Here is one last batch of tweets of the week to get you through another seven days of quarantine, social distancing and the delayed opening of Gifford’s ice cream stand in Bangor.

A well-said metaphor:

A series of perfectly-applied images:

And the truth about those work emails we’re receiving:

Ah, yes, the usual relatable tweets about doing absolutely nothing:

And these fill-ins sound about right:

Raise your hand if you have heard or said these exact words in the past month:

And last but not least, we can end with some positivity:

3.5 stars

Much like a younger, cannabis-loving version of Will Ferrell, Pete Davidson, when appearing in a film or show, is likely going to make you laugh. He’s a comedian with a well-known “Saturday Night Live” career and a Netflix stand-up comedy special, and his slightly awkward, gawky brand of humor is what viewers expect whenever he’s on-screen. But in “Big Time Adolescence,” a 90-minute film released on Hulu in March, Davidson shows that his comedy can have another dimension.

Directed by Jason Orley, the movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2019. Now, a little over a year later, it hit Hulu’s comedy section for subscribers to see and judge this new side of Davidson’s humor for themselves. 

The film follows Monroe, who goes by “Mo,” played by Griffin Gluck, and his close friendship with Zeke, who’s played by Davidson. Mo has idolized Zeke ever since he was introduced to Mo’s family when he dated his older sister in high school. Despite the seven-year age difference, the two form a unique friendship that would see Mo through middle and high school, where the movie begins. 

The post-high school Zeke that the movie features is exactly the type of guy you don’t want your 16-year-old son hanging out with, and perhaps this is what’s so unique about Davidson’s role in the film: you don’t really like him, but you get why Mo does. From a parent’s point of view, Zeke is irresponsible and immature, with few aspirations. He spends most of his time doing drugs and drinking and has no plan for the future. But through flashbacks to Zeke’s relationship with Mo’s sister, it’s easy to see how the relationship came to be, and how, when in high school, Zeke would have been very cool.

Although the film is categorized as a comedy due to a handful of absurd ideas and situations that Zeke and Mo end up in, the realistic aspects of the plot water down the humor and create a slightly depressing undertone. Rather than taking the classic goofy comedy route, the movie tells a more realistic story, one of a boy coming to the realization that his idol isn’t all that he once thought he was. And though Davidson fits this role perfectly, this impending realization is present throughout the movie, making it hard to see much of it as funny.

With Davidson’s effortless performance as a bad influence, he displays a serious undertone to his comedy style that’s not often present in his typical SNL skits or other TV and movie appearances. Despite his character’s immaturity, Davidson’s ability to capture Zeke’s shortcomings suggests a new, somewhat unseen maturity for the actor. At a glance, Zeke’s character actually has some similarities to Davidson himself: they’re both goofy, they both enjoy smoking weed and doing drugs and they both come off as fairly easy-going, lighthearted people. But other than this, Davidson’s intelligence and maturity far exceeds those of his character, and the distance he so tactfully creates from himself in his performance as Zeke is laudable. 

If you have a Hulu subscription, this movie is worth watching largely due to Davidson’s performance, but also to check out Orley’s impressive direction and screenwriting that makes it feel realistic. However, don’t expect it to be a knee-slapping type of funny, and be prepared for the fact that it doesn’t follow a typical comedy storyline. If anything, it’s a bit of a downer. But kudos to Orley for telling a realistic story and attempting to keep it light. 

3 Stars

“Love Wedding Repeat” is a new Netflix rom-com that has become a standout on social media and online platforms. Ranked fourth out of the Netflix Top 10, this popular release has been on the streaming site since April 10, 2020. With a run time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, the movie includes many well-known celebrity actors who are a part of a cast that is both charming and hilarious. 

Star Sam Claflin, who plays the protagonist, Jack, in the film, is determined to make sure his sister’s wedding goes smoothly and as planned. His sister, Hayley, is played by actress Eleanor Tomlinson. With humor, dark jokes, sarcastic comments and interesting twists, this movie starts off as a seemingly typical romantic comedy. However, what makes this film stand out is the cinematography. It begins at the start of Hayley’s wedding day, and the camera moves through each room at the venue to give a behind-the-scenes type of view of all the mishaps of the day.

The main issue in the movie occurs when Jack attempts to rein in Hayley’s out-of-control ex-boyfriend by placing a sleep sedative in his champagne glass at the wedding table. When the glass keeps being mistakenly placed at the wrong seat, sedating a different person each time, things get messy. But the plot also becomes muddled and slightly difficult to follow when Jack finds himself repeating the same day over and over again, each time faced with a chance to place the sedative at the right seat to avoid the consequences he has watched unfold in the previous attempts. 

The most entertaining character in the film, a wedding guest and Jack’s close friend Bryan, is played by actor Joel Fry. As Jack’s right-hand man, Bryan attempts to help Jack take control of the situation and help him find Hayley’s ex-boyfriend, Marc, on multiple occasions. This, mixed with an interwoven romantic plot involving Jack and a wedding guest he met many years ago, makes for quite an eventful and interesting day for everyone involved.

The costumes for the film were realistic and classy, mimicking outfits worn by wedding guests and members of the bridal party at typical up-scale venues. Hayley, the bride, is dressed in an elegant white lace wedding gown that often takes center stage and focus in many of the outside reception scenes. She also has her own fair share of mishaps and anxiety when her ex-boyfriend threatens to make a scene on her big day.

Overall, the simple plot of the film is broken up and complicated by the alternate versions of the wedding day that appear in the second half of the film. Each version includes a different wedding guest becoming sedated and shows how one slight change can easily alter everything that plays out. The funny scenes that show up sporadically throughout the film provide comic relief in an otherwise hard to follow scene sequence. Although charming and entertaining, the fact that the same day is repeated over and over again for viewers to watch takes away from the comic aspect of the film.

A lot happened this week. A chunk of Americans woke up on Wednesday with $1,200 more in their bank accounts, Florida opened up its beaches and people are still making bread.

Let’s start with some classic Chrissy Teigen sarcasm:

And the usual critiques on this new lifestyle:

But on the bright side…

And, when in doubt, we can all be grateful we don’t live in Florida:

There’s also always an applicable Hannah Montana clip:

Or, alternatively, The Simpsons:

And this week, we’re featuring our very own Professor Rob Glover:

One of the benefits of the recent COVID-19 stay-at-home legislation is that many are finding themselves with more free time to pursue forgotten hobbies and interests that are usually put aside at the end of the school year. However, for people like myself who are amateurs at cooking but want to try something simple to avoid stir-craziness at home, here are five simple recipes that include either ingredients you’ll be able to find or easily substitute.

Pancake Mix Muffins

From smashedpeasandcarrots.com

This particular recipe is perfect to use up the pancake mix that’s sat in a cupboard for longer than a person would like to admit. Since it’s a pancake-mix based batter, it does not call for flour or eggs, both ingredients which are hard to come by in grocery stores during this time. This recipe includes a few different mix-ins fresh or frozen, though raspberries are a personal favorite. 

Ingredients: 

2½ cups pancake mix

½ cup granulated sugar (or evaporated cane juice)

1½ cups milk (almond, soy or coconut works well too)

¼ cup butter, melted

May add mix-ins such as: ½ cup fresh blueberries, ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life brand) or top with cinnamon sugar before baking

Instructions:

Place all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl and mix until well incorporated but do not over mix.

Add mix-ins of your choice and fold into the batter.

Fill greased muffin cups ⅔ full.

Bake at 400 F for 14-16 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy.

Perfect Brownies

From Kimberly Nason-Mort, as featured in the Merrill Trust Company “Family” Cookbook.

While shuffling through a pile of old recipe books tucked away at home, this brownie recipe jumped out, proving to be completely unlike the usual dense, gooey box mixes. It has an airy texture and isn’t sticky-sweet. Additionally, since flour and eggs are becoming harder to find, there are easy substitutions for such ingredients that will not alter the taste and texture by much, if at all. 

Ingredients:

½ cup oleo [unsalted butter or margarine]

2 squares of unsweetened chocolate [OR 6 tablespoons of unsweetened baking cocoa & 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter or margarine]

1½ cups sugar

1 cup flour [OR 1 cup & 2 tablespoons of cake flour]

3 eggs [OR ½ cup & 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise]

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup chopped nuts [optional]

Instructions:

Melt oleo [or butter] until just warm. Add remaining ingredients.

Place in a greased 9×9 baking dish for 30 minutes at 350 F. 

Dorito Taco Salad

From Holly at spendwithpennies.com

Margarita’s is a Downtown Orono staple for many University of Maine students, but with the current COVID-19 pandemic, even if students are in the area, it’s not so easy to get out of the house. This taco salad recipe can easily be meal-prepped, as it utilizes the fresh produce that’s currently being overlooked at supermarkets. And of course, the ingredients are customizable to taste. 

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

⅔ cup water

1 head iceberg lettuce chopped into bite-sized pieces

1 red or orange pepper chopped

1 green pepper chopped

½  cup sliced black olives

1 can pinto beans rinsed and drained

1 cup tomatoes diced

¼ cup green onions chopped thin, leave a bit for garnish

1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

10 ounces Nacho flavoured Doritos

16 ounces Catalina salad dressing

sour cream optional garnish

Instructions: 

Brown the ground beef until no pink remains. Drain any fat.

Stir in the taco seasoning packet and water. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, peppers, black olives, pinto beans, tomatoes, cheddar and green onions.

Top with the seasoned and cooled ground beef.

Slightly crush the Doritos and sprinkle on top. Drizzle with Catalina dressing and toss to coat evenly. 

Garnish with sour cream and additional green onions if desired.

Serve immediately.

Beef Banh Mi Bowl

From itsgardentyme.com 

This might be the next best meal to sushi, and is a little more involved than the recipes prior. Similar to a poke bowl one might find in the Memorial Union’s cafeteria, this recipe tries a new take on the traditional Banh Mi sandwich by replacing the bread with lime rice topped with beef, pickled cucumbers, carrots and a sweet sriracha mayo. This particular recipe recreates the EveryPlate meal delivery service’s original rendition, to which I was first introduced and hooked. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup jasmine rice

1 small yellow onion

½ lime

3 cloves garlic

1 Persian or english cucumber

1 medium size carrot

3 ounces mayonnaise

1 ounce Sriracha

8 ounces ground beef

2 ounces soy sauce

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt & pepper

Instructions:

In a small pot, combine rice, 1 ¼ cups of water and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Meanwhile, clean and dry all produce. Peel and mince the garlic. Zest and quarter the lime. Cut ends off and halve the cucumber lengthwise; slice crosswise into thin half-moons. Halve, peel and medium dice the onion. Trim, peel, and grate the carrot.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, as much sriracha as you’d like (add more to make it extra spicy), a pinch of the minced garlic and a squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, ¼ tsp sugar, a pinch of salt and juice from 2 lime wedges.

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, for 4-5 minutes. Add beef, the remaining garlic and 2 tsp of sugar. Cook, breaking up the meat into pieces until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in soy sauce. Turn off heat; taste and season with salt and pepper.

Fluff rice with a fork and stir in lime zest and 1 tbsp of butter; divide between bowls. Arrange beef, grated carrot, and pickled cucumber on top. Top with a squeeze of lime juice. Drizzle with sriracha mayo.

Crescent Pizza Pockets

From Pillsbury Kitchens at pillsbury.com

Everyone loves pizza, right? This is a simple recipe that combines premade items into an easy lunch or dinner in under 25 minutes, tops. Plus, along with the Dorito Taco Salad recipe, it’s customizable so everyone can get creative, or keep it simple, and enjoy. I’m thinking Hawaiian pizza pocket.

Ingredients:

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

¼ cup pizza sauce

¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup sliced pepperoni (24 slices)

1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese

Instructions: 

Heat oven to 375. Unroll dough onto cookie sheet; separate into 4 rectangles (2 triangles each). Press each rectangle to form a 6×4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.

Spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce on half of each rectangle to within 1 inch of edge. Sprinkle each with 3 tablespoons of cheese; top with 6 slices of pepperoni. Fold the dough from the top over filling; firmly press edges with fork to seal. Sprinkle each rectangle with 1/4 teaspoon of grated cheese. With fork, prick top of each to allow steam to escape.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Serve warm.

Nothing is as it should be right now — nothing is normal and nothing is certain about moving forward. University of Maine students have lost the second half of the spring semester to online classes and remote learning. Events are now virtual, Orono’s restaurants are closed except for takeout and delivery and the closest anyone can get to the experience of a bar or club is going to the grocery store, as it now has a bouncer due to the max capacity rules. 

Yet right now, people still have obligations. Seniors may still be finishing a thesis and defending it virtually. Students are pushing through classes that don’t lend well to an online format. Some students don’t have reliable internet access, and some students have lost power more than once in the past two weeks due to weather. 

In the midst of all this, it’s hard to set expectations for yourself. With what appears to be more free time on our hands now, it seems like this would be an opportunity to get ahead, to learn a new skill or to excel in anything that was constrained by time before, but that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. 

UMaine alum and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Kim Leo has some other advice on what you can do right now: practice being mindful.

“The word ‘mindfulness’ can be intimidating to some,” Leo said, noting the commonly related questions: how can you stop your thoughts and how can you sit still? But being mindful, even during a pandemic, isn’t as impossible as you’d think, and it’s something we all can practice.

To break the concept of mindfulness down, Leo cited the work of Viktor Frankl, who says, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” This space between what is happening to us and how we respond is the mindfulness, according to Leo. 

“Being mindful is allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, allowing ourselves to feel and tolerate being in a moment where we may be feeling pain, suffering or even pleasure. It’s turning inward and feeling this,” Leo explained. 

So how does this apply to the pandemic? 

If with the newfound free time afforded by having nowhere to be, you are finding yourself particularly unproductive, that’s ok. If you’re not learning how to juggle, or skateboard and if you haven’t completely taught yourself Spanish German, French or Mandarin, that’s ok. The state of mind created by a pandemic isn’t one of normalcy, and this isn’t a vacation, so don’t expect yourself to feel like it is. Instead, embrace whatever it is you’re feeling right now, try to understand its relation to the stimulus (this pandemic), and forgive yourself if you’re not reading Shakespeare’s entire collection. Be in the moment and practice mindfulness instead.

“Using our sense is a very simple way to be mindful,” Leo said. “What can you hear in this moment, what can you see, what can you feel through touch, what can you taste, what can you smell? This is a very simple way to ground yourself when you are feeling activated, overwhelmed or stressed.”

In practicing mindfulness, a large part is acknowledging your own thoughts and emotions without judgment and without the pressure to rid yourself of these thoughts. Notice what your senses are noticing, and if you can find yourself tuning in, feeling, hearing, seeing and becoming more aware of things as they are happening, you’re practicing mindfulness. 

Leo’s message to students: take care of yourself right now. Make time to feel, validate and love yourself. And instead of punishing yourself for how you choose to use your free time, take a chance and experience the benefits of mindfulness and how it relates to you. 

“Mindfulness is hard work,” Leo said. “It will feel awkward, uncomfortable and it will challenge everything inside of you that wants to react, avoid and run from big feelings.”

Be patient with yourself, be in the moment and be mindful. 

4 Stars

The first thing Buffalo emcee Westside Gunn did after beating a nasty bout of coronavirus was prep his newest album, “Pray for Paris,” for release. The album, which dropped this past Friday, features the likes of Griselda labelmates (including his brother) Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher, as well as artists Tyler, the Creator, Joey Bada$$, Wale, Freddie Gibbs and frequent collaborators Roc Marciano and Keisha Plum.

The album kicks off with the aptly titled “400 Million Plus Tax,” which features an audio snippet from the infamous 2017 Christies auction of the last privately-owned Leonardo da Vinci. The piece, which depicts Jesus making a cross, is titled “Salvator Mundi,” Latin for savior of the world. It’s an interesting choice for opening the album, setting the stage for the opulent scenes to follow, and perhaps mirroring the Griselda group’s endeavor to be known as the symbolic saviors of the rap game. 

The trio’s ear for rich sampling and production is found in an array of legendary producers tapped for the project. Producer The Alchemist worked on “$500 Ounces” and “Clairborne Kick,” while DJ Premier made “Shawn vs. Flair” and in-house producer Daringer perfected “George Bondo” and “Allah Sent Me.” The beats are propelled by a wide range of piano riffs, from ominous to uplifting, interspersed soul samples and boom-bap style drum and bass, which feels dangerous, weighty and like they cost a good deal of money. 

The project is interrupted by a series of tone-setting, often comical samples that center on wealth, power and reflect Westside’s fascination with the world of professional wrestling. I tend to favor the carefully selected samples to skits, as they add to the tone and still allow each song to stand on its own legs. They don’t try to construct an overarching narrative or feed the artist’s ego, as these tropes can often feel played out in the current rap landscape, as in Lil Uzi Vert’s “Eternal Atake.” 

A good illustration of the deft sample selection can be found in the track “George Bondo,” which features the labelmates spitting bars about accruing money, street fights and drug slinging, all over Daringer’s polished piano sample. When the bars end, the track turns to a couple of guys on the street in St. Louis freestyling, repping Westside and using his signature ad-lib in the process. The track “Allah Sent Me” concludes with a similarly smart outro, sampling a WWE wrestler, the Million Dollar Man, as he inquires about the amount of diamonds in his title belt. Another standout is the lurid “$500 Ounces,” which features Freddie Gibbs who, as per usual, nails his verse. The project finds a lighter side in Wale’s featuring track “French Toast,” as well as the Joey Bada$$ and Tyler, the Creator pairing, “327,” and the luscious “Versace.”

Westside himself is careful not to bar the listener to death, often switching from colorful ad-libs to verse and back, never staying in one place for too long, vocally speaking. 

Fashion visionary Virgil Abloh designed the album cover as a reworking of Italian painter Caravaggio’s piece “David with the Head of Goliath.” This is interesting not only for its significance but also for its timing, as Griselda recently met with the ever-eccentric Kanye West at his Wyoming ranch, presumably to make some music or iron out a business deal. Kanye has had a feud of sorts going with the fashion designer after he claimed the Louis Vuitton menswear job Virgil had been offered should’ve gone to him. As for the impact this will have on Griselda and their music, it’s likely of little consequence, but it certainly goes to show that with friends like these it’s only a matter of time before the group makes it big.

Overall, it’s certainly a more polished project than the average Griselda listener would expect, but not an altogether unexpected step for the label. As far as releases go they’ve seemed to invest more time and money into projects, and it’s proven fruitful for the group considering the two albums prior, “WWCD” and Benny the Butcher’s “The Plugs I Met” both were notable successes with slews of respective underground hits. The grimey production-oriented style seems to be paying off for the group, as “Pray for Paris” has set itself up to be the label’s best release to date.

While still managing the transition back home and the continuation of classes online, many University of Maine students have discovered coping mechanisms that have helped them stay afloat. Students have been picking up new hobbies, making crafts, learning new skills, exercising and keeping themselves entertained and active in many different ways. Second-year student Autumn Rogers has found that starting a new job, moving back home and picking up old hobbies has kept her busy during this time of change. 

“It’s been a pretty tough transition to being back home, but thankfully my family was able to welcome me with open arms and I was able to get a new job,” Rogers said. “Holding to a routine has definitely been beneficial in keeping up with everything now that the structure of campus learning is gone. Between working full time and being a full-time student, I’ve been able to keep my priorities in line so I don’t forget about assignments!”

Rogers is an anthropology student who has recently switched out of the biology and pre-med program. She hopes to continue in-person classes this fall to help her find her passion and discover possible career opportunities. 

Her favorite quarantine activities include exercising, playing with her dogs and siblings, going to work and relaxing after a long day. One hobby that Rogers has had time to pursue is knitting and developing her love for making new things.  

“I brought all of my craft supplies to campus this fall, but found myself too busy to craft and to spend time on making things,” Rogers said. “I have always had a love for creating and am so happy that I finally have ample time to finish projects. Getting back into my knitting and being able to set aside time to finish things has been incredibly therapeutic for me. It gives me time to reflect on my day, relax and do something productive with my time.”

One way Rogers has managed to stay in touch with friends and family from Orono has been to schedule regular Zoom meetings. She has also had the opportunity to become a founding member of the first online Greek organization for remote learners, called Zeta Omicron Omicron Mu. The organization hosts all meetings via Zoom and has given Rogers a chance to meet new people and connect with UMaine students who have also joined the organization. 

“I definitely miss social interaction. Having to leave my friends and the family I have in Maine was incredibly difficult, but I know that it was necessary in order for this situation to end as soon as possible so we can hopefully come back in the fall,” Rogers said. “Everything is temporary, and I realized that I’ll be back with my friends and family soon!”

Autumn’s daily routine usually includes waking up around 10 a.m., completing a daily workout, doing classwork, working and then going home to relax and catch up on Netflix shows and movies. On her days off, she likes to make sure she finds time for connecting with friends.

“Make a routine and stick to it! On top of work and school, you have to make time for yourself to relax and to prioritize your emotions,” Rogers said. “Meditating daily, working out, finishing crafting projects and even simply making your bed in the morning is a really good way to help yourself feel a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to do more throughout the day.”

Regardless of the circumstances, religion remains a constant, and as spring hits its stride, Passover and Easter give people a reason to celebrate. But those celebrations look a little different this year.

On Wednesday night, as the sun went down, the Jewish holiday Passover began. Typically, on the first and second nights of the eight-day holiday, families, friends and communities gather for a Seder, a tradition that includes the telling of the Passover story, featuring symbolic foods as the story is told and, eventually, a large meal. Because what’s a Jewish holiday without food?

 With the constraints social distancing and the stay-at-home rule placed on Mainers, these Seders looked a little different. And Sunday’s Easter celebrations look pretty unconventional as well. 

Families and friends have taken to Zoom to celebrate these religious traditions. With Zoom Seders and Zoom Easter feasts, the religious communities of the area are getting creative despite these new rules. 

Black Bear Catholic, the University of Maine’s Catholic group on campus, has been adapting and preparing for Easter under the circumstances according to Hannah Edgecomb, a fourth-year music and psychology student. Edgecomb was formerly a member of the group’s executive board before this spring’s officer transitions, as she’s graduating this semester. 

“Black Bear Catholic has been working on a few things,” Edgecomb said. “They’re in charge of our men’s and women’s groups that meet on Sundays after Mass. This is a time in which each group provides support to one another, and takes time to learn about different topics within our faith.” 

The week prior to Easter is Holy Week in the Catholic tradition, but due to COVID-19, many of the usual activities are off-limits, such as the washing of the feet or kissing of the cross. 

“Although we cannot participate in person, the Masses still take place,” Edgecomb explained. “Our Parish is live streaming all the daily Masses, and Easter vigil Mass and Easter Mass will also be live-streamed through our Parish’s Facebook page. Our Pastor is also offering a drive-through confession.”

In addition to Black Bear Catholic’s Easter adaptations, local synagogues and Jewish groups hosted Zoom Seders for those who could not gather together to celebrate the first nights of Passover traditionally. 

One of the many significant aspects of a Passover Seder is the act of handwashing, which is particularly relevant to the current situation, and many in the Jewish community are noting similarities between the story of Passover itself and the state that the world is in right now due to the pandemic. For example, the story of Passover involves entrapment, suffering and, above all, hope. And the very reason Jews eat matzah during the holiday relates to what we’re all doing right now: making do with what we have. 

Regardless of the distance, religious communities are coming together and finding ways to carry out the traditions that have been around for centuries and the adaptations reflect the hope and persistence of the communities. 

         On Monday, April 6, Robert Jackson headed out to the empty University of Maine campus and raised the rainbow and trans pride flags himself, kicking off UMaine’s annual Pride Week despite the unusual circumstances this semester. With the event live-streamed from the Rainbow Resource Center’s (RRC) Facebook page, the flags were visible for the entire UMaine community to see, flying high above the Mall.

         Each year, the RRC puts on “Pride Week” in early April, allowing the UMaine community to celebrate pride while students are still on campus since the federally-recognized Pride Month is in June. This year, with campus shut down due to COVID-19, the RRC adapted to create a virtual pride week, continuing the tradition of allowing the community to celebrate together while apart.

         “It felt so special to see those flags flying over campus, like we were holding space here in Orono for our queer friends and family who find themselves in all corners of the world because of this pandemic,” Jackson said. “Even though I was so isolated physically, that moment I felt so close to and connected to our queer community at UMaine.”

Despite being held earlier than the national Pride Month in June, the intent and spirit of UMaine’s Pride Week is the same. Pride Month occurs in June to honor the Stonewall riot, which took place in 1969 when 200 queer folks fought back against police attempting to raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The police attempted to arrest the people inside for things like sodomy, men wearing drag and women wearing less than three items of “feminine clothing,” all of which were illegal at the time.    

This year, UMaine’s Pride Week looked a little different than normal. Largely planned and coordinated by Jackson and Jane Pappas, the graduate assistant for the Rainbow Resource Center, Pride Week typically begins to take shape in the fall, after Coming Out Week in October.

         “We’d had a full schedule of in-person events planned for Pride Week, and unfortunately we weren’t able to hold some of those events remotely,” Jackson explained. “We took a look at the calendar, determined which events could be done remotely … then moved forward with a modified schedule reaching those events.”

         With the unusual circumstances this semester, a task of particular importance for the RRC has been finding ways to continue to connect with and support LGBTQ students since the campus has shut down. Noting that not all students are out at home, or supported and safe wherever they are now, the RRC has focused on adapting to the situation by increasing their social media presence and continuing to be available in remote ways.

         “[We] hope that those folks who may not feel safe participating in one of our synchronous events will see our posts and know that we are still here for them, we see them and we stand with them,” Jackson said.

         Though the events of Pride Week typically change each year, a staple event of the week each year is the drag show, which last year drew about 800 people, according to Jackson. In addition to the RRC, the Wilde Stein (UMaine’s queer-straight alliance) is also included in the process, and this year the Multicultural Center hosted an event as well.

         This year’s virtual Pride Week featured events such as Pride Fitness, which went live on Instagram on Monday Night, a Netflix Party with the RRC and Wilde Stein, and other digital events such as Lunch and Learn, Drag Queen Story Hour, Paint and Sip with Wilde Stein and game night.

         The RRC and Wilde Stein’s determination to adapt to the circumstances and continue as a resource for the community allowed for these events to take place and both should be considered safe spaces during this time. Check out both groups on social media, stay connected, stay safe and remember that you’re not alone.