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Monday, March 7, 2022
Vol. 138, No. 16
News
A2
University of Maine Student Government hosts the Executive Election Debate
Opinion
A4
Florida bill is a danger to LGBTQ youth
Culture
A6
Art Department hosts sculptor Celeste Roberge
Sports
A10
Men’s ice hockey wins 8-1 on Senior Night
University of Maine Student Government hosts the Executive Election Debate
Photos by Izzy Pankey Nguyen.
Grace Blanchard Contributor The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily restricted people’s ability to see and connect with other people. However, exploring the outdoors is still an opportunity that many have been able to take advantage of. One of the most attractive aspects of Maine is the vast beauty of its environment. The town of Orono is now working to create a central hub for people to gather and appreciate the beauty this town has to offer. Plans have begun for
the town to construct a volunteer-based outdoor recreation center which will host activities that encourage people to appreciate and explore the nature in the town. The town has purchased 7 acres of land for the project, enough for a central building and parking lot. The Orono Economic Development Corporation founded this project. The property is located on Taylor Road in Orono, sitting next to both the Orono and Bangor Trust trail systems. The property was purchased in 2018, but only now are
plans for renovation finally coming to fruition. The Orono Land Trust also purchased nearby ponds in order to better expand the area, making it a more attractive stop for hikers, bikers, and bird-watchers. The center will be extremely beneficial for students as well giving them opportunities to explore the outdoors, socialize with friends, and give back to the community through volunteer positions. “I’m pretty involved in the community with volunteer work so even if I weren’t going to participate in using
the facility, it would be awesome to work as a volunteer for it,” third-year elementary education student Madeline Hanlon said about the new facility. “Especially with everything being shut down with [COVID-19], myself and other students are always looking for more recreational activities especially ones that get you active.” Fundraising events for the facility are going to begin soon, and the town will be looking for as much support as possible to get it done. The Town will also be looking for volunteers to help gut
the property in order to get it ready for renovations. The new rec center has the potential to be a strong asset for the town which will better show off the nature that surrounds us. Though, there are residents that want to make sure that the land is preserved properly, and not neglected. “I want the town to make sure that the land is preserved in an environmentally friendly way so that the most people can get the most out of it,” thirdyear psychology student Chloe Lunt said. Students looking to volunteer will have to
wait until later in the fall for the opportunity, as COVID-19 has temporarily put a hold on the project. Students or community members looking for more information on the project should contact the Orono Economic Development Corporation for more information. Outdoor recreation and physical activities are core focuses of the University of Maine and the surrounding community. So the opportunity to expand opportunities to do so will likely be looked on favorably.
Photos by Izzy Pankey Nguyen.
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News
A2• News
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Sustainability Series presents “Navigating Change”
Graphic by David Jakacky.
Samantha Sudol Contributor On Feb. 28, the Mitchell Center hosted a talk with Suzanne MacDonald entitled “Navigating Change: Strategies and Structure to Increase the Resilience of the Coast of Maine.” MacDonald serves as the Chief Community Development Officer of the Island Institute where she has been organizing economic, social and climate resilience programs. The Island Institute works with coastal leaders to promote resilience and create solutions to address Maine’s issues along the coast. “It’s really easy to feel small, inconsequential, but in some ways I feel like the place-based work that so many of us are concerned about, and care so much about is almost more import-
ant,” MacDonald said. “Oftentimes some of the conflict we see in the world does come down to place and it certainly does come down to relationships, and our ability to navigate through some of the world’s most challenging situations, like climate change. I believe the solutions for that are going to be rooted in place and in relationships.” MacDonald discussed the importance of relationships and innovation at the institute. The Island Institute developed its internal structures and systems to help Maine’s 152 island and coastal communities and their needs. Building resilience requires the dedicated efforts of a wide variety of individuals, making community engagement a top priority for the Institute. “We really seek to
collaborate closely with other partner organizations, policymakers, regulators, philanthropists, other folks who have interest in affecting change on the coast of Maine and helping it to continue to be the special place that it is to live and work in today,” MacDonald said. “Our three areas of focus right now are creating climate solutions, building more resilient economies and enhancing strong leadership along the coast within the climate work … We’ve also supported efforts around community and business owned renewable energy, and increasingly are working with municipalities and businesses.” MacDonald continued by elaborating on the importance of connecting with people familiar with the issues and who have the
experience to address them with innovative, practical solutions. “We, I think, try to ask the question of who’s not at the table, and what might the barriers to being at the table look like for those who might be inadvertently left behind from the community process or not able to benefit as fully from community-based projects, and I think in some ways, as the world have worked to begin to do a better job of centering the concepts of equity,” MacDonald said. “We really believe in solutions being unlocked from the work on the ground and getting the right people in the room to compare notes on things, and that really amazing things can emerge when you just create the space.” MacDonald’s passion for building relationships across
Maine’s coastal communities enables her to lead the Island Institute’s Community Energy Program, which engages New England’s island communities in the work of strategizing solutions for lowering high energy costs. These initiatives hope to lay the groundwork for future generations to become leaders in these coastal communities. “It’s really exciting to see increased focus on these types of partnerships, both because I think benefits can flow more equitably that way, and there’s just more opportunity I think for more durable impact,” MacDonald said. “But it takes a long time when people are doing other things, and there are competing priorities within the community.“You need to be patient. But I think what we find is that in building deep
relationships and really listening about what the priorities are, you can find opportunities for incremental change along the way.” The George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions will host their next discussion in the Sustainability Series on Monday, March 7. They will be hosting Sam Roy, a member of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, to discuss reducing natural disaster risks. For more information about how to attend visit their events page at https://umaine.edu/ mitchellcenter/event/ talk-dukes-of-haza r d s - r e d u c ing-natural-disaster-risks-with-community-planning/ .
Graphic by Logan Swift. 3/7 The George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions is hosting “Dukes of Hazards: Reducing Natural Disaster Risks with Community Planning” at 3 p.m. in Norman Smith Hall. The event can also be attended via Zoom.
3/8 The Versant Astronomy Center presents “From Dream to Discovery,” a film on NASA’s New Horizons mission. It will be presented in the observatory at 10 a.m.
3/9 The University of Maine’s School of Performing Arts is presenting Jazz Night in Minsky Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
3/10 As a part of their Science Lecture Series, the Versant Astronomy Center will be showing “The Warming Sea,” a film about the creation of Grammy-nominated composer Lucas Richman’s newest symphony. The film was created in collaboration with the Maine Science Festival.
3/11 The Cross Insurance Center is hosting professional bull riders as a part of a threenight event with the Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online at the Cross Insurance Center website.
3/12 The Collins Center for the Arts is hosting the Robert Cray Band in concert at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at the Collins Center Website, or at the door.
Weekly Updates Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
News • A3
This Week in Student Government
Weekly recap of decisions made by the UMaine Student Government General Student Senate Grace Blanchard Contributor On Tuesday, March 1, the University of Maine General Student Senate (GSS) invited the Vice President for Student Life and Inclusive Excellence and Dean of Students at UMaine, Robert Dana, to address the GSS. Dana spoke to the senate about the importance of inclusivity and their commitment to it. “Inclusivity has got to drive itself through here,” Dana said. “As student leaders, you can’t be bystanders in this respect, you have to be flying the flag every day to do the right thing.” With the conclusion of Black History Month and moving into Women’s History Month, Dana encouraged the student senate to look at what they can do within the community to not just celebrate and encourage inclusivity for a certain month but every day of their lives. “We should really spend some time thinking about the corpus of who we are in the world, so every day we can do something to make it better,”
Dana said. “By being here and being willing to put your name on the dotted line, you’ve already indicated that you’re compassionate citizens, that you’re engaged and that you believe in somebody other than yourself.”
Senator Hamill also spoke on this request. “As a predominantly white institution, I think this is a really important group to have on campus,” Hamill said.
Dana hopes to see the members of the student senate continue to work toward making campus and the world a more inclusive place as student leaders of this campus. “For me to come to speak to the senate is a great thrill, to see you all is a wonder,” Dana said. “You get me to reflect on what’s really happening with students… I do hope that you’ll spend a moment before you fall asleep to think about the difference you’re making in the world.” The senate also spoke to two student groups both requesting preliminary recognitions. Two representatives from the Earthlings Club came to talk about their goals as a potential club. “UMaine Earthlings is an animal rights club that we recently started, and at this point we have 14 maybe 15 members
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After a clear majority vote, the request was passed by the senate.
which is really exciting,” the club representative said. “We want to do some basic awareness around the issues of animal rights and do direct action in the forms of building relationships with a nearby sanctuary.” Senator Camryn Hamill gave her thoughts on the club. “I think the Earthlings is a really unique club that the campus would benefit from having, they’re unique in their concept and I really like it,” Hamill said. After a majority vote, the senate approved the request for preliminary
recognition. The senate also spoke with a representative from National Society of Black Engineers also seeking preliminary recognition. “Our club is a community of BIPOC STEM students to share frustrations, interests and highlights of their week in a safe space,” Nehemia Calixte said, the President of the National Society of Black Engineers. “Typically when we walk into a classroom, we don’t see anyone who looks like us, so it’s nice to have a small community on campus that shares the same goals and interests as you.”
Tuesday
Wednesday
On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone.
On this day in 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The search for the missing flight was called off in 2017.
On this day in 1862, the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack took place off the coast of Virginia. This marked the beginning of a new era of naval warfare featuring the use of ironclad ships, and proved to be a major turning point in the Civil War.
Maddy Gernhard News Editor
The University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) has been utilizing the Campus Eyes tip line to encourage students to anonymously report criminal
“We as a senate are all going to be expected to be volunteering at the concert,” Dylan Taplin said, UMSG’s Vice President for Student Entertainment. “We are really short on police officers this year, so security and crowd control is going to all come down to private security and us.”
The senate concluded their meeting with platform speeches in which each student running for executive positions in the upcoming student government election spoke in front of the senate. Currently running for president of UMSG is the current Vice President for Student Leadership Alyssa Ciasullo. Running for vice president is Peter Alexander alongside Ciasullo and senator Connor Bray. The election is on Wednesday, March 9, and students will be receiving a link sent to their email to cast their votes.
Taplin revealed that there are only six police officers available for the event as opposed to having around 12 in past years. According to Taplin, the GSS will undergo crowd control training to prepare for the concert.
What’s happening this week at UMaine & Beyond
Monday
Police Beat
The senate also discussed the return of the Maine Day concert. They have officially secured a headliner though they have yet to release the name of the performer.
The senate has yet to reveal when they will announce the headliner for the concert.
Thursday On this day in 1913, William Knox became the first to bowl a perfect score of 300 during the American Bowling Congress Tournament.
Friday Today marks the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.
UMPD encourages students to report violent crimes without use of anonymous tip line
activity around UMaine. Recently, this anonymous tip line has seen an influx of violent crime reports, which cannot be addressed properly by UMPD due to their anonymity. A violent crime involves any activity in which a criminal is
using harmful force against a victim. This term can be used to categorize sexual assault, rape, negligence and endangerment among other crimes. While Campus Eyes is a useful resource for students anonymously report-
ing things like theft or dorm damage, Detective Sergeant William Flagg explains that UMPD cannot act effectively upon violent crime reports without an identifiable victim. “Campus Eyes is a good useful tool for students… If they are reporting a violent
crime they need to come see us or call us,” Flagg said. “We take the information seriously.” The information provided in anonymous reports is usually vague, and does not provide UMPD with the proper means to combat
these crimes. Flagg encourages victims to either come forward by calling UMPD, or physically reporting the crimes at their station on Rangeley Road.
Opinion A4• Opinion
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Florida bill is a danger to LGBTQ youth
Emma Vannorsdall Opinion Editor Today, Florida will advance the controversial Parental Rights in Education bill to a final vote in the Republican-controlled Florida Senate. Expected to pass, this bill aims to increase the rights of parents in the education system, but in doing so, inhibits the discussion of LGBTQ topics in the classroom. “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards” the bill states. The bill allows parents to sue school systems if they believe their students are encouraged into any such conversations, pressuring schools to enforce dangerous atmospheres of censorship and repression of LGBTQ dialogues. The bill has been coined the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its numerous opponents, as this bill threatens the rights of Florida students and represses expression within LGBTQ communities. “Should the bill become law, younger students with samesex parents could be prohibited from discussing their family in class. It would make it difficult for teach-
ers to discuss the Stonewall Riots or Supreme Court cases like Obergefell v. Hodges,” Judd Legum, Tesnim Zekeria and Rebecca Crosby wrote for Popular Information. The chief sponsor of the bill is Dennis Baxley, an outspoken Republican in the Florida Senate who has voiced his prejudicial views towards the LGBTQ community on multiple occasions. “I don’t want to discriminate against somebody. I’m not phobic, but I simply can’t affirm homosexuality,” Baxley said in 2015. The ‘non-phobic’ politician notably voted against allowing a same-sex couple to adopt. His views are shared by Florida’s current Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. On Feb. 7, Governor DeSantis signaled his support for the bill, claiming that the discussion of LGBTQ and gender identity topics to be highly inappropriate. “They need to teach them science, history. We need more civics and understanding of the U.S. Constitution, what makes our country unique, all those basic stuff,” DeSantis said. His dismissive tone belittles the LGBTQ community and minimizes their significance in American history. DeSantis suggests we focus on civics and the U.S. Constitution, and yet he now neglects the first amendment in the United
Graphic by David Jakacky. States Constitution when conversations need to be had. What’s most fascinating about governor DeSantis’ stance is that it highly contradicts his passionate backing of the Big Tech censorship bill. In fact, he once so adamantly expressed his support for freedom of speech. “Florida is taking back the virtual public square as a place where information and ideas can flow freely,” DeSantis said in May of 2021. Freedom is not freedom if it’s only permissible when it facilitates a political party’s views. There’s a word for only allowing the flow of ideas that you agree with: bigotry. Governor DeSantis perpetuates LGBTQ censorship and erasure from historical discussion. Thankfully, his views haven’t gone unchecked. Politicians
and students across the country have expressed their opposition to the bill. Chasten Buttigieg, the husband of the United States Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, disputed Governor DeSantis’ support of the bill. “This will kill kids, @RonDeSantisFL. You are purposefully making your state a harder place for LGBTQ kids to survive in. In a national survey (@ TrevorProject), 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide last year. Now they can’t talk to their teachers?” Buttigieg tweeted on Jan. 22. Students across Florida agree. Protests emerged as Florida’s younger generation of inclusive and socially conscious students organized staged school walkouts to challenge the censorship and discrimination pro-
posed by the bill. High school senior Jack Petocz, who promoted the walkouts on social media, faced serious backlash from his school’s administration. Petocz was suspended indefinitely for handing out pride flags during his school’s protest of more than 500 students. “You’re silencing a queer student standing up for what he believes in, in his rights, and you’re disciplining him for challenging you on the allowance of pride flags in a gay rally? It’s ridiculous. It truly is,” Petocz said. Bill sponsors claim to be acting in students best interests, and yet students now face losing their education entirely for peacefully protesting. If these politicians truly cared about bettering the Florida education system, other avenues such as raising teachers’ salaries or striv-
ing to make schools a safe environment for students through gun control may prove more effective. At its core, this bill controls speech and pushes political agendas. The ones who are left to suffer are the students who will be robbed of meaningful education and freedom of speech, as well as the marginalized LGBTQ youth who now face further stigmatization and hate. The United States has long been a global leader in advancing LGBTQ rights and defending our nation’s integral beliefs of individualism, freedom, self-expression and liberty. This bill serves to silence the voices of American youth, and its supporters show nothing but unrestrained political bigotry.
Ukrainian women find refuge from war, but not objectification Alex Cross Contributor This article discusses themes related to sex-based violence that may be triggering for some readers. The world is closely watching Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The encroachment of Russian military forces on major population centers has prompted the fastest mass exodus of refugees seen in decades, with over a million Ukrainian residents leaving the country in under ten days. However, while many women have found themselves able to flee the violence that has come as a result of the escalating conflict between the two nations, violence linked to a dehumanized perception of female bodies is not as
escapable. As Russian troops have progressed through Ukrainian strongholds, reports have come out about soldiers propositioning Ukrainian women on Tinder, an online dating app. One woman decided to entertain some of the messages she received on the app, though she would “never consider sleeping with the enemy.” When she asked one Russian bachelor near Kharkiv if he was a soldier, he replied with an audacious GIF of actor Jim Carrey as if to say, “oops!” An apparent cognitive dissonance exists for male recruits: presumably, they are aware of the threat they pose to citizens of Ukraine, yet lack empathy toward Ukrainian women’s experience being sexually objectified. Where entitle-
ment to land drives war, it is the perceived entitlement to a woman’s body that drives the frequent abuses of women. Pornhub, one of the world’s largest pornography websites, has recently displayed suggested content via its “Trending Searches” feature linking to videos with tags relating to the conflict in Ukraine. Videos tagged “ukrainian” and “ukrainian girl” illustrate the overarching problem of objectifying and perpetuating violence and exploitation against women. Those search terms would not be trending if they merely attracted a minority audience. Like most other pornography-hosting websites, there is little discretion used to ensure that Pornhub’s content does not contribute to the implication of por-
nography in rates of sexual victimization of women. Vulgarity and phrasing choices in the titles of many of the videos –– hinting at female parties’ underage appearance, referring to male parties as “Moscow,” a reference to an aggressing force’s attempt at domination or explicitly naming the interactions portrayed in the video as a type of sexual assault, all typically naming female parties with a degrading term –– convey exactly what they are meant to; the idea that not only is exploiting vulnerable individuals is acceptable, but capitalizing on those individuals’ hardships to gain sexual gratification is something to be desired. Even in discussions of safe harbor for displaced Ukrainians, women are discussed
as objects to be imported rather than autonomous individuals. One now-deleted post on the microblogging website Weibo cruelly joked that “priority will be given to those who are young, beautiful, unmarried, and fit,” regarding shelter for women seeking refuge from the conflict. Entitlement to the use of women’s bodies does not stop at sexual objectification, but extends into matters of reproductive justice as well. Ukraine has long had a booming surrogacy industry as one of the few countries that allows non-citizens to enter into surrogate arrangements. In a time of war, an already tangled conversation about bodily autonomy in cases of surrogacy is complicated even further. For the expecting genetic parents, a de-
sire for security on behalf of their child is often expressed in demands for, or restrictions against, aspects of the lifestyle of the mother carrying the child. As the human life carried by the surrogate mother has been placed there and paid for by others, she may be required to abandon her own decisions for survival. Most people are able to abandon a job in the case of an emergency; in the case of surrogacy where the job is to be a mother, the person is the position. In those instances, the woman is treated as a commodity-supporting resource, as an object removed from her personhood. For women –– even in the throes of war –– a culture of sex-based violence persists.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Opinion • A5
The Maine Campus
A vote for Dr. Sonja Birthisel and Rob Laraway is a vote for students
Graphic by David Jakacky.
Nick Tiner Contributor To understand Dr. Sonja Birthisel and Rob Laraway, you first have to understand the Wilson Center. Nestled just off-campus, the gorgeous A-frame is one of the most important cultural centers in the area. Inside, light filters through large windows, illuminating a cozy space that plays host to a range of interfaith, cultural and social justice themed events. The place hums happily with the love and conversation of the community. This community is what Birthisel and Laraway are running to represent on the Orono Town Council. Like the Wilson Center, Birthisel and Laraway strive for the inclusivity that UMaine students deserve. The positive vibes around these campaigns are as unique as Birthisel and Laraway themselves. The brightly colored pam-
phlets, cheerful volunteers and the hand bedazzled campaign signs make it impossible not to be drawn in. Behind the quirky color schemes and trendy hair styles, the two candidates have built strong, genuine platforms. Both have prioritized issues particularly important to students: government accessibility, equity, environmental stewardship and affordable housing. This emphasis on progressive issues that benefit the least privileged in the community is a product of the two candidate’s backgrounds. Both are recent UMaine alumni and intrinsically understand the issues facing students. During Orono’s Candidate Night event, Laraway, who currently works as a community organizer with the Maine People’s Alliance, spoke to his early experiences as a student and worker in town. “I actually worked
as a line cook at OHOP, so I know the experience of the wage workers and lower income people,” Laraway shared. “I was actually unhoused for a few years early on when I came to Orono.” Laraway does not simply just understand the perspective of the under-privileged, he uses his platform to fight for the rights of those groups. When he speaks, it is only a matter of time until you are nodding along in agreement with his genuine, compassionate ideals. Laraway made a point to use the limited time he had to introduce himself during Candidate Night to acknowledge the Indigenous land upon which Orono sits. This was just the first of many thoughtful moments from the accomplished organizer who explained that if he were to win the election for the two-year council seat, he would continue to work toward ensuring
affordable housing, tribal sovereignty and affordable healthcare access. Birthisel is an absolute dynamo for inclusivity, whose work as the director of the Wilson Center is one of several part-time jobs she masterfully juggles. If part-time work was not relatable enough to college students, as a renter, Birthisel faces the same struggles as many off-campus students. Behind her always-smiling eyes is a versatile and talented mind ideally suited for community leadership. “I come with both kind of a wonky environmental science background and real skill as someone who loves to reach and get buy-in from diverse groups of people,” Birthisel said. Her background as a youth and faith leader, climate change scientist and proud activist coalesces into her being the perfect candidate for one of the
two available threeyear council seats. The Orono Town Council needs the electric passion and progressive views of Birthisel if it is to properly represent the thousands of students who call this town home. Birthisel shares many of the same goals as Laraway and puts a special emphasis on the need for government transparency and accessibility for those who might not always be included in these processes, but must be if we are to truly achieve justice. As is a recurrent theme with the two, these are not just empty platitudes but promises of action. The two have kindly set up the opportunity for rides to the polls for those without access to a vehicle. For those looking for such a ride, simply message Birthisel on her Instagram or Facebook page. For those with access to a vehicle, polls will be open on March 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
at the Orono Town Office at 59 Main Street. Further information can be found on the town website. If you live on campus or in town, you can register to vote at the polls with an ID (such as your Mainecard) and proof of residence (such as any piece of mail addressed to your dorm or apartment) before placing your ballot. In the brutal winter landscape that is politics, Birthisel and Laraway are the refreshing hope of a warm spring. It is so rare to have not one but two candidates so in tune with the needs of those attending this university. Students cannot be encouraged enough to vote for Birthisel and Laraway, to vote for compassion and thoughtfulness and to vote for those who champion the student and the oppressed. This Tuesday, take 20 minutes of your time to get out and vote.
Male birth control: Balancing responsibility and comfort Sydney Jackson Contributor For many young women, the 4-by-2 inch rectangular pack of pills sitting on the bathroom counter is a familiar sight. It’s a daily task that involves taking one pill after your phone goes off. These pills can be prescribed for a variety of reasons, but are most typically used to prevent unwanted pregnancies and regulate menstrual cycles. A poll from fall of 2021 showed how over half of U.S. college students in heterosexual relationships use male condoms to prevent pregnancy, followed closely by birth control. Around 20% use withdrawal, or the “pull out” method, and is followed by intrauterine devices (IUD), among other methods. One method was left out of this data:
male-controlled forms of birth control like oral or gel products. Currently, the only forms of male birth control available includes condoms, abstinence and vasectomy. However, as of late, a new form of male birth control is going through trial runs at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). This novel method involves applying a contraceptive gel to a man’s shoulders once a day to reduce sperm count. The gel is part testosterone and part nestorone, which blocks sperm production, according to ABC8News. Dr. David Archer, the lead on the study at EVMS, notes the initial trials are promising. Thus far, researchers have found that the gel has succeeded in preventing pregnancies and the subjects haven’t experienced any side
effects. Instead, the greatest issue the contraceptive gel is facing is ensuring that men actually use the gel. Archer states that study-wide, about 46% of participants have dropped out of the study because they got tired of the routine, according to ABC8News. Kristen Antignano, the partner of a male participant in the study, discussed the benefits of this new method. “I think if this was available to younger single guys, why wouldn’t they be interested — just like young women — wanting to take power in their own reproductive health?” Antignano said. Women often bear sole responsibility when it comes to reproductive health and sexual relationships. Some men are armed with a variety of excuses to avoid using pro-
tection or may not use any protection at all, leading to an increase in disease transmission as well as an increase in unwanted pregnancies. For women who opt to use birth control pills, the responsibility falls on them solely to take the pills regularly, which plays a large role in the method’s effectiveness. According to the study above, almost half of men dropped out of the study because they simply weren’t able to keep up with the routine of applying the gel, thus placing reproductive responsibility back on women. How incredibly frustrating and disappointing that based on this particular trial, when an innovative birth control option for men is presented that involves no penetration or painful insertion and shows little to no
side effects, the trial still falls short due to a lack of commitment. Hestitaions and potential stigmas surrounding male birth control need to be reframed, as male birth control could potentially be an important, safe contraception method for both parties. Women put their bodies through a lot in order to protect against unwanted pregnancies and to protect themselves and their partners’ reproductive health. IUDs involve the insertion of a device into the uterus, which may result in cramping or pain followed by dizziness and spotting in the coming months, according to Planned Parenthood. Birth control pills have a variety of potential side effects, including nausea, headaches and migraines, spotting between periods and changes in the pa-
tient’s mood, according to Medical News Today. Being responsible doesn’t always mean being comfortable, something that men in sexual relationships need to understand. Although male birth control options are limited and new forms are still being developed before being released to the public, male responsibility within a sexual relationship needs to be advocated for far more aggressively, with less pressure and shame put on women. Once these male birth control options are available, there should be just as much pressure on men to utilize these options as there currently are for women. The relationship involves two people, therefore both parties should be responsible and contribute to one another’s reproductive health.
Culture A6• Culture
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Art Department hosts sculptor Celeste Roberge
Photos by Christiana Mosca.
MK Jones Contributor On Tuesday, March 1, the University of Maine art department hosted sculptor Celeste Roberge for her talk “Moving Thoughts Through Objects” in Lord Hall. Roberge is a professor emerita of sculpture at the University of Florida. Roberge was chosen as the Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence, a highly sought after position that allows artists to come speak at the university. She opened her lecture by addressing the conceptions regarding art and sculpture-making she held at the beginning of her career, and how this view has evolved as Roberge has found love in the meaning behind art.
Roberge explained that this lecture was inspired by the desire to communicate with others about how she creates pieces that speak to the viewer. Dr. Justin Wolff, a professor of art history at UMaine, explained the benefits of hosting Roberge at UMaine. “The Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence Program has proven invaluable for our undergraduate students,” Wolff said. “Working in collaboration with Greg Ondo, associate professor of art, the resident offers critiques of student work and delivers demos to model different sculpture processes. The students also gain insight into the methods and careers of professional sculptors, helping them refine their own aspira-
tions for a career in the arts.” Roberge has been an artist for years and jokes that she likes to change her studies roughly every decade because she likes to be constantly advancing and changing. Though she draws, her main focus is on sculpture. Her pieces are beautifully intricate and almost perfectly thought out when it comes to the actual art piece once it is in the final stages of concept and assembly. Roberge first spoke of the creative process behind her work. She loves to create pieces where the idea or emotion behind them can vary between keen observers. She loves to work with new materials, such as limestone, regular stones and even some precious
stones. These materials unify her pieces with the thoughts and emotions that drive them. Material doesn’t matter to her. This fascination drives her to work with new materials, which in turn helps her to come up with new concepts and new pieces. She emphasizes the importance of movement and the harm of being stagnant. At the event, Roberge took two approaches to show how she comes up with these intricate sculptures and how she impresses her ideas and feelings into the sculpture. She began with these large sculptures where chaise lounges had been put into the sculptures. She admired the beauty and intricacy of such furniture, especially since
the design had lasted centuries and people were still buying them. The lounges were then encased in the stone, creating the “stacks” she often refers to these specific sculptures as. They eventually start to erode, or the furniture gets water damage and starts to fall apart, but Roberge says that it’s the natural process of life so stopping it would hinder the messages behind her pieces. She additionally created large metal cages to hold rocks in. They can be shaped like globes or humans or even furniture. She then fills these cages with perfectly smooth, round rocks. This is displayed in her piece “Rising Cairn,” a sculpture of a human figure hunched on the ground. Crafted with a
metal cage and visibly filled with large stones, this piece seems to reflect both the strength and the crushing weight of expectations and grief that haunt the human experience. The message behind her art is just as important as the medium itself. Roberge warns people that it’s okay to find your niche, but to be open to so many different possibilities and experiences. Roberge is an example of a sculptor who doesn’t shy away from anything and is the perfect artist to speak to art students courtesy of the art department. At this time, the department has plans to host three additional residents who have not been selected yet.
‘AI in Art’: Technology and art collide Bethany Rozzi Contributor On March 3, the University of Maine’s Center for Undergraduates presented the “AI in Art” webinar, which discussed some of the ways in which artificial intelligence can be used as an artistic tool. This webinar is part of a series the center hosts that showcases the different ways in which artificial intelligence technology can be utilized. The “AI in Art” webinar was sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was moderated by Dr. Julia Upton, the associate professor of mathematics at Husson University. Pinder Van Arman, an AI artist and roboticist whose work focuses on “painting robots that explore the differences between human
and computational creativity,” presented at the webinar. Arman shared his experience with creating paintings using artificial intelligence and spoke about making AI art more accessible to mainstream audiences. “I started in 2005 building my own robots,” Arman said. “At first they were really simple algorithms like ‘connect the dots’ and ‘paint by numbers.’ As time went on I started adding algorithms to improve the AI.” Arman then explained how creating artificial intelligence that was capable of creating more complex artwork wasn’t something that could be built overnight. He would add algorithms every month, and eventually once a year. Arman went into detail explaining some of the algorithms he added over time to improve
his artificially creative robots, before revealing the one thing he added that ultimately led to his breakthrough in AI art: a camera. “The big thing I added, and this is the breakthrough that really opened up the art for me and also got me the accolades, is that I added a camera, and the camera would actually watch what the robot was doing and it would do feedback loops,” Arman said. “When I added these cameras I started recording what the robot was doing and started programming algorithms to respond to what was emerging on the canvas…which in a way is similar to how a lot of artists paint.” Arman described the feedback loops as a similar process to when an artist will paint a couple strokes and then take a step back to see how the
marks look on the canvas before continuing to paint. This gradual process of adding algorithms and viewing feedback loops is essentially the key to creating art with artificial intelligence. Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMaine Vikas Dhiman also spoke at the webinar on Thursday. His presentation focused on the art behind artificial intelligence “imitating human-driving using inverse reinforcement learning.” “While I’ll share my thoughts on AI and art, my work is primarily about teaching robots how to navigate the world and how to understand [the] world around them,” Dhiman said. Dhiman explains that teaching a robot to do anything is difficult and the equa-
tions involved aren’t as straightforward as something you would see in physics, for example. He then explains what reinforcement is, which is the foundation of his research. “In reinforcement learning we divide the system into two parts, the environment and the agent,” Dhiman said. “The agent is the robot, and the environment is everything else. The agent takes some actions on the environment and then the environment changes and then the environment gives back the agent some observations and based on what the environment is the agent gets a reward or not. It can get a high reward if something good happens, or a low reward if something bad happens.” Dhiman then provided an example about
reinforcement when looking at imitating human driving. “If a car runs into a sidewalk or curb it gets a low reward but if it’s driving consistently in the lane then it gets a high reward,” Dhiman said. “Rewards are telling the robot what to do, not how [to] do it, and reinforcement learning is responsible for figuring out how to do it.” In a world where technological advancements are being made all around us, seeing the relationship between artificial intelligence and art is fascinating. Anyone interested in the relation between art and technology who is interested in learning more about AI can visit ai.umaine.edu or reach out directly via email um.ai@maine.edu.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Reviews• A7
The Maine Campus
UMaine’s School of Biology and Ecology holds ‘An Evolutionary History in Human Inheritance and Individuality’ seminar
Photos by David Jakacky.
Emme Aylesworth Contributor On Friday, March 4, the University of Maine School of Biology and Ecology held a lecture titled “An Evolutionary History in Human Inheritance and Individuality” over Zoom. The hour-long lecture was presented by Professor Timothy Waring. The presentation covered concepts from the study of evolution of individuals to human populations. Waring began his lecture by discussing his primary research focus, which is on human evolution. He’s fascinated with life, particularly Homo sa-
piens. Waring started the lecture talking about the major transitions of evolution and understanding what the major events happened to create life itself. The major transitions can be narrowed down to a few common patterns, centering on when divisions of labor and individual group conflicts occured. Over time, new transitions came about. Waring used an example of Volvocine algae that began as a single-celled organism that over time evolved and mixed with other species to create an organism that was “barely multicellular” but clearly made from
single-celled organisms. Waring then compared the evolutionary communities of insects to that of humans that led him to ask the question: “Are humans going under an ETI?” This is where the lecture began to discuss cultural evolution of Homo sapiens. ETI stands for Evolutionary Transition in Inheritance and Individuality. Waring explained it as the adaptive capacity of culture and the power of culturally organized groups emitting positive feedback toward each other that the strength of the culture as adaptive mechanism becomes
inheritance transition and strength of group selection creates individuality transition. These two transitions are referred to as coupled evolutionary transitions. Waring explained that natural selection perpetuates culture, where culture keeps us alive better and faster than our genes can change to adapt to our needs. If the theory is correct, we can see an increase in group differentiation and an increased importance of cultural group identity over kin-based identity. Waring used the example of yaks in Tibet. He connected the Ti-
betan use of yak milk to the ability to digest milk in that part of Europe. Over time these traits connected with each other. Parts of Northern Europe and Japan do not have the ability to consume lactose. The lactose causes stomach problems, despite the countries’ ability to produce large quantities of milk. To resolve the issue, society has created lactose pills. This is an example of culture inheritance systems influencing genetic traits. Humans are different from other species in the way that we can cooperate with each other and we are influenced by each other’s
behavior. Our technology and our language are group structured. Culture pushes groups toward a group structure. We find ourselves imitating our peers and other social influences more than our genetic traits influence our behavior. “[This] research program is just getting started, there is so much evidence to synthesize,” Waring said. This seminar series for spring of 2022 are held Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. over Zoom. Contact Peggy.Killian@ maine.edu for Zoom access.
#YouMaine: A nursing student’s advice on how to stay sane Corin Proctor Contributor Nicole Birri of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is a thirdyear nursing student at the University of Maine. When she’s not studying, she enjoys spending time with her friends, taking care of her pet rabbit and hitting the gym. Although she is on track to graduate in the spring of 2023, like many other students, she’s navigated plenty of struggles during her academic career. She juggles working mandated clinical hours at Northern Light Acadia Hospital while taking seven courses centered around her major. Her graduating class started off with 99 students enrolled in the nursing program in 2019. Now in the spring of 2022, only 32 remain. “Being a successful nursing student is all about managing your time well, getting your school work done but also making sure you make time for friends and fun as well,” Birri said. “You’ll go crazy otherwise.” This advice is easier said than done, but
Birri expresses that being a nursing student comes with its downsides as well. Her days are filled with difficult classes, engaging with her study groups, all while balancing her grades and social life. Birri also recently got the position of fundraising chair of the Orono Student Nursing Association (OSNA). “The OSNA seeks to create an inclusive, supportive community for all nursing students – we aim to provide members with educational and service opportunities and provide a place for like-minded individuals to bond over their chosen career path,” Birri said. This has helped her find friends with common interests that face similar challenges. She’s also in charge of raising money for the Student Nursing Convention that takes place each year and celebrates the hard working student nurses, such as herself. All of these extracurricular activities haven’t stopped Birri from being on the Dean’s List four consecutive semesters in a row. For Birri, the tribula-
tions of the past three years of nursing school have only made her more confident in her career path. “Honestly, what makes it all worth it is making it this far,” Birri said. “I have gained a sense of pride in what I do within the medical field.” During her second-year, Birri was placed into the clinical study portion of her degree. Since the fall of 2020, she has been working at local hospitals which has given her both real world experience and college credits. This year, her placement was in Acadia Hospital within the psychiatric wing located in Bangor, Maine. Although this wasn’t her first choice, she knew that the psychiatric nursing course was the most interesting one she had taken. Once she got to work closely with the patients, it solidified her decision. “In the medical field you just treat them and leave,” Birri said. “In psychiatry it’s more patient-based. You’re actually spending time with them and treating them fully.”
Photo provided by Nicole Birri. In previous summer months she worked at a retirement home in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was a medtech with 23 patients of her own where she was in charge of passing out medications, following the doctor’s orders along with tending to an additional 236 people in case of an emergency. Feeling slightly overwhelmed, she knew that a summer
away from hospitals was in her best interest. She plans to quit her summer job this coming summer and take a step back from her overloaded schedule. However, after graduating it will be full steam ahead for Birri. Her next steps after her undergraduate career will be studying psychiatry nursing in graduate school and obtaining her master’s degree in order to be-
come a nurse that administers treatment in the ER. It’s an extensive and taxing career path, but she is confident that with her determination and level-headed attitude, she will be able to navigate the world of medicine.
A8• Culture
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Hulu’s new ‘No Exit’ satisfies a viewers’ want for suspense and chaos
Photo via hollywoodreporter.com.
Bethany Rozzi Contributor 4/5 Stars Trust no one. The viewer watching “No Exit” learns this lesson quickly. In 20th Century Studio’s 2022 film, released on Hulu on Feb. 25, the audience is full of fear and suspense for the entire hour and 35 minute runtime. This movie satisfies anyone who is looking to add a little bit of adrenaline to their day. Starring Havana Rose Liu as Darby Thorne, Danny Ramirez as Ash and
David Rysdhal as Lars, their roles create a violent dynamic that’ll leave viewers feeling like they should watch their own backs. Liu is new to the film scene with her only other appearance being in the 2022 film “The Sky Is Everywhere.” Ramirez is best known for his work in “The Gifted” and “On My Block.” Previous movies starring Rysdhal include “That’s Not Us” and “The Revival.” Other notable actors in this film include Dale Dickey as Sand, Dennis Haysbert as Ed and Mila Harris as Jay. Stuck in court man-
dated rehabilitation for a long term drug addiction, Thorne gets a call informing her that her mother is in the hospital in critical condition. Despite her mother’s condition, Thorne cannot be released from rehab so she decides to escape. Not long after breaking out of rehab and stealing a car, a weather alert lights up her phone warning her of an incoming blizzard. As the weather quickly worsens, she finds herself on a road that is closed off due to the storm and ends up at a nearby visitors center where she joins four other peo-
ple who have stopped there to wait for the roads to open back up. Shortly after arriving, she heads back outside in search of a phone signal but instead finds something much more horrifying. The sound of muffled screaming leads her to a van where she finds a young girl, Jay, tied up inside. Survival mode kicks in as Thorne finds herself stranded with four kidnapping suspects and no one to trust. This film will have your hearts racing as she goes through the unspeakable to try to make sure she and Jay
get out of there alive. 20th Century Studios wastes no time in getting straight to the action. This fastpaced film is rich with jaw-dropping plot twists and shocking altercations. The rapidly unfolding chaos doesn’t leave a second of downtime, making it an enjoyable film for anyone who prefers movies that go from one thing to the next, making it impossible to get bored. The film, although engaging and easy to get invested in, fails to offer a substantial explanation as to why the kidnapping
took place. The background that was provided was vague and at some points open to interpretation. While it didn’t take away from the intensity of the film, it did give off the feeling that something was missing from the overall storyline. So long as you’re not one to get caught up in the details, “No Exit” is the perfect fit for anyone looking for a little suspense to their next film viewing experience.
Band Royaljag creates their own unique sound and vibe to offer listeners something new MK Jones Contributor 5/5 Stars The band Royaljag from San Bernardino, California, are ready to take the music industry by storm. The band was formed by twin brothers Jay and Roland Garcia and their long time friend David Ajoku.
The inspiration for their music comes from childhood memories. On days where they would clean the house, their parents would play music giants like Stevie Wonder, ABBA, the BeeGees and Michael Jackson. They have made it their mission to praise these artists in their music. They are the architects of chameleon
pop, a self-generated genre that allows them to create music without identifying with a single genre of music. It makes their music unique, considering they most certainly don’t have one recognizable sound. Royaljag’s music sounds retro courtesy of their electric guitar being synthesized, playing around
with sound to create a modern ‘80s vibe. All of their songs give that VHS tape filter vibe, almost like their modern music has a foot in two different eras. Their music is groovy and addictive. They pair their retro vibe with vocals reminiscent of the BeeGees or even Greta Van Fleet. The vocals are mostly sung softly, melting together with
the music. Their songs make you wish it was summertime, like you are in a green, colorful world that’s warmed from sunshine. It’s music that’s perfect on a drive with the windows rolling down, your hair whipping behind you, the smell of fresh air filling your car. Some songs to keep in mind for this summer are
“Put You On,” “909,” “Afterglow,” “Feelin’ Right” and “Daydream.” While their music isn’t as lively or as wide-reaching as Michael Jackson or the BeeGees, their unique modern grooviness gives them ample opportunity to be the next big thing.
Why tofu could be a great addition to your diet Emme Aylesworth Contributor When did tofu become underappreciated? It’s time to end the bad stigma that has followed tofu around for too long and start to adopt it into our diets. It is a great source of protein that is not just for vegans and vegetarians. Historically, it has never been only a meat substitute and is incredibly versatile. Tofu eaten by itself is unexciting and a bit depressing, but spectacular when it’s included as a part of an entire dish. Most of the time, tofu is an unobtrusive, nutritious
complement to the main dish. Tofu is high in protein which makes it dense and packed with a variety of nutrients. A 100 gram piece of tofu contains 17 grams of protein along with 3 grams of carbs and 9 grams of fat. Tofu also provides 15% of the recommended daily value of iron and other minerals. There was a rumor spreading around that eating too much tofu can cause you to gain weight or potentially cause cancer. In reality, tofu can actually prevent certain cancers such as breast cancer or those found in the
organs of the digestive system. Tofu can also decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes thanks to a special component of the food: isoflavones, which are naturally occurring compounds in plant-based foods. Like all foods, it should be eaten in moderation but it makes a great component to a well-balanced diet. So, what can you do with tofu? I enjoy eating fried tofu, which can be found in most Thai restaurants. Fried tofu dipped in a creamy peanut sauce is a great way to introduce the food into your diet. It’s a light
and crispy appetizer that satisfies the stomach, meanwhile providing you with a great amount of protein. Tofu can be cut into cubes and incorporated into salads and stir frys. Tofu can also be made into a scramble. On Wednesdays, the University of Maine’s York dining hall serves buffalo tofu wraps as an alternative to the buffalo chicken wraps they serve at lunch and dinner. “Buff tofu day is arguably the best meal of the week. The tofu and buffalo sauce work perfectly together,” first-year Mackenna Homa said.
Combined in a wrap or eaten alone with rice, tofu creates a delicious sensation of flavor and spice with every bite. Tofu is also a great ingredient to marinate in any sauce to substitute as meat. If you are interested in cooking with tofu, it is important to note which type of tofu you are using. There are different levels of firmness: silken, which is the crumbliest and mostly used in smoothies or ravioli filling; regular, which holds sauces the best firm is the most versatile and extra-firm is the best for stir-frys. It is also important to
drain the water that the tofu comes in as well as rise and press the tofu to get all the excess liquid removed from it. This makes the tofu easier to work with. Overall, tofu is an amazing food that can be used in many different ways and provides a great amount of nutrients to those looking for a healthier addition to their diets.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Culture• A9
The Maine Campus
National Holidays: March 7 through March 11
Photo via wkdq.com. Meaghan Bellavance
Culture Editor Monday: Cereal Day
National
March 7 is National Cereal Day. Celebrate this nostalgic breakfast staple by pouring milk over a bowl of your favorite cereal. With more options for food allergies and diet restrictions, cereal can be enjoyed just as much with milk alternatives such as soy milk, almond milk, oat milk and more. Fun fact: cereal was actually invented by accident. According to nationaltoday.com, John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg were experimenting with boiled wheat when they accidentally left a batch overnight. This batch ended up creating a stale substance. The two decided to try this process again but with corn instead of wheat, which is what we know today to be Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
So, whether Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes or even Cocoa Puffs takes you back to simpler times, pour yourself your favorite bowl of cereal today to celebrate National Cereal Day. March 7 is also National Flapjack Day and Sock Monkey Day. Tuesday: National Proofreading Day Today is National Proofreading Day. With spring break right around the corner and big assignments coming up afterward, now is a great time to sit down and focus on improving your grammar. Having good grammar, punctuation and spelling can significantly improve the quality of your school work, as well as improve the grades you earn for your work. One company, Grammarly, offers free services to help proofread your documents. By downloading it to your de-
vice, it can even help proofread your emails before you send them so you can sound as professional as possible. March 8 is also International Women’s Day, National Oregon Day and National Organize Your Home Office Day. Wednesday: National Get Over It Day March 9 is National Get Over It Day. This day allows you to reflect on what has been bothering you or weighing you down in order to put it aside and move forward from it. We all have something in our lives that has been sitting on our shoulders recently. We also all have the ability to self-reflect and decipher what is worth our time and energy. So let’s take that opportunity to put the past in the past and step forward with happiness and peace today. This holiday, according to nationalto-
day.com, also specifically applies to getting over break ups and past relationships. Set between Valentine’s Day and April Fools Day, this holiday can help you move on from recent heartbreak and, like the holiday says, get over it to find yourself again. March 9 is also National Meatball Day and National Barbie Day. Thursday: National Ranch Day Today is National Ranch Day, a day to celebrate the staple dipping sauce that is well-loved across the country. This condiment is popular among chicken nuggets dippers and salad eaters, but it can also be used on many other foods. If you haven’t yet, try dipping your pizza in ranch. It elevates regular pizza to another level, and may just be a life-changing experience. Even dipping your french fries and
tater tots in ranch instead of ketchup is a game changer. This condiment is so popular that the company Crocs collaborated with Hidden Valley Ranch to create jibbitz of a ranch bottle and various foods and vegetables. So next time you pick out a dipping sauce at a restaurant, choose ranch to amp up your dipping game. March 10 is also National Pack Your Lunch Day, International Bagpipe Day and Popcorn Lover’s Day. Friday: Middle Name Pride Day We all know someone, or may be that someone, who is embarrassed to share their middle name. Well, today celebrates taking pride in your middle name, so embrace your roots and what your parents chose special just for you! According to n a t i o n a l t o d a y. c o m , middle names were
created to commemorate older or deceased family members, carrying on their name in their honor. However, a more modern trend has parents choosing middle names that they simply like. Whatever the reason was behind choosing your middle name, celebrate it! If you are unsure of why your middle name was chosen, today is the perfect opportunity to ask your parents about it. By embracing your middle name, it can help you connect with your past or even yourself. March 11 is also National Promposal Day and World Plumbing Day. All holidays were found on nationaltoday.com. Be sure to keep up to date with our regularly featured holidays featured both on our Instagram @ themainecampus and website.
Sports A10• Sports
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Men’s ice hockey wins 8-1 on Senior Night
Photos by Izzy Pankey Nguyen.
Patrick Silvia Sports Editor The University of Maine men’s hockey team play their last regular home game of the season over the weekend. On Friday night, the Black Bears fell to Boston University 5-1 and locked themselves into last place in the Hockey East standings after what was a forgettable regular season campaign. In the preseason polls for Hockey East, UMaine was picked to finish second to last, only ahead of Vermont. Well, the polls got the bottom two right, just in the wrong order. By Saturday, UMaine couldn’t change their position in Hockey East, but the game was still important to play for the seniors. For about one third of the dressed lineup on Saturday, it was the last home game of their UMaine hockey
careers. These players have dealt with a lot throughout their time as college athletes leading up to senior night, including a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic death of beloved head coach Red Gendron in the spring of 2021, so this game was a chance for them to end on a high. The Black Bears energy and effort was high, and this led to them scoring the opening goal. Eight minutes into the game thirdyear forward AJ Drobot’s one timer found the back of the net, setting the tone for the rest of the night and putting Maine up 1-0. From that point on, it was UMaine’s game to lose. UMaine went on to score three more goals in the first period, all happening within one minute and 7 seconds of each other. Seeing the Black Bears’
offense light it up on senior night was inspiring, as scoring has often been a struggle for the team, but the team’s offense on Saturday night was finding a gear not seen all year. “Finally got that effort, like that special effort that we’ve been looking for all year, and when they do that anything is possible, including something like that,” Barr said. “[I’m] happy for the [graduating players] going out that way.” The graduating students accounted for three goals in the game, the first coming early in the second period from fourth-year forward Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup. Schmidt-Svejstrup pick-pocketed the BU goalie who did not sense his presence behind the net and wrapped it to put UMaine up 5-0. “I thought it was a good night, but getting
the win and proving that we can beat a very very good team, a hot team, is pretty important going into playoffs,” Schmidt-Svejstrup said. He went on to tally three assists following his goal and led the team in points for the night with four. Fourth-year forward Grant Hebert and fifth-year forward Keenan Suthers were the other two graduating players to score. Hebert’s goal came after a good interception by third-year forward Matthew Fawcett on an attempted zone exit by BU, which led to second-year forward Donovan Houle setting up Hebert for the one timer which found the back of net to make the score 6-0 UMaine. Suthers’ goal came in the third period when a pinpoint wrist shot on the power play beat the BU goalie top shelf for the Black Bears’
eighth and final goal. When the dust settled the score read 8-1, with UMaine the victors. Despite the seniors getting the majority of attention, and deservingly so, third-year goalie Matthew Thiessen quietly picked up a notable achievement, his first collegiate win. Stopping 32 of 33 shots against, Thiessen was great. The lone goal against Thiessen was a lacrosse style highlight reel goal by BU thirdyear forward Wilmer Skoog. It was a long awaited win for Thiessen, as it was his twentieth appearance in net for UMaine. “I wish it came a lot sooner,” Thiessen joked after the game. “But it is what it is, and now [I’m] just try to keep moving forward and focus on playoffs.” That being said, UMaine now enters the Hockey East playoffs and theoretically could
still win a national title. Although unlikely, if UMaine wins the Hockey East tournament they’d gain entry into the national tournament. The first step for that improbable miracle-like dream to become reality comes on the road on Wednesday night at Merrimack College at 7 p.m. “Last time we played them they gave it to us pretty good, but we’re a whole different team now then we were then, so I’m pretty excited,” UMaine leading scorer second-year forward Lynden Breen commented on the opportunity to face Merrimack. “We have something to prove in that rink,” Schmidt-Svejstrup said, referring to the lone trip to Merrimack this season where UMaine was beaten handedly 5-0 in early February.
Women’s hockey falls to Northeastern in hard-earned semifinal appearance Michael Corrado Contributor Following their thrilling victory over Boston College, the University of Maine women’s hockey team traveled to Matthews Arena in Boston on Wednesday, March 2 to take on the Northeastern Huskies in what was set to be a fantastic semi-final contest. UMaine has battled Northeastern for a spot in the Hockey East Championship two of the last four years, with Northeastern advancing both times. The Black Bears were looking to finally seal the deal and make it to the finals. With two Black Bear Olympians, third-year defenseman Amalie
Andersen of Denmark and second-year forward Rahel Enzler of Switzerland, on the roster currently, UMaine was certainly a team with the talent to compete against some of the best collegiate hockey players in the country. Northeastern’s talent was formidable, as they’re ranked third nationally, and from puck drop the skill level of the Huskies was more than apparent. Early on in the contest, UMaine was able to divert most of their opponent’s rushes to the boards and out of their zone, while second-year goaltender Jorden Mattison was beyond effective at keeping the score level
at zero through the first 20 minutes. In the first period the Black Bears were outshot 13-2, so in order to keep their championship dreams alive the team needed to change their approach quickly. A penalty against Northeastern midway through the second period set up UMaine for various opportunities to take the lead, but the Huskies interfered time and time again. Fifth-year forward Maddie Mills found the back of the net to put the Huskies up 1-0 twelve minutes into the second, finally cracking through the shield that the Black Bears worked to build within their own blue line.
While UMaine feverishly worked to preserve the one-goal deficit, a penalty gave Northeastern on their first power play of the night. With about four minutes to play in the period, fourth-year star forward Maureen Murphy was able to beat Mattison and extend Northeastern’s lead to two before the end of the frame. The Black Bears themselves had four power plays on the night. During one of them, third-year forward Ida Kuoppala managed to find the twine a little over six minutes into the third period, cutting the Huskies lead to one and giving UMaine some much needed
hope. Their hope faded only three-and-a-half minutes later when Murphy potted her second goal of the night, putting Northeastern’s lead back up to two with just under ten minutes to go in the third period. UMaine did their best to mount a comeback, even going as far as to pull Mattison with just under two to go, but their efforts were to no avail and the game ended 3-1 with Northeastern as the victors. Northeastern advances to the Hockey East Championship for their sixth straight year. They will take on UConn, who managed to beat Vermont, who was ranked second in
their conference. When all was said and done, UMaine was outshot by Northeastern 41-13, with Mattison ending her night with a phenomenal 38 saves. While UMaine’s defeat is heartbreaking, a majority of the current group of players currently with the team are slated to return to the team next season, so there’s hope that UMaine will once again make a run in the Hockey East tournament next year.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Sports• A11
The Maine Campus
Women’s basketball team’s strong fourth quarter advances them to the semifinals Dalton Bartlett Contributor On Saturday, March 5, after a very competitive first three quarters the University of Maine women’s basketball team ran away with the game, winning 63-49 against the Hartford Hawks in the first round of the America East tournament. The Black Bears came into this game as the top seed in the America East, riding a 12-game winning streak, while the Hawks entered as the eighth seed. It has been a tough season for the Hawks, finishing the season 4-26 in their final season in the American East before they move down to division three starting next season. Even though they
were the underdogs, Hartford came out of the gate well and thanks to their suffocating defense they led early in the game. UMaine responded with an 8-0 run to give them back the lead, but a second chance layup in the paint from thirdyear Hawks guard Carmen Villabous cut the Black Bears lead to just three at 15-12. In the second quarter, UMaine jumped out to a 27-16 lead after second-year forward Caroline Bornemann and third-year guard Anne Simon made free throws that were followed by Bornemann making a field goal in the paint and a three pointer. Before halftime, the Hawks responded with a 12-4 run that was capped off with a three point-
er from Villalobos with just seven seconds left to go before half to cut the UMaine lead to three again with the score 29-26 at the break. After having a career day one week ago, fifth-year forward Maeve Carroll was held scoreless at halftime going 0-5, missing multiple easy shots under the basket while also allowing 10 points to Hartford sophomore forward Paula Marina. Through the first part of the third quarter, both teams did not score often thanks to terrific defense by both sides. Carroll made her first two baskets of the day, and eventually made a layup to extend the lead to nine points. To continue this back and forth, first-year Hawks forward Brian-
na Williams hit a three with nine seconds left to make the score 4943 UMaine. In the fourth quarter, UMaine’s defense held the Hawks at bay and Hartford shot just 2 of 10 and turned the ball over eight times, which the Black Bears capitalized on with a three pointer from Simon. After Hartford missed three shots in a row and turned the ball over twice, Simon and Bornemann effectively ended the game by sinking their free throws. “We really locked down in the fourth quarter,” coach Amy Vachon said after the game. “We limited them to one shot which is really big for us.” Bornemann had a career high of 21 points on 8-13 shooting to go
along with three rebounds, two assists and two steals, as she carried the offense in the first half and was terrific on both sides of the ball. Simon had a double-double, scoring 17 points, securing 12 rebounds and three steals. After struggling in the first half, Carroll bounced back and had a terrific second half, not allowing a single point from Maurina in the half. Carroll finished the game scoring 14 points on 6-12 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Villalobos led the Hawks with 13 points to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. While Maurina was still second in scoring, she never scored after half-
time and ended with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. UMaine’s success came from capitalizing on second chance shots and scoring off of turnovers with the Black Bears outscoring the Hawks 12-2 on second chance shots and 28-4 on points off turnovers, which proved to be the difference maker in the fourth. UMaine will face off against the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders at home on Tuesday at 8 p.m. If they win, this will give the Black Bears a chance to return to the America East Championship game, after losing to Stony Brook last season in the championship game.
Men’s basketball season wraps up with loss to the University of Vermont
Photo by Olivia Schanck.
Michael Corrado Contributor The final regular season contest for the University of Maine men’s basketball team saw them tip off against the University of Vermont Catamounts in Bangor at the Cross Insurance Center. Vermont came into the matchup seeded first in America East. UMaine on the other hand sat last in the conference, with a record of 6-22 before the start of the game and already eliminated from playoff contention. While both teams struggled to score early on, Vermont got the scoring underway as fourth-year forward Isaiah Powell got to the bucket with ease. Vermont extended their lead to 8-0 before second-year
UMaine forward Peter Filipovity got the first basket, making it 8-2. Fifth-year center Chris Efretuei and second-year guard Adefolarin “Fofo” Adetogun’s defense stepped up a notch to deny numerous Catamount trips into the paint, keeping the score within fifteen points for a majority of the first half. The half itself ended with Vermont up 38-24. Both teams performed similarly in the second half, with Vermont extending their lead to over 20 points at various intervals across the final frame. Vermont’s fourth-year forward Ryan Davis had free reign whenever the ball was in his hands, finishing around the rim with ease and failing to miss a single one of his free throws all night to finish with a
team-high of 16 points. A bevy of technical fouls called against the Black Bears angered the players and crowd alike, further burying head coach Jai Steadman’s group under a mountain of free throws. Fourthyear forward Stephane Ingo played one of the most defensively dominant games of his career, swatting shots to the tune of six total blocks and playing as a de-facto center whenever fifth-year big man Chris Efretuei was on the bench. At the end of the night, Vermont was able to cap off their dominant display with the time expiring on a 75-56 victory for head coach John Becker’s Catamounts. The win put Vermont at a 25-5 record overall and a 17-1 record within the
conference, with their only loss in the conference coming to Hartford by one point earlier in the season. Overall, the Black Bears showed great improvement in a season full of turmoil. Turmoil such as former head coach Richard Barron and UMaine mutually agreed to part ways and Ingo suffering an injury at the beginning of the year that saw him miss time. Nothing seemed to be working in favor of UMaine. Yet, there were still bright spots along the way, like Steadman’s first win as a head coach against New Jersey Institute of Technology on Feb. 20. Also, before the game vs Vermont, four seniors Efretuei, Ingo, fourth-year guard Ja-Shonte Wright-McLeish and Lechaun Du-
hart were honored before the game versus Vermont. After leading the team in scoring for a majority of the season, second-year guard Vukasin Masic relinquished his spot at the top to third-year guard Maks Klanjscek. Klanjscek’s 9.7 points per game was the highest for the Black Bears in the category, setting up the Slovenian for what should be an even better fourth year. Masic led the team in assists, putting up a mark of 3.1 per game, while putting together a very well-rounded statline in several other categories. First-year forward Kristians Feierberg’s 36% average from beyond the arc led the team, just barely beating out fourthyear guard Ja-Shonte Wright-McLeish and
Masic who both had marks of 35%. Ingo’s season was a pure statistical anomaly with his 2.5 blocks per game standing out more than anything else. Ingo made sure to accompany that number with 7.3 points per game, a team-leading 5.9 rebounds a night and almost a steal a game as well. His leadership as a captain and his on-the-court performance will be sorely missed next year. Thankfully with the emergence of players such as Filipovity, firstyear guard Sam Ihekwoaba and first-year guard Byron Ireland, the team looks to be in good hands for the near future.
A12• Sports
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Maine Campus
Muhammad Ali’s 31 fight win streak ends at the hands of Joe Frazier
Graphic by David Jakacky.
Dalton Bartlett Contributor On March 8, 1971, two undefeated legendary boxers faced off for the first time in what became known as the “The Fight of the Century.” Muhammad Ali was a former world champion coming into this fight who was in the process of finding his footing again in the world of boxing after a three-year ban stripped him of his belt after he skipped the draft for the Vietnam war. During Ali’s absence, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier became the heavyweight champion after winning elimination tournaments. Even though both boxers were undefeated and champions, they had two very different strategies in the ring. Ali was known for using his length to his
advantage by making the fighters step into him and using force to deliver his punches. Unlike Ali, who used footwork and technique, Frazier focused on charging in and using his crossguard and head movements, where he excelled at the bob and weave. During the first three rounds, Ali had complete control of the fight, using his jab to his advantage, while Frazier was much slower. Unlike his previous fights, Ali did not dance around the ring. Instead, he made sure to keep Frazier in the center of the ring and beat him with grounded punches. Deep into the fourth round, Frazier was able to land his first hook that shook Ali and he drove him back into the ropes while Ali tried to clinch. Frazier broke through and was
able to throw multiple body shots and while Ali fought back, Frazier was able to land another hook as the round ended to deal more damage. Round five was the best round of the fight as both fighters had strong moments throughout it. Ali came out throwing, but Frazier was able to avoid the punches. Ali then hit Frazier with a hard right, but Frazier kept coming with his hard left hooks and the fight seemed even after round five. Round six was dominated by Frazier, with him having total momentum landing body shots especially at the hips. Ali was not able to respond to many of the shots and Frazier easily dominated round six. Ali started strong in the seventh round, but Frazier got more punches to
weaken Ali. By the eighth round, Ali was utterly exhausted and Frazier took full advantage. He was relentless in his efforts and continued to tire Ali. In the ninth, Ali won the round. For the first time all night he was able to back Frazier up, and for a moment it seemed like Ali was going to turn the fight around. The tenth round was even and it appeared Ali was making his comeback. Still, in the eleventh, Frazier hit Ali in what Ali would describe as the hardest punch he ever took and Ali fell to the ground. Still, it was ruled he slipped and later Frazier landed hard shots on Ali’s jaw and stomach, followed by a hook to the head that almost dropped him, but Ali still stood and fought on. While he struggled in the twelfth round, Ali
got his rhythm back in the thirteenth and was able to dance around as he was known to do, tiring Frazier and slowing him down. But in the fifteenth and final round, Frazier dropped Ali thanks to a strong left hook on his jaw, effectively ending the fight. By these last two rounds, both fighters dropped their defense and went all out offensively, and by the end of the last round, Frazier’s eyes were closing from the abuse and Ali’s jaw was swollen, showing how brutal the fight was. By a unanimous decision, Frazier retained his title as the heavyweight champion, with the judges scoring him 9–6–0, 11–4–0 and 8-6-1, improving his record to 27-0 and giving Ali his first-ever loss. Frazier didn’t stay undefeated for long
though, as 22 months later he was knocked down six times in two rounds against the upand-coming George Foreman. Ali faced Foreman on Oct. 31, 1974, and shocked everyone when he tko’d Foreman in the eighth round. Frazier and Ali faced off two more times, both times resulting in Ali winning by a unanimous decision. This fight went down in history as not just the biggest boxing match in history, but one of the most publicized fights ever and one of the most significant sporting events.
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