. “This is such a positive environment, and we are all in it together. Everyone is inspiring each other and working hard. Every single person has a smile on their face and that’s really what I strive for when I teach group exercise classes.”

Zumba is a dance, aerobic-fitness class centered around different mixes of Latin American dance and performance styles. The music can vary depending on class size, type and location, but often incorporates Latin American music. Zumba first started in the 1990s when Colombian fitness instructors started teaching dance fitness classes using Latin dance music. Kay’s class provides a 45 minutes long medium intensity workout that also includes warm-up and cool down stretches.

“The classes are always a lot of fun and fill up quick. The time goes by so fast and you don’t ever realize you are exercising, but you get an amazing workout,”Ally Cyr, a third-year human development student and lifeguard at the Recreation Center.

Zumba is a dance class that is popular all over the country. Gyms and independent Zumba facilities across the nation offer a variety of classes and instructors for people who seek an alternative workout. Other recently trending types of fitness classes include SoulCycle, Crossfit and barre. Each has been created and inspired by a passion for making exercise more enjoyable, upbeat and fun.

“The music is energizing and the moves work to target areas many adults want to work on. It’s very relaxed and laid back, while also being fun and like one big dance party,” Linette Diodato, a local community member, said.

Kay changes up the routine and songs each week in order to add variety for the people who regularly attend each class. Some of the songs include titles by Drake, Imagine Dragons, Pitbull and many other modern artists.

“I always just tell people to have fun and let loose. If you don’t know the choreography right away, or don’t get the hang of it, just give it some time,” Kay said. “Group [exercise] is an awesome opportunity to get inspired in a group environment, working out with other people pushes you to work harder and better.”

Zumba costs $5 per class for students, or students can purchase a Fit Pass at the Recreation Center for $35. The Recreation Center offers dozens of other classes, both free and paid, throughout the academic year and summer term. Students and staff instructors can apply for various instructor positions and openings at the Recreation Center including personal trainers, lifeguards, maintenance staff and class instructors.

“I haven’t taken many fitness classes yet because the timing hasn’t been right,” Liz Murray, a first-year environmental horticulture student, said. “But I really love going to the Rec Center. It gives me the chance to go and workout a couple of times a week with my friends.”

The UMaine Recreation Center gives students an on-campus opportunity to play sports, use the fitness equipment and take classes. Students and members can take advantage of day passes and memberships, pool usage and locker room storage available.

“I really love the variety and choices of programs to pick from here. There is really something for everyone, no matter your fitness level or preference,” Taylor Chomitz, a second-year psychology student, said.

Other types of classes at the Recreation Center include lifting exercise classes, spinning/cycling, interval training, aquatics and more. One of them includes Hip Hop Hype, a free dance class on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Kay teaches Zumba, HIIT It and Hip Hop Hype classes during the week.

“We have so many group ex classes that we offer, and they are all so different. Zumba is something I always love doing, and I love sharing that with people,” Kay said.

To learn more about the classes offered at the Rec Center or to see the class schedule, please visit https://umaine.edu/campusrecreation/facilities/reccenter/.

The University of Maine Feminist Collective presented their annual performance of the “Vagina Monologues” Feb. 7-9. An array of students and faculty members attended the event, which raised money for local centers and on-campus programs that support women’s rights while helping women embrace their sexuality and womanhood.

“This show has been presented by the University of Maine Feminist Collective, formerly Student Women’s Association, for the past 20 years on our campus. It’s a great, open, celebration of sexuality,” Miranda Snyder, a second-year education student said, “there is no shame whatsoever, it’s a very comfortable environment and a great space to just go and laugh and have a good time.”

Snyder is a co-chair member of the Feminist Collective and helped to organize the event. Snyder, along with other Feminist Collective members, sold tickets in the Memorial Union the week before the event. The proceeds from the event were donated to four facilities in the local Maine area, including the Women’s Resource Center, the Mabel Wadsworth Center, Partners for Peace and Rape Response Services. Representatives from each organization spoke at the beginning of the event, thanking the audience and sharing a little bit about what their organization stood for and the tasks they perform.

The Women’s Resource Center is a non-profit organization located on UMaine’s campus that provides students access to feminine products, emergency contraception, birth control, and other resources. The Resource Center, a sponsor of the event, is located on the 2nd floor of the Union and was featured among the speakers at the event.

Advocates from Rape Response Services shared information with audience members about their 24-hour hotline service and spoke about their school-based prevention and education program. Rape Response Services has drop-in hours every Monday from 3-5 p.m. in the Career Center in the Union.

Partners for Peace representatives also attended the event. This domestic violence resource center is a non-profit organization that has office hours in the Union from 3-5 p.m. every Thursday. Partners for Peace provides hotlines, support groups, housing, legal advocacy, medical appointment assistance, and other resources for those affected by or victims of domestic violence.

The Mabel Wadsworth Center, a local and independently-funded healthcare center in Bangor, Maine that was established in 1984. The center provides birth-control, prenatal healthcare and many other benefits available to women who need them.

The show began with three cast members speaking about what it means to be a woman and to love the body you were born with. Each performer shared true stories and testimonies written by women who wanted to share their experience, many centered around the topics of love, sexual health, relationships and sexuality.

“I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the show,” Autumn Rogers a first-year biology student said. “As someone who doesn’t know much about the feminist groups that are present on our campus, I liked learning about all the resources we have available to us as women in our local area.”

Although some of the monologue content was sensitive and intimate, members of the group made announcements before each set of performances, warning the audience of any sensitive or possibly triggering content that was about to be shared.

“I think it is a once in a lifetime experience that is definitely not worth missing,” Snyder said. “I had so many friends last year who came with the preconceived notion that it was going to make them feel uncomfortable, but they ended up having a great time and loving it. Usually, you are able to ease into the show and end up chanting and clapping along by the end.”

The monologues were performed by members of the UMaine community, and at the end of the performance everyone joined in to chant with the performers and clap along as they thanked their organization members and took a bow.

To learn more information about any one of these organizations and programs, please visit https://umaine.edu/womensgenderandsexualitystudies/campusresources/, https://www.partnersforpeaceme.org, http://www.rrsonline.org, or https://www.mabelwadsworth.org.

Rating: 4 Stars

True crime shows and documentaries have taken over the world as a new entertainment trend. Seemingly outdated and forgotten stories of murder, harassment and crime have become popular because of the increase in publicity centered around these infamous cases.

One particularly controversial case in true crime history was the case of Ted Bundy, a man from Burlington, Vermont who killed and sexually assaulted an estimated 36 women. “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” are a four-episode Netflix Original mini-series based off of Bundy’s life and crimes. Although each episode varies in length there is never a dull moment. The documentary includes real footage, newscasts, videos, and tape recordings surrounding the Bundy trials and his personal story. If you are a true crime enthusiast, this is the show for you.

In the first episode of the mini-series, Bundy’s voice recording plays over the film. While in prison, Bundy was asked to tell his personal story and reveal more about each crime, he was accused of and the victims of these crimes. The show is centered around these confessional tapes. In the second episode, investigators search for suspects who could have committed a string of murders near the University of Washington Campus in Seattle, Washington. Over the course of a few months, several young women had gone missing, but the police had no direct evidence to tie Bundy to these crimes.

The documentary was gripping, and a at times scary to watch as a female who is the same age as these women. The college students were introduced and described in much detail and the pictures of their bodies at the scene of each crime made it sometimes hard to watch. Overall, the documentary did an excellent job of convincing the audience that no matter how innocent and charming Ted Bundy was, he was nothing short of a killer.

This Netflix series is unique in the fact that every piece of footage is real, and taken from the time and place these crimes were being committed. Even though many other crime documentaries are nonfiction and just as accurate, many of them don’t include the details and personal accounts from the criminal, or from the victims themselves.

In the third episode of “The Ted Bundy Tapes,” Bundy escapes from prison on two different occasions and eventually flees to Florida. While in Florida, Bundy broke into the Chi Omega sorority house in Tallahassee, murdering two more women, and attempting to murder a third.

Although a sensitive and graphic topic, I could not keep my eyes off the screen and ended up watching all four episodes in one night. The dramatic music, video recordings and sound bites of the show all came together to produce something that was powerful and engaging.

The University of Maine Honors College is a program that brings together students and faculty members from various areas of academic study. The goal of the program is to help prepare students for life after college while giving them the benefit of learning and engaging in smaller classes. It also provides connections for students to meet people in their desired professional fields and network with faculty in their areas of interest. The Honors College Student Advisory Board (SAB) was established in order to give honors students the opportunity to provide curriculum feedback to the faculty.

The Honors College includes roughly 800 students from a variety of departments. It allows students to live in Honors housing, have access to buildings and resources on campus, and participate in Honors class seminars and extracurricular events. Once accepted into the program, students are enrolled in specific Honors seminar courses and meet with advisors and faculty to establish the academic path that is right for them. SAB was created to help bridge the gap between students and faculty members of the Honors College.

SAB welcomes students in the Honors College who have a desire to use their voice to play a larger role in their education. Currently, the board has twelve members. Honors College Dean Francois Amar acts as the group’s staff advisor. Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. the group meets on the 4th floor of Colvin Hall. These meetings typically include attendance, note-taking, activity planning and discussing other college-specific issue.

SAB plans and hosts various Honors College events throughout the year. These include movie and trivia nights, barbeques, fundraisers, board game nights and volunteer events. The Honors College has helped host an ethics essay contest, volunteered at an MLK Service Day food packing event and is currently planning a trip to Washington D.C.

“One of the goals of SAB is to promote Academic Integrity and Community Action in the Honors College,” Emma Hutchinson, a fourth-year English student said. “We work together to host fun events and fundraisers for the Honors College. One of our largest events is the Maine Day Meal Pack-out. We work together with the larger campus community to fundraise for meals that go to food banks all around the state.”

Hutchinson previously served as the board’s vice president and president and has been enrolled in the Honors College since coming to UMaine.

“My favorite thing about SAB is the informal atmosphere and how much fun we all have during meetings,” Hutchinson said. “I have also appreciated the chance to join different committees as a student representative and give valuable input in order to improve the Honors College.”

To find out more information or get in contact with a member, please visit https://honors.umaine.edu/prospective-students