On Saturday, Oct. 7, around 6:30 a.m., militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and the injuries of thousands more according to the most recent recovery mission numbers. Since then, over 4,600 Palestinians have died, with approximately 14,000 wounded. Nearly half a million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes from resulting Israeli airstrikes. 

Roughly 2,200 rockets were fired and Hamas militants infiltrated Southern Israel.

A key site of the devastating massacre was the Re’im (“Supernova Sukkot Gathering”) music festival that was being held in southern Israel in celebration of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday. What some festival goers first perceived as fireworks, ended up being the flashes of rockets that would signal the start of what has since been recognized as the deadliest event for Jews since the Holocaust, as well as the worst day in the country’s history.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared the country to be at war before noon that same day, stating, “This is not a so-called military operation, not another round of fighting, but war.”

Tensions between Israel and Palestine have resulted in back-and-forth bouts of conflict since the end of the nineteenth century, after the United Nations adopted Resolution 181 in 1947, effectively separating Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. It has been estimated that 60% of Palestinians support armed attacks within Israel as a means of ending Israeli occupation. About 70% have also expressed the perspective that a two-state solution is no longer possible after the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestine.

Many United States officials expressed support for Israel, a key ally of the U.S. in the Middle East region. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Oct. 7, “The United States unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, including civilians and civilian communities. There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel, and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks.”

Since the attack, protests have occurred around the world, with perspectives in support of both Israel and Palestine interests over many decades of conflicts and grievances experienced between the two. Israel has also launched offensive responses, with an estimated 4,300 Palestinian lives lost so far according to the Palestinian health ministry.

These counterattacks are just the start of the strikes and ground operations Israel intends to carry out. Civilians in Gaza have also been deprived of critical resources since the initial attack on Israel, with blockades that have prevented Palestinians from fleeing and humanitarian aid from entering. The UN has described the lack of water and fuel in Gaza as “a matter of life and death.”

Israel officials have warned Palestinians to leave northern Gaza, as Hamas controls this territory and its operatives are the primary targets of Israel’s military response. Aid workers have described the current conditions in Gaza as “a complete catastrophe” in the aftermath of the initial counterattacks.

Egypt has faced serious international pressure to open up a humanitarian corridor through the Rafah Gate, the only crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, to allow passage for fleeing Gazans, Americans, and other civilians who now remain vulnerable in the aftermath of the attacks. Israel Defence Forces let up on military operations along the evacuation route for a limited three-hour window before seeking to resume its counterattack on Hamas with “an even greater force” on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Shortly after noon on Sunday, Israel Defense Forces Lt. Col. Peter Lerner provided an update on his country’s response, stating, “We are currently striking Hamas in its entirety…We did not ask for this war, but we will win it.” 

Those distressed or in need of assistance in light of the recent violence between Israel and Hamas are welcomed to contact the UMaine Dean of Students office at 207.581.1406, the Counseling Center at 207.581.1392, the Office of the Provost at

207.581.1547, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 207.581.1437, or the University’s Employee Assistance Program at 1.877.622.4327.

On Friday, Sept. 22, the Maine Campus met with University of Maine System (UMS) Associate Project Manager Logan Doucette to experience a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing construction in Boudreau Hall. Formerly known as North Stevens Hall, Karen L. Boudreau, Esq. Hall was officially renamed in July 2022 after a generous donation by UMaine alumna Karen Boudreau and her husband, Thomas Jensen.

Thanks largely in part to this gift money, the two-story home to the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service, Equal Opportunity, International Affairs, the Political Science Department and the School of Policy and International Affairs is experiencing some much-needed updates as one of the oldest buildings on the Orono campus. 

Doucette, a 2022 UMaine graduate of the Construction Engineering Technology program, is currently working on between 35 and 40 projects in his role at UMS and generously took time out of his busy schedule to share his excitement about the many ongoing and upcoming upgrades taking place across the university.

Although Boudreau Hall very much resembles a construction zone four weeks into the fall semester, Doucette says the roughly $700,000 project is expected to wrap up before finals are over.

“Our schedule at this point is driven by procurement more so than the actual labor that’s happening here. Really what that amounts to is vendors and lead times on materials,” said Doucette.

Perhaps the most significant addition, as well as the most costly, is the addition of two gender-neutral bathrooms on the first floor of the hall. Those visiting Boudreau in the past had the option of using either the bathroom in the basement or on the second floor, neither of which was compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One of the newly constructed bathrooms will be ADA-accessible, but the other will not be due to size limitations. Doucette added that the existing basement and second-floor bathrooms will largely remain the same other than being tied into the plumbing and electrical work occurring on the first floor.

In the hallways of the first and second floors, new ceilings and light fixtures are being installed, along with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to meet code requirements. In regard to the new systems, Doucette explained, “The unit that we’re putting in is called an ERV. It’s essentially an air exchanger, so it’s bringing in new air from outside and blowing out old air to really just get a better flow.”

Multiple conference spaces, as well as the Cohen Institute room on the second floor, will sport high-end furniture that will allow for interactive learning to occur, especially in the Cohen Institute, where students gather regularly. “It was emphasized in the design concept that this [the Cohen Institute] would be a collaborative type of learning space for students.” 

This particular room will also be the only one to have double doors made of glass installed to allow for natural lighting to enter more easily into the corridor from the exterior windows.

Overall, the design plans aim to maintain the original feel of the building, which can occasionally result in longer lead times for various materials needed to meet this expectation. Longer wait times, Doucette believes, are worth it in order to ensure that Boudreau Hall receives all  necessary updates without altering its ambiance.

The renovations in Boudreau Hall are just one of the many ongoing facilities-related projects at the University of Maine. To view updates from the Office of Facilities Management, visit https://umaine.edu/ofm/. 

Fogler Library hosted the first Salon Series event on planning the next-generation university on Sept. 12. 

The Salon’s first public discussion was titled “Planning the Next-Generation University: Parachuting Off the Enrollment Cliff,” and was aimed at considering new approaches to combat looming threats of enrollment decline, along with what has been perceived by many as the growing irrelevance of the traditional university model.

Now, it will serve an additional purpose: being a comfortable space to hold open conversations and brainstorm solutions to issues currently facing the University of Maine and beyond as it continues on with the Salon Series.

One solution discussed concerning a non-traditional path to increase enrollment was the Adult Degree Completion Scholarship available to qualifying returning students in the UMaine System. Sometimes, life happens and students leave before completing a degree program. There is now a greater emphasis being placed on providing opportunities for adult students to return and complete their educational career at a flexible pace.

Another concern raised the question of how to make classes more accessible to non-traditional students for whom typical class schedules are difficult to commit to. A few solutions were floated around in response to this, including offering more night classes, as well as classes that begin mid-way through the semester.

Universities can also be home to those who have already earned undergraduate or graduate degrees and wish to continue on with their learning as fields introduce new tools and become increasingly technologically advanced. 

Tuesday’s event featured faculty members Dr. Richard Corey, director of UMaine’s VEMI Lab and Associate Graduate Faculty in the School of Computing and Information Science, Dean Giovanni Guidoboni of the College of Engineering, Dr. Jon Ippolito, Professor of New Media and Director of the Digital Curation program and Dr. Peter Schilling, Executive Director of Innovation in Teaching and Learning and Graduate Faculty in Instructional Technology.

“There are a lot of skill sets that do need updating every five to 10 years, at least to understand where things are at. I think the first thing we have to do is open up the ability to offer classes you can drop into,” said Corey.

The ability to drop into classes could allow those who wish to continue learning or to update their skill sets to attend specific classes that they feel are useful. This idea, however, could prove difficult to execute effectively for those who are not officially enrolled as students.

“If we’re talking about people who are parachuting in, as Rick said, we’re like, okay what’s the sequence of these modules? There’s no sequence. They can join at any point. That’s really critical,” Ippolito said regarding the possibility of allowing drop-in classes.

Discussion centered around the traditional college learning path recognized that students are increasingly concerned about long-term debt from student loans and often question whether receiving a college education is really worth the financial burden.

There is a lot of uncertainty over what approaches will most effectively combat declining enrollment and what some perceive as the irrelevancy of the traditional college education model, but UMaine and its dedicated faculty members appear committed to finding solutions that will meet the needs of those who do not fit the traditional college student model and those who are skeptical about the benefits of pursuing higher education.

To view upcoming events in the Salon Series, visit https://library.umaine.edu/salon/. 

On Wednesday, April 19, students and faculty gathered once again in Norman Smith Hall on the University of Maine campus to attend the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions’ final event of its Spring 2023 “Sustainability Talks” series. The talk, entitled “Field Philosophy as Engaged Research: Practice, History, and Theory,” was presented by Adam Briggle, an associate professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of North Texas. 

Briggle spoke of the opportunity space for philosophy, as disciplines like STEM and economics have been increasingly dominating the world. 

“The goal of the field philosophy project is to help understand, articulate, and assess the ethics and values dimensions that are going on with whatever project you are interested in,” Briggle explained. 

Field philosophy can be distinguished from applied philosophy in that it requires one to actually participate in intellectual work so that they take what they have learned back to their communities to reflect and improve upon, rather than simply observing a work and offering answers to its questions without getting overly involved.

Briggle’s presentation was one of 10 talks the Mitchell Center hosted during the spring semester as part of its series focusing on sustainable ideas and practices. For over a decade, “Sustainability Talks” have been a valuable addition to the university’s event calendar. The center also presents a broader annual talk on current sustainability efforts as many around the world seek new solutions to environmental challenges. 

Throughout the spring semester, UMaine’s “Sustainability Talks” have discussed a variety of complex issues, as well as opportunities concerning climate action relationships, food waste reduction methods, ways to deal with drought within the state of Maine and much more. All talks from the 2022-2023 school year are available for leisurely viewing on the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions Youtube page. 

This series will return in the fall semester with a new lineup of presentations. For more information on the series and the many opportunities offered by the center, visit https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/.

On March 18, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he would soon be prosecuted by Manhattan’s district attorney, Alvin Bragg, on charges concerning a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Speculation surrounded this claim and what charges Trump might face for days until the Manhattan grand jury formally indicted him on March 31. 

On Tuesday, April 4, Trump turned himself in for arraignment at a New York courthouse. Rumors had been swirling in regard to the number of charges Bragg would bring against the nation’s 45th president. As Trump sat in a courtroom, the indictment was unsealed to formally charge him with 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in the first degree, all of which Trump pleaded not guilty to. 

University of Maine’s own Mark Brewer, professor and interim chair of the department of political science, sat down with the Maine Campus to discuss the likely implications of Bragg’s decision to indict a former president, as well as the likelihood that further charges will be brought against Trump in the foreseeable future. 

Brewer first acknowledged the extent to which Trump’s situation is unprecedented. Although Trump is not the first current or former U.S. president to find himself in hot water, he is the first in history to face charges in a criminal case. 

“Nixon had a criminal indictment drafted against him, and then it didn’t end up being issued because Ford pardoned him preemptively…Clinton was under grand jury investigation for four years and he cut a deal at the end of his [presidency]…We know that the legal process will play out, which could involve his [Trump’s] attorneys cutting a deal with the prosecutors. It could involve going to trial before a jury of his peers,” Brewer said. 

District Attorney Bragg seeked to justify his decision to criminally prosecute Trump over hush money payments by arguing that it was the right thing to do. 

“Under New York state law, it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud, intent to conceal another crime,” Brewer explained. Although this one statement seems reasonable enough, Bragg has come under fire for the undeniable political motivation that has, to an extent, driven his choice to prosecute Trump. Brewer spoke on this as well. “Even a lot of democrats see this as politically motivated. These democrats are going after Trump on this. Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor, is a democrat…Trump keeps saying, ‘Witch hunt! Witch hunt!’ and I think a lot of people are going to agree with him,” Brewer noted.

The current charges against Trump in Manhattan could be the least of his worries moving forward. 

“This might not be the only set of indictments because he’s under grand jury investigation in Fulton County, Georgia for election tampering. That investigation is ongoing. He’s also the subject of two separate federal investigations that also have a grand jury. One is his classified document handling storage at Mar-a-Lago, and the other…his actions related to the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol,” Brewer said. 

Brewer emphasized that despite the presence of a clear political motive in this case, Trump is not to be let off the hook. 

“You don’t want to send the message that somebody’s above the law and that because he’s a former president, I’m not going to prosecute him for what’s clearly illegal, right? It’s clearly illegal. He did it. He committed a crime…but I’m slow-walking this hard,” Brewer stated. “If he’s indicted for election tampering in Georgia, that’s different. If he’s indicted and charged criminally with improperly taking classified documents, and then if he’s indicted for contributing to an insurrection, that might be different…I would see him actively inciting his followers to charge the U.S. Capitol as very different from paying off a woman that you had an affair with.” 

It is important to understand that despite the unprecedented nature of Trump’s current legal troubles, his plans to run for reelection remain unaffected regardless of how things play out. 

“One thing that the indictment, or any indictments that come forward won’t stop him from doing, is running for president. None of those things make him ineligible to be president. He can be found guilty of any of these alleged crimes and still run for president. He could run for president from prison. The only thing that makes him ineligible to serve as president is if he were impeached and removed from office,” Brewer said.  

The fate of Donald Trump undoubtedly remains as questionable and controversial as ever. 

On Monday, March 27, the George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions welcomed Rachel Schattman, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine, to discuss droughts in Maine. The talk, entitled “Dealing with Drought: Aligning farmer needs and advisor confidence, skills, and expertise” explored how the increasing occurrence of droughts in Maine will impact the agricultural industry, as well as ways for the state to support the needs of local farmers as they attempt to address water-related issues and adapt to the challenges they pose.

With the global issue of climate change comes warmer temperatures and drought that negatively impacts Maine farmers, along with random bouts of intense rainfall that can also prove damaging to crops.

In 2020, Maine experienced a significant drought period. In 2023, the United States has collectively experienced the 11th driest February on record during the last 129 years. However, it has also experienced the 38th wettest year to date during that same time period, with a 0.6426 increase in average inches of rainfall.

The 2020 Maine Agriculture and Drought Survey showed a general increase in yield loss of all types of crops grown in the state compared to the previous five years. This survey collected responses from 174 farmers, with a median farm size of 55 acres and the median irrigation area on these farms calculated to one acre.

Over 25% of survey respondents reported that they ran out of water for farm use, and over 75% of this same group reported a decrease in the overall quality of their crops due to drought, as well as other difficulties.

One key takeaway Schattman addressed after expanding on the statistics collected from the survey was that between 16 to 37% of respondents desire more information on how to manage their water supply, as well as advice on how to improve their soil practices. Regarding water management, potato and livestock producers expressed the most concern about improving their current systems. Potato producers were also more likely to express the need for funding to develop and manage their water practices.

Potatoes have become Maine’s premiere food crop since the first planters settled in the state in the early 1800s, with the largest concentration of potato farms located in the northernmost part of the state, Aroostook County. Maine farmers generate about $540 million in sales across the state’s 56,000 acres of farmland, which provides employment to over 6,000 workers. Potato farms lead agricultural sales, with a harvest valued at more than $200 million in 2019 alone according to Maine Public.

A key problem Maine potato farmers face is that they often use a dry farming practice without supplemental irrigation due to the high costs of maintaining irrigation equipment, so they are likely to face devastation in instances of extended drought. The 2020 drought decimated roughly 30% of Maine’s total potato production that year.

According to a piece by Climate Central in 2022 regarding the ongoing challenges Maine potato farmers are facing, Ryan Guerrette, president of Guerrette Farms Corp., stated that his farm’s irrigation process required $5 per gallon of fuel on top of the other costs necessary to run irrigation operations. Guerrette also added that this $5 per gallon cost of fuel could be multiplied by 3,000 gallons of fuel per day to get an accurate understanding of the extensive costs required to run irrigation systems on Maine farms effectively. Based on these numbers, it is no wonder that many Maine potato farmers desire financial assistance to properly run their irrigation systems to limit the devastating impact drought can have on their crop yields.

Farmers have taken significant steps to fight off the impact that heat and drought continue to impose on their production levels, such as rotating their crops and attempting to develop more resilient potatoes. These measures are positively impactful, but they cannot fully make up for the limitations caused by a lack of supplemental irrigation.

As the state continues to face the growing challenges imposed by climate change, Maine potato farmers and those working with other types of food crops require more support and guidance to prevent significant economic loss and a further decrease in both production levels and the quality of crops ending up on store shelves within the state and beyond.

For more information about the Mitchell Center’s spring talks, visit https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/seminars/spring-2023-sustainability-talks/.

On Tuesday, March 21, University of Maine Dining hosted two sessions of an open campus forum in the Lown Room of the Memorial Union. The events were intended to present ideas for the future of UMaine dining, as well as review proposal plans and gain further insight from the UMaine community on how to improve dining experiences across the campus to the fullest extent.

Multiple management personnel from UMaine Dining, Sodexo, and Dembling + Dembling Architects offered their visions for dining plans, some of which are already in motion.

Sodexo first came to the UMaine campus in December of 2022 and will be formally running all of the university’s dining locations by July 1, 2023. There has been notable controversy in regard to UMaine’s decision to become the final public university in the state to partner with Sodexo’s dining services, mainly due to allegations of poor employee treatment and a lack of benefits. Despite these concerns, UMaine is moving forward with the partnership and has some exciting plans for dining opportunities that will be implemented in the near future.

After seeking input from hundreds of students through tabling events and other methods of communal engagement, the areas that have been identified as key to improving the dining experience are York dining, Wells dining, Hilltop dining, and the Bears Den located in the Memorial Union.

Wells

With the expectation to reopen in the fall, Wells will be receiving some significant updates once the architects of Dembling + Dembling begin construction. Dan Dembling, president of the company, presented 3D designs and other visuals to demonstrate his general vision for the project.

Externally, there are proposed plans for an outdoor dining area located in the corridor leading to the football stadium, equipped with fire pits and comfortable seating areas. There will be many changes happening internally as well, including the addition of a 24/7 automated market, food lockers that students can pick up their food at when ordering remotely from the Transact Mobile Ordering App, and a pizza spot. Sodexo currently partners with Portland Pie Company at other campuses, but remains open to the possibility of partnering with another local pizza spot based on community preferences.

Another notable change will be the relocation of the Bear’s Den Pub & Cafe to Wells. Dining services plan to involve the class of 1944 families in this decision to help ensure that the vision of the original donors is respected and reflected in the plans.

“The Wells issue on campus has been pretty significant in terms of having it closed, and what we’ve seen is the impact on resident housing as well, so we’re hoping that bringing more of a retail atmosphere and consolidating those services to best utilize that space would bridge the gap with a lot of feedback we’ve heard of the pub being closed and Wells being closed,” said Kerry Chasteen, UMaine’s interim director of dining.

York 

York dining also has notable improvements planned. However, this construction is not expected to be underway until the summer of 2024.

One of the first changes will happen right as students enter the doors of York, as students commented on concerns with long lines that often extend outside in all types of weather. The proposal includes card swipes on both sides of the welcome area, as well as improvements to the overall concept of this area so that students are not left out in the cold.

Also in response to student feedback comes new eating opportunities that include a variety of allergy-friendly and plant-based options. Some of these additions have already been successful additions to other campuses in partnerships with Sodexo. Sodexo resident district manager Tadd Stone introduced concepts called Simple Servings, Simple Zone and UCook, all of which are currently incorporated into the design plans for York.

“[The Simple Servings platform] would be its own little kitchen. It’s got all the equipment that it needs to prepare…Essentially, we can do all of our work right in that spot, so there’s no real chance of cross-contamination,” Stone said.

Simple Servings is free of eight of the top nine allergens, with fish remaining to provide a greater number of protein options. The station would also only use utensils and plates that are all purple in order to signify allergen-free items that will not be accidentally used for anything potentially containing allergens.

“[With the Simple Zone] a student could fill out a form with our dietitian and just basically say, not that they have a food allergy, but that they’ll respect the area. They’re not going to bring allergens into the area,” Stone said. This provides a space for a higher level of food safety for all students with special dietary needs.

A third opportunity mentioned was UCook, which will be an area equipped with prep sinks, hand sinks, induction cookers and more for students to actually cook their own meals at individual stations.

“One thing that we heard from students on multiple campuses, not just UMaine, [was that] some of them feel like when they’ve left to college, they’ve not been taught the necessary skills to go and get an apartment on their own…we’ve started to incorporate, not only as an option, but as an educational aspect, U-Cook…The beauty of U-Cook is that you can walk over to the salad part if you really want to add tofu to your dish, you could grab some tempe off the plant-forward station and you can bring those to the U-Cook,” Stone said.

This concept provides students with a way to choose how they want their meals prepared and also has the potential use for cooking classes if desired by student clubs and organizations.

Hilltop

Although plans for Hilltop have not been fully addressed yet, the hall is expected to have similar additions to York installed, including Simple Serving, Simple Zones and UCook. Construction will begin in the summer of 2025. The project managers are still looking for campus input regarding different foods offered across campus and whether there is a desire for potential overlap between some food halls.

Memorial Union

The final area of focus in the current dining plans is the Memorial Union. Due to an overwhelming student response that suggested Starbucks as a chain option on campus, the university expects to have a fully licensed Starbucks location in the Union by next spring, as it will take 12 to 14 months for this chain to become fully licensed and operational.

In addition to Starbucks, the Union will also have food lockers installed for remote ordering.

Other Additions

Outside of the food halls, there are a few more dining-related additions coming to campus. Food delivery robots will be roaming around by fall and will provide on-campus delivery for students and faculty ordering through the mobile app. Two food trucks have been purchased as well, with at least one arriving by summertime. There is also discussion concerning the state of the Oakes Room. However, a decision will be made on it at a later date once more information has been gathered. When asked about budget limits for the project proposals, Stone responded confidently that all current plans are fully attainable.

All of these changes bring high hopes for the future of UMaine dining as it works with its new partners to create more opportunities for enjoyable eating experiences on campus.

Additionally, there is the Community Culinary Council in the Bear’s Den Pub & Cafe on April 13. This group meets every second Thursday of the month from 1-2 p.m. and is an opportunity to share visions, feedback and taste sample menu items.

Students can also text “umainediningvision” to 82257 to join an anonymous database to share any feedback regarding these developments with dining.

Hopefully, by listening and responding to student concerns, it is ensured that with these positive advancements comes equally positive opportunities for the campus dining employees who will be needed to ensure the smooth operation of these facilities as they are completed.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the town of Orono’s annual municipal election will officially be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Council Chambers at 59 Main Street. In the meantime, early voting has already begun, so the platforms of the current candidates on the ballet are relevant and deserving of review.

There are currently two seats up for re-election on both the Orono Town Council and the RSU No. 26 School Board. These positions all have three-year term limits and allow the chosen candidates enough time to make a difference in the Orono community and in its education system while they hold seats, so it is important for voters to know about those they are selecting.

University of Maine’s own Kevin Roberge, an adjunct lecturer in mathematics and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, is running for a position on the school board. Roberge has already served on the board and is hopeful to be reelected in order to continue working toward achieving greater equity and inclusion in the school system.

Also hopeful to claim an open spot on the board is Brittany Cline, who is connected to the university through her role as an adjunct faculty member. As an ecologist and mother of two, Cline is passionate about allowing environmental education to play a significant role in early childhood learning and development. One of Cline’s key goals if she clinches an open seat is to aid the district in accessing locally-grown organic food, as well as placing more of an emphasis on food insecurity and the opportunities for growing locally. Like Roberge, Cline is also eager to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the school system and beyond.

The final candidate for consideration of a school board position is three-time elect Jake Eckert. Eckert spent two years as board chair before embarking on a six-year run as board vice chair. As someone who works professionally in insurance, Eckert believes the main purpose of a school board is to make sure that schools are run in a fiscally responsible manner. He also prioritizes making sure that every student, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, or identity can feel comfortable in their learning environment.

The Orono town council’s open seats also have three candidates vying for the chance to best serve the community.

Jonathan Parker, owner and operator of Black Bear Lawn Care, previously served on the Veazie Town Council for six years. Parker also worked as a call division firefighter for the Orono Fire Department for 12 years and has engaged in a variety of time-consuming community service activities throughout his lifelong residency in the Orono area. As a small business owner and father of four, Parker hopes to acquire a seat on the council so that he can continue his efforts for making Orono an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Next up on the ballot is Meghan Gardner, who has served on the council since 2017 and is its current vice chair. In her professional career, Gardner is currently the academic advisor for UMaine’s Graduate School of Business. In addition to the town council, she holds an additional vice chair position on the Maine Women’s Lobby and Education Fund, which is a non-profit organization seeking greater gender justice throughout the state of Maine.

The third and final council candidate for consideration is former UMaine director of marketing and communications, Daniel Demeritt. After spending years coordinating projects for the university, such as the “Together for Maine” public health campaign, Demeritt moved on to the Maine Association of Health Plans, which he currently leads.

“We have found incredible belonging in Orono, met wonderful people, and made unforgettable new family memories. I want the same for everyone who lives, works and learns here,” Demeritt stated after moving to Orono with his family.

This year’s candidates for the RSU No. 26 School Board and the Orono Town Council have dedicated their lives to serving the community through various methods of engagement over the years. It is important for local voters to now do their part by getting out and making their vote count.

For more information on the upcoming municipal election, visit ​​https://www.orono.org/304/Elections-Voting-Information.

The University of Maine is working toward exciting new advancements. On Monday, Nov. 21, the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) unveiled its recently completed BioHome3D during a private event that welcomed many esteemed guests, including Maine State Senator Susan Collins and Governor Janet Mills. The 600-square-foot home is the world’s first-ever home to have its floors, walls and ceiling completely printed using biodegradable materials.

Dr. Habib Dagher, the founding executive director of the ASCC, continues to lead this project with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Maine Housing Authority in pursuit of a shared goal to provide more affordable housing within the state and beyond.

Those who have dedicated their lives to serving the people of Maine, specifically Collins and Mills, have pledged their overwhelming support to this project since day one. There is an ever-present housing crisis in the state with an estimated 20,000 houses needed, especially for low-income families and communities. Collins, Mills and Senator Angus King aim to help allocate the required funding to meet the demand for housing.

This specific project has required the combined efforts of over 100 researchers and scientists between the ASCC and its project partner, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy recognized in her speech the other notable work happening at the ASCC, all of which aims to further research and develop solutions to the significant problems facing the world today, specifically Maine.

Earlier this year, UMaine earned the classification as an R1 research facility, meaning it conducts research at the highest measurable level. According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, there are currently only 146 institutions out of thousands across the U.S. that have achieved this status.

The bulk of ASCC’s current research focuses on offshore wind power, solutions for transportation infrastructure, forest products and large-scale 3D printing. To date, about 2,700 students have had the privilege to work on certain aspects of these expansive projects.

Following Ferrini-Mundy’s remarks, Mills expressed her excitement at the university’s ongoing work toward developing accessible low-income housing.

“This pops us into the future. [This] pops us into an era of new, exciting innovation and production never before seen here in Maine, or in the country or across the world,” Mills said.

She also noted that Maine currently has the seventh highest in-migration rate in the country.

“The demand for affordable housing has never been higher,” Mills said.

The university next seeks to double the size of the ASCC and its capabilities and add another 3D printer to its lab. The current printer has been installed for about 3 years and with current modifications can print 500 pounds of material per hour. With two printers operating at this speed, Dagher says that UMaine would have the ability to print one of these houses in just two days. This would be a significant achievement for Dagher and his team, as over 8 million single-bedroom homes such as these are needed across the country.

The ASCC continues to exemplify the university’s drive for excellence through its impressive innovation in green energy and materials. Collins has represented Maine in Congress since 1997, and she has remained committed to helping Dagher achieve his vision since the ASCC’s earliest days.

“The amazing progress that led to this day is due to the work ethic, determination and spirit of innovation that defines our great state,” Collins said.

To learn more about the ASCC’s ongoing research and developments, visit https://composites.umaine.edu/.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the 2022 midterm election resulted in the notable re-election of Governor Janet Mills in the state of Maine. Mills was not the only Democratic candidate who found success in last week’s election, as Chellie Pingree maintained her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Locally, Democrat Mike Tipping was also successful in defeating Eric Rojo in the District 8 state senate race.

The results of this election will have certain implications for Maine going forward as an increasingly progressive state.

Governor Mills prevailed over Republican candidate Paul LePage who had previously served as the governor of Maine from 2011 until Mills took office in January of 2019. Her campaign has been centered around a variety of issues including maximizing women’s reproductive rights, expanding healthcare access and aggressively tackling climate change.

Trump-backed LePage had focused his campaign around phasing out Maine’s income tax. However the voice of the people was loudly heard in this battle, as a LePage win could have potentially resulted in a push for more restrictive legislation on abortion access. This has been a key issue across the country since Roe v. Wade — an act that recognized abortion as a constitutional right — was overturned this past June. Mills promised to promote access to this kind of healthcare in Maine as long as she remains in office.

Representative Pingree in District 1 has been serving the state of Maine in Congress since 2009. Greater access to extensive healthcare and the guarantee for all people to make their own health-related decisions are issues that Pingree strongly stands by her fellow state-elected officials in. She also prioritizes universal quality education and public health infrastructure to counter the consequences of the opioid epidemic that has taken far too many lives both in Maine and nationwide.

The Orono area’s newly elected state senator, Mike Tipping, can relate to the progressive visions of his fellow midterm victors, and he has spent the entirety of his career passionately advocating for Mainers. Locally, he has been very involved in the legal battle against HoltraChem after the company dumped many tons of mercury into the Penobscot River.

District 2 is expected to re-elect Representative Jared Golden, who shares Mills’ drive to expand healthcare. He also aims to reform campaign financing as well as corruption within Congress. Another key aspect of Golden’s platform is to ensure that Maine seniors maintain access to full social security benefits and Medicare.

Although he has not been officially declared as the winning candidate of Maine’s 2nd District, Golden announced his victory against former Rep. Bruce Poliquin who had previously served Maine from 2015 to 2019. Poliquin has not yet conceded the race, and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows shared that an official result will not be available until some point this week through a ranked-choice runoff. Maine is one of two states in the country using ranked choice voting in statewide and federal elections.

The Democratic party had very successful midterm results overall, as they were able to hold onto control of both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate. They also proved to be significantly more effective at ensuring their campaign messages were heard with help from a substantial amount of out-of-state funding.

With the midterm results largely decided, Mainers can expect the state to place much of its focus on the same issues Governor Mills has prioritized since taking office. As far as abortion goes, state protections are capable of further expansion. However it is unlikely that abortion protections will be implemented into the Maine Consitution. Only time will tell what other policy initiatives will emerge from the State House as the Mills administration carries on.