Aries (March 21 – April 20)

After much hard work, a time of luxury has arrived. This will create a feeling of satisfaction, comfort, stability and peace. This is due to your leadership, intelligence and self-control. These achievements will last a lifetime if the good work is kept up.

Taurus (April 21 – May 20)

There is a struggle for dominance between good and evil, right and wrong approaching. Although intimidating at first, there is no dire threat on the horizon. Look for the difference between a show of power and the intent to harm.

Gemini (May 21 – June 22)

You wield incredible power, but are the intentions pure? Critical information is missing from your decision making process, seek it out. Then do with your power as you wish.

Cancer (June 23 – July 21)

There is a painful event approaching. Its arrival is inevitable. Hard times can not be avoided forever. Walk toward the problem confidently, knowing you will emerge on the other side stronger and wiser.

Leo (July 22 – Aug. 23)

Clinging to the past prevents the journey forward. While memories of better days offer sanctuary, they keep you from transforming into a better version of yourself. Look to the past for guidance in the present.

Virgo (Aug. 24 – Sept. 23)

Life is wearing you thin, but you continue onward without rest. Stop, take the time to give yourself the love and care you need to stay strong. A moment of peace will bring you energy for a lifetime.

Libra (Sept. 24 – Oct. 23)

Be wary of the good things in your life right now. Though the apple looks ripe on the outside, there could be a worm buried within. Something is preventing you from thinking clearly and could lead you to ruin. Protect yourself.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 – Nov. 22)

With all the success in your life right now there is much to indulge in. Take note of what desires have been distracting you lately. Don’t get lost among the luxury of success, it keeps you from a greater purpose. 

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 – Dec. 21)

The world seems upside down at the moment without any progression forward. Consider, then, taking a step backward in a way that seems counterintuitive. Sometimes great value lies in a small self-sacrifice. One step backwards can lead into two steps ahead.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 20)

Coming to a crossroads means a difficult decision must be made. One does not have the luxury of exploring both roads. Either option does not provide immediate solutions. Take a stand to make progress. Remember, when one door closes, another one must open.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 – Feb. 19)

Dark times lay in the past. Keep looking forward to the bright future. All is not lost by moving forward. Have patience in the painful journey of healing. Moving on takes time.

Pisces (Feb. 20 – March 20)

Rejoice in the anticipation of a happy surprise in the week ahead. Look inward towards the unconscious mind for an important message. Though the message may not make sense at first, keep it close to heart. Time will reveal the secrets within.

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

Mars goes into retrograde starting Wednesday, Sept. 9, throwing love and life into a standstill. Use this time to work on building healthy communication skills. Take the focus off of your actions and don’t force anything that isn’t ready right now.

Taurus (April 21 – May 20)

Things may feel like they are moving at a snail’s pace or stopping altogether when Mars enters a retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9. As frustrating as the energy feels, it helps to prevent burnout. Make adjustments to your routine to help reduce stress in your career and love life.

Gemini (May 21 – June 22)

Things will seem to come to a standstill when Mars enters a retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9, so hold your ground. Don’t force something forward if it isn’t budging. Pull back and see what areas you have been neglecting while racing forward, focus on building these up.

Cancer (June 23 – July 21)

Focus on connecting emotionally and intimately when Mars goes into a retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Opening yourself up to someone else will help you form a bond that will last a lifetime. Forging this bond also means being intimate with yourself and taking care of your needs as well as others.

Leo (July 22 – Aug. 23)

When Mars goes into retrograde starting Wednesday, Sept. 9, do something for yourself just because you can. Sleep in, wear your favorite outfit to the grocery store, spend some quality time with yourself or perhaps enjoy a long, hot shower.

Virgo (Aug. 24 – Sept. 23)

You can’t run from the chaotic feeling of emotions bundled up inside you when Mars enters a retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Look into resources to help make sense of your inner turmoil. Try bullet journaling or practicing mindful meditation. The frustration of retrograde can also be a time for growth, though it requires time and patience.

Libra (Sept. 24 – Oct. 23)

Your tendency to handle matters more diplomatically will gain more attention when Mars goes into retrograde starting Wednesday, Sept. 9. Others will look to you for guidance when they express their anger and their problems seem to become increasingly frustrating.

Scorpio (Oct.ober 24 – Nov. 22)

Feeling sexy doesn’t come as easily when Mars enters a retrograde starting on Wednesday, Sept. 9. You can’t avoid the effects of retrograde on your ruling planet, so you might as well lean into it. Slow down and take a sensual approach to life in the bedroom.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 – Dec. 21)

Make yourself the No. 1 priority when it comes to your needs when Mars enters retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Don’t be afraid to let go of things during this time. However, if you want something to last through the retrograde it will require some extra effort, just make sure it’s worth it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 20)

Take action when it comes to your communication skills on Wednesday, Sept. 9 when Mars enters a period of retrograde. Improving your people skills will bring many benefits in the future of your personal and professional life.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 – Feb. 19)

Stop pushing back on things that just aren’t moving forward when Mars enters retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Move forward by working behind the scenes, organize, research and plan for a future filled with good vibes and where dreams come true.

Pisces (Feb. 20 – March 20)

Anger is not something to keep bottled up when Mars enters retrograde on Wednesday, Sept. 9.  Experiment with expressing your anger in a healthy way as these feelings become stronger and trickier to manage. Always be checking and respecting your emotional boundaries.

Many UMaine students woke on Friday, April 25, with the hopes that they would receive funding from the federally distributed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The University of Maine System had previously released a statement noting that students would be experiencing adjustments to their MaineStreet accounts, which would be calculated by April 21, and that they would be notified if they would be receiving extra refunds from the university as the UMaine community struggles with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the amount of money disbursed on April 25 did not meet students’ hopes of the funding matching the federal allocation for Americans who filed independently of their parents when completing either the 2018 or 2019 taxes. The CARES Act determined that independent filers would receive a one-time payment of $1200 in order to provide resources for those displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many college students were excluded from these one-time stimulus checks and had hoped that their university institutions would provide opportunities for financial relief.

“The Federal CARES Act provides urgent relief for our universities and support for our students,” Chancellor Dannel Malloy said in a statement released April 24.  “We have had the final guidance for just a few days and already have a plan to begin distributing payments starting the first week of May.”

The university, which was allocated $17.2 million in funding through the federal CARES act, is required to disburse half of this money directly to students to cover emergency expenses that arose from the disruption in campus operations. However, students noticed that the financial aid disbursed to them on Friday was not even enough to pay a $25 parking ticket issued by the UMaine Parking and Transportation Services.

The issue became a hot topic on the UMaine Memes for Drunken Teens Facebook page, a Facebook page run by UMaine students to discuss current issues using humor and shared images. Three memes about the lack of financial support gained over a thousand interactions in two days.

However, the memes led to a sense of support amongst UMaine students, with students providing emotional support to their peers in the comments of the posts. One comment thread linked students to a shared resource page, which elaborated on the disbursement of the CARES Act funding allocated to UMaine.

Through collaboration, third-year political science student Kevin Fitzpatrick and third-year history and secondary education student Marlana Mix were able to inform the UMaine Memes for Drunken Teens group members that the refund was a portion of the money that they would be receiving from the university in the coming weeks.

Mix, who works as a peer advisor and has worked with the UMaine Financial Aid office, noted that the funding from the CARES Act would be disbursed through a tiered-need system.

“The refund [that students received on April 25] was a reimbursement of the student activity fees from the University of Maine Student Government,” Mix confirmed. “Basically, the week of May 4, UMaine is spreading the CARES Act [money] to students based on tiers.”

Other students in the group noted that they had learned much more from the interaction with Mix than they had from the UMaine administration.

“I just learned more from the comments on this meme than I have from the website,” Ildiko Sandor, a second-year psychology student, noted.

While the CARES Act funding will be disbursed according to a tiered system, which factors in the number of credit hours that a student is taking, many students await news that they will receive any form of financial aid as they struggle with job loss and impending bills. The UMaine community has remained resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Black Bears providing resources for their displaced peers. However, this issue highlights the need for clearer communication between the University of Maine System administration and the student body, as many are uninformed of or discouraged by the ways that the University of Maine System is seeking ways to financially support students.

The University of Maine School of Nursing held a virtual pinning ceremony for 38 graduating students on April 25. The ceremony was streamed using Facebook Live and honored and celebrated the students who were allowed to graduate two weeks early from the UMaine nursing program.

The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Kelley Strout, interim director of the UMaine School of Nursing, who teaches courses on aging, as well as community and population health.

“It is an honor to serve as host this evening as we celebrate the achievements of the UMaine School of Nursing baccalaureate class of 2020, in our historic COVID-19 virtual pinning ceremony,” Strout opened. “I want to take a moment to recognize the team at the School of Nursing. Over the past two months, we’ve asked our faculty and staff to transition to a completely new style of learning, working and connecting with our students… and each other.”

The pinning ceremony then acknowledged the work of members of the UMaine School of Nursing team, which has allowed the class of 2020 to gain the skills necessary to enter the workforce as nurses. The ceremony also acknowledged the support that the school has gotten from the donors who work to maintain it through grant money and other donations.

The pinning ceremony was part of the decision made by the UMaine School of Nursing to allow baccalaureate nursing students to graduate early in order to pursue their license sooner and expedite the process of entering into the workforce, as Maine’s healthcare system seeks ways to minimize the impact of COVID-19.

“The class of 2020 is a very resilient, dedicated group of graduates,” Strout said. “I’m so proud of this class. They are committed to enter the workforce and provide patient care on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

After the 38 students receive their degree, 33 of them plan to continue to practice in the healthcare field in Maine. Two students have been accepted and have committed to jobs in nurse residency programs at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Part of the decision to let students graduate early was motivated by Maine hospitals and healthcare facilities choosing to discontinue the opportunity for students to complete their clinical training. The last semester for graduating nursing students mainly focuses on collaborative work experiences, with students completing nearly 200 hours of clinical work, job-shadowing and one-on-one professional development. By the time that the COVID-19 pandemic caused healthcare facilities to change their protocol for clinical training, many of UMaine’s students had already completed more than half of the required coursework and clinical work.

Because many of the students had already put in the hard work and dedication and were aware of the time constraints that were posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they were willing to work with faculty in order to complete an accelerated course of study.

“We are so very proud of these graduates,” UMaine and UMaine Machias President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said. “We thank them for their incredibly hard work, their bravery and dedication to the healthcare field in Maine and beyond. The highly selective School of Nursing has very high standards, with faculty providing outstanding training and preparation for students who are ready to make a difference in the world. We congratulate the graduates on this fantastic achievement and wish them all the very best as they move out into the field to help all of us during this difficult time with the pandemic.”

While the members of the University of Maine System work to create a plan of action for students and faculty as the fall 2020 semester approaches, many departments of the UMaine campus have been placed under financial strain as the university copes with the loss of over $12 million in incoming funding.

In a letter to members of the academic affairs faculty forum, Faye Gilbert, the executive vice president for academic affairs, announced in mid-April that the UMaine faculty had made the decision to realign the UMaine budget and eliminate the services provided by the Intensive English Institute. The department was created in the mid-1980s to prepare international and English as a Second Language (ESL) students for success in courses taught mainly in English.

“We have … taken the difficult step of discontinuing our services with the Intensive English Institute (IEI). Our needs to align budgets, combined with reduced demand, led to taking this critical step,” Gilbert said. “We will fulfill our obligations to current students and are looking for creative options to have those who need work in English and who want to join us at UMaine to be able to participate or audit classes.”

According to James McCarthy, who currently works as a tutor at the UMaine Writing Center assisting students with papers, resumes and other documents, the IEI was a great resource for international students. McCarthy, who had worked with the IEI from 2012-19, noted that he had worked with several students from extremely diverse backgrounds, including students hailing from European and Middle Eastern countries.

“The goal of the IEI is to provide assistance to students who do not attain a high enough score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) entrance exam to be matriculated into a full-time undergraduate or graduate program,” McCarthy explained. “The program [helped] students gain proficiency in English, in order to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in courses primarily taught in English.”

McCarthy noted that, due to the support of the IEI, many students who are able to pass the TOEFL and go on to pursue higher education degrees are also able to bring in grants and funding opportunities for UMaine as they pursue research, which benefits UMaine research opportunities. He also noted that many of these students will return to their home countries after attaining a degree in higher education and are able to bring back skills that directly impact the economic growth of their communities.

“In the past five years, [the number of enrolled students] at the IEI decreased. This may be attributed to many issues,” McCarthy noted. “The lack of economic support for Chinese students, the chaos of [Middle Eastern governance] combined with political issues in [Central and South American] countries have all been factors that have impacted the ability of students to study in the United States. I think this highlights the need for [UMaine] to support these students … and participate in active recruitment.”

The IEI had previously offered opportunities for international students to connect with funding opportunities such as the UMaine Bridge Program, which seeks to ease the transition into university life for incoming students as well as many other opportunities for expanding their experiences while attending UMaine.

“My first contact with a mentor [on the UMaine campus] was at the IEI,” Juliana Tavora, a Brazilian graduate student, said. “Everyone at [the] IEI was very excited to share its experience with us students. I worked on a research proposal for a summer fellowship sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate Research in 2014. Our project got funded and led to my capstone research and a journal publication. UMaine is the place I learned a second language, where I got my first research proposal granted and the institution where I returned for my master’s degree … UMaine is very important for my academic career.”

“I don’t want to call it shameful,” McCarthy noted. “But it’s certainly a shame.”

Although the IEI will no longer be providing the same resources to incoming students as it previously had, it will continue to support the students who are currently utilizing its resources. Gilbert has stated that the UMaine faculty is seeking feedback from concerned community members on ideas for reorganization, interdisciplinary options and cost efficiencies in order to continue to serve and represent UMaine students in a meaningful way. However, as the university seeks a way to restructure budget allowances in order to serve the UMaine community, the future of transitional ESL-serving programs at UMaine is yet to be determined.

For those interested in providing feedback, contact umprovost@maine.edu.

Since the University of Maine System announced the decision to move all courses to remote instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic, many students have been feeling the pressure of academic expectations. The challenge of staying on top of academic requirements, such as continuing to participate in classroom discussions and turning in papers in a timely manner, has also been combined with the added economic and financial burdens of sweeping unemployment.

While many students were preparing to apply for summer jobs, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to rethink their summer plans. For first-year music education student Martinique Shaw, the circumstances have pushed her to rearrange her course load and pick up a summer class.

“With the stress of having to move off-campus in such a short period of time while dealing with temporary housing situations, I felt I could not put nearly as much effort into one of my spring courses as I wanted to,” Shaw said. “As such, in an effort to take off a little stress I withdrew from that course and instead pushed it back to the summer, as this is one of my courses I am required to take.”

Shaw states that she is hoping to continue to pursue a bachelor’s degree and does not see her academic plans changing in the fall of 2020 if courses continue with a remote learning format. However, she did note that her housing plans had changed for the fall, as she is now planning on living in off-campus housing.

This decision to live in off-campus housing while continuing to pursue a remote education is a choice that many students have made, with an abundance of UMaine students choosing to live in or around the Orono area while continuing their spring semester, as opposed to moving back home with family, in order to maintain some kind of school routine.

However, this routine has been challenged, as many students are now faced with the decision of renewing their leases as the end of the spring semester approaches. Some students have voiced concern for the fall semester and have expressed anxiety about the possibility of the fall semester continuing in a remote fashion.

“As someone who has participated in the university’s music ensembles, one of my biggest concerns would be [how the university can support these programs] … what will happen to those students planning on participating in these ensembles,” Shaw said.

Shaw also raised concerns about students who may be relying on assistance from scholarships to continue their education. Merit-based scholarships help ease the cost of pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and UMaine students are left wondering how financial aid offices will be considering students’ scholarship awards.

Shaw noted that she has already had issues with connecting with the UMaine Financial Aid office, and states that she hopes that the office will find an efficient way to connect with students in order to address their anxieties about scholarships, loan payments and other financial aid issues.

“As someone who is currently making payments on my student bill, I ran into an issue where I could not register for classes due to a hold on my account. I was instructed to call the financial aid office but was then immediately directed back to an email,” Shaw said. “I feel that it would be important and helpful in the future for the financial aid office to send out an email to students directing them to email rather than to place a phone call. This would be especially helpful if this pandemic continues throughout the rest of the year.”

As students grapple with the evolving future of academia, one of the biggest concerns that students hope faculty can address is the uncertainty that many feel about the ability of institutional support systems to assist students during this transition. While the pandemic has demonstrated that many institutional structures were not prepared to provide adequate support in this time of crisis, students are hoping to see the University of Maine System work to support the community in a meaningful way that allows students to continue to pursue higher education.

Due to the recent decision by the University of Maine System to shift courses to remote instruction, many students have felt the pressures of adapting to online courses as the UMaine community returned from spring break on Wed., March 25. Throughout their formal educations, many students have grown accustomed to in-person seminars, lecture halls filled with 200-300 students and face-to-face office hours with their mentors. Since switching to remote-learning formats, many students have voiced concerns about the expectation that they can be as productive while completing online courses.

Students have expressed their confusion and frustration through the online format of memes, with daily memes about online courses appearing on the Facebook group “UMaine Memes for Drunken Teens,” a group made by UMaine students that is unaffiliated with the university’s administrative faculty.

One image, posted by Avery Cobalt, a third-year student, features a photo of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, with the phrase “I am once again asking for you to tell me how class is going to work now.” The meme received over 300 reactions and 17 comments.

“The pass/fail option is looking good,” Cassidy Tibbetts, a third-year information systems management student, commented.

Lily McLaughlin, a first-year biology student, shared that one of her professors was actually unable to conduct his course over Zoom, the videoconferencing application that the university provides to students and faculty to facilitate the running of online courses, because he doesn’t understand how to use the technology to effectively teach a 3D design class. Instead, the professor has emailed the course objectives to students and has asked them to send in low-resolution photos of the in-progress projects, so that he is able to view the photos on his low-bandwidth internet connection.

However, graduating students Annabelle Osborne and Olivia Bradstreet, who both completed non-traditional models of schooling throughout their primary and high school years, seek to offer students words of encouragement as they adapt to this non-traditional method of learning.

Osborne, a graduating journalism student, and Bradstreet, a graduating studio art student, both completed a self-taught schedule throughout their high school years and noted that a key part of being successful with self-taught learning is to focus on aspects of the content that interest you.

“You have to embrace what actually interests you, which can be difficult when we’ve all been taught, to varying degrees, that education is tied to an authority. If you’re interested in a subject, even in a small way, embrace it as much as you can,” Bradstreet said. “I think another main thing is to consistently recommit to your education goal and staying connected to the ‘why’ of what you’re studying.”

Osborne mirrored this sentiment, noting that it is crucial to find an aspect of the content that sparks your interest in order to stay motivated to teach yourself about it.

“Find something that fascinates you. Even if the class or subject isn’t interesting, there [must] be something that piques your curiosity and will help drive you to be more engaged,” Osborne advised.

Both young women come from a non-traditional learning background, where they were encouraged to learn about the world through curiosity, rather than through a structured system of objectives that many students experience throughout their educational careers. This encouraged them to explore more of the topics that they liked, but also served as a foil when they encountered subjects that were less instinctive. In Osborne’s case, she struggled with math and re-took the math section of the GED exam five times to attain a satisfactory score.

“If you aren’t able to manage your time well, then you are the only one holding yourself accountable,” Osborne noted, urging her peers to continually work on constructive goal-setting for themselves while they are working from their apartments and homes.

Bradstreet also noted that, because of her background, which shied away from intertwining education with authority figures, as she has gone through traditional courses she has been well equipped to stand up for herself. She has advocated that her peers work to stand up for themselves and their academic and mental needs as they adjust to the remote system of learning.

“Feeling comfortable day one as a freshman speaking to older adults, or adults who have a title of authority attached to them is something that has really benefited me through college. This has allowed me to ask a lot of questions and advocate for myself as needed as well as help develop solid working relationships with professors,” Bradstreet said. “Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.”

Bradstreet added that this current situation is a high-stress situation for many and that she feels as though it is acceptable to be more forgiving with your schedule as you figure out how to adjust to online courses.

“You have to be confident in setting your own limits and routines and trust that you can take care of yourself,” Bradstreet said. “Your daily routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, it’s all about assisting yourself through this time.”

As students adjust to remote courses, Vice President of Student Life and Inclusive Excellence and Dean of Students Robert Dana encourages the UMaine community to continue their support for each other in these trying times and has commended the community on the support that UMaine students and faculty have shown for one another in light of recent events. Dana noted that students can call the Office of Student Life at 207-581-1406 or the University of Maine System information line at 207-581-2681 for inquiries related to the situation caused by COVID-19.

The President of the University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) Bentley Simpson announced on March 14 through a Facebook post that the UMSG had donated more than 900 items of food to the Black Bear Exchange, UMaine’s student and faculty food pantry, in order to assist those who may be affected by COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.

As schools across the state turn towards online class formats, one major concern held by state officials and school administrators has been the supply of food and resources for students who deal with food insecurity who will no longer have access to school lunch programs and on-campus resources.

The University of Maine System made the decision on March 11 to switch to remote learning through the implementation of online classes in order to protect the health and safety of the UMaine community. The effort to donate supplies of food and hygiene products was organized by the UMSG in order to address the issue of food and resource insecurity on the UMaine campus and in the surrounding area.

The state of Maine has experienced a flurry of activity as many people prepare to self-quarantine. The shelves of local grocery stores have been bought out and price gouging has become a real threat to student’s well being. With many students being notified that their student worker position at the university will no longer be supported during the transition to online classes, UMSG noticed that during the pandemic many students will not be able to buy in bulk due to financially vulnerable situations.

This financial strain has caused many students to worry about whether they will be able to stay in the Orono area, and left many wondering how they will manage their finances in order to continue to put food on the table.

“This time of need is no different [than others]. As soon as UMaine announced changes, people started contacting me about how to help. People have offered to do food drives, volunteer, and help with whatever we need,” Lisa Morin, the coordinator of the Bodwell Center for Student Volunteerism, said. “Even the Islamic Center of Maine has done a food drive for the Black Bear Exchange. Our Administration has been incredibly supportive, as they always are. Luckily we have a relationship with the Good Shepherd Food Bank. That will help us to keep some food coming in.”

Morin noted that because of the food shortages caused by bulk buying, it warmed her heart to hear that the UMSG was looking to help.

“They are trying to find ways to still support their fellow Black Bears, and this was incredibly thoughtful on their part,” Morin said.

Simpson told the Maine Campus that the decision for the UMSG to donate the supplies was an easy one. Due to the university closing for an indefinite amount of time, the funds that were to be allocated toward spring events, such as the Maine Event concert, were made available. This meant that the UMSG had the opportunity to use the funds to help support the community in a time of need.

“In total, we dropped off 933 pounds of food and hygiene products. Does this feel like a parting present? Not in the slightest,” Bentley said. “There is still so much work to be done for these students and the UMSG executive team has been meeting every day since we heard about the in-class school cancelation.”

Roger Holt, a third-year computer engineering student, noted in a Facebook post that the UMaine community saw this act as heroic.

Morin has been working to secure opportunities for UMaine students who are interested in helping out the Orono community in this time of need. The UMSG, along with other UMaine student organizations including the Senior Skulls and All Maine Women, reached out to Morin to find out ways that they could assist with the needs of K-12 students in their community due to school closures.

Currently, Morin noted that the most needed service is childcare, as many parents are unable to stay home to take care of children that no longer have in-person classes. To find out more about opportunities to help the Orono community, contact lisa.morin@maine.edu, or follow the UMSG Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/umsginc/.

On March 13, the University of Maine community organized and held an honorary commencement ceremony for graduating students. Due to the decision made by the University of Maine System to indefinitely move instruction online, the future of the 2020 commencement, scheduled for May 9, is uncertain.  

The ceremony, which was dubbed “Coronamencement” due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), was held in the Memorial Union. The event was organized by graduating communications sciences student Sophia Palangas, with assistance from graduating students Taylor Cray and Logan Aromando. The ceremony featured speeches from Palangas, Cray and Aromando, as well as an emotional speech from Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Robert Dana. 

As students gathered in the atrium of the Union, local band Midnight Breakfast gave a live music performance. The band stated in an Instagram post, “This is a sad time for all of us … We will be playing some songs to lift the spirits of our peers during this difficult time.” 

Palangas followed Midnight Breakfast, introducing the event’s speakers and opened the ceremony by saying that while this was not the commencement that she or any of her peers had imagined, she was grateful for the support of the community which allowed this event to take place. 

“I’m so proud to stand among you all, and I’m so thankful for today,” Palangas said. “I cannot express how much this means to me.”

Dana spoke after Palangas, commending the UMaine community on how it has come together and recognized the successes that would come despite the current challenges and anxieties for students’ futures. 

“For us to send you off so suddenly is painful for us,” Dana said. “As I was walking around campus today, I could sense the awe of all the people. There is a sense of [asking] what’s next. What’s going to be next is that we’re going to be safe. You’re going to be the leaders of this next generation, and you’re going to make change everywhere.”

His speech was followed by a performance from UMaine Renaissance, UMaine’s all-women acapella group. In a moment that brought many to tears, the group performed Queen’s “Somebody To Love.” 

After, students walked across a makeshift stage to receive an honorary diploma. Palangas announced students’ names while they elbow-bumped, as opposed to shaking hands, with Bananas the Bear and Dana. 

The ceremony demonstrated immense community support. In an effort to make the best of the situation, many students chose to wear graduation caps made from cardboard or other supplies. The “Coronamencement” ceremony served, for many, as a chance for closure on the time they spent at UMaine as they prepare for their unexpected departures and ambiguous next steps.

The University of Maine Chancellor Dannel Malloy has announced that the University of Maine System will be transitioning to remote, online-only class formats, effective March 22. The decision was made after the World Health Organization announced on March 11 that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has become a pandemic.

Currently, the state of Maine has not had any reported cases of COVID-19. The decision to move to online classes is seen as a preemptive measure to promote the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty and administration. In an attempt to meet the responsibility of the administration to ensure the health and wellness of the UMaine community, the following guidelines have been presented.

First, UMaine administration has decided to transition all in-class academic instruction to an online format, or a format that is most appropriate for the course. This is to encourage community members to stay away from public gathering areas.
Second, the University of Maine System has advised all on-campus residential students to make plans to depart from the University of Maine System campuses by Sunday, March 22 with all their personal and academic belongings. Students who have already departed from campus will be provided with the opportunity to gather their belongings before the deadline of March 22. However, those students who are unable to move off-campus due to extenuating personal circumstances will be provided with housing opportunities during and after the scheduled spring break. The University of Maine System will be providing resources for dining options for those students who are unable to move off campus.

Lastly, as of March 11, the University of Maine System universities will continue to keep campuses open and operational. Those who are still active on campus are advised to take precautions, such as social distancing, to protect community health. Social distancing, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends that all persons in a public area attempt to maintain a distance of at least five feet from other persons in that public area. This distance will help to prevent the spreading of mucus droplets. The CDC also encourages everyone to continue to wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

The University of Maine System recommends that all non-essential UMaine-sponsored travel be suspended as of March 11.

UMaine sporting events have not been affected and are planned to proceed as anticipated. The UMaine men’s ice hockey team will anticipate hosting the University of Connecticut this week. The UMaine women’s basketball team will anticipate traveling to play Stony Brook this week.

“The safety of our community is a paramount concern,” Robert Dana, vice president for student life and dean of students, told the Maine Campus. “These are anxiety producing times and it is important that we support each other. We will continue to update as possible and I want students, faculty and staff to know that all hands are on deck to get us through this uncertain and difficult time.”