At this point in the 21st century most of us college students have (or have access to) a Netflix account. For a while Netflix was the best and cheapest option for accessing a plethora of television and movie options, but recently Netflix has begun to tap into the market of original content. The brainchild of such is Netflix’s slam-dunk hit “Stranger Things,” produced, written and directed by the Duffer Brothers. The supernatural story centers around a group of middle-school kids living in a fictional Indiana town during the 1980s, when they are presented with a sci-fi mystery of otherworldly proportions.

The first season was released in July 2016 to massively positive reception. Netflix releases each season in full, encouraging viewers to watch at their leisure, which often results in binge watching. Season one was recognized at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. Thanks to this success, production of the second season was fast-tracked in time for Halloween season of 2017. After Season two was released on Oct. 27, 2017, the Duffer Brothers revealed plans for a third and fourth season, ensuring the longevity of the series.

The second season dispelled any rumors of a sophomore slump, and proved that the series has what it takes to really make waves for Netflix. Picking up a year after the last season ended, the characters are again faced with monsters and terrors from another dimension. The show steps up the game from last season; with a shadow monster seeping out of a tear in time and space that dwarfs last season’s dilemmas. Fans will be happy to know that Eleven and her party is back and better than ever, with new characters and predicaments to spice things up.

Each of the nine episodes entrenches the viewer deeper into the mystery and allure of the “Stranger Things” universe. Every episode leaves off on a cliffhanger, but never fear, you only have to wait 15 seconds until the following episode is queued up. Romance, intrigue, sci-fi, teamwork, ’80s nostalgia; this show has it all. The final two episodes really suck you in; the story intensifies and the characters all converge together to fight off the evil plaguing their town. You’ll want to cheer each and every one of them on, and the final episode fulfills all the hopes and dreams you’ve had for the characters since episode one. The dialogue is fluid and believable, and the cast delivers genuine and superb performances that paint their characters as flawed, and yet worthy of our support and admiration. Courage in the face of true terror is proven by every character, investing you in their success.

The show is spectacular, even the title sequence grabs your attention from start to finish. The cinematography is stunning yet subtle, and the acting chops displayed from the young cast really cement the show as a classic in the making. At the heart of the show is the story, and the quality of production elevates it to its highest form. Although Halloween has come and gone, do yourself a favor and jump on the “Stranger Things” bandwagon. Although it’s a tense sci-fi show, it’s not as scary as it is sincere, and just a taste will get you hooked. Plus you’ll finally understand all those references you’ve been hearing about Eleven and Eggos.

When you live in a place like rural Maine, it can be hard to connect to the vast variety of cultures the rest of the world has to offer. Maine is often regarded as one of the least diverse states in the United States, but in reality there is still a plethora of diversity flourishing here. The culmination of such diversity comes together at Culturefest, an annual event sponsored by the Office of International Programs and various other University of Maine departments. The event is a celebration of culture and diversity that aims to bring local and international people together to celebrate the differences and similarities of people from all walks of life.

The event took place on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the New Balance Recreation Center. Starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until 3:30 p.m., the entire first floor of the Rec Center was crowded with tables and booths, manned by a variety of student clubs, local organizations, non-profits and representatives from a range of foreign countries. The displays were bursting with color and traditional decorations, offering educational information about the backgrounds, histories, traditions and cultures from each country. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions, expand their palate by trying exciting foreign foods, meet and befriend locals and foreigners alike, and learn about all that we have in common with people who appear so different.

Many of the tables offered samples of traditional dishes. The entire Multipurpose Activity Room had been cleared to offer tables upon tables of food for purchase. Hillel, the student Jewish organization, was selling latkes, kugel and bourekas, all traditional Jewish and Israeli dishes. The Latin American table offered a dish of squashed and fried plantains, which were perfectly crisp and cheap (4 plantains for $1). The table from Costa Rica was being manned by three enthusiastic Costa Rican women outfitted in traditional dresses, who proudly promoted their dishes to anyone who passed by (bean tamales and a rice pudding dish called arroz con leche). Japan was represented at the food court as well; offering fried chicken samples and piping hot green tea for $1. One of the most popular tables was a fusion between Mexico and Thailand; boldly selling cheap and tasty tacos that combined traditional Mexican tacos with a twist of Thai cuisine. There was baklava provided by the Muslim Students Association, dhai curry from Sri Lanka, a curious looking dessert called agar from Vietnam, and even the ever-popular bibim bap dish from Korea. The Chinese table offered scrambled eggs with tomato over rice, twice-cooked pork, and roast beef bones. Tucked into a corner was the table selling traditional Iranian dishes, the most popular of which was the exotic saffron cake. The Nigerian table offered a deal of $10 for a heaping mountain of traditional Nigerian food, with generous portions of jellof rice stealing the show.

There was something for everyone here, and people were encouraged to make connections with the food and the people providing it. Mysterious and intoxicating smells wafted throughout the space, while “Hellos” of all different languages could be heard at each booth.

The mood was uplifting and celebratory as laughter and music carried throughout the gym. The event was family friendly with attendees ranging from students to local community members.

“It’s great to see people come together like this, there’s a mosaic of cultures here,” Fazeel Hashmi, a third-year UMaine student, said. It is his seventh year attending Culturefest. “I personally don’t always realize that UMaine has this many cultural influences, so this a good learning experience for the campus. It serves to dissolve ignorance, because people can see and learn first hand about different cultures.”
Those sentiments were echoed by fellow UMaine student and president of the Black Student Union Kirsten Daley, who remarked that people tend to forget about communities of color and international communities in rural pockets like Maine.

“This event is important to remind people that we’re here, and we care about these issues. For example we’re currently fundraising to send the BSU to the Unity March in Washington on Nov. 19 to raise awareness and money for Puerto Rico,” Daley said.

One of the more colorful tables was presented by Amnesty International, a global movement with a student group at UMaine led by political science student Leah Helen Turlo. The table was covered in a giant world map with the prompt “the World I Believe In” written on top, and people passing by were encouraged to write their responses across the map. “Puppies for everyone,” and “aliens are friends,” were some of the more lighthearted responses, but others took aim at specific issues, like “stop sex abuse,” “respect for native agencies,” and “inclusivity and acceptance.” Turlo commented on how their table hopes to bring people with different viewpoints together for the common good, and expressed gratitude at Culturefest for “showing how diverse our community is, even though some people don’t always realize it.”

Simply put, Culturefest is a celebration. People of all walks of life congregate to celebrate diversity at its best, and to learn more about the world we live in. Everyone there has something to teach, as long as you are willing to learn. Events like this give space to expand people’s horizons while still staying in Maine, and walking through the tables feels a little like traveling the world. Diversity is all around us, and events such as Culturefest provide ways to celebrate it and to embrace differences while still finding common ground. Arielle Frank, a fourth-year student and president of Hillel described the sentiment echoed by the majority of the participants when she said, “Culturefest is my favorite day of the year.”

Halloween is one of the most event-filled and celebrated holidays on modern college campuses, and it’s easy to see why. A celebration of dressing up, eating candy, watching scary movies and drinking festive drinks is enough to get excited about, but when you throw into the mix the college dynamic of partying, you can certainly make a night out of it. And although Halloween lands on a Tuesday this year, there are still ways of enjoying the night. Just consider some of the following advice before heading out.

Have fun. This may seem obvious, but prioritize your expectations and ambitions for the night and do whatever will make you happy. Halloween is one of the best holidays there is if you do it right, and only you know what that looks like for you. If you want to stay at home and eat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while binge watching the new season of “Stranger Things” from the comfort of your own bed, do it. If you want to get all dolled up and paint the town red, hopping from party to party and living your best life, do it. Don’t let anyone else tell you what fun looks like, make your own fun.

But if you do plan on going out drinking, keep a few things in mind. Eat a substantial meal beforehand. This will help you avoid scenarios like when midnight strikes and you’re in some bar bathroom puking up all those well drinks. Drink lots of water. Despite popular belief, drinking water is not cheating. Alternating drinks with glasses of water makes you smart and responsible, not weak or someone who “can’t hang.”

Dress for the weather. This Tuesday’s forecast is predicted to be in the high 50’s, but bringing a jacket doesn’t ruin your costume and wearing tights doesn’t make you any less sexy. And when it comes to picking a costume, everyone wants something that’s clever and memorable, but also attractive and alluring. Finding this balance can be hard, but go by the rule of thumb: don’t wear anything you wouldn’t want to be photographed in. The internet is forever, after all.

Stick together. The buddy system works wonders in college, and it’s always better to have a friend along for the ride. If you go to a party with people, make sure you leave with all those people. No one should get left behind on All Hallows Eve.

Arrange a ride home before you go out. If you are walking, more power to you (again, buddy system), but if you’re getting a ride to a party make sure you’ve figured out how you’re getting home before you start slamming Smirnoff Ices. Uber and Tip Whip are also an option, but plan for these things to happen. And this goes without saying, but never drive drunk. It’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible and it’s not worth it. Don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking, and don’t be afraid to call your friends or peers out on it either. Everyone knows it’s wrong, so don’t use Halloween as an excuse. You will get caught.

Part of Halloween tradition is getting your mind blown by classic horror films, and this year you can utilize Netflix or Hulu for their horror and thriller movie options. Most students have these platforms (or know someone who does), and both have specific sections for the month of Halloween. Check it out for yourself.

And finally, perhaps the best kernel of advice is to wait until the day after Halloween to stock up on discounted candy. Walmart, Hannaford and most Alltown Markets are great options for making the most out of the holiday, and most students don’t need to buy candy for trick-or-treaters on the day of Halloween, so just wait it out and then get double your money’s worth on discounted candy. It’s the way to go.

Halloween can be a wonderful, memorable and exciting holiday to celebrate during college, as long as you’re staying safe. So keep this advice in mind while you prepare your plans.

Last week, a story broke across the United States that shocked many, but not all. The sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have racked up since the story first emerged, and although the scope and details of the allegations have come as a surprise to some, for many others this is just another sad reminder of an epidemic problem in this country. To express this, many women (and some men) have taken to social media to post the hashtag #metoo to show solidarity and prove the magnitude of cases of sexual abuse, assault, and violence that happen in the world every day. This has prompted a national discussion about sexual violence in this country and the roles we all play in it.

Last Tuesday, Oct. 17, the University of Maine community came together to show support of this issue in their own way, the annual Communities Unite: Take Back the Night event. Hosted by the Feminist Collective (formerly known as the Student Women’s Association), the event took place in the North Pod of the Student Union and is explained on the provided pamphlets as “an opportunity for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to share their experiences in a supportive environment.”

The pamphlet went on to explain, “We acknowledge that the discussion of sexual assault and domestic violence can cause extremely emotional responses in other survivors of these traumas.”

Lori Loftin and Meghan Frisard, co-chairs of the Feminist Collective, intr

oduced the event and prefaced it with a trigger warning and a clear message that those who are not ready to share their stories are in no way obliged to. They spoke about the importance of giving platforms to survivors to use in their healing processes, as long as they are in confidential and supportive environments.

UMaine Renaissance, the all-female a capella group on campus, began the event with a performance of three emotional acapella covers. The group dressed and accessorized in purple to show solidarity with domestic abuse and violence survivors.

Following Renaissance’s performance were guest speakers representing a variety of resources on hand at the event, starting with Sam Saucier from the Women’s Resource Center. The Rainbow Resource Center, Mabel Wadsworth Health Center, Rape Response Services, Maine Family Planning, Partners for Peace and the UMaine Counseling Center also had representatives speaking at the event. Dean of Students Robert Dana was not scheduled to speak but spoke anyway about how sexual assault affects college campuses, and how his heart goes out to those who have been affected on the UMaine campus.

Following the appointed speakers was a designated survivor speak out, an opportunity for anyone to stand up and share their stories. All of what was said is confidential, and the environment of the room was respectful and supportive. Some survivors shed tears as they opened up their hearts and pasts to the audience, and many viewers felt compelled to cry as well. The stories all revolved around surviving incidents of sexual assault, stalking, date rape, domestic abuse and sexual harassment. The mood was tense, and many shared stories still ripe with raw emotion. Several survivors expressed gratitude at being given the opportunity to speak, and credited speaking out about their experiences as crucial to their healing processes. The outlet proved helpful to many, and the speak out lasted almost two hours.

When events like this occur, they not only offer support and resources to those still struggling to come to terms with their experiences, but they also serve as a call to action.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), “every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.” This adds up to 321,500 victims (age 12 or older) of sexual assault and violence each year in the U.S. There are countless contributing factors aggravating the issue, and too often these incidents go unreported. Events like Take Back the Night raise awareness to prevent such statistics from happening.

There are organizations working to replace rape culture with something called consent culture. In their mission statement, an organization called Only With Consent states their, “need to encourage dialogue about asking for consent because it will promote an understanding that each person knows what is best for themselves. This will empower children and adults alike to respect one another even if the end result is not what they had hoped.”

All of the stories shared at Take Back the Night were raw, heartbreaking and completely preventable. They all had something in common; there was a lack of consent. The underlying message of the event was that sexual assault is preventable and there needs to be a shift of blame from the victims to the people who broke their trust through a lack of consent.

After the survivor speak out there was a short intermission for people to collect themselves and reach out to the resources present. While many people filtered out, a sizable group remained and progressed outside to begin the candlelit march portion of the event. Jackets were zipped up and candles were lit, and the group began marching across campus reciting catchy and empowering chants. Some examples of chants included, “We have the power, we have the right, the streets are ours, take back the night;” “Join together, free our lives, we will not be victimized;” “Assault strikes 1 in 4, we won’t take it anymore” and “We are bold, we are strong, we have suffered far too long.” These chants were created to encourage survivors to band together and reclaim the night, empowering themselves and each other.

The night culminated in a moment of silence to commemorate those lives lost to domestic and sexual violence, and to support those still suffering. Participants exchanged hugs, tissues and phone numbers, and Loftin alerted the crowd that a decompression space would be available the following day in the Women’s Resource Center.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault or domestic violence, know there are resources on campus and in this community to help. Some of the resources include the Counseling Center (207-581-1392), Rape Response Services (1-800-310-0000) and Partners for Peace (1-800-863-9909). For more resources on campus, reach out to the Women’s Resource Center, Rainbow Resource Center and the Office of Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention. If you are interested in learning more about the Feminist Collective, they hold their on Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Walker Room of the Student Union.

Have you ever taken a moment to look around your surroundings, at the roads, buildings and paths ever-present in our lives and wondered, “how did we get here?” In Robert Moor’s 2016 novel titled “On Trails: An Exploration,” Moor dives headfirst into the concept of how modern humanity shaped the planet we inhabit. Every path we take in life, both physical and figurative, is preceded by decisions we make, whether consciously or not. Moor attempts to unravel and understand these infinite decisions that created the course for our world in his book.

In a memoir-like fashion, Moor begins the book by telling the reader of his adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail. Starting in the spring of 2009 in southern Georgia, Moor proceeded to hike the 2,181-mile trail until reaching the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. It took him nearly five months. Along the way Moor began pondering the thoughts of how the trail came to be, and how many people had walked it before him to craft the path into what it is today. The many insights that enlightened his journey lit a philosophical fire within Moor, inspiring him to question his surroundings like never before.

The book is beautifully written, a “culmination of many years of research and many miles of walking,” Moor writes. Each chapter is devoted to an aspect of questioning about the most basic and yet most complex questions surrounding the trails we take in life. The first chapter begins at the dawn of life in the Precambrian era, and each subsequent chapter follows a loose historical timeline to the postmodern world, focusing on the paths offered to us in life, and the paths that we choose for ourselves. Each chapter answers questions you didn’t even know you wanted answered, and yet for every question answered Moor poses two more for the reader to contemplate.

The novel could be described as a study of life, and how change is constantly happening all around us at a rate too impossible to understand. But Moor does try to understand, and through his path to enlightenment he learns and teaches countless lessons along the way.

For those who yearn for deeper questions in life, or maybe are uncertain about the intersection between their past and their future, “On Trails” is a special something. Moor’s writing sweeps the reader away, and captivates its audience with wonders unlike anything else. If you’re looking for a sign in life to tell you which path should be your next one, look no further. Moor’s novel imprints on its readers with its imagination and emotion, and no one says it better than Moor himself. In conclusion I will leave you with an excerpt from the final paragraph of the prologue, which perfectly prompts the novel as a whole:

“In the maze of the modern world, the wisdom of trails is as essential as ever, and with the growth of ever-more labyrinthine technological networks, it will only become more so. To deftly navigate this world, we will need to understand how we make trails, and how trails make us.”

Last Tuesday, Sept. 19, University of Maine students, faculty and community members filled the Minsky Hall Auditorium in eager anticipation. The famed trans scholar Dr. Z Nicolazzo gave a public talk titled “Honor Our Dead and Fight Like Hell for the Living: Trans Legacies of Resilience, Resistance, and Love.”

The talk began at 5 p.m. and was hosted by the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality (WGS) Studies Department, with the UMaine Division of Student Life; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Services; the Wilson Center and EqualityMaine serving as sponsors. Susan Gardner, the director of WGS and the Rising Tide Center, opened the public event by preaching “equity and inclusion across this campus, community, and the world.”

Also opening the event was Gia Drew, a trans advocate and program director for EqualityMaine. Drew spoke about her experiences as Maine’s first out transgender public school teacher and her accomplishments “advocating for the LGBTQ community for 33 years.”

Dr. Z Nicolazzo is an accomplished academic currently serving as a faculty associate in the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Northern Illinois University. Nicolazzo is also the proud author of “Trans* in College: Transgender Students’ Strategies for Navigating Campus Life and the Institutional Politics of Inclusion,” which was available for purchase and signing at the event.

Nicolazzo, whose pronouns are ze/hir/hirs, began by thanking the people who made the event possible but don’t typically get enough credit, like the custodians, servers and caterers of the world. Ze also held a moment of silence for the indigenous tribes because the land we stand on once belonged to them, calling out the Penobscot and Wabanaki tribes in particular. Finally, Nicolazzo encouraged the audience to tweet their thoughts about the talk using the hashtag #TransingUMaine to encourage dialogue that would continue outside of the physical space of Minsky Hall.

Nicolazzo began hir talk by referencing the many trans and LGBTQ folk in history who have advocated for the rights of other disenfranchised people to make way for future generations. Nicolazzo discussed the “various forms of historical amnesia” affecting our nation today by quoting James Baldwin’s film “I Am Not Your Negro,” saying, “The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it with us, we are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.”

Throughout the talk Nicolazzo highlighted different resources available as well as trans artists and activists such as CeCe McDonald and Sylvia Rivera. Hir presentation included quotes from such activists, as well as footage of Rivera’s infamous speech following the Stonewall Riots.

Tying the talk into current events, Nicolazzo mentioned current Vice President Mike Pence’s troubling history of anti-LGBTQ policies, and referred to our current president Donald Trump as “the orange mess,” warranting a hearty laugh from the audience. Nicolazzo touched upon trans bathroom bans as well, saying, “It’s not about bathrooms, it’s about erasing trans people from public life…[putting trans people] at increasing risk, threat, and vulnerability.”

Portions of Nicolazzo’s talk were devoted to appreciating history, specifically “flashpoints” like the Stonewall riots, which were featured in footage shown in Nicolazzo’s presentation. Nicolazzo explained the history behind many LGBTQ movements, and how drag queens and trans women of color were often at the forefront.

Nicolazzo commended the audience for showing their support for trans issues, admitting that this can be exhausting work, “resisting the oppression that is ever present in this world.” Ze spoke directly to audience members who have experienced marginalization, preaching, “Simply and without hesitation, you are a gem. You are a gem, and I will never stop fighting for you, because you’re worth it.” Ze noted that self-love is essential to every person’s well being, but it doesn’t always come so easily.

To conclude the talk Nicolazzo posed the question of “so what?” to the audience, explaining how we must take steps from here. Nicolazzo counseled the audience to “expand and grow their own kinship networks,” as “dependency is one of our greatest sources of power.” Nicolazzo encouraged the people in attendance to connect with love, both with each other and oneself, not because ze told them to, but in an effort to make the world a better place than we found it.

Rating: A+

If you’ve lived in Maine for a while, you’ve probably heard about the famed Sea Dog Brewery. Founded in 1993 on the coast of Maine, the Bangor location offers brewery tours as well as a full restaurant and bar. For any University of Maine students looking to indulge in good old-fashioned beer and burgers, Sea Dog delivers quality food service.  

Starting with their quality beer, brewed right on the property, the staple options include the Sea Dog Stout, the Hazelnut Porter, the Old Gollywobbler Brown Ale, the Deep Stowage IPA, the Invader Pale Ale and the Windjammer Blonde Ale. They average around 5 percent alcohol by volume, and are brewed in a traditional English style using English two-row malted barley and British top-fermenting Ringwood yeast. They are popular and pricey, yet they are perfect to pair with your dinner.

The menu is expansive, offering seafood starters, salads, soups, pub shares, seafood, lobster rolls, tacos, sandwiches, burgers and sides. For anyone looking to really indulge themselves, steamed Maine lobster is in offer, as well as baked stuffed Maine lobster and an impressive Sea Dog steamed lobster feast (all are market priced daily). You can also get your lobster fix in the form of lobster rolls paired with fries and coleslaw.

The seafood is what really completes the Maine experience, and your choices include shrimp scampi, haddock fish and chips, fried whole clams, panko-encrusted North Atlantic salmon, seafood stuffed haddock and a baked fisherman’s pie. The prices range from $16 to $22. Each dish is well-portioned and most include some sort of a side dish.

There is no shortage of pub style food options either, and all are guaranteed to please. Choose from options like steak tips poutine, meat and ricotta lasagna, brew house jambalaya, chicken and artichoke with garlic cream sauce, hot open-faced turkey and gravy or Sacchetti mushroom pasta. Similarly to seafood, these entrees average around $20 a dish.

And who can turn down a classic burger with their beer? The 100 percent all-beef burgers are served with a side and a pickle, and can be substituted with a veggie or a turkey burger. If that doesn’t float your boat, you can replace it with a grilled chicken breast upon request. Options for burgers include beer burgers, garlic burgers, bleu burgers, BBQ burgers, veggie sweet potato burgers or a classic basic burger. Juicy and satisfying, these entrees are perfect for a summer afternoon.

If you’re looking for a full seafood experience, my advice would be to start with the famous chilled seafood sampler (shrimp, crab and lobster) and progress onto the shrimp scampi or fried scallops. They also offer the best clam chowder and lobster bisque in Bangor. However, be prepared to drop a pretty penny; beer, appetizers and a meal for two can quickly break $100. It will certainly be a meal to remember, though; the service is fast and the outdoor seating boasts a lovely riverside view.

Sea Dog Brewery currently has seven restaurant locations in Maine and Florida, with brewery tours available in Bangor, Maine and Clearwater, Fla.

In a quaint little room on the second floor of the Memorial Union, a quiet oasis from the chaos of college life can be found. Posters line the wall, displaying mantras of intersectional feminist activism, framed nicely by seasonal flowers and decorative wooden block letters spelling WRC. This is the newly ordained Women’s Resource Center (WRC), but it is not quite so new. It has a long history on this campus, but not in this room, because the WRC’s history was interrupted during the summer of 2015 by defunding the center.

That is where Sam Saucier and Lori Loftin come in. The removal of the WRC did not sit quite right with these fourth-year students. During their time at the University of Maine, both women became well-versed in student activism through their work in clubs such as the Student Women’s Association (SWA) and the Student Alliance for Sexual Health (SASH). Through much work of their own and a lot of collaboration with SWA, SASH, Student Government and UMaine administration, the duo successfully reinstated the WRC, this time in the centrally-located room 227 of the Memorial Union.

The process of reestablishment was undoubtedly easier said than done. The pair first had to re-convince students and faculty alike of the need for the center. Petitions, flyers and a tremendous amount of help and support from fellow students eventually won them their case.

This past Thursday, Aug. 31, the WRC re-opened its doors. Saucier and Loftin were both present, along with a handful of SWA members that also championed the cause. Dr. Robert Dana, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students made an appearance to mark the momentous occasion.

Now that the WRC is up and running again, Saucier and Loftin have stocked the center with resources to aid any UMaine students looking for a safe space. Saucier noted all of the resources, saying, “basic contraceptives like condoms, menstrual hygiene products like pads, tampons and sanitary cups, emergency contraceptives, tons and tons of brochures on various topics affecting women, volunteer staff who have been trained in both safe zone training and mandatory reporting policies so they are better equipped to talk to students about sensitive topics. All of these will be available to students. We are trying to ensure a safe space.”

In addition, the WRC will host different programming every month, including an upcoming talk on contraceptives information that is not covered in most high schools, aiming to target first-year students with questions about sex.

Saucier and Loftin are preparing for the center to remain permanently, already making long-term plans. “Ideally we will have a director later on down the line, with a full time staff that includes paid student workers,” Saucier said. “We are really looking to ensure the longevity of the center.”

Part of that includes collaborating with other departments and clubs, something Loftin is on top of. “We are already partnering with the Office of Multicultural Student Life and we hope to reach out to the Women and Gender Studies Department for advice and collaboration in the future,” Loftin said.

Casey Rogers, a fourth-year social work student, was present at the re-opening and said she learned about the WRC towards the end of her first year, when it was defunded.

“I wish I could have utilized it before it was gone, so now I’m excited to have it back and in such a central location on campus, right across from the Rainbow Resource Center in the Union,” Rogers said. Rogers was supportive of the efforts to return the center to campus, and signed various petitions to show that.

Ashlee Atchinson, a third-year child development and family relations student, also appeared at the opening and was eager to see the WRC re-instated.

“I’m really excited about the WRC opening again on campus. So many people put in so much work to make it happen,” Atchinson said. “I’m glad freshmen will have a safe place to go; I remember being a freshman and being so nervous about so many things. I knew I was into feminism but was kind of unsure, so I’m really glad there is a physical space for freshman and really everyone to go.”

So if you happen to be passing through the Union this week and hear a Rihanna or a Beyoncé song, just follow it over to the new Women’s Resource Center. It took a lot of work to get it there, but as Loftin adds “It was more than worth it. I am overjoyed to see the WRC re-open.”

For anyone interested in reaching Loftin or Saucier and learning more about the center, the WRC is located in Room 227 of the Union across from the Rainbow Resource Center and is open every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first of the Women’s Resource Center Living and Learning Series titled “Sex in College” will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 20  at 6 p.m. in the WRC. The talk will cover Sex 101, contraceptives, consent and condoms.  

Grade: A

There are over 7 billion people on this planet. Every single one of those people come from different backgrounds and upbringings and will experience the world in a different way. Laughter, however, is universal, as Vir Das understands well. The Indian Bollywood actor and comedian debuted a new Netflix comedy special that weaves together two routines; one filmed in Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, India — and the other performed at Subculture Comedy Club in New York City, U.S.A. The audiences differ more ways than geography, cultural norms of Indians vary vastly from those of Americans, something that Das teases and challenges throughout the show.

The comedian’s bold routine begins with him explaining to each audience that he will be discussing things he doesn’t understand, in the hopes that by the end of his sketch, the audiences can not understand together and therefore come together under the similarity of their confusion. Topics ranged from world politics, discussing both the United States President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to religion, tackling Islamophobia and the interpretation of religious texts.

Das glides through each bit with ease, confronting taboo topics with his unique perspective. He dances, flirts and argues with audiences from two different sides of the world — and manages to relate universally. Generating laughs while taking a somewhat stance for social justice is no easy task and yet Das gets laughs across the board when clarifying the right way to say Muslim (‘Mooss-lim’ is a religious belief, ‘Muz-lim’ is a fabric”). Even suggesting all religious texts gets updated regularly à la Apple style, remarking, “we need an Islam 6S.” He suggests that everyone who has prejudices about Islam take a good long look at their own faith, noting that all faith backgrounds have their own dark pasts and outdated rules, highlighting Christianity’s stance on premarital sex.

Bounding across the stages, Das told stories of racism in India and the U.S. — and broke them down by intent. He talked about how unprepared he was for his first kiss and the surprising amount of tongue involved. He even went so far as to point out that according to India’s legislation, oral and anal sex are against the law, which developed into an open conversation about homosexuality in the world. But not all topics were as topical and complex, Das opened up about his first engagement, joking honestly about the heartbreak of getting broken up with over Skype, playfully remarking about how the “typing” icon is a double edged sword.

Das successfully challenges cultural differences like Bollywood sex scenes and American cereal aisles — and yet compels audiences to accept and embrace such differences. With so many comedy specials offered from the perspective of white Americans, Das argues that, “Indian comedy is more than head bobble jokes and funny accents,” and consequently delivers. If you’re eager for new perspectives and the opportunity to learn from other cultures in an engaging and fun manner, try Vir Das out for a spin.

Grade: A

There are over 7 billion people on this planet. Every single one of those people come from different backgrounds and upbringings and will experience the world in a different way. Laughter, however, is universal, as Vir Das understands well. The Indian Bollywood actor and comedian debuted a new Netflix comedy special that weaves together two routines; one filmed in Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, India — and the other performed at Subculture Comedy Club in New York City, U.S.A. The audiences differ more ways than geography, cultural norms of Indians vary vastly from those of Americans, something that Das teases and challenges throughout the show.

The comedian’s bold routine begins with him explaining to each audience that he will be discussing things he doesn’t understand, in the hopes that by the end of his sketch, the audiences can not understand together and therefore come together under the similarity of their confusion. Topics ranged from world politics, discussing both the United States President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to religion, tackling Islamophobia and the interpretation of religious texts.

Das glides through each bit with ease, confronting taboo topics with his unique perspective. He dances, flirts and argues with audiences from two different sides of the world — and manages to relate universally. Generating laughs while taking a somewhat stance for social justice is no easy task and yet Das gets laughs across the board when clarifying the right way to say Muslim (‘Mooss-lim’ is a religious belief, ‘Muz-lim’ is a fabric”). Even suggesting all religious texts gets updated regularly à la Apple style, remarking, “we need an Islam 6S.” He suggests that everyone who has prejudices about Islam take a good long look at their own faith, noting that all faith backgrounds have their own dark pasts and outdated rules, highlighting Christianity’s stance on premarital sex.

Bounding across the stages, Das told stories of racism in India and the U.S. — and broke them down by intent. He talked about how unprepared he was for his first kiss and the surprising amount of tongue involved. He even went so far as to point out that according to India’s legislation, oral and anal sex are against the law, which developed into an open conversation about homosexuality in the world. But not all topics were as topical and complex, Das opened up about his first engagement, joking honestly about the heartbreak of getting broken up with over Skype, playfully remarking about how the “typing” icon is a double edged sword.

Das successfully challenges cultural differences like Bollywood sex scenes and American cereal aisles — and yet compels audiences to accept and embrace such differences. With so many comedy specials offered from the perspective of white Americans, Das argues that, “Indian comedy is more than head bobble jokes and funny accents,” and consequently delivers. If you’re eager for new perspectives and the opportunity to learn from other cultures in an engaging and fun manner, try Vir Das out for a spin.