The Maine Campus is excited to announce that we will expand our news coverage to Downeast Maine! Partnering with students at the University of Maine at Machias, we hope to document and highlight the culture, news and general stories happening in the Machias region.  

Mainers passed Question 1, requiring voter approval for quasi-governmental entities and consumer-owned electric utilities to borrow more than $1 billion. Yet, voters rejected Question 3, which would create Pine Tree Power. Mainers approved the ban on foreign spending in elections (Question 2).  The right to repair passed in this evening’s election (Question 4). Maine now requires the Maine Constitution to be printed in full to include treaty obligations with the Wabanaki Confederacy (Question 6). Mainers voted to reject Question 7, ensuring that one must be a Maine resident in order to get an issue on a ballot.

9:30 p.m. 25% of votes are counted so far.

• Question 1:  Do you want to bar some quasi-governmental entities and all consumer-owned electric utilities from taking on more than $1 billion in debt unless they get statewide voter approval?
  • 66% vote yes
  • 34% vote no
• Question 2: Do you want to ban foreign governments and entities that they own, control, or influence from making campaign contributions or financing communications for or against candidates or ballot questions?
  • 86% vote yes
  • 14% vote no
• Question 3: Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?
  • 29% vote yes
  • 71% vote no
• Question 4: Do you want to require vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems and provide remote access to those systems and mechanical data to owners and independent repair facilities?
  • 84% vote yes
  • 16% vote no
• Question 5: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to change the time period for judicial review of the validity of written petitions from within 100 days from the date of filing to within 100 business days from the date of filing of a written petition in the office of the Secretary of State, with an exception for petitions filed within 30 calendar days before or after a general election?
  • 56% vote yes
  • 44% vote no
• Question 6: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that all of the provisions of the Constitution be included in the official printed copies of the Constitution prepared by the Secretary of State?
  • 71% vote yes
  • 29% vote no
• Question 7: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to remove a provision requiring a circulator of a citizen’s initiative or people’s veto petition to be a resident of Maine and a registered voter in Maine, requirements that have been ruled unconstitutional in federal court?
  • 32% vote yes
  • 68% vote no
• Question 8: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to remove a provision prohibiting a person under guardianship for reasons of mental illness from voting for Governor, Senators and Representatives, which the United States District Court for the District of Maine found violates the United States Constitution and federal law?
  • 45% vote yes
  • 55% vote no

8 p.m. Polls have officially closed.

3:45 p.m. Roughly 15,000 Mainers have voted across the state so far. According to the Independent Voter Project, there are 1,063,383 registered voters in Maine.

After a three-day man-hunt, authorities found Robert Card’s body near a recycling plant in Lisbon, according to the Winthrop Police Department and U.S. Sen. Angus King.

Card was the suspect in the Lewiston shooting that took 18 lives on Wednesday.

Officials identified the 18 people who died:

• Joshua Seal, 36
• Ronald Morin, 55
• Lucy Violette, 73
• Bob Violette, 76
• Joe Walker, 57
• Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40
• Tricia Asselin, 53
• William Young, 44
• Aaron Young, 14
• Bryan MacFarlane, 41
• Thomas Conrad, 34
• Joshua Lawrence Walker, 57
• Arthur Strout, 42
• Maxx Hathaway, 35
• Stephen Vozzella, 45
• Michael Deslauriers II, 51
• William Brackett, 48
• Keith Macneir, 64

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said officers found Card’s body around 7:45 p.m. on Friday with what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At roughly 6:56 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, Auburn Communication Center was alerted that a man open fired at Spare Time Recreation, a bowling alley, in Lewiston. At 7:08 p.m., Auburn Communications Center was notified that a man began shooting in Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant.

The Lewiston shooting marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States this year. Additionally, according to the Gun Violence Archive, the Oct. 25 attack was the 565th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2023. In 2022, there were 29 homicides in Maine.

Resources

Call or text 988 for free, confidential counseling

Mental Health & Wellness:
UMaine Counseling Center: 207-581-1392
Cutler Health Center: 207-581-4000

Community & Diversity Resources:
Maine Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
The Wilson Center: 207-866-4227

Public Safety & Administration:
UMaine Police Department: 207-581-4040
Orono Police Department: 207-866-4000
Old Town Police Department: 207-827-8984
UMaine Student Life: 207-581-1406

Dear UMaine,

We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by last night’s tragedy in Lewiston. Maine is a beautiful state with beautiful people. Maine is a tight-knit community and one big small town. While many students hail from other states, our University campus reflects this beloved quality of Maine. While law enforcement officials and first responders continue their work to keep us safe, let us check in on our friends, family, and neighbors. We hold the community of Lewiston in our hearts and minds and will continue to support one another as we learn more about this tragedy. Please find contact information below for helpful resources that you or others may need in navigating this challenging time.

Mental Health & Wellness:
UMaine Counseling Center: 207-581-1392
Cutler Health Center: 207-581-4000

Community & Diversity Resources:
Maine Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
The Wilson Center: 207-866-4227

Public Safety & Administration:
UMaine Police Department: 207-581-4040
Orono Police Department: 207-866-4000
Old Town Police Department: 207-827-8984
UMaine Student Life: 207-581-1406

Please take care of each other in the coming days.

Most Sincerely,

Michael Delorge
President, University of Maine Student Government

Keegan Tripp,
Vice President, University of Maine Student Government

By Grace Blanchard

The University of Maine class of 2023 has had — to say the least — a unique experience. As graduation approaches, it calls for a time to reflect on what these past four years have looked like in these unprecedented times. 

For many members of this graduating class, they had what could be called the last “normal” year before COVID-19 changed the landscape of learning and how we function as a society. In 2019, these undergraduates were the last to experience life on campus before masks, vaccine mandates and overall uncertainty of these times. 

Spring 2020 left those living on campus scrambling to get moved out of the dorms while watching the chaos of the events unfold. We were sent home not knowing if it would be days, weeks or months until we stepped back on campus. Nobody could have predicted the extent of the lockdown. 

College students were all affected in different ways by the pandemic and the changes it ensued. For the class of ‘23, they had a glimpse of what this chapter of their life was supposed to be, and then watched it get stripped away. 

It is now 2023 and we have adjusted back to this new version of “normal,” as mandates are lifted and in–person classes are becoming much more common. This graduating class can be grateful for smiling faces again on campus, but that does not erase the fact that what might have been was taken away. 

Here are accounts from members of the class of 2023 on what their experience has been at UMaine. 

Michael Corrado, fifth-year journalism student, class of ‘23 

It’s pretty crazy how much a place can change in just five years, but I can safely say that the campus here in Orono is a completely different place than it was in 2018 when I arrived as a freshman. The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in changing the social dynamics of the university, and having to eat out of green containers and meander Hancock Hall as if I was navigating a cell block really didn’t help to bring back any of the magic that felt as if it was everywhere in Orono five years ago.

I do look back fondly on the 2018-19 school year, as I grew more than I ever had in the 18 years prior, though I just wish that experience was fluid throughout my stay here in Maine. If I could do it all over again though, I think I absolutely would. The friendships I’ve made and experiences I’ve been fortunate enough to have will be ever present in my mind for the rest of my life, and I’m beyond grateful to Maine Campus Media for allowing me to share my thoughts and stories with the community. I will always value my time spent in room 141.

Parting words of advice from Maine Campus Media seniors: 

“Get involved in any club or organization that seems slightly interesting to you; that’s how you’re going to build some of your strongest friendships in college and beyond.” 

“Your college experience is for you, not for others, so do what’s right for you.” 

“Maximize your experience for every dollar you can. You’re paying them, they’re not paying you, so do whatever you can to get everything they offer.” 

“Surround yourself with people within this community who add value to your life.” 

“Don’t forget who you are; stay true to yourself.” 

“Read all the Maine Campus has to offer to stay updated on the UMaine community.” 

College is a time to discover who you are. It requires patience with yourself, and trust in the process. These have been unordinary times as we try to figure out as a community what this new “normal” looks like, but we must continue to make the best of our college experiences. Be proud of the accomplishments you have made during these times of uncertainty.  

Congratulations from Maine Campus Media to all the 2023 graduates!

Maine Campus Media would like to recognize the work of one of our photographers, Erika Hipsky. 

Erika is a third-year psychology student from Blue Hill, Maine. She is also pursuing minors in neuroscience, zoology and communication science and disorders. Erika has been with the Maine Campus since the start of the spring 2023 semester, and has been an excellent addition to our team. 

“Erika’s creativity and eye for capturing photos with raw emotion, expression and composition is very clear in her work,” said Liv Schanck, photo editor for Maine Campus Media. “It has been a pleasure to watch her grow over the last semester.” 

Erika has photographed everything from music festivals and art exhibits, to campus protests and various sporting events. Outside of photography, she also enjoys crocheting and her favorite place on campus is “the stacked desks on the third-floor of the library.” When asked what her dream job would be, Erika replied, “to not have one,” and I think we all can relate to that. 

“We are so lucky to have her on the team and to be joining us again next year,” said Schanck. 

Thank you Erika for all the work you have contributed that aid in bringing our stories to life. You can find Erika’s photography on our website. 

Maine Campus Media would like to acknowledge the work of one of our culture contributors Rose Macijauskas. 

Rose has been working for the Maine Campus since the start of the Spring 2023 semester and has been an excellent addition to our team. 

“She’s dedicated to her work and brings a variety of perspectives into her pieces,” said Emme Aylesworth, culture editor for Maine Campus Media. 

Rose is a second year at the University of Maine studying English. She is originally from Colchester, Connecticut, and her dream job would be working as a journalist. 

“Working for Maine Campus Media has given me writing experiences I wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” said Macijauskas. 

Rose has covered a variety of topics in her time here. She reflected on a recent article about the recent controversies around TikTok. 

“I thought I would get overwhelmed by technical jargon like data privacy and algorithms, but it wasn’t as confusing as I thought it’d be,” Macijauskas said. “I became completely engrossed in the topic and had fun weaving in comments from UMaine students and tying them back to concerns raised by state representatives.” 

In her free time, Rose enjoys hiking with her dogs and her favorite place on the UMaine campus is Fogler Library. 

“I wanted to be a culture contributor because I knew it would be fulfilling academically and personally,” Macijasuskas said. “It’s a job which has become one of the best parts of my week.”   

Thank you Rose for the work you have contributed to the Maine Campus. Her articles can be read each week on our website. 

Maine Campus Media would like to recognize the work of one of our news contributors, Cali Warren. 

Cali is a first-year communications student from Brooks, Maine. She has been a contributor since the fall 2022 semester covering stories and events within the community. She has been an excellent addition to our team, highlighting student voices and notable events at UMaine. 

“Cali has shown immense growth as a contributor,” said Caty DuDevoir, the news editor for Maine Campus Media. “During her time here she has covered many important topics for the student body, from the graduate student rally to an on-campus climate march.” 

Cali would like to use her writing skills to become a poet one day, and in her free time enjoys crocheting. She is also involved in the Honors College at UMaine as she currently serves as the President of the Honors College Student Advisory Board. 

“Cali is able to connect with people, and that clearly shines through in her writing,” DuDevoir said. 

Thank you Cali for all the work you do for the UMaine community and Maine Campus Media. Read her articles each week on our website! 

Maine Campus Media would like to recognize the work of Jonathan Feix, an opinion contributor on our team. 

Jon is a fourth-year at the University of Maine from Bangor, ME. He studies political science with minors in leadership and film and media studies. He has been an opinion contributor for the Maine Campus since the fall 2022 semester. During his time at the Maine Campus he has covered many topics on local and global scales, including the natural disasters impacting Syria and the Russia-Ukraine war. 

“I wanted to be an opinion contributor so that I could express my thoughts on current events and hopefully inspire others to take interest in them as well,” said Feix. 

Jon is currently spending his semester abroad in London where he continues to study political science. In his free time he enjoys reading and photography and dreams of becoming a film director one day. 

“My experience at Maine Campus Media has been terrific and I’ve especially enjoyed developing my writing skills and being part of a great news team,” said Feix. 

Thank you Jon for all the work you do for Maine Campus Media. You can read his articles each week on our website. 

Maine Campus Media would like to recognize the work of one of our news contributors, Westley Brinegar. 

Westley is a third-year at the University of Maine and has been a news contributor for the Maine Campus since the fall 2022 semester. For the past two semesters he has been our student government reporter, attending all General Student Senate meetings and playing a pivotal role in highlighting the upcoming student government election. 

“Westley has shown immense dedication in covering student government meetings and events. In particular, his interviewing of the student government candidates during the presidential election has been high-quality and informative,” Caty DuDevoir, news editor for Maine Campus Media said. 

Westley is from Gorham, ME and is studying communications with minors in philosophy and economics. In his free time he enjoys playing guitar and can also be found working at Harvest Moon Deli. 

“When collaborating, he has been excited to get involved and provided great feedback for our news team,” DuDevoir said. 

Thank you Wes for all the work you do for Maine Campus Media. You can read his articles each week on our website.