On Wednesday, Nov. 4, students from MUO 155, or Chamber Jazz Ensemble, performed a new style of music to University of Maine students in Minsky Recital Hall.

During the concert, four different ensemble groups displayed unique styles with variations of instrument combinations. Some groups utilized flute or piano, while others used multiple types of saxophones.

In most of the groups, members had the chance to perform solos and show the audience their high musical capacities.

A majority of the songs were jazz-specific arrangements, although some recognizable songs were played such as “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “My Funny Valentine.”

Music lecturer and Director Dan Barrett said this year the chamber jazz ensembles have taken a new direction from previous years.

Previously, there was one large jazz ensemble group, but this semester students are studying small group jazz. Barrett commented that he chamber jazz ensembles give the students a chance to improvise and try jazz combinations.

“They need to play in this setting to make money as professional musicians,” Barrett said. “It’s an essential experience.”

“It is an opportunity to get to play with a small group and have the collective freedom to choose everything about the performance, from the tunes to the styles to who solos on what tune,” Jackson Cromwell, a fifth-year music performance student, said.

“As a professional, you have to play music for others exactly the way they want it,” Cromwell said. With jazz, though, Cromwell said he is able to do what he wants in the moment. The jazz ensemble groups are beneficial for the students because they give them more opportunities to be creative and make their own arrangements, Barrett said.

Students said that Barrett’s flexibility with the music has aided them in growing as musicians.

“[Barrett] has given me a lot of exercises that have helped me as a jazz musician. He is open to anything that the groups want to play and will coach us on anything,” Cromwell said.

Many of the students in MUO 155 have a strong passion for music, whether as a hobby or something they are pursuing as a career.

Sydnie Howard, a first-year music education student, said as a freshman she did not think she would have had enough experience to audition for jazz ensemble. However, a friend told her about chamber jazz and that all she had to do was sign up, and she did so immediately.

“Most of all with music I can be myself. In chamber jazz no one asks me my background. No one judges me. We all come together to play, to have fun, to be musicians and live life the way we enjoy it,” Howard said.

The ensemble groups will be performing on select dates, usually on Monday and Wednesday afternoons in the Memorial Union during the second half of this semester. One group per week will perform during their normal rehearsal times.

[/media-credit] Scores of citizens turned out to walk against domestic violence at the Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance Walk to End Abuse, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, local businesses and community members across Bangor came together to support victims of domestic violence through the Walk to End Abuse in the West Market Square area of downtown.

Purple balloons brightened up the downtown area on a gloomy and gray Thursday to spark public interest in the walk.

In the center of the public space, small jars with bouquets of flowers had names on each jar to remember lost loved ones affected by abuse. The Darling’s ice cream truck collected donations and handed out free ice cream.

Before the walk began, participants who registered were able to receive free T-shirts and stickers. After a brief remembrance ceremony, participants walked for a half-mile around Main Street.

Participants also could pick up a free bagged lunch on their way out as a “thank you” for attending.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the walk is a part of many events promoting knowledge, understanding and support.

According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, the month originated as the Day of Unity in 1981. Over time more events were added and more time devoted to the cause. The Day of Unity is now celebrated on the first Monday of October to kick off the month.

The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month occurred in 1987 and it continues today as a way to connect resources and create an even stronger team to fight violence against women and children.

In the U.S., 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been affected by some sort of physical violence by a partner, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

The main organizer of the event, Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance, has many direct resources including a 24-hour hotline, an emergency shelter, transitional housing and other programs like children’s services, training and outreach. All services provided are free.

Amanda Cost, the Community Response Program Manager at Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance, said this is the fourth year of the event and it’s been one of the bigger turnouts, despite the cold and rainy weather. This year law enforcement and other groups came, including families and community organizations.

“The event was originally modeled after the one held in Lincoln, Maine. We wanted to create something that was not about making money but raising awareness of the issue,” Cost said.

Downtown Bangor has a lot of businesses and it is convenient for people to stop by. Cost said the organizers wanted to make this a low-barrier event where anyone could attend.

Between 20 and 30 staff and volunteers helped with the event and many local businesses were sponsors to make this event possible.

Cost said this event is important for the community because in the past people have not been helped to the fullest extent.

“Through this we can bring everyone together, including people who have felt isolated. It is an issue that affects everyone in one way or another,” Cost said.

A student favorite sandwich shop is continuing its successful growth by opening another location in Brewer, according to Keith Manaker, one of the owners of Harvest Moon Deli.

“We will be opening our third store in the Twin City Plaza shopping center,” Manaker said. “We like this location in Brewer because it is located very close to a number of anchor stores, it is across the street from another very busy plaza, there is good visibility, and excellent parking.”

The deli has come a long way since opening its first location in Orono.

“Harvest Moon started out eight years ago in Orono,” he said. “We waited seven years before opening our second store located in Bangor. The second store opening has gone well.  We are very happy with the reception we received by the Bangor community.  People seem to be responding positively to our concept.”

With awards from the Bangor Metro magazine for best sandwich lining the walls of the deli and the amount of praise from its customers, it is no surprise the deli is continuing to grow.

“It has the best food in Orono and the sandwiches are awesome,” Nora Cecere, a fourth-year child development student, said.

Manaker said they are planning on Brewer not being the only city getting a new Harvest Moon Deli.

“My partner and I have a long-term goal of opening many more Harvest Moon Delis throughout the state of Maine,” he said. “Our initial plan is to continue to try to identify nearby communities that we think would respond well to our sandwich concept.  We believe Brewer is one of those communities.”

The response from the public and the welcoming environment has been one of the key benefits for Harvest Moon Deli, according to Manaker.

“In general, all of the small communities around here are extremely business friendly,” he said. “They work very cooperatively with entrepreneurs to help them get through the process of starting a new business. They are generally very enthusiastic about seeing new businesses coming to town. When the public sees a new business around here, they are usually very supportive of it.”

From the line of students at lunchtime at the Orono location, the UMaine community is certainly eager to keep supporting one of their favorite eateries.

I was fortunate enough to visit three new countries during two weekend trips, one through my study abroad group and one on my own. With so many amazing sights and memories, I attempted to recap the highlights of my excursions.

Munich, Germany

My friends and I headed to the Englischer Garten, a park bigger than Central Park. While walking around the park, I forgot I was in a metropolitan city since it was so peaceful and relaxing. Waterfalls, fountains and lakes accentuated the beauty of the nature all around.

After we decided to check out the Nymphenburg Palace, but we had to figure out how to get there. Every person we asked kept giving us different directions, so no one knew what to do. Eventually, we figured out how to get there and an hour later, we made it to the palace just in time to see the sunset. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

The palace outstretched everywhere and the water in front of it glistened with hues of pink and orange from the sun. Swans and other birds glided in the water to complete the beautiful scene.

My friends and I thought it would be the perfect place to get proposed to with the palace and sunset making the air so romantic. I still want to get proposed there at sunset.

An aspect that impressed me most about Munich was the city’s versatility. It has so many traits that mix together and give the city a wonderful personality of its own.

You can be in the middle of all the action near the city center of Marienplatz, retreat to the comfort of the suburbs or relax in the nature of the Englischer Garten. I could tell Munich has so much to offer and I only got a small glimpse into its personality. Danke sehr to München, I will never forget the big city that convinced me that maybe city life would not be such a terrible thing.

Salzburg, Austria

Once we arrived in Salzburg, we took the public transportation into the city center and walked around the Old Town, or the Altstadt. The area was perfectly located in the middle of multiple sites and it was easy to get around.

The Altstadt was so pretty, with the Alps, colorful buildings, water and bridges making Salzburg come to life. I couldn’t believe the beauty.

We got up and took a bus from the our hostel to the city center then to the Untersberg mountain. I bought a 24-hour city pass that let me see the mountain. There was a cable car that took visitors from the bottom to top of the mountain.

We got to see exquisite views of Salzburg and the Alps on the way up. I may have thought the ride up was special, but I didn’t know what I was in for when I got out of the cable car.

At the top, we  got out of the cable car and walked into an observatory room. Outside of the room, we could walk along the very steep paths (without ledges) of the mountain and see the majestic views up close and personal.

I was truly speechless when I saw what was around me. The mighty Alps and the city’s landscape took my breath away. I had never seen anything so spectacular in my life. I felt so in awe that I was able to experience this moment. How many people get to go to the top of the Austrian Alps and witness such unbelievable wonder?

It had to be one of my favorite experiences from my trip because it was life-changing.

Lisbon, Portugal

In Portugal we visited dozens of street vendors. There were leather goods, books, music, clothes and jewelry as far as the eye could see. It was Lisbon’s flea market.

Dogs happily strolled in the streets, musicians played and I eagerly looked through the goods and watched the scene unfold. Getting a taste of the local culture was mesmerizing and intoxicating. We got to the point where we had to practice some self-control and leave the market before emptying our entire wallets in one place.

Lisboa’s stacked buildings, vibrant colors and essence of a seaside getaway provided a much-needed escape from the mounting stress of midterms and other schoolwork. I gained insight into so much more than the history, culture and stories of Portugal and Lisbon.

One of my highlights of the day was finding the flea market. I keep reminding myself to enjoy every minute I have this semester. Part of that requires me to truly let go of what I can’t control and focusing on what I can to make the most of my time.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Granada, which is one of the top tourist stops in Spain. There was a magical presence about Granada from the moment we arrived.

The mountains in the background, or the Sierra Nevada, were an amazing way to make the city stand out. Because it is nestled in the mountains, Granada has a mountainous terrain. The air was also much cooler than Sevilla because of its location.

The heavy Moorish, influence was easy to see while exploring the city. Granada was the crown jewel of the Moorish empire until 1492, when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel conquered it. Granada was the last place to fall to Ferdinand and Isabel, so the Moors left an ingrained mark in the city’s history.

Shops and restaurants capitalized on the Moorish history by making travellers feel like they were transported into a different time. Scarfs, lamps, jewelry and dinnerware were painted colorfully and easily caught my eye.

The first night in Granada we were treated to a traditional flamenco show. The passion and fiery motions of the dancers and singers were mesmerizing. It was unbelievable to see the dancers tap and move with such ease.

The next day people had free time to explore on their own, so I went to El Mirador de San Nicholas, a lookout point over Granada. It was a long and steep trek to find El Mirador, but in the end, the walk was completely worth the view.

The mountains, Alhambra palace and rustic homes of the city knitted together to form one of the most majestic and breathtaking views I had ever seen. It almost seemed unreal that a view so stunning could exist.

Once I finished exploring, our group had an extensive tour of the Alhambra palace, where the sultans or leaders of Moorish Spain lived. The palace was like a city in itself with beautiful gardens, views of the city and architecture everywhere we walked. Being able to see the luxury Spanish rulers lived in was a very special experience.

Some people talked about trying to decide between Granada and Seville for their location, and I can see why it was a difficult decision. They both are beautiful places that anyone would enjoy. Each city had its pros and cons, though.

Granada is more isolated than other Spanish cities. It does not have the beach or airports close by, which makes traveling harder to do. The city is also pretty small, so if you like trying new activities all the time it might not be the best fit. The nightlife is pretty quiet, so if you are interested in a lively scene it may be better to try a larger city like Sevilla.

Anyone interested in winter sports would love Granada’s location because of the mountains. It has one of the most popular skiing resorts in Europe. The weather is also more temperate and less humid than Sevilla, so if you do not want a ton of sun, Granada may be better.

In either case, you would be able to study in a city with a beautiful location and scenery. Sevilla is a larger city, with access to Portugal and beach towns. Because of its size, Sevilla is not the kinds of place you can explore all the activities in a few weeks. It would be quite difficult to get bored with the amount of things to do there.

On the other hand, Sevilla is much more humid and deals with more extremes weather wise. If you are not a city type person and you would rather have less people around, Granada may be better to consider.

Many of the locals do not speak English in Sevilla, so someone without a ton of Spanish speaking experience may want to try going to somewhere else, like Granada.

One important tip to remember is no matter where you decide to go, you can always make a weekend or side trip to the city you did not choose. Whatever decision you make, you can count on having a wonderful time abroad, whether in Spain or halfway across the globe.

It is difficult to put into words how I have been feeling recently about my impending departure. For a long time whenever I told anyone about going to study abroad in Seville, Spain, it did not feel like I was talking about myself. I would say I am going to Seville, visiting Portugal and leaving next semester, but it always seemed like I was describing someone else’s life, not mine.

I have been avoiding thinking about my feelings towards leaving UMaine, going to a totally different country and not knowing what to expect for next semester. I will definitely miss UMaine’s community, the campus and all the little things on campus. It will not be easy leaving a campus I have been accustomed to for more than two years.

That being said, an aspect I am truly looking forward to is the beautiful Andalusian weather, without below zero temperatures or nor’easters. I cannot wait to take advantage of the weather and do as many local activities as I can. There are so many opportunities that await me, and I am excited to take advantage of them and see the impact they have on my life.

Whether it is soaking up the beaches of Portugal or the Costa de la Luz, seeing eye-opening cultures and customs in Tangier, Morocco, or walking around local towns near Seville, I have so much to be excited about. I will probably not get this chance again in my lifetime, so I need to appreciate and immerse myself in each opportunity I get while I am abroad.

It is not going to be easy when I first go over, and I will probably have a good amount of culture shock. Study abroad is not all fun and games. It will probably take a little while to adjust to the cultural, language and overall differences being in Spain. Everything is going to be different than what I am used to in my New England, American culture.

Just because there will be differences does not mean that it is a bad thing. I have so much I can learn from my encounters with local people, absorbing the history, style and feeling that Sevillan culture offers. I am looking forward to the new perspective I will gain from living abroad for a semester that I can apply to many areas in my life.

I think I have been avoiding thinking about my departure because of all the anxieties studying abroad brings up. I can avoid worrying so much. But the reality I need to face is I am leaving on Jan.18, which is less than two months. I cannot keep ignoring the inevitable.

A big anxiety that comes up is how unpredictable everything about study abroad is. I do not know how my classes are going to be, what people I will meet, who my roommate will be or how my host family will turn out. I am the kind of person who wants as much structure and predictability as possible. The more I know about what will happen, the more I can plan and prepare myself.

I do not do well with a lot of change, instability or the unknown. Next semester is filled with lots of unknowns that I cannot control or map out, as much as I may want to. All the comfort and familiarity I am used to will be rocked to the core. I will have to face many changes to my environment.

Instead of negatively predicting about next semester, I am trying to look at all the positives I have going for me next semester. I get to learn and absorb so many experiences that I would never be able to if I did not study abroad. Studying abroad was a big, risky choice for me to make. But in my heart I know it will be a very rewarding risk and challenge that will give me a chance to grow like never before.

The cancellation of the Onward Program at UMaine came as hard news to take and comprehend for past and present members of the program, who said they owe their success to it.

Earlier in October, it was announced that the program would be the latest to be axed as the University continues its raft of budget cuts. Founded by single mother, Kimberly Hammill in 2000, the Onward Program assists nontraditional students who may be struggling to balance school with a full-time job and children.

Ray Peck, a third-year ecology and environmental science and English student, and Jason Seymour, a second-year nursing student, are testaments to the success the program provided non-traditional students.

“Onward offers a number of advantages to nontraditional students,” Peck said. Most significantly, Onward offers a community amongst peers. While nontraditional students come from a diversity of circumstances and backgrounds, one thing that we all share is that we are not the typical student.

Many of the students who have gone through the Onward Program face circumstances that makes going back to school stressful. Some may not have taken their SAT’s or have a GED, according to Seymour.

“We face unique barriers when it comes to education, and to be immediately thrust into the general population can be very overwhelming. Onward eases nontraditional students into university life by offering first a special orientation wherein we learn that there are others facing similar challenges,” Peck said.

Seymour said that when he applied to the Onward Program, he did not expect to get in.

“They have given me an opportunity to go to college. The program teaches you how to study and be a student. They give you support and structure,” Seymour said.

“Essentially, they provide the motivation nontraditional students need in order to overcome their hurdles. Nontraditional students are a vulnerable group. There are many obstacles that could prevent them from reaching their degree. Onward does everything they can to make dreams a reality for a number of students,” Peck said.

Peck decided to go back to school because he wanted a change in his life.

“I was returning to school after a long hiatus. After spending many years in labor-intensive jobs, I decided that I really wanted a change of direction. I wanted a career to fulfill my interests. My dream is to spend my days working in the outdoors, making a positive difference, loving what I do, and I want to make a decent wage for my efforts,” Peck said.

Peck knew that this would not happen without furthering his education, and was intimidated by the process. He wondered if he would do well enough, or if there was a University that would accept him. Then he got word of the Onward Program.

“The Onward Program accepted me, giving me hope and confidence, and provided me with the tools and resources I needed to not only succeed, but to exceed all of my expectations,” Peck said.

Seymour was a displaced worker. He lost his job in 2012 and did not have a good high school career, and was not “college material” or a typical student.

Now, Seymour is a nursing student in the top 15 percent of his class, and a part of the Golden Key Honor Society. He credits his success to the Onward Program.

“They want students to be successful and build their confidence,” Seymour said.

Peck said he is consistently making the Dean’s List, working an internship in his intended field and living out his hopes and dreams.

“I came with the determination and the will for success, and Onward allowed me to take that to an even higher level,” Peck said.

Seymour said that nontraditional students are unique, in comparison to traditional ones, because they have life experience, work ethic and are serious about their education.

Peck said, “Onward is riddled with success stories. The benefits each student receives varies based on their needs, and that is largely what makes Onward so great.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. Onward works. It has a proven track record,” Peck said.

Seymour said the program had been going for over 40 years, served thousands of people and they have gone forward with great success, becoming doctors and lawyers.

According to Seymour, there was no clear reason why the program was cancelled.

Seymour stressed many mills are closing all over the state, and this is displacing hundreds of people. Many of these people do not have high school degrees, but they want to go back to school.

Peck said, “For some, the traditional methods are going to work well. But for some, Onward is their best chance at success. For those that want that added sense of community, who could take those additional resources and run with them, they should be able.”

With the Onward Program closing, the door is closed for these candidates unless they try going to community college or tech school, and these schools typically require over six years to get a degree, and nontraditional students do not have that kind of time, Seymour said.

“UMaine is in a deficit, and their desire to make cuts is understandable. However there is nothing more important and more powerful than education. It empowers our communities and our society as a whole to have educated people. It is better for our environment, our economy, and for the individuals to have a better quality of life. We should not turn our state’s educational system into a business model,” Peck said.

Although, perhaps nothing more can be done, Peck said, at the very least, people should know what is being cut. Onward changed many lives for the better, and over the course of decades, Onward has given people hope and opportunity.

“Onward helped students get degrees at UMaine who may not have otherwise, and those students have gone on to do great things as productive members of the community. Let it be known that the day we lost Onward was one of sadness for many,” Peck said.

With clear passion and dedication to the music, the Silver Duo performed on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Minsky Recital Hall, exploring the emotions encapsulated by the combination of piano and cello.

The Silver Duo, made up of Noreen and Phillip Silver, have been a part of the UMaine School of Performing Arts faculty for 16 years.

She teaches cello students, runs the chamber music program and is the first chair cellist in the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. He is an internationally acclaimed artist and a professor of music history and studio piano.

What students and the community may not realize are the unique stories behind their lives.

Noreen Silver grew up in Glasgow, Scotland. She claims she has lost much of her accent due to living in the United States for 16 years.

However, when you listen to her speak, you can still hear the Scottish tone, and a sense of unique life history and stories behind it.

“I came from a family where my parents believed that every kid should learn to play music. We were all sent to piano lessons at the age of five. It was expected that we’d take up another instrument a couple years later,” she said.

Noreen Silver’s parent’s expectations and values were very different than today’s parents.

“You’re talking about a generation of intellectuals who valued creativity as highly as intellectual study. They were classicists. My mother was a French and Latin teacher and she was a very fine pianist and artist,” she said.

She explained that many people have misconceptions regarding music and art.

“There are some assumptions made about music and art, that they’re kind of recreational, but when you see the amount of discipline required to meet standards, it’s a good reminder that it’s not for the faint hearted,” she said.

For Noreen Silver, these assumptions can be traced back to what people value in life.

“It goes back to values, what do you value in life? If you value creativity and value artistic achievement, aesthetics, what greater achievements are there than those in music and arts. You know, historically, where would we be without Beethoven?” she said.

Noreen Silver went to many different schools before meeting up with her eventual husband, Phillip Silver.

“I went to The Royal College of Music in London, then I studied in Switzerland for a year, and then I came to the United States in the late ’70s to do my master’s at the New England Conservatory, and that’s where I met Phillip.”

Noreen Silver was starting her master’s in cello performance, and Phillip Silver was completing his master’s in piano performance. They met when Noreen Silver was learning Beethoven.

“I asked him if he knew bits of the piano part, and of course he assured me he did,” she said.

After playing Beethoven together, they were immediately drawn to each other.

Phillip Silver grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and learned to play piano at the age of three. The sounds of the piano affected him in a way he said is indescribable with words.

“My mom played piano, and I inherited the piano quickly. My mom was very happy,” he said.

The Silver’s story is filled with experiences from various cultures, due to moving from place to place.

Phillip Silver said living in the different cultures made him more open and tolerant.

“You learn not to judge too much and appreciate all the differences,” he said.

Once they finished their studies, the couple lived in London for a few years after getting married, then lived in Seattle, and then Israel for five years. After that lived in Scotland for 10 years, then arrived at UMaine.

The Silvers gained cultural perspective due to living internationally. Coming to the University  and learning how many students did not have the same kind of cultural knowledge was difficult.

“It took me a long time to realize that some of these young people haven’t even been out yet of the state of Maine. That’s very hard for me to grasp,” she said.

“Visiting other places widens your horizons and widens your cultural perspectives. It’s good to travel, and it’s good to come home,” she said.

In terms of performing with her husband, she discussed the uniqueness of her relationship with Phillip Silver in comparison to other couples.

“I think some couples, they each have their profession, and they can even have the same profession, and they go to work and come back. They might discuss their profession, but when you do what we do, which is have a dual, we’re working together,” Noreen Silver said.

“When you play this music together, you have to uncover depths of detail in performance that, I think that, without an enormous amount of trust, you could not even get to that point,” she said.

She said this connection creates a bond that, while may cause disagreement and discussion, is beyond depths of description.

“We argue about lots of things, but in the end, it’s the music thing I think that’s been the sort of the real essential glue that holds it all together,” Noreen Silver said.

The couple regards themselves first and foremost as performers, she said.

“We live to perform,” Phillip Silver said, “our highest fulfillment of our creative lives is from performing.”

Getting prepared the semester before you study abroad can be a little bit of a stressful process. Unfortunately, I am caught in the middle of the massive stress attack that comes from the amount of paperwork and stuff you must get done by certain deadlines.

I have been trying my best to stay organized this entire time. That is why I applied early. I tried to stay on top of things. However, it is easy to forget that you have a million other things to do besides study abroad paperwork and trying to find free time to complete it can be a nightmare.

Between classes, my job, my internship and clubs and activities, I have not had a lot of free time since the semester began. Getting used to a new schedule and routine is difficult enough, let alone dealing with living situations, working and trying to fit sleeping and eating somewhere in between it all.

Among all this chaos, I set all my study abroad paperwork, important stuff such as the visa application process, financial aid paperwork, the course selection sheet and scholarship applications to the side.

To my credit, some of the paperwork I did not get until the middle of September. I was accepted in May and my paperwork was not available until just recently because I was accepted so early. In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to get all this paperwork done relatively soon. Now it is a matter of trying to fill everything out and send it in by the deadlines.

All of this paperwork needs to be filled out accurately and many need to be filled in the presence of a notary public. Some of it will need to be received in Austin, Texas, where API headquarters is located, by Oct. 20. Thinking about all of the things I need to send out and get done in the next few weeks could give me an anxiety attack.

My advice to people in my situation and others wanting to study abroad is to schedule in a blocks of free time that are devoted to study abroad work. That way, you can make sure and get your paperwork done in a timely manner. Schedule it as early and as soon as you get paperwork mailed or emailed to you. The sooner you get things done, the less of a chance you will be caught in deadline frenzy. Do not procrastinate on any of it.

Some of the anxiety for me comes from fear of filling out the paperwork incorrectly, not knowing what to do, and the fact I have to have multiple copies of certain papers and passport pictures for many forms.

There are so many forms for every single aspect of study abroad, and it is easy to get lost in the amount of stuff you have to fill out. It is also easy to be confused by what you are filling out and trying to understand just exactly what your insurance needs to cover, or how to fill out the financial aid forms.

My next advice would be: do not be afraid to ask for help when filling out all your forms. Not all of them are straightforward, and you want to make sure to fill it out correctly the first time. I am going to go to the Office of International Programs and the Office of Student Financial Aid, so I can ask my questions and get the help I need filling out my forms.

I cannot wait till Nov. 1, the day where everything is officially turned in. No more paperwork, deadlines, and an extremely heavy load will be lifted off my shoulders. It may be a pain right now, but it will be worth the trouble when I am soaking up the sun in Seville, Spain.

On Friday, Sept. 26, Sigma Phi Epsilon, or SigEp, held their 10 annual Rock Against Rape concert outside the Stewart Commons from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Basscamp headlining the concert and student groups The Skastitutes and the 3 Wise Men performed as opening acts.

The crowd was most excited when Basscamp took the stage. With thumping beats, a techno vibe, and remixes to popular songs like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, people danced along with much enthusiasm and enjoyment.

The first opening act, the 3 Wise Men, had a very pop punk feel covering songs like Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy,” Taking Back Sunday’s “Tell All Your Friends,” and Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down.”

One of the songs the group covered particularly resonated with the event, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’s “Face Down,” which describes a man abusing his girlfriend and how she tries to pretend she is okay. Then it talks about how one day she will figure out that she is enough.

The second opening act, The Skastitutes, got the crowd excited, putting their own funky rock spin on popular songs such as Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week” and Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song).”

Between acts, Brianna Bryant, community outreach educator at Rape Response Services, and Adriana Hopkins, a representative from Spruce Run, talked about issues such as the importance of consent and what donations from the event would be going towards.

Multiple tables were at the event, including a UMaine Peer Education table, Rape Response Services, and a Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance table, all with information to help raise awareness and prevent domestic violence.

Hopkins said, “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We have seen a rise in police saying that [domestic violence] is an issue. The more you report it, the more awareness there is.

“We’re never going to turn someone away,” Hopkins said.

According to Rape Response Services, one in five adult Maine residents report being a victim of rape or attempted rape in their life. People can make a difference through becoming educating, talking about it, getting involved, and supporting groups such as Spruce Run and Rape Response Services with events such as Rock Against Rape.

“A lot of people wonder why didn’t [Janay Rice] just leave,” Hopkins said, referring to the recent alleged abuse accusations against NFL football player Ray Rice. However, campaigns on social media, such as the #WhyIStayed hashtag on Twitter, help explain the struggles of leaving an abusive partner.

“Celebrities are taking opportunities to say they’re against it, and regular people follow their advice,” Hopkins said.

Bryant said the most important thing college students need to know when it comes to domestic violence and rape is consent.

“There needs to be an active ‘yes I want this,’ a verbal yes. You need to be constantly checking in to make sure it is voluntary. You can’t threaten them, it needs to be freely given,” Bryant said.

Another big point Bryant stressed was the need to be sober in order to give consent.

“If they aren’t sober, they aren’t safe,” Bryant said.

According to Hopkins, Spruce Run has a 24-hour hotline, shelter services, support groups and training available. They work with kids of all ages, from preschool to college, within Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties. The money from the event goes to helping maintain these aspects the organization provides.

As the music emanated throughout the hilltop area, more people started to show up. Local pizzerias donated pizza to the event.

There was also a lot of support from various Greek fraternities and sororities, who came to support SigEp’s cause.

Maggie Pierce, a member of Delta Zeta and a third-year communications sciences and disorders student said, “It’s a really good cause and a really good way to raise awareness. It’s hard to talk about, and it gets the conversation going.”

Josh Paredes, a fourth-year marketing student, said, “My friends came and there was free pizza, and I wanted to rock against rape.”

The brothers of SigEp and event coordinator Jeff Rogers, a third-year finance and financial economics student, worked hard in organizing the concert and raising money for Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance.

Rylan Norris, a second-year mechanical engineering student and brother of SigEp said, “[The issue] should be brought up more. It’s a very serious issue that’s often put to the side.”

To reach the Spruce Run 24-hour hotline, please call 1-800-863-9909, or contact Spruce Run at www.sprucerun.net/about/contact. Rape Response Services also has a hotline that can be reached at 1-800-310-0000. To learn more about Rape Response Services, including the online hotline, please visit www.rrsonline.org.