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  George Floyd AFUM Scholarship Announcement

  Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Lisa K. Neuman

  Fundraising plea from University President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and AFUM President Lisa K. Neuman, to all UMaine staff, introducing the George Floyd AFUM Scholarship established at the University of Maine Foundation by individuals concerned about the violent death of George Floyd, an African-American man, while in police custody on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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  The Northern Maine Coalition on Undoing Racism Papers on "A Statement about Racist Research"

  Northern Maine Coalition on Undoing Racism

  An undated statement from the Northern Maine Coalition on Undoing Racism refuting "research which serves to perpetuate stereotypes of minority group members, and encourages policies and programs which promote racial harmony as an American way of life."

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  The University of Maine's Intersectional Feminist Resource Center's statement on 'Black Lives Matter'

  Anila Arunakar

  The University of Maine's Intersectional Feminist Resource Center's, under the Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), statement on 'Black Lives Matter' as a response to the death of George Floyd. The statement addresses the police violence against Black lives, racial biases, Diversity and Inclusion training, and counseling for students of color.

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  Karen Sieber speaks about hidden history of violence at UMaine

  Megan Ashe

  On Tuesday Dec. 1, 2020, Karen Sieber, the Humanities Specialist at the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center, presented a talk called “Tarred and Feathered: UMaine’s Hidden Connection to the Red Summer of 1919.” The Red Summer occurred during the year of 1919 and was in reference to nationwide widespreadviolence against Black people, but particularly Black men. Sieber is a historian and specializes in both public history and the digital humanities. This experiencecombined with her own thirst for knowledge led her to begin to create an archive to document this time in history after a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee.

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  Black Lives Matter Unity March Poster

  Unknown Author

  Poster for a Black Lives Matter Unity March held on the University of Maine campus August 30, 2020.

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  The Racial Justice Challenge created by the University of Maine's Raymond H. Fogler Library and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion in Fall 2020

  Jennifer I. Bonnet

  This Racial Justice Challenge was created by the University of Maine's Raymond H. Fogler Library and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion for the week of August 3-7, 2020. The challenge consists of five days of activities and exercises intended to provide a supportive space to learn, share information, and take action toward racial justice. This challenge had over 2000 participants from all over the United States and some International representation, ranging from middle schoolers to retirees. Included in this file is each day and the action plan needed for day five.

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  Diversity and Difference Committee Reading List

  College of Education and Human Development Diversity and Difference Committee, Asli Sezen-Barrie, Catharine Biddle, Faith Erhardt, Sara Flanagan, Leah Hakkola, Tammy Mills, Bryan Silverman, and Kazuhiko Yanagi

  Reading list of resources compiled by members of the College of Education and Human Development Diversity and Difference Committee to promote "reflection and deep thinking...to help us all reflect on what we can do to dismantle white supremacy, in and outside the academy."

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  Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department Fall 2020 Newsletter

  Laura Cowan

  This Women, Gender, and Sexuality newsletter from the Fall of 2020, August 11, includes a statement on Black Lives Matter and the department's commitment to anti-racism. The newsletter also includes the departure of Dr Susan Gardner from department head and the introduction of new department head, Dr Laura Cowan. The newsletter features other information on Academic Advising, WGS395 Internship possibilities, WGS Office Operations in Fall 2020, WGS community, and Upcoming Events. The letter ends with a land-recognition of UMaine on Penobscot land.

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  Alumni Panelist Presentation on George Floyd, Anti-Black Racism, and #BlackLivesMatter Email

  John N. Diamond and Elizabeth Russell

  Email from John N. Diamond, President and Executive Director, University of Maine Alumni Association on the June 11th Alumni presentation on the "Perspective and Experience of Blacks in the U.S". The presentation was titled "George Floyd, Anti-Black Racism, and #BlackLivesMatter". The email states that approximately 1,000 individuals watched the panel discussion live or the online recording.

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  The University of Maine Office of the President's 'Maine Memo' to address the Death of George Floyd and the University's Commitment to Anti-Racism

  Joan Ferrini-Mundy

  This University of Maine Office of the President's 'Maine Memo' to address the Death of George Floyd and the University's Commitment to Anti-Racism, posted on June 10, 2020, includes the university's statement to its commitment to the core values of inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism and the actions towards each value. The Memo also includes the history of the University's relation with the land grant movement and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The statement discusses what many consider to be the first UMaine Black graduate Ada Viola Peters in 1927.

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  The University of Maine Office of the President's 'Maine Memo' to announce "The University of Maine in Fall 2020: Learning, Discovering, and Partnering with Inclusive Excellence as the Core"

  Joan Ferrini-Mundy

  University President Joan Ferrini-Mundy's first weekly Maine Memo email newsletter to the University of Maine community for the fall semester 2020. The newsletter includes a copy of Ferrini-Mundy's Fall 2020 Convocation remarks that touch on "national waves of unrest and urgent demands for racial justice, in the wake of the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, and the shooting of Jacob Blake."

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  The group formerly known as the UMaine College Republicans deserves to be ousted

  Gabriel Karam

  The former UMaine College Republicans (UMCR) got what it deserved: it is no longer recognized by the University of Maine Student Government (UMSG). The UMCR’s conduct over the last several months has been more intended at childishly offending people instead of contributing a venue for political discussion.

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  Maine Campus_GSS votes race was motive in Orono attack

  Damon Kiesow and Kim Dineen

  Article from the University of Maine student newspaper The Maine Campus regarding the General Student Senate voting that an attack on two Black students was motivated by race.

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  The University of Maine Police Department's 'Community Message on death of George Floyd'

  Roland J. LaCroix

  The University of Maine Police Department's (UMPD) 'Community Message on death of George Floyd,' published on June 1, 2020. The message includes the UMPD statement on the police "reprehensible" actions, and the departments condolences. It also includes a statement on police protocols and techniques.

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  Webinar series discusses colonialism's ongoing effects for Maine's Indigenous populations

  Bria Lamonica

  The University of Maine is a school that prides itself on the celebration of diversity and each individual that is a part of it. Sitting on a piece of land that once belongedto the Penobscot Nation, the university pays tribute to the Penobscot tribe and makes sure they are represented in the community. On Oct. 15 at 12:30 p.m., the Social and Marxist Studies Series hosted a webinar titled, “The Doctrine of Christian Discovery and Domination, Colonizing Indigenous Peoples, and the State of Maine,” virtually over Zoom. This public event was free and hosted by Michael Swacha, a lecturer of English and philosophy, who organized and moderated the virtual discussion. This is the second program in the series, and it is available to listen to on the Socialist and Marxist Series website.

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  Socialist and Marxist Series panel explores what racism looks like today

  Aldan Leavitt

  On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, students, faculty and community members gathered in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union for a student panel, titled “Experiencing Racism Today: Experiences of Student Activists and Historical and Philosophical Insights.” The event, held as a part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Series, sought to shedlight on the realities faced by people of color throughout their lives and how they have been impacted.

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  State of the University address delivered by President Ferrini-Mundy

  Maria Maxsimic

  On Feb. 4, 2020, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy delivered the State of the University address to a crowd of community members, faculty and alumni. Dr. Eric Wilmot, a professor in mathematics and statistics, introduced the University of Maine Orono and Machias’ president. During the address, Ferrini-Mundy touched upon a number of different successes that the two campuses had celebrated in the past year. Additionally, she described the challenges that the universities are expected to face this coming year and what the plans are to address the foreseen problems. Ferrini-Mundy acknowledged the beginning of Black History Month, which is celebrated during the month of February. Feb. 26 will mark the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which gave African-American men the right to vote.

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  Editorial: The humanity of marginalized communities is not up for political debate

  Nate Poole

  On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, one of the three Louisville police officers that shot and killed Breonna Taylor while raiding her apartment in March was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment of Taylor’s neighbors, but not the shooting of Taylor herself. The grand jury decision quickly reignited Black Lives Matter protests and outrage in Louisville and across the U.S., and rightfully so. Kentucky law describes the charge against Officer Brett Hankinson as “extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Woefully misplaced as it is, Officer Hankinson should not be the only recipient of this indictment. Rather, the entire U.S. political system is just as, if not more so, culpable for its own “extreme indifference” to the lives of people of color.

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  Photograph of Black Lives Matter Sign

  Matthew Revitt

  Photograph of a "Black Lives Matters" sign taken in Veazie, Maine. Many such signs were erected in response to the murder of George Floyd in the spring of 2020.

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  "Defund the police" is not the problem

  Leah Savage

  Last week in an interview on “Good Luck America,” former President Barack Obama called “defund the police” a “snappy slogan” that is not going to be effective in gathering support for change. To many, Obama’s statements were frustrating, to say the very least. The recognition of a movement like “defund the police” is something that people have been pushing for a long time; its prevalence is something to be proud of, not to publicly dismiss.

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  Laila Sholtz-Ames interviewed by Madison Riley

  Laila Sholtz-Ames

  Laila Sholtz-Ames interviewed by Madison Riley, August 26, 2020, in Old Town, Maine and Madrid, Spain. Sholtz-Ames talks about reasons for coming to the University of Maine; her involvement with the Black Student Union organization on campus; how the community and university responded to Black Student Union; experience with racist incidents on campus; interactions with UMaine campus police; recollection of event called 'Women of Color: the UMaine Experience'.

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  Laila Sholtz-Ames interviewed by Madison Riley

  Laila Sholtz-Ames and Madison Riley

  Laila Sholtz-Ames interviewed by Madison Riley, August 26, 2020, in Old Town, Maine and Madrid, Spain. Sholtz-Ames talks about reasons for coming to the University of Maine; her involvement with the Black Student Union organization on campus; how the community and university responded to Black Student Union; experience with racist incidents on campus; interactions with UMaine campus police; recollection of event called 'Women of Color: the UMaine Experience'.

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  Editorial: Diversifying Hollywood is in the hands of the consumers

  Liz Theriault

  “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films," Bong Joon-Ho said, calling out the cultural shortsightedness that plagues Hollywood, in his 2020 Golden Globe acceptance speech for his film "Parasite." His words rang true for minorities everywhere, who sat through yet another award show celebrating predominantly white men.

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  Editorial: Exploitation of prison labor reflects America's disenfranchisement problem

  Liz Theriault

  In December of 2019, presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg released a statement confirming that his campaign exploited prison workers in Oklahoma to make calls for his 2020 campaign. Bloomberg’s campaign employed ProCom through a third party vendor, and two of the company’s call centers in Oklahoma are based in out-of-state prisons. Bloomberg has since denounced any prior knowledge of this campaign practice and has ceased working with ProCom. Yet, exploiting prisoners for campaign efforts is a symbol of irony, capturing the unfair disenfranchisement of prisoners and ex-convicts in the United States.

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  Editorial: The line between corporate allyship and marketing shouldn't be crossed

  Liz Theriault

  In the world of allyship for marginalized groups and marketing for companies in America’s cut-throat capitalist economy, where does allyship end and unproductive marketing begin? We are all familiar with the yearly advertising clock: a dedication to new resolutions through the first part of the year that transforms to a focus on plastering American flags all over products for the Fourth of July and finally ending on Christmas decorations and commercials that emerge before Halloween even passes. But movements such as Black History Month and Pride Month have been added to the calendar in the past few decades, opening the door for many companies to exploit people of color and LBGTQ peoples for monetary gain.