Election season can come with baggage no matter the outcome, and during the holiday season, many individuals struggle to find solid ground. Political stress often exacerbates pre-existing mental health conditions and leads to feelings of helplessness and depression. The strain on University of Maine students was explored to better understand this phenomenon as well as to uncover strategies for navigating election-related stress. 

This fall, the election was a topic of strong focus as many considered it to be an important presidential race. As a result, individuals may have been subjected to significant nerves. In the American Psychological Association’s 2024 Stress in America survey, 77% of U.S. adults said the future of our nation was a major source of stress in their lives 

UMaine Counseling Center Director Angela Fileccia is a licensed clinical social worker who observed the impact of the election on students in her practice. 

“We did roughly have about 20-ish students who, in the days immediately after the election results, did directly cite the results of the election as a source of anxiety, stress and fear…They are fearful about what’s going to happen to them as a result of these elections,” said Fileccia. 

Additionally, Fileccia noted that specific demographics are at a disproportionate risk of strain on their mental wellbeing. 

“People of Color, LGBTQ community members, women, etc., those individuals will certainly have a different experience psychologically,” said Fileccia. “These are individuals who have been historically marginalized, and so for them things can feel really personal.”

What potentially sets political anxieties apart from everyday stress is the ability to manage it. Fileccia described how in our daily lives, there is a modicum of control over stress. For instance, by taking action, we can get on top of work or school.

“However, with something like an election there’s not a lot of direct action that can be taken to help sort of reduce some of that stress and anxiety. So, it can feel very much out of control,” said Fileccia. 

She also described how this lack of control can have a larger influence on our general health and well being. 

“The body responds to stressors to sort of get you ready for action. So when you’re able to take action, you can reduce or dissipate that stress or anxiety a bit,” said Fileccia. 

The outcomes of this election could lead to changes in key federal agencies that impact national wellbeing. Such shifts influence industries and the lives of those who rely on them, particularly in sectors like healthcare, where uncertainty about policy changes may increase demand for services.

“When there’s an administration change at the federal level, regardless of the party in power, there are changes to things like the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and so on,” said Fileccia. 

Fileccia suggested that the most important thing during these times is to stay connected with the community. She provided a final statement on behalf of the counseling center. 

“We’re always available for students, even just for a consultation, to ask questions, etc. As we move closer to the administration change and additional policies get implemented that might impact people directly, I’d encourage all students to come in, talk to us, or give us a call. We’re happy to help,” said Fileccia.

This year, the Maine referendum election ballot featured five key questions addressing a range of issues, from the proposed redesign of the state’s official flag to the allocation of funds through state bonds. The results of the election represented the majority opinion of Maine voters. Any referendum passed will become effective 30 days post decision. Following the announcement of the official results, the University of Maine political science students were asked for their input.

Question 1 asked whether Maine voters agreed with establishing a $5,000 annual limit for individual, business and organization contributions made to political action committees (PACs). This cap on contributions aims to create equal opportunity for private political groups, essentially weakening the influence of PACs. Maine voted “Yes,” successfully establishing this limit to PAC spending.

Abby Caruso, an international affairs major, found this to be a positive development. 

“The way that elections work now, it’s not really, really ever about promoting what you’re going to do, it’s about defaming the other candidate. Putting a cap on groups’ resources that are most likely gonna go towards anti-information about another candidate is a good thing,” said Caruso. 

She emphasized that this creates an unlevel playing field for candidates, as it doesn’t promote voters’ ability to form their own opinions. 

Question 2 sought to authorize a $25 million bond that would provide grants to research institutions, and passed with a majority of Mainers voting “Yes.” With UMaine being designated as an R1 university— a global standard for research excellence— this is particularly topical. To get a better understanding, students involved in R1 research at UMaine were asked what this state-wide decision means to them.

Christian Butler, an undergraduate in the Pre-Med program, saw this as an important measure. 

“As someone who is in the medical field, I’m involved in these types of things, such as the CUGR Grant, which goes towards scientific research. And it is currently really difficult to get that grant,” Butler said. 

Butler explained that students are not able to get involved with research mainly due to lack of funding. However, the authorization of this bond could change that.

“The most important thing we can do right now is to make more scientific advances, especially with things like the COVID-19 pandemic. We need those kinds of advances to get on top of disaster,” Butler continued. 

Above all, Butler expressed hope that this will result in the improvement of the quality of life for Mainers. 

Question 3 authorizes $10 million towards the restoration of historic buildings across the state. The measure passed with a majority of voters saying “Yes.” 

“I think preservation of historic buildings is very important. A lot of those buildings are preserved for this reason. With Trump coming into office, they’re going to be applying a lot more filters on education, especially regarding gender and racial studies. Education is important and you need to learn history,” said Caruso. “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”

Butler offered a conflicting view, stating,“The money should go towards developments that benefit the people of Maine.”

To him, the state has larger issues, and he would rather see efforts being directed toward more urgent needs.

Question 4 authorizes $30 million to develop and maintain both motorized and non-motorized trails.A majority of the state voted yes, so the bond passed. 

“Outdoor recreation is a big thing in Maine. If you can’t maintain the area where these things are happening, then people can’t do what they love,” said Caruso. She emphasized that it all comes down to state pride. 

Her hope is that the passing of this budget allocation will “motivate more people to get out and experience the outdoors.”

“That bleeds into kids getting proper exercise, people getting exposure to the outdoors, and overall health and wellbeing of Mainers,” said Caruso.

Caruso, alongside many others, hope to see this money going towards what makes Maine so special — the beautiful wilderness. 

Question 5 may be considered one of the more controversial referendum questions. This question was aimed at changing the official state flag, but it was not passed. Students were asked for their input post election, and it was clear why the flag was not changed. 

“The chatter I’ve heard on this campus is that nobody is really a big fan of the new flag. People don’t want the stupid little pine tree with the star. Mainers care about their identity,” said Caruso.  “To have the thing that represents your state boiled down to something that is a pathetic excuse is a disservice to the people.”

The passion for keeping the current flag was clear among not only Caruso, but many others. 

“The current flag gives a sense of Maine, and the new flag they were proposing makes us look childish,” said Butler. 

For many, the referendum may have not been the primary focus on the 2024 ballot with other outcomes at stake such as presidential and federal seat races. Nonetheless, the referendum results could still have a tangible impact on the lives of Maine residents, including UMaine students.

Despite federal protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Maine voters with disabilities still face challenges at the polls. While places like Orono accommodate disabled voters, nationwide gaps in providing accessible voting stations and trained poll workers remain. While the town of Orono has worked to address accessibility needs, barriers persist.

A democratic system is intrinsically dependent on the opportunity for all citizens to vote. Yet, in the United States, that right has not always been protected for all demographics. It took nearly 100 years for black men to gain the right to vote, and it wasn’t until the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920 that women were extended this right. 

However, voting was not fully protected for nearly half a century. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s not only bolstered minority rights, but laid the groundwork of the fight for disability rights throughout the country.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted, becoming the first civil rights law that comprehensively protects the disability community. The U.S. Department of Justice defines the ADA as a “federal civil rights law that provides protections to people with disabilities that are similar to protections provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age and religion.”

When it comes to voting rights, the act establishes a number of guidelines that polling places must adhere to. In general, the ADA requires that people with disabilities have a “full and equal opportunity to vote, [including] voter registration, site selection and the casting of ballots” (USDJ). 

To better understand how this applies to voters in the Orono area, University of Maine Associate Professor of Political Science Robert Glover provided insights based on his hands-on experience with local elections and polling practices. He shared that poll workers are trained to support individuals who may face physical barriers to casting their vote. 

“I’ve been working with Orono polls since 2014, and certainly we have people who come in who need some sort of accommodation. We try to be proactive on those things as best we can, responding to people’s needs,” said Glover. “That’s what poll workers do.” 

Guidelines that Orono polls follow are established by federal policy, which ensures that every polling place across the country offers support to individuals that need it. 

Just as with any other policy, there are cases in which these guidelines are not upheld by election officials. Professor Glover urges voters to educate themselves and others about their rights so they can be fully aware of any violations against them. 

Those with questions or concerns about the election may reach out to Professor Glover at robert.glover@maine.edu.

 “I’ve been getting about an email an hour from someone on campus about something related to voting, and I answer those very promptly and try to give folks good information,” shares Glover. 

In addition, any violations of voter rights must be reported to the Secretary of State office immediately in order to ensure a fair election for all, including the disabled community.

The Maine state flag has remained unchanged since 1909. However, the 2024 Referendum seeks to adopt a new design. Question 5 on the ballot asks whether the people of Maine favor the lone pine over the state seal. A vote for yes is a vote to put this change into effect, switching the official state flag to the design chosen from over 400 submissions by artists across the state. The lone pine flag features a green pine tree centered on a beige background with a blue star in the top left corner. This is based on the original flag adopted in 1901, which has popularly remained an unofficial flag of the state. 

University of Maine students offered their opinions about this referendum question, and the answers demonstrated passion for enacting this change to the state flag. A majority of students polled plan to vote yes on Question 5, and none of them were short of reasons. 

“I went to Rockefeller Center two weeks ago where all the state flags are displayed, and I couldn’t find Maine’s flag because they all look the same. I want to make sure we vote yes to make sure our state flag is just as unique as we are as a state,” said Meredyth Waters.

Waters’ response was followed by murmurs of agreement from the surrounding crowd, making it evident that most students hold a common consensus about what the new flag means to them.

In an article published by Bangor Daily News, the Editorial Board described five guidelines of vexillology — the study of flags— of which a flag should follow. According to them, the current Maine flag fails four out of five of these loose rules. The only criteria it meets is “using meaningful imagery,” as given in the article. However, they express that they feel this imagery is “outdated.”

Many students on campus agree, feeling as if the current flag lacks cultural significance. For some it’s less about the new design and more about ditching the old one. 

“It’s not as good as the original lone pine, but it’s better than the one with the two random white men,” said Gabby Keebler, who particularly had issue with the lack of diversity showcased in the state seal. They not only felt personally unrepresented, but as if it discredited the people of Maine in general.

To some students, the lone pine is already the flag they associate with Maine. Others disagree.

“I like the current one better. The new one is so simple, it looks like it has less meaning than the other one. I feel like the one we have right now represents the state as a whole. It’s harder to get the representation of the state of Maine out of the pine tree one,” Kai Harden said. 

Harden portrayed how much opinions may vary based on the same information. While many felt the state seal lacked representation, others felt that it held a great amount. It is important to note that people have varying experiences of living in Maine. The state means something different to everyone, yet this year’s referendum seeks to unite the state under one common design.

The chosen flag will signify a consensus among the population of Maine. Whether old or new, the flag will have been chosen by the people of today for the first time in over a century.

The University of Maine hosted a residential housing forum on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union, addressing the University’s housing shortage amid increasing student enrollment. The forum was open to students and staff, and presented a plan focused on building efficiency and student wellness while gathering feedback from attendees.

The University of Maine at Orono continues to face a housing shortage as student enrollment rises, reflected by a 13% jump from the previous year.  Following the closing of Estabrooke Hall, 109 students found themselves in makeshift housing accommodations. As stated at the UMaine Student Government meeting on Sept. 10, there are currently a total of 216 students that have been placed in overflow housing. 

The situation on campus is representative of an overarching housing crisis happening not only within the state of Maine, but across the nation. In 2022, there was a, “shortage of 36,378 rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters throughout Maine,” according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. 

Additionally, “63% of extremely low income households [are] spending more than half of their income on rent.” Whether on or off campus, students are navigating an increasingly competitive housing market with rising costs and limited availability within the state of Maine.  

As reported in an April 15 Bangor Daily News article,  UMaine has developed a plan to address student housing needs by launching a large-scale study with a $400,000 budget. The study will gather both public and professional input to design more area efficient residential halls. The university has been outsourced to the Scion group, a Chicago-based advisory firm specializing in campus housing.

Together, they created a plan that was shared during a residential housing forum, which took place in the Bangor room of the Memorial Union on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. During the forum, they defined the plan as, “a large-scale planning effort that provides criteria and guidelines for campus improvements and facilities developments over time, closely aligned with the University’s academic mission and strategic vision.”

The forum was open to all students and staff, aiming to inform the public about the study’s progress and collect feedback. The welcoming message when entering the forum read, “We are excited to collaborate with you.” A large notepad next to the message encouraged students to provide input. By the first day, two notes had been written. 

The plan appears to be more focused on building efficiency and aesthetics. In general, the research task force proposes constructing entirely new buildings over renovating existing ones. Their solution includes updating study spaces, introducing living/learning themes and adding more natural lighting and diverse greenery both in and outside campus buildings.

The presentation given at the open forum was critical of how UMaine is currently utilizing spaces within residential halls. Posters spread out across the room showcased floor plans for how the University could better utilize spaces in current halls, demonstrating how the efficiency of the buildings could be improved. Proposed changes include increasing the privacy and occupancy of bathrooms, introducing communal kitchens and improving traffic flow between rooms.

The residential housing plan also includes aspirations to take advantage of new 3D printing technology being developed. According to information presented at the forum, 3D printed homes would allow for cheaper and more efficient construction. The project is currently held back by the need for code authorization and finding a licensed architect willing to take a leap of faith with a medium not yet used in the public sector. 

The progress showcased by UMaine over the past few years sets the stage for how the ongoing housing shortage on campus may be addressed.

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 1.6 million reported suicide attempts in 2022, according to data from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Mental health is a pervasive issue across the nation, which impacts individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

The American Psychological Association (APA) highlighted the unique mental health challenges faced by college students. An article published on Oct. 12, 2022 reported that “more than 60% of students met criteria for one or more mental health problems.” This is a staggering 50% increase since 2013. These findings, gathered from schools across the nation, underscore the growing mental health crisis among young adults.

The article explained how colleges face difficulty meeting increased demand for mental health treatment:

“The number of students seeking help at campus counseling centers increased almost 40% between 2009 and 2015, and continued to rise until the pandemic began. Yet that rising demand hasn’t been matched by a corresponding rise in funding.”

Colleges are beginning to look into alternative methods of outreach in response. The major obstacles in successful outreach are working it into students schedules, decreasing stigma and spreading the information across demographics. UMaine Counseling Center Outreach coordinator and Therapist Julia Vicaire must navigate all of these challenges. To her, all of this is worth the impact that is made when working with students.

“It’s cool to just see students in their element and [to] know we’re working to make their college experience about more than academics–helping them learn about themselves and explore new experiences,” Vicaire said.

The solution for the mental health crisis may be complex, but the UMaine Counseling Center works to overcome this with their passion for helping students succeed in their element.

“[We’re] excited to see you leave and use the skills and you know you can always come back,” Vicaire said. “But we’re excited that you’re in a place where you feel confident and capable of managing all that life can throw at you.”

The UMaine counseling center is a resource open to all students and access to services is part of tuition students pay.

“No problem is too big or too small. If we can’t help you with a problem, we will connect you with somebody who can”, said Vicaire.

There is no waitlist or cost for appointments. Vicaire urges students to take advantage of it.

“This developmental stage of college brings a lot of unique experiences; adjusting to a new environment, figuring out who you are outside of your family. All of this can trigger anxiety. It’s exciting, but can be overwhelming,” says Vicaire.

Outside the UMaine campus, Bangor’s local (ASFP) chapter has been raising awareness within the community for suicide prevention. UMaine Alumni Dominique Dispirito, a board member of Maine AFSP and chair of the Bangor Out of the Darkness walk, spoke as the guest speaker at the first UMaine Student Government meeting of the 2024-25 academic year.

“I got involved when I saw a flyer in my dorm hall,” Dominique said. “I lost my dad to suicide in 2015, and the program helped me connect to resources. It’s an epidemic that’s not theoretical—people we love can face suicidal ideation. It’s a serious issue”.

Dominique has been involved in the Bangor AFSP chapter since her time as a UMaine student, graduating in the class of 2022. Her story inspired many students at UMaine to get involved with the foundation. She urges everyone at UMaine to consider supporting AFSP’s efforts in suicide prevention and to remember—”You are not alone.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out for support. The UMaine Counseling Center provides confidential counseling services and resources to help students navigate challenges.

For more information, visit their website or call 207-581-1392, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Every two seconds, a blood transfusion is urgently needed, according to the Red Cross. Over the past 20 years, blood donations have decreased by about 40%, causing the Red Cross to declare a national blood emergency in August. Jennifer Costa, a representative from the Red Cross, suggested the need stems from a lack of high school and college-aged donors. 

“We need [donors] exposed in high school and college years, and so by missing that very critical time frame we fear that we missed a whole generation,” said Costa. 

She pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the usual large-scale spread of blood drives to high schools and universities. Costa continued by saying that one donation greatly increases the chance of future donations, so it can not be over-emphasized how important it is to involve young adults in the process.

Besides a lack of 16 to 24 year old donors, the national blood shortage has major implications in conversations regarding climate change.

“The Red Cross is responding to twice as many disasters as it did a decade ago. The need to help on many fronts of the Red Cross is greater than ever,” said Hosta. 

These disasters are a major driving force in the demand for blood to treat those injured in climate disasters. The Red Cross is often the first line of help in these situations, and with the assistance of our campus their efforts can be made stronger. Students at the University of Maine likely will not experience intense climate disasters this fall, but Costa suggests that UMaine students can be of greater help to those in the south as we move through hurricane season. 

The message from the Red Cross is clear: Don’t wait, as most fail to recognize the importance of blood donations until it’s too late. Ease of access to medical treatment can be taken for granted, but data from the Red Cross shows that an increasing number of patients are being turned away or having their procedures postponed due to the shortage of blood transfusions. 

In response to the shortage, Red Cross community blood drives are returning to campus, allowing students to make a meaningful difference. The Bodwell Center at UMaine will be hosting a blood drive on September 17 and 18. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend. As of September 11, only 83 of the 177 appointment spots available have been filled, a number reflective of the national donation rate below 50%. With less than a week until the drive, Program Coordinator Lisa Morin from the Bodwell Center wants students to know that not only is donating quick and easy, but it fills 1 hour of the volunteering time mandatory for student athletes. If it’s your first time donating, download the Red Cross Rapid Pass app. Using the app not only makes donating easier, but allows you to track your blood from the moment it’s drawn to when it helps save a life. The Bodwell Center’s upcoming blood drive will provide UMaine students with a quick and simple way to make a tangible impact in people’s lives. 

Beyond all the reasons one may have not to donate, such as a fear of needles or tight schedules, Morin encouraged students and faculty to give it a chance. The actual process of drawing blood only takes 8-12 minutes, and it could save someone’s life. You can donate every 56 days, and the Bodwell Center plans future drives accordingly. If you donate now, you can do so again at their drive in December. It may seem overstated, but donations have a major impact on our community. The nation is in need, and the Red Cross believes UMaine students can help.