Following spring break, the University of Maine System will be switching to remote learning through online classes, leaving many campus classrooms and offices empty in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The effects of this decision will be felt in room 402 of Neville Hall on UMaine’s Orono campus, also known as the UMaine Writing Center, as it will no longer serve as a meeting space for writers in search of peer-to-peer tutoring.

To continue to serve the UMaine community, the UMaine Writing Center has transitioned its tutoring services entirely online to enable continued assistance to their community despite the partial campus closure.

Established in 1978, the Writing Center has worked for over 40 years to improve the relationship between UMaine’s undergraduate, graduate, staff and faculty writers and their writing through collaborative tutoring. The Writing Center assists the UMaine community with a variety of writing styles and projects, including science writing, creative writing, analytical writing, presentations, literature reviews, as well as finding and citing sources.

“When we learn together and support each other it makes our community stronger. We are an ‘in-house’ student-staffed resource. We are not an outsourced for-profit tutoring agency. When you schedule with us, UMaine students receive experience by educating, learning from, and connecting with each other in our community,” English Department Chair Steven Evans, and Writing Center Director Paige Mitchell said in an announcement to faculty and students.

The Writing Center staff is comprised of 15 tutors trained in workshopping, writing conventions and academic prose across genres. These undergraduate and graduate tutors will provide 96 half-hour-long appointments every week through the Writing Center’s move to online tutorials.

“We’re making the best of this situation. Although remote instruction is not ideal, we’re looking forward to fully activating our online literacy training. We’ve been tutoring online since 2016,” Mitchell said. “I think our toughest hurdle is moving to a virtual environment from a highly interactive one where we see each other daily and work together in the same spaces. We’ll miss seeing and supporting each other by simply being on campus together. But, the Writing Center is in a strong position to still provide a sense of community through empathetic one-on-one interaction.”

While tutors will be available during unscheduled appointment openings, the Writing Center suggests scheduling in advance to ensure assistance and allow tutors and tutees to prepare for their appointment. Clients are encouraged to schedule as many appointments as needed for their projects.

The Writing Center will have appointments available Monday through Friday, with varying hours each day. By visiting the “About the Tutors” page of their website, UMaine community members in need of assistance can learn more about each tutor’s specializations and experience.

“Our tutors are trained to listen and discuss important issues regarding student work, which inevitably leads to discussing student’s sense of well being, and their experiences in our community. We support much more than writing in the Writing Center,” Mitchell said.

Third-year communication and economics student Kate Follansbee serves as one of the Writing Center’s co-tutor coordinators. Because of COVID-19, Follansbee was sent home from her semester studying abroad in Mannheim, Germany. While this means she was not directly affected by UMaine’s transition to remote instruction, she is managing her own relocation and the conversion to online classes from her host school. She sees this transition as an opportunity for the Writing Center to help students evolve to a new way of learning.

“We are a group of peers who are here to help with any project you are working on, and we will continue to support you now that we have moved online,” Follansbee said. “Our online platform has a video call feature, a messaging area, and a space to upload and edit projects. These features make the tutorial feel more like an in-person tutorial, and the ability to copy and paste your conversation is a valuable way to take what you have learned with you to apply to future projects.”

Every tutor is trained to help a dynamic range of students and assist across writing styles and formats. In addition to peer-tutors, professionally trained UMaine student writing consultants, the Writing Center has three ELL-Tutors, or English Language Learner specialists, trained to work with multilingual writers.

“We understand how hard it is for students who have to completely shift the way that they work,” Follansbee said. “Whether that be moving back home or having less time to meet with their professors. We want to help students feel confident in their work and supported every step of the way.”

The Writing Center’s services are available for free to all UMaine community members. More information on how to prepare for and schedule an appointment can be found at https://umaine.edu/wcenter/. Follow the link labeled “COVID-19 ONLINE SUPPORT PLAN” for specific instruction on the new online operations.

On Wednesday, March 18, the University of Maine System released updated information on room and board rebates for residential students, pay for federal work-study students, the transition of employees to remote work and an extension to spring break.

While classes were originally scheduled to resume on Monday, March 23, the University of Maine System announced that they would be extending spring break by two days to promote additional preparation for the student and faculty transition to remote learning through online classes. Classes will now resume online on Wednesday, March 25. The only school within the University of Maine System to be exempt from this extension is the University of Maine School of Law, which will resume classes as originally scheduled on Monday, March 23.

The University of Maine System hopes this extension will allow faculty and staff additional time to adjust to the upheaval and disruptions that have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. The extension will have no effect on the rest of the semester calendar. A University of Maine System decision on commencement ceremonies is expected by April 15.

According to the University of Maine System press release, “Approximately 90% of the University of Maine System’s 5,800 residential students will have moved out of their residence hall rooms by the end of spring break.”

With many students being forced to vacate their on-campus residence as part of the effort to limit campus occupancy following spring break travel, students are being encouraged to contact their residence or student life office to complete proper residence checkout. Proper competition of the checkout process is all that is required for students to receive a room and board adjustment and refund for displaced students. These rebates will be posted to the students’ existing accounts as either reductions or refunds to their existing balances.

The University of Maine System projects the room and board adjustments to be completed by March 31, 2020.

As the restrictions of on-campus employment increase, many work-study employees, staff and faculty have been waiting for instruction from the university.

Starting Thursday, March 19, all university employees who are able to work remotely have been asked to begin working away from campus. Both employees who continue to work on campus and those who shift to remote employment are asked to work closely with their supervisors to establish arrangements and expectations.

Federal work-study students who have worked in the last six weeks and are unable to work through remote arrangements will be continued to be paid by the University of Maine System. More details on the limitations of the payment plan and how work-study students can establish a direct deposit can be found on the university’s public health advisory page.

In addition to these changes, in an attempt to minimize the spread and effect of the coronavirus, the University of Maine System will be prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people and banning all university-sponsored domestic travel. There will be occasional and limited exceptions for in-state travel.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow the Maine Campus on social media to stay up to date on University of Maine System announcements.

Rating: 5 stars

On April 19, the rapper and flutist Lizzo made her highly anticipated major-label debut with her new album, “Cuz I Love You.” The album features tracks which encompass the female experience while promoting empowerment and self-love.

The album begins with Lizzo’s passionate voice belting “I’m crying, cause I love you,” immediately followed by the introduction of a strong big band sound that fluctuates throughout the track. The rest of the album contains both quiet reflections and songs that are impossible not to dance to.

In this album, Lizzo makes self-love and acceptance look easy. She acknowledges the trials that come with growth and following your gut, but her lyricism implies that these obstacles, when faced head-on, can lead to the discovery of one’s best self. On her track “Soulmate,” she imparts words of wisdom surrounding self-acceptance; “True love ain’t something you can buy yourself / True love only happens when you’re by yourself.” Lines like this ground Lizzo’s zealous personality, with an understanding that her confidence has been earned and fought for.

The album’s fifth track, “Jerome,” is a ballad dedicated to Lizzo’s ex-boyfriend, which contrasts the elated energy of the proceeding songs. Lizzo dissects the emotions that come with breaking up with someone she isn’t compatible with, even though it may look good on paper or is a source of easy satisfaction. The dynamic narrative of the song comes from her desire for his personal growth, and recognition that she is doing them both a favor by ending things. However, even in the vulnerability and intimacy of this song, there is no moment where Lizzo doesn’t come across as autonomous and empowered.

In an interview with The Cut, Lizzo talked about creating modern, body-positive music. She talked about people’s surprise at her confidence and cockiness. When she says she loves herself people paint her as brave and political, but says she isn’t trying to align with any societal labels.

“Even when body positivity is over, it’s not like I’m going to be a thin white woman. I’m going to be black and fat. That’s just hopping on a trend and expecting people to blindly love themselves. That’s fake love. I’m trying to figure out how to actually live it,” Lizzo said.

After its release, the album quickly topped the charts, including being ranked the number one album in the United States on iTunes. The album’s 11 tracks create a cumulative 33 minutes experience, making it the perfect pump up album to listen to on your commute or while getting ready for a night out.
Both Missy Elliott and Gucci Mane appear as supporting voices of the album, which show Lizzo as a recognizably powerful new player in the pop rap and rhythm and blues scene. In addition to creating powerful music, her ability to share a piece of her authentic self makes Lizzo stand out in the crowd.

It is her genuine search for self-love that makes Lizzo’s music more than just something to dance to, it is an album to live by.

On Saturday, April 13, students and community members entered the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) wearing rainbow colors, high heels and the occasional glitter beard. The University of Maine LGBTQ Services and Wilde Stein: Queer Straight Alliance hosted their 15th annual Drag Show at which many drag queens, kings and gender-benders performed on the CCA stage in recognition of Pride Week, a five-day celebration of UMaine’s LGBTQ+ community.

The evening was hosted by Carrie the One, the drag persona of Rob Jackson, a UMaine staff associate for diversity and inclusion, and Roxxxy Andrews, a two-time contestant on the reality competition television series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The two hosts interacted with the crowd, transformed one audience member into drag and held short drag related competitions between introducing each performer.

Roxxxy Andrews performed two lip-syncs, which included “Me Too” by Meghan Trainor and “bloodline” by Ariana Grande, and searched the crowd for her “new straight husband.” Carrie the One spoke to the history and growth of the event, such his experience attending the event as an undergraduate student in the North Pod of the Memorial Union and now having the opportunity to host it in a 1,400 seat theater.

“For me, the drag show is all about visibility and representation,” Jackson said. “We do a lot of events over the course of a year, but none have the kind of audience and reach that the show does. It’s our best chance to make the statement that UMaine aspires to be a place that people can feel safe and encouraged to be their authentic selves, no matter what that looks like for them.”

The show began with Geo Neptune, an indigenous two-spirit person, acknowledging two often forgotten facts: that UMaine is situated on stolen Wabanaki land and that while cisgendered men are often celebrated because of their drag, people of color who identify as non-binary or queer face increased rates of violence.

The show highlighted a variety of different performances, including traditional lip-syncs to pop songs, stand up comedy, and a saxophone rendition of “Careless Whisper” by George Michael.
The oldest performer of the evening, at 105 years old, was Chiquita Bananas, the drag persona of Bananas T. Bear.

The majority of performers were UMaine students or faculty, who were chosen through an audition process which included an audition tape and information about their planned performance.

Mama Martini performed to a mashup which included songs like ABBA’s “Waterloo” and “Womanizer” by Britney Spears. The crowd cheered when Mama Martini performed drag classics, such as a wig reveal and a death drop.

“I love drag, and I think it can be such a great way to play with the idea of gender and what we think we know about masculinity, femininity, and all of the beautiful, amazing things that lie in between the two. Getting to watch my students explore that on such a huge stage is the absolute best,” Jackson said.

The mini competitions held between acts challenged the audience with Roxxxy Andrews trivia, a drag vocabulary quiz and a tongue pop competition which left the entire audience attempting to perfect the Alyssa Edwards effect. The winners were awarded tickets to the Penobscot Theatre’s production of “Fun Home.”

Before the final performances of the evening, Carrie the One returned to the stage to discuss the transgender military ban which went into effect on Friday, April 12, and how to be a supportive ally. Carrie the One noted the importance of cisgender and straight people using their privilege and power to incite social change by highlighting LGBTQ+ issues and offered a heartfelt message to the LGBTQ+ community.

“We see you. We love you. You are valid. If anyone tries to mess with you, you send them to me,” Jackson said.

To close the show, the performers and crew members gathered on the stage to dance together. As “Firework” by Katy Perry played, the performers danced with the crowd and held a banner of the trans flag.

“There aren’t a lot of queer spaces north of Portland, and we were able to create a supportive, loving, magical space for LGBTQ+ folks in our neck of the woods, and if that isn’t worth celebrating, then I don’t know what is,” Jackson said.

To learn about more events like this one, visit the UMaine LGBTQ Services facebook page or follow them on Instagram @umainelgbtq.

5 Stars

Jordan Peele’s highly anticipated second feature film “Us” has received mixed reactions after the overwhelming success of his first film, “Get Out” (2017). The film’s narrative is chock-full of everything we could have hoped for from Peele: guised metaphors, complex characters and challenging social commentary.

Many viewers were surprised, and possibly disappointed, that this film doesn’t directly discuss race. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Peele explicitly said that the film is not an attempt at overt racial commentary, but rather a larger social commentary framed through a black cast.

“Very important for me was to have a black family at the center of a horror film. It’s also important to note that this movie, unlike ‘Get Out,’ is not about race. It is instead about something I feel has become an undeniable truth. That is the simple fact that we are our own worst enemies,” Peele said.

The importance of this choice, to feature a black family in a horror film without making it about race, is proven by many audience members’ surprise. While racially-centric narratives are important and need to be produced, Peele has already proven a master at tackling the topic. In this film he asks more from viewers, subverting the idea that he is limited to “black films” and normalizing this dynamic on a larger scale.

While still inciting the fear created by classic horror film tropes, Peele is in the process of developing his own auteur. The movie leaves its audience with questions about society and self which will follow them out of the theater. The cognitive disturbance created by the film is paired with his inclination towards comedy which, while also acting as a palate cleanser, make the movie’s horror more realistic.

Lupita Nyong’o shines in this film. Nyong’o plays Adelaide, as well as Adelaide’s duality, with an air of provocation. This turbulent and highly emotional role is elevated by Nyong’o’s ability to capture the dynamic layers of human experience and emotion. She delivers the power of the elusive and austere while also showing the tenderness and fear of her character’s trauma and sense of duty.

This movie attempts to take on an overwhelming amount of messages within the confines of two hours, which makes some moments not as tight and refined as his first feature. However, this does not negatively affect the importance and impact of his film. Not only does he challenge his audience’s understanding through storytelling, but he is actively challenging our preconceived notions of Hollywood. The film raises many questions about what we expect, and more importantly what we need, from a Peele film, allowing it to transcend the screen and incite social change.

Even if it didn’t meet audience expectations, this film gives its viewers plenty to unpack. If anything, this film reinstills that Peele’s creative force allows him to create content which is visually compelling and emotionally challenging in a way that subverts social constructions around the human experience.

When Juno Buendia wakes up, he has a song playing in his head. When he leaves Hart Hall to walk to his first class, he looks up towards the sun and smiles. In theory, these sentiments may seem cliche, but for Buendia, they are practices which keep him positive and motivated.

Buendia is a second-year music education student. His passion for music has manifested in everything he does, whether it’s going to Zumba at the New Balance Student Recreation Center on Thursday nights or organizing rehearsals and concerts as president of the Mainely Voices choir.

“[Mainely Voices] helps me be stable,” Buendia said. “When I have a rough day, as soon as we get the music going, it’s like nothing bad happened. I love the group a lot and I love the people in it.”

Buendia is known around campus for his desire to connect with and help others. When he sees people in need, he doesn’t hesitate to drop what he is doing to help them. Through this, Buendia has made many friendships and become a member of many of UMaine’s student groups.

One of the communities Buendia plays an active role in is the University of Maine Singers. UMaine Singers is a choir, directed by Francis Vogt, that has members who range widely in background and course of study. The group performs multiple concerts on campus, tours New England each spring and performs abroad every four years.

This year, Singers held a Krispy Kreme fundraiser for their spring tour. Reaching out to his connections on campus through Snapchat and other social media, Buendia raised a total of $814. One of his promotional materials included adding a humorous voice-over about the fundraiser to a video of Krispy Kreme donuts being made.

“Everyday I wake up and I have this sort of energy,” Buendia said. “I ask myself ‘What do I feel like accomplishing today?’ I feel most energized when I’m around people, they give me a reason to do what I do.”

Buendia believes the relationships he forms on campus are a big part of his education. He considers himself a “mother duck,” making friends and introducing them to each other. After college, Buendia wants to teach music to middle and high school students. He hopes the friendships he makes in college allow him to be a better teacher and help him connect with people in a more dynamic way.

“I want to connect with them through music. Since music is such a powerful language, I can connect to them on a deeper level,” Buendia said. “I don’t wanna just be a teacher, I want to be a role model. Not all of my students are gonna be the same. I learn from the people I meet, so I think the diverse relationships I make here will help me [be a better teacher].”

Buendia considers music and relationships to be his primary motivation in life. He plans to continue pursuing both throughout the rest of his college career.

“While I’m proud of being an improving musician, I am most proud of the connections I’ve made and the people I’ve met. I never thought I would be surrounded by so many people that I love,” Buendia said.

Rating: 5 Stars

“Uncivil,” a podcast produced by Gimlet Media, attempts to shed light on the stories that didn’t make the cut in America’s official record of the Civil War. How America reflects on its history is determined by those who write it, which before the internet when fewer voices were accessible, meant it was transcribed and cultivated by white men. “Uncivil” gives the mic to unheard voices, allowing listeners to understand a turbulent and controversial time in American history in a more dynamic way.

After the “Unite the Right” white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017, podcast hosts Chenjerai Kumanyika and Jack Hitt saw an alarming trend occurring. While they were not surprised by the group’s expressions of racism, they were shocked by the number of politicians who responded to this event by denying that racism is perpetuated in society today.

Kumanyika, an activist, professor and journalist, and Hitt, an author who has worked for Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times Magazine and This American Life, decided to make a podcast which would remind people that America has always been divided, and that not acknowledging parts of history doesn’t make them disappear.

“Uncivil” attempts to debunks many myths perpetuated by the effort to delegitimize the Civil War’s impact, including the misconceptions that the war was only about states’ rights and that the North wasn’t involved in slavery.

In the twelve episodes which have been released in the past two years, “Uncivil” has covered untold stories about the corruption, resistance, covert operations, mutiny and counterfeiting that occurred during the war and how that translates into modern American society. Most importantly they connect these struggles to the current political climate, which allows listeners to see ways in which we have changed as a society while also showing them how much further there is to go.

In the episode titled “The Fugitive,” Kumanyika quotes George Washington, saying “Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.” This quote perfectly summarizes the show’s mission to change the way people understand the Civil War.

In 2017, the podcast’s well researched and thorough storytelling won them a Peabody Award for their first episode, “The Raid.” The Peabody Award Committee attributed this to the podcast’s ability to weave both public history and family stories in their retelling of 250 pivotal South Carolina slaves who escaped in their struggle for freedom during the Civil War.

“Drawing on community memories and the stories of descendants who participated in the raid, the podcast beautifully tells the engaging but little acknowledged story of the planning and execution (behind Confederate troop lines) of the event, which led to the freeing of 750 enslaved men, women, and children,” the Peabody Award Committee said.

“Uncivil” successfully reminds listeners that the marginalization of black communities, the pain and suffering inflicted onto those who deserved liberation and the deeply rooted ideology of white supremacy are not only tales of American history, but still perpetuate in society today.

“Uncivil” can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and on their website http://www.gimletmedia.com/uncivil.

When Emma Hutchinson arrived at the University of Maine four years ago, she was unsure of her place in the UMaine community. Now as a tutor in the Writing Center, a member of All Maine Women and an active member in the Honors College, she has made a significant mark on campus.

“My freshman year I came in undecided. I’ve always had this deep love for the liberal arts, writing, English and history. It all stems back to my deep love of stories,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson was drawn to UMaine by her interest in the Honors College. She loved the idea of reading a book a week and discussing it in detail with like-minded students. After her first honors class, she felt cemented at UMaine but it wasn’t until she took a course on Norse sagas and myths that she decided to major in English.

“I’ve always loved mythology and the old stories people tell themselves,” Hutchinson said. “The idea of learning about another culture’s stories was so cool because it was a whole new set of stories and characters and you learn about the reasons behind them.”

Hutchinson believes that studying English not only provides insight into the past but also allows us to create a deeper connection with others.

“Writing is political,” Hutchinson said. “I’m doing my thesis on children’s literature and I’ve been reading about all the different factors and choices, conscious or unconscious, and different biases that get put into the stories we tell. I think it’s important because we can learn about each other and understand each other better, grow as people in some small way and lessen our fear of other people. I think it’s important to continue learning and expanding our horizons.”

As a child, Hutchinson was fascinated by the quirky and nonsensical. She was drawn to books like Roald Dahl’s “The BFG” and Daniel Handler’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” written under the pen name Lemony Snicket, because of the sweeping adventures and the power and autonomy placed in the hands of children.

“I also loved the idea of the BFG, this big friendly giant who would give you good dreams at night. I really wanted to believe in that when I was little so when I woke up and could remember my dreams, I would run to my parents and tell them the BFG had visited me,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson says she was always “the clumsy one” growing up, finding herself in many scrapes and situations. She has felt the closest to being in a Roald Dahl novel when traveling abroad in Europe, but has more frequently related to her childhood heroes when facing obstacles which she had to outsmart to overcome. The most transformative of these obstacles came in the form of a text message.

In the spring of 2017, during Hutchinson’s second year at UMaine, she decided to get involved with the Maine Day Meal Pack-Out. As Maine is the third worst state in the country for food insecurity, the goal of the event was to surpass Harvard University and set the record for meals packed by a U.S. university during one event. The event was an overwhelming success, where over 250 volunteers packed 107,500 meals which were sent to food banks and shelters around the state, breaking the record.

Hutchinson’s role as a team leader in this event inspired her to join the packing committee for their 2018 event, allowing her to play a more intricate role involving months of planning and organizing. On the morning of the event, Hutchinson received a text message alerting her that the event’s leader would not be able to make it and that the task of running the event was now up to her.

“I think it changed me. It really proved to me that I have what it takes to be a leader. In that moment of crisis, you step up and take charge and you do what needs to get done,” Hutchinson said. “There is a huge need in Maine. In the back of my mind, especially this year, is that this event is the single largest and most impactful thing I can do for my community in my college career, and maybe ever. It’s incredible to know that I am playing such a big part in doing so much good. It doesn’t really sink in until you see all those boxes stacked up.”

As Hutchinson gets ready for this year’s event and her final Maine Day Meal Pack-Out before graduation, she sees how her involvement with philanthropic events has allowed her to create the ties she cherishes with UMaine.

“Standing shoulder to shoulder and packing those boxes is really a time to get to know your community members,” Hutchinson said. “It’s wonderful to feel more connected and feel like you have a stake in your community.”

After she leaves UMaine, Hutchinson is unsure of what adventure will come next. With her, she will take her love of storytelling, a heart of service and newly found leadership skills.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

When I was younger, I was obsessed with narratives inspired by Greek mythology. I could never get my fill of Disney’s “Hercules” or the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” book series. My affinity for Greek mythology dissipated when I discovered that the myths weren’t as child-friendly, or musical, as their recreations. Yet when I discovered Liv Albert’s podcast, “Let’s talk about Myths, Baby!” my interest was reignited.

“Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!” is a Greek and Roman mythology podcast that retells and discusses classical myths with an admiration for their historical context in addition to a modern analytical lens. Albert, a self-proclaimed “giant nerd” with a degree in English literature and classical civilizations from Concordia University in Montreal, doesn’t hide her passion for the topic. Her commentary provides the perfect juxtaposition to her plethora of knowledge, allowing her listeners to hear her often feminist opposition to the sexism that underlies Greek mythology.

On the podcast’s first episode, Albert described her mission and the inspiration behind it saying, “I’m completely obsessed with mythology. I have a totally useless bachelors of arts in classical civilizations that basically has prepared me for this and only this … This is the first episode of my podcast where I talk to you bluntly about Greek myths. Let’s address how completely crazy some of these things are, let’s address how awful the men treated the women, let’s address how completely bananas some of these ideas were [and how] an entire culture believed [that they were] the honest to god truth.”

Albert has produced over 60 episodes, ranging in topic and length. Since its genesis, the podcast’s production quality has developed greatly, but some issues still remain. As Albert has gotten more comfortable with her craft, the episodes have started to sound less scripted. While her voice is very pleasant to listen to, sometimes her transitions leave certain moments feeling hollow and overly produced. The background music used in many episodes frequently distracts from the story, while at other times fills those aforementioned hollow spaces. The moments when Albert’s genuine passion for her topic seeps through her script and into the recording create the best moments for listeners and could be harnessed more effectively.

However, these elements do not outweigh the podcast’s benefits. I am happy to have been reintroduced to the truth behind many of my favorite myths. In the world of myths and legends, Albert comes across as the friend you laugh at and critique bad television with.

Outside of the podcast, Albert has produced simultaneously comedic and stylish merchandise for her show, as well as promising a future novel, that will most likely have a negative effect on my bank account.

Follow “Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!” on Facebook for the occasional mythology memes, book suggestion or merch release. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn or on the website mythsbaby.com.

Whether it is in the stacks, at the resource desk, or in the library classroom you can usually find Jen Bonnet smiling and ready to serve.

Bonnet acts as a liaison librarian at the Raymond H. Fogler Library to students and faculty in the anthropology, art, communications and journalism, Native American studies, new media and theater departments. She works closely with members of campus on research as well as professional and personal projects.

“Librarians try to meet people exactly where they are, that can be conceptually or physically,” Bonnet said. “We can meet right here in the library, we can help students who are new to a topic or very invested and involved who are looking for what else is out there. We also work with students who are coming back from college after taking time off for various reasons. We work with veterans and adult students. It’s just an interesting diversity of students and needs here. I feel like my role is to try and get to know as many students on campus as possible to try and meet their needs.”

When Bonnet arrived at the University of Maine in the fall of 2013, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Bonnet previously worked for the University of Michigan, which has a population of 44,000 students, four times that of UMaine. Bonnet quickly fell in love with UMaine’s tightly knit community and realized she had the opportunity to build strong relationships with students and faculty.

“I see undergrad and graduate students on the bus almost every day,” Bonnet said. “It’s a great comfortable space for folks to chat, it oftentimes brings out projects they are working on and problems they are working through. It’s a great opportunity to casually connect with one another but also talk through things students need help with.”

Bonnet says that many students come to her with a sense of urgency, needing help understanding an assignment, needing guidance on how to approach research, or simply having hit a wall with a project. While Bonnet loves assisting students in need, she has found that one rewarding part of her job is getting to see the outcome of these relationships.

“I have people contact me who I have worked with before, to share successes, and that’s really neat,” Bonnet said. “I have worked with some students as first years, and now they are further along in their education, getting internships, studying abroad, or doing various things in their communities and they want to share that. They are curious about how they can take their experience at UMaine and the new skills they have and translate those into their new positions. It’s really cool to see what people doing with their lives, and hopefully that we have helped them develop life long learning skills.”

This idea of engaging “lifelong learning skills” is not only something Bonnet attempts to instill in students, but also to practice in her everyday life. Bonnet finds joy in learning about student’s passions, but she also finds an education in the relationships themselves.

“I think students think ‘oh I’m coming here to learn from everyone else around me’ but I think we do so much learning too. Working with students is such a mutually beneficial experience because the more that we know about what students care about, what they are trying to do and accomplish, the better we are able to respond and develop collections, services, and programs for them,” Bonnet said.

Based on student feedback and need, Bonnet is working with her fellow faculty members to hosts events such as “Grants 101: Seeking, Analyzing, and Writing Basics” on March 19, “Fake news, misinformation, and political bias: News literacy for the 21st century” on March 25, and the Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series March 26 through April 9.

Next time you have a question, need assistance, or just need a morale boost, ask for Jen Bonnet. She is happy to help.