On April 10, the police cruiser’s lights penetrate a dense fog. The blue lights are close to inducing a seizure, enveloping the area in a blue cloud. As the police cruiser’s driver was talking with a possibly inebriated student, Sgt. Scott Curtis observed from a distance as the officers dealt with this particular drunk driver. Trusting in his comrades, he pulled away, awaiting the dispatcher’s next call.

A 26-year veteran officer for the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD), Curtis resumed his normal Friday night patrol like he has done countless times before. Even though the semester is almost over and students have become less and less rambunctious, Curtis and the rest of the UMPD have plenty to do across campus.

“You should see how busy we are in September and October,” Curtis said. “By the end of the year, all the major troublemakers are usually filtered out. Our job is to make sure the students get through their education alive.”

A mist-mixed fog created an eerie landscape as Curtis’s cruiser’s lights shimmered up and down the road. Around 9 p.m., Curtis and fellow officers Joseph Everett and trainee Katherine Burk had to handle a situation in a freshman dorm reported by Campus Eyes, the police department’s anonymous reporting tool.

The case was confusing at first; it was suspected that a student had submitted a fake report — possibly for revenge against the other student, but the validity of that suspicion was impossible to determine. The officers could only check in with each student and determine whether any wrongdoing was happening.

“I tell you, the older you get, the less tolerance you have for these kinds of things,” Curtis said.

Immature stunts like the fake Campus Eyes report happen all too frequently, and alcohol complaints are constant. However, Curtis noted he has rarely seen anything more severe than this kind of relatively harmless incident. No suspicious packages, no reported firearms, nothing necessarily life-threatening.

“UMaine is comparatively safer than most campuses,” Curtis said. “Its location, in Maine, is partly to thank for that. Orono isn’t a big city, so there’s not a lot of crime. [UMaine Police Department Chief Roland LaCroix] pushes us to get into the resident halls and make contact with the students.”

Curtis left the dorm and continued his route. The mist hadn’t let up, and there were few cars on the road at the late hour. As he drove around he talked about his family, his wife — an elementary school teacher — and his two children. He passed by each fraternity house, eagle-eyed for any wrongdoing — alcohol, drugs, public disturbance, anything. He noticed there were fraternity brothers standing guard outside a house, checking the visitors as they entered. He took that as a bad sign, but because there was no solid reason to investigate, he completed his patrol.

It was a quiet night, despite the seemingly-constant bombardment of radio chatter, so Curtis went and visited the New Balance Student Recreation Center. The night-long Relay for Life was happening, and walking through the public he spotted his neighbor. The two caught up for a few minutes while Curtis proudly talked about his newborn granddaughter. As quickly as he arrived, he was soon back in his cruiser patrolling the wet, foggy roads.

Curtis, Everett, Burk and Officer James Bergdoll were then called to a freshman dorm. Unlike the previous incident, the officers found several students drinking. A lengthy session of ID-checking and alcohol-testing ensued. Thanks to cooperative students and Burk’s efficient work, reinforced by an intimidating, arm-crossed Everett, the officers made the students empty their unopened alcohol and issued referrals to the Office of Student Affairs.

“I am often impressed by the character and honesty of the students I interact with,” Burk said. “That includes the students who get caught doing things that violate laws and policies. It shows an impressive understanding of responsibility, and the ability to admit wrongs. That of course is not always the case, but it is rare that I have a poor interaction with the students.”

Curtis was back in his cruiser, this time heading for his routine foot-patrol of the Doris Twitchell Allen Village (DTAV) and surrounding area. Each UMaine police officer is assigned these sort of “property checks,” and Curtis’s routine was apparent as he made small-talk with the DTAV staff. He excitedly talked about his granddaughter before heading outside to patrol the grounds. The rest of the night was quiet, and by 12 a.m. Curtis returned to the police station.

In between the night’s frequent radio calls, Curtis had related some of the worse things he had seen in his career: crazed bath salt victims, the extremity of a 2012 Dayglow concert, even an armed siege between a student and the state tactical team. As he was about to call it a night, a fellow officer radioed that he needed backup for a multi-person fight.

Curtis sprinted from the police department into his car, preparing himself, as he had done for 26 years, against whatever the night might bring him. As he peeled away from the station, the officer brought a second report to the now-speeding Curtis.

“Cancel that. Just another Humans vs. Zombies fight.”

Curtis took a sigh of relief. He continued talking about his newborn granddaughter.

The University of Maine Business Challenge (UBC) is in the final months of competition, as five selected finalists prepare to pitch their business ideas to a judging panel on April 25 and 26.

Now in its third year, the challenge was started by four UMaine 2010 alumni to grow Maine’s business sector. Previously, only open to UMaine businesses, the competition announced on Feb. 9, 2015 that any Maine higher education institutes can compete.

“Through the UBC, we aspire to grow Maine’s business sector by developing ideas and converting them into the real deal,” Jonathan Deschaine, coordinator of this year’s competition, said. “By opening the contest to other schools, we have given young entrepreneurs across the state the opportunity to bring their ideas and budding business to the helm, and show how much ingenuity and potential lies in Maine’s business sector.”

Businesses eligible for entry in the competition must be headquartered in Maine, with preference going to those that service Maine’s economic landscape or present an innovative product or service.

The five finalists for this year have been chosen, and they will present their business pitch to the judging panel on April 25 and 26. The finalist businesses are Explore Maine, Limbeck Engineering, Wanu, Nabbit and Revolution Research Inc.

“The UBC was started to contribute to a state that was [in 2012] the 50th in the nation in new business,” Deschaine said. “The UBC contributes to the well-being of Maine by giving its young entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow a Maine-based business.”

A November 2014 Forbes article cited Maine as the 49th best state for business, ahead of Mississippi. Utah was ranked first.

This year’s judges are Maine Business School professor Shawn McKenna, Blane Grimes of the Gulf of Maine Institute, Ellsworth-based law firm Eaton and Peabody attorney Jeff Spaulding and returning judge University of Maine System Chancellor James Page.

The winning finalist will be awarded $5,000. There is also a $5,000 prize for best technology entry. Consulting services, such as lawyer fees and marketing services, are also awarded to all finalists. $15,000 in cash prizes and $10,000 in consulting services have been rewarded in the contest’s first two years.

“The competition isn’t just about money. It helps business owners get connected with each other, get their companies a lot of press, and the needed help to move forward,” UMaine Business Challenge mentor Jesse Moriarity said in a Maine Campus article on Feb. 22, 2015. “At the end of the day, it is about helping the state grow and create more jobs.”

The UMaine Business Challenge is sponsored by the Maine Technology Institute, Blackstone Accelerates Growth, UMaine Classes of 1944 and 2010, the Maine Business School and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, among others.

The Finalists

Explore Maine is a media platform designed by UMaine students Eddie Gonnella and Cody Rubner. Created as a vehicle for the “efficient facilitation of outdoor recreation and exploration in Maine,” according to the pairs’ business description, the platform will foster expansion of Maine’s tourism industry. Explore Maine aims to directly connect customers and explorers with the guides, companies, locations and goods they need to experience Maine’s outdoors.

Limbeck Engineering, a business started by Freeport High School graduates Nick Nelsonwood, Josef Biberstein and Travis Libsack, is focused on creating a remote-controlled submersible. This vehicle, named RoboGoby by its developers, is designed for underwater exploration. The prototype was tested in September 2014. The team hopes the UMaine Business Challenge will help them “gain a better understanding of how to sell their product and be innovative,” while still doing something they enjoy, according to their contest pitch.

Wanu is described as the “iTunes of shopping” by its Colby College creator Jordan Nathan. Wanu is a computer application that is designed as a one-stop-shop for every online shopping experience, making this platform convenient, accessible and understandable to its broad user base.

Turkey-native Nadir Yildirim created the Orono-based Revolution Research Inc. in 2014 as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based products. His first product, insulation foam, is 95 percent recyclable, reusable and compostable. Revolution Research Inc. won the MIT-awarded Phase 0 Kickstarter Award for Small Business Innovation Research in November 2014. The company also offers grant writing and consulting services.

“In Mugla, Turkey, my hometown, it never snows and the coldest weather in the winter is 25-30 degrees with rain,” Yildirim said. “When we moved to Maine, I realized how important thermal insulation is and what a huge problem it can be. Most of the insulation foams on the market made from polystyrene and styrofoam which have strong carcinogenic effects. We will be offering the first and the most eco-friendly product to the market.”

Patrick Kearon and Noah Safian founded Nabbit, a location-based music sharing mobile application targeted at college students. Designed to provide a commonplace between music shopping and music sharing, Nabbit allows users to anonymously share a short sound clip of a song with everyone in the area; users can text comments about the clip, as well.

Hidden in plain sight lies one of Fogler Library’s greatest assets, a resource often ignored by students due to its passé nature: microfilm, the gateway to journalistic history.

Even though microfilm can be difficult to use, the sheer depth of the dated technology presents is invaluable to researchers. Depending on the subject, microfilm can sometimes be the best method to find certain newspaper articles or documents; one must simply power through the sluggish research process and old-fashioned machinery.

On the Fogler Library’s first floor is the microfilm room, a cluttered, dusty area lined with bookshelves of film reels corresponding to different newspapers nationwide. These reels are organized by decades, and each reel holds two weeks of newspaper content. Somebody looking for a specific Washington Post article, for example, need only place the appropriate reel on one of six film readers, and an enlarged image will display the selected newspaper.

“Sometimes, microfilm is the only resource for your topic,” Regional Federal Depository Librarian Gregory Curtis said. “Even though a lot of people are scared to use it, it can be an invaluable resource. I used to dislike using microfilm as a student, and now it is much more comfortable to use.”

When Curtis was in school, microfilm wasn’t digitally recorded on film, meaning text and pictures were sometimes illegible. The machines themselves were harder to use, but different machine iterations have since remedied these qualms. However, microfilm apparatuses are still imposing, even intimidating for students used to the convenience of computers.

There is no search function, which makes researching a slow process. One needs to manually move the film across the desk-sized reader to access different days of the newspaper. However, each newspaper issue is catalogued in its entirety, unlike many online sources. The New York Times’ newspaper archive, for example, is behind a paywall, a substantial obstruction for many students.

“We have community members come in often looking for articles pertaining to their family history, or something similar,” Curtis said. “Microfilm’s usefulness definitely isn’t limited to students.”

While certain computers in the microfilm room are only for reading and printing, others allow users to transfer a section of microfilm to email, PDF or USB drive.

“Sometimes microfilm is the best, most cost-efficient, or even the only format for a given title or collection,” Head of Fogler Library Collection Services Deborah Rollins said. “It is useful because it can be loaned to other research libraries for their patrons’ use, and the material is owned rather than subscribed. Its compact format is also advantageous.”

UMaine, along with other research institutions, began its microfilm collection in the mid-1920s. Since Fogler Library is a U.S. Federal Depository Library, a sizeable part of the collection is government documents. Located on the second floor of Fogler Library, these are only viewable by special request. Unlike the newspaper articles in the microfilm room, these documents are stored on microfiche, a flat, square film sheet instead of narrow reels.

Microphotography dates back to the mid-1830s, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that microfilm became commercially used. However, Curtis notes, smaller colleges are starting to phase out microfilm in lieu of computers’ dominance. In the near future, however, UMaine will continue buying microfilmed local newspapers, as that is usually the only way such material is preserved.

Outside the library, microfilm is also used in UMaine’s Office of Student Records to store transcripts and other documents dated from UMaine’s beginning. A massive project is currently underway to transfer this material to a more-accessible computer database.

“Microfilm is much easier than trying to search through a lot of papers,” Misty Johnson, an administrative specialist with the Office of Student Records, said. “However, as it gets older, Microfilm is more fragile, and it is difficult to maintain the microfilm machines.”

The transfer process started in 2011, when the Office of Student Records first sent microfilm to a company that converted the 300,000 images to CDs. The CDs are now being run through a computer to store the material; the process is expected to be complete in five to six years, according to Johnson.

“There is research that is stored on microfilm that cannot be accessed anywhere else,” Johnson said. “Unless everything gets converted to another form, microfilm will never go completely obsolete.”

The first issue of The Cohen Journal, a new University of Maine student-run political journal, was published on Feb. 16, 2015.

Designed as a forum for the UMaine community on American domestic and foreign policy topics, The Cohen Journal is published by UMaine’s Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service.

“The journal promotes and highlights the quality student research found at Maine’s flagship institution for research and higher learning,” Cohen Research Associate Darren Reid said. “When the first issue was finally published, I felt a mixture of pride, relief, apprehension, and excitement.”

As the Cohen Institute’s first research associate, Reid wrote the journal’s proposal 10 months ago, and has since worked closely with the project. In summer 2014, he recruited the journal’s Faculty Advisory Committee, which contains Political Science, International Affairs, English and Honors College staff. A student editorial board was convened last semester, that immediately began soliciting submissions.

“I think the workload of students has a lot to do with it,” Reid said on why there hadn’t been a dedicated political journal before. “I was able to devote a lot more time developing this project, over a longer period, which I think has benefited the final project.”

Since The Cohen Journal is a student-based, peer-review academic journal, submissions are solicited from any UMaine student. These submissions’ relevance to the journal are judged, then assigned to an editorial board member who sought out the expertise of a UMaine or non-UMaine professor. This professor then recommends whether or not the submission should be published, and the editorial board either accepts, revises or declines the submission. This process is designed to ensure the professional quality of The Cohen Journal.

“The fantastic thing about The Cohen Journal is the variety we have to offer,” Reid said. “We were overwhelmed with the number and quality of pieces we received when we first started to solicit submissions. It is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to go on to law school or graduate school.”

The first issue contains an introduction by the journal’s namesake, Former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen along with a legal analysis of UMaine’s firearm ban; a letter regarding Maine’s lobster industry; an article about the American Dream and equal opportunity; and a review of “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace,” a book written by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. The journal is expected to be published biannually.

“I had a great experience writing with the Cohen Journal,” Political Science student Abigail MacDonald said. “I would recommend submitting a paper to the Cohen Journal to anyone looking to get their name out there.”

The Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service serves as one of UMaine’s prominent education, outreach and research entities. It is currently conducting research on contemporary Russian-American relations through the Cohen Papers, a series of documents donated by Sen. Cohen chronicling national and international events during his time as Secretary of Defense. The Cohen Journal is the only journal on campus that deals solely with American domestic and foreign policy issues.

“The credit for bringing the first issue to publication goes entirely to Darren [Reid] and the others on the editorial board,” Director of the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service Richard Powell said. “Students gain valuable skills in learning how to do professional research. They will translate into direct benefits for their careers.”

Developing the journal required support from The Cohen Institute, the Political Science Department and the School of Policy and International Affairs. The journal’s editorial board consists of five UMaine students: Senior Editor Samuel Belknap, Assistant Editors Katherine Revello, Jesse Clark, and Robert Potts, and Copy Editor Danielle Walczak.

“The Cohen Journal gives us the opportunity to contribute to the public’s discussion of a wide range of critical issues, all in keeping with the Cohen Institute’s focus on public service that is thoughtful, serious, and civil,” Powell said. “We believe this will be a significant enhancement to the UMaine community and the broader public.”

The journal can be accessed in its entirety on the UMaine Library Digital Commons website.

Formally reserved for University of Maine students, the UMaine Business Challenge (UBC) is now accessible to any student in Maine’s higher education schools, the event’s organizers announced Feb. 9, 2015.

Now in its third year, the challenge tasks students with pitching their own business ideas, then developing a presentation for a panel of judges. Cash prizes and services are awarded.

“If you are in the competition, it helps business owners think about what direction their company should head in,” UBC mentor Jesse Moriarity said. “Instead of just sitting on an idea, it can help you along the process, which is invaluable for younger business owners.”

As a mentor, Moriarity helps students with writing executive summaries, letters of intent, pitch presentations and the like.

The UBC was started in 2010 by four UMaine alumni, with the intention to provide financial and strategic support for collegiate entrepreneurs.

“Although the competition is called the “UMaine Business Challenge” it was always our intention to open to competition to all of Maine’s students,” UBC Founder and Advisory Board Member James Morin said in a statement. “Our two main goals have never changed: support collegiate entrepreneurs and help contribute to Maine’s economic growth. Opening up the competition helps us accomplish both of those.”

Businesses eligible for entry in the competition must be headquartered in Maine, with preference going to those that service Maine’s economic landscape or present an innovative product or service.

“Business owners can get a lot of feedback from the competition’s judges, and the prizes that are awarded are certainly helpful. It’s not just the money that’s helpful, either, but the consulting services that are rewarded,” Moriarity said.

A November 2014 Forbes article lists Maine as the 49th best state for businesses, in front of only Mississippi. Utah was ranked first.

New Media seniors Kristen Douglass and Abigail Gutowski are two students who have entered this year’s competition. Their company, MaineStream, works in photography, videography and promotional material. Originally a capstone project, Douglass and Gutowski now have a 10-person crew working with them, and the duo have recently submitted their executive summary.

“We are a fairly young business, and we’re looking for support from the school and any resource we can get right now to get off the ground,” Douglass said. “Although the competition will be greater, it’ll still be a good experience because we get to learn about business through other Maine businesses.”

MaineStream is headquartered in UMaine’s Fogler Library. Douglass is head of marketing and business for MaineStream, and Gutowski is head of video production.

“The UMaine Business Challenge provides students like us, who have worked so hard to start up our own small company, a chance to not only receive financial support, but support overall for our ideas and our passion,” Gutowski said.

About 20-25 companies have participated each year in past competitions, and Moriarity states this year’s competition is on track for the same number.

“The competition isn’t just about money. It helps business owners get connected with each other, get their companies a lot of press, and the needed help to move forward,” Moriarity said. “At the end of the day, it is about helping the state grow and create more jobs.”

Fifteen thousand dollars in cash prizes and $10,000 in consulting services have been rewarded in the first two years. In addition to cash prizes, free entry into the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development’s Top Gun Prep Program is included.

The Top Gun programs tasks entrepreneurs with attending bi-weekly classes at the University of Southern Maine, the Target Technology Center in Orono, or the University College at Rockland and work with mentors. They then utilize what they learned to accelerate their business’s growth.

Even though the UBC has already started accepting executive summaries, businesses still wishing to enter the competition should submit their summary to umainebusinesschallenge@gmail.com. The final presentations take place on April 25 and 26.

The UMaine Business Challenge is sponsored by the Maine Technology Institute, Blackstone Accelerates Growth, UMaine Classes of 1944 and 2010, the Maine Business School and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, among others.

Amid record-breaking snowfall, University of Maine Facilities Management continues to work diligently to keep up with campus snow removal.

Using a complex removal plan, snow personal work around the clock to maintain roads, keep sidewalks clear and shovel entrances across UMaine’s 4.3 million square feet of paved surfaces and 355 buildings.

“In preparing for a snowstorm, our course of action depends on a lot of things: timing, day of the week, whether or not classes are in session and the number of students on campus,” Associate Director of Facilities Management Geremy Chubbuck said. “Every snow event is unique. Our removal plan really is a team effort.”

Maine, and most of New England, has experienced heavy snowfall since winter began.  Bangor has received 68.6 inches of snow since Dec.1, 34 inches more than normal.  Boston has received six feet of snow in the last month, and Worcester, Mass. has received 92.1 inches.

Chubbuck prepares for a snowstorm first by checking the National Weather Service forecast for detailed temperature, snowfall and wind predictions. From there, Chubbuck refers to a spreadsheet with various worker assignments across campus. Most routes are designed to be completed in six hours for the average snowfall. During blizzard conditions, however, snow removal personal focus solely on keeping the roads open.

Chubbuck’s office contains sprawling maps of campus, with different sections color-coded according to who plows that area and which machine is used. A small tractor is used on the Mall, for example, while regular pickup trucks are used for campus roads.

Facilities Management utilizes utility tractors, snow blowers and dump trucks to clear every road, sidewalk and entrance on campus. Dump trucks are partly computerized, so that salt and sand is distributed more efficiently. When the trucks speeds up, for example, salt or sand from the back is distributed more quickly than if the truck was slowing down.

Facilities Management sets aside $550,000 for snow removal; this includes everything from employee costs, equipment maintenance and salt and sand costs. The cost to clear the average inch of snow is $52,000, and since November, UMaine has received more than 100 inches of snow. If Facilities Management exceeds their budget, Chubbuck notes they would take money from non-safety items, like painting or roof maintenance.

When deciding whether to cancel school or not, Chubbuck meets with a committee comprising members of Facilities Management, the library, the recreation center, human resources and many others. The members consider how many students are on campus that day, which events are scheduled, road conditions and snowfall throughout the day. When school does open, Chubbuck and his team work through the night to prepare for a 7 a.m.  “We’ve had to amend our plan a little to include the 16 new major area changes from last year,” Chubbuck said, an example of which is the new Emera Astronomy Center. “We work literally around the clock for weeks just clearing snow. Some of our workers spend 20 hours a day just clearing snow.”

For example, the Collins Center for the Arts parking lot takes about 24 hours to clear. Dump trucks store the piled snow at the nearby Whitter Farm. To complicate the issue, plow drivers are forbidden to move snow into the various wetland areas scattered throughout UMaine.

Besides snow removal, Facilities Management must continue their normal operations, such as moving indoor equipment around campus, maintain campus infrastructure and event requests

“It is really like we take care of a small city,” Facilities Maintenance Manager Harold Dall said. “It is very helpful if students do three things for us: one, stay off campus if school is canceled. Two, park in rows so that we can clear the parking lots more easily. Three, be respectful of the plow trucks; we can’t stop on a dime, so give us plenty of leeway.”

UMaine is set to host its first marathon and half marathon on June 21, 2015 as part of the Black Bear Race series. While the marathon training class was canceled due to low enrollment, Campus Recreation is still offering a weekly half marathon training class.

“It helps the community and the UMaine campus to have a marathon here,” Co-Director Lauri Sidelko said. “Runners have been asking for marathons for a while. This event is a joint venture between runners, students, and staff.”

The half marathon training group is participants’ chance to try new running routes, get familiar with the course and socialize with other runners.

“The training group is geared toward first-timers who are recreational runners, but a more advanced runner who is racing with a goal time would do really well in the group as well,” training group volunteer Nora Feeney said. “I am an avid runner myself and I volunteered to teach the course to help other runners meet and exceed their goals and to share my experience in distance running.”

The half marathon training group starts on March 28 at 9:15 a.m. and meets on Saturdays until June 20, the day before the race. This training schedule is similar to the Healthy High “Couch to 5k” weekly training, which runs from Feb. 23 to April 20, except for spring break.

The 26.2-mile marathon race track begins on the UMaine campus and runs through Orono and Old Town. There is a six hour limit for the marathon course.

Other events in the Black Bear Race series include the Black Bear Triathlon, the Healthy High 5k/10k and the Black Bear Attack Adventure Race.

“You have to elevate everything planning-wise in planning a marathon compared to other races,” marathon co-director Thad Dwyer said. “We have put a tremendous amount of coordination into this event, including creating a committee to assist with planning.”

As co-directors, Sidelko is responsible for event logistics, vendors, promotions and safety, while Dwyer is tasked with course logistics. Members of the 10-person committee, who have been working toward the marathon every other week for six months, have run a combined 100 marathons.

“Times are changing; people are more and more conscious of fitness. This brings a lot of people to races,” Dwyer said. “Over the last five years, marathons have become much more popular. Now is a good time to bring a marathon to UMaine.”

Sidelko cited the complex traffic problems and low campus summer population as reasons why UMaine has never hosted a marathon before. However, scheduling the races for the last day of summer orientation allow more people to attend, as well as introduce new students and parents to UMaine life. She expects the marathon to attract 1,200 people.

“Being a runner myself, I’ve noticed running is getting more popular in recent years,” Sidelko said. “You see Mainers running year-round. They have a certain toughness you don’t see anywhere else.”

“There are a lot of startup costs associated with producing the first marathon,” Sidelko said. “This race has to pay for itself, and we’ve done a lot of research to ensure these entry fees remain competitive.”

Those wishing to participate in the race but cannot afford the entry fee should contact lauri.sidelko@umit.maine.edu to discuss financial aid. Students who don’t want to run but still want to be involved can sign up for cheer stations that will be located throughout the marathon route.

“It is an investment to bring a marathon to UMaine,” Dwyer said. “We are looking to put on a high-quality race, first and foremost. We want to keep costs as low as possible.”

Run by the Student Wellness Resource Center, proceeds from the Black Bear Marathon and Half Marathon will go toward Campus Recreation summer camp participants and Student Wellness Resource Center student projects.

Until March 30, registration fees are $85 and $60 for the full and half marathon, respectively.  After March 31, fees are $95 and $75, respectively. Runners may register online at racewire.com.

While 2014 brought many memories through excellent games such as “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” “Destiny,” “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” and “South Park: The Stick of Truth,” among many others, gamers have much to anticipate in 2015. With many prominent first-party and multiplatform titles being released this year, developers across the gaming scene hope to exemplify the ever-evolving technical and creative power of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

“Battlefield: Hardline,” Visceral Games (March 17)

“Battlefield: Hardline,” hopes to reestablish the “Battlefield” franchise as the go-to modern warfare series. While 2013’s “Battlefield 4” may have left a sour taste in fans’ mouths with its incredibly buggy multiplayer and auto-erasing campaign save files, “Hardline” developer Visceral Games hopes to salvage the franchise’s reputation with a twist on the typical “Battlefield Formula”; the game’s campaign focuses around police officers and criminals instead of the typical military setting that has dominated modern shooters. Featuring the impressive “Levolution” mechanic from “Battlefield 4” — where environmental destruction plays a strategic role in shaping the course of a battle — and unique multiplayer game modes, Hardline is shaping to be a promising comeback for the damaged franchise.

“Halo 5,” 343 Industries (Fall 2015)

As the Xbox’s most prolific franchise, the “Halo” series is has never been more prominent. The recently-released “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” while plagued with online issues, has harkened the entire “Halo” series into the collective consciousness of gamers everywhere.  “Halo 5” continues Master Chief’s story with the introduction of a new character, Spartan Locke, and the game’s plot is promised to leave lasting repercussions throughout the “Halo” universe. The “Halo 5” beta, released over holiday break, has shown but a preview of the grandeur of the science-fiction franchise on the Xbox One.  After developer 343 Industries’ success with 2012’s “Halo 4,” “Halo 5” is sure to impress both technically and canonically.

“Star Wars: Battlefront,” DICE (2015)

In what is sure to be a simultaneously nostalgic yet excitingly new release, publisher EA announced last year that the classic “Star Wars: Battlefront” third-person shooter series is set to return after a ten-year absence. Harnessing the Xbox One’s and Playstation 4’s technical prowess, developer DICE is bringing their considerable expertise from the “Battlefield” series to the “Star Wars” universe.  While little is currently known about the game, except its release during the holiday season, the promise of memorable “Star Wars” locations and characters within the powerful confines of the Frostbite 3 engine is sure to get any “Star Wars” fans excited.

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” CD Projekt RED (May 19)

While 2014 received an excellent RPG in “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” 2015 is set to deliver another fantasy spectacle: “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.” In “The Witcher 3,” CD Projekt RED has opted for a less linear campaign approach, allowing players to choose their own story.  With its recent delay into May to further Polish the massive game, “The Witcher 3” seems to be in excellent hands with CD Projekt RED; fans will likely have to set aside many weekends to thoroughly romp through this fantasy RPG.

“Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End,” Naughty Dog (2015)

PlayStation 4 owners are in for a treat come the release of “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End” in 2015 (specific date unknown).  Fortune hunter Nathan Drake is back for another globe-trotting adventure, and after the previous “Uncharted” games’ numerous awards and critical acclaim, developer Naughty Dog surely faces high expectations. The game’s few trailers have already shown off Naughty Dog’s technical competence, as “A Thief’s End” looks gorgeous even next to the latest games. With “A Thief’s End,” the series’ reputable platforming, fantastic plot, and excellently-acted characters are all set to return, making 2015 an exciting year for any PlayStation fan.

Rating: 8.5

November, and indeed the holiday season in general, holds a chaotic place in every video gamer’s life. The month is flooded with new game releases, as publishers try and present the year’s best games for holiday shoppers. Gamers must try to decide which games are worthy of their asking price. Has “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” earned this esteemed honor? Many people groan at the idea of the popular first-person shooter’s annual release; in fact, this year’s incarnation is the series’ 11 entry, so it is understandable if players have gotten worn of the brand.

However, in the series’ first true attempt to break the monotony, novice developer Sledgehammer Games, previously only involved with partial development tasks on “Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3,” actually succeeds in creating a different, yet stylistically similar entry in the long-running franchise. In short, “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” is definitely worth your money.

This game is the first to utilize the series’ new three-year development cycle, which, in theory, gives developers more time to actually innovate the series instead of copy and pasting the same game year after year. The lengthy development time is immediate apparent in “Advanced Warfare.” The Xbox One has a new graphical champion, as this game presents the best visuals of any game on the market. The completely new engine Sledgehammer has created thoroughly utilizes the console’s hardware; environments are rendered with mind-blowing detail, shadows are nicely dark and cast realistically, and advanced post-processing effects, such as motion blur and anti-aliasing, make the game staggeringly life-like. What is more, cutscenes in “Advanced Warfare” are seemingly life-action—that’s how good the CGI is. Performance capture, including that applied to Kevin Spacey’s much-publicized villain Jonathan Irons, is meticulous and impressive.

However, excellent visuals don’t make games. Despite all the attention poured into the game’s graphical presentation, Sledgehammer also dedicated substantial effort to creating a new gameplay component: the Exosuit. While the intense, yet slightly predictable campaign is still largely timed QTEs and “follow me” objectives, the Exosuit allows players to greatly change the way they play the game. Six different grenade types are available, as well as Exosuit powers like slowing time, riot shields, sonic blasts, and double jumping.

The “Call of Duty” game’s typically smooth gunplay is preserved, augmented with futuristic weapons and equipment. Much to the player’s benefit, Sledgehammer has crafted a sturdy gameplay system based around the Exosuit, which will appease those who lament the series’ hitherto repetitive nature.

“Advanced Warfare” also includes a multiplayer mode where you and three other players kill waves of computer-controlled enemies of varying type: deadly dogs, heavily-armored units, quick, Exosuit-clad soldiers and other enemies are surprisingly difficult. Past “Call of Duty” co-op modes slowly ramp up the difficulty, but “Exo Survival” immediately confronts players with a demanding challenge. Disorganized teams will quickly perish, but those who work together will find the mode’s weapon and Exosuit upgrade system enjoyable. While “Exo Survival” likely won’t attract players as much as the game’s multiplayer due to its fairly limited customization options and repetitive gameplay, it still provides an option for those who are intimidated by the multi player’s twitch-based, chaotic nature.

Under Sledgehammer’s production, the “Call of Duty” series has been injected with new life. The game itself is graphically head and shoulders above anything the Xbox One currently offers, and the Exosuit is the change players have been asking for, offering a new way to navigate levels while offering fantastically entertaining abilities. The campaign as a whole is intense, even if the last act stumbles to a cheesy and quick conclusion, and the game’s two multiplayer modes, “Exo Survival” and the world-famous multiplayer suite, are sure to add many hours of playing time.  “Advanced Warfare” gives hope to the series’ new three-year development cycle, and if this game is anything to go by, the future of “Call of Duty” has never looked better.

The University of Maine hosted the 11th annual ESTIA conference on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 in the Wells Conference Room. The conference promoted local, national and international sustainability education.

The conference included special guests such as Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, MIT Distinguished Professor Jan Wampler and Dr. Habib Dagher, director of the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center.

ESTIA President Emily Markides was on-hand Friday night to introduce the conference and the organization’s goals and values.

“I hope ESTIA brings confidence to UMaine’s already substantial sustainability efforts,” said Markides, who is also a UMaine Peace and Reconciliations department professor. “This conference is a tool for healing, and it allows friends to celebrate and reconstitute the world. I’m so glad to see so many students here taking advantage of this conference. My work, and the work of those in ESTIA, is dedicated to the youth.”

The 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Friday portion of the conference included presentations about an eco-friendly project conducted in Cyprus, called the Famagusta Eco-city Project, where ESTIA members envision an eco-friendly culture in the titular city.

The 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Saturday portion included more locally focused environmental presentations. The University of Colorado’s Bernard Amadei, Founder of Engineers Without Borders, spoke about community development; Soren Hermansen and Malene Annikki Lunden, co-directors of the Samso Energy Academy in Denmark, spoke about the role of islands in sustainability practices; Pingree spoke specifically about creating a strong economy for Maine; and Dagher and Ivan Fernandez, UMaine Distinguished Professor in the School of Forest Resources co-presented about Maine’s Climate and Energy Future.

The conference concluding panel, focusing on how local actions can benefit Maine’s resiliency, was hosted by David Kelly, Bangor EcoHomes designer, Joline Blais, Associate Professor of New Media from the Belfast Ecovillage, Lisa Fernandes of the Resilience Hub and Portland Maine Permaculture, and Eileen Hagerman of the UMaine Terrell House Permaculture Living and Learning Center.

ESTIA, the International EcoPeace Community, is a Maine-based non-profit organization established in 2004. According to their mission statement, the organization is centered around four values: respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace. Previous ESTIA conferences have focused on water ethics and natural rights, spirituality, ecological design techniques and earth education, among other topics.

The conference was sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Auxiliary Services, the Office of Sustainability, the College of Engineering, the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solution, the School of Policy and International Affairs, the Climate Change Institute, the Honors College, the Peace of Reconciliations Program, the Sociology Department, the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, the College of Liberal Arts and the Advanced Structures and Composites Center.

“Our long list of conference sponsors exemplifies UMaine’s values and goals toward sustainability practices,” said Monique LaRocque, Associate Provost for the Division of Lifelong Learning. “It is an honor for UMaine to host ESTIA.”