Following the sweeping Super Tuesday presidential primary elections in the United States, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump officially secured their respective party nominations on March 12, 2024. The resulting rematch between Biden and Trump in their race to the Oval Office confirmed widespread anticipation of the candidates’ projected landslide victories in the primaries, setting the stage for the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

Nationally, Biden earned 2,099 delegates, exceeding the 1,968 threshold requirement to become the Democratic nominee, while Trump secured 1,228 delegates to successfully secure the GOP platform.

“We face a sobering reality,” said Biden in a statement after winning the Democratic nomination. “Freedom and democracy are at risk here at home in a way they have not been since the Civil War. Donald Trump is running a campaign of resentment, revenge and retribution that threatens the very idea of America. I believe that the American people will choose to keep us moving into the future.”

Celebrating his GOP victory, Former President Trump referred to Super Tuesday as “a great day of victory.”

“Now we have to get back to work because we have the worst president in the history of the

Country,” Trump said in a speech. “We’re not going to take time to celebrate. We’ll celebrate in eight months when the election is over. November 5, I believe, will go down as the most important day in the history of our country.”

Maine, a swing state, is among the 16 states and one U.S. territory that conducted presidential primary elections on March 12. Trump won the state Republican primary with 78,493 votes and received 20 delegates from Maine. Accordingly, Biden advanced in the state’s Democratic primary after securing 60,018 votes and 24 delegates.

Maine conducted semi-open primaries for the first time in state history, allowing voters unregistered as Democrats or Republicans to cast ballots in either party’s nomination race. Registered Maine Independents were able to participate in the party primary of their choosing.

UMaine Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department Mark Brewer reflected that local turnout levels were lower for both political parties due to the uncompetitive nature of the 2024 primary platform, which inevitably allowed Biden and Trump to ascend toward their party’s nomination as presidential incumbents without facing statistically significant challenges from opponents within their respective parties.

“Non-competitive races in both parties tend to drive turnout down nation-wide,” Brewer said. The future feasibility of Maine adopting completely open primaries, allowing voters unaffiliated with the Republican and Democratic parties to still select a candidate of their choice in either party’s nomination races is a considerable option. 

“Maine has a history of innovation. Maine is the first in the modern era to divide its electoral college votes. Maine was the first state to adopt ranked-choice voting. You could easily see Maine completely open primaries,” said Brewer. “The parties will hate that, but it’s certainly a possibility.”

With seven months to spare until the November presidential election, Brewer is optimistic that Maine will retain its consistently high local participation levels. 

“Maine is always top five in nation-wide voter turnout by state. 2024 overall is going to result in relatively high levels,” Brewer said. “Even if they don’t like either candidate–they’re going to dislike one more than the other. It may be a case of voting for the one you dislike the least. It’ll be a lesser of two evils kind of election.”

Brewer referred to lower turnout levels among 18 to 24-year-old eligible voters, stating “I’m more worried in this election cycle because there are a lot of college students in particular who are alienated by both candidates.”

“This is a high-stakes election. In this particular instance, you can envision a dramatically different next four years depending on who wins that presidential race,” Brewer added after expressing concern at the possibility of young progressives refraining from voting due to dissatisfaction or unenthusiasm for either candidate on the presidential ballot.

As political scientist James E. Campbell articulated in “Polarized,” his recently released book, “A voter cannot determine the election’s outcome any more than a single soldier can determine a war’s outcome or a single contribution to a charity can help cure a disease.” However, by casting a single ballot, each U.S. citizen solidifies the fundamental principle of free and fair elections, a cornerstone of democratic governments.

The framers of the American Constitution envisioned that U.S. citizens would exercise voting as a matter of civic duty, regardless of their political preferences. Eligible Maine residents, regardless of party affiliation, on the Orono campus and throughout the state can register to vote here or at their nearest poll on or prior to Nov. 5 election day, to select their preferred presidential candidate.

On April 8, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees convened at Randall Student Center on the Augusta campus to consider major funding initiatives for the following fiscal year. The seven university presidents also shared recent system-wide innovative institutional accomplishments.

The Trustees approved several renovation projects on the Orono campus for 63-year-old buildings, supplementing widespread student expectations for improving the quality of residential halls and classrooms.

Hitchner and Bennett Halls received $8.5 million to undergo maintenance advancements, suitable modernization of HVAC systems and design renovations that enhance conditions for faculty and students in classrooms, lecture spaces and research labs.

The university will also allocate up to $1.5 million to fully renovate Hancock Hall, upgrade facility amenities and construct 11 single-use bathrooms without minimizing residential room availability.

The Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future, an extension of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, acquired $81.3 million to construct two state-of-the-art laboratories housing AI-enabled 3-D printing equipment and advanced machining systems. By allowing students to complete world-class scientific research projects requiring security clearances, the Factory of the Future will increase educational and economic opportunities in the state through active collaboration with industry leaders and immersive, hands-on training for the future manufacturing workforce.

Since Maine’s lawmakers secured $56.5 million worth of federal funding for the University’s 2024 budget through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) proposals, President Ferrini-Mundy credited U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for her leadership as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and thanked Senator Angus King, and Representatives Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree for their support.

Upon unanimous approval of the 2024 tenure nominations, the Board recognized the contributions of 42 distinguished faculty members in serving students with exceptional teaching, mentorship and scholarship. These academic appointments expand faculty opportunities to instill long-lasting impacts throughout Maine’s public universities.

During the public comment section, Derek DeMello, a first-year Ph.D. history student on the Orono campus and member of the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union, remarked: “It is a very tough time to find an affordable place to live.” He continued to condemn the Board of Trustees’ 2023 decision to remove the remaining 17 buildings and 62 units from University Park Family housing, inhabited by 250 graduate, Ph.D. and international students. 

Several students from the Orono campus addressed the rising casualty rates and heightening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas Islamist militant movement executed a series of attacks against Israel on October 7, instigating the Jewish state’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground assault operations in Rafah.

“As of February of this year, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000 lives. 43% of those killed have been children. On April 2, an Israel airstrike killed seven foreign aid workers of the World Central Kitchen,” said Willow Cunningham, a fourth-year undergraduate student.

Referencing that UMaine became one of the first universities to join a national divestment campaign in 1982 against the apartheid state of South Africa, Cunningham concluded: “To remain consistent with our past action, the University should join schools like Tufts, Stanford and Princeton in divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.”

“In the past six months, I have seen more images of dead children and read more testimonies of cruelty and starvation than anyone ever should. We study the horrors of the Holocaust. We talk of land acknowledgments in recognizing the sovereignty of indigenous people. When it comes to Palestine, the University has been silent,” said Esla Molarsky, the Vice president and co-founder of the UMaine Orono chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.

“Those of us who have founded this club ask you to divest from companies that support these horrible actions,” Elsa concluded.

During the University President’s Round Robin, University of Maine at Augusta President Jenifer Cushman revealed that the National Security Agency has officially validated UMA’s Bachelor of Science and Cyber Security program for the 2029 academic year.

Jamie Ballinger, UMS Director of Academic and Student Affairs, updated the Trustees on Maine’s direct admissions initiative pilot program, a concerted effort to remove barriers to the college application process, which was launched a year ago. Direct Admissions authorizes collegiate recruiting to 31 institutions, providing qualified, above-average GPA-bearing high-school students with a pathway to undergraduate enrollment.

“This is the future of admissions for our Universities. Why would you go through the effort of filling out the Common App and submitting recommendations and essays when you don’t have to if you’re a 17 or 18-year-old high school senior?” Ballinger explained.

Out of 3,100 targeted early college students graduating high school, 257 have committed to UMS programs for the upcoming fall, a number that will increase significantly within the next few weeks.

On April 3, the University of Maine Faculty Senate convened in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union to highlight the present progress of student success initiatives in curbing retention rates. UMS instructors also raised concerns against administrative actions, from TA eliminations to potential processing delays in the updated FAFSA.

Associate Provost for Student Success and Innovation Scott Marzilli shared that the UMaine Black Bear Early Alert system for first-year students significantly expanded their accessibility to faculty support and student tutoring services. During the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, 81 faculty and staff supported students struggling with curriculum course loads.

Additionally, 181 instructors issued early alerts, ensuring that 742 first-year students attained academic assistance to ease their transition from high school to college curriculum expectations.

“We know that the first-term GPA is a strong predictor of whether or not students are ever going to graduate from the university,” said Associate Provost Marzilli. He elaborated that first-year students attained a 3% increase in their fall semester GPAs, and 50 additional students obtained a term GPA of 2.0 or higher compared to the 2022 academic year.

“If we look at the raw mean term GPA, this is the highest in five years. Term GPA is typically correlated with retention, so we’re hopeful that we’ll see some positive results in the fall as well,” Marzilli said. 

Furthermore, 57% of students revealed that they had not utilized peer tutoring resources before the system-wide institution of an outside firm, Knack, which has delivered 3,951 hours of tutorship and provided 196 work-study job opportunities. Tutoring session offerings have also increased in scope from 36 courses to 110 courses within a year.

“There were 1,168 hours tutored in the fall with the old program and 1,742 hours tutored in the fall with the new program, a 49% increase in the number of hours tutored. To me, this is a win-win. We’re able to hire more students, give them a high-quality opportunity and impact a tremendous number of students,” the Associate Provost explained.

Instructor Sarah Lindahl asked whether or not the early alert system could be modified to reach more than first year students to improve its impact ratios throughout campus. “If I can’t provide assistance for students who need them, the program is missing an important component, in my opinion,” Lindahl said.

Marzilli concurred with the eventual goal of expanding the accessibility of early alerts to assist a wider range of students once the program fully acclimates to UMS campuses.

Faculty Senate Secretary Kathryn Slott referred to the latest TA position eliminations as “wreaking havoc in a lot of departments” and questioned whether the administration would refrain from authorizing terminations moving forward. President Joan Ferrini-Mundy assured that the university will “take a deeper dive into that topic,”while proactively considering long-term budget readjustments to prevent these challenging cases.

Professor Matthew Hawkyard raised concerns regarding the ongoing transition from the prior FAFSA system to the newer version, probing the administration’s response to issues at the university level. An administration official reassured that the May 1 FAFSA deadline will remain unaltered for prospective students receiving merit-based scholarships and financial aid allocations for the upcoming academic year.

The Faculty Senate unanimously approved a motion from academic affairs to alleviate overload concerns that have surfaced when only part-time faculty and TAs teach general education courses. Upon administrative adoption, the motion will facilitate a new assessment plan and grant permission to begin evaluating each general education course at least once throughout the year to determine whether course offerings should be available annually. The new assessment plan also authorizes the yearly review and revision of learning outcomes and common rubrics within these courses.

“It gives faculty an opportunity to consistently offer feedback, annually, about ways to examine the outcomes and even suggest improvements to rubrics themselves,” said Dee Nichols, a faculty member.

While the university has remained outspoken in its commitment to solidifying the UMS R1 classification, Professor Craig Mason argued that more resources are required to implement the innovative initiatives expected from a renowned research academic institution. 

“I don’t think anyone questions that our president, the provost, the chancellor, the trustees, and the governor firmly support and value R1,” Mason said, “but if they really do, why don’t we see that translating into resources on campus?”

Ferrini-Mundy expressed willingness to launch “an information-sharing campaign” to increase awareness of how current assets are incorporated into the system and keep the public informed as future funds are allocated at the state and federal level to strengthen the university’s R1 status.

On Tuesday, March 26, the University of Maine Graduate Worker Union (UMGWU) conducted a campus rally, drawing widespread support from graduate, teaching, research assistants, faculty, students and community members. During the afternoon’s contract negotiation session between the union representatives and administration officials at the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, all movement participants formed a unified assembly outside, advocating for an amenable agreement.

“We are here today to push the University to move swiftly towards a fair contract for workers who uphold these universities of Maine, who deserve better working conditions,” said Andrea Tirrel, a graduate teaching assistant and UMGWU organizer.

“We’re also here to show support for our bargaining committee: researchers, teachers, lab managers, philosophers and field scientists, who have spent countless hours, more than 20 hours a week, researching, writing proposals, and countering weak proposals put forth by the University of Maine bargaining team,” said Remi Geohegan a second-year Ph.D. student and teaching assistant.

The Graduate Workers Association established 14 bargaining goals, intending to implement proposals for higher living wages, medical benefits, non-discrimination protection, job postings, housing and childcare accessibility into the finalized contract.

Commencing from Martin Luther King Plaza, the crowd marched to the location of the contract negotiation session. Several union members delivered speeches amplifying their contributions to the university and the enduring challenging circumstances of balancing graduate workloads and research responsibilities in their enrolled programs with consecutive living expenses.

Diane Whitmore, a graduate Teaching Assistant, one of 40 cohorts of TAs whose positions will be terminated at the end of the semester, condemned the university’s decision in front of the crowd.

“In spite of being recruited to come to UMaine to fill a TA position because of my high school teaching experience, in spite of my fully enrolled classes and excellent student evaluations, I was told that my position would be eliminated,” Whitmore revealed.

According to UMGWU, the university has violated the agreement that “no graduate assistant working conditions would be changed while the eventual contract is being negotiated.”

An international graduate student from Denmark, Mathilde Boerch shared her struggles navigating everyday living conditions while completing her research opportunity at UMaine. “Where I am from, education is free. The government pays every student a livable stipend from the day they turn 18. Healthcare is universal and free. What we are bargaining for today is the bare minimum of the rights I had taken for granted growing up.”

Referencing a recent interaction with a Maine State House legislator, Boerch described: “He looked me in the eye and told me that what we were bargaining for–affordable housing, healthcare, livable pay and protection for international grad workers—was pure fantasy. I was speechless because I have seen this in action, and it works better.”

Derek DeMello, a graduate worker and resident of University Park Family housing, disapproved of the UMS Board of Trustees 2023 decision to remove the remaining 17 buildings and 62 units from UPark. DeMello concluded by reading a statement from the university president regarding the purpose of UPark and expressed hopes that the administration will renew past priorities with future action.

“In the housing shortage communities surrounding the university, namely Old Town, Orono, Bangor and Brewer, those familiar with the local scene realized that students will be hard pressed to compete with the general public in the scramble for a place to live. In providing University Park at a cost to married students, the university simply chooses to render a service in the order that more students may complete their education,” DeMello said. 

Matthew Scandura, an out-of-state UMaine graduate worker, explained that he moved from a stable job in Arizona to conduct biological research in Maine. However, the difficulties of managing scientific research objectives with the required TA responsibilities initially caused him to regret his decision.

“I spent 30+ hours teaching and grading for an upper-level grad course. Most weeks, I was barely able to do the research that I came here to do just because there wasn’t enough time in the day for an experiment,” Scandura explained. “I support the UMGWU because I want the university to be a place for graduate students not just from the other side of the country like me but the other side of the world.” Scandura affirmed that a “strong union contract” will transform these idealistic goals into institutional reality.

The university published the following statement responding to the UMGWU rally: “Productive negotiations in good faith are newly underway with their representatives, and UMS is optimistic that their first collective bargaining agreement can be achieved in a manner that maintains meaningful graduate student work opportunities and conditions within the existing resources of our public institutions.”

The University of Maine Graduate Worker Union (UMGWU) is hosting a rally on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. to raise awareness of the grievances concerning rent and food expenses and advocate for fair wages, childcare accessibility, parental leave and rights for international workers. All interested members of the public, including students and faculty, are invited to meet at the Martin Luther King Plaza on campus to join the UMGWU movement.

Union members, organizers and those planning to participate in the rally will commence from the MLK plaza and march toward a bargaining session between administration officials and union representatives. The location has yet to be confirmed.

As union members prepare to negotiate the terms of their contract with the administration at the bargaining session, they are optimistic that a unified assembly outside the finalized location will demonstrate solidified support and guide university officials in adopting amenable decisions.

“The real power comes from the actual membership, showing that we’re real people in the real world with real issues that need to be addressed,” explains Eric Brown, a graduate research assistant and UMGWU member involved in bargaining negotiations.

Recently, the university countered their proposal to implement an entrenched mechanism for reporting different types of harassment through a non-discriminatory contract clause. Administration officials cite the existence of current workplace protection laws, including Title IX, which authorizes Maine educational establishments to file complaints against sexual harassment.

“If the laws were enough and we trusted the University to actually follow through with those, then we wouldn’t need to do this. Every week that we’re not able to get a contract done and signed is another week we’re paying a lot of money for food, rent, and medical bills,” said Brown. The sooner we can get this done, the sooner we can be relieved of economic issues.” 

Additionally, Brown revealed that the administration’s lead negotiator, Ria DeMay, a senior labor relations official, is a full-time resident of North Carolina. According to union members, the distance caused a delay during the back-and-forth mediating process.

The Graduate Workers Association has 14 bargaining goals and pledges to continue cordially streamlining the brokering process until a contract is constructed with the union’s prerogatives. While the Administration recommends the graduate student government as an appropriate avenue for raising relevant issues, Brown counters that there are issues brought to student government that have remained unresolved over the years.

Andrea Tirrel, a graduate teaching assistant and UMGWU organizer, echoed hopes for the Administration to credit union members’ dedication to the organization and their contributions to the University as graduate workers.

“I hope they pick up the pace with bargaining in a timely manner and recognize that we are human beings who need better conditions to work in,” Tirrel said.

In addition to the upcoming March 26 rally, UMGWU members also encourage interested graduate workers to join a “work-in” event on March 28 at any time between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center to assist with union preparatory pursuits.

Currently, the union is responsible for representing all graduate, teaching, and research assistants under state law. UMGWU became officially recognized by the UMaine System on March 23, 2023, after conducting its first rally.

Upon sending a delegation to President Ferrini-Mundy’s office over the summer, the organization received formal written recognition from the administration. A supermajority of graduate workers, an estimated 1,000 individuals, filled out union authorization cards in less than six weeks. The State of Maine Labor Relations Board subsequently approved the union’s request for certification last September.

The University of Maine Faculty Senate convened on March 3 to discuss campus visions and policy priorities for upcoming years before hearing directly from professors on the administration’s intention to expand remote course availability.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Jeffrey St. John, revealed recent developments highlighting UMaine’s strides to enhance institutional excellence across disciplines. Six weeks ago, the Augusta, Machias and Presque-Isle campuses finalized a cooperating department in special education, which established three small programs to support students pursuing careers in this field.

The Orono, Machias and Fort Kent campuses have partnered to produce the Black Bear Advantage (BBA) agreement, which facilitates comprehensive pathway programs for students enrolled in the state community colleges. 

Recruiters can contact qualified community college students to offer full admission, provided they meet all pre-requisite requirements for the prospective UMS four-year programs. The administration announced that the BBA was officially signed two weeks ago.

The Faculty Senate unanimously approved a motion granting two constitutional amendments, increasing the number of pursuable one-year terms for the presidency and vice presidency from two to three consecutive terms and, secondly, allowing the secretary to serve three total durations.

While most members shared a consensus for promoting continuity of knowledge and experience within these leadership positions, the motion awaits a pending affirmative vote from the entire Faculty Senate membership since it requires changing current bylaws. Elections will be held in April to determine the next president, vice president, secretary, board of trustees representative and faculty governance representative for the Faculty Senate. 

Vice Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey St. John introduced a motion to adopt generative artificial intelligence guidelines for improving teaching and learning objectives, which passed the Faculty Senate without opposing votes.

“The depth of the work, the community of practice, and the guidance developed are best in class within our system and probably our state right now,” St. John said, referencing generative AI pursuits at the university level.

Addressing the system-wide contract with Zoom, which ends on June 30, 2025, St. John said  the Education Technology and Advisory Council members are responsible for conceptualizing criteria for reviewing senators’ proposals to resume virtually in the post-pandemic atmosphere after three and a half years of recovery.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the decision-making revolving around the renewal of Zoom after the contract’s expiration will not transpire “under total darkness” and pledged full transparency to the public throughout the unfolding process.

Dr. Hannah Carter, the associate provost for online education and dean of cooperative extension, applauded the critical platform presence of online offerings, which conveniently allow students, especially seniors, to complete all degree and certification requirements.

“We do look at areas of high need and communicate those with the Deans and the Associate Deans,” Carter said, citing consistent efforts to meet student expectations by expanding online opportunities. 

The University has received over $30 million in revenue from the 61 virtually available programs over the last thirty years. 

Several professors vocalized the challenges accumulated over time from teaching additional virtual courses with limited adjunct faculty in departments.

“As program coordinator, in 2020, I had six full-time faculty literacy. As of 2024-25, there will be two. We currently have a Ph.D. program with around 1,113 students. We serve undergraduates and teach courses in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. I need an adjunct. My head is about to explode,” one professor revealed.

Another professor echoed similar faculty-fallback concerns about the administration’s policies to increase the scope of online courses across programs: “It’s just getting impossible. If you want us to expand online teaching, make it easier. We can’t keep doing everything.” The individual also mentioned sacrificing personal research objectives during the summers to fill in for faculty retirements and ensure that students productively progress through their degree requirements without barriers.

The administration responded that there are over 20 ongoing searches for faculty additions to alleviate existing departmental vacancies. 

President Joan Ferrini-Mundy clarified the administration’s future policy priorities. “We are trying to completely transform the plane as we fly it. We will most likely need to look at sunsetting programs. The other fact is students need to be at the center of our discussions- what we’re doing for them, what we know they want– the more we can all infuse that in, the better,” concluded Ferrini-Mundy. 

Dedicated to advancing the academic mission of the University of Maine, the Faculty Senate represents faculty members in formulating and implementing policies fostering innovation, public service, and cooperative extension to  “address the complex challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century through research-based knowledge,” according to the UMS mission statement.

Dr. Tomas Bogardus, a Ph.D. philosopher of metaphysics and epistemology, delivered a lecture at Minsky Hall on Feb. 28, where he evaluated arguments in the current controversial climate surrounding sex and gender disputes. 

Members of Wilde Stein, the University of Maine’s Queer Straight Alliance Club, protested outside of Minsky Hall with posters. They advocated for transgender recognition and equality, which Bogardus’ philosophy does not support. 

Before beginning, he stressed the importance of presenting challenging and conflicting deductions in a “respectful and kind” manner without “questioning the value and dignity of everyone” in the room.

“I understand that my visit here has generated controversy,” Bogardus said. Leading up to Bogardus’ talk, students tabled against his philosophies. 

He advised that “compassion, gentleness, and respect” encourage productive conversations surrounding hot-button issues regarding accessibility to women’s sports, medical interventions for minors and gender pay gaps in the United States. Bogardus stated that the word gender is ambiguous. 

He disapproves of definitional patterns found from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Psychological Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health that, according to him, fall short of providing clarity to this presently polarizing subject. All three organizations defined gender identity as a person’s internal, innate or intrinsic sense of being male, female or “something else.”

“Trans-inclusive philosophers agree that more work needs to be done on the concept of gender identity,” Bogardus said, referencing “What Even Is Gender,” a recently released book by R.A. Briggs and B.R. George.

From Bogardus’ standpoint, sex distinction reflects society’s interest in the reproduction of a species. He referenced a quotation from Evolution’s Rainbow by Joan Roughgarden, a biologist who identifies as transgender: “To a biologist, ‘male’ means making small gametes, and ‘female’ means making large gametes. Period!”

Bogardus states that Individuals condemning “biological essentialism” reject the premise that men and women compose distinctive physical essences and denounce terms defining women solely based on their reproductive capacities.

“If men exist, then something makes them men. Some things are defined physically but are very socially significant. Gold is the element 79 proton. Water is defined chemically as H2O. Both are very socially significant nonetheless,” Bogardus said to counter anticipated criticisms. 

During the Q&A session, several students probed Bogardus to clarify the validity of biological definitions and address the political correctness movement.

“You mentioned that a woman is someone who is biologically female. But you complained that ‘a man identifying as a man’ is circular,” one student said, arguing that biological definitions confront the same shortcomings of circularity.

Bogardus answered: “When philosophers call a definition circular, the word to be defined appears in the definition. The property you’re pointing out, a biconditional relationship, is a necessary feature of every definition,” elaborating that a claim of equivalence does not automatically contribute to circularity.

Responding to a request to discuss how inter-sex individuals belong in this conversation, Bogardus said: “It’s possible for a human to be both male and female,” citing the existence of organisms capable of producing both sperm and eggs.

Reacting to another student’s reference to surgical alterations for infants born with ambiguous genitalia, Bogardus said: “That sounds barbaric. I don’t think I would do [that] to my children.”

Follow-up inquiries can be addressed to Bogardus’ email: Tomas.Bogardus@pepperdine.edu for further clarification on his remarks or accumulated research about the mind-body relationship and the scientific rationality of self-identification.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, The Maine Campus interviewed Senator Memphis Peterson, a candidate for Student Body Vice President. Current Vice President Keegan Tripp, who is running for president without any current challengers, personally selected Peterson to join the 2024 ticket. Peterson shared his vision to expand campus connectivity and ensure that student-body-endorsed initiatives are at the top priority levels of the administration.

Peterson is a third-year political science, history and legal studies student at the University of Maine. 

Initially joining student government as a Sergeant at Arms in 2021, he has consecutively served as senator since his first year. Becoming Pro-Tempore during his second year, Peterson also chaired the Services Committee as the liaison between student government and campus auxiliary services. 

Currently, Peterson chairs the policy and procedures committee in addition to his three-year senatorship.

“I’m running for vice president of student government now because it definitely has the potential to be more of a managerial position within the office to be able to guide senators and let them take on their own initiatives while keeping all of the bureaucratic paperwork out of their way,” Peterson explained.

Peterson forefronted four campaign objectives: connectivity, accountability, accessibility and safety. 

“We want to make sure that the hidden gems in the population are at least aware that student government is here and there’s potential for them to be leaders,” Peterson said, referencing the 10 vacancies in student government leadership positions after the current seniors in those roles graduate in May.

Peterson supports initiatives improving caretaking maintenance and quality of life on campus, from dorm advancements to adding a Starbucks in the Union. 

“Watching the Kiwibots struggle to go across the sidewalks and the streets already there– That’s the perfect metaphor for where the priorities are for a lot of the funding on campus. It should be those streets and sidewalks that we’re improving. That’s what we mean by accessibility and safety,” Peterson said.

“It’s very frustrating. There are other projects that students have been promised in the past, like Wells Central being renovated and reopened moving on to York and Hilltop,” Peterson remarked, citing that while Hotel Ursa construction has been fast-tracked within two months, Wells Dining, which was supposed to reopen this past fall, is far from completion.

Peterson also highlighted that campus connectivity improvements are crucial in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, which drastically deteriorated the average college experience. 

“The student body is no longer in a rebuilding phase. We’re in an innovation phase,” Peterson said.

Peterson is confident that student government has provided ample opportunities to cultivate a procedural proficiency in structuring senate meetings and efficiently collaborating with fellow student leaders. According to Peterson, these skill sets will allow him to fully meet the “managerial” expectations of a student body vice president.

“I believe I am the most qualified. The biggest responsibility at the surface level for the vice president is to chair all the meetings. That’s a super important skill to have,” Peterson said. “The past three years as a senator have helped me iron out my understanding of how a senate meeting should work, [and] how an office should be managed.”

As an open-minded leader, Peterson allows all student body proposals to be evaluated equivalently. Chairing the policy and procedures committee, he moderated questions and debates, opening the forum appropriately and “irons out projects” before reaching a consensus on an initiative’s destination. 

“I need to see the goal and the vision to figure out how to get there in the best way possible,” Peterson said.

Peterson’s philosophy prioritizes student suggestions, which he credits as the cornerstone of student government. “Our initiatives should make way for the other student leaders on campus [who] may not have time for student government or have other priorities or passions,” Peterson explained.

“I’m the senator that’s not afraid to say, what if this is a student government problem? What if, as student leaders, we’re not doing enough to communicate with the Administration or to bridge the gap between the undergrads and faculty? That’s what I’ve done for the past three years.  That’s what sets me apart.”

Campaign-related correspondence for the Keegan-Memphis 2024 ticket can be directed to their joint Instagram account @keeganmemphis24.

By regularly raising awareness of the evolving campus concerns and vocalizing student reactions to policy priorities, Board of Trustees representatives bridge the gap between student suggestions and the Board’s official decision-making process. As a newly appointed University of Maine student member of the Board, Olivia Britton strives to amplify student perspectives before the Trustees finalize authorizations affecting campus life. 

Britton, a second-year civil engineering and political science student from Islesboro, Maine, hopes to lead by example in demonstrating the importance of advocating for an array of interests within the student body. 

Initially interested in UMaine Student Government during the past semester, a recent board report summarizing ongoing projects immediately captured her attention.

 “I learned a bunch of things that I did not know were happening on campus system-wide. I want that information to be as accessible as possible,” Britton said. 

She aims to improve information-sharing inconsistencies between the Trustees and students as well as serve as an “access point” for the student body to feel heard. 

“The decisions that happen at the Board level, even though they are sometimes complicated and a little bit confusing, affect our everyday lives,” Britton said, referencing the Board’s discussions about campus housing and dining. “It’s important for student voices to be heard in those conversations.” 

Britton says Board Representatives are the go-between for students with questions and recommendations for the Trustees to consider and synthesize before finalizing executive actions. 

Earlier this week, Britton met with student government executives and senators to address concerns raised at the Jan. 29 Board of Trustees meeting. 

“It was clear that students were confused and wanted to know what was happening,” Britton explained, citing the conversion of the Estabrooke dorm into an office facility. “It’s a bummer that space won’t be for students anymore.

Britton explained that other renovations are ongoing for dorm buildings. Hart and Hancock will soon occupy additional spaces to improve living standards with single-use bathrooms, kitchen areas, and other facility advancements.

“I can’t wait for students to have that space,” Britton reacted.

The dorm renovation plans were inaccessible before the Jan. 29 Board of Trustee executive session, where students criticized the board’s decision regarding the Estabrooke dorm hall. 

“It’s really unfortunate that the information did not all come out at the same time because it, rightfully so, felt like things were being taken away from students,” Britton said. She clarified the circumstances before clearly conveying the Board’s undertaken plans to prioritize dorm improvements on campus to the concerned student body. 

Britton also strives to cultivate a community network with other student representatives and leaders throughout the University of Maine system and personally evolve as a leader in her new role. 

“I’m excited to make a really strong foundation for the other representatives to be as effective as they can,” she remarked. “I would like to make sure that the Reps all feel like they can rely on one another and have a really clear understanding of what the expectations of their job are and also what opportunities there are to grow in the job.”

“I want to do as much listening to the student body as I can because they spend more time here than I do and have a better understanding of what their needs are,” she said.

Britton explained that her top priority in this position is to continuously consult with students, presenting them a receptive avenue to voice important issues before reiterating them to the Board of Trustees. 

Britton concluded by saying: “Before I come up with my own changes, I want to do a good job of listening first. I would love to hear any thoughts about what life is like on campus and questions about where money is being spent and how decisions are being made.” 

Britton’s active membership of the Executive Board of undergraduate student government entails attending every board meeting with other UMS campus representatives, including the eight-hour

sessions, which convene once every two months, and attending the senate, executive and cabinet meetings. She meets with people in positions of power at the University level and submits her reports to the UMaine Student Government. 

All student members of the Board are appointed for a single two-year term. Britton will fulfill her term requirements by Spring 2025. Britton is also a member of the Society for Women Engineers and Partners for World Health. In addition, she serves as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Chair in the Chi Omega Sorority. 

Students can direct concerns surrounding campus life, suggestions to improve future investments, and feedback for the Board of Trustees’ recent decisions by meeting Britton at the student government offices on Wednesdays from 11 to 12 p.m.

The UMS Board of Trustees consists of 16 members, with 15 appointed by Governor Mills and approved by the state legislature. The Board is vested with the authority to “carry out responsibilities on behalf of the citizens of Maine,” according to the charter and state statutes.

Earlier this week, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees convened at the Wells Conference Center, hearing from student representatives and community members before consolidating abundant initiatives aligning with the 2023-2028 System Strategic Plan. 

The University of Maine President, Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, and the Dean of Cooperative Extension, Dr. Hannah Carter, discussed important issues in the state with the Trustees concerning youth development, heritage industries and increased access to university programs. President Mundi remarked that UMaine’s Cooperative extension “spans 108 years” and has delivered university research to rural farmers and youth to “help accelerate and improve the quality of productivity in our farming communities” since its establishment in 1862.

The Board of Trustees approved numerous funding requests, acquiring a $14 million investment for constructing a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Research Center, a Nursing Skills Laboratory, an Aroostook Farm Phenotyping Laboratory and a Wild Blueberry Farm Laboratory. The $7 million PFAS Research Center and $3 million Wild Blueberry Hill Farm Laboratory are capital projects federally funded through Congressional Directed Spending proposals led and secured by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) in the 2023 Omnibus spending package.

UMaine’s PFAS Center aims to increase innovative research approaches to mitigate harmful chemical contamination of the agricultural economy. Maine’s wild blueberry industry will gain harvesting technologies, irrigation, and horticultural approaches from the new research infrastructure and state-of-the-art laboratory upgrades at Jonesboro Farm.

Additionally, the Board of Trustees unanimously authorized the University of Maine Augusta to sell four acres of land between I-95 and Texas Avenue to Bangor Housing Development for $160,000 to advance affordable housing in the state. Cindy Wetis, Development Director at Bangor Housing, explained the development “will be able to provide 100 units of affordable housing.”

Several students opposed the Board’s financial decision to support building a boutique hotel on Munson Rd. Meredith Waters, a third-year student, vocalized her concerns with the Board’s undertaken projects, including the construction of Hotel Ursa, costing $3 million. 

“I think we’re hurting students with all of these private partnerships,” Waters said, advocating for prioritizing future significant investments for the student body. “While the University has saved money, those costs unfortunately fall to students,” Waters cited, referencing meal plan increases caused by the Sodexo dining contract.

A fifth-year student, Steven Santiago, also disapproved of these financial fallbacks on students and referred to the Hotel Ursa project as a “money-making scheme.” 

“I would challenge you in the years to come to pay attention to what your students are saying and to center their narrative in your work,” said Santiago. The Board of Trustees controversially approved an additional $500,000 for converting two historical buildings on campus into Hotel Ursa.

Addressing the state of residence halls, Darren Martone, a transfer student from Maryland, emphasized that Estabrooke “should be a template” for future halls. Shocked that Estabrooke will soon be transformed into a UMaine office, Martone declared, “This seems short-sighted…it just doesn’t seem right.”

Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Dr. Ferrini-Mundy, along with UMS faculty and students, presented an update on Research Learning Experiences, which are introductory courses in various disciplines offered to beginning college students. These courses “serve as an engine for innovation for Maine businesses, non-profits, state and local governments, communities, and the K-12 schools,” as outlined in the System Strategic Plan. 

By helping “students get engaged in the first semester, RLE constructs special experiences that enable them to conduct research and bring a creative mindset and authentic problem solving before classes even begin,” briefed President Ferrini-Mundy, summarizing the $10 million award benefits.

“It allows students to think for themselves,” recollected Business student Lucas Ronco, describing Professor Buffie McCue-Quinn’s Business of Healthcare and Blueberries RLE course. The RLE experience was “very beneficial to building skills that you might not build in lecture halls,” Ronco elaborated, referring to his presentation of three recommendations to the CEO of Wyman’s Blueberry business.

Dr. Tracy Michaud, an Associate Professor and Chair of Tourism and Hospitality at USM, shared that her students’ immersive learning opportunities in sustainable tourism development expanded community engagement, especially for commuter students.

“Students have more ownership and realize they truly are scientists from the time that they’re starting,” said Professor of Chemistry at UMaine Machias, William Otto, describing the success of their bridge program that allows students to gain hands-on experience in measuring ocean data.