Donald Trump is facing civil and criminal charges regarding multiple hush money payments to conceal information amidst the 2016 campaign period. This marks the first criminal trial of a U.S. president in history. Trump is indicted in Georgia and Washington D.C. for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The former president is also indicted in Florida for hoarding classified documents. Those trials will likely not precede the upcoming presidential election. 

In New York City, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. The crime of falsifying business records or causing them to be entered falsely is considered a misdemeanor. If prosecutors can prove that Trump not only committed a misdemeanor but did so to conceal another crime, he can be charged with a felony. 

While a conviction cannot disqualify Trump from running this year, it could discourage current supporters from voting for him. According to a two-day Ipsos poll released pre-trial, 45% of republicans said they would not vote for Trump if the jury convicts him of a felony, while 35% of participants said they would still vote for him. The remaining total was unsure whether or not they would vote for Trump.

 The prosecuting lawyer is Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg. The defense attorneys are Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles. Judge Juan Merchan predicts the trial will last about six weeks. 

Trump referred to the allegations as “political persecution” and pleaded not guilty. The defense requested a postponement and removal of the judge, whose daughter is a Democratic political consultant. The appeals court denied the request as they do not want to further delay the trial.

The trial began on April 15 with jury selection. Three hundred prospective jurors were vetted due to preconceived opinions or potential biases. It took four days to select the 12 NY jurors. The first of four criminal cases involves an attempt to bury allegations of extramarital affairs during his initial campaign in 2016. Opening arguments and testimony began on April 22.

Prior to opening statements, Merchan ruled that prosecutors may question Trump about previous cases and past violations of gag orders, assuming he testifies in his defense. Specifically, two of the topics include a $454 million judgment against Trump for civil fraud of inflating net worth to obtain favorable loans and his attack on a law clerk in a civil fraud case, which violated a gag order. 

Furthermore, prosecutors may inquire about allegations brought by E. Jean Carrol, a writer whom he was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming. However, Merchan only mentioned the defamation aspect. He will deliver stipulations to limit the scope of questioning, which are subject to change depending on Trump’s potential testimony.  

One of three hush money schemes involves a $150,000 payment issued to Former Playboy Model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump. The National Enquirer, owned by American Media (AMI) purchased rights to the story from McDougal in 2016. Former CEO of AMI David Pecker delivered 30 minutes of testimony against Trump, describing the intention behind “catch-and-kill,” an unethical journalistic practice wherein outlets purchase the rights to a story to withhold it from the public.

Attorney Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, is called as a key witness in the prosecution. Cohen paid Adult Film Actor Stormy Daniels a total of $130,000. He was later reimbursed and granted bonuses by the Trump Organization. The funds were falsely logged as legal expenses in company records. This sex scandal, along with the one involving McDougal, had the potential to derail his 2016 campaign. 

Prosecutors wish to issue Trump a $3,000 fine for derogatory comments made on social media regarding two case witnesses. The Manhattan DA office insists that his comments violate a gag order limiting what can be stated publicly about witnesses and believes he should be held in contempt of court for verbally attacking witnesses and jurors.

Another order poses to bar Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, jurors, court staff or their relatives. He may still criticize Merchan and Bragg. According to the prosecutors, Trump has violated the order 11 times thus far, both in published statements as well as republished quotes and articles from the internet.

The majority of his attacks are geared towards Cohen and Daniels. The prosecutors previously requested that Merchan fine Trump $1000 for each violation but went on to suggest stronger measures, such as jail time. 

Testimony resumes on the morning of April 23. Visit nycourts.gov to access more public information as the trial continues.

The University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) convened on April 16 to discuss administrative plans for the 2024-25 academic year, end-of-semester programs and senate-wide guideline alterations. 

Club Maintenance:

Sports Management Club was granted preliminary recognition by the senate. Sport Management was introduced as a new major within the Maine Business School in 2021. The club’s mission is to provide opportunities for professional development and increase outreach by next year. There are currently 12 members and approximately 150 students in the major. Objectives of organization include networking with alumni mentors and creating job pathways to ensure a meaningful experience in the program. 

Executive Reports:

Student Body President Michael Delorge announced that the hiring for fall 2025 is complete. 

Vice President Tripp provided an update on the UMSG Spring Survey and the potential for students to win a prize by participating. 

“I used $150 of my executive fund to buy one $100 and two $25 gift cards to the bookstore as an incentive to take the survey, which President Delorge and I are preparing,” said Tripp. “We will be releasing that as soon as possible.” 

Tripp and Board of Trustees (BoT) Representative Olivia Britton will meet with administration to discuss an open town hall initiative for students to express concerns and hear from UMaine System (UMS) leaders directly. 

Tripp is also meeting with UMaine Alumni Thomas Peaco to learn about his role in the Alumni Association. The final senate meeting of the academic year will take place on April 23. Delorge will serve as the guest speaker and deliver a farewell address. 

Paige Allen, vice president for financial affairs, is organizing a student roundtable with Chief Financial Officer Kelly Sparks to increase UMS and UMSG budget clarity. The current UMSG budget projected unallocated stands at $99,526.

Vice President for Student Entertainment Myles Moore announced that there are four official food trucks scheduled for Maine Day of Service on April 24, including Yum Bus, Falafel Mafia, Wild Cow Creamery and Red Barn. The number of meals increased from 600 to 850. Meals are free to students and will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. or while supplies last.

Periodic Reports:

Britton shared that the undergraduate student appointed to the BoT will not be inducted in July because their membership was not approved by the Maine Governor’s office. She brought up the issue at the Senior Administration meeting on April 17. The BoT bylaws state that student representatives may participate in meetings in addition to ASA.

Services Committee Chair Beau Michaud met with Auxiliary Services on April 16 and touched on equitable access. There will be a pop-up on MaineStreet and students will receive mail over the summer with information about the program and how to opt out. Professors are encouraged to open courses early.

Michaud also shared that cable programming will be phased out of dorms and replaced with streaming services. Hancock will have 16 single-use bathrooms. Parking Services seeks to collaborate with the University of Maine Police Department for free car checks and modernized parking passes to improve its relationship with the student body. The Department of Residence Life announced that all on-campus students can receive free red parking passes next semester. Cutler Health will remain open throughout the summer break. 

Meredyth Waters, academic affairs committee chair, met with Associate Provost on April 17 to discuss primary student issues, such as online major and minor change. She hopes to find the point of contact for degree progress report updates. Waters is also going to inquire about what the administration is proud of and bring the response to Senate next week. 

Senior Class Council Representative Nathalie Poulin announced the event lineup for UMaine graduates. April 22 will be a movie day at Black Bear Cinemas, with the option to watch Shrek Two or Ghostbusters at 7 p.m. There will be a cap decorating event in the Walker Room on April 23 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On April 24, Orono Brewing Company is hosting a cornhole tournament at 5 p.m. A $5 donation to participate is encouraged but not required. On April 25, there will be an arcade night from 4 to 9 p.m. and a bar crawl at 7 p.m. starting at Margaritas. Lastly, a “jumping into graduation” event will be held at the Orono trampoline park from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 26. 

New Business:

An act to revise the Financial Policies regarding pay-to-play passed with a two-thirds majority. Allen explained the club facility-use fees that occur due to the inherent nature of certain sports or need for external facilities off campus. Six out of 33 clubs are affected by the process and often request funding outside of the tier system to cover the costs. Figure Skating, Men’s Hockey and Tennis were approved for funding. Other groups that are included are Alpine Ski, Women’s hockey and Pickleball. Allen devised a policy allowing UMSG to cover up to 75% of each club’s financial need with written approval from Campus Recreation. 

An act to revise the Student Organization Recognition Policies was passed with a two-thirds majority. Vice President for Student Organizations Julian Ober presented a change to the guidelines which allow new clubs to receive preliminary recognition with five active members as opposed to 10. This would allow those groups to engage in the process sooner upon forming and be advertised in the UMSG newsletter. A total of 10 members is still needed for final recognition and to request funds. 

An act to revise the Fair Election Practices Commission Guidelines was passed with a two-thirds majority to ensure students can access election results prior to Spring Break. The scheduling of the executive election must conclude no later than seven days before spring break, thus pushing the election period forward by one week.

An act to revise the financial policies to compensate members for summer and legal hours worked throughout school breaks was passed with a two-thirds majority. The VPFA or president may receive payment over the summer should an emergency audit arise.

4/12:

 At about noon, an information complaint was made at the Memorial Gym. A custodian indicated that his unlocked locker in the Field House was rummaged through overnight. Nothing appeared to be missing. Also, around this time, another information complaint was issued through Campus Eyes at Oak Hall. An anonymous student reported that someone shouted, “I see you” at them. 

At 11 p.m., there was a noise complaint in the Wells parking lot. The caller heard music coming from the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity house. Members were hosting a bonfire for their annual charity sleep-out and turned the volume down upon University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) arrival. 

4/13:

At 1 a.m. a noise problem occurred at York Hall. Students were speaking loudly in the common room and told to return to their rooms or quiet down. 

4/14:

At 1 a.m., a scam was reported from Knox Hall. A student was tricked into sending an unknown person sexually explicit photos and extorted for $200. 

Around 6 p.m. a property damage crash took place at the Hilltop parking lot. A female student noticed black paint transferred on the side of her car, potentially from another vehicle’s bumper. There was minimal damage, as the marks can be buffed off.  

At about 9:30 p.m., a disorderly complaint was made in Cumberland Hall, regarding a person who stood outside of the building and yelled the word “Orbeez” repeatedly. UMPD arrived and did not see anyone with orbeez. 

4/15:

Around 9 a.m., in Somerset Hall, someone removed four exit signs, leaving exposed wires. The missing signs were not located. 

At 9:30 a.m., a vehicle was egged outside of Wells Conference Center while its owner was inside of the building. 

At about 4 p.m., a theft complaint was issued from York Hall. A male student reported his bicycle was stolen. It was last seen on April 11.

University of Maine Ph.D. student and teaching assistant Nikita Saini participated in a Citizen Science Project collecting solar eclipse data on April 8, alongside her colleague Shawn Laatsch, director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium. 

The 2024 Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse Experiment, otherwise known as CATE2024, is funded by NASA and NSF and comprises 35 teams across the U.S. Each group of two or three individuals was stationed at a location with totality during the eclipse to record film to see how the sun’s corona changes over time and create a 3D view of its corona from 2D pictures.

This year, totality was expected to last approximately one hour between Texas and Maine. The objective of the project is to combine the totality footage taken by each team into a 60-minute movie that reveals the evolution of the sun’s corona and atmosphere. 

Saini’s team was stationed in Jackman at Site 33 of 35. This particular location was the best place in Maine to view totality because it lasted three minutes and 29 seconds, which is the most amount of time in the state. They collected three minutes and 25 seconds of data.

CATE was executed in 2017 when the last eclipse to hit the U.S. occurred. Identical equipment and telescopes were placed all along the path of totality and each station collected data one after the other as totality passed over the areas, providing a precise estimate of how the sun’s atmosphere evolves. 

Saini and Laatsch traveled to Australia in 2023 when the project started and practiced with similar equipment. By doing dry runs of data collection, they became proficient in training others and knew what to expect. Minor equipment changes since last April 20, including the camera type, extender pieces, and extra accessories, updated the telescope’s view.

Regarding the Site 33 team, Laatsch was the regional coordinator for the Northeast, who recruited teams in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. He sought out people who were especially passionate about getting into research and astronomy with a willingness to receive telescope training. Saini, the lead trainer, instructed all Northeastern participants on telescope fundamentals. 

Following the eclipse, all equipment used for the project belongs to team members. Since Saini and Laatsch represented the planetarium in their participation, UMaine now has access to the fully-equipped telescope for data collection and teaching purposes. According to Saini, it can achieve night sky observation or solar viewing and take science images or astrophotography pictures. The Camera is a separate and small cube screwed onto the back of the telescope.

“The camera is special in the way that its pixels are tilted in different polarization angles. Which means that the light coming from the sun, those pixels will only detect the light at certain angles,” said Saini. “Because sunlight is going in each direction, those pixels will make sure only light at certain angles enters. That way, we can get an idea of which exact direction the light was coming from and what part of the sun.” 

Creating a 60-minute-long movie with contributions from every station was weather permitting. Saini completed the upload of her team’s data to Google Drive on April 11 and is already showing some of the raw images taken. 

“Some of the stations got clouded out. As it turned out, weather in the Northeast was the best on Earth, and that was opposed to everything weather models know. Weather is never good in April here,” said Saini. “I heard some of the Texas stations got clear skies just when totality hit, so the clouds parted away. It’s been known to happen. As the winds pick up near totality and the temperature drops, some of the clouds part away.” 

The data provides an idea of the start of solar flares and the sun’s activity cycle, specifically how much more active the sun is amidst solar flare eruptions. They were able to calculate how fast the solar flare was moving when it started off the surface of the sun from the pictures. 

One aspect that can be studied using the polarization data the team took is which exact direction the solar flare is moving in. A 2D picture limits the amount of information, but by learning which angle it was, astronomers can determine whether it is pointed at Earth or alert satellites. 

“We can prepare better or maybe let the satellites know if they want to be out of the way,” said Saini. “If it’s a huge solar flare and it comes at us, it can knock down our satellites, it can affect astronauts that are out in space. If it is even strong, it can knock down the communication system on Earth as well. So, we really want to be prepared for huge solar flares. But, they happen a lot, they keep happening.”

One of the primary science objectives is to learn more about the sun’s corona. Solar physicists do not have extensive information because it is not seen very often. The corona is seen more clearly during a solar eclipse. Most times, data is not as clean. 

Coronagraphs can be circular in size and designed to block the sun. However, it can be difficult to get the exact size and distance from a telescope in ground-based observing. The same applies to space-based observing because astronauts are still at a great distance from the sun.

“There’s a huge structure to it, and during solar flares, it can be much hotter than the core of the sun, which is usually the hottest part. So, just learning about what is happening over there because it affects us in some ways is the aim here,” Saini said. 

While the coronagraph has several applications in sun observation, it cuts off certain parts of the corona. There needs to be complete precision in the amount of sunlight being blocked. If too much is blocked, astronomers can only see the outer portion of the corona, and if it is not blocked enough, too much sunlight can creep in and affect the results.

“The problem with that is, if you’re making artificial corona graphs or something to block the sunlight, it’s really hard to get the size right, the angular size that is perfectly able to block the sun. The moon is perfectly able,” said Saini. “Every time during a total solar eclipse, the moon is perfectly able to completely block out the sun. It will reveal the whole corona then too.”

Eclipses provide the perfect setting for data collection. Observations can be scheduled in accordance with each time domain of the natural phenomenon. Viewing the eclipse for about three or four minutes from one side does not provide enough information. CATE2024 combined the data, allowing for insight into what was happening on the surface of the sun throughout an hour.

Another team, stationed outside of Millinocket, was led by Kyle Leathers, a high school history teacher who invited his students to come along and participate. He applied, intending to perform it with students. 

“It was nice to see because he understood that this is something kids should experience. You don’t know who gets inspired and who chooses that path after it because they’ve got that in,” said Saini.

Pedro Vazquez works for the South Portland Human Rights Commission and led a team near Houlton. While education can be biased and less accessible for people of color, his group was diverse and also involved children. Different backgrounds were crucial to CATE2024 because the project provides opportunities for people that may not be otherwise possible.

Laasch used his connection to the community to recruit individuals and put an application form online. He worked to find who this would benefit, specifically active members of the community to ensure that the equipment ends up in good hands. 

The University of Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) was granted funding for the construction of a new facility on campus, which will begin in fall 2024. In January 2023, its Dean, Dr. Giovanna Guidoboni, led the establishment and development of the MCEC. The rationale for the college was previously developed by UMaine System leaders and several students, faculty, and staff members across the system with community input.

“The new building actually is designed with the goal of enabling the convergence of engineering, computing, humanities, social sciences and so on,” Guidoboni said. “There will be new spaces where this convergence can actually take place. And also new classes and new programs that will be developed thanks to that.”

The bold vision of UMS stems from a desire to collaborate across the system. Every campus has its strengths and serves different types of student populations. For instance, Guidoboni commends the material characterization labs, space applications and electrical circuits at the University of Southern Maine. UMaine Orono is known for its biomedical, computing and mechanical research. Students will achieve similar learning objectives working on their labs and then unite for larger projects.

“Engineering and computing are disciplines that together can achieve much more than just the sum of their parts,” said Guidoboni. “Actually, their application and impact really stem from applied technologies. You could see, for example, in construction or the 3D printing of a boat or a house. Then the two new energy systems like offshore wind or solar panels. And then the design of the materials in them.” 

Aspects related to the social sciences or humanities will also play an important role in critical consideration of the findings. Questions such as “How do you interact in a new workplace where you have people and robots?” or “How are innovations perceived by users?” will be addressed as new technology is introduced to students and faculty. The reason for catalyzing convergence between engineering and computing is not only to intentionally combine disciplines but also to enable impact on a much broader spectrum. 

Guidoboni emphasized that while a fundamental knowledge in math, chemistry and physics is true everywhere, exploring possibilities on how to join forces provides more opportunities for students. The objective is to bridge knowledge gaps in math and physics to provide students with an easier entryway into engineering or computing programs. 

“For the incoming class this year, we will have a Research Learning Experience that is called ‘Charismathic’ to discover the charisma of math,” Guidoboni said. “We will have four sections here at UMaine and one section at USM. Students will be guided by different advisors but we will work together to actually show how they will be learning in their introductory classes. It will be impactful for the courses to come, for their research or the things that they could do in the workplace.”

Space on the first floor will be accessible from the Collins Center for the Arts parking lot and function as an open environment similar to that of Ferland. A hands-on, immersive lab will be established on the right side. According to Guidoboni, students can learn how to use a printer with robotic arms that are not confined to specific methods or materials. Furthermore, sensors will collect real-time data amidst printing for users to identify defects. 

The primary purpose is to encourage interaction with the machine and redirect printing. It serves as an integration of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science and computing applying fundamental sciences including chemistry, physics and geometry in controlling the robot.

The second floor will have active learning classrooms, which open opportunities for group projects. Some team members may be downstairs in the lab while others work in classrooms upstairs. Participants can stay connected remotely with a computer to share data or use a commanding pad to communicate with members. Students can gain knowledge and experience upstairs and apply it to innovations downstairs.

“In a sense, the innovative technologies that have been developed at ASCC in collaboration with many faculty across campus is driving the vision of the need for convergence of disciplines to lead to groundbreaking innovations,” said Guidoboni. “And the educational spaces in the new building like the labs and interactive classrooms will enable us to develop programs where students can experience and learn that from year one.”

The new printer will scale up efforts for 3D printing regarding the house and boat on campus in contribution to the UMaine BioHome project. From the lab and interactive spaces, there will be an open view for visual connection to the larger printers.

“What is really important to me is how we can have in the design process, in our programs and in our industry, a diverse group of people,” Guidoboni said. “The more perspectives you have, the more likely it is that we come up with solutions that are actually usable and effective and that are adoptable not only by a small segment of the population.”

Guidoboni emphasized women in particular must feel that it is also a space for them. There will be a multipurpose room on the second floor to host activities for middle and high schoolers, such as workshops for girls in particular to show that engineering, computing and discovery-driven learning is for everyone. 

Developers are in a position to alter plans as new advancements in technology and design arise throughout the next two years. One of the questions to be addressed is “How can we build something that is not just for what we know now but for what could be in the future?” It is one of the drivers of the design of the building. Guidoboni believes that technological advancements will originate from the building itself. 

“Should new technologies come along, we can twitch them, or we can upgrade them,” Guidoboni said. “The important thing, though, that will not change is that the space is open, it is inclusive, it is flexible, and you can access it both physically and visually.”

UMaine facilities, including Boardman, Crosby, the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Geness will undergo a re-envisioning to make the spaces conducive to the MCEC vision of openness, collaboration and inclusivity. Guidoboni encourages students to share their wishes to help fuel capital plans. All perspectives are welcome.

“I would like to emphasize how amazed I am by the enthusiasm and the passion and the energy of students…As I talk about the plans and the visions for the college and also for the building, what I find is eagerness for this to come and the many opportunities that we have in front of us,” said Guidoboni. 

University of Maine alumna Louise Kazek presented an oral statement on March 28 at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Session in Geneva, Switzerland, calling for the protection of Palestinian civilians. 

In December, Kazek received her bachelor’s degree in legal studies and international relations. She is learning Arabic, intending to focus on the Middle East. Kazek is committed to human rights advocacy through her professional career in human rights relations, especially regarding the conflict in Gaza. She entered the realm of viewing world conflicts with a lens of how to promote more peace and diplomacy. 

The Human Rights Council is a significant inter-governmental body within the UN system that seeks to promote and protect human rights across the world. It advocates for marginalized populations and those whose liberties have been grossly or systematically violated. Members convene regularly in the UN Office in Geneva. 

The Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) is a non-governmental organization guided by statutes of the Swiss Civil Code. According to its website, the non-profit’s primary objective is “to combat human rights violations, reinforce commitment to human rights principles, raise awareness of violations, hold violators accountable and seek justice for victims.” GIJC seeks justice by all legal means for the citizens whose rights have been infringed.  

“Basically what I’ve been doing so far is mostly writing articles. We [GIJC] post on social media as well,” said Kazek. “I got the opportunity to speak at the UN at the Human Rights Council on the genocide in Gaza because I am really affected by what is going on and I feel like people don’t really talk about it that much or realize how terrible and pure genocide this is.”

Kazek is currently working on an article about women’s rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the humanitarian crisis continues. Other interns at the GICJ referenced various immigration issues and racism under Item 9. Kazek spoke on behalf of the International Organization for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. Her portion can be accessed on the UN Web TV website, under the 48th meeting of the Human Rights Council’s 55th regular session. 

“Item 9 is articulated around racism and discrimination. I think, for me it was important to talk about Gaza, but obviously there is a massive rise of discrimination around the world right now in terms of immigration. I can observe it really well in Europe and France also,” Kazek said. 

Kazek shared her overall experience with the UN and what it meant to her as an international student who graduated from UMaine. She encouraged current students to pursue their passions as worthwhile opportunities arise.

“I really want to work at the UN eventually. Speaking there was like a childhood dream for me. Also, I had the chance to be in this environment of diplomacy. It raised aspirations of career, speaking out loud, while before I was so terrified of speaking in front of people,” said Kazek. “Just to talk in front of that many important people, I was really grateful for that.”

Kazek used her time in front of the UN consultants to emphasize the importance of standing with both Palestinian civilians and the Jewish community of Israel.

 “Following closely the ICJ trials and everything that has been going on, even if we do not have access to all of the information, I am really hoping first for a cease-fire,” said Kazek. “I really want international humanitarian law to be applied and also Israel to be held accountable. We have to make a distinction between the Israeli government and the Jewish population there that has nothing to do with it.”

In terms of the long-standing geographical conflict, Kazek hopes for a solution that would allow Palestine to live in peace, despite diplomatic complications. Short term, she insists that humanitarian assistance is necessary to prevent the death toll from continuing to rise. 

According to Kazek, the U.S. government can only contribute to that solution by calling for a ceasefire and backing away from political support and allyship toward Israel. Working as a community to enforce the role of the UN is crucial. 

“As a superpower nation like the U.S. is and with all the resources that they have, it is necessary to re-enforce the humanitarian help to Palestinians. It is not about a political conflict. It’s about humanity, it’s about human rights, it’s about children dying. We cannot speak about politics for that,” Kazek said.

04/02:

At about 5:30 p.m., an information complaint was issued from the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) parking  lot. A male student reported that someone illegally entered his vehicle, wrote “Drive safe, lover” on a red folder and signed it as “Secret Admirer.” The University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) was unable to determine who wrote the note due to unclear surveillance footage. 

Around 7:30 p.m., a property damage crash occurred in the New Balance Recreation Center parking lot. A male student struck a parked vehicle pulling into a spot while the other driver was in the gym. The damage was non-reportable due to its assessment below $2,000. 

At 11 p.m., disorderly conduct took place at the Steam Plant lot. A campus safety officer made contact with two students who entered the parking lot at a high rate of speed. They spoke aggressively to the officer and were referred to conduct by UMPD.

04/03:

At 10 a.m., a property damage crash took place in the CCA parking lot. The driver pulled into a spot and struck a parked vehicle, breaking its plastic bumper. The damage was reportable.

Around 10:30 a.m., vandalism by a repeat offender was seen in the Memorial Union. “Izzy Rotz” was written on top of a garbage can in the building. UMPD found a male person of interest who owns an “Izzy Rotz ” social media page and contacted him via email. Due to no response six days later, UMPD will call the suspect.

At 2 p.m., a property damage crash took place in the Cutler Health parking lot. A female student reported damage to the front of her vehicle. The footage revealed her vehicle was not struck at that location and it likely occurred outside of Gannet Hall one day prior. 

04/04:

At 8 a.m., there was criminal mischief in Somerset Hall. The custodial staff came across two damaged exit signs.

Around 8:30 a.m., a  property damage crash occurred in the Alfond Arena parking lot involving a facility van. The driver did not make contact with another vehicle. Instead, they hit an object.

Half past 3 p.m., a disorderly complaint was issued near 107 College Avenue, accusing Phi Eta Kappa and Delta Tau Delta Fraternity members of throwing snowballs at passing vehicles. UMPD advised the students who were present to keep their snowball fight on the grass.

04/05:

Around 5:30 p.m., UMPD made an agency assist to the Orono Fire Department at York Hall. Seven people were trapped in the elevator and subsequently rescued. 

At 11:30 p.m., a suspicious complaint was reported at the Sawyer Environmental Research Center parking lot (off of the Allagash Road and Grove Street extension). Several people were seen lurking around boats. No one was found upon UMPD’s arrival. 

04/06:

At about 5:30 p.m., a suspicious complaint was issued in the Hilltop parking lot. A female student reported that someone broke off one of her windshield wipers. It could not be re-attached.

04/07:

At midnight, a suspicious complaint was made beside 117 College Avenue, which was formerly occupied by the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. A next door occupant notified UMPD of flashlights and loud banging around the boarded up building. No one was found. 

At 1 a.m., there was an information complaint in Penobscot Hall. A resident called in search of their roommate. The UMPD officer was contacted again while driving to the dormitory because the student was located.

Around 7 p.m, criminal mischief was reported at the Steam Plant parking lot. A student claimed someone broke his windshield. UMPD determined that a rock might have hit the bottom of it and breakage spread due to fluctuating temperatures. Also at this time, a property damage crash took place in the same location. A non-student claimed to be “mesmerized by the scenery,” causing them to strike a traffic sign. 

04/08:

At about 1 a.m., an information complaint was issued from Oxford Hall. A resident received a notification from an unknown number. The message was a photo of a nude male. UMPD attempted to track the sender, but it was a fake Google number.

Around 6:30 p.m., there was a noise problem at the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR)  Fraternity house. The complainant observed members riding dirt bikes around the property. They were instructed to stop and the fraternity president ensured UMPD that the behavior will not continue.

04/09:

Around 8 a.m., a duplicate information complaint was made in Dunn Hall. The caller reported “Izzy Rotz” graffiti from two weeks ago. UMPD had the specific case on file already. 

At 1 p.m., a noise complaint was made regarding the AGR Fraternity. Members were caught riding dirt bikes again. Upon UMPD arrival, they were no longer doing so but admitted to building a dirt course behind the property, separated from the road and sidewalk.

04/10:

Around 9 a.m., there was an information complaint in Androscoggin Hall. Campus eyes reported a student for allegedly dating someone on the Maine Sex Offender Registry. The student in question is over 18 and their partner is not on the registry.  Also at this time, another information complaint was issued from Stodder Hall. A student reported a stolen bike via email. UMPD responded and filed the complaint. However, it was a third-party report because the bike belongs to his friend. UMPD contacted the owner and has yet to hear back. 

At 6:30 p.m., monetary theft was reported from Androscoggin Hall. A male student sent a sexually explicit photo to who he thought was a female. The recipient was actually a male who extorted the student with threats to publish the image on social media. He paid the criminal $500 before reporting it to UMPD. 

04/11:

At 1 p.m., an information complaint was issued from the Hilltop parking lot. A student left their vehicle unlocked and items were moved around. However, nothing went missing. 

At 11 p.m., there was an alcohol offense in Androscoggin Hall. Two underage female students were intoxicated. Neither of them required medical attention and both were referred to conduct.

The University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) met on April 9, welcoming Chief Financial Officer Kelly Sparks and Provost John Volin to discuss system-wide changes that begin in fall 2024. The UMSG also discussed receiving student feedback from the spring survey, Maine Day of Service initiatives and funding allocations to five organizations.

Guest Speakers: 

Provost John Volin is nearing his fourth year as the executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at UMaine. He oversees enrollment management, financial aid, the Office of Student Records and the Center for Innovation Teaching and Learning. 

UMaine is a member of the Coalition for Transformational Education, which includes about 20 universities/colleges. Its mission is to bring best practices in areas students can succeed in and create a transformational higher education experience, thus encouraging degree completion. 

The UMaine System (UMS) implemented Pathways to Careers this semester, providing over 50 students with supplemental funding. There is another opportunity to apply for the program over the summer and fall.

CFO Kelly Sparks addressed the senate to discuss budget, tuition and fees in the interest of administrative transparency. The UMS anticipates a 3% cost increase across the board for undergraduate and graduate students on and off campus. 

Students taking a business course who are not majoring in business will pay the same rate as students who are. The cost of delivery for business and engineering is higher due to an increase in the cost of attendance. Technology is also increased to include an infrastructure fee. 

Sparks explained some specific investments in student-facing spaces. Next year, Bennett Hall will undergo a replacement of the HVAC heating and cooling systems. According to Sparks, it is the most highly-utilized space on campus.

There is a change in the cost of delivery for the Maine Business Association program in an effort to break even with the budget. Sparks will host a budget deep-dive on April 25 at 3:30 p.m. to focus on student concerns about specific allocations. UMS is planning for Fiscal Year 26, which begins in the fall 2025.

Academic Affairs Representative Meredyth Waters asked about the new online course fees in consideration of classes that are required for degree programs but only offered online. Sparks explained that it costs more to deliver a program online. 

Undergraduate engineering or business students should anticipate differential fees. Merit scholarships will align with the increased tuition if tuition is fully covered. The amount of funding granted is based on the profile of AP credits, test scores and other materials. 

Sparks also described plans to either tear down, renovate or build new structures on campus. The UMS is gauging student interest in both multi-living apartments and single housing. The first round of renovations will establish single-use bathrooms in Hancock, stalls to the floor and communal dormitory kitchens. A 10-year financial plan will essentially determine how much the UMS can afford to invest in housing and where other interests lie.

“Over the course of the summer, with a working group, we’ll be pulling that information together and start to make recommendations,” Sparks said. “The key outcomes from that will be a revised housing master plan for the campus.”

Executive Reports:

Student Body President Michael Delorge announced that he and Vice President Keegan Tripp are revising the spring survey to launch on April 14 in hopes of receiving student feedback regarding UMSG initiatives and events. 

He also shared that the Collins Center for the Arts welcomed at least 935 students to the Joe Gatto comedy show on April 5. It was the largest and best-attended UMSG event in two years. 

Delorge plans to schedule meetings with Hotel Ursa Management regarding approaches to include the student body. Some examples are hotel giveaways, design competitions, scholarships and discounted rooms. 

Keegan Tripp is spearheading the spring survey by separating it into categories and encouraging senators to draft questions that pertain to their section. Tripp and Advisor Lauri Sidelko scheduled a club storage meeting for April 11. 

Tripp also joined the steering committee for residential housing to provide executives with direction and feedback. Five Zoom meetings will be held over the summer. 

Paige Allen, vice president for financial affairs, shared that the executive budgetary committee received 16 funding requests on April 9. There are two more opportunities for clubs to submit requests for spring semester funding.

Allen and the Board of Trustees (BoT) Representative Olivia Britton met with Sparks to potentially facilitate a roundtable classroom-style discussion for students to ask about both the UMS budget and the UMSG budget, which stands at $130,315.37.

According to the Vice President for Student Organizations Julian Ober, UMSG may change the  requirement for club preliminary recognition to five members. A group would still need 10 members before seeking final recognition. 

Periodic Reports:

Britton attended the BoT meeting held in Augusta on April 9. Several students from Orono spoke during public commentary. She shared that Tyler Technologies is in collaboration with UMaine as part of the Pathways to Careers initiative. Middle and high school students in Maine can visit the campus to learn about STEM programs and research. 

Waters is working on a presentation about library policies and student fees. She also conveyed support for online major or minor changes with the Associate Provost. Waters emphasized that the degree progress reports are inaccurate and hopes to set up a meeting with the person in charge of updating course requirements on MaineStreet. 

Nate Feng, food and dining affairs committee chairman, mentioned that Hilltop Dining is implementing a YouCook station, similar to the one at York Dining. It will take the place of Hilltop Market since Wells is reopening with a similar store. 

Amanda Levesque announced that a total of $19,000 was raised for the Maine Day Meal Pack Out on April 23. The funds cover 56,000 meals, which will be distributed to 20 food banks across Maine.

New Business:

An act to allocate $3,990 to the Fastpitch Softball Club for their New England Regionals in Glens Falls, NY from April 27 to 28 was passed. Of that total, $3,360 is for lodging and $630 is for van rentals.

A second act to allocate $5,840 to the Fastpitch Softball Club for their World Series Tournament in Columbus, GA from May 16 to 19 was passed. Of that total, $2,750 is for airfare, $2250 is for lodging and $840 is for van rentals. 

An act to allocate $15,000 to Student Entertainment for their Maine Day of Service Event on April 24 along the University Mall was passed. The entirety of the funding will cover five food trucks for students. Meals will be provided for free and the hours are 2 to 5 p.m. on the Mall.

An act to allocate $1,020 to Renaissance for their Spring Tour from May 6 to 10 in New Brunswick, Canada was passed. The funding will go toward lodging and all other expenses are covered by the club. 

An act to allocate $2,268 to the Student Heritage Alliance Council for their Multicultural Formal in the Buchanan Alumni House on April 20 was passed. Of that total, $400 covers the venue fee, $1,460 covers Sodexo Catering, $48 covers utensils, $60 covers tablecloths and $150 covers decorations for the photo area. A stipulation was added to the original $380 allocation for cultural decorations, stating that members of the organization must meet with Ober to see if any decorations are still on campus before purchasing new ones.

An act to establish the Academic Affairs Committee as a permanently standing committee was passed. 

An act to reestablish the Food and Dining Affairs Committee as a special committee was passed.

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity was placed on probation until May 31, 2025, due to an incident that occurred on March 2. The charges include violations of health or safety policies, institution motor vehicle policies or parking regulations, student activity regulations and causing a disturbance. 

According to an anonymous member of Delta Tau Delta, an intoxicated female was unresponsive in the fraternity basement, and a brother contacted the University Volunteer Ambulance Corps (UVAC). The anonymous student claims there were multiple sober students outside ensuring that the fire lane remained open. However, they all went inside to help the sick female. Upon leaving the front lot unattended, a student driver parked in the fire lane to pick people up and was struck by the ambulance, causing one of the student’s tires to pop. The anonymous student believes that the vehicle’s presence in the fire lane during an emergency warranted the fraternity’s 14-month probation period.

Aiden Koplovsky, the chief of service at UVAC, explained that on the evening of March 2, they were dispatched for a medical emergency. The University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) notified the Corps that a large number of vehicles were parked in front of the patient location, causing difficulty entering the fraternity parking lot. Upon exiting the parking lot for hospital transportation, the side of the ambulance struck a vehicle. 

“Orono Fire Department was contacted, as they are our next-closest ambulance. They were immediately contacted because we were unsure at the time if the ambulance was going to be driveable and we try not to delay patient care,” Koplovsky said. “When they arrived, the crew from UVAC and the crew from Orono Fire determined that the University’s ambulance was still in drivable condition. The damage was minimal.”

UVAC transported the patient via ambulance. Required vehicle documentation, including registration and insurance, was provided to UMPD immediately upon return to campus. UVAC is required to report accidents to UMPD and Risk Management to settle a resolution between drivers. The investigation to determine who was at fault was made between UMPD and the insurance company. 

Koplovsky emphasized that while UVAC consists of volunteer UMaine students, they are fully trained in accordance with state qualifications. Participants take a two-day advanced operator class to learn how to drive the ambulance and practice various emergency procedures.

“It is a fully licensed ambulance service, which means we have to follow the same rules as any ambulance service in the state. All of our folks who drive the ambulance have to have an ambulance operator license from the state of Maine…We spend anywhere between 10 and 30 hours training individuals on memorizing the roads on campus and navigating the ambulance,” Koplovsky said.

The Phi Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Phi fraternities are currently unrecognized by the University of Maine. The suspension period for Phi Kappa will end on Dec. 31, 2025. Pi Kappa is suspended and on probation until May 30, 2025. 

Interfraternity Council President Jacob Heartquist believes the recent violations do not represent UMaine Greek Life collectively, as most fraternity and sorority organizations contribute positively to the community. 

“The Greek community here at the University of Maine is intended to be one that focuses on leadership, scholarship, philanthropy, and service. While the fraternities here at UMaine have had an immensely positive impact on the school and the community for over 100 years, the recent actions and behavior of a number of our chapters have not reflected our values or what we are trying to accomplish,” said Heartquist in a statement. “With numerous chapters landing suspensions and probations in the last year, the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff are working hard to find long-term resolutions that will improve Greek Life and fraternities for the better.”

Welcome to Housing Home Goods Bank, Inc. (WTH) is a nonprofit furniture bank that provides essential items to people transitioning from shelters to permanent residencies across Maine. In 2011, Volunteer Founder and Co-Chair Chris Olsen built the organization from the ground up with a group of enthusiastic volunteers. 

The local community donates all basic household products, furniture and adaptive equipment. WTH occasionally uses funds raised to purchase items that are hard to get donated or for liability reasons (must be new and unused), such as child car safety seats. 

Olsen has been involved in volunteerism since he was young, starting with change collections for UNICEF at Halloween. After more than 15 years in nonprofit management and earning his real estate license, Olsen decided to get back into nonprofit work and established the all-volunteer organization. 

“One of the reasons behind it being all-volunteer and why I like it that way too is that we can be creative and we can adjust the way we need to. There is not a lot of formality and hierarchy. If something works, we use it. If it doesn’t work, we move on.” said Olsen. “As an all-volunteer organization, you can really find people who are in it for the right reason, and that is because we are trying to help people.”

Initially, WTH was given two storage units by Parker Bailey. The nonprofit formally began in October 2011 and expanded to help everyone in the region by the following May. Bev Uhlenhake of Epstein Commercial Properties found a 2,267-square-foot space in the back of Old Town Plaza for WTH to store inventory rent-free for four years. 

Originally, WTH was a program of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, funded by a two-year grant. In 2011, volunteers began efforts to maintain and expand the program. The organization is now a free-standing 501(c)(3) with the IRS, incorporated in Maine. The program also expanded beyond only those moving from shelter programs to serve anyone in need, regardless of circumstances. Those displaced by a house fire or other disaster, escaping domestic violence, immigrating to Maine or people reentering society from the correctional system are offered WTH resources. The organization helps individuals (including veterans) and families, serving over 1,000 people annually.

WTH transitioned into its current house at 333 Main St Old Town in 2017. Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) originally owned the building. PCHC planned to expand, but instead moved into what is now the Helen Hunt Health Center, leaving the building empty for about two years. WTH was permitted to stay rent-free and later purchased the house for $25,000, using half of its $50,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. WTH is tax-exempt. The 6,500+ square foot house now has an assessed value of more than $580,000.

“We put in a heat pump system, we plumbed two bathrooms, we put in a great big utility sink, we did some work in the basement and it is now ours,” Olsen said. “One of our largest expenses is house insurance, but it’s worth it. We don’t owe rent. We do have to pay utilities, but it’s a permanent home so we don’t have to move again.”

Recently, Olsen met with E.J. Roach, the Old Town economic and community development director, about funding sources to help cover materials for porch restoration at WTH. The Mountainview Correctional Facility has a carpentry program and offered to redo the wrap-around porch and fire escape. In the coming years, Olsen hopes to one day make the building handicap accessible and include a room upstairs as space for counselors from Bangor to meet with clients in the Old Town area. He said meeting space could also be used for free classes for people starting over, helping with things like balancing a checkbook, planning a budget and even getting help with tax prep. 

“Old Town has been so welcoming, and I have never really run into anybody who said no. That goes for the volunteers. We’re always looking for volunteers, but we have had so many people coming to us wanting to volunteer,” said Olsen.

According to Olsen, the formation of WTH happened on a whim. Upon turning 40, he helped raise $7,300 through multiple sources and events for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. Ten years later, Olsen contacted now retired Executive Dennis Marble to do more for the shelter. Marble informed Olsen that a grant that gave people moving out of the shelter a $25 gift card and help with the security deposit was running out. However, Marble explained most of them did not have a bed or items to cook with and eat off of.

“We have people who are excited about getting flatware because they have one fork, one knife, one spoon between them and their kids. I think of how much money is spent on different things like entertainment and professional sports. Nothing wrong with that, but wow, there’s a lot of money out there that could be helping people do simple things,” Olsen said.

The process of receiving goods from WTH is as follows: a caseworker or clergy member contacts the organization and works with clients to select items from the warehouse by filling out a sheet of what is taken for the client. Those using the service are encouraged to come with an advocate helping them. Agencies are asked to make arrangements for the pick up of larger items, such as mattresses or other furniture.

In terms of donations, all must satisfy the “Dignity Factor.” The purpose of free exchanges is to fill in the blanks for people in need with items that are typically taken for granted. Before donating, it is important to put yourself in the shoes of someone starting over and consider whether the contribution is still useful or too far past its prime. 

To Olsen, the most rewarding aspect of his work is meeting the people that WTH serves. He also emphasized small-world stories, including, by chance, running into a volunteer from the largest furniture bank in North America on Cadillac Mountain on the anniversary of when WTH was founded. 

“The other rewarding part is the small world stories,” said Olsen. “When we first started out, a lady needed an air conditioner. I took her name and number. The next day, I got a call from a UMaine student. She said, ‘I am moving to the Carolinas. I am transferring and not going to pay to ship my AC units. Would you like them for WTH?’”

The WTH volunteer steering team meets every other month and oversees activities. Opportunities to help out include picking up donations, helping at the warehouse, event planning, publicity and grant writing. There is also event volunteering at drives, such as overseeing educational displays or information booths. 

Other business, community, school organizations and agencies (including those whose clients are served by WTH) are encouraged to host community events to raise awareness and funds. WTH provides pre-event publicity and promotion.

Jules Hathaway volunteered at WTH early on as it was transitioning into the new house. They shared that as someone who experienced homelessness, having resources when transitioning into a new space is important. The household items that tend to go unconsidered are often the most necessary.

“To go to a place where they have all the things that you need and where people are very encouraging and supportive, with other information about services you might need, is absolutely wonderful. I just think the world of this organization and the work that they do,” said Hathaway.  

Stella Cain is a client who received aid from WTH. She escaped domestic violence with only some clothing and keepsakes before finding a place to live. Cain was able to access needed resources despite the difficult circumstances. 

“From a bed and box spring to a dresser, cutlery and dishes. I was able to have it and start a whole new life. They’ve also helped several people in my life get needed items after housing insecurity,” said Cain. “I wish they were more widely known about and used! They help those in the greater community in ways that we often take for granted.”

Olsen considers gratitude to be a prevalent characteristic of WTH clients. Many people who have been helped by the organization return to volunteer their time or donate to the cause.

“The crazy thing is, the people who have the least give the most. We have had people that are homeless who will come by when we have a tabling event and they’ll put whatever change they have in the collection can,” said Olsen.

WTH assists clients of over 70 agencies and organizations and is in partnership with dozens of other community service-based programs, including Maine State Housing Authority, Penquis, Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Feeding Bangor Food Cupboard and Acadia Healthcare. Olsen hopes that furniture banks will one day reach the level of outreach as food pantries.

With assistance from the community, WTH can expand to serve more individuals from throughout Maine. In recent years, they reached out to and met with similar existing programs in the State with hopes of networking together and inspiring others to start programs up in other parts of Maine that are underserved by existing furniture bank programs.