Students and faculty spilled out of a packed Multicultural Center last Wednesday, where the Office of Multicultural Student Life hosted “Free Speech & Our Campus Community,” the latest installment in its “Lunch & Learn” series. The one-hour event was part lunch — attendees were encouraged to fill their plates with tacos, chips and salsa — part lecture and part group discussion on the topic of free speech on the University of Maine campus.

Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Life Silvestre Guzmán established from the beginning that the event wasn’t supposed to be a debate but rather an opportunity to help educate students on the legality of offensive speech, specifically as it applies to minorities on campus.

The featured speaker was Director of Community Standards David Fiacco, who opened by encouraging everyone to read the Constitution. The issue of free speech versus hate speech is rooted in the First Amendment, which grants freedom of speech but does not specify any further. Fiacco said that universities are supposed to be places where different opinions and ideas are discussed, not quieted. Because UMaine is a public university, people are free to gather, debate or protest on campus.

However, some restrictions apply, such as making loud noise in the middle of the night, disturbing the flow of traffic, or using sound amplification devices such as microphones or megaphones that disrupt classes, all of which could warrant university or police action.

Two members of the Orono Police Department (OPD), Officer Travis Morse and Chief of Police Josh Ewing, attended the event of their own volition in an effort to bridge the divide between police and students, especially students who are members of marginalized communities.

“A lot of people don’t have a great relationship with the police, and we want them to know that they can come to us and get results,” said Chief Ewins. “We want people to see us as a resource.”

UMaine cannot bar someone from speaking on campus based on their political views, and has an obligation to ensure safe events for any guest speaker. Controversial speakers who may spark a strong reaction require extra security, which can cost the university tens of thousands of dollars. The financial burden may prevent UMaine from hosting these speakers, but the school cannot place restrictions based on content.

The pop-up panel organized by the Rising Tide Center and the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies program earlier this month addressed the same issues discussed at this event. At the panel, students and faculty explored the difference between free speech and accepted speech, and whether people should be allowed to use hate speech on campus where paying students can be negatively impacted.

At the “Free Speech & Our Campus Community” event, Fiacco established that speech is no longer protected when it incites violence, which brings up another complex issue: what constitutes violence? Some define it as a physical altercation, while others see it more broadly, including emotional violence. Officially, these issues are handled on a case-by-case basis, because “different words impact different people in individual ways,” according to Fiacco.

These blurry definitions make it difficult for anyone to reach a consensus on what should be protected speech. Because of that lack of clarity, members of the UMaine community will continue having these conversations and working towards solutions.

After over a year of work and preparation, Orono Brewing Company will be opening a new location at 61 Margin St. later this fall.

After realizing that the local demand for beer was greater than the previous facility could meet, owners Abe Furth, Mark Horton, Heather Furth and Asa Marsh-Sachs purchased the property in 2017 with the intention of expanding the production capacity of their business.

Formerly a rock-crushing facility, the old building sat empty from 2013 to 2017.

Orono Brewing Company already has locations in Orono and Bangor, but these lack the space and equipment the owners need. A small canning unit means that they can only send out canned beer about once a month, if that. It was becoming difficult to produce enough beer just to sell in-house.

The new Margin Street facility allows the owners to not only expand physically but to increase their production capacity. With their new, nearly fully-automated canning line, they are able to can beer regularly and send out multiple cases a week.

The new space allowed brewmaster Asa Marsh-Sachs to purchase fermentation tanks and brewing equipment—complete with a catwalk that makes ladders unnecessary—from the Maine Beer Company in Freeport, which recently underwent an expansion of its own.

Marsh-Sachs believes in the importance of making connections and building relationships in the brewery community, as well as treating the Orono community well.

“I grew up on a flower farm,” said Marsh-Sachs. “So I’m excited to plant flowers, trees—make it an exciting place for people.”

One of the reasons why the Orono Brewing Company team works so well is that they recognize that each person brings unique strengths to the table. This spirit of collaboration is also a piece of what drives them to expand. Orono is a close community and the owners of this business want to create a new space where people can have drinks, play ping pong and spend time together.

“We have goals both locally and statewide,” said Abe Furth. “Now we’re able to take care of statewide demand, and we’re excited to offer a fun and energizing atmosphere for the town.”

Furth told the Bangor Daily News in May 2017 that they are “dedicated to slow and incremental growth,” building the business slowly in order to maintain quality.

The Margin Street location also has a full-sized kitchen, giving the brewery the chance to develop a food menu similar to that of Woodman’s Bar and Grill, also located in Orono and owned by Horton and the Furths.

While an exact opening date has not been set, the 61 Margin St. location will open in the fall of 2018.

New senator and officer appointments, resignations

Francis Perrino resigned as a student senator, and Chase Flaherty resigned as a faculty-senate student representative.

Club maintenance

The Navigators recently returned from their sixth annual mission trip to Croatia, where they held a camp for Roma children. Their mission involved helping with reconciliation of generational trauma through demonstrating affection and organizing group exercises, creative activities and Bible study.

Guest speakers

Lauri Sidelko, director of the Student Wellness Resource Center, made three announcements to the Senate:

The Student Wellness Resource Center recently hired Dana Carver-Bialer from the Communication and Journalism department to run leadership programs. There will be a statewide leadership conference held at the Memorial Union on Oct. 19 and 20. Sidelko invited senators to contact her if they want to host an event, speak or attend the conference.

Sidelko also runs UMaine UVote, a voter education, engagement and registration initiative. Students can register to vote in the Student Wellness Resource Center in the Memorial Union until fall break. There will be voter registration drives held on Sept. 17 and 25.

The annual Black Bear Attack race, a 3.5 mile mud run, will take place on Sept. 22. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Lauri Sidelko at sidelko@maine.edu.

Executive reports

President Logan Aromando reported a high turnout at the Student Organization Fair. Aromando also said that he and Vice President Bentley Simpson are part of the Voter Activation Team, and will be updating the senate regarding voter registration.

Vice President for Financial Affairs Bradley Bailey reported $481,079.70 in unallocated funds.

Vice President for Student Organizations Taylor Cray is starting a “Club of the Week” feature for student organizations that are doing well. Selected clubs will get a feature on UMSG social media accounts and a $100 award.

Vice President for Student Entertainment Corey Claflin is working with athletics regarding football and hockey season activity promotion and figuring out logistics to attend the National Association of Campus Activities convention.

Representative board reports

The Commuter and Non-Traditional Student group (CANS) is holding a pancake breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Chase Flaherty reported on behalf of the Honors College Student Advisory Board that the honors cookout was held Thursday, Sept. 13 with a large turnout.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) representative Cole Lemelin said that they had a successful recruitment kickoff on Saturday. He reported that they have not yet received numbers on attendance, but that information is forthcoming. Lemelin believes they will get their largest numbers to date.

President Aromando reported on behalf of the Panhellenic Council that sorority formal recruitment is in “full swing” and will wrap up with bid day on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Sustainability and Environmental Actions Division is working with the Green Campus Initiative to promote composting.

Community association reports

The Feminist Collective hosted a Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund phone bank on Tuesday night, encouraging students to call Sen. Susan Collins and ask her to vote against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

The International Student Association has recently become a community association, with about 20 current members. The Office of International Programs hosts a coffee hour every Friday at 4 p.m. in the North Pod. The association also holds a culture festival in November, which had around 2,700 attendants last year.

For the second time this year, University of Maine English professor Tony Brinkley has been placed on paid leave while under university investigation.

Brinkley, who has been teaching at UMaine since 1983 and served as the English Department chair from 1999 to 2004, was originally placed on leave in January for the spring semester after two female graduate students filed complaints against him. The case, brought by Paige Melin, who obtained her master’s degree from UMaine in 2016, was closed on May 3, just before the end of the semester.

Though that investigation, run through UMaine’s Office of Equal Opportunity, ended and Brinkley was allowed access to the campus over the summer, the Bangor Daily News reported on Aug. 30 that Brinkley would be on paid leave again for the fall 2018 semester.

The current investigation is run by UMaine’s human resources department and aims to focus on anything the equal opportunity investigation may have missed. The Bangor Daily News obtained a letter to one of the complainants from Assistant Vice President for Student Life Kenda Scheele, who said that there “may be immediate and longer-term consequences of this fact finding.”

Brinkley isn’t the only professor who has been placed on leave due to sexual misconduct allegations. Theater professor Tom Mikotowicz is also on his second paid leave of the year, again due to continued investigations by human resources.

While investigations are ongoing, UMaine administration is doubling down on promoting the anti-discriminatory values the school advertises.

“Today, like every day, is a perfect time to reflect on and confirm that for UMaine there is no higher value than making our community a kind, caring and compassionate place,” Robert Dana, Vice President for Student Life, said in an email, “We continue to advocate for the values of unity, inclusivity and civility, and these values are unwavering. Our commitment to an environment where all people are dignified, respected and supported is central to what makes this a wonderful place to live and study.”

In her Aug. 24 open letter to the UMaine community, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy established the type of atmosphere she wants on campus.

“We must never tolerate sexual harassment, misconduct, or discrimination across our campuses—in our field sites, labs and facilities, as well as in our classrooms, residence halls, athletic venues and workspaces,” Ferrini-Mundy wrote. She called for “every member of the university community” to review policies regarding sexual misconduct and the process of reporting an incident.

Kim-Marie M. Jenkins, Interim Chief of Staff for the president, said that the situation is “still ongoing and will not be open for comment or discussion.”

On Friday, April 20, traffic was stopped, volunteers were stationed, and raincoats were zipped as the 11th annual Healthy High race began in the midst of a hailstorm. Bad weather had no effect on turnout; runners of all ages and all experience levels, humans and dogs alike, lined up from the Somerset parking lot down past the Rec Center, braving the wind to participate.

The Healthy High, organized by director of the Student Wellness Resource Center, is scheduled for April 20 every year as an alternative to the stereotypical activities of “4/20,” which focus around the recreational use of marijuana. Participants can choose whether they want to run the race as a 5k, 10k or 1-mile fun run. The race kicked off at 5 p.m., with volunteers and bystanders cheering the runners on.

“This is my second year running the Healthy High,” said Emma Van Kampen, a second-year psychology student and member of club track said. “I try to run a few road races a year. During the summer, I run the L.L. Bean Fourth of July 10k, which is a great experience. Some other fun runs are the Turkey Trot in Portland on Thanksgiving, and Race the Runways at the Brunswick naval base.”

While she supports the legalization of marijuana and understands that many celebrate the day by smoking, Van Kampen chose to participate in the Healthy High this year because of her passion for running and the opportunity to do something she loves with her friends. “I do think the race serves the purpose of showing people that there’s a way to ‘get high’ without using a substance,” she said.

“While some people are okay with smoking, others aren’t, and those are personal choices that both groups make. To have that alternate option of ‘getting high’ by a natural release of endorphins from exercise is healthier and preferable for a lot of people.”

Not every runner was as experienced. Brandon Crocker, a fourth-year secondary education student, was “just doing it for fun.” Like Van Kampen, he ran the Healthy High with friends, and despite the fact that he doesn’t do 5ks often, he was excited to participate.

Volunteers ranged from members of Greek Life to service organizations to ROTC, and particularly at the beginning of the race, their job was to direct traffic and guide confused drivers. Third-year Emily Moony and fourth-year Megan Main are members of Gamma Sigma Sigma, a national service sorority. While they haven’t run 5ks themselves, Moony and Main chose the Healthy High as a way to earn community service hours.

The race was brought up in the back by Walk a Mile in Her Shoes participants, men marching in red high heels to advocate for the end of rape, sexual assault and gender-based violence.

On Friday, April 20, traffic was stopped, volunteers were stationed, and raincoats were zipped as the 11th annual Healthy High race began in the midst of a hailstorm. Bad weather had no effect on turnout; runners of all ages and all experience levels, humans and dogs alike, lined up from the Somerset parking lot down past the Rec Center, braving the wind to participate.

The Healthy High, organized by director of the Student Wellness Resource Center, is scheduled for April 20 every year as an alternative to the stereotypical activities of “4/20,” which focus around the recreational use of marijuana. Participants can choose whether they want to run the race as a 5k, 10k or 1-mile fun run. The race kicked off at 5 p.m., with volunteers and bystanders cheering the runners on.

“This is my second year running the Healthy High,” said Emma Van Kampen, a second-year psychology student and member of club track said. “I try to run a few road races a year. During the summer, I run the L.L. Bean Fourth of July 10k, which is a great experience. Some other fun runs are the Turkey Trot in Portland on Thanksgiving, and Race the Runways at the Brunswick naval base.”

While she supports the legalization of marijuana and understands that many celebrate the day by smoking, Van Kampen chose to participate in the Healthy High this year because of her passion for running and the opportunity to do something she loves with her friends. “I do think the race serves the purpose of showing people that there’s a way to ‘get high’ without using a substance,” she said.

“While some people are okay with smoking, others aren’t, and those are personal choices that both groups make. To have that alternate option of ‘getting high’ by a natural release of endorphins from exercise is healthier and preferable for a lot of people.”

Not every runner was as experienced. Brandon Crocker, a fourth-year secondary education student, was “just doing it for fun.” Like Van Kampen, he ran the Healthy High with friends, and despite the fact that he doesn’t do 5ks often, he was excited to participate.

Volunteers ranged from members of Greek Life to service organizations to ROTC, and particularly at the beginning of the race, their job was to direct traffic and guide confused drivers. Third-year Emily Moony and fourth-year Megan Main are members of Gamma Sigma Sigma, a national service sorority. While they haven’t run 5ks themselves, Moony and Main chose the Healthy High as a way to earn community service hours.

The race was brought up in the back by Walk a Mile in Her Shoes participants, men marching in red high heels to advocate for the end of rape, sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Tucking away the MaineCards that gained them free admission, University of Maine students spilled into a packed Hauck Auditorium on Saturday night, struggling to find vacant seats to the 14th annual drag show. The show served as the culmination of Pride Week, a five-day celebration of the LGBTQ community on campus.

Hosts for the night, Portland-based drag performers Step Mother and Cherry Lemonade, lost their luggage on the 20-minute flight from Portland to Bangor. Yet they still turned the party with looks carefully cultivated at the Bangor Goodwill.

The April 21 event was so popular that some latecomers were turned down at the door of Hauck Auditorium, which reached its capacity of 518 people.

Technically, the show was a drag competition for students, but the performances didn’t have a competitive air. No one was trying to prove anything; it was just young performers having fun, trying a new art form — many for the first time — and celebrating queer culture. There were drag kings as well as queens, some in heavy makeup and wigs with others sporting only eyeliner. One queen performed stand-up comedy while others tested the limits of how many death drops they could nail without injury. Bananas the Bear made a guest appearance in his most sensual gig to date. Most performances included lip syncs to songs popular with drag performers — Beyonce, Cardi B, Lady Gaga — or tracks released by stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Alyssa Edwards, Aja, Alaska Thunderf and Gia Gunn, whose catchphrase “stun” was borrowed liberally throughout the show.

The show, which ran from 7:30 p.m. to almost 10:30 p.m., was interspersed with performances by the hosts, who have made careers as professional drag queens. In one song, Step Mother played a parody of a burnt-out mother, gleefully tossing baby dolls into the audience, and in the next, a woman scorned, wishing ill upon her husband’s mistress. Cherry Lemonade sang live, delivering a perfectly-belted cover of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

Cherry Lemonade and Step Mother closed the show with a game of Drag Roulette, where contestants took the stage one by one to perform to a randomized song, before crowning winners in three categories: best group, best king and best queen.

“I went into it blind and didn’t really know what it was all about, so I think that was great in terms of not having biases prior to the performances,” third-year student Kai La Spina said. “I think it’s a really fun community that gives a lot to members of the LGBT community, and I’ll definitely attend next year’s performance.”

It was clear throughout the performance that the energy in the auditorium was unique, a safe bubble where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and members of the UMaine community could watch and partake in an art form catered to them. “I felt so connected to the LGBT community,” Kristopher Dow, a secondary education student, said.

“The audience and performers were so welcoming,” first-year student Kortney French said. “No matter how you identified, you belonged there. It was a safe and fun night for a diverse minority that needed it most.”

Tucking away the MaineCards that gained them free admission, University of Maine students spilled into a packed Hauck Auditorium on Saturday night, struggling to find vacant seats to the 14th annual drag show. The show served as the culmination of Pride Week, a five-day celebration of the LGBTQ community on campus.

Hosts for the night, Portland-based drag performers Step Mother and Cherry Lemonade, lost their luggage on the 20-minute flight from Portland to Bangor. Yet they still turned the party with looks carefully cultivated at the Bangor Goodwill.

The April 21 event was so popular that some latecomers were turned down at the door of Hauck Auditorium, which reached its capacity of 518 people.

Technically, the show was a drag competition for students, but the performances didn’t have a competitive air. No one was trying to prove anything; it was just young performers having fun, trying a new art form — many for the first time — and celebrating queer culture. There were drag kings as well as queens, some in heavy makeup and wigs with others sporting only eyeliner. One queen performed stand-up comedy while others tested the limits of how many death drops they could nail without injury. Bananas the Bear made a guest appearance in his most sensual gig to date. Most performances included lip syncs to songs popular with drag performers — Beyonce, Cardi B, Lady Gaga — or tracks released by stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Alyssa Edwards, Aja, Alaska Thunderf and Gia Gunn, whose catchphrase “stun” was borrowed liberally throughout the show.

The show, which ran from 7:30 p.m. to almost 10:30 p.m., was interspersed with performances by the hosts, who have made careers as professional drag queens. In one song, Step Mother played a parody of a burnt-out mother, gleefully tossing baby dolls into the audience, and in the next, a woman scorned, wishing ill upon her husband’s mistress. Cherry Lemonade sang live, delivering a perfectly-belted cover of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

Cherry Lemonade and Step Mother closed the show with a game of Drag Roulette, where contestants took the stage one by one to perform to a randomized song, before crowning winners in three categories: best group, best king and best queen.

“I went into it blind and didn’t really know what it was all about, so I think that was great in terms of not having biases prior to the performances,” third-year student Kai La Spina said. “I think it’s a really fun community that gives a lot to members of the LGBT community, and I’ll definitely attend next year’s performance.”

It was clear throughout the performance that the energy in the auditorium was unique, a safe bubble where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and members of the UMaine community could watch and partake in an art form catered to them. “I felt so connected to the LGBT community,” Kristopher Dow, a secondary education student, said.

“The audience and performers were so welcoming,” first-year student Kortney French said. “No matter how you identified, you belonged there. It was a safe and fun night for a diverse minority that needed it most.”

Choosing a college is one of the biggest decisions a teenager has to make during their high school years. For many, an undergraduate career can take place across two or three different universities — a 2015 report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that around 37 percent of students transfer colleges, and of those students, 45 percent transferred multiple times. The first school doesn’t always stick.

Accepted students days have long been used as a way for prospective students to test the waters at their potential future schools. While individual universities have their own versions of what the day looks like, including mock classes, group field trips, a cappella performances and assemblies, the goal remains the same: giving accepted students a glimpse into college life.

However, that picture isn’t always accurate. Accepted students day is a cultivated event, which gives incoming students an overview of many clubs and organizations but doesn’t necessarily reflect the experience of a typical college student. The job of Team Maine volunteers is to draw visiting high schoolers in and make them want to attend, highlighting the most exciting and engaging aspects of campus life.

“[My favorite part is] dancing at the bear head! Even though its early in the morning (8 am), I love jamming to the music n greeting others,” third-year psychology and pre-med student Phoenix Mitchell wrote.

Even with Team Maine’s help, accepted students day isn’t easily accessible for all students. According to the University of Maine website, the school has students from 49 U.S. states and territories, as well as 67 countries, many of whom could not make the journey for their accepted students days. “I didn’t go to my Accepted Students Day,” Matthew James, a third-year anthropology student from Hingham, Massachusetts, said. “It was hard being out of state and coming up at the time.”

While he didn’t have his own accepted students day experience as a high schooler, James has experienced interruptions to his daily routine due to an influx of potential students and their families. “There are definitely disruptions at dining halls and at the Union,” he said. “It’s already hard to find seats, but the increased number of people makes it even harder.”

On accepted students days, current UMaine students receive an email from Parking Services advising commuters to “please consider carpooling, using the bus or walking if possible” due to an increase in visitors. Parking spaces in the Collins Center for the Arts and Belgrade lots are used for accepted students, making it difficult for commuters to park. On one recent occasion, Rebecca Archer, a second-year political science student, parked her car on campus at 7 a.m. to beat the crowds and ensure a close spot, then went home and rode her bike back to school when class began.

Regardless of hurdles, accepted students day will likely remain an integral part of the university. In a recent interview with the Maine Campus, Director of Recruitment for the University of Maine Christopher Richards said that accepted students day is crucial. “Nothing is more powerful as a recruitment tool than for a student considering attending UMaine to hear the true student perspective from a current UMaine Black Bear.”

With 18 fraternities and nine sororities on campus, Greek Life has a strong presence at the University of Maine. According to the school’s website, around 13 percent of UMaine undergraduate students are members of Greek organizations, which is around 1,100 students. This week was “Greek Week,” a series of competitions and events designed to bring members of Greek Life together.

Wednesday, April 11 was the Greek Week Talent Show, where members of sororities and fraternities performed a variety of acts, either as a group or solo, in pursuit of points, which are added up at the end of the week to determine a top sorority and a top fraternity. Most groups performed group dance routines, which included gymnastics, High School Musical choreography — basketballs included — and tearaway pants. Other acts included an MTV Spring Break-style skit, and an acoustic performance of Jack Johnson’s “Good People.”

“Overall, participating in the talent show was a fantastic time and we all had so much fun with it! Within a week we all met up various times to bounce ideas off each other and put together the dance routine,” Zak Charette, a second-year mechanical engineering student and a brother of Alpha Tau Omega, said. “We struggled at first because none of us really knew anything about choreography, but by the night of talent show we were all excited and happy to show what we had put together.”

“As a sophomore, this is my first time participating in Greek Week and kind of understanding what it means. Many of the Greek organizations on campus are intertwined in lots of ways, but we rarely all come together for big events like Greek Week and everything it entails aside from philanthropy events and socials,” Charette said.

Other Greek Week events included a canoe bailout, bowling, a potluck and lawn games. According to Cheyanne Cersoli, a third-year and member of Chi Omega, the canoe bailout winners were Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Phi Epsilon, while the bowling night winners were Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Alpha Omicron Pi.

“To me, Greek Week is just a great time for all Greek organizations to come together and not only compete against each other and have a good time for various prizes and entitlements, but also to celebrate the fact of how amazing Greek Life is and the range of wonderful things we can offer to the UMaine community as a whole,” Charette said.

The winners of the talent show were Alpha Tau Omega for the fraternities and Alpha Phi for sororities, who also went on to win the entire week.

“Everyone is very competitive this year and it looks like it’ll be a close end result,” Cersoli said. The winner of Greek Week receives a trophy, a banner and $200.