Vol. 138, No. 19 - 04.11.22

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Monday, April 11, 2022

Vol. 138, No. 19

News

A2

Mitchell Sustainability Series continues with “The Forever Chemical: PFAS in Maine”

Opinion

A3

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation is a victory for representation in the U.S. legal system

Culture

A5

Divest UMS features Divest Fest

Sports

A8

UMaine baseball wins weekend series against NJIT

Mitchell Sustainability Series continues with ‘The Forever Chemical: PFAS in Maine’

Graphic by David Jakacky.

Samantha Sudol Contributor On Monday, April 4, Dr. Onur Apul, Dr. Dianne Kopec, Dr. Caroline Noblet and John Peckenham gave their talk, “The Forever Chemical: PFAS in Maine.” Apul is an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine. Kopec is a research fellow at the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. Noblet is an associate professor in the school of economics at UMaine. Peckenham is a research associate at the Mitchell Center. Together they discussed how PFA chemicals have been in commercial products for over sixty years but

only twenty years ago did researchers start analyzing how these substances affect the environment.

“What a deal we made with the devil!

We traded stain fabric for a global environmental and world public health crisis,” Apul said.

Man made chemicals like PFAS have been used in consumer products industry-wide since the 1950s, and are commonly found in items such as ponchos and styrofoam.

“Everybody likes to eat. Some people like to cook. Nobody likes to clean up, so teflon pans were a really big hit,” Kopec said. “But then PFAS also moved into your food. It moved into your popcorn from your micro-

wave popcorn bags. It moved into your food from your takeout containers. So this is why we care that the PFAS are moving into your food.”

In Maine, these PFAS have contaminated the well water and some dairy farms, which has led to the state of Maine trying to figure out how to deal with this problem.

The issue with water contamination is how it affects the Earth’s water cycle. For instance, manufacturing and the industrial use of PFAS, as well as the PFAS use by the general population, creates atmospheric PFAS emissions. This then becomes precipitation that affects private wells and drinking water as well as agri-

culture. This “Forever Cycle” of PFAS is continued through the food web as animals drink the water, and fish swim in contaminated water. People then eat these animals, transferring the PFAS into their bodies.

“We call PFAS forever chemicals because of its circularity in the environment,” Apul said.

Next, the researchers discussed if nanomaterials can be used to address the PFAS crisis. Removal strategies, both destructive and non-destructive methods, are discussed to break down the chemical.

After explaining the potential options for removing these chemicals, they discussed other PFAS Removal

Technologies, specifically Granular Activated Carbon, as well as analyzing if these chemicals can permeate landfill liners and soil remediation of PFAS in biowastes treated soil.

“If you had a sandbox in your backyard, and if you had it polluted with one glass of motor oil in it, how do you even clean it?

Do you take it out? Do you treat it inside? So the general approach here is either in situ or executed treatment approaches. Executed meaning that you excavate all the soil put on to trucks. Go to an offsite facility, wash the soil treated, do whatever it takes, and bring it back, in situ meaning that you use water, you use microbes, you use

chemicals to pump down water, column or soil column and try to try to purify the soil,” Apul said.

For soil remediation, this would involve minimal use of PFAS products and advanced treatment technologies for source reduction; cyclic process with lesser soil invasion and minimal transport costs for soil flushing and washing; uptake and translocation of PFAS into above ground plant parts for phyto-remediation; stabilizing the soil with sorbent to restrict the movement of PFAS for immobilization; and thermal, oxidative, biological, and electron beam treatments for PFAS destruction.

Brian McNaught panel discusses LGBTQ issues such as ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

Colin Gallagher Contributor

Brian McNaught held a special conference at the D.P. Corbett building at the University of Maine this Tuesday, pertaining to LGBTQ issues.

McNaught is the author of over 13 books and is most widely known as a diversity and sensitivity educator who specializes in LGBTQ issues in the workplace. With a career spanning 48 years, The New York Times has named him the “godfather of gay diversity training.”

At beginning of the

discussion, attendees both in-person and viewing online were asked to answer yes or no questions surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer topics. An astonishing 98% of the attendees said that they were not taught about these topics while in elementary school.

McNaught also talked about the recent and extremely controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which is being pushed in 16 states.

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida since 2019, recently signed the bill into law on

The Maine Campus

March 29.

This bill being put into place means that discussions surrounding issues pertaining to gender identity or LGBTQ discussion will be banned or restricted in a classroom setting. DeSantis says that children will be sent to school with their parents knowing their child will receive an education and “not an indoctrination,” according to a report by The Guardian.

Student attendees from UMaine asked McNaught how they could sway decisions on future bills.

“If you’re lesbian,

@TheMaineCampus

gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, come out and put a face on the issue,” McNaught answered. “Those of you who are straight and cisgender, you can stand up as an ally. If you hear people say things on the [campus], speak up. Make sure to call Congress, or you can call the legislatures of Florida.”

The issue surrounding representation isn’t limited to the American education system.

The workforce still has many problems surrounding the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. An estimated 40% of workers who iden-

@TheMaineCampus

tify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer have experienced some form of office mistreatment during their lives, according to the University of California in Los Angeles.

Having decades of experience, McNaught gave some insight on the matter.

“The issue is when you come out, people don’t talk to you anymore, not because you’re hostile, but they don’t know what to say,” McNaught said.

“I help them [get] past their fear.”

The discussion lasted from 12:30 to

@TheMaineCampus

1:30 p.m. McNaught led most of the discussion with his own personal stories. He talked about how he was once a Catholic columnist in the city of Detroit before officially coming out in 1974.

Nearly 50 years later, the same problems plague our world. After the Florida government passing this bill, a massive student walkout occurred at Winter Park High School in Orange County to protest.

“The most powerful tool I have is telling my story,” McNaught said.

Scan me!

A2• News

Weekly Updates

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

This Week in Student Government

Weekly recap of decisions made by the UMaine Student Government General Student Senate Grace Blanchard Contributor

the tier requirements get greater and greater.”

On Tuesday, April 5, the General Student Senate (GSS) held their weekly meeting in Neville 100 and invited representatives from club sports to present budget expectations for the upcoming year.

Clubs must meet certain requirements such as community service hours in order to move up the tiers, and as the tiers go up, the more money clubs are able to receive from the senate.

In total, GSS spoke with 19 club sport teams including field hockey, figure skating, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rugby and many others.

Most of the budgets included equipment and travel needs for the clubs, and many clubs belonged to Tier 2.

Frank Kelly, the vice president of financial affairs (VPFA) for the University of Maine Student Government (UMSG), highlighted how the club sports tier system works for the members of the senate that were unaware.

“There are five tiers within the tier system and we fund the top four,” Kelly said.“As you move up,

GO!

quest to provide Backcountry Squatters with the gear they require and come up with an inventory system through which the gear is all stored together.

The senate provides a significant amount of support to the clubs on campus.

The Women’s Basketball Club came to the student senate on Tuesday requesting funding for uniforms and basketballs.

Zachary Wyles, the president of UMSG, said that UMaine athletics has numerous extra jerseys available but denied the Women’s Basketball Club access to them.

“In order to participate in the league, you need jerseys,” VPFA Kelly said.

The Women’s Basketball Club is a fairly new sports club and have not yet had the opportunity to fundraise for their club, which is how most clubs

pay for their jerseys. Due to this, there was heavy encouragement and support from the senate to pass this funding request in order to get the Women’s Basketball Club on its feet.

regarding climbing gear. A request by the Backcountry Squatters Club for climbing gear was denied as VPFA Kelly highlighted that the senate avoids providing the same gear to multiple clubs.

After a period of discussion, the senate approved the funding request.

“It really comes down to the core purpose of a club,” Kelly said. “Last week, what I tried to express was that Backcountry Squatters expanding their scope starts to cover other clubs and it makes it so that we are looking at buying very expensive gear and multiples of it.”

There was also a large funding request from the Climbing Club who was seeking over $4000 for climbing gear.

There was a heavy debate in the previous senate meeting that occurred on Tuesday, March 29,

Their resolution is to add additional gear onto the Climbing Clubs’ re-

“We ended up having a discussion about increasing the amount of gear that we would purchase so that we can make gear available for other clubs that have interest in climbing,” Patrick Downing, the president of the Climbing Club, said.

The goal moving forward is for any clubs interested in utilizing the gear to have access to it as well.

There was also a stipulation added to the funding request that it will be allotted once a comprehensive safety process is established by the Climbing Club.

Maine is a state with great opportunities for climbing and that the senate should be encouraging students to explore the outdoors safely.

The senate approved the funding request and put the debate to rest.

The club Wilde Stein also successfully received funding for their upcoming Lavender Prom.

“I think it is a great opportunity for students who were not able to attend their high school prom,” Kelly said. “Wilde Stein has been putting on a lot of great events as of late, the Drag Show was a huge success and I have no reason to believe this won’t be as well.”

Lavender Prom is scheduled for Friday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Wells Conference Center.

“Liability insurance applies to stuff like this and our goal is to make sure that the insurance policy doesn’t get touched,” Kelly said.

Kelly highlighted that

Events around campus 4/11 through 4/16

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Maine Impact Week is kicking off with the Research Impact Challenge. Each day this week, Fogler Library will send an email with tasks designed to build your scholarly profile.

RSVP through the University of Maine Calendar Page.

The Faculty Impact Mentor Awards ceremony is taking place in the Wells Conference Center at 12 p.m.

The Versant Astronomy Center is hosting a presentation over Maine’s first small satellite at 12 p.m. Register on UMaine’s Calendar page.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

The Center for Student Involvement is kicking off their Best of the West Weekend with Bull Riding on the Mall at 8 p.m.

The UMaine Student Symposium is happening from 9a.m. to 3p.m. in the New Balance Field House.

Western Weekend ends with a good old fashioned Hoedown Throwdown at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

were there visiting a resident, and were asked to leave by that resident before the officers arrived.

4/3 At 10:30 a.m., patrol officers observed damage to the Mahaney Dome in the form of a six inch hole in the side of the structure. The Athletic Department was notified.

4/4 At 8:30 p.m., UMPD

officers responded to Cumberland Hall for a reported theft. An estimated $200 worth of clothes were stolen from a washer.

4/5 At 1 a.m., officers responded with UVAC to Oxford Hall for a student in medical distress. The student refused transport to EMMC. 4/5 At 4 p.m., officers responded to Som-

erset Hall with UVAC for a student experiencing a negative reaction to a medication. The student was transported to EMMC 4/6 At 1 p.m., a key was turned into UMPD. It is black and silver with the phrase “ABUS” written on it, and appears to be for a bike lock.

Police Beat Maddy Gernhard News Editor 4/1 Officers responded to a report of someone crying and asking for help in Somerset Hall. When they arrived, there was no one there.

4/2 UMPD and UVAC responded to Alpha Gamma Rho for a reported injury. The person had sustained

an injury to their shoulder but refused transport to EMMC. 4/2 UMPD Officers responded to Androscoggin Hall to investigate a case of criminal mischief.

Several exit signs on the second and third floors of the building had been damaged.

The damages are estimated to be around $100.

4/2

Tune Into This!

UMPD Officers and Orono Fire Department responded to Hitchner Hall to investigate a propane smell.

4/3 At 1 a.m., officers responded to Penobscot Hall for reports of two men attempting to force their way into a resident’s room. The men were not on the premises when the officers arrived. The two men

What’s happening this week at UMaine & Beyond

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

On this day in 2007, the famous American author Kurt Vonnegut died at age 85.

On this day in 1981, NASA launched its first ever space shuttle called “Columbia.”

On this day in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City.

Thursday In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater.

Friday The new Nicholas Cage film, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” hits theaters today. The film follows Cage as he plays himself on a mission given to him by the CIA.

Opinion Monday, April 11, 2022

Opinion • A3

The Maine Campus

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation is a victory for representation in the U.S. legal system

Emma Vannorsdall Opinion Editor On April 7, 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed into the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 53-47 vote, this historic victory makes her the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

She was met with support from all 50 Senate Democrats and three Republican Senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney.

While it may take a few months before Judge Jackson officially replaces the retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, her confirmation serves as an immediate milestone in representation for Black women in the United States.

Judge Jackson is highly qualified, with an impressive background both professionally and educationally. She served as a United States District Judge from 2013 until 2021 and served on the United States Sentencing Commission for four years as Vice Chair and Commissioner. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1996 and her A.B. in Government from Harvard-Radcliffe College in 1992.

This vote finalizes a promise made by President Joe Biden during his 2020 campaign to elect a Black woman as a Supreme Court justice. “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court, to make sure we in fact get every representation,” Biden assured voters in 2020, and he is right—representation is imperative.

Since its first assembly in 1790, the U.S. Supreme Court has had 115 judges—108 of which have been white men. There have been only five female justices, two Black male justices and one woman of color. Current Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the only Hispanic justice, Justices Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas are the only Black male justices and there has never been an Asian-American justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“For the first 180 years, the Court membership consisted exclusively of white males, almost all Protestant and of Northern/Western European descent,” Teaching Tolerance reported.

While the U.S claims to be founded on ideals of equality and equal representa-

Graphic by David Jakacky. tion, the highest judicial branch has been run predominantly by white men since its establishment. The U.S. is incredibly diverse, and these numbers fail to represent the different demographics in the country.

According to the 2020 census, 13.4% of the U.S. is Black or African American, 5.9% is Asian alone, 1.3% is American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 2.8% is Two or More

Races and 19.5% is Hispanic or Latino.

Until recently, the High Court did not reflect this diversity, and thus the legal system of this country has never truly been representative or equal.

While this victory is monumental for achieving equal representation on a national level, the State Supreme Courts unfortunately fall far behind in terms of diversity.

As of April 2021:

“There are no Black justices in 28 states.

There are no Latino justices in 40 states.

There are no Asian American justices in 44 states. There are no Native American justices in 47 states.

Across all state high courts, just 17 percent of justices are Black, Latino, Asian American or Native American.

By contrast, people of color make up almost 40 percent of the U.S. population,” Janna

Adelstein and Alicia Bannon for the Brennan Center for Justice reported.

While Justice Jackson’s confirmation still deserves great celebration, there is still great progress to be made. Until every level of the United States legal system reflects the people of this country, the fight for justice is not over.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases latest climate report: Immediate action is needed Caty DuDevoir Contributor The window of time to mitigate the current impacts of climate change is slowly coming to a close. Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth report assessing the consequences of climate change on ecosystems, human communities and biodiversity while considering the limitations and vulnerabilities of the natural world. The report tracks the decrease of certain species in equatorial and tropical regions, the altered biodiversity across the globe and the impact that anthropogenic climate change has on human health, especially that of Indigenous groups. Despite the overwhelming ev-

idence that climate action needs to happen, the University of Maine Board of Trustees won’t divest $14 million in oil, coal and gas companies.

Researchers for the IPCC found that the increase in extreme weather conditions “have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security,” especially in Africa, South America, Central America and Asia.

Those most affected by the sudden decrease in food production and food diversity are “Indigenous Peoples, small-scale food producers and low-income households with children, elderly people and pregnant women.”

Impacts on health extend to the economic and social well-being of citizens. Evidence has shown that cli-

mate change impacts infrastructure, such as transportation, water and sanitation. Coastal, freshwater and marine ecosystems will see a great loss in biodiversity if global temperatures rise 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate change is no longer a far-away danger; it is in our backyard, and we need to take responsibility as a community to do the most we can.

National Public Radio recently reported that the Gulf of Maine experienced record-breaking temperatures in 2021.

Melting ice from the Arctic causes water temperatures to increase in the Gulf, and its effects are already being seen by researchers and fishermen alike.

“Warmer waters are bringing in more southerly species,” one fish-

erman said to NPR. Since the Gulf of Maine warms nearly three times faster than any other ocean, many look toward the waters of Maine as a reflection of what will happen to other marine ecosystems and coastal industries around the globe. The changes we are witnessing in Maine reflect the inevitable changes to our economy, lifestyle and way of life.

A Portland Press Herald article from September 2021 documents the university investment policy change that occurred in 2016 that took Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into account. While there has been a 70% decrease in fossil fuel investments in the university endowment, there has been little discussion

to divest the remaining percentage. Last June, Maine became the first state to sign into legislation the commitment to sell off or divest their investments in fossil fuels. One must question why the university has not taken the same steps. By funding the exploitation of the environment through fossil fuels, UMaine becomes complicit in the cycle of environmental degradation and the people it affects.

Climate change disproportionately affects people of color.

According to Greenaction, poorer communities, often consisting of people of color, frequently live on undesirable lands that are more susceptible to extreme weather, near hazardous waste and are generally more polluted. No true climate justice can occur with-

out some form of racial justice; divestment from fossil fuels equals reinvestment into the people and places that it harms most.

While the Board of Trustees needs to invest in renewable energy and our future, students need to be aware of and investigate where their money is going. By having the knowledge of where tuition, donation dollars and other funds go, we can proactively advocate having the money divested from fossil fuels and hold the Board of Trustees accountable. College students can also keep up with climate news and discuss the relevance and importance of the university as a model for other major institutions in the fight against climate change.

A4• Opinion

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

The Board of Trustees needs to focus on student housing insecurity, not boutique hotels Nicholas Tiner Contributor Students sleeping in the Union and their cars, dining halls functioning at low capacity and students going hungry: it sounds like the start to a University of Maine disaster film but it’s a tragic reality.

While spring break for many students meant trips to Florida, for some it meant a week of brutal survival.

On-campus students who were unable to leave campus the Friday before spring break had to sleep on the floor and couches of the Union. That Friday evening was a rare glimpse into the typically unseen housing insecurity epidemic that students at the University of Maine face. 60% of college students face housing insecurity at some point during their undergraduate years.

14% of students are homeless. This issue

hits non-white and queer students the hardest. Over 40% of unhoused youth identify as queer, and over 30% are Black.

Housing insecurity can be debilitating.

The toll on student’s mental health can tank their GPA, their social life and create longterm health issues.

This drives students into UMaine’s flawed academic probation system.

The damage of UMaine’s housing strategy goes well beyond the mental though. Room and Board at UMaine costs $11,856. Subtracting out the cost of one of the most common meal plans ($2,730), the price for housing for a semester lands at around $9,126 for seven to eight months of housing. That means the per month rent an on-student pays is $1,140-1,300, significantly higher than the rent most off-campus

students pay. For that price, a student could rent a 4 bedroom house in Orono all to themselves.

For this outrageous price, students get a single, shared room that serves as their living room, bedroom, kitchen and study space. Walls are thin, beds are small and the bathrooms can often be a nightmare.

Students who move out of their residence hall after the semester begins can face over $500 in fees.

Dorm prices at fouryear public universities have shot up 111% in the past 30 years, becoming a major revenue stream for universities. By making on-campus housing mandatory for firstyear students, universities like UMaine keep a stranglehold on that revenue. This is nothing short of predatory price gouging targeting a vulnerable group of students who have

no choice but to pay the price.

Information on student housing is hard to find. Many students do not know that only three dorms on campus offer overbreak housing for Winter and Spring Break housing.

While this information is not particularly useful if a student’s housing situation changes during the semester, it should not be buried on the Housing Services FAQ page under questions like “What if I’m 6’4” or taller?” It may startle many students to learn housing is not even guaranteed for first-year students on this campus.

Making matters worse, UMaine is getting involved in the boutique hotel business. Colburn and Holmes Hall will be converted to hotel space in a shared investment between UMaine and Radnor Public Realty Group LLC. UMaine will be

leasing the buildings to Radnor and could be on the hook for up to $2 million of the $17.2 million dollar investment, despite the fact it only anticipates making a $30,000 yearly profit off of the hotels.

This means the hotels, which will be built through the renovation of historical buildings (something UMaine has not handled well in the past), will take two thirds of their 99 year lease to Radnor to break even.

While students stress about whether they have enough blankets to survive sleeping in their car over winter break, they can rest assured UMaine will be squeezing a marginal profit out of their new hotels.

UMaine is in no position to be leasing off space on this campus when there are students facing insecure housing. That $2 million dollars should be

put toward the student needs for food and housing, not the University’s need to raise its profile. UMaine students are being driven into debt and sleeping on the floor of the Union while the Board of Trustees forgets their responsibility as leaders of a public university.

If UMaine is to build these boutique hotels on campus, they should be opened to unhoused students during breaks. Furthermore, UMaine must expand their overbreak housing capacity and dramatically increase the publiciziation of the existing resources.

Providing direct financial support and housing options to students is a bare necessity this university must offer before allocating funds for luxury items like a hotel. That’s not just basic economics: that’s common decency.

Will Smith’s Oscar behavior shines a spotlight on celebrity privilege

Graphic by David Jakacky.

Sydney Jackson Contributor If you haven’t yet heard about the moment where actor Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock in the face at the Oscars, then you missed what was ultimately one of the clearest displays of celebrity privilege in the history of Hollywood.

At the Oscars, which took place last Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Rock took the stage to present the award for best documentary feature.

On stage, Rock made a joke about actress Jada Pinkett Smith and her shaved head, comparing her to the main character in the movie, “G.I. Jane.”

The joke was met with a mixture of laughter and grimacing faces from the audience,

one of which belonged to Pinkett Smith herself, but when the camera panned to her husband, he was laughing and smiling.

A few seconds later though, Smith walked onto the stage and violently slapped Rock across the face.

Any regular spectator of live television may have thought that this was just a prank or a scripted skit, but it soon became very clear that no one in the room, least of all Rock, was expecting that blow.

Rock handled the situation as well as one could expect, even following the hit up with a joke.

“That was the greatest night in the history of television,” Rock said.

Only 40 minutes after this abrupt and unnecessary act of violence, Smith returned to the stage to accept

the Oscar for best actor. His speech was full of sobs, a few excuses and apologies strewn to everyone except Rock. He also tried to defend his actions by comparing himself to the man he played in the film, “King Richard.”

“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said during his emotional speech.

Smith didn’t take responsibility for his actions and he wasn’t given any immediate consequences. In fact, his speech was met with a standing ovation.

Not only did Smith’s actions display his overwhelming celebrity privilege, but it took away the spotlight from every other attendee and award winner there that night. There were people there that worked just as hard as Smith and didn’t

assault someone who deserved to be recognized properly.

Troy Kotsur won his first Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as the father of a deaf family in Apple TV’s “CODA.” The actor himself was born without hearing, making history as the second deaf person to ever win an Oscar.

Ariana DeBose’s win for best supporting actress in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “West Side Story” also made history, as she became the first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award, according to The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.

These awardees and trailblazers should have been the highlights from the Oscars this year, but instead, Smith’s violent slap will forever be the biggest standout memory.

The Academy’s re-

sponse was to post on Twitter.

“The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world,” the Academy tweeted.

When the producer of the awards show, Will Packer, was interviewed about the incident, he said he advocated for Smith, according to Entertainment Weekly.

“It couldn’t be made right in that moment because of what had happened,” Packer said. “But I think we were hoping that he’d made it better, that he’d stand on that stage and say what just happened minutes ago was absolutely and completely wrong.

‘Chris Rock, I’m so

sorry, please forgive me.’ That’s what I was hoping for. I felt like he was going to win [best actor], and I was hoping, if he stayed, that he said that.”

Celebrities need to be held accountable for their actions, just like anyone else. There have been so many instances of celebrity privilege, where unjustifiable actions are excused or are met with very little repercussions. Smith violently assaulted someone on live television, but was not forced to leave and was in fact, encouraged to stay. This is not only a horrible example to set for young viewers and fans, but it has set the precedent for how much famous people can get away with.

Culture Monday, April 11, 2022

Meaghan Bellavance

Culture • A5

The Maine Campus

Divest UMS features Divest Fest

Culture Editor

On April 9, Divest Fest was held alongside the Stillwater River. The event featured great music and an opportunity to support the organizer of the event, the University of Maine’s Divest UMS Club. The event presented performances by five different bands, which included Skyline Drive, Sizzle, Spaced, Midnight Breakfast and Gnocchi.

The Divest UMS organization is dedicated to encouraging and working toward convincing UMaine to divest its assets in

the fossil fuel industry.

According to the UMaine website, UMaine is invested in the Managed Investment Pool (MIP), Operating Fund and Pension Fund in the fossil fuel industry.

Divest UMS also raises awareness on the broad spectrum for the divestment in fossil fuels.

“Divest [UMS] is a group of students working towards convincing the University of Maine System to divest their money from the fossil fuel industry and to reinvest into a more sustainable and long-term market,” Jess Cleary-Reuning, a second-year ma-

rine science student and historian of Divest UMS, said. “We host a semesterly climate strike, lunchand-learns and other events in addition to Divest Fest.”

Divest Fest had a successful turn out, and was a great opportunity for Divest UMS to spread the word about what their organization does to the community and student body.

“Divest Fest [was] an opportunity for us to celebrate how far we have come,” Cleary-Reuning said.

“It is also a chance for us to raise student awareness and pas-

sion about the divestment movement and bring the community together through music, the water and a shared goal.”

While Divest Fest helped raise awareness for Divest UMS, it also helped promote the five bands that performed, and provide the public with a diverse and upbeat music scene.

“It was a great opportunity to catch some really talented bands and get to experience the various sounds of Orono in one event,” Jacob Wall, a fourth-year communications student and the bassist and vocal-

ist for Skyline Drive, said. “The music community has been lacking something like this unfortunately since Bumstock all those years ago. It truly [was] a can’t miss event.”

Skyline Drive consists of four band members, with Wall playing the bass and vocals, Ben Diagneault as the lead singer, Joe Leonard as the guitarist and Adam Chernier on drums.

“Our originals are a mix of indie and a little bit of punk,” Wall said.

“We also play some really fun covers. We released three singles on Spotify last month and have been performing

almost every weekend!”

To stay up to date on Skyline Drive’s performances and releases, be sure to check out their Instagram page @skyline__drive.

For updates on what continued efforts Divest UMS is participating in, follow them on their website at https://sites.google. com/maine.edu/divestums/home and on Instagram @divest_ums.

University of Maine’s School of Performing Arts holds ‘Chamber Music’ concert

Photo by Brinley Martell.

Emme Aylesworth Contributor On Tuesday, April 5, the University of Maine School of Performing Arts congregated at the Minsky Recital Hall for the “Chamber Music” concert. Doors opened at 7:20 p.m. and the event began at 7:30 p.m. It was free to the public, and the performance involved a series of seven small wind and string ensembles. The musical pieces were short, powerful statements of emotion, and it was clear to the audience that the musicians spent hours practicing to perfect the literature that they performed.

“The Chamber Music performance is a concert presented by student groups who participate in MUO149 and MUP512, otherwise known as Chamber Music Class,” Noreen Silver, the director of the night’s event and instructor of Chamber Music, said.

“Chamber Music is music performed by small groups—anything from two to eight or nine players—who

perform without a conductor, and with only one person playing each part,” Silver said.

It originated as a form of classical music for groups of musicians that performed in ballrooms or chambers. The music was composed for home consumption rather than for the church or theater. The pieces that were performed on Tuesday reflected that theme of home listening. The songs were soothing and very easy to listen to. Many of the pieces were composed of long, droning notes that accompanied a fast melody.

Transitions into different themes and motifs were effortless and graceful.

“Audiences can expect a variety of music by composers from Telemann and Handel, to Ravel and Piazzolla,” Silver said. “Some groups include piano, such as the beautiful Requiem by David Popper for three cellos and piano. The program will start with French music performed on two pianos.”

The first piano piece

was played beautifully. The dual piano players switched back and forth from melody to harmony effortlessly. The literature they performed initially sounded depressing and somber. However, as they got deeper into the performance, the music became hopeful. This was a common theme that all of the group’s songs had embraced. To the listeners the pieces sounded simple, but for the musicians it required intense concentration and dedication toward their piece.

“Chamber Music demands a high level of competence on an instrument, as well as the ability to work closely with other individuals,” Silver said.

“It also develops the skills of studying music scores and listening to others.”

There was no director on stage, so the students had to listen and watch each other to maintain time and volume. The end result was a beautiful arrangement of music, something that can be enjoyed by everyone

and should be heard at least once. What was surprising was how loud a quartet and quintet of flutes could get. The arrangement of the flute performances stirred an array of emotions. Each distinct part could be heard, no one was overpowering the other. Most notably was in the piece, “Suite in A minor,” where the alto flute player and bass flute player harmonized beautifully with their soloist. The soloist maneuvered the complex rhythms with ease creating a beautiful transition back to the group accompaniment.

“What I think separates chamber music from other modes of performance is intimacy,” Jacob Calles, a third-year UMaine student, said. “You have to be completely familiar with the music that all the musicians in the group are playing in a way that isn’t possible in large ensembles. It demands receptiveness and flexibility, skills that are probably essential to playing any kind of music but

are difficult to practice outside chamber groups.”

Calles plays jazz piano, but got into Chamber Music so he could continue playing in small ensembles.

“With piano specifically, balance is a huge challenge,” Calles said. “You’re playing mostly with string and wind instruments that don’t have the pitch or dynamic range of the piano so it’s really easy to under or overplay.”

The performance that stood out the most was a three cello and piano accompaniment of “Requiem Op. 66.” Much like the flute ensembles, the cellos were each distinct with their parts so much so it was easy to hear the separate melodies. Their articulation was clear and vibrant.

There came a part in the piece where after all three cellos were playing different parts of the chord to create a harmony, they all played a line that was monotone to create the effect that only one cello was playing. The reason for this had to be because of the vol-

ume. Each cello player was strumming the same soft strong note that caused the powerful bright note of one cello. The result was haunting. It was so distinct that someone who knows nothing about music could recognize the effect that it had on the audience.

There is one Chamber Music performance each semester. All the performers gave strong performances showing the hard work that they put into their art making the performance worth the hours of complex rhythms and synergy. “​​All students in this concert are part of the music program in the School of Performing Arts,” Silver said.

“Participation is by audition, and they get involved by contacting me.”

For more information about the Chamber Music performance, you can contact Silver at noreen.silver@maine.edu.

A6• Culture

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

Brian McNaught emphasizes the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity and diversity in the workplace Bethany Rozzi Contributor Brian McNaught held a discussion in Dr. Sandra Caron’s human sexuality class on Tuesday, April 5, at 12:30 p.m. McNaught is a world-renowned corporate diversity consultant dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues in the workforce. He is the author of 13 books and has traveled around the world for his work, where he uses his own personal experience and professional skills to help companies create a workplace where everyone feels safe and valued.

McNaught talked about how he hopes his work will help normalize the queer experience.

“By putting a face on the issue, which is the most effective thing I do, I help those who don’t know gay people understand what our lives are like,” McNaught said.

“Most people have good hearts and want to do the right thing.

They don’t want others to experience such fear and loneliness as children. My talk helps allies better understand the most effective strategy, and it helps LGBTQ+ people feel empowered. While my story is about my

growing up gay, I always continually reference lesbians, bisexuals, people who are transgender, queers and others.”

McNaught’s talk stressed the importance that understanding and accepting people in the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t mean changing one’s personal morals or values. Rather, it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels safe to talk about who they love.

Throughout his life, McNaught has experienced society progress in its acceptance of gay and transgender people, but he still comes across indi-

viduals and groups of people who still have a hard time addressing the issue.

“Traditionally, those with the most conservative religious beliefs have the hardest time with the issue, but I assure them that this is simply about treating colleagues with professional respect; that everyone wants and needs to feel safe and valued,” McNaught said.

McNaught has noticed growth in the corporate world, where businesses are recognizing the need to create inclusive workplace environments.

“Corporations, believe it or not, have

been way ahead of universities and churches in not only enacting policies, such as domestic partner benefits [before marriage equality], but also in seeing the need for education throughout the company,” McNaught said.

McNaught explains that education is the key to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment at school and in the workplace.

He emphasized the idea that policy change won’t be effective if people don’t also understand the need for the change.

“There is no substitution for education in the effort to create

a welcoming, inclusive environment,” McNaught said. “Ignorance is the parent of fear, and fear is the parent of hatred. Policies don’t change people’s beliefs or behaviors. All of us need help in understanding things that are beyond our life experiences.”

To find out more about Brian McNaught and his work, visit his website at https:// www.brian-mcnaught. com/ to learn more about him and his mission in creating inclusive work environments for the LGBTQ+ community.

‘Sumak Kawsay: Andean Wisdom for Living in Harmony with the Earth’ Corin Proctor Contributor On Thursday, April 7, Sara Lowden, a Ph.D. anthropology and environmental policy student, and Elizabeth Pellecer Rivera, a graduate ecology and environmental sciences student, hosted a Zoom lecture for staff and students titled, “Sumak Kawsay: Andean Wisdom for Living in Harmony with the Earth.” Rivera is fluent in both English and Spanish and helped translate the talk to those watching from Quito, Ecuador.

“Tonight we’ll be talking about Kichwa traditional knowledge,” Lowden said.

“The ILADES Institute (Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Estudios Sociales “Los Andes”) offers the Ancestral Knowledges and Sciences program, which is one of the only programs of its kind, not only in Ecuador, but the entire South American region. The program aims to generate alternative spaces so that traditional knowledge continues to be transmitted from generation to generation, and to promote a new vision that respects plurinationality.”

There were three guest speakers introduced throughout the lecture: Maria Cecelia Nuala Mullo, Pascual Yepez and Michelle

Castro. All three are acquaintances Lowden made throughout her research, and she went on to explain how she came into contact with the guest speakers from South America.

“I met Pascual, one of our esteemed speakers, about ten years ago on my first trip to Ecuador,” Lowden said. “I was visiting the archives of FLACSO University in Quito, and as I was leaving he said hello. We struck up an easy conversation, discovered our common interests in cultural anthropology and environmental justice. During the same visit, he introduced me to Cecilia, and we’ve been friends

since. I’ve learned so much from both Ceci and Pascual, and I’m honored to have them here to share with you tonight.”

Mullo, or Ceci as her colleagues like to call her, has over two decades worth of experience working with her community’s youth and churches. Along with being well versed in business and accounting, she has been a tremendous asset to her people in the development of the Andean area. She gave a presentation about the people of the Andes living in harmony with mother earth.

Casto is a student in the Ancestral Wisdom and Sciences pro-

gram at ILADES. Casto, along with another young woman, played a drum and sang a short song about the natural world inspired by their country.

Yepez explained how his people prioritize maintaining a healthy, balanced and organic diet. He talked about how it is important that his people are connected to the earth, which means they don’t eat canned or processed foods.

It’s important to their culture to keep a clean diet, so that they may connect with the animals, the moon and their souls.

Yepez also taught the viewers a new word: “Minka,” which

means working together. The people of Ecuador pride themselves on community, and many live by a mantra.

“Cook, celebrate, work together,” Yepez said. “Not just family, everyone.”

Yepez mentioned, though, that this kind of caring lifestyle isn’t shared by all. When he traveled out of the Andes mountain range, he noticed that his people were discriminated against by other Ecuadoreans.

“We all come from the same people, we must set our differences aside to live in harmony,” Yepez said.

‘Bridgerton’ season two brings the Viscount’s love triangle into focus Meaghan Bellavance

Culture Editor 5/5 Stars

The long-awaited second season of Netflix’s original series “Bridgerton” was released on March 25.

This season, which consists of a total of eight episodes with run times between 50 minutes and an hour on average, shys away from the romance between Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings from the first season and brings Viscount Anthony Bridgerton’s intention to finally marry into the spotlight.

Although we get our returning cast of the Bridgerton family, the new characters steal the spotlight. Kathani “Kate” Sharma, played

by Simone Ashley, and her younger sister, Edwina Sharma, played

by Charithra Chandran, captivated fans.

Their story revolves around finding Edwina a husband, which is

helped after she was named the diamond of the season. The two undoubtedly made their presence in the new season enthralling and unforgettable.

This season, Anthony finally intends to marry, after continuously reminding his family in season one that he is not ready for marriage. The viscount, however, upholds an unappealing attitude toward women when attempting to find a suitable and worthy woman to call his viscountess; he ultimately sets unrealistic standards for his future viscountess to meet.

When Anthony makes the decision to court Edwina because of her status as this season’s diamond, his feelings are put to the test as he attempts to ignore how intrigued and infatuated he is with Kate. This love triangle is filled with lust and betrayal. Characters’ limits are tested and the ultimate ques-

Photo via cnn.com. tion is posed: will true love overpower the viscount’s desire for a dutiful and orderly wife?

The storyline also shifts more focus to the other Bridgerton siblings, including Eloise and Benedict, as well as on Penelope Featherington and her mother and sisters.

Tension is created as the queen attempts to reveal the identity of Lady Whistledown, leaving fans on edge of their seats. Fans

are also left wondering whether or not Eloise will finally find love, or will she continue to be the independent woman who doesn’t need a man to thrive.

Like in the first season, “Bridgerton” delivers the utmost quality in terms of its scene settings, costumes and props. The show itself is beautifully curated, and a work of art in its entirety. In addition to its physical features, the show fea-

tures classical covers of modern day songs.

Last season, the show did covers of popular songs like “bad guy” and “thank u, next,” and this season continues this trend with covers of “Material Girl” and “Sign of the Times.”

Fans will no doubt continue to be amazed by the beautiful storytelling this season.

Viewers will no doubt be just as addicted to this season as they

were for the first.

While this season is not nearly as explicit as the first, there are still a few scenes that should be restricted to mature viewers.

If you haven’t gotten around to watching season two of “Bridgerton” yet, be sure to add it to your watch list. However, be warned, you may find yourself speaking like you’re in the 1800s!

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

Why you should watch ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

Reviews• A7

Photo via flare.com.

Emme Aylesworth Contributor 4.5/5 Stars On March 11, 2022, Amazon Prime’s original television series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” concluded its fourth season. The long awaited season four, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw the character Miriam “Midge” Maisel, portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan, attempt to make her way in the comedy business again after the embarrassment she faced since being fired from singer Shy Baldwin’s tour. Much like the

Bethany Rozzi Contributor 4.5/5 Stars Shawn Mendes’ newest release, “When You’re Gone’’ is giving listeners a look into Mendes’ mind following the end of his most recent and first longterm relationship. As a debut single released in March, written by Mendes, Jonah Shy and Scott Harris, this song has been a work in progress since November 2021.

“When You’re Gone”

disappointment Midge faced, audiences were exactly pleased with the third season. However, after a slow start to season four, the show’s creators pulled audiences back into the chaos and mayhem that is the daily life of Midge.

To summarize the first three seasons, Midge is a 1950s Jewish housewife living in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. After a rough divorce from her husband, she finds she has a knack for comedy. With her manager Susie Meyerson, played by Alex Borstein, they cruise the comedy circuit trying to make it big

in the business. The main storyline of season four is focused on Midge reentering the comedy realm, and this time she is working in a stable position as the Master of Ceremonies for a failing Burlesque show. In some ways, this was her way of getting her life back on track. Of course, there were a few bumps in the road.

Midge has to deal with her parents disapproval and a mysterious journalist called L. Roy Dunham’s constant negative illustrations of her routine.

The season saw the cast deliver hilarious performances, really showcasing how these

actors know their characters inside and out.

It is the supporting cast’s side story shenanigans that sprinkle in the right amount of comedy to make the show special. Michael Zegan returns as Joel Maisel, Midge’s former husband, as he becomes successful in his new nightclub business. Tony Shalhoub returns as Midge’s perfectionist father Abe Weissman, and Marin Hinkle returns as Rose Weissman, her mother. Hinkle’s character has found success this season as a matchmaker, at the cost of disrupting the boundaries of fellow Manhattan match-

makers. Jane Lynch reprises her role as rival comedian Sophie Lennon, who has gone mad. Finally, fan favorite Luke Kirby takes his wonderful depiction of famed comedian Lenny Bruce closer and closer to the fate that we all know is coming.

In the final episode, he delivers a shocking talk to Midge and the viewers that leaves both of their fates up in the air for now.

Borstein shines as Susie. She is trying to establish her own managerial company and is finding it harder than she expected to be. Borstein shows her range as an actress this season, as she shows

Shawn Mendes’ new single will have listeners in their feels

was only released a couple of weeks ago, but it has already made its way to the number two spot on the iTunes Top 100 Pop Songs chart.

Fans have noticed a change in tone amongst Mendes’ recent songs, including “When You’re Gone,” which is more poprock than most of his other songs. His more recent work has also shifted from love songs to break-up songs.

Mendes’ new single was inspired by his difficult and public

breakup with 25-yearold pop artist Camila Cabello.

Along with “It’ll Be Okay,” “When You’re Gone” is Mendes’ second song released since the end of his and Cabello’s relationship and gives listeners a look into how it can be difficult to process the loss of a loving relationship.

“When You’re Gone” is touching, but upbeat and catchy, and the lyrics provide listeners with relatable and heartache-filled lines. The simplicity of the lyrics does not take

away from the vulnerability of the song, but rather it allows listeners to feel and relate to the emotions in the song on a more personal level.

“You’re slipping through my fingertips / A little bit, by a little bit / I didn’t know that loving you was the happiest I’ve ever been,” Mendes sings.

This vulnerability gives viewers insight about how Mendes was feeling about the end of his relationship, but is also simple enough to be open to

interpretation so that listeners can relate the song to their lives as well.

While the overall reaction to last week’s release of “When You’re Gone” is positive, its criticism lies mostly in the overall generic feel of the song. Although fun and easy to listen to, the success of the song may be credited with Mendes’ already existing fame.

Avid Mendes fans will likely enjoy the song and seek it out.

However, the song overall may have a

a new, emotional side to Susie. Borstein’s monologue in episode two is incredibly moving and powerful, and is definitely worthy of another Emmy nomination.

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is a perfect show to binge or casually view that will make you laugh out loud at every episode.

I’d recommend watching it with subtitles, though, to catch all the comedy, especially since the characters talk fast and over each other. The show was confirmed for a fifth and final season.

Audiences can expect to see the final season sometime in 2023.

hard time standing out amongst the abundance of pop-rock music that is now circulating through new-release playlists on Apple Music and Spotify.

Mendes fans and pop-rock lovers alike should pick up their heartbroken friends and head over to Apple Music or Spotify to give “When You’re Gone” a listen.

Mom’s comforting chocolate chip cookie recipe MK Jones Contributor Nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie. Whether you like them soft and chewy or crisp and crunchy, chocolate chip cookies are a staple in every household.

Some people prefer to elevate their recipes by chopping chocolate bars or browning their butter, but this easy recipe is so good you will be more than delighted to eat it as is.

This is my mother’s recipe, with a rather unique but incredibly simple twist to the classic Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe: a butter substi-

tute. Beware, though, the substitute is Crisco, which isn’t the most healthy option.

Crisco is a brand of shortening made of vegetable oils. Shortening includes any fats that are solid at room temperature, such as butter, lard and margarine. Crisco is made out of vegetable oils, so they undergo a process called hydrogenation to become solid at room temperature. This process used to make Crisco high in trans fat, but in 2020 the United States banned trans fat, so the oils now undergo the complete hydrogenation process.

The best part about

Crisco is that it has an incredibly long shelf life. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated and comes in one cup containers or large tubs.

It’s perfect for a college student.

The Crisco gives the dough more structure so the cookies hold their shape better, but they are still soft and chewy. Butter makes a crisper cookie. However, be careful to not over mix, or risk over-activating the gluten in the flour.

The ingredients are as follows: 1 cup Crisco ¾ cup brown sugar ¾ granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 ¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup chocolate chips To begin, set an oven to bake at 375 F. Let it heat up while you make the dough.

In a bowl, add in the Crisco, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Mix and mash with a fork to ensure it is all mixed thoroughly.

Next, crack in the eggs and mix.

Next, add in the vanilla extract, giving a small stir to incorporate it. Then add in the baking soda and salt, followed by another stir.

Then add in the flour ¾ cup at a time, stirring to just get the flour incorporated enough to not spill everywhere.

After you finish mixing in the flour ¾ at a time, mix the dough until there’s no sugar clumps.

Add in the chocolate chips. You can add in pecans, walnuts or even raisins at this point if you want. Mix until fully incorporated, but be cautious about overmixing!

If you like soft cookies, the key to this recipe is keeping a keen eye on the cookies while baking. The recipe gives a cook time of 10-12 minutes. Instead, set a timer to

go off at nine minutes.

Check the cookies and their color. They should be a nice gold color, with a slightly hardened exterior.

When they are cooked to your liking, pull them out of the oven and let them rest for two minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack, or any plate or bowl you plan to store them in.

This recipe guarantees a delicious, soft cookie that is the perfect chocolate chip cookie to pair with milk.

Sports A8• Sports

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

UMaine baseball wins weekend series against NJIT

Photo by Olivia Schanck.

Michael Corrado Contributor With baseball season well underway, the University of Maine men’s baseball team hosted the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders at the Mahaney Diamond in Orono this past weekend. The three-game series saw the groups play games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with UMaine victorious in two of three. The Black Bears were coming off of a phenomenal weekend in Baltimore last week as they played the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers, sweeping their America East rivals with ease by scores of 17-1, 1514 and 13-2. NJIT had nearly done the same, winning two of three in their previous series against UMass Lowell.

Fifth-year Black Bear pitcher Trevor Labonte took the hill in the opening game of the matchup opposite third-year Highlander ace Ryan Fischer. Both pitchers managed to hold down the fort for the first couple of innings, but the third spelled disaster for Labonte and UMaine.

An errant throw on a

routine fielding play saw NJIT’s fifth-year infielder David Marcano reach home and open the scoring in the third inning. While the Black Bears fought to stop the Highlanders, a two-out triple off the bat of fifth-year right fielder Isiah Daubon extended NJIT’S lead to three going into the bottom half of the inning.

Another error in the infield gave the Highlanders their fourth run, as third-year catcher Luke Longo made his way home as a result of fifth-year utility man Julio Marcano’s single. Unwilling to fall any further into the hole, fourth-year catcher Ryan Turenne belted a sac-fly to right field that brought home his teammate, second-year middle infielder Quinn McDaniel, cutting the score to 4-1 after the fourth inning.

The Black Bears managed to find some more success the following inning, with first-year infielder Jeremiah Jenkins and fifth-year infielder Joe Bramanti both driving in a run by way of a single and a sac fly, making it a one-run ballgame after five innings.

Labonte was pulled from the game in the sixth inning, putting in first-year hurler Colin Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald managed the game with ease, lasting until the top of the ninth.

He was replaced by second-year pitcher Colton Carson, who finished the game on the mound for UMaine. Neither side was able to amount much offense over the final three innings, with NJIT eventually winning the opening contest by a score of 4-3.

Saturday’s game had much better weather conditions, with light cloud cover and a slight breeze setting the stage for a perfect spring matchup at the Mahaney Diamond.

First-year pitcher Caleb Leys earned the start for the second matchup of the weekend, throwing a solid game for the first three innings. Opposite Leys, fourth-year starting pitcher Grant Vurpillat had just about the worst start to a game you could ask for. A two-run single in the first inning, courtesy of fourth-year outfielder Scout Knotts, set up the Black Bears fairly well for the rest of the afternoon, as

the team continued to build on their lead.

In the second inning, fourth-year outfielder Jeff Mejia hit a single driving home second-year infielder Jake Marquez to extend UMaine’s lead to three. Marquez then started the scoring in the next inning, with his sac fly bringing McDaniel home to score and push the lead to four. Third-year third baseman Connor Goodman delivered the gut-punch when his long drive bounced over the head of NJIT outfielder Isiah Daubon and up against the outfield wall, allowing both Knotts and Bramanti to make their way home and add to the lead, making it 6-0 after only the third inning. The mark on the box score was enough for NJIT head coach Robbie McLellan, who pulled Vurpillat with two outs in the third.

Daubon looked to make up for his mistake in the previous inning, playing the count and earning a bases-loaded walk, bringing Julio Marcano home. NJIT wasn’t done there, as fifth-year first baseman, Nick Hussey drove home a run off of an RBI single. A

two-RBI double from NJIT’s catcher, thirdyear Luke Longo, cut the lead down to only two runs heading into the sixth inning. UMaine’s head coach, Nick Derba, pulled Leys from the game after a five-strikeout performance, opting to bring in Carson for relief work for the second evening in a row.

NJIT’s fourth-year outfielder Andrew Elcock capitalized on the situation, laying down a bunt to advance two runners the Highlanders had managed to put on base in the inning. Carson fielded the ball for UMaine but unfortunately hummed the ball over near the opposing side’s dugout, and Hussey managed to make it home on the play. Soon after, David Marcano connected with a two-run home run that went well over the wall in left field, taking a onerun lead over UMaine with a score of 7-6.

The move was enough for Derba to replace Carson with fifthyear pitcher Matthew Pushard, who closed out the contest.

UMaine did not allow the Highlanders to celebrate for too long though, as Braman-

ti crushed a two-run bomb of his own to bring McDaniel home and retake the lead at 8-7. Mejia had an RBI double in the seventh to push the lead to two runs until NJIT’s fourth-year infielder Jared Donnelly added a solo shot in the eighth inning. Marquez again found a way to put another digit up on the scoreboard for the Black Bears, driving home Bramanti on a single and paving the way for a solid victory.

Goodman found his own way to add a cherry on top of an already brilliant performance, nailing a 3-run double to give him five runs on the day. The score remained the same following Goodman’s exuberant swing and celebration, resulting in a 13-8 win for the Black Bears.

On Sunday the Black Bears clinched the series win with a 7-6 victory. They are now 12-14 on the season and their next game is against Thomas College at the Mahaney Diamond on Wednesday before traveling to the University at Albany for a weekend series on Friday.

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

The University of Denver scores five unanswered to win a recordtying ninth national title Patrick Silvia Sports Editor On Saturday night at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, the University of Denver Pioneers beat the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks to win their ninth NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. Their win now ties them with the University of Michigan for the most NCAA Championships ever.

It was anything but an easy win for Denver. 12 minutes into the game, second-year Pioneer defenseman Mike Benning took an obvious tripping penalty. Minnesota State cashed in on the Denver mistake when third-year forward Sam Morton beat third-year Denver goalie Magnus

Chrona five-hole on the powerplay to put the Mavericks up 1-0.

For the first two periods of the game, Denver struggled to find their footing. The Minnesota State defense was stifling, holding the Pioneers to just three shots in the first period and five in the second.

The neutral zone game Minnesota State was implementing was impenetrable, but they failed to further capitalize on their dominance, as they only held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, outshooting Denver by double digits, 18-8.

The third period saw Denver come out with newfound energy, and just under five minutes into the third period they tied the game.

Fourth-year Pioneer

forward Ryan Barrow went to the front of the net and punched the puck past fourthyear goalie and Hobey Baker Award winner Dryden McKay. With the game now tied, scripts flipped for both teams, and more specifically for Morton and Benning. This time, Morton took the tripping penalty, sending Denver to the powerplay and allowing Benning to score. Denver benefited from the man advantage in the zone, as right after the penalty expired, firstyear defenseman Shai Buium slid the puck back to Benning, who rifled a one-timer top shelf past McKay. These two goals

by Denver came two minutes and 47 seconds apart from each other, and this turn of

events stunned Minnesota State. For the rest of the game, the Mavericks struggled to get any offense going, with the team’s performance now mirroring that of Denvers from the first period.

Unlike Minnesota State, Denver had the killer instinct with their dominant play. With 6:26 left in the game, first-year forwards Carter Mazur and Massimo Rizzo converted on a two-on-one when Mazur’s pass went to the tape of Rizzo who beat a sprawling McKay. Rizzo’s goal put Denver up 3-1 and was the nail in Minnesota State’s coffin.

After Denver’s first goal 4:46 into the third period, Minnesota State totaled one shot on net in the next 14 minutes and 53 sec-

onds of game time.

Minnesota State’s second shot of the period did not come until the last 30 seconds of the game. Denver went on to score two empty-net goals, bringing the final score to 5-1 and securing the win.

The game was not just a remarkable Denver comeback, but it was also a remarkable choke for Minnesota State. However, it was the school’s first-ever national title game appearance, and they’ll be sure to play in the tournament again next year. In the last three seasons, their combined record is a national best at 91-16-3.

Last year, they made their first-ever Frozen Four appearance, and this year they made it to the finals. Maybe next year it will be their

Sports• A9

time to win the Championship?

Although this game will primarily be remembered for the five-goal third period for Denver, Chrona’s performance in the net for the Pioneers should not be forgotten. Without his saves in the first and second period, Minnesota State would probably be the national champions, not Denver. Chrona finished with 27 saves on 28 shots faced.

One last thing of note, at the age of 32, Denver’s head coach David Carle became the fourth-youngest head coach to win the national title, and the youngest since Barry Thorndycraft led North Dakota to a 1963 national championship victory at 29 years old.

Jayhawks’ historic comeback wins them their first National Championship since 2008

Dalton Bartlett Contributor

Down by 16 at halftime, not many people could have predicted such a massive comeback from the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team against the No. 8 seed North Carolina Tar Heels. But against all odds, not only did the Jayhawks come back into the game, they pulled off the biggest comeback in March Madness history, topping Loyola University Chicago’s 15-point comeback against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in 1963.

The Jayhawks entered the game as the heavy favorites and they showed why they were throughout the tournament. This was Kansas’s first championship game since

Erik Anderson Contributor Last year, the Red Sox were the underdogs of the season.

They boasted a 9270 record and were only two wins shy of a World Series appearance before losing to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

Compared to their 2020 season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, this underdog story was extremely surprising, since Boston finished that season with an abysmal 24-36 record.

Most of this current offseason was lost due to the lockout by the owners and players union over a dispute

2012, and they had not won the championship since 2008. COVID-19 took away Kansas’s chance of winning it all in 2020. This year, they were determined to make it back, and their run for the playoffs culminated with the Jayhawks soundly beating the No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats 8165 to reach the title game.

For the Tar Heels, it was a much harder road to the championship. Coming in as the eighth seed, no one predicted the run they’d make all the way to the championship game, becoming just the second-ever eighth to make it to the championship.

They even upset their arch-rivals, the Duke University Blue Devils, ruining coach Mike Krzyzewski’s chance

at a sixth ring in what was the last game of his legendary career as a head coach.

At the beginning of the game, Kansas quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the rest of the first half was dominated by the Tar Heels. UNC outscored the Jayhawks 40-18 after Kansas’s hot start to lead at half 40-25.

After being the star against Villanova, fourth-year center David McCormack struggled big time in the first half as he shot 0-6 in the first half, and his struggles were clearly affecting the team as UNC outscored Kansas 18-2 on second-chance points.

Third-year center Armando Bacot led UNC in the first half.

In the second half, the Tar Heels completely fell apart of-

fensively and seemed to run out of gas on both sides of the floor.

Halfway through the second half Kansas dropped the lead to just six points with 10:53 left in the game, but the rest of the half was back and forth, with both teams making shot after shot.

In the end, thanks to two jump shots from McCormack and second-year point guard Caleb Love missing two three-pointers at the end, the Jayhawks held on to their comeback and beat the Tar Heels.

Kansas outscored UNC 47-29 in the second half thanks to the strong overall play on both sides of the ball.

They shot 43.6% from the field in the game and held the Tar Heels to just 31.5% shooting.

While UNC may have

out-rebounded the Tar Heels 55-35, the second half showed the difference on the boards with Kansas cutting it to 37-33. The Jayhawks also stole the ball six times which helped lead to eight points in the second half.

After a bad first half, McCormack showed up in a massive way in the second half, scoring 15 points on 7-15 shooting from the field to go along with 10 rebounds, one steal and one rebound. Thirdyear forward Jalen Wilson finished the game with 15 points on 5-13 shooting along with four rebounds, two assists and one block.

Bacot led the Tar Heels in scoring and in rebounding with 15 in both categories but he was quiet in the second half and he only

Boston Baseball is Back 2022 Red Sox Preview

about the collective bargaining agreement.

This stopped teams from making free agency moves for months until they came to an agreement last month.

Even though their start wasn’t traditional, the Red Sox made one of the bigger splashes in their shortened offseason. They brought in two-time all-star, 29-year-old Trevor Story from the Colorado Rockies. Story has played shortstop his whole career but will transition to second base, as the Red Sox still have Xander Bogaerts at that position.

He also provides another strong bat to an already stacked lineup.

The Red Sox also brought back Jack-

ie Bradley Jr. to the squad after spending last year with Milwaukee. Bradley Jr. played his first eight seasons with the Red Sox, and he’ll look to add his stellar defense and streaky bat to the lineup.

Nathan Eovaldi will get the role of ace since Chris Sale is starting the season yet again on the injured list for the third season in a row. This year he suffers from a stress fracture on his ribcage which will keep him out for a minimum of two months. When healthy, Sale has the potential to be one of the elite pitchers in the AL, being a seven-time all-star, but has only made 34 starts over

three years.

Joining Eovaldi in picking up the slack for Sale in the rotation are Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck and newcomers Michael Wacha and Rich Hill. Entering his second full season in Boston, Pivetta slides into the number two position in the rotation and is looking to improve upon his decent season last year.

The young Houck will look to build off a solid rookie season last year where he posted a 3.52 ERA in 69 innings of work. Wacha faced the Red Sox in the 2013 World Series as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and has had a boom or bustlike season ever since.

Let’s hope this season

is the first option. Hill is now 42-years-old and was formerly with Boston from 2010 to 2012. He has had a very strong career, posting an ERA above four only five times in his 17-year career.

Manager Alex Cora recently said that the bullpen is the weakest part of the roster. The team has no true closer and may try a committee approach with Matt Barnes, Garret Whitlock and Ryan Brasier.

Other key contributors should include Hirokazu Sawamura, Phillips Valdez and free agents Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm. Look for them to add help near the trade deadline.

With being in the extremely tough AL East,

went 3-13 shooting in the game. Second-year guard R.J. Davis also had 15 points but he also struggled shooting the ball going 5-15 shooting along with two assists and 12 rebounds. No one shot well for the Tar Heels as they only made four three-pointers all game.

While it was a bitter defeat for UNC, it’s admirable just how close they came with everything stacked against them, and their run made this tournament one of the most entertaining and suspenseful in NCAA history, with many upsets and the last two games coming down to the wire.

it will be very difficult to win the division, but the Red Sox should be in contention for a playoff spot. The MLB added another wild card spot for each league, so this should help their season. They have as much talent as anyone, so prepare for a fun summer, and hopefully a long October.

A10• Sports

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Maine Campus

This Week in Sports History: Celtics win their first NBA championship

Michael Corrado Contributor

On April 13, 1957, led by Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn, the Boston Celtics claimed the first of their 17 championships after taking down Bob Petit and the St. Louis Hawks in a hotly contested seven-game series.

Coached by the legendary Red Auerbach, the team coasted their way into the first seed in the East.

Having a nearly identical roster to the year before, in which they had finished second in the conference, Auerbach and management made the decision to trade away Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks in exchange for their first-round draft selection and a center from San Francisco

University named Bill Russell. The Celtics then used their “territorial draft selection” in the first round to take Tommy Heinsohn, a combo-forward who had set the school record for scoring at Holy Cross University that still stands to this day. This meant that two of the most impactful players on the first-ever Celtics championship team were rookies.

When playoff time rolled around again, it was Heinsohn and Russell going above and beyond to ensure the Celtics succeeded. Heinsohn led the team in scoring with a mark of 22.9 points per game, and Russell was able to lead the team (and the entire league) with an astonishing 24.4 rebounds per game. Heinsohn

also managed to reel in 11.7 rebounds a game. His play in the regular season alone earned the budding star the Rookie of the Year Award, while his teammate, Cousy, led the league in assists en route to winning the 1957 NBA MVP award.

Due to the smaller league size, the Celtics were given a firstround bye while Dolph Schayes and his Syracuse Nationals were able to sweep the Philadelphia Warriors in a two-game series.

When Syracuse finally reached Boston, there was almost nothing Schayes and the team could do. The Celtics swept the Nationals in three games. The win sent the Celtics to the finals for the first time in franchise history to take on the St. Louis Hawks, who

had reigning NBA MVP Bob Petit, former Celtics all-star center Ed Macauley and veteran point guard Slater Martin.

The series was a nail-biter from start to finish, with the two teams swapping victories across the first four matchups. Boston was able to win a decisive game five at the Boston Garden, giving the team a 3-2 series lead as they traveled back to St. Louis for game six. Throughout the game, the lead changed 23 times, setting up for a close finish. With the ball in Petit’s hands, the big man looked to score what would have been a game-winning basket with the score tied at 94 but missed the shot.

Cliff Hagan, who was sent to St. Louis from Boston in the Russell

trade, was waiting for the rebound, and he was able to put the ball home to secure a last-gasp victory for the Hawks, sending the series to a seventh game.

Tommy Heinsohn absolutely stole the show in game seven.

In 45 minutes, Heinsohn put up an absurd stat line of 37 points and 23 rebounds all while shooting above 50%. At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks held a two-point lead but fell behind quickly in the second. Thanks to an incredible offensive display from Hagan, who scored 17 points in the first half, the Hawks were able to hold onto that twopoint lead going into the second half.

Putting Cousy, Russell and Heinsohn on the court at the same

time proved to be a game-winning decision, as the Celtics ended the third quarter on top by a six-point margin, looking to win the final frame. The win would not come as easy as planned, with the Hawks rallying to force overtime.

It took two overtimes to find a winner, and the second overtime served as a defensive showcase for the Celtics to help them take the lead.

Scrambling to put up a last-second pass to Petit, the Hawks had their last chance roll off the rim as the final whistle blew, confirming a 125-123 victory for the Celtics and their first-ever NBA championship.

NBA postseason preview With the NBA season coming to a close, it is time to look at the playoffs and see who the top contenders are this year. After a wild regular season, this year’s playoffs are wide open with no clear front runner.

After having one of the hottest stretches in the league at the end of the season, the Boston Celtics appear to be one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Led by the best defense in the NBA since the New Year, Boston looks to continue their dominant run.

Forward Jayson Tatum continues his MVP caliber year, leading the Celtic’s offense.

This season, Tatum averaged 26.9 points per game on 45% from the field to go along with 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Guard Jaylen Brown has been very impressive this season as the sidekick to Tatum averaging 23.7 points per game on 47.3% from the field to go along with 6.2 rebounds.

If Boston wants to make it out of the East, the Miami Heat are a mighty opponent in their way, as the Heat holds the number one seed in the East after a very strong season, bouncing back from a disappointing last season.

Forward Jimmy Butler leads the Heat

for his fourth straight season and has continued to play well. On the season, he is averaging 21.4 points per game on 48% shooting to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists. While Butler has been the star for Miami since he has been there, he might not even be the best player on offense this season as that goes to guard Tyler Herro.

Coming off the bench this season, Herro has averaged 20.8 points per game on 44.6% shooting. Expect the Heat to be one of the hardest teams to get through in the East.

After losing to the Milwaukee Bucks last year after a surprising

run to the finals, the Phoenix Suns used this season to prove last year’s finals run was no fluke. This time, they might have what it takes to win it all. With the West being even tighter than the East, it will not be easy for any team to make it out of the conference.

Guard Devin Booker leads the high-powered Suns offense with 26.7 points per game on 46.5% shooting.

Center DeAndre Ayton has been playing at a very high level this season for the Suns being a major part of their success. On the season, he is averaging a double-double with 17.2 points per game on 63.8% shoot-

ing to go along with 10.2 rebounds.

When looking at the Memphis Grizzlies this year there is one key player that sticks out, point guard Ja Morant.

In just his third season, Morant already led Memphis to the second-seed position in the West and is proving to be a superstar already in his young career.

Morant is an MVP candidate this season for good reason, with him averaging 27.6 points per game on 49.3% shooting to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Memphis will need Morant to continue playing at this high level if the Grizzlies

have a shot at reaching the finals. Guard Dillon Brooks has been solid this season as an underrated second option to Morant, averaging a respectable 18.3 points per game on 42.7% shooting.

With an NBA regular season that was anything but predictable, the post-season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet. With other teams such as the Brooklyn Nets, the defending champions the Milwaukee Bucks, and the formidable Utah Jazz, who knows who will win.

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