The 2023 Referendum Election Day occurred on Nov. 7, and one prominent polling location was the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) at UMaine.

“I voted in every election so far that’s been on campus. I’ve been on campus for four years and this is my first year not volunteering to work the polls… I think it’s really cool that students get to vote on campus and there’s a lot of help with voting and registration,” said Student Body President Michael Delorge. 

Of the 75 individuals interviewed between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., the age demographic varies, with the majority of voters being between 18 and 28 years old. The lowest percentage ranged from ages 29 to 39. This is not to say that particular bracket votes less than the others, as some did not have time to speak on their personal experiences.

Statistics:

18 to 28 years old: about 25%

29 to 39 years old: about 12%

40 to 50 years old: about 18%

51 to 61 years old: about 14%

62 to 72 years old: about 15%

73+ : about 16%

65 out of the 75 interviewees willingly shared their political affiliation. 52 are registered as democrats and six as republicans. Seven people considered themselves independent of either party. 

Fifteen people described their experience today at the CCA polling location as “easy.” 13 others used the word “good” or “great.” Eight used exceedingly positive language such as “excellent”, “wonderful”, “amazing” and “awesome.” 

Regarding the registration/voting process itself, 15 people referred to it as “streamlined” or “efficient.” There were a handful who felt it was difficult or confusing to navigate in comparison to last year’s midterm election, which was held at the UMaine Field House. 

Orono Town Clerk Shelly Crosby led volunteering efforts at the CCA and shared an important benefit of the new location. 

“What a lot of people don’t know is the walking distance from the parking lot to the ballot box is half what it was at the Field House,” said Crosby. 

When individuals were asked if there are any particular questions that they feel strongly about, there were mixed responses. The vast majority stated that Question 3 (regarding the Pine Tree Power Initiative) was the most important referendum on the 2023 ballot, though many referenced multiple questions. 

Question 1: Seven people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 2: Two people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 3: 29 people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 4: Six people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 5: One person felt strongly about this question. 

Question 6: 18 people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 7: Zero people felt strongly about this question. 

Question 8: 10 people felt strongly about this question. 

Six people said they believe all eight referendum questions to be equal in importance and 17 others chose not to respond.

“I would say that this location has been pleasantly adequate for serving the voters. We’ve been in the planning of this for about a year and today was our opportunity to test it out. So far, it seems to be working so we are quite pleased that the relocation request was met with a suitable, accommodating building and staff,” said Crosby.

Over 100 residents in and around Bangor, Maine, gathered in unity on the night of Oct. 29 for a Candlelight Vigil on the steps of City Hall. Only a matter of days ago, 18 people were killed by gunfire in the Lewiston massacre, and thousands were left in a state of mourning. 

The city of Bangor held the vigil to honor those in Maine whose lives were untimely taken amidst the mass-casualty event and to show solidarity with the remainder of Lewiston. Candles were distributed and lit by shared flames. Chairman of the Bangor City Council, Rick Fournier, introduced Pastor Harry Jenkins, who stepped up to the podium to commence the speaking portion. 

Pastor Jenkins first read a scripture from the Gospel of Matthew: “Sermon of the Mount” and initiated a moment of prayer.

“Pray, Lord, for those who are still ill, those who are still in the hospital, those who still have injuries. That you will heal them and that they will come back healthy very soon… we pray tonight, that you help them, the City of Lewiston, the surrounding towns, our state, and even our nation tonight. May the healing begin,” said Jenkins.

Chair of the Bangor School Committee Marwa Hassanien was the next to share her thoughts.  

“This tragedy took the lives of 18 innocent people and injured many others. As we heard the news, it shook us to the core and forever scarred our state. We pray for peace that surpasses understanding, unity to help heal our hearts and wounds and the strength to overcome this unimaginable adversity that impacted us all,” Hassanien said.

Hassanien drew attention to the great willpower of Maine and its people’s ability to care for one another in times of widespread suffering. Despite the heartache, our frontline workers and hospital staff put their own lives at risk and mental well-being on the line to control some of the damage. There was a significant amount of time spent by community members to help those in dire need of assistance.

“This past week has shown Maine’s endurance in times of grief. Coming together in love and support for one another is a hallmark of Maine. Let us stand together, shoulder to shoulder, as we work to heal, rebuild and support one another in this challenging time,” said Hassanien.

Andre Cushing III is chair of the Penobscot County Commission. He spoke not only on behalf of himself but also his colleagues who serve the county.  

“During dark times, it has always been our faith and our communities that have come together to comfort and lift up those who are weak. We are a state of caring, decent and compassionate individuals. We take care of our friends and neighbors as we do our families,” 

Joe Baldacci represents Bangor and Hermon in the Maine State Senate. He referenced a quote about the city of Bangor by a renowned writer to connect his words to the aftermath of the Lewiston shooting. 

“The writer, Henry David Thoreau, famously called Bangor a star on the edge of night. Tonight, that star shines ever-bright and ever-strong and ever-solid with our brothers and sisters in Lewiston. And anywhere in the world where acts of violence have killed innocent people,” Baldacci said.

Baldacci also went on to suggest a reformation of Maine gun control laws. He, like many others following the tragedy, believes there should be stricter regulations to prevent those unauthorized to carry weapons from obtaining them. 

He suggested that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Gov. Janet Mills work together to compose a state-wide registry of Maine residents who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Baldacci compared it to having a list of named registered sex offenders. There would need to be a strong effort to not only publicize this potential list but also ensure that it is updated on a regular basis. 

“There are thousands of Mainers today with possession of firearms who are prohibited under current law from having them. In addition, Maine does not have laws requiring their surrender to state authorities, nor does Maine require the surrender of firearms or ammunition at active scenes involving domestic violence… this needs to change,” said Baldacci.

Representative of Bangor District 23 Amy Roeder stood at the podium and made the distinction that what happened on Oct. 25 was not gun violence but an absolute massacre. She drew attention to the fact that to prevent casualty events effectively, we must get through to our most impressionable citizens: the younger generation. 

“We must do more to reach out to our children and teach them to express their anger and to resolve their conflicts with words, not weapons,” Roeder said.

Roeder also emphasized that essential gun control should not be viewed as a political dispute, as it is necessary for the conservation of human life. That is a lesson we are taught by the hundreds of mass shootings that occur every single year. However, it is frequently forgotten and it leads to the question ‘When will we learn?’ and  ‘At what point will our leaders come to decide that enough is enough?’

“This is not a democratic or republican value in one single act of these shooters, but people in power who failed to act. Can both sides see beyond the political problem at hand and admit we have a life preservation problem on our hands?” said Roeder. 

She went on to describe the shared grief that our communities are experiencing at this time. Only, it was not simply in response to this particular tragedy. Her words were an accumulation of deeply saddened individuals who addressed the public after different shootings across the nation throughout the entire decade. 

“None of those words are mine. They were taken directly from vigils and services and testimony and prayers following other acts of gun violence. From Uvalde, from Sandy Hook, from Boulder, from San Bernardino, from Columbine. Lewiston is now added to the catalog of sorrow that we must bear on our backs until it drives us weeping to our knees,” Roeder said. 

Gretchen Schaefer, Bangor City Council Representative, began a period of silence. It lasted 18 seconds, one for each life lost last Wednesday evening. 

“Five nights ago, at this moment, people were having a great time. They were bowling, they were playing cornhole, they were hanging with their friends at a bar… in one minute, that would have all changed,” said Schaefer. 

All speakers contributed to a reading of every victim’s name and a brief description of who they were. 

Cara Pelletier, Bangor City Council Member, described her grief, having family in the area, and many beautiful memories of life in Lewiston.

“We’re here because we recognize the simple truth that we are all connected. We are a state of families, of neighbors and friends looking out for each other. No act of terror can take that sense of community from us. We are here not only to mourn but to support and uplift one another,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier held a second moment of silence in honor of those killed at the second location attacked in Lewiston. She described how, in that exact moment of the evening on Wednesday, there was a shift from enjoying life at a local restaurant to fighting for it.

“At 7:07 pm, the second round of 911 calls began coming in from Schemengees Bar and Grille. I would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silence to honor the lives lost and the victims at that location,” said Pelletier.

Pastor Jenkins invited the attendees to recite one final prayer with him, a scripture from Matthew 6.

Several concerned citizens spoke on behalf of the unhoused population at the Bangor City Council meeting on Oct. 23. The majority of those in attendance wore green to show solidarity with the victims of an unwarranted sweep against locals that occurred just days ago behind the Hope House on Corporate Drive.

Rather than providing the people who were stationed at “Tent City” with proper accommodations and resources, the city instead forced them to disperse from each other.

Many of those living at the encampment had been there for several weeks, months or years and considered it a safe space. There was also a lack of communication before this action, to the point where hardly anyone with the intention to help was given ample opportunity to do so.

The sweep occurred close to The Hope House, which provides various services to unhoused families and individuals.

Multiple members of UMaine Climate Action (UMCA) gathered together to express the vast distress that was experienced by a significant portion of the greater Bangor area. Tamra Benson is a community organizer and emphasized the severity of what occurred.

Each person who addressed the council was instructed to state their name, place of residence and message. There was a three-minute speaking limit, which some believe was another means of silencing public outrage. Bangor City officials took charge of the situation without considering how it would affect those who were already struggling to survive.

“I would like to remind you that our unhoused friends and siblings are also members of this community who deserve love, care, empathy and safety. They deserve so much more than survival. They deserve to thrive and experience joy, but how can they thrive when the city staff who are supposed to be serving them are dead-set on dehumanizing and criminalizing their hardships,” said Benson.

A resident and activist named Larry Dansinger posed an important question to the Council: “What is the purpose of city government?” Dansinger said that he believes city government needs to ensure that everybody in the geographic area has their basic human needs met and that they are supported in some capacity.

Officials behind the removal used the conviction that unhoused people in that area participated in illegal activities. Many of the activists in attendance expressed that this statement was an excuse to justify their absolute lack of humanity.

Former Bangor Resident Jackson Peck, employed in the Bangor-Brewer area, described the sweep as a “poorly communicated, botched eviction” by city staff, the Bangor police department and the area agency. He made the point that those recently displaced are residents of Bangor and should be treated with respect.

“These people are not being housed, they’re being shuffled to a different sidewalk. I urge the City Council to hold those who made the decision accountable. I ask that a change in policy be undertaken to ensure this never happens again … condemn them, figure out who it was, and hold that party accountable,” said Peck.

Full-Time Acadia Hospital Employee Gabrielle Wiley is a social work student who has been a daily witness to the city’s housing and homelessness crisis after having lived next to State Street Park for years. As a member of the city’s Advisory Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Wiley is outraged that those involved with her organization were not consulted before the mass evictions.

“I would say that it is actually the antithesis of a solution because by forcing them to leave, they are being removed from a centralized environment. Statistically, camp sweeps are responsible for worsened mental health outcomes because they disturb the fragile social network built and increase the sense of isolation and hopelessness that those facing homelessness endure,” Wiley said.

Jason Danning, another resident of Bangor, has experienced homelessness and long-term recovery. He believes that the Council has not been functioning as a voice for the people as they claim to be but is instead the decider of what the city’s funding goes toward. Recently, $2 million was put into a local YMCA.

“Buy a piece of land, give it to the people. If it’s a safety issue, kicking them out and bringing them into the city, how is that going to help the safety? You’re going to disperse them everywhere. And then they aren’t going to get people to see them. The outreach people that are already working with them, how are they going to find them? You’re asking for more trouble. Let them stay there in peace and I’m pretty sure under the constitution, they can. They have the freedom,” Danning said.

Councilor Joseph Leonard provided a statement directly after the public speaking portion in agreement with those who condemned the sweep.

“This was carried out with the intention of addressing our city’s complex housing and homelessness crises and it has left many of our most vulnerable citizens in an even more desperate situation. This has sparked valid concerns about the fundamental rights enshrined in the Maine Constitution… the central focus of our strategy must be creating more housing,” said Leonard.

It remains unclear how the Bangor City Council as a whole will respond to the collective infuriation within the community.

This year, eight referendums are being called into question on Nov 7. Residents all across Maine will be casting their votes to implement or rescind citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments.

Orono needs community members to serve on Election Day. Staff will be provided with both training and compensation for any hours contributed to election efforts. People of all ages are encouraged to contact Shelly Crosby, the Orono town clerk, via email at scrosby@orono.org.

Registration:

In order to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age. However, pre-registration is an option for adolescents who are 16 and older, assuming they have a fixed principal home in Maine. You can fill out a registration card at your Town or City Hall. It is possible to print the form and fill it out beforehand.

There is no cut-off date to which registration is no longer possible. Maine is one of 20 states that allow not only same-day registration but registration at the polls a matter of minutes before you vote. The process is streamlined and simplified so that once you complete that step, you can immediately cast your ballot and be officially registered as a Maine voter indefinitely.

What to bring:

License/form of identification and proof of residency. If you choose to register in Orono, you can use your MaineCard for identification. Additionally, you can show registration volunteers any kind of receipt (online delivery order, bill, etc.), bank statement or paystub that shows your address and name.

If you are a first-time voter, worry not, as there will be several volunteers throughout the entire day to help guide you through the process.

Absentee Ballots:

Absentee ballots provide registered voters with the option of doing so by mail rather than in person on Election Day. In many states across the U.S., it is by request and required that the voter in question fall under a specific margin or provide the government with reasoning as to why they cannot do so in person. However, Maine law does not have any parameters to be an absentee voter besides registration in this state.

Absentee voter registration:

It is possible to apply for an absentee ballot via telephone at 207-866-255 or electronically. At maine.gov, you will find an application with a brief set of questions regarding both personal and contact information as well as which address of yours the ballot should be mailed to.

This process can be completed beginning three months prior to election day but must be sent in at least three days beforehand unless there are distinct, preventative circumstances. Examples of such include but are not limited to, incapacitation or illness. Remember that you should submit it soon enough to ensure ample time for the ballot to be sent to your residence.

The specific deadline to request a ballot from your town hall clerk is 5 p.m. on the final Thursday leading up to election day. The 2023 Referendum Election Day falls on a Tuesday, meaning it absolutely must be appealed for by no later than the evening of Nov. 2.

Where to go:

Town of Orono

This year, the polls will be held at the Collins Center for the Arts, which is on the UMaine campus. The address is 2 Flagstaff Rd, Orono, ME 04473, and there is parking access. Everyone can fill out their ballot anytime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

City of Bangor

Cross Insurance Center: 515 Main Street, Bangor, 04401

Town of Old Town

Elks Lodge: 37th Fourth Street, Old Town, 04468

Town of Hampden 

Municipal Building Community Room: 106 Western Avenue, Hampden, 04444

Town of Milford 

Milford Town Hall: 62 Davenport Street, Milford, 04461

Town of Bradley 

Bradley Volunteer Fire Department: 171 Main Street, Bradley, 04411

Town of Veazie 

Council Chambers at the Municipal Building: 1084 Main Street, Veazie, 04401

Town of Eddington 

Eddington Municipal Building: 906 Main Road, Eddington, 04428

If your polling location is not listed above, visit this website.

Why you should vote:

It is imperative that everyone exercises their right to vote and voices their say in the decisions that will affect the entirety of our state. It is not mandatory to be highly educated in politics.

All that is necessary within this referendum election is to read over the questions and take the opportunity to research some of the language if aspects of it are not expressed clearly enough. Please stay tuned for an informational series on referendums.

Fogler Library held an interactive workshop on Oct. 3 to inform participants of how censorship poses a serious threat to librarians and their pursuit of encouraging versatile knowledge in society. Furthermore, they discussed how the unnecessary banning of books has negatively impacted schools, public/private libraries and other learning environments across the globe. 

This hybrid event was part of the Salon Series and co-sponsored by Fogler Donors and the Honors College. In recognition of Banned Books Week, Fogler Library welcomed five panelists, each involved with separate public, school and state libraries in Maine. 

Nory Fisher served as a moderator and also as one of the guest speakers. She made it apparent that though book-challenging is not a new action, there has been a significant uptick concerning formal complaints filed in the U.S. between 2019, with 377 challenges, and current-day. In 2020, that statistic went down to 156 but was up to 729 in 2021. In 2022, it doubled to a jarring 1,597 formal challenges and has increased by 20% throughout the first eight months of 2023. 49% of these challenges were issued against public library material rather than in schools. 

Maine Association of School Libraries VP Beth Anderson shared that between January 2022 and August 2023, there were 22 formal book challenges against schools in Maine. Most years, there were none. However, two have already been submitted within the first month of this academic year. Anderson drew an important distinction between the preceding process in response to formal challenges and informal complaints, which occur far more frequently.

When a formal book challenge is issued, as in when paperwork has been filed with a school district, a review committee is formed in turn. Members of that committee then will read the book in its entirety and discuss its merit in consideration of other professional reviews. Once their determination is made, it is passed to the school board, which also takes a formal process and passes a final decision.

Informal complaints tend to go completely off the rails when brought up at school board meetings. It frequently evokes a hostile environment of name-calling and other unnecessary aggression toward administrators. The same goes for the form of phone calls or emails received by teachers and librarians. It even goes as far as in-person approaching and confrontational behavior. Harassment in these forms and others takes a vast emotional toll on staff members and should not be taken lightly.

“This all has created an atmosphere where school librarians and other educators are very frustrated and discouraged. Some Librarians feel unsafe going to work. For example, we’ve had school librarians ask for an escort to their cars in the afternoon because they’ve been confronted in parking lots by parents,” Anderson said. “A lot of us work in the communities in which we live, and we have had colleagues who’ve been approached in the grocery store. Again, being constantly harassed about why these books remain on the shelves.” 

Fisher delved into three separate bills in Maine that were recently put in front of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. One of which is LD123, which states that “ the educational purposes exception to the prohibition of the dissemination of obscene material to minors must be eliminated.” In summation, it suggests that school librarians and teachers should be criminally charged for not abiding by that law. It was voted not to pass, though a minority voted to favor its establishment.

Another was LD618, which intended to “eliminate critical race theory, social and emotional learning and diversity, equity and inclusion from school curriculum.” It also did not pass.

Lastly was LD1008, set to establish a rating system for books in school libraries. The reason its passing would be harmful is that it requires an imposition of individual views that may deter people from reading material. This would go against the Library Bill of Rights, and therefore, it did not pass thanks to the efforts and advocacy of Maine Library Association and Maine Association of School Libraries.

“There are a lot of different ways that censorship is happening right now. I am hearing from a lot of libraries that they have displays, especially the ones that were up during pride month, where a patron would come in and check out every single book on the display and turn to the library staff to say, ‘I am checking these out and I am never going to return them because I don’t want anybody to read them,” Fisher said.

There are implemented circulation policies. Typically, the individual will receive a warning, followed by a suspension from the library and then a subsequential fine delivered through the mail. These policies do take time and are not possible when people take the route of hiding books around the library as a means of preventing public access. Much of the information found in libraries can potentially improve one’s quality of life, free of charge.

“One of the biggest things you can do as community members if you support the freedom to read, if you support the Library Bills of Rights, go in and talk to your librarians. Tell them you appreciate what they do, tell them you support their efforts to ensure all materials for all people in the community are available,” said Fisher.

Bangor Public Library (BPL) Director Ben Treat noted the primary issues in regard to this topic, which were three-fold. He shared perturbations with book banning in academic settings. Doing so serves as a removal of certain representations and has the potential to blur the realities of the world. It could also create preconceived notions that libraries, in general, lack materials for persons of marginalized backgrounds.

Secondly, it goes beyond the rhetoric of reporting inappropriate content in an effort to protect children to the point where the entire population is sheltered from the work in question. Thirdly, he drew attention to sites such as BookLooks, where various individuals share their book-related grievances. Oftentimes, in doing so, content is taken out of context, and the book is considered exceedingly obscene based on singular excerpts rather than the work as a whole and its overall message. 

One common misconception is that work centered around a protagonist identifying as a POC is automatically under the umbrella of critical race theory, which centers around the ideology that there is no middle ground between being an oppressor or among the oppressed.

“People aren’t really sure what they mean by critical race theory, but they want to ban a book because there’s a black character, so they think it must be critical race theory. I am not saying you should ban a book because it has critical race theory, but this whole project is based on deep misunderstandings of how we should really look at books and think about collection development and building a collection that represents the population we serve,” said Treat.

Maine State Librarian Sonya Durney provided another important perspective. Though she has not seen censorship attempts against the academic libraries in Maine, it has grown exceedingly prominent within the higher education sphere. For example, 300 gag order bills have been pushed to pass in the state since 2021.

“Faculty are afraid to speak freely in the classroom, worrying that they will get in trouble for breaking these gag orders or saying the wrong things. So it’s really having a chilling effect on open inquiry in the classroom… The other piece is students are also self-censoring themselves because of the political climates on campus,” Durney said. 

She states that staff is busier than ever, specifically due to a devotion time towards fighting these gag orders and book bannings. Having been on the board for seven years, Durney has never seen such a necessity for said efforts. It forsakes the time typically utilized to support library faculty and empower librarians positively. 

There are a multitude of personal actions capable of fighting censorship and contributing to the cause. One of which is to be aware of the procedures within your governing body before an issue arises. Examples of such are as follows: knowing where and when each meeting takes place, at which point public comments occur and how long each person is given to speak. It is very important to prepare your piece per your town’s limitations. 

Another beneficial action is to join Unite Against Book Bans. The site provides important news happenings and allows you to stay updated on current events related to the cause. According to Treat, if you support the fight, read banned books, be seen reading them, and be sure to share your thoughts with those around you, specifically about material that is most heavily or constantly being threatened. Emphasize the importance of its role in society! Most imperatively, it is to show appreciation to your local librarians and express gratitude for their never-ending battle whenever possible. They need our support now more than ever. 

“They know how to select materials for their community, and they do it well. To have that totally dismissed and put aside, that certain people can say ‘nobody should read this,’ it’s really a slap in the face, and nobody needs that,” said Fisher.

The Salon Series Censorship event then held a Q-and-A portion for attendees, followed by a small group discussion. It concluded with a reconvening at the end. Remember to show support at the school board meetings near you!

09/15:

At 8 a.m., a student filed an information complaint against another student in York Hall. The student whom the complaint was against was removed from the building by Title IX. 

At 2 p.m. a property damage crash was reported from the Collins Center for the Arts parking lot. A parked car was hit, but nobody was harmed by the accident.

Around 10 p.m., a criminal mischief report was filed in Androscoggin Hall when three exit signs were damaged. The suspect was not found when the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) arrived on the scene.

09/16:

Around 1 a.m., someone reported an intoxicated student at Penobscot Hall. University Volunteer Ambulance Corps (UVAC) was contacted, but the individual refused transport. The case was referred to student conduct. 

At 2 p.m., there was a call regarding a marijuana odor at Sodder Hall. Suspects were not found. 

Just before midnight, someone reported a domestic situation from Penobscot Hall. A female was seen tugging on a male’s shirt. She left the scene in a vehicle, and he was also nowhere to be found.

09/17:

At 6 a.m. a student called about an information complaint after receiving a series of suspicious emails. The case was forwarded to the IT department, and it was discovered to be a catfisher. 

Around 1 p.m., there was a property damage crash at the Aroostook parking lot, which turned out to be a hit-and-run against a parked vehicle. There is currently no information on the suspect. 

09/18:

At 2 a.m. an information complaint was issued by Witter Farm on College Avenue, as a suspicious vehicle parked there with its headlights off. It turned out to be a male taking a phone call.

At 2 p.m., there was a property damage crash reported at the New Balance Student Recreation Center parking lot following a hit-and-run. There was no evidence found from the camera footage. Also, there was a reported theft from Witter Farm, as two wooden pallets were stolen from the property. Suspects have not been found.

Around 10:30 p.m., an information complaint was issued against an individual who was allegedly screaming in Aroostook Hall. When UMPD arrived at the scene, no one was found on any of the floors.

09/19:

At 8 a.m., there was a reported harassment complaint from Somerset Hall filed against an individual who was speaking disrespectfully to another person.

At 11 a.m. there was an information complaint from Mail Services, regarding a suspicious vehicle parked on Munson Road. Nobody was discovered inside the car. 

Around 7:30 p.m., there was a reported property damage crash on Rangeley Road, when two vehicles collided at the Belgrade intersection. Nobody was injured in the process, but damage was done to both vehicles, and an accident report has been filed.

Around 11 a.m., there was a hit-and-run outside of Hilltop with no suspects found. 

09/20:

At 12:30 a.m., a property damage crash occurred outside of Nutting Hall. It was also a hit-and-run with no suspects.

09/21:

Around 4:30 p.m. a suspicious complaint was made from the New Balance Student Recreation Center parking lot against two people wearing camouflage and carrying rifles. When officers made contact, the individuals stated they were in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and doing drills.

At 5 p.m., there was a theft in Cumberland Hall. A resident claimed that two pairs of sweatpants were taken from her room. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that no unauthorized person had entered her dormitory.

At about 11 a.m. a suspicious complaint was made from Island Avenue, where individuals were seen participating in arson. It turned out that they were instead smoking cigarettes.

09/22:

At 12 a.m., a call was made regarding an intoxicated female at Cumberland Hall. UVAC arrived at the building, though she refused transport and was reported to conduct.

At 1 p.m., a staff member at the Counseling Center filed an information complaint after receiving multiple strange emails.

Around 2:30 p.m., an individual filed a criminal mischief report from the Belgrade parking lot after discovering their vehicle had been scratched.

Around 5 p.m. there was a reported bicycle theft from Flagstaff Road, outside Neville Hall.

09/23:

At 1:30 a.m. a concerned student filed a missing person report. The student had a male friend visiting from out of town, but the friend was located at a female’s dormitory the following morning.

Around 2:30 a.m., there was a reported intoxication when an underaged student was found passed out in a ditch in front of Doris Twitchell Allen Village (DTAV). They were not physically harmed. 

 At 3:30 a.m., a suspicious complaint was made regarding an unknown male knocking on doors at Oak Hall. UMPD arrived at the scene, but no one was found. 

Around 7:30 a.m., an information complaint was issued from Oxford Hall about a suspicious male prowling the fourth floor. He ended up being the missing person from the missing person report that was made a day prior. 

Around 10:30 p.m., a suspicious complaint was made by a female on Long Road. Two males on scooters were harassing her. There are no details of the crime.

09/24:

At 1 a.m., criminal mischief took place at Knox Hall with a broken window reported. About 20 minutes later, another call was made regarding a second window being damaged by objects thrown from outside. UMPD found the person responsible.

At 2 a.m., there was another report of window damage, this time at Somerset Hall. A suspect’s name was given, and the person admitted to the mischief.

Around midnight, criminal mischief took place at Androscoggin Hall after two exit signs were reported missing along with a bathroom door removal, beer cans in the toilet and garbage thrown everywhere. The suspect was caught. 

09/25:

At 3 p.m., criminal mischief was reported at the Steam Plant Lot, when an individual discovered that their tires were slashed.

Around 10 p.m., UMPD received a call about an alcohol offense. Two underage students were located in possession of alcohol, and the issue was submitted to conduct.

09/27:

Around 10 a.m., an information complaint was made by an individual who discovered a fake parking ticket on their vehicle. The ticket did not include any sort of address to send money.

At about 2 p.m., a property damage crash occurred in the Belgrade parking lot. A parked car was discovered to have damage on its door.

Around 5:20 a.m., there were 19 signs damaged in Somerset Hall. UMPD found three people responsible and charged them for the mischief. 

At 8:30 p.m., UMPD received a suspicious complaint about the odor of marijuana being present in the Hilltop parking lot. Several students were found in the vehicle where the scent was coming from. Each of them were reported to student conduct.

At 10 p.m., there was a theft complaint regarding a stolen exit sign in Androscoggin Hall. Thirteen minutes later, a similar theft was reported from the same building after another exit sign was taken from the third floor.

09/28:

At 3:30 p.m., an information complaint was filed by a distressed female on the Mall, who reasonably suspected that her backpack was air-tagged. She was taken to the UMPD station, but nothing was found.

09/29: 

At 6 p.m., there was a call regarding a requested removal of a student’s ex-boyfriend. The reported male was found in her building and removed from campus by UMPD.

Around 1 p.m., there was an alcohol report from Oxford Hall. UMPD officers discovered the scent of intoxicating beverages, but no alcohol was found on the person. It was still sent to student conduct. 

09/30:

At 8 p.m., there was a reported theft of exit signs stolen from Androscoggin Hall. 

Around midnight, there was an alcohol offense at Somerset Hall. Three females under the age of 21 were found intoxicated and, therefore, referred to student conduct.

10/01:

At midnight, there was a reported intoxication at Knox Hall. Two underage females were sent to student conduct once UMPD arrived on the scene.

Around 11:30 a.m., there was a harassment call from Somerset Hall made by a female who attended a party on College Avenue and was harassed by her ex-boyfriend. The male ended up being removed by fraternity brothers in that household.

10/02:

At 9 a.m., someone reported that an individual maliciously placed a stick on a Kiwibot, so it couldn’t close. There was no damage. 

At 12 p.m., an individual reported that $30 was stolen from her bag during the football game the previous afternoon.

10/03:

Around 7 p.m., there was a bike theft in front of Knox Hall. No suspects were discovered.

10/04:

At 11 a.m., there was a property damage crash in front of Neville Hall that turned out to be a hit-and-run.

Around 1 a.m., an information complaint was made regarding an accident in the Dunn Hall parking lot. Damage was made to a vehicle, and UMPD attempted to contact the owner but received no response.

Around 4 p.m., a drug complaint was reported at the Bears Den in the Memorial Union when pills were found underneath a dining table. The drugs have not been tested and could very well be vitamins. The investigation is ongoing. 

At 7:30 p.m., there was a property damage crash involving a bus at the Hilltop parking lot, but nobody was injured.

10/05:

Around 12:30 p.m., a staff member at Boardman Hall filed a theft complaint after their name plate was stolen from outside of their office.

According to the Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS), there are over 100 unhoused people located in Bangor, Maine. A study conducted by the Maine Housing State Authority found that there were 4,258 people experiencing homelessness across the state as of January 2023. It was also discovered that 53% of these homeless families have at least one child.

In July, Governor Janet Mills signed a bill that would allocate a sum of $100 million in the pursuit of solving the housing crisis in Maine after having been approved by the Legislature. This is a historic bill, as many claim that homelessness has not been properly addressed in this state since the 90s. The January 2022 PIT Count states that there are 582,462 homeless individuals across the United States, which translates to 18 per every 10,000 people.

Its commonality is dependent on the region, individual marginalization and other various subgroups that the unsheltered population may fall under. The U.S. faces homelessness the third most prominently, right behind India and Nigeria. Despite America as a whole being one of the wealthiest countries, its homeless population is not only substantial but at a constant, steady increase.

Behind the Hope House on Corporate Drive in Bangor is where “Tent City” was once located, and 20 people were previously staying at that homeless encampment along Valley Avenue. Since April of last year, all of the unhoused people have received either permanent housing or the promise of ongoing case management for those in temporary living situations.

Public works have also cleared the area in order to re-establish it as a recreational space for the town. the objective is to make what was once “Tent City” publicly available to everyone and safe for all members of the community

Penquis is a nonprofit organization centered around reducing poverty conditions and causes. They have worked alongside CHCS to create alternative living opportunities for those who had been camped out on Valley Road and other locations in the greater Bangor area.

An emergency management type of approach was executed to solve the situation at hand. It began with an attempt to identify each individual who is living outdoors, followed by a period of research to ensure appropriate housing accommodations for everyone in need. Lastly, a sweep of the area so that the general public can then utilize the space accordingly.

Though this process may sound cut and dry, a great amount of time and energy was devoted to the cause by nearly 50 individuals who helped compose a list of names to guarantee that every single person is granted a proper place to stay. They also worked tirelessly to ensure not only that each individual has valid documentation for placement but also that resources are available to aid them in terms of supplies, counseling and other necessities.

Outreach workers have spent the past few months providing those in financially vulnerable circumstances with housing options via a voucher distribution to ensure that no one was left behind once the area had been completely cleared.

A majority of the community has long awaited this enactment.

Community members will be showing solidarity with victims of domestic violence by banding together to raise awareness about a common struggle that is not commonly talked about. On Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. various student organizations and individuals are marching from Cumberland Quad to the Memorial Union, where a speaking event will take place.     

The objective of this movement is to make it known to those suffering in silence that they are never alone and that there are several resources that can be turned to. The movement also hopes to amplify the voices of survivors willing to share their stories and, one day, end relationship abuse across the globe. 

This event is hosted by the Maine Business School Corps (MBS), and Dr. Billy Obenauer is the faculty advisor with Nory Jones as supporting advisor. President of MBS Aidan Peters will be speaking at the event. He is a fourth-year business management student with a concentration in entrepreneurship. The following advocates will also deliver speeches: Dean Dana, Heather Hogan of Title IX, Dr. Obenauer, Aidan Peters and Amanda Cost of Partners for Peace.

Domestic violence can be described as a pattern of harmful or manipulative behavior by a household partner, although it looks different in every case. Generally speaking, it is a coercive methods used to gain power or control in an intimate relationship. According to the United Nations, it is important to recognize the signs of abuse and the upsetting truth that it can happen to any person in any situation. 

“I define it myself as an action that is harmful towards another person, whether that’s physical or verbal. Both can do the same extent of damage to somebody,” said Peters.

There are many reasons to attend this march, mainly to show solidarity with victims. It also serves as a chance to connect with the community, specifically for first and second-year students who are seeking a place at UMaine. It is a wonderful opportunity to find your passion through allyship and potentially join one of the several clubs involved, such as the Feminist Collective (Fem-C). 

Holding marches and protests such as this one is pivotal because many are not aware of the hundreds of individuals who are more than willing to listen or help, especially if the victim in question does not wish to formally report the crimes against them. Oftentimes, domestic abuse is swept under the rug under the surface-level assumption that those in committed relationships are automatically happy. Psychological abuse is frequently dismissed and can sometimes be difficult to recognize when it has steadily worsened throughout a long period. 

“I feel like there are a lot of different avenues for those enduring assault to go to. A lot of people like to be discreet about it. A great way of letting someone know, especially if you live in the dorm halls, is talking to your RA about things that are going on, or you can always go to campus police,” said Peters.

In college, loneliness is an upsetting commonality. Those away from home who feel as though they do not have a trusted companion to turn to tend to keep trauma to themselves. Similarly, they could be holding back out of fear that their partner will retaliate in turn, which is why it is vital to look out for the signs. 

Extending outreach to acquaintances or strangers who have become noticeably quieter or have distanced themselves could save lives. Even if those concerns are initially dismissed or they are in denial, everyone deserves to know that people out there are willing to validate their struggle once they are ready to share. 

“In any battle that you ever go through in life, whether that’s addiction or assault, violence, just having someone you can talk to that makes you feel heard and makes you feel that you’re not alone is so important. I feel like that’s stressed, but it’s never stressed enough,” Peters said.

Peters worries that the message may have gotten lost last year among the communications in attendance. The organizations involved, such as Partners for Peace, Male Athletes Against Violence, Rape Response Services and ROTC intend to relay the possibilities for hope with complete clarity and to display proudly the purple ribbons which embody their fight for peace. 

“We are trying to communicate one message and that message is: ‘our purpose is to show solidarity to the victims who endure domestic violence and to show them there are several resources they can use to get help. Those who suffer from domestic violence should never feel they are alone in their fight.’ That’s the message I want everyone to share and if there is one thing you can learn from going to this event, it’s that,” said Peters.

In terms of showing individual support pre- and post-march, the best thing to do is keep your eyes peeled for the signs, even if they appear insignificant. Extending outreach to those you know or those you do not could provide any person who experiences pain in their personal life with a pathway out of consistent harassment or mental anguish.

“If you don’t have anything going on Friday the 13th, come out. Bring a friend. Show these people that you care,” Peters said.

Attending the march is optional, but people are also encouraged to visit the Union to hear a phenomenal lineup of speakers. Even appearing for just one aspect of this event and wearing purple would be incredibly meaningful, and much can be learned about the cause.

The University of Maine Student Government (UMSG) and Graduate Student Government (GSG) delivered a joint statement to University Parking and Transportation Services requesting approval for an alteration of the current regulations and received a surprising response only a matter of days later. 

Cameron Bowie, treasurer of the GSG, drafted a composition of potential solutions to unnecessary fining concerns, specifically about winter season ordinances. The suggested modifications would solve both the issues of ticketing during nighttime hours as well as into the spring semester when the need for parking lot snow removal becomes superfluous. 

Firstly, parking should be permitted in alignment with public building hours. This problem has a simple fix, which is to extend that allowance one hour longer. That way, student workers, especially laboratory employees, are able to do their job until 1 a.m. rather than being forced to finish at midnight.  

“What this leads to then is students who are forced to work inside their graduate facilities staying on campus and still getting a parking ticket just for doing their job,” Bowie said. 

Secondly, the ban, which begins officially on Nov. 1 (or October), could very well be lifted on April 1 of each year rather than the first of May, as the need for plowing is diminished by that point in the season. Snowstorms seldom occur past mid-March. 

Student input was greatly considered as over 20 cases throughout the spring semester were brought forward regarding a pervasive dissatisfaction with winter parking ordinances. 

Bowie took it upon himself to co-lead a bill for approval in collaboration with undergraduates. This is one of the first joint actions between the two senates in three years. He emphasized that they are looking to work more closely together from this point forward.

Bowie is a second-year MBA student who received his bachelor’s degree in 2019. He earned his undergraduate degree in history and political science and further earned a master’s in school policy and international affairs in 2021. Furthermore, he is an Orono local of 25 years who had been tasked with delivering a resolution from two separate bodies that represented around 10,000 students.

“I was a single representative there on the goodwill of the senate to say their words. And yet, they were more than willing to help,” Bowie explained. 

Both governments were involved in the finalization of this request. The request was officially submitted since it received senatorial approval and was passed by both chambers. It was then a matter of waiting for a response. Thankfully, the head of Parking Services, Meredith Bryant, quickly addressed these grievances. 

“Within four days of submitting our proposal, I was sitting in the office of the head of parking, one Meredith Bryant. She was most helpful in both explaining what could be done, what should be done and how it could be done with the least amount of harm to parking services and the best benefit for students,” said Bowie.

Bryant did express a particular issue in terms of extending late hours in that plow workers do require ample time to prepare for snow removal. As of right now, night passes are currently issued to departments, which are subsequently responsible for the distribution. Unfortunately, many departments have proven to be unresponsive in doing so. 

Bryant’s suggestion proved entirely self-sacrificing. She offered to start issuing those overnight passes directly from parking services despite the extra burden put upon their department. Parking services would still budget a certain amount of passes for each department but would distribute them without a middleman. 

“That struck me immediately, as I was expecting to go in there and get stonewalled. Instead I got many suggestions that quite frankly made their lives harder only for the gain of going by the words of the senate. That’s a rare thing at this campus,” said Bowie.

A second point made by Bryant is the winter parking ban date cannot be officially moved, as materials have already been printed with the current ordinances, and it is too late to change that. However, they can officially end the period as early as requested, so long as there is no major snowstorm around that time of year.

“The best of both worlds. They get to keep their principle and policy, don’t have to do any reprints. We get the exact thing and the major thing we were asking for. Everybody wins, policy doesn’t have to change and everything is done in quick order,” Bowie said.

Another aspect to bear in mind is that one can appeal a parking ticket. There is a significant period of time between the date a ticket is issued and when interest fees are added on for not complying with the original payment. 

Bowie noted, “I’ve been told it is easier to waive a ticket than it is to refund a ticket. Many students fall into that trap.”

Bryant made it clear that parking services would like to be contacted directly regarding any problem at all. In fact, they are eager to take on the issues at hand and encourage students to call with complaints or suggestions. 

“For the first time in my time at the university, I saw a system not only actively do its job to at least the letter it was sending, but go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Bowie.

Jon Guzman and Alondra Gomez are influential Hispanic/Latine student leaders at the University of Maine. Their consistent efforts in creating a more affirming space for BIPOC students should be honored rather than overlooked. 

Guzman, a third-year student studying finance, serves as Multicultural Affairs Advisory Chair in the General Student Senate as well as an Ambassador and Peer Learning Assistant for the Maine Business School. 

He defines himself as an Afro-Latinx person of Puerto Rican descent and was raised by a vast extended family in the Bronx, a borough of New York. His household’s primary language growing up was Spanish, so Guzman carried that fluency into adulthood. 

Guzman describes the community within his city as diverse and uses the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade as an example of such. People from different regions of the nation are unified in Manhattan to spread music, food and voices as well as to perform. 

“I don’t like to tell people that being Puerto Rican is a part of my personality, I just am a representation of what it means to be Puerto Rican. So, I love cooking the food, I love hearing the music, and I love going to whatever event revolves around being Puerto Rican-American. It’s just a culture that’s beautiful and all-encompassing,” said Guzman.

After having lived in the Bronx for 13 years, Guzman moved to Connecticut, where he served as the Hispanic Ambassador and established the seal of biliteracy in his district of Waterbury. He applied to UMaine on a whim after attending a local college fair. 

Upon being accepted and offered an excellent scholarship, Guzman decided to travel here and become self-sufficient. After arriving, he immersed himself in the tight-knit community of fellow Hispanic Americans and was acquainted with BIPOC professors on campus. 

“My main hobby is basically helping people, whatever I can do to help out my community. Whether that’s volunteering, whether that’s participating or going around to different events on- and off-campus, I will do it. That’s one of the main reasons why I became the multicultural advisory chair; just because there isn’t that representation in the senate,” said Guzman. 

Guzman made the distinction that the General Student Senate is by no means hesitant in terms of electing BIPOC students to senate seats, but he expressed an apparent desire for more representation in government. 

“They want to hear the voices they don’t normally hear. So, my goal is to bring that voice and also to encourage other individuals from the BIPOC community to come and apply to be on the senate, to have a voice on senate, to be a reflection of the student body, to be a reflection of the student identities that they represent. 

Gomez is a third-year psychology student who runs the Caribbean and Latino Student Alliance. She has officially taken on the position of Resident Assistant for a second year and is currently employed at the New Balance Recreation Center.

“Food was a big part of my life because it was how my family expressed their love. Eating a hot meal with my dad and siblings is what would bring my family together at the dinner table after a long day. I think that through cooking Latino-style food for the people I love is how I honor my Hispanic heritage,” said Gomez.

Having grown up in Boston, Massachusetts, Gomez was brought up under Brazilian and Salvadorian cultures and immersed in a diverse group of people from a young age. She touched upon the hardship that goes hand-in-hand with transitioning from an environment enriched by diversity to what is considered a predominantly white university.

“I think that through running CALSA I’ve been able to gain more confidence in being expressive about my culture. CALSA is a club for all but most importantly, it is a club for people who share the same identity as being Latino or Caribbean. It’s a place where we can come together and feel like we’re being related to whether that’s because of our appearance, language, food or experiences, it forms a certain type of connection,” said Gomez. 

Guzman noted that there is no actual definition of what it means to be Hispanic/Latinx. Identity crises throughout earlier days have been experienced by many, Guzman explained there are often preconceived notions about how BIPOC individuals are supposed to express their cultures. Similarly, a sort of expectation that you must have perfected the communication and traditions of your culture to “properly” identify with it.

“There is no definitive starting point to which you can begin exploring yourself. Starting the journey is all about feeling ready. Even if there is this unconscious fear within you, it’s being able to plunge into the unknown waters and explore the unexplored, which builds upon your progress,” said Guzman.

Gomez believes that UMaine can become more well-rounded in diversity by recognizing that there is, in fact, a systematic disparity between the white and BIPOC populations. 

The university could further emphasize BIPOC groups on campus by increasing the promotion of their events and making it a priority to amplify the voices of those students, although they recognize that things do seem to be heading in the right direction as of lately. 

For instance, in previous years, the multicultural center had been pushed to the back corner of the organization fair. This year, they were given a more prominent spot. Even so, there still needs to be representation of marginalized identities in student government, athletics, decisions and more.

“No matter where you are, you will always find your people and when you do find your people, that community will be so tight-knit. Even though it may not look as big as other groups on other campuses around the nation, we are stronger than ever,” said Guzman.