Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Social Media Activism The Subject Of Recent Discussion, Emily Turner

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Nov. 6 the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Colloquium Series held its second discussion of the fall semester. Dr. Judith Rosenbaum gave the talk titled “#TakingAKnee: Exploring justice, respect, and patriotism on Instagram and Twitter.” Rosenbaum is an assistant professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine whose research includes social and health effects of media. The theme of this talk surrounded creating meaning on social media platforms. It featured discussion on the hashtag #TakingAKnee and how this social movement has opened a new dialogue nationwide. Rosenbaum recognized that Colin Kaepernick played a large role in initiating …

Editorial : Desensitization To Tragedy, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Amidst the midterm elections, the never-ending battle between the president and the press, and the raging wildfires in California, the tragedy that repeatedly strikes our nation has found its way back into our headlines once again. Mass shootings at the Pittsburg synagogue, Florida yoga studio and Thousand Oaks all happened in the span of 11 days. Despite the horrific levels of these tragedies, the cycle remains the same: they occur, we talk about them for a week and then we move on.

Tragedy In Pittsburgh Brings Community Together, Emily Turner

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Many members of the local community came together throughout the week to show support for members of the Jewish community in light of the shooting that took place at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Oct. 27, 2018. On Oct. 29 there was a candlelight vigil held on the steps of the Raymond H. Fogler Library at the University of Maine in remembrance of the 11 victims who lost their lives. Professor Amy Fried spoke of her family’s experience of anti-Semitism in Europe and how historically America has been welcoming to the Jewish community. Because of this …

Leigh Gilmore Talks At Umaine About The #Metoo Movement, Kendra Caruso

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Leigh Gilmore, a distinguished visiting professor of women’s and gender studies at Wellesley College, was the first speaker of this year’s Stephen E. King Lecture Series. Gilmore spoke about topics related to the #MeToo movement and its origins.

Editorial: Cultures Are Not Costumes, Watch What You Wear On Halloween, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The timing is like clockwork. The calendar is creeping closer to Oct. 31 and the privileged cries of not understanding the impact of Halloween costumes incorporating blackface has hit the airwaves once more. This time, Megyn Kelly, former host of “Megyn Kelly Today” on NBC, sparked this discussion when she defended the use of blackface for costumes on national television.

Mollie Tibbits, Ariana Grande And Serena Williams: Every Woman, M. J. Gautrau

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

I’ve spent the past few weeks fuming at the world’s treatment of women. I’m mad at the people who believe women and men are equal and that there’s no problem here. Over the last few months, we’ve seen very high pro��le news stories of women as scapegoats. It is now our time to see these stories, hear these women and react justly.

Dawnbreaker Vol 65 No 1 (Fall 2018), Dawnbreaker Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.

From Common Lands To Second Nature: The Scholarship Of Richard W. Judd And The Future Of Eastern Environmental History, Eileen Hagerman, Brian Payne, Matt Mckenzie, Kate Veins, John Cumbler, Brian Donahue, Brian Payne

History Faculty Scholarship

Renowned environmental historian, Richard Judd, retired from teaching at the University of Maine, May 2018. Professor Judd was one of the UMaine History Department’s most prolific scholars and helped build numerous connections between the sciences and the humanities at UMaine in addition to being a significant force within the interdisciplinary field of environmental history itself for the past three decades.

Professor Judd authored dozens of books and articles related to conservation; environmental thought; and the traditional farming, hunting, fishing, and logging cultures of Maine and northern New England. He also served as an editor for a number of projects—most notably …

Panoptic Schooling’S Confused Lessons: A Philosophical Investigation Of Discipline In The School, Donncha Sean Peadar Coyle

Honors College

How does the school instruct us? What is it like for a student to learn in a school? The following thesis construes the school as a site for disciplinary technology purportedly oriented toward educating students. My conceptual analysis rests on the intersection between the sociohistorical practice of schooling and the lived experience of students. I contrast schooling (the organization of a primary planned environment for instruction) and education (an existential facet of growth and social connectedness) at the center of the essay. My argument has three parts. First, I examine Michel Foucault’s concept of disciplinary technology as it pertains to …

To Speak In The Cave, Stephen Thomas Krichels

Honors College

The aim of To Speak In The Cave is to provide some insight regarding how the Chinese government allows its citizens to voice their opinions, while simultaneously alienating the audience from existing bias.

To this end the narrative avoids any Chinese characteristics that are not fundamental to China’s treatment of its citizens as it pertains to their public voice. All names are Western, as are job titles and any cultural aspects of the narrative world that are not related to the allegory being created throughout the story.

The protagonist of the story, Jerg, is a dissociated and down on his …

Behind Closed Doors: Unpacking College Students’ Complex Relationships With Pornography Consumption, Samantha K. Saucier

Honors College

This thesis is a quantitative and qualitative study of University of Maine students attitudes and consumption habits of pornography. It contains a literature review of anti-pornography feminism from the Second Wave, as well as an overview of sex-positive and sex-critical theories of pornography from more recent years. The goal of the thesis is to understand how sex-negative and/or sex-positive ideas have or have not permeated college student’s understanding of pornography. Over 800 students were surveyed about pornography consumption through the Psychology Department’s Fall prescreen. 4 students from the survey, who all happened to be women, were interviewed about their relationships …

Constructing Identity Through The Lens Of Fashion: An Honors Thesis, Cara P. Doiron

Honors College

Fashion is an artistic decision that every person makes every day. Even those who say they don’t care about clothing are still portraying something about themselves to the outside world with the stylistic choices they make. This creative Honors Thesis explores the impact of fashion on self-representation, accomplished through the design and construction of a capsule wardrobe line of clothing. Due to the project’s personal and introspective nature, the intended wearer is the artist, and therefore the pieces are specifically tailored to her, rather than the straight sized garments that are typically produced in the fashion industry. This line consists …

Taste Of Asia Celebrates Asian Culture In Maine, Finn Bradenday

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Many University of Maine students and community members passing through the Memorial Union on Saturday, April 28, witnessed the Asian Student Association’s Taste of Asia event taking place in the North Pod and Union Central.

A Little Hall With A Big, Complicated History, Lindsey Moran

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In the middle of the University of Maine mall sits Little Hall, named after the president of UMaine from 1922-1925 and founder of Bar Harbor’s Jackson Laboratory, Clarence C. Little. The building is home to the departments of Psychology, Modern Languages and Classics, as well as the Franco-American Studies Program. Little Hall sees droves of students every year dedicated to furthering UMaine’s mission to improve the quality of life for people in Maine and around the world.

Can Tenure Be Abused?, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In any higher education establishment, academic freedom is of great importance. The security provided to professors by academic tenure ensures that faculty are protected from termination because of their speech, research findings or political reasons. Without this security, academic progress could be stifled. But can this privilege and security be abused?

Editorial: Understanding Our Foul Mouths, Sarah Allisot

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The language we use matters, regardless of how small individual words seem in the moment. It’s too easy to disconnect from a place of privilege and safety and ask, "Who cares?” The answer to that misguided question is people — living, breathing people who face aggression because we let coined phrases and words come out before really thinking about them. And that’s the best scenario. There are always those incidences where language is used as a weapon, meant to degrade or devalue certain people with the powerful backing of social context. Words don’t translate in a vacuum, free from our …

The New Immigrant Experience Enlightens At Umaine, Sarah O'Malley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to immigrate to a foreign nation, last Wednesday’s panel titled “The New Immigrant Experience: Sharing Stories and Dispelling Myths” hosted by the University of Maine International Programs provided three unique perspectives on that experience. The event took place on March 28in room 100 of the Donald P. Corbett building on campus and went from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Beginning with a Taste of Africa reception in the foyer, attendees were encouraged to try traditional African dishes and mingle among each other. After about an hour, attendees congregated in the large lecture …

Social Practice Artist And Disability Inclusion, Renee Stronach

Student and Trainee Scholarship

The power of the “image” has been well documented over the course of history. In the 21 st century, visual culture, image is further empowered as it both sustains and subverts cultural norms and meanings. Socially engaged or social practice artists are an important yet diverse group who are creating and displaying image to disrupt injustice, truncated rights, devaluation, and inequality. Typically, these artists define a social problem and a desired outcome that will result from the creation and dissemination of their imagery. Because this contemporary-relevant strategy is becoming increasingly powerful as image and visuality are omnipotent in all aspects …

Dawnbreaker Vol 64 No 3 (Spring 2018), Dawnbreaker Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Meeting Students Where They Are Through Understanding Who They Are, Center For Innovation In Teaching And Learning, Rising Tide Center

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Event announcement for a guest presentation by Dr. Daniel Tillapaugh, UMaine Visiting Libra Scholar and assistant professor of counselor education at California Lutheran University, on how "culturally responsive teaching and learning can providing meaningful, transformative experiences for both faculty and their students."

Serano Hosts Public Talk On “Call-Out Culture, Identity Politics, And Political Correctness”, Ryan Cox

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Dr. Julia Serano held a public talk, entitled “A Social Justice Activist’s Perspective on Call-Out Culture, Identity Politics, and Political Correctness” in the Minsky Recital Hall on March 22, 2018, as part of UMaine’s Women’s History Month celebrations. Serano is a writer, performer, biologist, and transgender and bisexual activist, whose works include “Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity,” “Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive” and most recently “Outspoken: A Decade of Transgender Activism and Trans Feminism.”

10 Ways To Make A Difference At Umaine, Sarah O'Malley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

One of the many amazing things about the college of our hearts always is its endless opportunities to make an impact, whether it be on this campus, in the state of Maine, for the United States or on a global scale. The best way to get involved is to collaborate with some of the amazing service, activist or political student clubs. With so many options, meetings and events it’s hard to know where to begin. Here are 10 organizations that are a great place to start.

Editorial: Challenging Diversity In Maine, Sarah Allisot

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Education is one of our best safeguards against ignorance. Without the crucial work of activist groups, representation would take a serious blow in our mostly-white state. Race demographics from the 2010 U.S. Census report that Maine is 94.8 percent white, with the remaining population split among several racial groups. The census also reports that black residents of Maine make up less than 1 percent of our population. Forbes reported on the 2016-2017 academic year demographics of the University of Maine, showing a modest 2 percent population of black students. Needless to say, Maine is mostly white, and very sheltered from …

Editorial: The Privilege To Be Socially Active, Sarah Allisot

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

In January, the cosmetics company L'Oréal Paris signed on Amena Khan, a British blogger with over half a million followers on Instagram, for a hair product advertisement. This move made a big statement among not just the beauty community, but social activists too — Khan wears a hijab, and is credited as being the first woman to wear one in a major mainstream beauty ad. This decision by L'Oréal spoke to the global push for more representation in media, giving hope to other hijab-wearing women that their voices are relevant, important and beautiful. But the celebration was cut short. The …

"The 'Problem' Of Blackness In The Revolutionary United States" At This Week's Socialist And Marxist Studies Series, Taylor Abbott

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

University of Maine history professor Liam Riordan gave this week’s lecture as part of The Socialist and Marxist Studies Series, which has happened almost every week at UMaine since 1988. The series is also coached by Maine Peace Action Committee, which is mainly a student group through the Division of Student Affairs, and also receives support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Riordan teaches in the history department at UMaine with a specialization in American history and Revolutionary history from 1760-1830. Riordan’s lecture was titled, “The ‘Problem’ of Blackness in the Revolutionary United States.”

Netflix Documentary "13th" Is A Must-See, Sarah O'Malley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

If you haven’t seen this documentary, clear your schedule. “13th,” a 2016 Netflix documentary directed by Ava DuVernay, breaks down racial justice issues surrounding mass incarceration, police brutality and race relations over the course of American history. The film has garnered critical success since its release; it was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 89th Academy Awards, awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the Primetime Emmy Awards,and clocks in at 96 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Black History Month Kicks Off At Umaine With The Black Lives Matter Flag Raising, Sarah O'Malley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

As snow fell upon the first day of February, many University of Maine students, faculty and community members congregated between the Memorial Union and Fogler Library in the name of racial justice. Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, marked the start of Black History Month, and the Office of Multicultural Student Life (OMSL) and the Black Student Union (BSU) have partnered to put together an impressive lineup of events spanning the entire month.

International Coffee Hour Helps Spreading Culture Across Campus, Bria Lamonica

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Carrying supplies, treats and decorations through the halls of the Memorial Union, members of the International Student Association (ISA), Office of International Programs and Black Student Union (BSU) gathered together to host their weekly Coffee Hour. Held every Friday at 4 p.m. in the North Pod of the Union, International Coffee Hour is a sponsored event meant to share and spread diverse cultures represented on campus. The hour of celebration also gives students and staff a chance to connect with students from different countries and backgrounds. “This event was in celebration of Black History Month, and it went better than …

Racism In Our Backyard, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Maine can be quiet. Humble. Secluded. Lost in the upper northern woods of New England, the large state can feel separated from the rest of the nation. Problems and politics are diluted by the rocky shores of Acadia, the dense enclosures of forests and the strong sense of community. This is “Vacationland” after all. So when a small, rural Maine community is thrust under the bright light of the national media spotlight, it tends to burn. Jackman, Maine is one of those small communities. Recently featured on media outlets including The Washington Post, CNN and USA Today, the story of …

Property Maps Woodstock Maine, James W. Sewall Co., John E. O'Donnell & Associates

Maine Town Documents

Original maps prepared by James W. Sewell, Co.
Revised in 2018 by John E. O'Donnell & Associates.