Rating: 5 stars

It’s been 11 years since “Iron Man” first hit cinema screens in 2008. From there, Marvel Studios proceeded to release hit after hit with films like “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Black Panther” and most recently, “Captain Marvel.” Altogether, the Marvel cinematic universe is composed of 22 films, all of which have been critical and commercial successes. What these movies, and these characters, have done is unprecedented in cinema history. 22 films, all of them connected, and all of them successful. This week, “Avengers: Endgame” releases in cinemas and is promised to be the epic conclusion to those 22 films. The big question is, was it worth it? Did Marvel Studios stick the landing and deliver a truly satisfying finale?

The quick answer is: Yes. It’s everything you want and more.

Picking up immediately after the events of last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” when Thanos used a fully assembled infinity gauntlet to wipe out half the universe, “Endgame” sees the surviving heroes take a final stand in the hopes of bringing everyone back and stopping Thanos once and for all.

The best word to describe this film is: epic. “Avengers: Endgame” has the daunting task of wrapping up this massive saga and it does so with surprising ease. The film is, for the most part, well paced and doesn’t feel like a three-hour movie at all. On top of that, the plot and the characters don’t feel rushed or shelved whatsoever. Every character and every story beat is given its due. With a film this long, it can be easy to experience slow moments but that isn’t the case with “Endgame.” You will never be bored while watching it. The music and cinematography are also impressive, more so than in any of the other films.

The true core of this film is definitely the characters. It’s obvious that the cast brought their A-game for this, particularly Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. If you’re someone who’s been following the films and the narrative from the beginning then this will definitely feel satisfying for you. There are so many moments in “Avengers: Endgame” that will take your breath away and have you cheering with excitement, especially during the third act.

The only minor critique of “Avengers: Endgame” would be that its second act may feel a bit overstuffed for some people. It really depends on how invested you are. There are a few things that happen that may feel too convenient, as well as other things that may feel drawn out. Overall, there’s a lot going on and a lot of things that require you to pay close attention which may hinder the enjoyment of those who aren’t up to speed with the other movies. For those who are up to speed, you’ll absolutely be rewarded.

At the end of the day, “Avengers: Endgame” is a cinematic masterpiece. It’s everything that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe want it to be and so much more. It has the emotion, it has the action, it has the story and it has that monumental and epic scope only seen in a handful of films. It is more than a movie, it is a cultural event that will no doubt go down in history as one of the biggest films of all time. A truly epic finale, 11 years in the making.

Rating 5 Stars

In a month that’s packed with tentpole releases in the world of television and film (“Game of Thrones” and “Avengers: Endgame” in particular), you’d be forgiven if you completely forgot about the latest DC film “Shazam!” starring Zachary Levi. This is a real shame, because “Shazam!” just might be the best DC film ever made.

Unlike Marvel, whose films continue to smash records and please critics, DC hasn’t had as much luck with its live-action offerings. Outside of the “Dark Knight” trilogy, “Wonder Woman” and the recently released “Aquaman,” DC hasn’t quite been able to live up to the standard set by other films in the superhero genre. That’s why “Shazam!” is such a wonderful change of pace. Gone is the dreary and overly serious tone of the past; instead, “Shazam!” is a fun, heartfelt, hilarious and exciting time at the movies!.

The film tells the story of a 14-year-old foster kid named Billy Batson who encounters a wizard named Shazam and is granted an impressive grab-bag of superpowers that include flight, super strength, invulnerability and super speed. All Billy has to do to turn into his superpowered alter-ego is say the word “Shazam” upon doing so, he’s transformed into an adult version of himself.

There are so many things that this film does right. For one, the emotional core of the film is based around Billy and his new foster family. The character of Freddy, Billy’s best friend played by Jack Dylan Grazer, has a particularly close relationship with the titular hero that supplies most of the comedy and emotions. The film doesn’t shy away from how difficult the lives of the children and foster parents can be at times. The film also tackles issues like bullying, jealousy, rejection and what it means to be a good person.

The film also has a great villain, Thaddeus Sivana, played by Mark Strong. Thad’s arc mirrors Billy’s throughout the movie but it isn’t over-done or distracting. Right from the beginning, you understand his motivations and even sympathize with him at times. The final confrontation between the hero and the villain also reflects the films’ themes, making for a highly satisfying conclusion.

The biggest stand out of “Shazam!” is the comedy. This is probably one of the funniest superhero films ever made, right up there with “Deadpool” and the first “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The humor in “Shazam!” is based mostly out of circumstance and reality, which only makes the jokes hit harder. The comedy is very self-aware and uses the question of “what would I really do if I had superpowers?” to great effect.

The film isn’t without shortcomings though. Some of the action sequences are a bit lacking and the special effects are pretty bad at times. The film also feels longer than it is, which suggests some problems with pacing but it doesn’t really affect the overall quality of the film.

“Shazam!” is great. It’s a fun, refreshing take on superhero movies that serves to remind us why we love these types of characters and stories so much. As a film, it’s almost the whole package. It has heart, humor, action, great characters and a nice story. This is the type of film that even non-fans of the superhero genre could find enjoyment in. This is definitely one that you should check out as soon as you can.

Rating: 3 stars

Last week, Netflix released a new John Lee Hancock film, “The Highwaymen,” starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. The film takes place during the 1930s and focuses on the story of two retired Texas rangers, Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, who took down notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The film boasts a talented cast alongside Costner and Harrelson, with performances from Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch and William Sadler comprising the supporting cast.

Overall, the film is a bit of a mixed bag. There is a lot to be said about the acting. Costner and Harrelson do a good job portraying two hardened gunslingers who are well past their prime. The relationship between the two is definitely what drives the film forward. The supporting cast, while perfectly fine, doesn’t really add much to the narrative. There are also a few scenes with very good writing, but they’re sort of scattered throughout and don’t show up consistently. The script has its bright spots but it’s mostly a generic road film with factory directing.

Ultimately, the film’s biggest problem seems to be directing and editing. Neither is particularly bad, but the film feels incredibly slow at times. To add insult to injury, the plot can also be hard to follow. There are scenes in which new characters are introduced but the audience isn’t told who the person is or why they should care. One such scene is when Maney Gault, a key character, is introduced. If not for the fact that Woody Harrelson is playing him, you wouldn’t know who it was.

The film does, however, do a good job of accurately portraying the legacy and history of Bonnie and Clyde. The film never really shows them up close until the very end but their presence is felt throughout the entirety of the film. One of the best scenes takes place early in the film where a group of politicians and lawmakers are theorizing the idea of bringing in Frank Hamer to hunt them down. Hamer, played by John Carroll Lynch, has a great line where he states that Bonnie and Clyde are more beloved than the movie stars. There is also a great moment between Hamer and Clyde’s father, played by William Sadler, where the audience gets to learn a lot about Clyde Barrow’s upbringing as well as Hamer’s path to becoming a Texas ranger.

The film also does a good job of showcasing the look and feel of the 1930s. It looks and feels like the Great Depression, and the costuming and set design are certainly praiseworthy.

If you’re looking for a historical film with solid acting then you will probably enjoy this film. However, the lack of a truly entertaining narrative will undoubtedly turn most viewers away, especially those of the younger generations.

On Tuesday, March 12, the University of Maine Concert Band performed at their Concert for a Cause event along with the Reeds Brook and Leonard Middle School bands at the Collin’s Center for the Arts. Starting the event, Reeds Brook performed two pieces, followed by Leonard Middle School with three. The University Concert Band then took the stage to perform three pieces; “Volatus,” “A Song of Loudest Praise” and “Fate of the Gods.” The final piece of the night brought the three schools together for a combined ensemble to perform, “Call of Champions.”

Throughout the night, donations were taken in support of cancer research. For many, including UMaine’s own Phillip Edelman, the Concert Band conductor, this concert held a lot of personal weight, making for a powerful and emotional evening.

“Everybody I know has been affected in some way by cancer themselves or in their close personal network. I am not a medical doctor, so I wanted to be able to ‘hit back’ in the only way that I know how,” Edelman said.

The process of planning the concert wasn’t an easy task, and there was much trial and error before the final selections were chosen. The band performs with a wide array of instruments including drums, clarinets, saxophones, oboes and a bassoon, which means there are a lot of moving parts to coordinate.

“This was a team effort,” Edelman said. “The band played through a number of pieces before we decided which ones we would perform at the concert. The final massed piece was chosen with the two middle school directors. On top of that, all of our pieces had different challenges. One was difficult because it journeyed through many keys and time signatures, one was difficult because of the depth of emotion that it took to play it convincingly.”

Despite the emotional and compositional difficulties of the concert, Edelman and his students managed to rise to the occasion and delivered a strong performance for the hundreds of people in attendance.

“The hardest part about conducting a band this size is trying not to be so overcome with happiness and awe at the students in front of me that I forget to actually continue conducting,” Edelman said. “It’s hard to watch your students inspiring younger students and not be overcome with pride and gratitude. My students really are something else.”

In addition to helping raise money for cancer research, the Concert Band achieved a performance goal by playing “A Song of Loudest Praise,” a piece that Edelman and his students have wanted to play for a long time.

“It’s really one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever heard and I’m so happy that we were able to play it at the concert,” Edelman said.

For more information about the UMaine’s School of Performing Arts (SPA), the UMaine Concert Band and other events taking place at the Collins Center for the Arts, visit the SPA website at UMaine.edu/SPA and check out the Facebook pages of the various groups and bands.

For more information about Concert for a Cause, and the cancer research that this concert raised money for, check out ctcchallenge.org.

On Friday, March 8, the University of Maine Caribbean Club hosted its fifth annual Carnival celebration. Caribbean Club held the event to not only celebrate but also educate UMaine’s student body about Caribbean culture. This year’s Carnival was particularly special as it coincided with International Women’s Day.

“Carnival is a celebration of the liberation of the slaves in the Caribbean islands, and it’s a time of freedom, a time to party, and be with your friends and just have a little bit of fun. It’s also supposed to be a little educational as well,” Mia Frosnas, the club’s current vice president, said. “This year is our fifth annual Carnival and basically, our goal is to not only celebrate Carnival which ended this past Tuesday, but also to celebrate International Women’s Day.”

The festivities started with a dinner consisting of jerk chicken, cod fritters and rice and beans among other options. To intersect with International Women’s Day, the Caribbean Club made a point to emphasize Caribbean women who have had an impact on various areas of history, including popular culture and athletics.

“One of the main highlights this year was that at each table we had notes about different Caribbean women or women of Caribbean background that have impacted pop culture or athletics or sciences,” Frosnas said.

Ever since its inception in 2014, the Carnival celebration has grown larger each year.

“This year was actually our biggest year,” said Frosnas. “The turnout was larger than we expected because we had people not just in the North Pod but down [stairs in the Memorial Union] as well.”

After the dinner ended, the Caribbean Club had a number of events planned for the rest of the night, including an after-party at Orono House of Pizza (OHOP).

“We had a lot of people play our trivia where we asked questions about the Caribbean Islands. It was nice to see what people knew about the Caribbean flags as well as their placement on a map. This is also the first year that we’re having the after party at OHOP,” Frosnas said.

Traditionally, Carnival is held in an outdoor setting. However, Maine’s climate often impedes this element of the celebration. Despite this, the Caribbean Club still manages to work around this problem.

“Last year was the first time we had the carnival outside,” Frosnas said. “It’s supposed to be outside, but because of the weather being so unpredictable we had to take it back inside … it’s still a lot of fun.”

Currently, the Caribbean Club has around 15 members but that number is growing larger every year. The goal of the Carnival celebration and the club’s other endeavors are to integrate members of the UMaine community and create a strong presence of rich Caribbean culture on campus.

For more information about Carnival or the Caribbean club, check out their website at umaine.edu/multicultural/caribbean-club/ or follow them on Facebook. Meetings are held every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Lown Room in the Memorial Union.

In the back corner of the Hackerspace lab lies a table completely covered with plants. Though it may seem hard to believe at first, these plants are arguably the most important piece of technology that’s being used in the third annual 24-hour civic Hackathon. This year, the Hackathon focused on integrating technology with agriculture, in particular, small farmers and agricultural dependent businesses.

Michael Potiska is an administrative specialist with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, as well as a member of UMaine’s Hackerspace advisory board.

“With the theme of this year’s Hackathon being around small agriculture, we wanted to make sure that students and participants had direct access to plants so that they could actually use the sensors we’re providing. We have soil moisture sensors, photo sensors, and a variety of other ones that will help students pull information from the plants and figure out how they’re living, what their environment is like, and to give them the opportunity to actually use those sensors to their full ability,” Potiska said. “The sponsors we’re working with from UMaine have provided 160 plants for participants to have direct access to and they’ll be able to check them out just like they would with a piece of technology. The plants are just as much hardware for this event as the sensors and all of the other tech.”

Along with the various projects that students conducted over the course of the all-day event, students also participated in featured prize challenges. The hacking took place in various rooms across the Memorial Union including the Hackerspace the Totman room and the Walker room. The hacking began at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and ended at 1 p.m. the next day.

“There are a few categories that we’re going to be asking students to work in. One is what kind of information can you collect from a plant, or the orchard, or the maple tree or whatever it is you’re working with and how will you get that information back to someplace where it can be processed,” Peter Schilling, the director of innovation in teaching and learning, said. “Another part is figuring out once you get that information, what are you doing with it. Can you send it to an app on a phone that can help a farmer visualize it and take action? Another criteria … will be the cost. The less expensive it is the better because it’s about small farmers and families and how we can make solutions available to those people.”

The Hackerspace lab is a relatively new edition to the facility. The space was inspired by the collaborative media lab in the Raymond H. Fogler Library that began in 2001 in order to give students access to hardware and software they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

“At that time there wasn’t a whole lot of digital media technology that was available to students. We had a conversation again in 2015-2016 to see what we could do today to give students access, and that sort of folded into a technology toolkit that we believed every student coming out of the university should have,” Schilling said. “They way in which they’re going to collect information and analyze data has a lot to do with apps and phones, but it also has to do with drones and robotics and all that stuff. So, instead of the original collaborative media lab where the gear was expensive and high end, now it’s just new, so Hackerspace is really designed to give students access to a suite of hardware and software that they can experiment with and use to figure out questions and answers.”

The inception of the lab came from research that was being conducted by other departments at UMaine. One such group was the marine research lab that, just like the students at Hackathon, works to find solutions to problems in small agriculture and find safer and less expensive ways to study the inhabitants of the ocean.

“When I pitched Hackerspace, the marine research lab was tracking the migration patterns of orcas. A generation ago you would get in a little rubber boat with a gigantic hypodermic needle and every couple of days you’d chase down the orcas and freak everybody out. I’m sure it was a grad student who figured out that we could duct tape sponges to drones and fly them through the spouts,” Schilling said. “They got better data, no one was freaked out, and it got their project off to a great start. From there, the idea of Hackerspace grew alongside other projects and labs at the university.”

The Hackerspace lab is continuously coming up with innovative ideas to help improve the technology of today. The lab is equipped with internet devices and prototype resources, making this year’s Hackathon an exciting event on campus. The space is available to all students and can even be reserved for use by clubs and organizations.

For more information about Hackerspace, visit the lab in room 114 of the Memorial Union or visit its website at umaine.edu/hackerspace. You can also follow them on twitter at @UM_Hackerspace to see updates on Hackathon and weekly ongoings in the lab.

Rating: 5 Stars

Guinevere Beck, or Beck as she prefers to be called, walks into Mooney’s book shop looking for something interesting to read. She is broke, her poetry portfolio is still far from finished, and she’s carrying a wealth of secrets that prevent her from finding herself and moving on in life. The books, however, are an escape. Little does she know that within seconds of entering the unsuspecting shop, she’s captured the attention of Joe Goldberg, a lustful stalker with a genius level IQ and a silver tongue that fools even the most attentive of people.

Their meeting is brief, but Beck has unknowingly given Joe the one thing he needs to begin his quest for what he believes is love: her name. This is what happens in the very first scene of the Lifetime show, “YOU.” What happens next is ten episodes of edge-of-your-seat thrills, perfect writing and a terrifying story that could easily be based on true events.

“YOU” is based on Caroline Kepnes’ 2014 novel of the same name. Shortly after its publication, the television rights were acquired by Lifetime which aired the first season during the summer of 2018. Despite the show’s acclaim, Lifetime decided not to move forward with a planned second season. Netflix then acquired the rights with plans to release the second season later this year.

By far the greatest thing about “YOU” is the writing. Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the show’s developers, have done an amazing job of communicating the themes of Kepnes’ novel while successfully articulating the language of young people in the 21st century, especially when it comes to social media. The show features a lot of narration by Beck and Joe as they progress further and further into their relationship. This allows the viewer to better understand why these characters make the choices that they do while furthering the plot. The writing is never dull and it never feels forced; it feels very real.

The acting is also very good, particularly from Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and Joe (Penn Badgley). Lail does a great job with her portrayal of somebody who is essentially living a fictitious existence through her actions and her facial expressions. Badgley perfectly executes the narcissistic and methodical nature of his character without over-exaggeration or creating a caricature of himself. The supporting cast also adds compelling side narratives to the show.

“YOU” heavily plays into the potential dangers that social media culture poses to people in our modern age, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 30. The primary question that the novel and the show pose to the audience is “how far would you go for love?” The show aims to answer this through the presentation of stalking both in person and online through the use of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. This makes “YOU” a very engaging story to witness because it’s so real. The show successfully conveys how easy it would be for someone like Joe Goldberg, an obsessive stalker, manipulate themselves into the lives of others by doing a basic Facebook search. The show does have its fair share of unbelievable elements and sequences, but for the most part, it paints an accurate picture of what modern day social interactions and dating can potentially be like.

This is definitely a show that every college student should watch. It’s binge-worthy and packed with social commentary that many young people can learn from and relate to. It explores difficult topics that aren’t often seen in a mainstream television drama, making it a refreshing watch in addition to being an engaging one.

Overall, “YOU” is a perfect interpretation of everything that could go wrong with social media and dating culture. It is wildly entertaining as well as relevant to a variety of real problems that many young people deal with in one way or another. This is one to check out for sure.

On Friday, Feb. 22, comedian Arvin Mitchell visited campus to perform a stand-up routine in the North Pod of the Memorial Union hosted by Campus Activities and Student Engagement (CASE). On Saturday, Mitchell and members of CASE set up a communication workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an emphasis on developing strong leadership and communication skills through the use of comedy.

On Saturday, CASE and Arvin Mitchell conducted a Student Leadership and Communication Workshop as part of Mitchell’s visit to campus. In a small classroom on the second floor of Little Hall, 10 people broke up into small groups and prepared to perform a communication exercise. Each team member was given two slips of paper: one had a trait written on it and the other a profession. The rules were simple; apply the trait to the job and then describe it to the rest of the group. The key aspect of this exercise however, is how funny and creative the combinations are. One student barely kept it together as he tried to articulate the career of a garbage man whose trait was spontaneous combustion.

“He was great! We’re so happy he came because everyone had a blast,” CASE Head Programmer Benjamin Evans said.

On the group’s official description of the event, they explained what events like this workshop contribute to the campus community saying, “our goal is to challenge students to reflect on their own communication style and develop new opportunities for collaboration and cooperation through a new lens which we hope comedy will create.”

Benjamin Evans and Cat Lamb developed a number of fun and meaningful exercises ranging from the one described earlier, to well-known games like two truths and a lie. Most of the activities involved improvisation and role play. The workshop attendees included undergraduate, graduate students and faculty. During the lunch break attendees continued to talk and laugh with each other, proving the effectiveness of the exercises.

One improv activity in particular, was especially effective. The attendees broke off into small groups once again and retired to another classroom for a few minutes. One person told their group a true story about themselves and then the rest of the group developed their own versions of that story. Once the groups were brought back into the main room, each of them told their story. The other groups were then asked to guess whose story they thought it was. This exercise required attendees to listen closely to each other in order to understand the person’s story and ultimately to perform the activity.

“We tried to pick things that were lighthearted and funny, but also emphasized understanding and effective listening,” Cat Lamb, a graduate assistant for CASE, said.

For more information about CASE and other upcoming events, visit their website at umaine.edu/case or visit their office located in room 149 of the Memorial Union. For more information about Arvin Mitchell, check out his facebook page or follow him on Twitter at @arvincomedian.

Rating: 4 Stars

Imagine a world where you go insane the moment you open your eyes to see what lies in front of you. That exact scenario is the premise of the 2018 Netflix Original movie, “Birdbox.” The movie tells the story of a woman named Malorie (Sandra Bullock), who must undertake a dangerous journey down a perilous river with two young children in order to find sanctuary from the apocalyptic world around them. The catch is that she and the children have to do it while blindfolded. In this nightmare, anyone who opens their eyes immediately begins to see or hear things which ultimately lead to their death.

The movie starts with Malorie and the children embarking on their dangerous adventure but frequently cuts to contextual flashbacks to give viewers an idea of how they got there. This part of the story takes place inside a large house owned by a man named Douglas (John Malkovich). Also taking shelter there are Tom (Trevante Rhodes) and Olympia (Danielle McDonald).

As a thriller, “Birdbox” succeeds in creating the necessary tension to put the viewer on edge. The characters are all highly convincing and relatable, which makes you care for them and fear for their safety. The eeriest element of “Birdbox” is that it relies solely on the idea of not being able to see in terrifying situations. There are no jump scares or fake-outs, all of the danger in the story is a legitimate threat to the characters, which makes the world very unsettling. There is one sequence that falls into the cliches of typical horror or survival movies but it’s not enough to damage the overall quality of the film.

Although “Birdbox” is categorized as a thriller, there is a great dramatic narrative at the heart of the film. The story isn’t so much about the apocalypse or the thing outside that comes after people; it’s about the characters and the relationships that they have with one another. This makes for a very engaging and entertaining movie, especially when those characters come into conflict with each other.

On the technical side of things, “Birdbox” is well shot and well directed. There isn’t shaky camerawork or lazy directing. Everything is presented clearly and all of the actors give strong performances. However, the best thing, technically, about “Birdbox” is the editing. Like I said earlier, the movie relies on transition storytelling and in order to do that successfully, the film’s editing has to be as smooth as possible, especially when transitioning from the scenes that take place on the river to the scenes that take place in the house. The music is also quite impressive which comes as no surprise as the score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.

If you’ve seen the 2018 film “A Quiet Place” and liked it, then you will definitely like “Birdbox” as both films play on the idea of survival without the use of one of your senses.

“Birdbox” has a running time of two hours and four minutes. Fans of the thriller movie genre will enjoy the lore and mystery behind the apocalyptic world, while casual movie fans will enjoy the characters and story. Overall, I really enjoyed “Birdbox” for its strong characters, engaging story concept and suspenseful mystery. This is definitely one to check out while it’s available on Netflix.

On Thursday, Jan. 24 students braved the uncomfortable conditions, dodging puddles and ice patches thick enough to skate across to gather in the Lown Room of the Memorial Union. While the cold weather and hard rain served as a reminder that warmer temperatures and sunshine are still months away, Campus Activities and Student Engagement (CASE) brought spring to campus early with their succulent planting event, “Pot Party.” Students planted colorful succulents and hand-painted flower pots, and shared laughs and stories in between handfuls of Cheetos.

This event is a part of CASE’s “First Week of Class Events,” a series of fun and free events designed to welcome University of Maine students back to the campus after winter break.

“We’ll definitely have to order more next time,” Cat Lamb, a graduate assistant for CASE, said.

CASE is responsible for a multitude of student events on campus, including Maine Day. To kick off the spring semester, they arranged an entire week of student activities starting on Tuesday with free Dunkin’ Donuts in the Union. CASE hosted a Kickin’ Flicks presentation of “The Spy Who Dumped Me” in the North Pod on Wednesday, the “Pot Party” on Thursday, and the student organization fair and “Gearing up for Self Care” event on Friday.

Planning activities isn’t always an easy task however, and no one knows this better than Benjamin Evans, the head programmer for CASE.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is figuring out what students are going to want to come out and see, particularly at night and in the cold weather,” Evans said. “The nice thing about all of our events though, is that they’re completely free. We want to make sure that we’re not asking students, ‘hey come to this cool event, leave your warm room, but you have to pay.’ We always try to have something for people to do.”

CASE breaks down its programs into two categories: pop-up programming and large-scale events.

“A lot of the events this week are pop-ups, but we have some events coming up in February and March like ‘Fresh Check Day’ which is a suicide prevention program in collaboration with the Mind Spa and the Counseling Center, and Tunnel of Oppression, which we’re bringing back this year, and that will take students through the oppressed lives of different groups on campus. And of course Maine Day. Those fall more into the large scale category,” Evans said.

In addition to organizing events and activities around campus, CASE also manages over two-hundred student clubs and organizations that the University of Maine has to offer. CASE also serves as the place for students to go when they want to plan an event or start a new organization.

“The nice thing is that a student could walk through the door right now and start their own student club. We really make sure that if our students don’t see a club that they’re interested in, we can teach them how to start a new student organization,” Evans said.

They also facilitate collaborations with student government, Friday’s organization fair being one such collaboration.

“Between us and student government, there’s about two-hundred plus student organizations on campus that are recognized and a handful that aren’t recognized. We provide support for them,” Lamb said. “If there’s an event that they want to put on we can take them through the planning process, we have rental equipment that we can give them, such as popcorn machines and different things for fundraising. We also provide moral support.”

With a successful first week of events out of the way and many more on the horizon, students have plenty of reasons to get excited about what CASE has in store for the University of Maine.

For more information about CASE, please visit the Campus Activities and Student Engagement website, or stop by room 149 in the Memorial Union.