On April 7, 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed into the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 53-47 vote, this historic victory makes her the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She was met with support from all 50 Senate Democrats and three Republican Senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney. 

While it may take a few months before Judge Jackson officially replaces the retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, her confirmation serves as an immediate milestone in representation for Black women in the United States.

Judge Jackson is highly qualified, with an impressive background both professionally and educationally. She served as a United States District Judge from 2013 until 2021 and served on the United States Sentencing Commission for four years as Vice Chair and Commissioner. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1996 and her A.B. in Government from Harvard-Radcliffe College in 1992.   

This vote finalizes a promise made by President Joe Biden during his 2020 campaign to elect a Black woman as a Supreme Court justice. “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court, to make sure we in fact get every representation,” Biden assured voters in 2020, and he is right—representation is imperative. 

Since its first assembly in 1790, the U.S. Supreme Court has had 115 judges—108 of which have been white men. There have been only five female justices, two Black male justices and one woman of color. Current Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the only Hispanic justice, Justices Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas are the only Black male justices and there has never been an Asian-American justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“For the first 180 years, the Court membership consisted exclusively of white males, almost all Protestant and of Northern/Western European descent,” Teaching Tolerance reported.  

While the U.S claims to be founded on ideals of equality and equal representation, the highest judicial branch has been run predominantly by white men since its establishment. The U.S. is incredibly diverse, and these numbers fail to represent the different demographics in the country. 

According to the 2020 census, 13.4% of the U.S. is Black or African American, 5.9% is Asian alone, 1.3% is American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 2.8% is Two or More Races and 19.5% is Hispanic or Latino. Until recently, the High Court did not reflect this diversity, and thus the legal system of this country has never truly been representative or equal. 

While this victory is monumental for achieving equal representation on a national level, the State Supreme Courts unfortunately fall far behind in terms of diversity. 

As of April 2021: “There are no Black justices in 28 states. There are no Latino justices in 40 states. There are no Asian American justices in 44 states. There are no Native American justices in 47 states. Across all state high courts, just 17 percent of justices are Black, Latino, Asian American or Native American. By contrast, people of color make up almost 40 percent of the U.S. population,” Janna Adelstein and Alicia Bannon for the Brennan Center for Justice reported.

While Justice Jackson’s confirmation still deserves great celebration, there is still significant progress to be made. Until every level of the United States’ legal system reflects the people of this country, the fight for justice is not over. 

For the first time in two years, the University of Maine commenced its first round of Accepted Student Days on April 1. Throughout April, prospective students for the fall will attend their respective programs to learn more about their academic future. The COVID-19 pandemic halted these activities starting in the spring of 2020, and their return marks a new transition back to normalcy here at UMaine. 

In March of 2020, students were sent home and required to complete their semesters via remote learning. Upon returning in the fall of 2021, mask mandates and COVID-19 restrictions were implemented, social gatherings restricted and many aspects of the typical college experience were put indefinitely on hold. Now, two years since the beginning, we’re finally beginning to see a return to normalcy as cases drop and vaccination levels increase.

The mask mandate was lifted on April 26, with students and faculty no longer required to wear masks in UMaine facilities except for in classroom settings. Nearly all students and faculty are vaccinated, and the immense efforts taken by all have allowed the school to ease the COVID-19 safety measures. 

Removing the mask mandate may seem miniscule, but for students and faculty it means seeing smiling faces again, breathing more easily when working out and more audible conversations with peers. These small things are just reminders of the days before the pandemic, but slowly, even more rewarding experiences are returning as well. 

Large gatherings were banned for much of the pandemic, suspending events like the Maine Day Parade, the Maine Event concert and even in-person commencement ceremonies. These important college events are thankfully scheduled to occur this year, bringing delight to many of those who missed out on these integral college experiences. 

The Maine Day parade will take place on April 27 at 8:15 a.m., and the Maine Event, a concert sponsored by the UMaine Student Government, is scheduled for April 26 at 6:00 p.m. at Hilltop. 

While UMaine has remained focused on looking ahead to a positive future, the community has not forgotten about those affected in the past by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be graduation ceremonies held this year not only for the class of 2022, but also the classes of 2021 and 2020.   

Commencement ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate classes of 2022, 2021 and 2020 will take place on Friday, May 6, Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 in the Alfond Arena. More information about dates, tickets and COVID-19 guidelines can be found on the UMaine website. 

Many aspects of the university experience have changed drastically over the past two years, but finally UMaine is gradually entering into a new normal. 

The student body and administration worked incredibly hard throughout the past two years to ensure everyone’s safety and to preserve UMaine’s educational standards. Moving forward, we’re all relieved to safely transition to no masks, larger gatherings and less COVID-19 restrictions and to provide graduation ceremonies for those who lost them to the pandemic.  

On Jan. 18, 2022, students returned to in–person classes at the University of Maine. As the novel Omicron variant spread across campus, COVID–19 cases soared. With 486 positive UMS tests in the last 14 days, concerns are growing surrounding the resources available to students and whether the measures taken by the school are in their best interest. 

In October of 2021, The Maine Campus published a piece titled “COVID’s still here. Why isn’t our strategy?” addressing students’ concerns over the weakening response from the university and uncertainty about the future. It seems these measures have become further compromised, and a system that incentivises negligence has taken over. 

There are a staggering ten times more active COVID–19 cases known in the UMS system now than when the Maine Campus reported in October. Yet many of the fundamental resources once in place have been revoked. Weekly testing for boosted students will not be required beginning Feb. 1, and even if students do test positive on their own there’s little incentive to self-report. 

Professors are not expected to provide virtual alternatives for the five plus days students are out recovering, a policy which pressures students to attend classes even when sick. Aside from academic stress, financial and logistical issues additionally corner students who cannot afford to travel home for quarantine. 

“Residential students who test positive for COVID-19 and/or are close contacts of known positives should plan to isolate/quarantine off campus at home or elsewhere,” the University of Maine states on their website. Thus, on top of academic responsibilities, students are also faced with the task of arranging an external quarantine location. 

Five nights at a nearby hotel plus travel expenses could easily set a student back hundreds of dollars, and traveling home simply isn’t an option for many students who come from other states or countries. There are extremely limited, on-campus quarantine rooms, but contacting the school may prove difficult as the COVID-19 response line is only available during weekday hours.

With the described academic, financial and logistical headaches encompassing a positive test result, students are realizing the easiest thing to do is to not get tested. This seems almost convenient for the university as the narrative has been shifting to place full responsibility on the student. 

“Individuals who test positive are asked to open the lines of communication with those you know are your close contacts — your roommate or classmate, your coworker, etc. Also notify the faculty member of your in-person class or your workplace supervisor,” the university reports on their website. With an ambiguous contact tracing system, students are left with the full responsibility of notifying friends, classmates, professors and peers. The anxiety surrounding reporting further encourages students to simply not test and, worse, not report if they do test positive. 

So what do students do? They ignore their symptoms and go to class—jeopardizing themselves and the overwhelmed the healthcare system in Maine. Omicron spreads significantly faster than the delta and original SARS-CoV-2 variants, and yet we’re becoming more reckless than ever, bordering on carelessness. 

UMaine has proven once before that they’re capable of incredible testing efficiency, accessible remote learning and on-campus quarantine housing, yet they’re actively choosing not to reinstate these resources to a capacity that would incentivize responsible testing and reporting. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on us all, but we simply cannot afford to adopt negligence in hopes that the problem will simply disappear. UMaine should require all professors to provide remote learning options for students to encourage staying home in order to minimize the virus’ spread. As well, all students living on campus should have equal access to free quarantine housing. These steps would help encourage students to get tested and prioritize their health. This will benefit everyone long term as providing resources to help students who get sick in turn promotes accountability and responsibility.

On Nov. 22, 2014 Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Black boy played with a toy gun. He was immediately shot and killed at the scene by police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback. His killers never faced jail time. They never even saw a trial. 

18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse crossed state borders with a semi automatic rifle, and police did not shoot him. He killed two people, and was faced with five felony charges. On Friday, Nov. 19, he walked away free. 

This is the duality of America. This is the systemic racism inherent in the United States’ justice system. It’s the reality Black Americans face, and Kyle Rittenhouse’s sentence is just one of countless social injustices that highlight this inequality. 

In the summer of 2020, American protesters gathered in Kenosha, Wisconsin to practice their right to freedom of speech. They expressed outrage over the wrongful shooting of Jacob Blake by police officer Rusten Shesky. The seven shots fired at Blake left him paralyzed from the waist down, but the Department of Justice ultimately refused to prosecute Shesky. 

During this protest, then 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two and injuring a third. He pleaded his innocence, posed as the victim, and spoke between tears during his trial. He was found not guilty and will never see prison time for his atrocious crimes.  

He carried an AR-style semi automatic rifle. Tamir Rice carried an Airsoft gun. Rittenhouse is allowed relief in the court’s ruling while Rice’s family forever mourns the loss of their innocent child.

Black people in the United States do not experience the same justice system as white people. 

Crystal Mason received a five year sentence for casting a provisional ballot. She was unaware voting restrictions made her ineligible to vote.  

Alvin Kennard served 36 years in prison for stealing $50 worth of food from a bakery. He was  22 years-old at the time of his conviction.  

Kalief Browder served three years on Rikers Island without ever being convicted of a crime. He spent two years in solitary confinement and endured devastating trauma. He took his own life in 2015. He was only 22 years-old.

Black people are not safe in this country, and our criminal justice system actively discriminates against them. “We use our criminal justice system to label people of color ‘criminals’ and then engage in all the practices we supposedly left behind … We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it,” author Michelle Alexander wrote in her book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.”

This country was built around institutional racism. It’s easy for white people to dismiss it because they’re not the ones experiencing it. “Racism and white supremacy is at the ROOT of the system. It’s in policing. It’s in the courts. It’s EVERYWHERE. We must keep fighting to dismantle this entire system and build a new one that centers justice and accountability,” the nonprofit organization Grassroots Law Project reported.  

Kyle Rittenhouse getting away with killing two people is deplorable, but it’s unfortunately just one instance in a 400 year-long history of social injustice and racial bias in this country. It’s upsetting and rightfully incites outrage, but merely expressing how we feel will no longer suffice.

Action is needed. If you don’t know where to start, follow these accounts. NoWhiteSaviors, TheLastPrisonerProject, GrassrootsLaw, BlackandEmbodied—there’s no shortage of educational pages and organizations. Listen to Black voices but also compensate them. Yes, pay them. Venmo or CashApp contributors for their work. No one is entitled to the time and educational resources provided by Black people. Volunteer for grassroots movements. Contact politicians, attend protests, demand reparations and advocate in every way possible for social change. 

This is only the start. These prevailing issues are ones that require deep systemic change. They require the complete restructuring of institutions rooted in white supremacy. 

The tears shed by Kyle Rittenhouse will one day symbolize the death of an archaic, racist, discriminatory and oppressive justice system. The lives of Kalief Browder and Tamir Rice will be avenged when we restructure this country on the basis of true equality and justice and make the United States a safe place for all. 

There’s a popular saying among college students: You can’t be an alcoholic until you graduate. The truth is—you can, and many college students are. Unfortunately, this issue is often dismissed with the attitude that college is the best four years of your life. Substance abuse is glorified on social media, normalized in everyday settings and present at nearly all off-campus social events. Just because it’s everywhere doesn’t mean it’s not problematic. 

“Responses from more than 10,000 full-time students at 119 four-year colleges indicated that 44% of survey participants were binge drinkers,” a Wall Street Journal staff reporter stated in reference to a Harvard study on college alcohol consumption. Nearly half of students drinking excessively is extremely alarming, especially considering the serious implications for both the physical and mental health of students, as well as their academic performance. 

Binge drinking, as defined by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is “a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to a 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or higher.” This is consuming approximately 4 to 5 drinks, depending on the person’s sex and body mass, every two hours.

Alcohol abuse and binge drinking can lead to health and safety risks, including drunk-driving, injuries, liver damage and increased risk of sexual assault. Academic performance and mental health are also seriously impacted by substance abuse. “About one in four college students report experiencing academic difficulties from drinking, such as missing class or getting behind on school work,” the NIAAA reported. As well, excessive drinking is associated with higher Beck Depression Inventory scores, and many students are already at risk of depression due to the immense stress and workload of college. 

The risk alcohol abuse poses to college students seems so apparent, and yet it hides in plain sight on social media. The coverage generally starts on “Thirsty Thursday,” the first night of binge drinking. This is followed by the “Friday Beers” memes that get peers excited for the celebratory end-of-week drinking. The weekend is then filled with one Snapchat and Instagram story after another of alcohol-filled social events. From candid boomerangs of IPAs to drunk selfies at college parties, the covert alcohol imagery contributes to the normalization of college substance abuse. These images are so common that it is somewhat difficult to differentiate between healthy consumption and borderline alcoholism.

In 2016, this problem was highlighted by a social experiment in which an ad company created a fake Parisian instagram user, “Louise Delage.” All of her posts portrayed a beautiful 25-year-old living a fun and social life. However, each one of her 150 photos contained alcohol. She amassed over 50,000 followers, but none of them commented on her page’s excessive alcohol related imagery.

“The ad agency BETC created Louise for its client, Addict Aide, to put a spotlight on how easily you can look past a friend or loved one’s alcoholism. After all, Louise looks like she’s having a great time, but when you zoom out, you notice there’s alcohol in every single picture,” Cosmopolitan reported. This social experiment exposes the unfortunate reality that most substance abuse in college goes unseen and that a reality check is needed for students in order to address this issue.

While some concerning behaviors remain hidden amongst instagram posts, others are broadcasted quite openly. In fact, there is an entire app dedicated to posting alcohol consumption. Beer Buddy, as suggested by its slogan “Drink with me!” is a social media platform that allows users to post photo updates of their drinking. It shows the user’s location and ultimately serves to encourage peers to drink with one another. Students can share emojis to represent how much they’re drinking, contributing to the lighthearted, almost comedic tone which essentially glorifies alcoholism.  

Excessive alcohol consumption has become a normalized aspect of the college experience. The transformative years spent in college give students the opportunity to interact with their peers, but the constant presence of alcohol in social settings can lead to dangerous addictions that can negatively impact student’s health and academic performance. Students need to challenge this unhealthy culture and acknowledge how social media contributes to the glorification of substance abuse in college.

One of the fatal flaws of the public education system, according to most young adults, is the lack of exposure to practical life skills. “I don’t know how to do taxes, but I sure do know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell” goes the classic joke perfectly encapsulating the collective frustration and confusion among college students. Many will leave campus enriched with a deep knowledge about science, business, fine arts and numerous other fields of study, but otherwise feel completely clueless about basic practical skills that are the true heart of the adult world.

For example, it’s a tacit societal expectation of most young adults to get their driver’s license and their first car around the age they’ll be in college. However, many young car owners don’t know the mechanical fundamentals of cars, such as why oil changes need to happen at certain intervals, why tires need to be rotated or basic troubleshooting. This information is passed down from parents or between friends, but is never taught in schools. Resurrecting shop classes as a critical component of the public education system would provide accessible information for those without mechanically inclined parents and friends, or those who are just more curious about mechanical knowledge in general.

In addition to classes that help young students learn these necessary skills, one field of knowledge ignored by school systems and not often cited by students advocating for these changes is outdoor education. Some small, private schools emphasize outdoor-focused learning paired with radically alternative educational systems, such as Montessori schools, but these schools are not well known and are usually only accessible to parents who can afford to send their children to private schools.

One Montessori school in Massachusetts incorporates a program called Nature’s Classroom into their curriculum for grades four through eight. For a whole week in October, all students travel to a new camp location and spend their days hiking, playing leadership games and adventuring throughout the local woodlands. Some locations have dedicated cabins for sleeping and some, such as Camp Chewonki in Wiscasset, require students to hike in their packs and set up their own campsites.

Amidst the games and adventures, the students learn critical outdoor skills, including building shelters, plant identification and cooking outside with limited resources. Nighttime games are also part of the experience, which help students gain confidence navigating at night, and become less afraid of the dark and typical woodland sounds.

Programs like these would be a valuable asset to mainstream education, since otherwise most kids and young adults won’t get the chance to develop a toolbox of outdoor skills. In an increasingly modernized world, especially in suburbs and cities, it’s easy to lose sight of the wilderness’ prevalence in daily life. If the local power grid goes offline for an extended period of time, something as simple as properly building and maintaining a fire can provide a means for cooking and warmth. Even losing your direction on a day trip hike could require using navigation and survival skills to find help.

Not only are these skills useful for outdoor adventuring and even daily life, but they can also bolster confidence and resourcefulness in other abilities completely unrelated to the outdoors. Having the knowledge base to know how to build a shelter, fire, purify water, etc. from limited resources develops kids’ adaptivity and problem-solving skills, which  is an invaluable tool for navigating the adult world inside the safety of four walls.

In March of 2020, students received an email telling us that all students would be sent home and have to transition to remote education. The following year forced us to adjust to virtual learning and cope with the disarray caused by the pandemic. Last year, the university made great strides in helping us return to in-person learning while prioritizing our health and safety. We had mask mandates, weekly testing, quarantine dorms, contact tracing and travel restrictions. Academically, we had hybrid zoom classes, reading days, options to take classes virtually if needed and more flexible attendance policies. 

These practices effectively controlled our COVID-19 cases and protected our community last year, but the pandemic is not over as of the Fall 2021 semester. COVID-19 is still here, but our COVID-19 strategy is not. 

The rules are vague, the communication is lacking and students are beginning to express their concerns about the school’s insufficient COVID-19 strategy. While the vaccine mandate requires that all students are fully vaccinated in order to protect the community and reduce the virus’ transmission, students are still getting sick, and the measures previously taken to help us are no longer in place. 

Last year, Knox Hall was reserved as a quarantine dorm. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 or had known to be exposed were required to move into the hall and quarantine for ten days. This year, as sent in an email titled “Covid information for residents,” the university announced its new policy. “We will ask most students to return home for their isolation period. We have very little space available for on campus isolation.” The University of Maine has a large out–of–state population, and unfortunately, traveling home isn’t as easy for some students as the university has implied. 

Furthermore, there’s little clarity on how students will continue to attend classes, virtually or not at all, should they test positive or be exposed. “Pack what you will need for 10 days in isolation,” the email continues. “Don’t forget things like academic coursework, chargers and medications you’ll need!” This language undermines the significant implications a ten–day quarantine has for many students and provides little logistical support. 

There is additional concern as the newest Delta variant spreads faster, further complicating the housing situation on campus. At the least, we need an improved contact tracing system that can keep up with the high transmission rate. Currently, the school reports 44 known cases at UMaine, which it identified through the “UMS asymptomatic screening and verified self-reports of university students, faculty and staff from independent testing.” Our COVID-19 response is now reliant on everyone self-reporting, but currently there is little incentive to do so. 

Part of this arises from confusion regarding absence policies in class. Students have experienced frustration due to many teachers’ strict attendance requirements. With no Zoom option required for classes many continue to attend classes even when they present symptoms. The mentality is to not get tested if you feel sick, due to concerns surrounding missed classes and falling behind in schoolwork. 

A way the university could alleviate this issue is by reinstating the pass/fail option and offering Zoom classes for students who choose to isolate.

While we may have returned to in-person classes, we’re still combatting issues we faced last year. Students are still getting sick, we’re still wearing masks and we still face an uncertain future. For example, we were told the mask mandate would be implemented until Sept. 30. Recently, that has been updated until late October. 

Although based on hopeful testing outcomes, by frequently changing mandates, students are faced with unstable expectations regarding UMaine’s broad COVID-19 strategy. Telling students at the beginning of the semester that UMaine will uphold the mask mandate for the entire semester would have reduced worries over the university’s concern for student safety. 

While the university holds the primary responsibility for their COVID-19 strategy, it should be noted that students also need to adjust our attitude. Students continue to gather at bars, sporting events and large gatherings even when they feel sick. We should discourage each other from going out when sick and encourage reporting our symptoms and getting tested. 

The future of our COVID-19 response needs an increased effort by both students and the school. UMaine should consider reinstating the pass/fail option and creating more convenient options for quarantining. We also need a clear agenda on the future COVID-19 response and what to anticipate for next semester. Ideally, students should be allowed to participate in all classes via Zoom should they test positive for COVID-19 or choose to isolate due to known exposure. 

While requiring the vaccine was a huge step toward protecting our student body, these additional measures would provide a support system that encourages students to get tested and to refrain from attending classes when sick. 

Welcome back Black Bears! 

On Aug. 27, the University of Maine welcomed the class of 2025 to its campus with a “hearty Maine hello.” An incredible effort has been made by the entire student body and staff to ensure a safe return to campus. UMaine’s new requirement mandating that all students receive the COVID-19 vaccine has served as an important milestone in allowing a safe return to campus, and the indoor mask mandates implemented until Sept. 30 provide additional safety in the transition to in-person classes. 

While these measures account for the physical safety of everyone on campus, it’s also important to consistently acknowledge the mental and emotional challenges faced by students. If you’re apprehensive about this semester, you’re not alone. The Maine Campus wants to share resources and advice to help you succeed academically, socially and mentally here at UMaine.  

Students and teachers are returning to life in-person. This transition may prove challenging for the incoming class, who experienced their last year and a half of education remotely. Taking care of both your mental and physical health is critical throughout college, but is easily neglected in the world of academia. The university understands the hardships faced by incoming students and offers resources and accommodations to alleviate this transition. 

UMaine has recently announced that they are offering the Pass/Fail option for classes again to alleviate stress for students. If students are interested in this option, they should discuss the process with their academic advisor. 

Build relationships with your professors by attending their office hours, and get contact information from your peers to form study groups and stay on top of assignments. They may come in handy the night before an assignment is due. Tutoring is another amazing opportunity to stay ahead in classes and is available through the university’s College Success Program. 

A great place to study at is the Fogler Library. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight. 

Studying is important, but make sure you’re also prioritizing sleep and eating regularly. Wells, York and Hilltop dining halls are great places to eat. If you’re feeling more adventurous, grab a coffee or some stir-fry at the Bears Den in the Union. 

The Counseling Center, located on campus, is a helpful free resource for students. They offer appointments via Zoom or phone, as well as in person. You can schedule an appointment through their office at (207) 581-1392. 

There are over 100 student-run clubs and organizations on campus. Visit the “Student Organizations List of Active Clubs’‘ on UMaine’s website to explore groups that may interest you. There you’ll find contact information, so don’t hesitate to email club leaders for more information.

It’s important to remember that everyone on campus was in your shoes at one point. Don’t compare your first semester to someone else’s last. Everyone had to struggle to find their place and learn how to succeed, so don’t be too hard on yourselves. 

Lastly, the members of the Maine Campus editorial board have put together some of our own words of advice for you. We hope you carry these with you as you immerse yourself in this exciting, new environment. 

“Nobody is gonna come talk to you, so you have to go talk to them. Even if you have to slip a note under their door. Which I have done!”

“Just put yourself out there. Even though it’s scary. Get out of your comfort zone.”

“Do your research. Go online and see what clubs there are.”

“The biggest thing that I’ve had to learn is to be patient with other people, but also to be patient with yourself.”

“Try and do something fun to do once a week, once a month, however often you want. Finding something fun on campus, and at your comfort level, gives you much-needed stress relief.”

“My first year here, in the beginning, I was homesick. I didn’t have any friends for a while. One day I decided I’d leave my door open. I’d wait for someone to walk by. Someone walked by talking about video games. Now they’re my best friends.”

“Build relationships with your professors.”

Dear class of 2025, we want you to succeed. The Maine Campus staff, your professors, upperclassmen and everyone in between are rooting for you. We know you’ve been through a lot, and we’re here to help. There’s a unique bond that comes with being the first class to return in person after the pandemic, and we all appreciate the special value you bring to this university. We have just as much to learn from you as you do from us, so please say hello!