As of Oct. 15, 2015 the state of Maine no longer requires a permit to conceal carry.

Sponsored by Senator Eric Brakey, a Republican from Auburn, the legislation eliminating altering the previous permit requirement has garnered an unprecedented amount of national attention. Its implementation just two weeks ago has inspired passionate debate between two equally ardent sides: those appalled by the decision, and those galvanized by the steps the government in Augusta has taken toward a more open interpretation of gun rights in the United States.

Opponents have long argued that the introduction of looser gun laws will only serve to exacerbate the problem, fearing that saturating the market with armaments will put them in the hands of more persons looking to do harm. They advocate for a restructuring of regulations that would make it more time-consuming and difficult for citizens to purchase these weapons, and nearly impossible for those who have a violent criminal background.

Proponents, conversely, see it as an issue of both personal liberty and personal safety. They seek to protect the innocent through the arming of the righteous, arguing that criminals will always find a way to acquire the means to their end. They work to make the acquisition of arms easier for average citizens, in an effort to balance out these concerns and their desire to protect their own constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

However, both sides share one deeply troubling commonality — the vastly inappropriate nature of their hyperbolic rhetoric.

The gun debate has long been stagnant, stuck in the exchange of petty insults and childish name-calling. Both opponents and proponents find common ground in the slinging of mud and the passive aggressive give-and-take of snappy sound bites on late-night news shows. Progress has been limited, legislation implemented only to be swiftly repealed, and threats made more popular than honest debate.

The gun dispute needs to be argued more articulately and compassionately than it ever has been. Change is rarely something that can be forced in either direction without worrisome consequences, and alienating those who may, reasonably, be persuaded to take your perspective is both bad strategy and bad sportsmanship.

Discussing something as serious as guns with anything less than complete seriousness is irresponsible to those whose lives both sides are trying to protect. If the issue is truly as pressing as these groups profess it to be, treating it as a political mechanism to garner support for oneself and hatred for one’s opponents is deeply dangerous, and deeply selfish.

Lives, no matter which side you may be from, are not a political tool.

Active shooter.

In light of recent events, no two words strike fear into the hearts of students and faculty more than these. The reality that places of learning have become highly publicized beacons of violence is hard to ignore, particularly when nearly biweekly incidents both captivate and horrify the country.

But this feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that has infected students across the nation, even here at the University of Maine, is something that can be helped — and is something that rests on the shoulders of both pupils and staff to remedy.

Though these sporadic atrocities cannot always be prevented, should they tragically occur, they can be managed. This management begins by parties both informing themselves about and preparing for these types of situations responsibly.

But therein lies the first problem — students and staff are not always engaged enough to take personal responsibility for their own safety.

Resources are available to help those on campus prepare for the possibility of an active shooting situation. It is up to the University of Maine to provide these, and that is an effort they’ve taken.

Videos, readings and other informative media are available both on the University of Maine website and elsewhere around campus for easy access. These sources discuss particular measures for a hopefully unlikely scenario, offering evacuation and behavioral advice.

But, unfortunately, these resources are only as good as how often and well they’re utilized.

The best way to avoid feeling helpless is to take individual initiative and interact with whatever resources are available. A campus prepared for an emergency situation is a campus that, if targeted, can help prevent further tragedy by taking proper action and following proven procedure.

Not all of the responsibility falls on students, however. In the wake of these appalling shootings across the country, it is important that the university renews their efforts to engage students with these materials. A timely reminder email, a post on the website’s home page, a Facebook post with applicable links — the University could be taking more initiative than just passively making these resources available.

In times of crisis, it’s important that communities come together — not fracture apart. In the interest of both themselves and their fellow students, UMaine pupils and administration need to take these dreadful events as judicious reminders of their responsibilities to the safety of their communities — and themselves.

“Be prepared” is not just the Boy Scout motto, but an important reminder to citizens of a world that can be both dangerous and scary. When lives hang in the balance, a perusal of a video, an article, an evacuation plan is not too much to ask.

Helplessness is not always inevitable.

Sometimes, people are only as helpless as they let themselves be.

It would be challenging to find someone on campus unaware of the humanitarian crisis currently plaguing European nations and those who lead them. As hundreds of thousands of refugees continue to pour across the borders of Austria, Hungary, and surrounding European nations, traveling in treacherous waters and the backs of cramped trucks, the United States too is pressed with dialogue about how to best accommodate the snowballing number of immigrants seeking asylum.

But American accommodation, a promised admittance to 10,000 asylum-seekers with only 2,000 admitted the prior year, pales in comparison to that of Germany. Germany, whose chancellor, Angela Merkel, has promised to take in 500,000 refugees over the next year, is leading the charge — perhaps the weight of historical refugee crises weighing heavy on the national conscience. Videos of German citizens welcoming Syrian refugees occupied the attention of the internet last week, even as dissonance churned in Germany about the chancellor’s announcement.

Reluctance and ineptitude when integrating immigrants in the United States isn’t exclusive to this particular refugee crisis. Maine itself, the most Caucasian state in the union, has struggled to accommodate and embrace its own immigrants for years, often clashing with the thousands of Somali migrants who’ve settled in and around the Lewiston area.

UMaine is not innocent when it comes to the alienation of immigrant populations and transfer students, either. Though valiant attempts have been made to create a sense of community on campus, and the intention is often good, improvements can always be made. Whether it be by admitting higher populations of international students or offering materials in languages other than English, a campus such as this one should be doing its best to create the safest space possible for students of all creeds, not settling for “good enough.” Unfortunately, that seems to be the attitude many students take when considering these students — and it shouldn’t be.

As conflict continues to build in areas of the world already predisposed to humanitarian turmoil, it’s important that more stable nations, from the Eurasian and African continents to the Americas, create responsible, inclusive and timely resolutions for the sake of those fleeing the horrors at home. Bureaucratic “business as usual” is simply not good enough for the families sitting in train stations with no knowledge of when they’ll finally reach safety, shelter and love.

But neither should these solutions not be on a strictly national level. It is the responsibility of all, even on a campus by campus basis, to create these programs and legislation. American government at every level is being outpaced and outperformed by the efforts of countries like Germany, when we should be leading the charge.

The time to act is now. The time to care is always.

The recent announcement by the University of Maine system, committing to a program requiring on-campus dining facilities to purchase at least one-fifth of their food locally by the year 2020, is indicative of a broader trend towards buying local here in Maine.

The university isn’t alone in moving towards the purchase of sustainable local agriculture. In recent years, farmers’ markets have been rapidly gaining popularity around the state. As consumers shift their purchasing habits in line with growing concerns about environmentally conscious behaviors and the use of pesticides in mass-produced food, local producers are seeing a renewed interest in buying local — an interest that has business booming.

While some of these markets, like the Orono Farmers’ Market in downtown Orono, have existed for upwards of 20 years, others are start up operations milking the public’s renewed interest in buying local. An interest that has now spread from individuals to the institutions that surround them. This new niche market is gaining steam, providing fuel to the fire under the university to partake in environmentally responsible practices when selecting which producers to contract with for feeding students.

But with any change comes concern. Buying foods locally can come at an increased cost to the consumer, and while tuition prices will remain stagnant for the foreseeable future, the money will need to be made up somewhere in the system’s tight budget. In a time when budgetary crises are nearly as common as the coming winter’s colds, that isn’t necessarily easy to compensate for.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile.

Sustainable food is an admirable endeavor, and the support for local businesses will help keep the economic cogs turning in the area. Continued development is important to keeping any state vivacious and healthy, particularly when other portions of Maine’s economy — like the aging paper industry — are stagnating.

While individual consumers make an important difference, it’s undeniable that a large institution like the UMS System will make an even more visible impact on small farmers in the state and the families that rely on their income.

Though shifting the burden of food purchasing to local producers may be a calculated financial risk on the university’s part, it’s a decision by the system that indicates an admirable effort towards acting in an environmentally, economically and locally responsible manner.

It’s also a decision that puts power back in the hands of the students, who have long demanded the system consider sustainable and responsible solutions – from divesting in fossil fuels to this new push for local foods.

This new initiative is further proof that the world will continue to change, and it’s up to those in it to keep up or be left behind.

Since Dec. 1, 68.6 inches of snow, 34 inches more than normal, have fallen on the Bangor area. Multiply that by the 4.3 million square feet of paved surface on the University of Maine campus and that’s an incredible amount of snow with which Facilities Management has to contend.

Moving that much snow is a Herculean task in and of itself, but Facilities Management also has to contend with students and faculty moving around campus on foot and in cars.

Weather is mercurial, as has been proven by the tumultuous past few weeks’ period of showers turning to major storms, predicted blizzards dissipating, buffeting winds, and the almost ever-present threat of snow in the forecast.

In light of all this, Facilities Management really deserves a commendation for the work they’ve done in keeping the campus thoroughfares clear.

Not only has the Bangor area experienced a lot of snow, but conditions have changed almost daily. On days when it isn’t snowing, winds shift drifts around, often back onto roads and sidewalks. Parking lots also convey the unique challenging of moving the accumulation without doing damage to cars that, recently, have been fairly deeply buried.

In short, keeping the campus clear is a messy, demanding job. Sure, there have been a few days where the sidewalks have been a little snowy, the parking lots had drifts and the roads were slick, but the paved areas of campus have remained navigable.

At almost all hours of the day, Facilities Management is working to clear snow as well as to sand and salt the roads and sidewalks. The sheer volume that has fallen recently certainly doesn’t speed up the process. Nor do weather conditions that change in real time as snow removal is ongoing.

And it’s not as if Facilities Management stops all its other operations to focus on moving snow. They still must complete the other tasks that fall within the purview of their department, including maintaining infrastructure, responding to event requests and moving indoor equipment to different parts of campus.

While it can be frustrating to be impeded in the trek across campus as temperatures remain in the teens and single digits by the vehicles used in moving the snow, patience is important.

The massive amount of snow and area to clear necessitate sophisticated machinery. And if conditions are slippery to walk in, they are equally hazardous for vehicles to traverse. Decreased traction and force make moving on snowy surfaces unpredictable, as anyone who drives in the state knows.

Emotionalism is not going to aid in clearing the campus. Some member of Facilities Management have recently spent as much as 20 hours a day removing snow.

And, all things considered, they’ve done so efficiently. If snow falls during the day, unless the precipitation continues or conditions worsen, the roads and sidewalks are usually clear by the next morning, which is a pretty quick turnaround considering the sheer amount of space they have to take care of.

Friday’s Rock Against Rape concert, sponsored by Sigma Phi Epsilon, marked the 10th year anniversary of the event, which benefits Spruce Run and Rape Response Services. These two organizations spread awareness and offer various help and educational services in an effort to prevent domestic and sexual violence.

With multiple ongoing allegations of domestic abuse looming against members of the National Football League, as well as against a member of the U.S. soccer team, this year’s event serves to localize an issue that has become increasingly pervasive on a national stage.

According to Rape Response Services, roughly 13,000 Mainers annually are the victims of rape or unwanted sexual activity annually. In 2011, 86 percent  of victims who called sexual assault helplines were women and 13.5 percent were men. Clearly, this is an issue that should concern everyone because anyone can be a victim of assault, whether domestic or sexual.

Given the prevalence of party culture at the University of Maine, and the myriad unpleasant situations that can arise as a result of the behavior that accompanies it, this topic is of particular importance. Especially when excessive alcohol consumption is involved, inappropriate conduct, resulting in assault of various sorts, becomes a much stronger possibility.

Individuals who find themselves the victims of assault, or who have perpetrated an assault and want to empower themselves and change their behavior need to be aware that organizations like Spruce Run and Rape Response Services exist. Many victims of assault fear the consequences of speaking out and do not want to involve law authorities.

Hotlines like those run by Spruce Run and Rape Response Services provide a fear-free environment for assault victims to seek help. They also provide other important services, such as shelter services and support groups. Education, which can increase the general populace’s awareness of patterns of violence and hopefully reduce future instances of assault, is also an important project that these organizations undertake.

Events such as Rock Against Rape make these serious issues much more accessible. They create a nonthreatening atmosphere to introduce and further a dialogue about a serious issue that can threaten the mental and physical well-being of all those involved in instances of assault. Fear of reprisal or judgment or ignorance can drive people to silence, and sexual and domestic assault are far too significant an issue to allow fear to stymie conversation.

UMaine is bound by federal law to independently investigate all allegations of sexual harassment or assault and punish those responsible. Most often, these investigations do not result in serious consequences. Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2014, 38 students found guilty of stalking, harassment, sexual abuse, physical intimidation or assault were penalized only by suspension. Fear of reprisal can lead to failure to report. Lenient punishments only contribute to a culture of silence that makes sexual and domestic assault worse.

The implications of this are grave. Independent organizations, such as Spruce Run and Rape Response Services, are held to more lenient standards when it comes to reporting abuse to authorities. This hurdle can be a significant factor in victims reporting abuse. Events such as Rock Against Rape, which raise awareness to options victims have, are therefore incredibly important.

On-campus parking, especially in the cold, snowy months, has come to be a major scourge to University of Maine students. Now, the shortage of parking spaces has been exacerbated by ongoing construction projects at the Emera Astronomy Center and Memorial Gym and Field House and one of the largest incoming class of freshmen in university history. In total, around 300 parking spaces are currently unable to be used by students.

Certainly, the lack of parking spots is an inconvenience, and maybe Parking Services administrators deserve a little bit of criticism for the situation. However, they are also trying to remedy the situation. A new, 116-spot commuter lot is currently under construction between Nutting Hall and Libby Hall. Spaces are also being designated for commuters in a lot off Rangeley Road.

It is also worth remembering that around 60 percent of the student population lives off campus, which makes the demand for parking a somewhat unique problem, but not one without solutions. The university is surrounded by a fairly metropolitan area and alternative modes of transportation are hardly in short supply. Biking, though perhaps not feasible during the winter, is one solution. The BAT bus, free to all students with their Mainecard, is also an option. The bus departs the university frequently and stops at many places in the greater Bangor area.

Yes, the university could build a parking garage or create additional parking spaces by paving some of the more grassy areas of campus, but this would not necessarily solve the parking problem. One of the complaints about the commuters lots is their distance from many of the lecture halls. Due to the layout of campus, new parking lots or parking garages would necessarily be just as far away. Besides, if the university decided to tar over much of the green space on campus, there would undoubtedly be complaints about what sort of atmosphere this created.

True, there is a parking shortage. And true, many of the commuter lots are not necessarily close to lecture halls, a hassle when the snow hasn’t been cleared, but additional parking is under construction. It’s important to have perspective on a fairly trivial issue such as this one, which can be solved by many people as easily as showing up earlier in the day.

The university could put a lot of money into designing a strategy to effectively deal with the parking shortage. But, some of the sidewalks and roads on campus are also in a shockingly bad state, so riddled with potholes that they could become a hazard to student safety when iced over. And then, there are many beautiful old buildings on campus that require considerable maintenance. While President Ferguson’s Blue Sky Project has led to the improvement of some of the deteriorations on campus, there’s still a long way to go.

All of this requires money. And much of the money used for upkeep comes from students’ pockets. So, hundreds more parking spaces could feasibly be built so that everyone who wanted one could find convenient parking. But, if it comes at the expense of an increase in tuition or the ambiance of the campus, is that really a trade worth making?

The firing of University of Maine men’s hockey head coach Tim Whitehead has figuratively pushed the “Restart” button on UMaine athletics, finally confronting a problem that became fully apparent during a year of sub-par performance across the entire athletic landscape.

By doing this, athletic director Steve Abbott and UMaine President Paul Ferguson address the continuingly declining state of the UMaine athletic program, yet haven’t offered any tangible evidence of being able to fix it.

Pathway 3 of President Ferguson’s Blue Sky Project cites athletics as an initiative designed to “[s]trengthen the organization for, and reaffirm the campus engagement of, athletics, promoting our role as the state’s only Division I school.”

It’s difficult to promote a program that, for the last decade, has experienced success as an outlier across the athletic platform, rather than the norm. The only consistent, recent success has been the baseball program, and the majority of their season takes place while the students are on summer break.

That’s not to say our athletic program hasn’t fostered individual talent: The football program has produced a significant amount of NFL players in the past 10 years, and cross country and track and field have produced standouts in recent years. But, in the same breath, a chunk of talent that UMaine has been able to reel in has left early for one reason or another, or transferred to another university, which leaves a gap of talent that has stymied any sort of continuous progress. For example, Hobey Baker finalist Gustav Nyquist left after his junior year in 2011, and Matt Mangene followed suit the next year; cross-country standout Riley Masters transferred to the University of Oklahoma two years ago; and just recently, men’s basketball standout Justin Edwards filed his transfer papers after his sophomore year.

President Ferguson is paying for Whitehead’s buyout with money from his Discretionary Account, but Abbott indicated that the athletics department is committed to reimbursing him through “anticipated revenues generated by renewing fan interest and increased ticket sales.”

It’s tough to see how that’s possible, when the best athletes are leaving early and there’s little success across the board this year. Other than women’s soccer going 7-7-3 and baseball currently leading America East Conference, every other team in 2012-13 finished below a .500 winning percentage.

There’s one universal truth to athletics: If they don’t win, people don’t want to watch.

There isn’t a simple solution to this problem — otherwise it would have been solved. UMaine is stuck with financial restraints at the state level and no increase in tuition. At the same time, the ability to retain our generation’s attention for more than 5 minutes is becoming frighteningly difficult.

A good start for UMaine and the athletic department would be to show there is stability at the top. Abbott’s contract as athletic director ends in June, and there is no indication from either side that Abbott will be returning aside from an October interview with The Maine Campus where Abbott said he and the president hadn’t talked yet and he’s “enjoying the job.”

Between the firing of Cindy Blodgett in 2011, just one day after accepting her two-year contract; the on-going construction at the Field House; the lacking consensus of where men’s and women’s basketball will be housed in the foreseeable future; and now Whitehead’s dismissal, Abbott is fully invested in whether the transformation of the athletic department is a success.

There’s good reason to believe Abbott is committed to rebuilding the program — the Orono native grew up in the shadow of the university — but that commitment would be validated if we knew he was in this for the long haul.