The 11th annual University of Maine March Against Domestic Violence will be held on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. Supporters of the cause are to meet on the steps of Fogler Library and walk as a group to the Field House. 

A speaker portion and remembrance ceremony, honoring the 15 lives lost in Maine due to domestic violence in 2024, will take place inside the final location. Various resources, including Title IX, Rape Response Services, TRIOTA and Partners for Peace, are attending to provide crucial information to participants. The march is hosted by the Maine Business School (MBS) and organized by MBS Professor Nory Jones. Partners for Peace will host a second table later in the evening at the men’s ice hockey game against Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. in the Alfond Area. 

The speaker lineup is as follows: Senator Susan Collins, Dean Robert Dana, Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard Diane Dunn, Executive Director at Partners for Peace Amanda Cost and Deputy Title IX Coordinator Heather Hogan. Casey Faulkingham, the director of development and engagement at Partners for Peace, will read the name of each person who passed away this year as a result of domestic violence. UMaine Renaissance will conclude the program with a song.

“Everybody has contributed their knowledge, their expertise and their support in helping with different aspects of it. So, I think our team is indispensable, invaluable and just incredible. And, of course, the audience [is important],” said Jones. 

Several students contributed to a domestic violence awareness exhibition that will be on display in the Memorial Union throughout the days leading up to the event. The artists include Maddie Ruppert, Sidonia Stanton, Alicia Bell and Hailey Inman. The inspiration for their artwork relates to a compassion for and outreach towards those who may be suffering in silence. Inman used acrylic paint on watercolor paper for her submission, “Unable to Fly,” and explained the creative process.

“This piece took me planning about a month and the painting process took only a few days. I wanted this piece to convey the feeling of abandonment and isolation often shown in abusive relationships,” said Inman. “Support is one of the most important things, even when nothing else can be done. “

There are several avenues available for help, some being confidential resources at UMaine. Information at the march will provide students and other community members with the necessary tools to recognize signs of domestic violence. 

“Hopefully, they [attendees] will learn about this and learn what to look for, how to help. But also, maybe gain a sense of ownership and responsibility. We have to support each other. We have to have each other’s backs,” said Jones. “That’s what I’m hoping students will take from this— learning about it, the problem, how they can help.”  

First Lady of Minnesota Gwen Walz visited Bangor on Sept. 13 to campaign for Kamala Harris and her husband Minnesota governor Tim Walz, who is Harris’ running mate. Walz traveled to New England to spread a message on behalf of the Democratic presidential candidacy and connect with the Maine community. 

She began at the Briar Patch, a local bookstore owned by Gibran Graham, and read “Bathe the Cat” by Alice B. McGinty to a group of children. She spoke about her experience as a grade school teacher, who was also raised by educators. Walz engaged with the children and parents by asking questions, and used the moment to emphasize the importance of protecting the Department of Education. 

Walz also delivered a speech at the Bangor Coordinated Campaign Office. The event, run by volunteers and regional employees, was open to supporting members of the public who RSVPed. Gov. Janet Mills introduced Walz to the audience. 

“Gwen Walz knows the value of language, the power of words, the need to read books, to accept knowledge and rely on facts, not myth or speculation,” said Mills. “And we know that if the other team, the other side, is elected, it will be goodbye to the Department of Education, goodbye to our school budgets.”  

Mills shared her connection to Harris throughout her time as Attorney General of Maine, as Harris had previously held that role in her home state of California concurrently with Mills. Mills praised Harris for her efforts “to defeat Big Pharma, to take on the big banks and to protect homeowners.” The Harris campaign has heavily focused on what they believe to be the concerns of regular citizens and highlights the Midwestern, middle-class upbringing of both Harris and Tim Walz.

Gwen Walz used her time onstage to empower those in attendance, whom she described as the “thoughtful and actionable Democrats” in this state. She also expressed that joy in politics is present in Maine and commended the state’s elected leaders.

“You are having real conversations and we are doing this one person at a time. One undecided neighbor at a time. Even one person with a lawn sign that we might not love, at a time. Every single thing you are doing, everything makes a difference. Do not underestimate that,” said Walz. “And you are the reason that we are going to send Vice President Harris and my husband, Tim Walz, to the white house.”

Walz also stated her opinion regarding the presidential debate held in Philadelphia on Sept. 10: 

“Harris commanded that stage and she owned every issue, one after another. We saw a stark contrast there. I think that’s what was very clear. Her opponent just spewed that same old nonsense, and insults actually. And let’s just be real, lies.”

Walz spoke on the values that the two Democratic candidates were taught early on. Harris was raised by her mother, who immigrated from India and her father, who immigrated from Jamaica. Tim Walz grew up in Valentine, Nebraska, a rural town with a population of 400 residents. Gwen Walz referenced their childhoods to prove that their roots are similar to those who would benefit from what the Harris campaign has dubbed the “opportunity economy.” 

The Harris-Walz campaign promises to lower the cost of healthcare, housing and groceries, and offer more opportunities to work well-paying jobs. 

“We don’t mean just some people, we don’t mean only those who vote for us. We mean all of us, and that’s the vision the vice president shared on that debate stage. It could not have been clearer,” said Walz. 

Walz referenced an outlook across the Harris-Walz campaign, formed to ensure continuous effort regardless of where the Democratic Party may stand throughout the next couple of months leading up to the election. 

“Here is what we say: ‘We are running like we are underdogs, and we are 10 points down.’ We have to, right, because we are not taking one thing for granted in this race. Not one thing. in any race, for granted. I know we are going to win. I absolutely know it,” said Walz. “But I know that because we have you.”

Dear Maine Campus Readers,

Thank you for returning back after a summer of silence from us. If you are new here, welcome. We strive to maintain a line of communication for students and staff to share their thoughts, ideas or concerns. The question we will continue to pose throughout this academic year is “What do you want from your student newspaper?” 

The Maine Campus seeks to collaborate, improve and involve its readers directly. It starts with you. Employee contact information is available on our website. If you are interested in using your skills to help evolve the paper, please email me at eic@mainecampus.com with your resume and other materials depending on the respective role.

After nearly five years of being an online-only organization, The Maine Campus is returning to print. Though we will continue with weekly publication to mainecampus.com, there will also be monthly paper editions, available for free, all across school grounds. Each copy will include the featured articles of each month, a crossword puzzle, comics and redeemable coupons. Keep an eye out for the first edition available this October. 

We are also reintroducing videography. The team is led by Evan Soucy, who will produce weekly videos for Youtube and other social media platforms. There will be investigative content, educational How-To videos and introductions to student and faculty leaders on campus. Soucy will interview people on campus about current issues and their experiences as UMaine students. The first post includes footage of several student organizations at the 2024 Involvement Fair. 

One goal of the Maine Campus is to increase community engagement. We ask representatives of various organizations, department faculty and students to consider submitting guest essays to us. It serves as a method to reach others outside of regular communication. 

Another way to get involved with us is to purchase an advertisement in the paper or merchandise designed by Illustrator Tilia Baratta. We are currently selling sticker sheets, and plan to introduce new products this year, such as T-shirts and tote bags. The funds will go towards the cost of printing. The Maine Campus recently moved to Room 143 of the Memorial Union, and we’d love it if you stopped by. Our door is always open to visitors. 

Sincerely,

Sofia Langlois, Editor-in-Chief

On April 29, ralliers gathered in front of Fogler Library to call  for a ceasefire in Palestine and demand that the University of Maine System (UMS) divest from U.S. military forces supporting the Israeli government. About 50 students, faculty, staff and other community members  participated.

President of UMaine Jewish Voices for Peace Jacob Hinz helped lead the rally and reminded participants that hate speech, antisemitism and Islamophobia were not permitted. He also advised the crowd to ignore any agitators. Hinz shared current statistics on Palestinian deaths and injuries. 

“Over 100,000 people have been maimed or killed. That is about 5% of the entire population. One in 20 people have been injured in this genocide so far. 15,000 children have been killed, insane numbers,” said Hinz. “There are no more universities left in Gaza, constituting a scholasticide.”

According to UN News, scholasticide is defined as the “systemic obliteration of education through the arrest, detention or killing of teachers, students and staff and the destruction of educational infrastructure.”

Hinz emphasized that the purpose of the rally  at UMaine is to show solidarity with Palestinian citizens and students across America who are fighting for the same cause. Widespread brutality from law enforcement has endangered the well-being and constitutional rights of students and non-students across the country who promote anti-war efforts. Some of the prevention measures have been violent responses to non-violent protests. 

Hinz also shared that these efforts will be ongoing in Bangor throughout the summer months and advised advocates to support organizations such as Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. 

Tom Pinette, a member of JVP, began the speaker portion. Pinette believes the movement to demand a ceasefire in Gaza immediately is crucial. He mentioned that over 30,000 civilians have been killed. Pinette shared that he believes the number is higher because the IDF prevents means of documenting the exact number of deaths. Some Palestinians documented their experience throughout the last seven months.  

“Just this week, Israel mobilized invasion forces to invade Rafah,” said Pinette. “They are equipped with new tanks, bombs and warplanes from the United States. As Israel levels universities and hospitals, indiscriminately murdering thousands of civilians, our country’s institutions have kept completely silent, shameless of their financial and military complicity in the genocide,”

Student attendees expressed outrage for having to pay tuition fees to attend college which could contribute to military investments. 

“As people living in the United States of America, we are exercising our fundamental right to free speech and assembly. Even as police departments and university administrations consistently ignore and desecrate those rights,” said Pinette. “We join this growing movement because we cannot stand idly by while our taxpayer dollars fund a genocide.” 

Vice President and Co-Founder of JVP Elsa Molarsky was another student organizer for the rally. She explained a concept that is taught in Judaic studies called “tikkun olam.” It is a principle that translates to “healing of the world” and encourages the human race to leave no trace or make improvements. According to Molarsky, all oppression is intertwined. Israel survived genocide less than one century ago. 

“We need to let the university know and we are letting them know with all of you here. I am so happy to see so many people here, supporting this cause on campus,” said Mularski. 

UMaine Graduate Workers Union (UMGWU) Member Nik Brocchini delivered a statement on behalf of the UMGWU bargaining committee. He expressed solidarity with Palestine and student protestors across the nation whose First Amendment rights have been unjustly oppressed by censorship, expulsion, dismissal, eviction and arrest.

“One of our 14 bargaining goals is to protect the academic freedom of graduate workers in the workplace, the freedom to pursue truth in our research and teaching duties without censorship or retaliation,” said Brocchini. “Another goal is to win specific protections for the international graduate workers among us and yet another seeks to protect all graduate workers from harassment, discrimination and bullying at work.”

Political Science Professor Nick Micinski represented the alliance of concerned faculty and staff at UMaine during the rally. A total of 18 faculty and staff members are associated with the organization, which calls on UMS to support the freedom to assemble and speak out. Micinski encourages UMaine affiliates who feel similarly to sign an official statement.

Following the speaker portion, Hinz referenced the approximate $1.2 million that UMS invested in Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS). The investment targets seek to put external pressure on Israel to comply with international law to end ethnic cleansing, dispossession of land and other violent measures. This strategy helped to end apartheid in South Africa and has the potential for similar results in Israel, according to Hinz. 

The rally concluded with a march around the Mall on campus. This UMaine movement seeks to gain administrative attention by legal means. 

The University of Maine Graduate Workers (UMGWU) advocates for the rights of graduate students through administrative bargaining. Its primary objectives are to improve healthcare, establish fair wages and increase access to housing. The terms of these negotiations seek to improve the quality of life across a struggling population. 

The organization submitted over 20 proposals. Based on a survey taken by the majority of graduate workers at UMaine, 512 people voted in favor of the union and one person voted against it. Individuals from a variety of organizations strongly support UMGWU efforts. 

International Student Paula Castiblanco is a graduate worker with a master’s degree in ecology and environmental science. She was invited to the first organizing committee meeting and soon became involved. Castiblanco believes in what the UMGWU fights for and considers affording food, housing and healthcare to be the “lowest of bars possible.”

The University of Maine System (UMS) claimed to voluntarily accept the union when members provided hundreds of signatures. The bargaining team was formed in 2023 and has been in negotiation with the UMS bargaining team since November 2023. Over 10 sessions have been held and 19 out of 21 proposals remain outstanding. 

“We send out a list of proposals and they show up with counter-proposals when they show up. Then, our team has counters back. They have gone back and forth on more than the two that have tentative agreements,” said Castiblanco. “We won’t sign a contract until all of the proposals have tentative agreements. They say that once we have a proposed contract, it has to be approved by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees.” 

UMGWU met with leaders of the UMaine System (UMS) for a total of 10 hours on April 10 and 11 directly following a fair contract rally. According to Castiblanco, UMS brought private security to the in-person negotiations at the Ferland Engineering and Design Center.  Another negotiation session took place on April 24. Beforehand, UMGWU peacefully picketed outside of Estabrooke Hall, where Chancellor Dannel Malloy’s office is located. 

Efforts will continue into next semester. UMGWU seeks more testimonials, as the basis of the union is built off the experiences of graduate student employees.

“Right now, we really just want to get that first contract signed and we represent all of the University Maine System. So, it is not only the Orono campus,” said Castiblanco. “There is steady turnover every semester. I am sure when new people arrive, we will introduce ourselves and ask how they are and what they need and tell them what we do. Building community is really important to us.”

A failure by UMS to sign the contract poses a significant risk to current and future graduate workers, according to Castiblanco. 

“A lot of us live in housing insecurity and food insecurity,” said Castiblanco. “Every day that goes by without a contract is a day that we all face hardships.”

Proposals to protect international graduate workers’ rights and prevent discrimination, bullying and harassment are pending. The current terms only apply to illegal harassment and discrimination. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not protected under Title IX. 

“There is a real possibility that Donald Trump is going to be [the U.S.] President again. Some of the protections for international grad workers were just “Make sure that if ICE shows up, they [international graduate workers] have their paperwork in order before you [UMS] start giving out our names,” said Castiblanco.” “They refused to engage with that proposal for a long time.”

Individuals, including undergraduate students and faculty members, can support the cause by attending massive actions, such as rallies. 

“Improving our conditions as graduate workers improves the University as a whole. It’s really hard to concentrate on your research when you are trying to see if you have enough food to make it through the end of the month,” said Castiblanco. 

The most recent bargaining update is from the April 10 and 11 session and concerning appointments, appointment security and job postings. UMGWU hopes to increase appointment transparency by mandating employment periods of nine months or longer for stipend graduate worker positions. 

Graduate workers require job security to make long-term plans. UMGWU believes the commitment should be for at least one year, though it is not unheard of for institutions to seek out external internships or other employment options over the summer months. In the proposal, appointments are not tied to specific duties and graduate workers may serve in other roles. 

Another term of the proposal includes a 16-week minimum appointment for hourly graduate workers to serve the entire semester. It modifies the structure of hourly work with a standardized minimum length.

The most progress thus far was made in the UMGWU workspace and materials proposal, which guarantees access to supplies and equipment. Regarding the issue of teaching assistant cut lines across the system, UMS emphasized that departments are held to their budgets and department heads have the final say. 

A proposal tracker is available on the UMGWU website. Current outstanding contracts that the Union is next to propose on include academic freedom, discipline and dismissal, employment files, grievance and arbitration, health and safety, union security, the union-management committee training, travel and job posting. UMS must respond to proposals for appointment security, appointments, employee assistance program, international graduate worker rights, non-discrimination, bullying and harassment, workspace and materials, titles and classifications, union access and rights, subcontracting and workload. 

“I would emphasize that UMaine works because we work and they would not be able to have the quality of education that they want to offer without the graduate workers,” said Castiblanco. “We need recognition and we need respect and we need security in our lives. That means fair compensation for work and good health insurance.”

On April 26, 27 and 28, the University of Maine Baseball team competed against the Binghamton Bearcats in a series of three home games at the Mahaney Diamond Field. 

UMaine won the first two games (4-3 and 9-3). The result of the third game was 21-4 in a UMaine loss to Binghamton. Despite the Sunday loss, Maine managed to salvage a series win to prepare for the playoffs in defense of their conference championship from one year prior. 

Friday, April 26:

Third-year infielder Jeremiah Jenkins scored the first run of the series, when he hit a solo home run to right field in the first inning.

Binghamton first-baseman Andrew Tan started the second inning off with a walk. He advanced to second base after catcher Zach Rogacki hit a single to left field and took third on a walk by Binghamton infielder Mike Stellrecht. Tan scored on a second walk by outfielder Eric Madenberg. In the bottom half of the inning, UMaine secured its second run when third-year infielder Jake Marquez scored on a Run Batted In (RBI) single to center field by first-year infielder Jeph Hadsen-Taylor. 

In the sixth, Stellrecht capitalized on a 2 run error by UMaine that ended up scoring Rogacki and Bade. In the bottom of sixth, Jenkins responded homering to right field, tying the game for UMaine.

In the ninth inning, UMaine secured the victory 4-3 when Marquez scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Hadson-Taylor.

Saturday, April 27:

UMaine defeated Binghamton 9-3 in the second game.

Binghamton catcher Evin Sullivan singled to third base and scored the first run from an RBI double to right field by Rogacki in the second inning. 

UMaine got on the board when second-year catcher Dean O’Neil hit a three-run homerun in the fourth inning, scoring infielders Will Burns and Jake Marquez.

Binghamton scored its second run when Madenburg hit an RBI infield single in the fifth inning. 

UMaine secured another run in the sixth inning after Burns hit an RBI single to left field, allowing Jenkins to score as an unearned run. 

In the seventh inning, Binghamton tacked on another run when second-baseman Nick Roselli scored on a sacrifice fly by third-baseman Devan Bade. 

UMaine entered the eighth inning with a four-run lead. O’Neill hit an RBI single to right field and brought home Logan Burrill, a third-year outfielder. Marquez scored as Hadson-Taylor followed with a walk. Third-Year Outfielder Zach Martin was then hit by a pitch, scoring O’Neil. Colin Plante, a fourth-year outfielder, also scored from a wild pitch. Fifth-year Infielder Connor Goodman added on an RBI single to right field, bringing Hadson-Taylor to home plate. 

Second-year UMaine Pitcher Luc Lavigueur (2-2) earned a season win. He allowed two runs on four hits, four walks and three strikeouts throughout five innings. Third-year pitcher Ryan Scott allowed one unearned run on two hits, one walk and two strikeouts in the four innings of relief pitching. The second victory created the potential for a weekend sweep.  

Sunday, April 28:

The UMaine baseball team struggled on Sunday when they fell to Binghamton 21 to four two consecutive weekend wins.  

In the first inning, Binghamton scored five unearned runs. The first by outfielder Tommy Reifler from a fly-out to center field by Bade, the second by Roselli and the third by Sullivan. The final two Binghamton runs of the first inning were scored by Stellrecht and first baseman Sam Haney, thanks to a center field single by utility man Todd Abraham. 

Fourth-year UMaine pitcher Noah Lewis pitched for one and one-third innings and allowed 12 runs, seven earned, eight hits and five walks. Tyler Nielsen, another fourth-year player, pitched in the second inning. He allowed three runs on three hits and one walk in the two-thirds of the inning he was present. 

Binghamton had 10 runs in the second inning by Roselli (two), Sullivan (two), Haney (one), shortstop Isaiah Corry (one), Bade (two), Abraham (one) and Reifler (one). O’Neil hit a double to left field at the bottom of the second inning to score Will Burns for UMaine’s first run. 

First-year UMaine pitcher Owen Wheeler took to the mound at the start of the third inning. He allowed six runs on six hits, three walks and three strikeouts until he was relieved in the sixth inning. Binghamton scored two runs from Corry and Stellrecht on a right-side single by Reifler. 

Binghamton had two runs in the fourth inning. Bade homered and Haney doubled, scoring Rogacki. Both of which were RBI. 

In the fifth inning, Binghamton added its final two runs of the game when Sullivan homered to left field, scoring himself and Roselli. 

First-year Player Gabe Gifford pitched for the last three innings. He allowed no runs on two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. In the bottom half of the eighth inning, Jenkins ripped a two-run homerun to right field that scored Plante. It was Jenkins’ second big fly of the weekend. 

Fourth-year Pitcher Marshall Smaracko allowed no runs on one walk and one strikeout. Neither team scored in the last inning. The results of the game were 21 to four points in a UMaine loss to Binghamton.  

Despite the Sunday loss, Maine managed to salvage a series win to prepare for the playoffs in defense of their conference championship from one year ago. 

04/26:

Around 1:30 p.m., there was a theft complaint in Cumberland Hall. A female student left her laundry in the washer for over 24 hours and multiple people sifted through her clothes. All items were recovered. 

At 2:30 p.m., a female employee at Alumni Hall issued a harassment complaint. She was repeatedly contacted by someone she dated over 30 years ago. The individual left messages for her after hours. The University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) spoke to the caller and he has not attempted contact since. 

Around 5 p.m., an information complaint was made through Campus Eyes in reference to the Free Palestine protest held outside of Fogler Library hours prior. According to UMPD, participants gathered appropriately and there were no issues. 

At 7 p.m., another information complaint was made through Campus Eyes in Somerset Hall. It reported underage drinking in the dormitory. Six students were involved and referred to conduct. 

At about 11 p.m., a suspicious complaint was issued from Whitter Farm. Two female employees heard strange noises, including a door opening. However, no one else was located on the property.

04/27:

At 10 p.m., criminal mischief was reported on the fourth floor of Somerset Hall. The men’s room mirror was broken. There are no suspects at this time. 

04/28:

Around 7 a.m., four exit signs were found damaged in Somerset Hall. 

04/29:

Around 1 a.m., a disorderly complaint was made in Somerset Hall. A UMPD officer spoke with two female students who reported an issue from last February. 

At 2 a.m., Campus Eyes reported that someone was vomiting in the Somerset Hall men’s bathroom and that another individual was playing beer pong in the hallway. No one was located in reference to either complaint. 

Around 1:30 p.m., there was a property damage crash on Rangeley Road  A deer darted onto the road and was struck by a Nissan Rogue, leaving a dent in the door. The deer ran away immediately after the accident. 

At 2:30 p.m., a suspicious complaint was made at Fogler Library. A male student discovered an unknown Air Tag on the side pocket of his bookbag. The student did not believe he was being tracked. Beforehand, he was at the New Balance Recreation Center. The Air Tag may have been placed with his things mistakenly. 

04/30:

At noon, Campus Eyes made an information complaint. The caller reported a crosswalk violation and described the vehicle of interest. UMPD was notified 30 minutes after the violation occurred and did not locate a driver. 

At about 2:30 p.m., an employee at Alpenglow Adventure Sports in Bangor notified UMPD that a UMaine student purchased climbing gear and claimed they will use it to climb Androscoggin Hall. The employee did not disclose the student’s name.

At 5 p.m., a fireworks complaint was made at the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity house on College Avenue. The caller thought that the sound of the fireworks was that of gunshots.

On April 23, volunteers at the University of Maine arranged and distributed nearly 56,800 shelf-stable meals to food pantries across the state. The Honors College Student Activities Board (SAB) and staff members coordinated the event, raising a total of $19,000 to purchase supplies. 

End Hunger New England (EHNE) is a non-profit organization that seeks to tackle food insecurity across the U.S. Eastern region. EHNE hosts an annual program that encourages schools to compete in fundraising and enlist community members to pack the most meals. Its objective was to reach a total of 50 million meals across all six states. Maine was ranked in first place for many years and stands at sixth as of now. 

Amanda Levesque is a third-year history student at UMaine. She is a member of SAB and served this year as an ambassador for the project. In terms of preparation, Levesque ran raffles and facilitated other fundraising logistics with the UMaine Student Government (UMSG), which allocated $8,000 of funding to SAB. 

Team leaders arrived an hour early to set up and UMaine athletes helped move inventory to the Field House basketball courts. Volunteers began preparing meals at 3 p.m. According to Levesque, 12 hours were spent on the packout two years ago. The total number of meals in 2022 was 70,000. 

Matt Martin of ENHE traveled to Orono up north to transport inventory and track the number of UMaine meals packed. Food and drinks at the event were donated by Sodexo Dining. 

Each meal consisted of two main components. The first included bagged Spanish rice with a packet of red sauce, dried vegetables and seasoning. The second component included oats, dried apple pieces and cinnamon to make oatmeal. There were 36 meals per box. Over 1,500 boxes were filled and distributed across the state. 

“Everything is super shelf-stable and very sustainable. It’s all very hearty food, so it’s heavy. Cali [Warren] made it yesterday for all of us in SAB to try. The hit was the Spanish rice. You would not think stuff that comes in a bag, that goes to food pantries, is really good,” Levesque said. “And it was filling. That’s what they’re looking for, is something that will fill people’s bellies.”

UMaine is one of the only schools in the state that participated this year. Boxes were delivered to 16 food pantries across Maine including in Baileyville, Calais, Danforth, Machias and other regions. 

By the end, exactly 56,789 meals were prepared. According to Levesque, one of the tables packed 4,000 of them per hour. There were about 300 volunteers throughout the day, with the highest number of people at 4:30 p.m.

“Student volunteers were excited. There was a really good energy about it. For organizing it, there were points of stress,” Levesque said. “Stuff goes wrong. But I think being in the room that day, we were all just thrilled it was happening.”

At the next meal packout, Levesque hopes for more volunteers who are available at every time slot to avoid a lull period. Members of all UMaine organizations and individuals are encouraged to join in on the efforts in 2025.

The University of Maine Student Government met on April 23 to grant three clubs preliminary recognition, announce end-of-semester events and send off graduating members. 

Club Maintenance:

Fiber Arts Club was granted preliminary recognition. The club is for students who knit and crochet to come together every Friday at 2 p.m. in Colvin Hall. Ten to 15 members regularly attend meetings. They are currently creating a quilt for donation, fundraising or raffles.

Ballet Club was granted preliminary recognition. Members meet every Sunday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Dancers involved will perform on April 25, 26 and 27 at the Student Showcase, brought by the School of Performing Arts. Ballet club doubled its members from 20 to 40 people since the last showcase. 

Dressage Club was granted preliminary recognition. Dressage is a discipline of riding not currently offered at UMaine that differs from the Drill and Equestrian Teams. The club ran for 19 years pre-pandemic and currently uses the same trainer as before at Pucker Brush in Newburg, ME. Dressage accepts complete beginners and hopes to access future funding. Members pay semesterly dues of $10 or $50 to compete out-of-state. 

Guest Speaker: 

Student Body President Michael Delorge delivered a farewell speech to conclude his four years as a member of UMSG. Delorge took time to thank specific individuals who have taught him important lessons and described what the organization means to him. 

Delorge described his immense pride for all that has been accomplished by UMSG in recent years. Specifically, advocating for better campus dining, supporting the Student Symposium, reforming election policies from one day to one week, updating hiring questions and job descriptions, securing storage for outdoor clubs and enacting financial support to cover pay-to-play fees.

“We’ve negotiated new contracts, solidified relationships with administrators, modernized our organization for the future and we passed the annual budget. We’ve done so much this year and this is just a small list of the things we’ve accomplished that we’ve put down on paper,” said Delorge.

As a freshman, Delorge had no intention of being student body president, a role that represents the interests of 9000 students. He joined alongside Vice President for Student Leadership Jacob Chaplin in the fall of 2020, when COVID-19 was at its peak. He explained that he has grown significantly with the UMSG since it emerged from the pandemic. According to Delorge, meetings were held in Neville Hall with about one-third of the current senators and everyone was spaced out six seats apart.

“Value this experience in student government and in anything that you surround yourself with because if there is only one piece of advice you can give to a college student, it is to get involved,” Delorge said. “We are in a unique position as a non-profit where we’re run by students for students. If anyone ever has a frustration with anything we do, they can get involved. We still have open seats on Senate.”

Executive Reports:

Vice President Keegan Tripp, Board of Trustees Representative (BoT) Olivia Britton and Delorge met with the UMaine System (UMS)  BoT Chairwoman Trish Riley. They had a productive conversation, sharing goals for the future in terms of student relations with the Board. 

Tripp discussed the Student Trustees situation, as the nominees were not accepted by the Maine Governor’s office. He seeks to improve relations between trustees and students. According to Tripp, the Spring Survey, released on April 18, is going well and closes on May 1. He will share an official report to current senators and put the information into a presentation for next semester. 

Paige Allen, vice president for financial affairs, is currently training her replacement. She hosted a budget Q & A with Dean Robert Dana and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Sparks on April 25. 

Vice President for Student Organizations Julian Ober shared that the club forms she created with the Center for Student Involvement are officially active on Campus Groups.

Chaplin announced that there were over 70 volunteers at the campus cleanup. UMSG collaborated with Student Wellness on April 25, hosting an event for students to build finals survival kits, make stress balls, and paint pill bottles.

Representative of Military and Veteran Student Affairs Cynthia Shelmerdine was awarded 2024 Emerging Senator of the Year. Center for the Undergraduate Research Liaison Joshua Bohm was awarded Senator of the Year. 

Periodic Reports:

Britton went in-depth as to what occurred after names were submitted for the student BoT positions. They did not meet requirements for various reasons. One of which being that the bylaws state that no two appointees can be members of the same UMaine System campus. Members of the Student Trustee recommendation committee were not made aware of the concerns before the window in the state legislature to confirm them closed.

In lieu of appointing them on the board, student representatives are chosen to be voice without an official vote. Applications will re-open to fill the position. Selected names must be ready for the fall in case there is a special session of the legislature. If there is not, the students will likely be approved in January. 

Britton is putting together a newsletter of student concerns and thoughts to share important information with the BoT. This September, every trustee will be paired with a student and walk to the dining hall to eat dinner together as opposed to attending a board dinner the evening before the regular meeting.

Academic Affairs Chair Meredyth Waters met with Associate Provost John Volin on April 18. They discussed fixing degree progress reports and adding a forum for students to report errors. The first one to be fixed is within the Computer Science department. Waters also shared that there was a 6% increase in GPA for first-year students last semester. 

Nate Feng, food and dining committee chair, announced that the UCook station at Hilltop Dining will be card access only for students with allergies.

The Student Heritage Alliance Council changed its Multicultural Formal date from April 20 to April 27 at the Buchanan Alumni House. 

Wilde Stein will hold its Lavender Graduation on April 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. Rainbow cords are available for graduating students who identify as LGBTQ+. 

New Business (Applies Fiscal Year 2025): 

An act to allocate $5,000 to UMSG toward the club storage project was passed. As of now, they intend to expand upon storage units, as the campus cannot commit to extra space due to ongoing renovations. The storage units will serve as a middle ground between a long-term and short-term solution. UMSG plans to use the funding to purchase a block of them for reduced cost. Tripp may develop a level system to determine which clubs need an entire storage unit. Shelves and totes for clubs that need to store smaller items should also be available.

An act to allocate $1,700 to Sigma Phi Epsilon was passed as amended to cover its Concert for Consent on Aug. 30 in the Freshman Quad. $500 will cover the cost of DJ TidBit, $200 will cover promotional materials (amended from $500), $500 will cover food services and $500 will cover sound equipment. Title IX and Rape Response Services will table at the event.

An act to allocate $4,600 to UMSG Services was passed to address the need for student transportation to and from campus throughout the 2024-25 academic year. $4,500 will cover Concord Coach Certificates, and $100 will cover ticket printing fees. 

An act to allocate $4,700 to UMSG for the Student Legal Conflict Funds was passed. $1,200 will go toward the legal consultation fund and $3,500 will go toward the legal representation fund.

04/16:

Around 7 p.m., a property damage crash occurred in the Hilltop parking lot. The damage was non-reportable, as the vehicle that was struck only sustained a scuffed bumper. The cost of repairs is well-below $2,000.

04/17:

At noon, there was an information complaint near the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at 111 College Avenue. The caller reported an individual riding a dirt bike in circles around Merrill Hall, where the campus daycare center is located.

04/18:

At about 3:30 p.m., criminal mischief took place in the Hilltop parking lot at. A female student came across intentional damage to the hood of her vehicle. There were patterned scratches. No camera footage is available because she parked out of motion sensor range. 

Half past 6 p.m., a theft complaint was issued from Cumberland Hall. A female student reported her bicycle stolen from a rack in front of the dormitory. She did not grant another person permission to use her bike. 

Around 7 p.m., a suspicious complaint was made beside Hotel Ursa. A man wearing a gray hoodie was allegedly following two females into a nearby building and took photos of them. According to the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD), the suspect had no identifying traits and left the hotel parking lot in a gray vehicle.

04/19:

Around 9:30 a.m., there was a pedestrian crash on Long Road. A graduate student was struck by a printing services van operated by a UMaine employee. The student sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. 

At about 2 p.m., an information complaint was issued in Somerset Hall. A male student was joking about overdosing on alcohol. Upon UMPD arrival, the student explained that he was trying to make his friends laugh. 

Around 7:30 p.m., a noise complaint was made about the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. Students were gathered for a live concert behind the house. UMPD alerted members that the music was too loud and they lowered its volume. No further complaint was made. 

At 9:30 p.m., UMPD received an information complaint through Campus Eyes regarding alcohol violations in Somerset Hall. The reporter provided a room number and several students were gathered with alcohol inside. The officer requested identification on the scene. About 10 students were drinking underage and submitted to conduct for possession of a controlled substance.  

Around 11 p.m., an intoxication complaint was issued in Penobscot Hall. A female student was not feeling well due to alcohol consumption. UVAC arrived and she refused transport. The case was submitted to conduct. 

04/20:

At 2 p.m., a suspicious complaint was made in the cornfield loop off Park Street. A dark vehicle parked in the corner. ROTC members were participating in the Zimmerman Challenge with a branch sergeant present. 

At 7 p.m., an information complaint came through near the DTAV apartment complex. A couple with a protection order was pulled over on Long Road. The order was dismissed but still in the system. Driving together did not violate the previous order. 

Around 11:30 p.m., an information complaint was issued from Oxford Hall. A student discovered that someone else chained their bicycle. The RA sent an email to residents. About 30 minutes later, the lock was removed. 

04/21:

At about 8 a.m., criminal mischief took place at Somerset Hall. Out of the 16 total exit signs in the building, 13 sustained damage. Nine of which were broken beyond repair.

04/22:

At 1:30, there was a property damage crash in the Facilities Management Complex involving two vehicles. 

Around 4 p.m., an information complaint was made in Oxford Hall. A student received a jar of pickles outside of his bedroom door with a note that said “We are not going to eat these, you can if you want.” The student was concerned that the brand of pickles was not FDA-approved and disposed of them. 

04/23:

Around 11 a.m, there was an information complaint outside of Estabrooke Hall regarding the Graduate Workers Union protest. The student participants were not causing problems. 

At 2 p.m., a suspicious complaint was issued from Fogler Library. A male petitioner was outside speaking to passers-by. He refused to tell UMPD his name and was not a student. He walked away without responding only to return minutes later. The petitioner was acting aggressively toward students who would not sign. UMPS requested identification and he drove away. The man was identified by the plate number of his vehicle. 

Around 2:30 p.m., a property damage crash occurred outside of Hart Hall. A vehicle struck an unoccupied parked car and reported the incident to UMPD. 

04/24: 

At midnight, there was a theft complaint in Somerset Hall. An exit sign was missing from the second floor west center hallway. 

At 5 a.m., an information complaint was issued from Oxford Hall. Multiple motorized bikes stored in the basement had a strong odor of fuel. Facilities management retrieved the bicycles. They will remain at the UMPD lodge until the owners are found. Also at this time, two students had a verbal confrontation in the New Balance Recreation Center parking lot because one parked their vehicle in a handicap space, which upset the other. The student who parked had a handicap placard that was not visible. 

Half past 7 a.m., theft was reported late from the Memorial Union Bookstore. The incident occurred on April 23. An employee assisted two females. One went into the fitting room with merchandise and her friend walked in shortly after. They exited the store without 

Around 8:30 a.m., there was a property damage crash in the Hilltop parking lot. One vehicle was involved. 

Around 3 p.m., an intoxication complaint on Rangeley Road. Four intoxicated females were spotted stumbling in front of the UMPD. UVAC arrived on the scene but they refused transport. 

Also at this time, an alcohol offense occurred outside of Knox Hall. Two intoxicated underage students were referred to conduct. The complaint was made at 2 p.m. from the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) but the two students were not located until one hour later. A third intoxication complaint was made at 3 p.m. from Long Road regarding an underage student outside of Oxford Hall. The case was submitted to conduct.

At about 6 p.m., criminal mischief took place in Cumberland Hall. Two emergency censor units on the fourth floor were discovered damaged. Also at this time, a suspicious complaint was issued from Rangeley Road regarding a male subject laying in the bushes. Upon UMPD arrival, he was no longer there. 

Around 6:30 p.m., a welfare check was made on Rangeley Road inbound from Park Street. A male subject was reportedly unsteady on his feet. UMPD searched for him in nearby ditches but did not locate the person.

At 8 p.m., an intoxication complaint was made from the previous UCU parking lot regarding an aggressive intoxicated male. UMPD made contact with the person. He was not aggressive toward the officer on scene and referred to conduct. 

04/25:

Half past midnight, a suspicious complaint was issued from the Aroostook parking lot. The caller noticed a non-permitted van circulating the area. 

At 2 p.m., an information complaint came through from the CCA parking lot accusing a female student of leaving her scooter in a single space for many days. According to the student, she has been working on finals and simply parks in the same spot every day.