LD 2, also titled, “An Act to Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process” was passed to be enacted into law in the state of Maine on March 12. This law will require lawmakers to consider the racial impacts that proposed laws will have on historically oppressed minority groups by using racial impact statements.  According to maineequaljustice.org, “A Racial Impact Statement is [a] systematic analysis of how historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups would be affected by a proposed policy.” 

The law was sponsored by Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, who is currently serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives. This law will give policy creators in the Maine legislature important information and data. This is so they can make informed decisions about how proposed laws would be implemented, and how those laws would impact minority groups. The law’s implementation in 2023 will be dependent on the progress of a pilot program over the next year. This pilot program will examine a series of laws proposed in 2022.”

The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP),  a nonpartisan organization founded in 1994 that advocates for economic equality and well-being for middle-class and low-income people in the state of Maine, fully supports the LD 2 legislation. MECEP feels that the law would be impactful, citing how mandatory minimum sentencing on drug laws disproportionately affects Black Mainers. The organization also shared its belief that certain areas of Maine’s wage and hour laws are preventing some jobs from allowing overtime and minimum wage guarantees. Statistically these jobs are more likely to be held by people of a racial minority group. If the provisions stemming from LD 2 were in place when these laws were created, it is likely that lawmakers would have noticed these disparities due to their specific education on these issues. 

“Racial disparities in Maine are real, and can be exacerbated or improved by policy. The same way we assess spending bills to determine their impact on state finances or assess new infrastructure to see how it would affect our environment, we can and should rate legislation for how it would help or hinder racial justice,” the Maine Center for Economic Policy website claims.  

Overall, the organization pledged its support of LD 2 because they believe it is the fair and equitable thing for Maine to do. 

“MECEP supports this bill because it is a powerful tool for building a stronger, fairer economy for all Mainers — Black, brown, and white alike,” MECEP shares on their website. 

Maine would not be the only state to have racial impact statements in their legislative system. Connecticut, Colorado, Oregon, New Jersey, Minnesota, Florida and Iowa all have similar laws like LD 2 on the books. The legislation exists to try and understand the ramifications of proposed legislation instead of trying to make amends after a harmful law has already been passed. 

Orono Brewing Company, a local brewery in Orono nicknamed OBC, reopened its doors on Thursday, March 25 at 4 p.m.  The pandemic forced the facility to shut the doors of its typically festive taproom last year, remaining open only to sell beer to-go. With limited indoor and outdoor seating now available, Orono Brewing Company plans to remain open through the summer months. 

Despite this change,  OBC has still set safety measures in place that patrons and staff alike must follow. Abe Furth, a co-founder at Orono Brewing Company, shared some of the guidelines customers and staff will be following in the coming months. 

“We will be following all Maine CDC guidelines. Face coverings required when not seated at your table. Maintain six-foot social distance standards when not seated at your table, stay seated at your table unless using the restrooms, ordering or picking up food/drink. Children must remain at the table at all times,” Furth said. 

Unfortunately, out of respect for CDC guidelines, no live music will be allowed at the venue, but Furth shared that Orono Brewing Company looks forward to the day when it can welcome bands again. 

In preparation for the reopening, Furth shared that Orono Brewing Company has updated its food menu and is working to collaborate with Vitamin Sea brewing out of Massachusetts on a new IPA. Classic brews that have become popular around Orono, like the Tubular IPA, are also still available and draw customers in. Orono Brewing Company has its best available at a lot of local restaurants such as Orono House of Pizza and Paddy Murphy’s, and they attribute part of their success through the pandemic to local networking and support. 

“We are very fortunate to have a strong distribution network, and we focused heavily on canning during the pandemic so we could still brew to capacity,” Furth shared. 

Orono Brewing Company owns Woodman’s Brew Pub and a tasting room in downtown Bangor as well as the brewery location. Furth shared that Woodman’s is the next location they would like to open and their goal is to do so this spring. As  for the tasting room in downtown Bangor, because the space is smaller and more enclosed, OBC intends to reopen it during the summer months. 

UMaine students are looking forward to another open local business where they can again indulge in some summer fun. Jared Flight is a third-year mechanical engineering technology student who turned 21 in February. He is looking forward to trying a new place to have a few drinks. 

“I’m excited to experience the atmosphere and support a local business that is so close with the UMaine community,” Flight said. 

Orono Brewing Company will be open from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights, from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 12-7 p.m. on Sundays. Orono Brewing Company will remain open through the summer months. For more information, please visit oronobrewing.com.

March is well known as Women’s History Month and contains notable holidays like International Women’s Day and The Day of the Girl. Every year, many events celebrate the accomplishments of women and aim to bring light to gender inequality. The women’s, gender, and sexuality (WGS) department at the University of Maine is celebrating this month by hosting a series of events that students can access through their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. 

According to Laura Cowan, director of the WGS program at UMaine and associate professor of English Women’s History used to be confined to March 8, 1911, rather than an entire month. In Cowan’s experience as a teenager living in France, she remembered Women’s Day as similar to Mother’s Day, but more inclusive as it recognized every woman. 

When asked what has prompted the inclusion of more events that promote gender equality and women this month Cowan stated, 

“We believe in equity. We believe that power and human rights are not a zero sum game,” Cowan said. “It is important that women’s perspective and women’s experiences are represented in all domains: education, politics, business, the arts. It is important for young children — no matter their gender — to see women celebrated and to see women’s accomplishments so that they can aspire to contribute to their communities, their workplaces, and their families. The more power is shared equally by all people of all descriptions, the more power everyone has.” 

Cowan continued to stress the importance of equality when speaking about specific events. 

“[WGS] sponsored the Women and Climate Change Lecture series through Professor Katie Glover’s class on women and climate change because we believe that feminists and women can help solve the climate change crisis by cultural change and transformation,” Cowan said. “Science has done a good job observing and explaining Climate Change, but humans need to change our attitudes and our worldviews if we are going to rise to this crisis. We believe that feminist principles of equity, stress on relationships between people and between nature and people, valuing others as subjects rather than as objects, and a resistance to hierarchies are the kinds of values that will can lead us to live more sustainable lives.”

The relationship between women and the people around them, as well as women and their environment, is a prevalent theme in the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies department. Cowan acknowledged the difficulty of 2020 as a whole and how the situations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic caused different stresses for women. She feels that although notable women have succeeded this year, it is important to focus on celebrating the everyday woman who has endured many challenges. 

“Feminism is in principle about equity and diversity. The hardships imposed by the coronavirus, economic crisis, divisive politics and the killings of people of color this past year mean that every day women were heroines day after day as they worked in essential jobs, provided essential care to coronavirus patients and persevered in many domains in spite of challenges. So I would emphasize the ‘notable accomplishments’ this year were everyday women whose names are not recorded in newspapers or appear on TV or on billboards.” Cowan stated.

As far as more famous women who have accomplished achievements in the past year, Cowan credits Stacey Abrams with her voting initiatives, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy in law and Kamala Harris becoming vice president. 

Everyone has the opportunity to become more educated on feminist issues. UMaine has many resources available for students that would allow them to achieve this. 

“Students at the University of Maine can start by going to the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality University of Maine website, our WGS Facebook page, our WGS Instagram, and WGS Twitter. We do our best to keep our community abreast of current events and also supply background information and references on all our sites,” Cowan said. 

“Student Life sponsors student organizations which advocate for gender equality: the Feminist Collective (Fem C), Wilde-Stein (for LGBTQ people and allies), the Intersectional Feminist Resource Center, PRISM (a residential life community), and the Rainbow Resource Center. The WGS program stresses its intersections with other disadvantaged groups who lack power or privilege because of race, ethnicity, religion, class, disability, regionalism, country of origin. We study all these groups in our classes and encourage students to learn about our issues and share insights from their perspectives.”

The WGS department will be hosting events this month to promote equality. Those interested can view their social media accounts or the UMaine websites for more information. 

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the University of Maine announced that many classes will resume in person starting in the fall 2021 semester. On March 10, Chancellor Dannel P. Malloy sent an email to the UMaine community stating that everything will resume as normal in the fall 2021 semester. 

“I’m happy to let you know that we are announcing later this morning that we expect to welcome our students, faculty and staff back to our university campuses this fall to safely resume the most traditional in-person college experiences we all took for granted before the pandemic” Malloy wrote in the email. 

Malloy stated that because of the increased availability of vaccines and the push to relax COVID-19 safety measures by the start of next semester, there is reason to believe that everything on campus could function as normal in the fall. The warmer weather in the spring and summer will also allow for more outdoor activities and less congregation of people indoors in spaces like restaurants, which will provide outdoor seating in the summer months. 

Malloy did stress that safety is always the top priority and shared that wearing face masks and maintaining a social distance of six feet will be key to keeping the UMaine campus on the right track. Although there were mentions of testing every UMaine community member who is eligible through graduation, nothing was said about testing students who are returning in the fall. It is unclear if it will be done or who would qualify for potential testing. 

With Gov. Janet Mills’ recent acceleration of the COVID-19 vaccine timeline, people are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for this pandemic. All Maine residents ages 16 and older are eligible for vaccination beginning April 19. If students can get vaccinated over the course of this semester and the summer, the UMaine community hopes to be more protected from COVID-19 concerns in the fall. 

However, in the past week the UMaine administration has taken a stricter and less hopeful approach to the situation regarding the pandemic. Vice President for Student Life and Inclusive Excellence and Dean of Students Robert Dana and President Joan Ferrini-Mundy shared a message to the UMaine community on March 15.

“While our spirits lift, it’s important that we remain vigilant of the health and safety guidance that has successfully gotten us to this point. We are still in a pandemic. And we have only eight weeks to go to finish this semester, which we would like to do by continuing the in-person and campus-based instruction and activity we have been able to do this semester,” Dana and Ferrini-Fundy wrote.

Although a number of new COVID-19 cases have stemmed from college-age individuals in the state of Maine, the University of Maine System has reported 74 active cases of COVID-19 in the entire system as of March 19. These numbers are certainly not ideal, but with the rise of vaccine availability and the community taking proper precautions, an in-person fall 2021 semester is still on the table. 

On par with relaxing restrictions and resuming normalcy, the UMaine administration allowed sports like baseball and softball to resume, as well as pushed the football season to this spring. However, seven members from the baseball team are now in quarantine due to exposure to a COVID-19 positive person within the program. As a result, the team had to cancel its weekend baseball games against Stony Brook University. It is unclear if other games will go on as planned, and the baseball team, like all other sports teams, is being tested for COVID-19 twice a week. 

“Our student athletes have modeled safe practices this year and we are proud of what they have accomplished in competition and in the effort to limit the spread of infection,” Ferrini-Mundy shared in a press release sent on March 19. 

It appears that the last eight weeks of the spring semester are crucial to defining the trajectory of the university next fall. With the reading days and a mini-break fast approaching, students are encouraged to make safe choices in the coming days. University staff and students alike must stay vigilant with COVID-19 protocol even as the weather gets warmer and more vaccines are available. 

The University of Maine is offering accelerated graduate programs in a variety of majors. These programs allow currently enrolled undergraduate students to earn their a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less time, usually taking five years as opposed to the usual six or more years it would take to receive the same education elsewhere. For this reason, the accelerated graduate degree program is often dubbed as the 4+1 program, referring to the number of years it takes to complete. Many programs of study offer this opportunity, and some accelerated degree programs are open to all majors. 

Students need to apply for a 4+1 program either at the end of their second year or the beginning of their third year. Often, students who apply for these programs and are accepted must take graduate-level classes in their fourth year at UMaine. This allows students to earn their degree faster and gives them a strong base of knowledge before they begin their graduate year. 

Sara Gundermann is a third-year food science and human nutrition major with a concentration in food science who hopes to pursue a master’s through UMaine’s accelerated program . Food science is an interdisciplinary science that combines chemistry, biology, physics and engineering to study parts of the food industry like product development and food processing. Gundermann wanted to attend UMaine because of the specific 4+1 program that UMaine offers with food science. She applied for the 4+1 accelerated degree program in the fall 2020 semester and hopes to complete a master’s in food science with the thesis option. Students can choose whether or not they complete a thesis with a degree in many disciplines, but the thesis option typically leads to more opportunities after graduation. In the STEM fields, a thesis option gives students more opportunities to conduct research in a lab under a graduate advisor. 

Getting a master’s degree and completing a thesis in one year was very appealing to Gundermann, as it will save her a lot of money in the long run and will provide her with the tools she needs to succeed in the workforce. 

“I chose the thesis option because I am interested in doing research and development for a food company,”  Gundermann said. “It looks good to employers to show that you have research experience and can conduct your own research. It also is a great way to get hands-on learning [experience] along with typical classroom learning.”

If students are interested in the 4+1 program, it can be helpful if they begin networking within their department early on. A student’s academic advisor can be a key ally when it comes to determining if the student would benefit from enrolling in a 4+1 program. In Gundermann’s experience, she found that applying to work in labs provided her a way to meaningfully connect with professors within her department. 

“I have had the fortunate opportunity to be involved in several labs on campus the past three years at UMaine. Working in the labs has really helped me to develop relationships with the professors and graduate students of the department,” Gundermann said. “All of the professors are doing research in different areas of food science, so it has helped me to explore the major. Also, by being close to professors and the graduate students, I was able to hear about things like the 4+1 program as well as speak to people who are currently doing the program.”

After Gundermann graduates from the 4+1 program, she is interested in doing research and development for a food company. “This means I would be designing new products as well as researching past products to determine how to adjust them to fit the wants of consumers,” Gundermann said.

Undergraduate students who may be interested in a 4+1 program can reach out to their academic adviser, or find more information at https://umaine.edu/graduate/programs/accelerated-programs/

March 5

At 12:19 a.m. Samuel Boudreau, 20, of Massachusetts, was charged with operating a vehicle without a license in violation of a condition Class E, which was being under 21 while drinking and driving. 

At 12:26 a.m. Jonathan Rivet, 21, of Orono, was charged with driving to endanger.

At 2:38 a.m. the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) was called to the first floor of Somerset Hall due to suspicion of drug use. Officers found first-year student Collin O’Brien using marijuana in his room. He was compliant and was issued a summons for drug possession. He was also referred to conduct. 

March 7

At 10:06 p.m a student was driving on Ransley Road when their snowboard, valued at $700, fell off of their car. Another car stopped and the driver picked up the snowboard from the road and drove away. This is being investigated by UMPD as a theft. 

At 3:55 a.m. Omed Habibzai, 19, of Portland, was charged with operating under the influence. 

Feb. 9

At 3:47 a.m. the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) sign was stolen. There is video footage of the incident and officers are trying to identify the suspect. Fraternities are being investigated because it was stolen during rush week but there are no identifiable suspects. The sign is still missing to this day. 

Feb. 11

A Resident Assistant called officers to the fourth floor of York Hall for an intoxicated first–year male student at 11:14 p.m. He was referred to conduct for alcohol possession. 

  University of Maine students are now able to register for Summer University, which is what UMaine calls its selection of summer courses offered to students every year. These courses are offered through the Division of Lifelong Learning here at UMaine, and go hand in hand with their Think 30 initiative. Think 30 reminds students to take 30 credits per year in order to graduate in the traditional four years. Unlike last summer, some courses will be available on campus this upcoming summer. However, students will still have the option to take courses remotely as well. Almost every college at UMaine has a course on the list for their students to take, and some important general education requirements are on the list as well, such as Statistics 232 and English 101. Additionally, UMaine offers a variety of courses centered around getting students credit for internships or thesis research they engage in during the summer months. 

 Third-year electrical engineering student Dillon Rose took a Maine studies course, or MES 101, this past summer to fulfill a general education requirement. As an engineering student who also works part time he says he has trouble fitting general education classes into his busy schedule during the academic year. Even though the class was online Rose says the experience was a positive one overall.

     “The class went well for me. We essentially had to read various texts every few days and create discussion posts. This was a good way to stay engaged with the class despite it being entirely remote. Instead of quizzes or tests, our only other grades were from essays that we wrote throughout the summer term,” Rose said. 

Time management is key in summer classes, as students are expected to complete three credits within a short period of time rather than a 15-week semester. 

    “It was definitely more work than a normal class since the term is compressed but if you work on the class everyday then it shouldn’t be overwhelming,” Rose agreed. 

Classes are offered in May term, from mid June to mid July, or from mid July to the beginning of the school year. 

Jessie Suchovic, a third-year zoology student, shared her experience with taking a summer course at UMaine. She enrolled in BIO 474 or neurobiology with Professor Kass. She chose to take neurobiology over the summer so she could completely focus on the class and not have other distractions that would occur during a traditional semester. Suchovic claims that taking a summer class might be a great fit for you.

“If you have time and put in effort, taking a summer class is [a] good option for people who might need to add a couple credits or free up time during the semester. It is better to only take one summer class per term though because they are time-consuming,” Suchovic said.

 With the spring semester underway and summer quickly approaching, now is the time to sign up for Summer University if you are in need of some extra credits. For a list of 2021 summer courses and more information please visit https://umaine.edu/summeruniversity/ for more information. 

Last week the University of Maine announced that they will be offering a new professional skills minor within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). This minor will become available in the fall of 2021, and all students pursuing a Bachelors of Arts degree within the college will be required to complete this minor. All first-year students in CLAS will be signed up for this minor beginning in the fall semester. Students already in the middle of their degree progress will not be made to take up the minor, but would have the option to take the minor if they would like. The coursework focuses heavily on developing skills most employers in the workplace desire and that students might not otherwise learn with their regular coursework. For example, students with this minor will learn about coding, statistics and public speaking. These skills are not otherwise taught in some Bachelors of Arts programs, but current students can elect to take some of these courses as general education requirements. The minor is 21 credit hours and meant to be completed within the four years the student is earning their degree. 

Cammie Pierce, a third-year studying psychology and English is in full support of the professional skills minor.

“This sounds really cool,” Pierce said. “Honestly I feel it should be opened up to all majors because I think some STEM kids might need it too. I think psychology and English have helped me a lot in creating a good foundation of those skills already, and the Honors College has given me even more skills like those on top of that.” 

 “I think it sounds beneficial to almost anyone but depending on your major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences it may actually be something you already have,” Pierce continued. “But the stats and coding part  [definitely] could help CLAS students more for sure. I think it could be a great opportunity for any major because all students need to know basic communication and networking skills as well as the more technical and professional skills this minor teaches.” 

Faculty in the CLAS have also expressed support for this minor, saying that it will benefit students greatly. 

“In acquiring a liberal arts education, students become critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and collaborative individuals with the resilience and flexibility to take on a variety of careers,” Timothy Cole, the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said in a statement to UMaine News. 

Equipping students with professional skills before they enter the workforce will help them in any profession they wish to pursue. It is important to note that the CLAS boasts many majors from varying disciplines, from chemistry to theatre. It is unclear if students from other colleges will be able to enroll in this minor or if it will only be reserved for CLAS students. Nevertheless, students will earn a minor that will help them professionally for years to come, no matter what career they end up choosing.

The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center made headlines last year when they used the world’s largest polymer 3D printer to construct a functioning watercraft. Now, this same 3D printer will be used to manufacture wind turbine blades with a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has awarded this $2.8 million grant to the Advanced Structures and Composites cCenter so that they may utilize 3D-printing technology to develop wind turbine blades. The process of creating these blades through 3D polymer printing is both cheaper and faster than typical manufacturing processes.

3D-printing technology also utilizes recyclable materials, which are beneficial to the quest for renewable energy which the UMaine Composites Center aids in. The center also has hopes that the grant will allow for an advancement in manufacturing research in the near future. The UMaine Composites Center will also be working with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the application of robotic deposition of continuous reinforcement fibers in the wind blades. 

Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King spoke to the media about this award during the initial announcement on Jan. 28.

“The University of Maine remains a leader in additive manufacturing and wind energy technology, and this funding will harness researchers’ expertise in both areas. We are thrilled that the Department of Energy continues to invest in UMaine’s cutting-edge research and prioritizes the advancement of our state’s clean energy economy and the creation of good-paying jobs,” Collins said about the grant. 

Typically, the manufacturing process for wind blades costs approximately $10 million. The blades also take anywhere between 16-20 months to manufacture. 

The UMaine Composites Center plans to utilize bio-based materials in order to cut down on expenses and make the manufacturing process more environmentally friendly and efficient. The executive director of the Composites Center, Habib Dagher elaborated on this process at the same announcement.

“By combining cutting-edge 3D printing manufacturing with bio-based feedstocks, our team estimates that new blade development costs can be reduced by 25% to 50% and accelerated by at least 6 months,” Dagher said. “Molds produced using these materials can be ground up and reused in other molds, making them a more sustainable solution.” With both costs and sustainability taken into account,  the Composites Center’s work is considered groundbreaking in the realm of renewable energy resource research. The bio-based resources which Dagher speaks of include materials made of cellulose nanofiber technology, which has been used to develop reinforced thermoplastic composites and feedstocks for the 3D printer. These bio-based feedstocks cost $3 less on average than the typical Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic feedstocks used in other 3D printers.

The development and practice of these manufacturing techniques are the first step in a much grander journey to the future of renewable energy resources. The research that the UMaine Composites Center is engaging in will be useful in the potential development of the U.S.’s first offshore wind research facility. The Composites Center is also joined in this venture by two major manufacturers in the field of wind turbine development. TPI Composites is responsible for the production of 18% of the world’s wind turbine blades, and Siemens Gamesa is a leading supplier of offshore wind turbines.

Jordan Bessette, a third-year mechanical engineering technologies student, spoke about the importance of renewable energy research at UMaine.

“I think given the current state of our earth, it is of the utmost importance that we utilize every resource we have to help study and slow the rate of climate change,” Bessette said. “One of the reasons I chose UMaine was because I toured the facility researching wind turbines… and I was excited to one day have an opportunity to have a part in the research they’re doing.”

Bessette expressed her excitement about the potential for new breakthroughs in renewable energy research, and the opportunities it presents for students who are interested in preserving the environment.

“I think this grant will be an incredible opportunity not only to do more for the environment, but also to get more students involved in the maintenance of our world,” Bessette continued. “I think seeing the forests and landscapes in Maine especially, any student would jump at the opportunity to preserve the environment.”

The grant will help build the foundations for many years of developments and research in renewable energy at the UMaine Composites Center.