SMCC Beacon October 9, 2018

Beacon The

ISSUE DATE 10.09.2018

Lighting our Community

VOLUME XVI NO. 3

SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Eggs and Issues Gubernatorial Debate

By ALEX KENNEDY and ZACHARY GUIOD

This past Wednesday, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a gubernatorial debate with the four candidates who are vying for the Maine governorship: Alan Caron (I), Terry Hayes (I), Janet Mills (D), and Shawn Moody (R). Before the debate even

started, the Chamber’s spokesperson voiced support for referendum questions 4 and 5, and stated that the Chamber encourages people to vote no against Question 1.

As the candidates took the stage, they all shook each other’s hands and were very civil, and it set the tone for the debate. While each candidate stated their strongest qualities to

Illustration by Eden Dyer

set themselves apart from their opponents, none of them took any shots at each other.

This was quite refreshing considering the current state of our national politics.

Education The first topic of the debate was education.

Mr. Moody was questioned about his statement of schools being “overfunded.” Moody welcomed the opportunity to address this controversy. He says the attack ad against him cut his full statement short and that he does believe more money is needed in the classroom. Moody hopes to achieve this by cutting administrators and bureaucracy as well as evaluating ways to make our schools operate efficiently.

Mr. Caron, when asked about his plan for education, started by stating that teachers are heroes. He went on to say more money in the classroom is what is needed. Caron believes the state government should shrink around issues of education, providing their resources to the local and regional government level.

Caron went on to lay out his plan for two years of free college education for Maine students. This would be accomplished in the form of 10-year, no-interest student loans. For

every year the graduate remains in Maine they will have no loan payment and 10 percent of the loan is forgiven.

Janet Mills had several proposals to help improve education if she is elected governor.

She supports a universal pre-K program so that all children in Maine can get a good start.

While the question was focused on K-12 education, Mills also talked about her plans to help college students. She wants to implement a loan forgiveness program and expand the Maine state grant.

Terry Hayes was the only candidate to talk about the low pay that our teachers receive for their hard work, saying that she would raise the starting pay for new teachers in Maine. This way the people who are educating our young people don’t have to rely on public assistance to get by.

Workforce Development Next, candidates were asked about their plans for workforce development in Maine and to comment on how they would support our growing immigrant workforce.

Moody highlighted his business expertise, noting that his business has been doing workforce development and that he understands (Continued on page 2)

Honoring the Life of Patrick Joseph Donaghue Loss is something that we all have to go through in life. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you will experience it.

Loss can be a devastating unifier. In the two events held for Patrick Donaghue on Sept.

25 — the staff-led community meeting and the student led gathering in the Campus Center — this unity was palpable.

Early morning on Sept. 25, 2018, Patrick “Pat” Donaghue died at Maine Medical Center with his parents and loved ones by his side. He passed from his injuries, which were the result of a car accident he was in the night before.

Later that day, two events were held in celebration of his life. In Surfsite Residence Hall, where Pat had lived, Residence Life staff asked students to join them for a community meeting where there could process this tragedy together. Students were welcome to share stories and speak with counselors provided by Mobile Crisis.

Anne Greisinger and Bruce Trask, the chaplins who staff and maintain the All Faiths Chapel on campus, were also present to help students grieve.

The students who attended spoke of Pat’s humor, his quirkiness, and his ability to be in the moment. Fellow Automotive students attested to Pat’s intelligence in the classroom and his love of cars. Even students who did

not know him well spoke of his passion for automotives and his constant happiness.

Many of his friends agreed he had a smile that wouldn’t quit. They also admired how great of a dog dad he was to his blue-eyed husky.

The students spoke with a somber tone that was sometimes marked with laughter or periods of silence.

While experiencing their own sadness, a few students took the opportunity to talk about ways they cope with loss in an effort to help others. They told each other to stay connected to your community, to take care of your basic needs like food and water, and that whatever emotions you are feeling, it’s okay.

The Residence Life staff said the faculty are aware of what they are going through and would be mindful of students’ needs in regard to attendance and classwork. The RAs present let their fellow students know that if there is something they think would help the community, let them know and they can work to organize an event or whatever it may be.

At the student-run event in the Campus Center, it was a different feeling. Students were smiling, crying, and laughing all at the same time. Six pizzas ordered by the students were

Page 4

Hurricane Florence

left untouched as memories were shared and messages of adoration for Pat were written on a poster.

Some students spoke of his funny side and the pranks he liked to pull. One said Pat was “the most considerate guy” he had ever met. One friend told the story of

Page 6

America is still at war

losing Pat in Hannaford for a half hour.

Another recalled the first time she met Pat. A mutual friend asked him to give her a ride home and he was so excited to get in his car and go for a drive.

Loss can be a unifier. The students in attendance at both of these events were united in their support of each other and their love for Pat and his humor, happiness and constant smile.

Photo courtesy of www.wilescremationcare.com

By ALEXANDER KENNEDY

Page 9

Poetic License

From Tiffanie Bentley, Dean of Students: SMCC students can contact grief counseling services by dialing 211 or by going online at www.211maine.org. Maine’s 24hour Crisis Hotline can be accessed at 1-888-568-1112. If students need assistance with this or with anything else, the Student Life staff are available during business hours to help or to assist in connecting students to appropriate resources.

Call 741-5967 or stop by 125 Spring Point Hall.

Anne Greisinger and Bruce Trask, the All Faiths Chapel chaplains, provide non-denominational support to students. You can find them at the Chapel on campus Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pages 11-12

SeaWolves in actions

Campus News Eggs and Issues (Continued from Page 1)

this better than the other candidates. Moody said we need to support programs like Jobs for Maine Graduates and teach fiscal literacy and public speaking, as well as reform our vocational tech schools to be the best in the country.

He did not address the second part of the question and was awarded an additional15 seconds to do so. Moody said he would support the growing immigrant workforce by cutting the bureaucracy around labor laws so our new Mainers can gain employment sooner.

Caron believes we have two main problems when it comes to workforce development: We have a lot of highly skilled jobs we can’t fill and not enough jobs for the skills we

Beacon The

xecutive Staff taff Executive

Rebecca Dow Managing Editor Daniele Amandolini Art Director Ben Riggleman Copy Editor Cassie Marceau Photo Editor O ğuzhan Özkan Production Oğuzhan Özkan Production Editor Shukri Adan

Webmaster Shukri Adan

Webmaster Michelle Kapschull Digital Media Manager Michelle Kapschull Digital Media Manager

Contributing Writers

Loraine Aceto, Sherry Bell, Jessamyn Brewer, Jacob Darling, Loraine Aceto, Sheri Bell, Jacob Alex Downing, Steven Darling, Rebecca Dow, Alex Dube, Downing, Thomas Eng, Matt Flaherty, Jared Erving, Matt Flaherty, Zachary Anne Gresinger, Zachary Guiod, J. Guiod, Daniel Jordan, Alexander Alex Kennedy, Mama Kindness, Kennedy, Stephen McCabe, Celina Joshua D. Parks, Celina Simmons, Simmons, Liam Woodworth-Cook Liam Woodworth-Cook

Contributing Writers

have. Caron stated, “We took the practicality out of public education.” He believes we need to look forward and solve those problems.

Caron also forgot to answer the second part of the question and, like Moody, he was given an additional 15 seconds to respond. In regards to immigration and workforce development, Caron told the story of his relatives immigrating from Canada and remarked upon how quickly we forget the treatment of those immigrants. Caron believes we should be doing whatever we can to promote workforce development in our immigrant population.

Hayes started off by asking the crowd if anyone had ever been to a naturalization ceremony. This stood out because both Moody and Caron had forgotten to address how they would support our growing immigrant workforce. Ms. Hayes went on to say that she would attend every naturalization ceremony to congratulate the new citizens.

Ms. Mills said that we need to match our education with the workforce needs that we are facing today. She voiced support for a robust English second-language program that will help new immigrants join our workforce much quicker. Mills noted that 40 percent of new immigrants come here with a bachelor’s degree or higher; this highlights the important role they will play and are playing in workforce development.

Economic Growth On the topic of economic growth, Hayes talked about the need to fill jobs in Maine: “We’re running a surplus in state government. Imagine if all those jobs were filled.”

She brought up tourism, which is Maine’s best industry, and said that we have to look

at why it is doing so well and try to replicate the results in other industries. Then she said that if we can convince less than one percent of the almost 37 million tourists to stay in Maine, it will increase economic growth.

Moody spoke about his travels to rural maine and said that the people of this state are resilient and want to work. He discussed changing labor laws to allow teens to work more freely. He believes that the key to economic growth lies in training and education, and pointed to his time served on the Board of Trustees for both the University of Maine System and Maine Community College System.

Mills said she doesn’t like to talk about “two Maines” and wants to recruit more businesses to rural Maine. She will advertise the famous Mainer work ethic to help do so.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, offshore, and other forms of renewable energy will create jobs and in turn create economic growth. She also made a point to say is she is elected governor, she will not sit on bonds that will create jobs.

Caron said we need to rethink growth. He believes we invest too much time and money in “attraction” and that we need to grow the jobs and industries we already have here in Maine first. Caron said Maine could be the “incubator for small startups.” Caron also said we shouldn’t give big businesses tax cuts hoping they will create jobs, but reward them after the new jobs are created.

The Opioid Epidemic When the candidates were asked their plan for combating the opioid epidemic, Moody noted the great recovery centers popping up around the state, and said we need to

Expand your mind and try something new: a fallen letter puzzle! Each letter in the columns below “falls” into place and reveals a quotation. We’ve given you a head start with punctuation and the first couple of letters.

Graphic Designers Justin Brady, Anna DesLauriers, Eden Dyer, Michelle Kapschull, Jose Roberto Lemus, Celina Simmons

IIllustrations llustrations

Alex Downing, Eden Dyer, Eden Dyer Frazer Robertson

Contributing Photographers JacobCassie Clowes, Briana-Marceau Rebecca Dow, Alex Downing, Cassie Marceau, Stephen McCabe, Tori Penney Advisors Chuck Ott & Rachel Guthrie Advisors Chuck Ott & Rachel Guthrie

Contact Us

Contact Us beacon@smccme.edu mbeacon@smccme.edu Find Us issuu.com/smccnews @thebeacon.smcc

Quote by American entrepeneur Malcolm Forbes

@thesmccbeacon @smccbeacon @thesmccbeacon

2

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

Diamondbacks Cardinals Solutions to Nationals last issue’s Mariners jumbles Tigers REDSOX!

organize them to create a data-driven matrix.

This would make it easy for these treatment centers to share practices and see what’s working. Moody believes we can support recovering addicts by supporting sober houses.

He finished by saying we need to do what we can to keep those who are struggling stable, sober, and employed.

Janet Mills is our attorney general, and she talked about her experience tackling the opioid epidemic as Maine’s top law official. She brought up how she distributed the drug Narcan, which is used to save the lives of people who overdose, to police departments across the state, and how this saved 523 lives. Mills also said the stigmatizing of substance abuse needs to stop so more people will seek help: “A person wants help, they get help.”

Caron shared his story of personal loss due to a family member’s struggle with addiction. He believes we are not giving enough money to support recovery and that Maine’s gridlock on this issue is due to partisanship: “Two major parties are stuck in old ideas and are more intent on stopping the other than getting things done.” Caron stated that both sides can get their way; we can invest in enforcement and support services at the same time.

Hayes said that addiction is a brain disease and should be treated as such and that we have to make treatment available on demand.

She also used this issue to discuss how partisan politics is stopping us from finding a common solution to the problem, not only in Maine but the whole country. “Politics is about keeping score instead of focusing on the problem.”

Infrastructure The last question was about building better infrastructure in Maine.

Mills encouraged the people in attendance to vote for Question 3 on the ballot; if passed, $106 million in bonds for transportation infrastructure will be available. She mentioned that we need to invest in infrastructure to keep our young people here. She told a story about her grandson, saying that he is going to leave the state because his phone calls keep on disconnecting anytime he takes a trip on the highway.

Moody said we need to spend our money smarter and put more energy into seeking ways of lowering costs. He brought up the recession and noted that Maine prospered during this time because we lifted regulations and made permitting easier.

Hayes talked about the need to bring broadband wireless to the entire state so that our people and business can be connected to the infrastructure of the 21st century.

Caron stated that we haven’t done nearly enough in infrastructure development and that the current generation is living off past investments. He marked the need for high speed broadband and updated construction of highways and bridges. Caron again pointed to partisanship as having a negative effect on this issue.

The debate ended as it began, with handshakes and civility that is missed on the national stage. No personal attacks or quick jabs: The candidates said what each of them believe and hoped that it would resonate with the voters. A teacher who was sitting at same table as me made a comment that I thought most of those in attendance would agree with. She said that after the election is over the candidates should get together and share ideas, because they all had some good plans. This is one of the things unique about Maine politics: Most people could care less about what party you belong to. It’s the ideas that matter.

Campus News SMCC Students Sign Up to Vote and Make Their Voices Heard

By JOSHUA D. PARKS

SMCC kicked off the 2018 election season with a voter registration drive in the Campus Center on Monday, Sept. 25.

The Student Senate collaborated with the League of Women Voters, campus professors, and student volunteers to bring the importance of and access to democratic rights to the doorstep of the college. Over 30 SMCC voters filled out green registration cards in about two hours. Cards listed hometowns from Buckfield to Meddybemps, where they will cast their votes this fall.

“This shows how diverse our student body is at SMCC,” said Student Senate President Leah Parrish. “Our students come from all across Maine, and will go out to serve in careers all across Maine, too.” The registration table was full with Student Senators Leah

Joshua Parks, Leah Parrish, Alicia Harding, and Nate Russell.

Parrish, Joshua Parks, and Nate Russell, and by adjunct professors Alicia Harding and Herb Adams of the Social Sciences Department. The tabling was a success, and students can expect at least two more registration drives over the next month before the electoral rolls close according to the Senators.

“We’re on a roll and won’t stop now,” said Russell.

“The stakes in the Maine governor’s election are high and students better make their voice heard,” Parrish added. “Funding for the whole Community College system will depend on who sits in Augusta.”

“This is our chance to do something about the corruption in Augusta; we should make it count,” Student Senate Public Relations Secretary Joshua Parks asserted.

During upcoming voter registration drives, the Senate will also be providing educational materials for voters, giving those pressed for time an opportunity to learn about their options.

Candidate visits to the campus are also on the agenda for this fall. Terry Hayes (Ind.) will make the first appearance Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium. Our second guest will be Alan Caron (Ind.) on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium.

From the Desk of the Managing Editor

By REBECCA DOW

Time is a fickle thing; many people have too little, others find that their surplus is an empty prize. Time waits for no man, woman or child when it chooses to retreat, and it can cause the soul to ponder things far off in the lands of “It Hasn’t Happened Yet,” and “Will It Ever Happen Again?” As time slips down our lives like a snake in a forest, we encounter many stumps and hindrances. Personally, I have made the decision to veer the focus of my own time towards a path that can lead to a more fulfilling end.

To those of you not already aware, this issue of The Beacon marks my last involvement as Managing Editor. With personal events converging to a point of decision, I have made the jump towards other ventures, thus leaving my position to other Beacon staff members. My hope is that, regardless of who takes over my position, they will be a good leader with an understanding of teamwork.

To touch on a conversation going on in homes around the nation, I would like to briefly touch on the recent Kavanaugh scandal. I’ll give you all a few questions to consider: Why would Susan Collins vote Kavanaugh into office (regardless of her previous assurances to the public on

certain stances), unless there were other, more pressing forces persuading her otherwise? Have you seen Kavanaugh’s trial videos and his behavior upon questioning?

Do you not agree that his behavior was less than professional, and at times irking? Is the legal system not more corrupt now than ever before? Where do your beliefs and convictions lay as a citizen in this country? Are you willing to stand up for what you believe in? And finally, if America is not a country whose policies and actions you 100 percent agree with, what will you do to change it? Democracy is supposed to be by the people, for the people… Have we lost our voice?

To close, I wish to thank everyone working After working with The Beacon since fall of 2016, I have slowly built up a group of close friends and connections who have helped me discover myself, and utilize my skills learned in school to a fuller and more meaningful extent. There is no other club on campus that I believe could have engaged me so much as The Beacon. I feel honored to have been able to work with Chuck Ott and Rachael Guthrie, as well as all of the people I have seen grow over the past two years.

The Kindness Korner

By THE KINDNESS MAMA

Well, it’s been another 2 weeks and my inbox remains empty. I find it extremely hard to believe that no one here at SMCC as witnessed any random acts of kindness.

Now, I know it has been a busy two weeks.

The residents of Spring Point Residence Hall have all moved back in, and we all have settled into our classes (and have hopefully have a schedule we can live with). We are now into week 7 of our Fall semester and next week is midterms.

Now, if you’re the type of student that is like me, you’re already starting to panic.

Or maybe you have already formed a study partner or a study group for all your midterms exams and have everything all under control. Well, for those that do not have everything all under control, why not try the

R C A OLLE E Y 4 G

tutoring center for some extra help? Karen is my go to person with all things academic, especially math. She has never steered me wrong yet. She is a wealth of knowledge and if she doesn’t know the answer, she will research it and find it for you.

Some of the tutors are actually professors and are so very nice, patient and kind.

(Now you all know I am all about being kind!) There is a dedicated staff and there are student tutors as well; these students are smart. All these people are very familiar with the material and are willing to help you understand it. Now if you need to get some help ,you can drop in and see if someone is available to help you. That is how I usually do it. You can also call first and see if there is a tutor available in the subject you need help in; the phone number is 741-5535. The last option is you can

ES

VIS

SMCC has two dozen college visits planned for this Fall semester! Here’s what’s coming up!

go to My SMCC, My Learning and click on the Learning Commons tap that fits your needs.

There is a writing center for your essays - drop ins are always welcome but there is also a sign-up sheet for those of you who dare not risk having to wait. The writing center, along with the tutoring center is part of the Learning Commons, aka SMCC library.

The Learning Center is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the exception of the 3rd Friday of the month when the Learning Commons is closed for a staff meeting); closed Saturday; and open Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Everyone is there to help! They are all super nice and will try and get you the answers you need as quickly as possible.

I would never have survived here without the extremely helpful, nice and kind people in the Learning Commons. Give them a chance and let them help you!

Now it is your turn - please tell me your random acts of kindness sightings! Maybe you witnessed a random act of Kindness on campus, or maybe you were the recipient of one. Could it be you were the giver and want to share your story? Whatever the kindness is, I want to hear it. Please drop me an email at smcckindness@ gmail.com.

Kindness never goes out of style!

Stop by the Campus Center on October 18 from 10:30-1:00pm for the Fall Transfer Fair!

IT SM

CC

Tuesday, 10/16 12-1pm Mount Holyoke & Smith Colleges

Wednesday, 10/17 9am-4pm University of Southern Maine The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

3

Other World Brain Candy Apples Edition

By JACOB DARLING

In this installment of Brain Candy I’m going to talking about one of my favorite things. Apples! Did you know that there are at least five wild apple trees on campus?

Over the past week I’ve taken time between classes to roam the campus and sample quite a few of them. And they are delicious!

Americans consume on average about 45.5 pounds of apples every year, with nationwide consumption estimated at around 2.43 million pounds — enough apples to form a line all the way from Portland to St. Louis! That’s the fourth highest rate of apple consumption in the world, just behind Turkey with 2.49 million pounds. The European Union comes in second with an annual consumption rate of 6.3 million pounds, and the country that eats the most apples is China, with a whopping 38 million pounds of apples consumed there every year.

Apples are one of the most ubiquitous fruits in history. Originating in a small area near present-day Kazakhstan, they quickly spread to become one of the most widely distributed commodities on the planet. Two-thousand five hundred different varieties of apple are grown in the United States alone, with around 7,500 varieties grown world wide.

Last week while wandering the campus in search of these tasty snacks, I found five apple trees on various spots around the school. Each one produced apples with their own unique flavor.

Some were sweet and juicy; another had apples that were lip-smackingly sour. The average semi-dwarf apple tree in North America produces about 10 bushels a season. At 40 pounds a bushel, that’s about 400 pounds of apples. So that means that the five trees on campus produce nearly 2,000 pounds of apples a season! Some food for thought the next time you want a healthy snack between classes.

Hurricane Florence

By LORAINE ACETO

Devastating Hurricane Florence graduated to a Category 5 hurricane recently, causing severe long-lasting damage in North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland (mostly in the Carolinas). The hurricane strengthened on Sept. 9, “reaching a new peak intensity with 1-minute winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a central pressure of 939 mbar (27.7 inHg),” according to Glen Allen Weather. Hurricane Florence strengthened again late Sept. 11. Increasing wind shear caused storm winds to slowly decrease and diminish over the following few days, yet the winds of Hurricane Florence continued growth.

In the evening of Sept.

13, Florence was leveled down to a Category 1 hurricane, as the storm stalled nearing the Carolina coastline. The next day, in the early morning of Sept. 14, Florence made landfall directly south of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and weakened further as it slowly moved inland. Florence degenerated to a post-tropical cyclone over West Virginia on Sept. 17, and two days later, the remnants of Florence were absorbed into another frontal storm.

A ridge of high pressure over eastern North America stalled Florence’s forward motion for several days while making land-

fall; moving forward at only 2 to 3 miles per hour (3.2 to 4.8 km/h), the storm continually dumped heavy rain along coastal areas from Sept. 13, when the outer rainbands first began to be felt, to Sept. 15, when the storm was still stalled out only a few miles west of Wilmington. Coupled with a large storm surge, this caused widespread flooding along a long stretch of the North Carolina coast, from New

Bern to Wilmington.

As the storm moved inland, from Sept. 15 to 17, heavy rain caused widespread inland flooding, inundating cities such as Fayetteville, Smithfield, Lumberton, Durham, and Chapel Hill, as major rivers such as the Neuse River, Eno River, Cape Fear River, and Lumber Riverall spilled over their banks. Most major roads and highways in the area experienced some flooding, with large stretches of I-40, I-95, and US Route 70 remaining impassable for days after the storm had passed.

Mandatory evacuations were called in the areas which the hurricane affected.

Fifty-one civilians have died as a result of the storm. Forty thousand workers in the U.S. and Canada have made efforts to restore electric power. About 2,200 primary and secondary roads closed due to flooding, including large sections of interstates 40 and 95. South Carolina Governor McMaster received $1.2 billion in federal funding for recovery, including $165 million to the National Flood Insurance Program and $125 million for agriculture.

On Sept. 23, the United States Congress aided the Carolinas with $1.7 billion aid in relief. The damage is estimated more than 38 billion U.S. dollars. Please donate towards Hurricane Florence hurricane relief at www.redcross.org. Any amount counts and truly helps!

Scan the QR Code below to donate now!

Volunteerism 4 Organizations to Get Involved With

By SHERRY BELL

United Way of Greater Portland is always looking for volunteers. Are you looking for a one-time opportunity, something like helping at a local event for the community? Maine Responds and Maine Medical Reserve Corps seek volunteers throughout the state to help public health and healthcare systems, and to prepare local areas for disasters and emergencies of all types. The skills of licensed medical professionals are desired just as strongly as logistics and administrative talents.

No minimum commitment or training is required. For more information, please contact Ed Molleo, volunteer management coordinator with the Maine CDC’s Office of Public Health Emergency Prepared-

ness & Response, at edward.f.molleo@ maine.gov or (207) 287-4072. Visit www. mainemrc.org for more info on MRC and www.maineresponds.org to register.

There also are the scheduled weekly things you could do, like tutor adults who are learning the English language for the first time. This is a one-to-one tutoring program through Learningworks. Some very highly motivated adult learners are matched with tutors for a period of six months. The tutors will meet for two to three hours a week with the student. The tutor will undergo a 10-part training webinar. Sound interesting? If so, please contact ELLP Coordinator Rachel Evenson at atrevenson@learningworks.me or (207) 775-0105 x 165.

Do you enjoy children and have a love for reading? Do you want to share that love for reading with first graders? Starting Strong is looking for people to help first graders with their reading. This is for 12 weeks. As a volunteer you will meet with your student to read a book or go through short activities for half an hour. There are opportunities at Schools in Greater Portland , Hall, Reiche, Riverton, Lyseth or

Ocean Avenue Elementary. If interested in signing up for the session beginning in September 2018, email volunteer@unitedwaygp.org.

Did you know that 2,677 volunteers donated 18,292 hours last year to help the United Way achieve sustainable community change? Do you have some free time and want to give back, make a difference?

Then get involved and contact the United Way. If the two above-mentioned United Way opportunities don’t seem to fit into your schedule or you would rather do something different, check out their website at http://www.unitedwaygp.org/volunteer/.

Giving back is a great way to meet new people, make friends, learn about the community and feel good all at the same time.

Illustration by Eden Dyer

4

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

Other World

Blueberries and Lobsters Where Does Our Food Come From?

The Hidden World of Maine’s Food Production

By MATT FLAHERTY

Maine’s food industry is booming, but do we know how our food is produced, and who is preparing it?

When we think of our food, we think of the lobster that is hauled up in traps along the coastline. We are reminded of the rolling wild blueberry barrens Down East that turn red in the fall. We beam with pride about our potatoes up north in the County and those schools’ annual potato harvest break in mid-fall.

We are a proud state, and we should be, but there is more to our food industry than meets the eye. We create an image in our minds of a prototypical “Mainer.” This Mainer is the fisherman who hauls in his catch in the early morning. This Mainer is the farmer who tends to his blueberry barrens and potato fields. This Mainer started that restaurant on Commercial Street in Portland through hard work and pulling himself up by the bootstraps.

We believe in an image of a strong, gray-bearded middle aged white man. This man works hard to make sure he provides for himself, his family and his community.

This image we have in our minds is certainly true of many people in Maine’s food industry, but there are other faces, old and new, that are hardworking Mainers.

What does it mean to be a hard worker in Maine: Let’s start with the old faces that are often forgotten about. Working with Maine’s most cherished agricultural crop, the wild blueberry, is not something for the faint of heart. The wild blueberry is grown in

low bushes that are no higher than 10 inches off the ground. In order to harvest this crop, workers need to use a specialized rake tool and bend over for the whole day in the heat of the August sun. Who are these workers?

Huge numbers of Native Americans migrate every year from within Maine and Canada to rake these wild blueberries.

Within Maine, they predominantly come from Indian Township and Pleasant Point, two of Maine’s four Native American reservations. Within Canada, they come from Eskasoni, a Native American reservation located in Nova Scotia.

Every year, they travel to the blueberry barrens and stay in cabins surrounded by the fruit. This migration has been happening for centuries, long before this land was called Maine or owned by the United States. Unfortunately, the Native American labor is left out of the public discussion when it comes to the wild blueberry.

In every supermarket in Maine, you will see Wyman’s bags of frozen wild blueberries. The people who rake the blueberries for this iconic Maine brand are mostly of Hispanic descent.

Some of these migrant workers move straight from Mexico or Central America to rake blueberries in Deblois for the month of August. Most of them follow the East Coast migrant stream every year.

They start in southern states like Florida and Texas, move north to a state like New Jersey and end their year in Maine raking blueberries. There are workers who bring their families and workers who come alone to provide for their families back home.

The story of the stereotypical migrant worker in the United States is similar to that journey. They move from state to state following different harvests. These populations are more visible in states like California, Texas and Florida, though they are often overlooked there. In Maine, the migrant-worker population is smaller and even more overlooked.

The lobster industry is a little more complicated. In order to have lobster traps, a person needs to have a permit, and these permits are extremely difficult to receive.

It is not uncommon to be on a waiting list for at least five years. Once you have the permit, there is a lot of equipment that a person needs to have. A boat, traps, buoys, rope and other equipment make this an expensive venture.

Because of the difficulty in entering the lobster industry, hauling traps and catching lobster is reserved to Mainers who have money and have been established in the state for years. This is not the end of the story, though. What happens after the lobster is caught?

There needs to be somebody who cleans, weighs and shucks the lobsters to get them ready to sell. In many places on the Maine coast, especially greater Portland and Down East, this work is reserved for immigrant labor.

Lobster processing is not easy work, either. When you first walk into these facilities, the smell of fish is overwhelming.

Workers spend their entire shifts on their feet, cleaning, weighing and shucking lobster. Many of the people doing this work are immigrants from all over the world. There

are undocumented immigrants from Latin America, refugees from countries in Africa and immigrants from Asia as well.

The problem is, though, that nobody knows who is doing this work, never mind the work conditions that the people face.

Most employers make it tough for any social service agency to speak to their workers; many of their employees are victims of wage theft and other crimes. Some may not speak English and reading a paycheck can be hard. Or they do speak English, but don’t have the resources and knowledge to speak up against their boss. They could come from a country and place where a minimum wage is not enforced, and may think it is the same here. Or, they are in debt with somebody and half their paycheck goes to someone else to start with.

Let’s say they don’t make a minimum wage. This obviously affects other parts of their life. For example, their employer typically does not provide a health care plan.

Receiving basic medical services becomes something that is out of the question.

Small health issues become big problems for people like these when they are not taken care of.

Food is such a big part of our lives and a huge part of Maine’s culture. People all over the world know Maine for our lobsters and our blueberries, but there is more to the story than what is being told.

This is common in the food industry. Our farmworkers and fishermen are too often overlooked. The next time you go to pick up some seafood or produce, take a minute to think about where it is coming from.

Banksy’s Greatest Prank

By CELINA SIMMONS

On Friday, Oct. 5, one of the British street artist Banksy’s most notable pieces was auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London for a hefty $1.4 million. “Girl With Balloon” portrayed a young girl reaching for a heart-shaped balloon in spray paint on canvas. Made in 2006, it was signed by the artist himself. Almost immediately after the hammer hit on the final price, the piece self-destructed.

Most of it was shredded into small strips by a remote-controlled, battery-powered shredder that was built into the frame.

“Girl With Balloon” was the last to be sold at Sotheby’s “Frieze Week” contemporary art sale for the evening. The art was sold for three times the estimated price after competition between two bidders. There is speculation now that the shredding has caused Banksy’s piece to be worth twice as much.

After the incident, Banksy put out two posts on his Instagram page. The first was a screenshot of his shredded paint-

ing next to shocked observers with the caption “Going, going, gone…” The second post consisted of video clips and text that said, “A few years ago I secretly built a shredder into a painting in case it was ever put up for auction…” The video clips included shots of someone building the shredder into the painting frame and shots of the incident occurring at the auction. He posted this with a quote from Picasso stating, “The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.”

Some have gone as far to say that the Sotheby staff played a role in this prank, but they claimed to have been “Banksy’ed” themselves.

It is unknown entirely what this demolition is representing, but many suggest it is Banksy’s mockery of what people’s values are today. One of the Dragons’ Den multimillionaire investors, Deborah Meadon, described Banksy as “officially the coolest, most poignant person on Earth.” “Of course it’s a publicity stunt,” she said, “but it’s publicising the sheer insanity of where we place our values.”

“The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.”

But could it go even deeper than that?

The young girl portrayed in the painting is perceived as a representation of innocence and hope. The balloon drifting away from the girl represents the image of hope disappearing. With that in mind, could there be more behind the meaning of this self-destruction?

USM Internship FAIR

Wednesday, November 14th 11:00am - 1:30pm Abromson Center, Portland

Benefits of Internship •

Gain Experience

•

Explore Carrers

•

Develop Skills

•

Networking

•

Confidence

All majors welcome.

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

5

Opinion

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Is Speaking Up for Me

By ALEX DOWNING

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, the chances are you’ve heard the name Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh is a federal judge who, in July of this year, was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump. Following this nomination, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a professor and research psychologist, came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh.

Dr. Ford claimed that in the summer of 1982, a severely intoxicated Kavanaugh pinned her down, groped her, and attempted to remove her clothing. She even asserted that he held his hand over her mouth to silence her screams.

On Thursday, Sept. 27, Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford faced off in an impassioned hearing. The testimonies jumped between a skittish yet poignant account of sexual abuse and a frenzied, chaotic defense. While both parties displayed a tremendous amount of emotion, Dr. Ford managed to maintain her dignity and conviction while Judge Kavanaugh abandoned any sense of composure.

Since this hearing, public opinion seems to be decidedly split. And one can only as-

sume that there is a similarly divided attitude being sexually assaulted demands. Children amongst the senators responsible for voting have little understanding of how to initiate leon Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Those in gal action. Children are inherently scared of favor of him cite both the seemingly “conve- getting other people in trouble. Dr. Ford likely nient” timing of Dr. Ford’s report and the lack attempted to move on and regain some sense of conclusive evidence as pitfalls of normalcy in her life. in her allegations. Many have I know all of this because even accused Democrats of when I was 15, I was sexuinstigating this entire orally assaulted. And not undeal as a targeted attack like Judge Kavanaugh, my against the GOP. This attacker was a popular, skepticism surroundprivileged, privately-eding Dr. Ford’s claims is ucated boy who came hideously flagrant but, from an influential famiunfortunately, not unly. He was well liked and common. outgoing, while I was a Those questioning shy and easily intimidatwhy Dr. Ford didn’t press ed little girl. Because of charges some 30-odd this, I never released his years ago are grossly name to authorities. ignorant to the plight of Watching Dr. Ford sexual abuse survivors. give her testimony struck She was 15 years old at a very personal and prothe time of the incident. She found chord within me. Yes, was a child. Children aren’t Illustration by Eden Dyer it rendered me mournful and equipped to handle the excepempathetic, but mostly it made tional range of emotions that me mad because this country

$

does just about everything to prove its preference of rich, white men over women and people of color except say it outright.

Judge Kavanaugh probably could have avoided the consequential revival of his actions on that night in 1982, had he not been audacious enough to enter the public eye. Dr. Ford sat idly by as she watched her attacker gain political and societal importance. She periodically confided in her friends and loved ones that his influence perturbed her, but she remained quiet. That is, until he was nominated for a position in which he would be making decisions regarding women’s bodies. Where he could help implement archaic bans on birth control and abortion. She decided to speak up not for herself, but for the benefit of women and young girls throughout the country.

I am Dr. Ford. Your mother is Dr. Ford. Your girlfriend, your sister, and maybe even you, are Dr. Ford as well. Every woman has at least one story of harassment, degradation or assault by a man, and many of us never get to tell our story. Dr. Ford is telling our story. Listen closely.

Why We Need a Universal Basic Income

By ZACHARY J. GUIOD

We are entering a new age of progress.

One where automation will replace human labor. This will present problems for our current economic system. Recently former President Obama gave a speech where he said, “The pace of change is going to require us to do more fundamental reimagining of our social and political arrangements, to protect the economic security and the dignity that comes with a job.” This means we will have to “consider new ways of thinking about these problems,” including a “universal income,” he said.

Universal basic income, commonly abbreviated as UBI, is a guaranteed income for every citizen. Think of it in a way as Social Security for everyone. Regardless of if you have a job or not, you are guaranteed to have enough income to meet your basic necessities. This idea may sound far-fetched, but give me a chance to explain why a UBI should be implemented in America.

Now, there are many reasons why every American should get a guaranteed income.

One of the most important is the record levels of economic inequality that must be dealt with. Three men ( Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet) have more wealth than the bottom 50 percent of Americans.

Sixty-three percent of Americans can’t even afford a $500 emergency, and 78 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. So when someone’s car breaks down or they have to go the emergency room, they’re out of luck. This kind of financial stress is not good for anyone’s mental health.

Compared to many other developed countries, America is not a happy country. The World Happiness Report, released every year by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranks countries by how happy their citizens are. The top five happiest countries are Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland. What do these countries all have in common? A strong social safety net that protects them from the economic anxiety that average Americans face on a daily basis. The United States has never made it into the top 10, and in 2018 we ranked 18th in happiness.

This is because of the economic pressures that Americans deal with. Working 40 hours a week in a job that you don’t enjoy just to survive isn’t a recipe for happiness.

Another reason for a UBI is that the jobs that many of us work are going to be gone sooner than later. Automation is going to re-

6

place human labor whether we want it to or not. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 73 million U.S. jobs could be replaced by automation by 2030. If there is no system in place to mitigate this massive loss of jobs, then millions of U.S. workers will be hurt. But the future loss of jobs shouldn’t be looked at as a negative thing; in fact it’s the exact opposite. The purpose of technology is to make our existence easier. It makes no sense for people to labor away at menial jobs that could be automated.

So if we have a UBI, what will people do if they don’t have to work a majority of their time to simply afford to exist? They could do many things such as create new works of art or music. People could go back to school and learn languages or learn about other cultures besides the one they were born in. Entrepreneurs could use a basic income to save up for the resources to start a new business. Regardless of what people do with their newfound time and income, it will most definitely improve their lives.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, 78 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. This means that people are spending money as soon as they get it. So imagine if a UBI system was implemented and every American received $1,000 or $2,000 a month. They are going to spend it quickly because they live paycheck to paycheck and have nothing in savings. This dramatic increase in spending will cause more jobs to be created and will stimulate the economy from the bottom up. This isn’t a radical idea.

Our representatives just gave the richest amongst us a trillion-dollar tax cut. Instead of hoping some scraps trickle down to us in the lower classes, why not directly invest that money in working people?

There have been several UBI experiments done to study the effects on the recipients’ health and well-being. The Ontario province of Canada recently cut their UBI program two years earlier than expected, even though it had very promising signs of success. Dave Cherkewski was a recipient of basic income in this experiment and he talks about how a basic income will allow him to follow his dreams. “With basic income I will be able to clarify my dream and actually make it a reality, because I can focus all my effort on that and not worry about, ‘Well, I need to pay my $520 rent, I need to pay my $50 cellphone, I need to eat and do other things.’” Another recipient, Tim Button, said, “It takes me out of depression… I feel more sociable.”

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

Although a UBI would cure many of the ills in American society, it can’t fix everything. We need universal healthcare, more funding for public schools and tuition-free college. With healthcare and education taken care of, a UBI can help Americans afford housing, food, clothes and all their necessities. Of course a UBI is far from becoming a

reality in America; even if the Republicans weren’t in power there’s no way the current Democrats in office would push for it. Regardless of when it will be implemented, UBI is the future, and it needs to be in the public consciousness.

By ZACHARY J. GUIOD

around the world and it costs a staggering $100 billion per year to maintain them.

With all this money and resources going towards death and destruction, one thought keeps coming to mind: What could we do with that money if we weren’t involved in so many wars? Flint, Michigan, still doesn’t have clean water after four years of national attention. Twenty-nine million Americans don’t have health insurance. Student-loan debt is at an all-time high, and college graduates leave school with an average $37,172 of debt. The state of perpetual war that we exist in clearly doesn’t benefit the average American, so who does it benefit?

Defense contractors love our never-ending wars. This is why it doesn’t matter if Democrats or Republicans control the government, because both political parties are in the pocket of the military-industrial complex. Two of the biggest defense contractors in the military-industrial complex are Boeing and Lockheed Martin. In 2015 Lockheed Martin spent $14 million lobbying politicians and in return they were awarded $36.2 billion. Boeing spent $22 million on lobbying and was given $16.6 billion the same year. We can see by these numbers that these corporations’ profits depend on war, so they give money to politicians to ensure that they vote for more war and reward them with government contracts.

After 17 years, the War on Terror has been an abysmal failure. Not only have we managed to waste trillions of dollars on wars that have not made us safer, we have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people and pushed many to embrace extremist ideologies because of our actions.

It’s time for us, as a country, to admit that we are in the wrong and put an end to the perpetual wars that many of us have lived with for most of our lives.

America Is Still at War, in Case You Forgot We live in a state of perpetual war. I’m 20 years old, and I don’t remember a time when my country was not at war — and I’m sure this is the case for many of you as well.

One of the strangest things about being at never-ending war is that it somehow makes it less of a big deal. Unless you have a close friend or family member in active combat overseas, the wars we wage aren’t at the forefront of the mind of the average American. I think it’s time our never-ending wars got some attention, because mainstream media won’t cover them.

When President Obama took office in 2009, the country was involved in two offensive wars started by Bush. By the end of Obama’s term we were involved in seven offensive wars, with a combination of boots on the ground and aerial drone strikes. Obama, who ironically won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, dropped 26,171 bombs in 2016. Our current President didn’t want to be outdone by his predecessor, and since taking office Donald Trump dropped 9,000 more bombs than Obama did in 2016 and has increased drone strikes 432 percent compared to Obama’s last year in the White House. This goes to show that regardless of political party, our elected representatives love to bomb foreign countries that didn’t attack us.

I bet you, the reader, doesn’t even know what countries we are currently bombing.

In 2017 the U.S. military dropped bombs in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia. Do you know much do we spend on our yearly “defense” budget? $700 billion, more than the next nine countries combined — and five of those countries are our strong allies. The United States has over 800 military bases in 80 countries

Kavanaugh’s Confirmation

Opinion

Living the Modern-Day Witch Trials and a Claim From Someone Else Questions

By LORAINE ACETO

Before starting this article, I state this opinion, as a “survivor” of sexual abuse myself: I 1000 percent believe Kavanaugh! As a “survivor,” only with no victim mentality, that’s why I strongly support the Second Amendment — women are more prone to attacks. Sexual assault is very wicked, and it’s sickening (believe this from a “survivor”!). Sexual assaults are to be dealt very seriously. However, sexual misconduct isn’t a “trend” and this hysterical witch hunt is so offensive towards those who have actually been attacked! Just because the left is adding all these emotional triggers, does not make me lose sight of common sense.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh: American attorney, jurist — United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — has been nominated to associate justice in the U.S. Supreme Court by U.S. President Donald Trump. The United States Court of Appeals: District of Columbia government website’s professional biography of Judge Brett Kavanaugh states after graduating Yale (Cum Laude and fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon member), Judge Kavanaugh became a clerk on the Supreme Court at the White House and following, he became a judge. Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s views: favors abortion restrictions; believes the ban of semi-automatic rifles doesn’t obey the Second Amendment; applies the Constitution as written; judges must interpret the law, not make the law; rejects net neutrality; Conservative/Republican.

That being said about who Judge Brett Kavanaugh is/what he stands for, what Kavanaugh’s going through to get confirmed is so condemnable! Just because people don’t agree with his politics, we have reached the lowest of the lows in attempt of trying to destroy Kavanaugh’s family and good name

built on decades of hard work in an act of modern-day witch trials! If this whole situation of accusing Kavanaugh is not “political”, why are they attacking a man going into a government position open about his political views, and why was the information leaked three weeks before the confirmation hearing? Think about it. Coincidence?

As we may have heard, in the middle of his confirmation process, Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh has recently been accused of a few sexual assaults more than 30 years ago in high school, all of which do not have solid evidence but emotion and 99.9 percent of bystanders reject/have never heard of these incidents.

On Sept. 27, the Kavanaugh/Blasey Ford hearing was held. The following day, Kavanaugh was voted in and confirmed, 11-10!

Another FBI Investigation was completed and proved innocence; after the six background checks just in case they may have missed something these many times, he has had an official background check — this was the seventh background check!

The left’s excuse now? “The FBI Investigation was not thoroughly done.” Well, officially trained professional FBI officials conducted this investigation, and here is your evidence! I don’t get the rage based on believing someone because of their gender and not from literally all of these facts and evidence — no matter what gender you are, look at the facts if you want equality.

The FBI Investigation said Kavanaugh did not ever do such thing. Period. On Friday, Oct. 5, Maine Senator Susan Collins voted to confirm Kavanaugh. Senator Collins was spot on, and her speech has made a terrific historic mark! Susan Collins, my girl! Her speech was so amazing and intelligent, with lots of research! She spoke the truth even while heads were exploding in the background! She was the final one to decide the fate and ultimately gave Kavana-

Rape Culture

If We’re All Being Honest About Sexual Assault in situations like this, victims wonder, “Did I deserve it?” “Was I leading him/her on?” “Was 2016 left us with a president who thinks it bad enough to report?” “Was an intoxicated his stardom leaves him entitled to a woman’s “yes” a real yes?” And finally… “Will anyone be“p****y.” 2017 gave us #metoo. I am leaving lieve me?” I’ve been there. People I love have been there.

2018 with this article.

I work in an elementary school. I love the I’m going to be honest with you because kids I work with, all of them. They’re unique, at this point, my experience or any one of my smart, playful. They astound me every day. friends’ experiences won’t be looked at as a With this in mind, I still can’t escape the stashock anymore. It won’t surprise you. You’ll tistics. The thought that statistically speaking, some day, these kids have high risk of being both read this while being so disgustingly jaded. victims and assaulters So, here’s someshakes me. One day I thing you should cried on the way home know: I can confidentfrom work, mired in ly say that 90 percent these thoughts. of my women friends It may feel as if have been raped. Nineyou can’t make a difty percent. I can also ference, but there’s a confidently say that 85 place to start, groundto 100 percent of each work to be done. We of those rapes have can start to diminish been unreported. rape culture by speakGet this, most of ing out against rape those rapes were talkjokes.

Disassociate ed about afterward from friends who with a sense of frustracompare the atrocity tion — with a simultaof rape jokes on the neous understanding radio with Nike’s partthat this is just the Illustration by Eden Dyer nership with Colin world that we live in. It happens. We are statistics. We move on with Kaepernick. Teach your kids about consent — teach your friends about consent if they still our lives.

You ask us, “Well, if it’s so bad, don’t you need it.

Don’t make make this casual. Don’t think, think you’d report it?” No. It might not make sense to someone who doesn’t have to live “This is just the world that we live in.” it’s time with this fear in the their mind, but sometimes to act.

By JESSAMYN BREWER

ugh enough support to be in the Supreme Court! The U.S. Senate has voted “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh now has enough support to progress into Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh has been confirmed. Period.

Kavanaugh had solid evidence. Blasey Ford had emotion and accusations (an understandably serious accusation), but where is her evidence if we want fairness?

“The event described by Dr. Ford presumably happened on a weekend, because I believe everyone worked and had jobs in the summers, and in any event, a drunken early evening event of the kind she describes presumably happened on a weekend. If it was a weekend, my calendars show that I was out of town almost every weekend night before football training camp started in late August. The only weekend nights that I was in DC were, Friday, June 4, when I was with my dad at a pro-golf tournament, and had my high school achievement test at 8:30 the next morning,” Kavanaugh states. “If the party described by Dr. Ford happened in the summer of 1982 on a weekend night my calendar shows all but definitively that I was not there.”

Basic geography as well: “Dr. Ford has said that this event occurred at a house near Columbia country club, which is at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase. In her letter to Senator Feinstein, she said that there were four other people at the house, but none of those people nor I lived near Columbia Country Club,” Kavanaugh claims.

More than six of Kavanaugh’s classmates/bystanders issued a statement that these assaults had never happened. “We can say with confidence that if the incident Debbie alleges ever occurred, we would have seen or heard about it — and we did not,” they said. “The behavior she describes would be completely out of character for Brett.” During the hearing, body language experts researched that when asked to provide information about the event, Dr. Ford didn’t look to the upper left or upper right (the area which our eyes naturally look to recollect memories). All of this evidence stated, he is confirmed innocent. Kavanagh: a good man with solid evidence.

We have seen a repeating of the godawful historic Salem Witch Trials modernized. One points a finger and says “witch!”; mass hysteria believes and burns the witch!

Sound familiar? “The Crucible,” Arthur Miller’s famous play about the Witch Trials, came out in 1953, a time where liberals still cared about civil liberties, process of the right to face your accuser. The McCarthy hearings — a time the left despised until they “resisted” and created a witch hunt themselves. The mob (liberals) accuse a villager of witchcraft and the witch (Kavanaugh) denies it: Gasps! “He has to be a witch!” “Prove you’re not a witch according to my rhetoric mass hysteria!,” the mass hysteria says. The witch doesn’t fit their agenda of what a witch should be (political ideology) so take him down! Notice how all of the accusers are liberal and waited until he was nominated, just about to get voted in, to accuse him trying to destroy his career but Kavanaugh didn’t back down! “Not political”?! Think before you speak.

Come to find out, as well, according to Dr. Michael Savage’s website (American radio host and political commentator) sourced from The New York Post, news came out that, “Two men have come forward to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to claim that they are the ones who actually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford during a house party in 1982 — and not Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.”

By ANNE GRESINGER, SMCC CHAPLAIN INTERN

On the morning of the fatal accident, as chaplain, I was called on to be there for the SMCC students facing this tragedy. However much help I might actually be was unclear. It is always challenging to discern when to step in and when to just be a supportive presence. How can any one of us best support those deep in pain and crisis?

There are times when just being a compassionate witness, honoring that there is a quality of beauty in the truth at hand, even in deepest grief, without judgement, is a way of bringing love and grace into the picture.

At Surfsite, I was able to witness the shockwave of this tragic loss unfold as more students woke up to the reality of Pat’s death. I was most blown away by the profound strength with which the students navigated this devastating reality.

Their tenderness, kindness, pain and solidarity created a vessel for the shattering of this trauma and grief to be held, with love. Some lyrics from Paul Simon’s song “Graceland” keep running in my head.

And I see losing love Is like a window in your heart Everybody sees you’re blown apart Everybody sees the wind blow In Graceland, in Graceland I’m going to Graceland…

Maybe I’ve a reason to believe We all will be received In Graceland These pieces of the song resonate with the healing embrace I was so honored to witness.

A student who didn’t know Pat, but who was also a Surfsite resident, had been creating a picture of a red panda right about the time of the accident. As the different facets of how this devastating reality would be affecting those close to Pat unfolded in this student’s mind, a touch of grace also surfaced. The clear joy of the personified panda, running straight toward the viewer, arms stretched wide, the hands extending outside the frame as if the viewer is about to be embraced, running through an ideal field under the sky of a gorgeous day, could represent the freedom that Pat now knows. And in a gesture of heart-centered sympathy, the student decided to name this panda Pat. This gesture is just one of the many acts of kindness, concern and support that I witnessed on the day of Pat’s death. For those of us who are aware of this painful tear in the fabric of our community, I would say that every tender honoring, even just through thought, of how deep this cut goes into those close to Pat, adds to the vessel of grace and support we can provide for them.

In a situation where someone is faced with crisis and soul pain, we are often moved to try and fix things: to take the pain away, pick up the pieces and put them back in some order. Inner pain is somewhat different than physical pain. When it comes to grieving, it’s actually better not to try and fix things. It’s important to let the grief and the truth of what a person is feeling move at its own speed and speak for itself in its own way.

Confirming what a person is going through by compassionately reflecting back to them what they offer you can help their process.

Just sitting quietly with someone who is in pain and grief can be just what’s needed at times. Whatever the crisis, near or far, an honest response is essential. Lean into, be aware of, the vessel of support that is here for all in the SMCC community.

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

7

A rts & Features

Ashley Bryan and His Art

Here’s Your Listing The Roll Call of October

By LIAM WOODWORTH-COOK

“The Adventures of Aku.” This work used tempera paintings with red, ocher and black, directly referencing African paintings, sculptures, and masks. These sorts of pieces on display were breathtaking. You can see the precision of each stroke used to create the art. The red contrast with the ocher allows the viewers to be consumed by the traditional African style of it. Bryan says “I hope that my work with the African tales will be… like a bridge reaching across distances of time and space.”

A couple more of Ashley Bryan’s pieces that stood out to me were portraits of enslaved people he had come across in slave-related documents. Bryan wanted to restore the humanity that was taken from these people with his art because the documents only listed each person’s name and price, treating them as if they were solely property. He did this by imagining their histories and dreams and through his poetry and portraits in his book “Freedom Over Me.” Along with his original artwork, the exhibit provides copies of Bryan’s children books, such as “What a Wonderful World” and “Beautiful Blackbird.” Viewers of the exhibit can sit down and read his stories while referencing some of the illustrations with the originals on the walls around them.

Ashley Bryan saw a void in children literature and decided to fill it. The outcome became art in the making, and hopefully opened up more doors for African tradition and culture to be brought into children books. I found his work to be very original and inspiring, and I am sure others would say the same. The exhibit is open to the public until Nov. 25, and I highly recommend you check it out!

located on Congress Street, has music every night (excluding Mondays). Bull Feeney’s gets packed on the weekend for rock-and-roll cover bands, and hosts an open mic every Tuesday. Gritty McDuff’s also hosts local acts throughout the week and weekend. And seeing how most of us are college students, I’ll mention the infamous Amigo’s. A college dive (with pool tables and cheap drinks) guaranteed for sloppiness, Amigo’s has outdoor music every weekend. Here’s a brief listing for upcoming shows at the big name venues.

Wednesday 10/10:

Atmosphere (State Theatre)

Thursday 10/11:

Opiuo (Port City Music Hall)

Friday 10/12:

Man About A Horse (Empire) Horse Feathers (One Longfellow Square)

DamnationLand 2018:The Way Life Should Bleed

(State Theatre)

Peter Wolf (Port City Music Hall)

Sunday 10/14:

SucideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque (State Theatre)

Saturday 10/13:

Wednesday 10/17: Friday 10/19: Sunday 10/21:

Monday 10/22: Friday 10/26:

Saturday 10/27:

Wednesday 10/31:

Miss Fits: An All Ghoul Misfits Tribute (Port City Music Hall) Bonnie “Prince” Billy (One Longfellow Square) Melvin Seals & JGB (Port City Music Hall) The Glitch Mob (State Theatre) Dirty Heads (State Theatre)

The Wombats (Port City Music Hall)

Purple Brainz: A Halloween Tribute to Prince (State Theatre) Kat Wright Lawrence (Port City Music Hall)

EqualityMaine’s Great Pumpkin Ball (State Theatre) Postmodern Jukebox (State Theatre)

31

Freeform’s Of Halloween

By LORAINE ACETO

From October thirteenth to thirty-first, Freeform’s famous seasonal programming block, Nights of Halloween, has made an upgrade! Freeform says, “Prepare yourself for blood-curdling chills and fiendish frights . . . catch your bone-chilling favorites all through October.” The Freeform TV channel will be playing Halloween and horror-related films every day beginning on October first.

It will last all the way up until October thirty-first, the day of Halloween. This fang-tas-

Nights

The Portland Museum of Art is featuring an exquisite exhibit by a local painter and poet from Aug. 3 to Nov. 25. This past weekend a couple friends and I went to the museum to check it out, and we were not disappointed.

Ashley Bryan, although originally born in 1923 in the Bronx, has lived in Cranberry Isles, Maine, for the past 60 years. His love for making books and storytelling started when he was only six years old, and he has published over 60 books since his first publication of poems in 1967. He shared that he doesn’t remember a point in his life where he wasn’t drawing or painting.

When Bryan was a child, he noted the lack of African American characters in children’s books. Being the son of two American immigrants from Antigua, he wanted to change this. So, he took it upon himself to bring African and African American culture and experiences into his storytelling. He travelled to museums, festivals, and schools throughout America, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda to learn more about this culture.

When you first walk into the exhibit, your eyes get pulled straight to the puppets Bryan made for his storytelling. He grew up during the time of the Great Depression, and recalls sewing together pieces of fabric with his sister to make new clothes. He often used these techniques for his puppets, along with seashells, sea glass and other objects he could find along the ocean shore.

The next thing I noticed was the vibrancy of color throughout each piece. A lot of his artwork was collage-style, where he would put together bright pieces of paper to illustrate different parts of his stories. This technique gives the art beautifully clean depth while still keeping it simple on children’s eyes. Most of the art on display consisted of original pieces that Bryan used for his children’s books.

In the 1940s, Bryan “created a rich body of work” to incorporate into some of his stories, such as “The Ox of the Wonderful Horns and Other African Folktales” and

Photo by Celina Simmons

By CELINA SIMMONS

Portland is a happening spot for music.

Here we’ll go through the rundown of some of the bigger names passing through town.

As always, music can be found in some capacity every night in Portland. There’s open mics Monday through Thursday, and several clubs/bars are frequently rocking and rolling.

Be sure to check The Portland Phoenix for a full listing of all upcoming shows. Of course you can also go online to the venue’s website for listings as well. The jazz club Blue,

Check Schedule here

tic Halloween program was inspired by the same Freeform itself, who’s success is also known through their 25 Days of Christmas program. Freeform just recently dropped their 2018 movie schedule on their website which can be accessed by scanning the QR code provided.

So, snuggle up, grab some hot cocoa or apple cider, and get excited for the Halloween holiday to come! What Halloween classic are you looking forward to on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween?

SMCC

Students Create Art Oct 18 - Nov 4 The Captain’s House FMI: beacon@smccme.edu hos ub l C ted b y th e A r t

Open to *all* SMCC students - because you don’t need to be an arts major to create art.

8

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

A rts & Features Poetic

January’s Germination

LICENSE

By Liam Woodworth-Cook

When I was younger I found myself in domicile disease.

When wildflowers die, leaves mold a casket.

I left love on a couch and never warmed up from 6 feet of snow, I built money and struggled ideals thirsty and unfed.

I found my tongue a wood chip speaking, the ocean washed illusion, and you were a ghost gone.

Isolation strung out on lies where wildflowers die.

I stayed put for a heart which I only felt driving 9 hours on 95.

I stayed put gnawing my foot, rubber lips I tied them with shoelaces.

When wildflowers die, soil sucks bare.

A muted absence under chords of wood, she dressed as a doll.

Wildflowers die, as shrubs alone.

I found a room overlooking metallic humdrum.

Brevity of illness past, I saw wildflowers crest the snow.

Where brick shadows over tar, there, wildflowers grow.

By Basho: Year’s endstill in straw hat and sandals.

-------Autumn windslook, the chestnut never more green.

Funny Jokes

By LORAINE ACETO

Laughter is the best medicine! Best Life Online says, “Laughter relaxes the whole body, boosts the immune system, releases endorphins, protects the heart, burns calories, may help a longer life, strengthens relationships, and even prevents heart disease, improves mood, relieves stress, etc.”

Perfect whether for cracking up with your college pals, making your grandma smile, breaking ice, and spreading some joy, here is a collection of funny jokes to have a few laughs!

My professors told me I’d never amount to much because I procrastinate so much.

I told them, “Just you wait!”

(Best Life Online)

‘A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse.

“But why?” they asked, as they moved off.

“Because,” he said “I can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.”’

(Daily Mail Co - Researcher’s Official Funniest Jokes of All time)

Autumn stormwild boars tossed with leaves.

-------Storming over lake Nio, whirlwinds of cherry blossoms.

A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: “book, bok, bok, boook”. The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: “book, bok, bok, bok, boook.” Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head. Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: “boook, book, bok bok boook.” The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it. The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: “Book, bok, bok, boook”. The frog blinks, and croaks: “read-it, read-it, read-it”. (Jokes of the Day) Q: What do you call a pile of kittens?

A: A meow-ntain (heard from Melissa McCarthy) Another one was: “Doc, I can’t stop singing the ‘Green Green Grass of Home”’.

The doctor said: ‘That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome’.

‘Is it common?’ I asked.

‘It’s not unusual’ he replied.

(Daily Mail Co - Researcher’s Official Funniest Jokes of All time)

Autumn has always been one of my favorite times to write. The swinging shift of seasons is upon us, stark imagery surrounds, and the spirits hang in the air. I remember being in middle school and reading an Emily Dickinson poem about leaves. There is much color and taste in fall. It also brings a sadness that is inherit to poetry as we begin to bundle up for winter. I find the crisping air excellent for reflection. I’m biased that fall is

spectacular; my birthday falls in this month and Halloween has been my favorite holiday for years. Prepare my peers and teachers, the light will go quietly as we ourselves curl into another Maine winter. It depends on us if we go gently.

Once again, if you have any poetry or even a short piece of prose, please email me at liammwoodworthcook@smccme.edu. Featured here is a poem from The Beacon’s own managing editor Rebecca Dow, myself, and several seasonal haikus from the legendary Japanese poet, Basho (1644-94) .

Leaves

By Rebecca Dow

Every ray who hints her warmth through shapely green That which sways as delicate as the gentle breeze Cures and ages all that breathe; and yet those leaves, To a brittle flake, fall from old desolate trees.

And Sun comes long and lovely; on those warmer days, Such varied hands carry every gift to somewhere deep.

Down in the hollows of their sturdy heart; Beats a sweeter sap, and ever a sweeter seed.

And yet as chill climbs high those twiggy boughs, Green is turned to rouge, amber, midnight purple conch.

The winter frightens, and so the cavalry of food factory startle, Snap And retreat.

As the man is turned pale at the sight of some splendid specter So too is the leaf scared scarlet at their eminent fall, And brittle death Returned unto their own soil.

‘The Babadook’

By JACOB DARLING

This week I decided to do something a little different for my review. Rather than go out and see a new movie I chose to stay inside, curl up on the couch with my lady and watch a scary movie on Netflix. The movie we choose was “The Babadook,” a 2014 Australian horror film by first-time director Jennifer Kent. The movie tells the story of Amelia Vanek, a single mother struggling to cope with the loss of her husband, Oskar, who died on the day their son Samuel was born. While driving his wife to the hospital, Oskar’s car was struck in a deadly collision that left Amelia alone to raise Sam. The movie starts just days before Samuel’s seventh birthday, and Amelia is still struggling to cope with the memory of that traumatic event.

Things are made even worse when Samuel asks her to read him a bedtime story from a mysterious book that he has found. The book, titled “Mister Babadook,” is filled with disturbing pop-up pictures of the titular Babadook, a pale, human-like creature with a top hat and long claws. The book describes how the Babadook torments its victims once they become aware of him until they inevitably “let him in.”

This movie, for me, more than a horror flick was a story about perseverance. Amelia Vanek’s struggle to raise her son while trying to cope with trauma and loss is a very human and relatable one.

Sleeplessness becomes a com-

mon theme in her life as she tries to comfort Samuel’s fear of Mister Babadook.

Eventually she is forced to confront the creature, and I liked the way this part of the story was handled. You can almost interpret the Babadook as a manifestation of everyone’s worst version of themself. The ending can also been seen as a lesson that we all have an inner Babadook that can bring out the worst in us if we don’t learn to confront it and keep it under control.

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

9

Midcoast

SMCC’s Eric Squire

Changing Education One Student at a Time

By THOMAS ENG

test students’ comprehension of subjects.

This is how teachers decide what needs

Erik Squire didn’t just graduate from SMCC with a 4.0 GPA. While going to school at Southern Maine Community College he also worked as president of both Student Senate and SMCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, was named student of the year, and earned a full ride scholarship to USM. Erik knows what it takes to succeed, and has been helping others find that ambition for years.

Once Squire got to the University of Southern Maine, he didn’t stop helping students. While working with USM professor Travis Wagner, Squire learned that nearly half of Maine’s students aren’t proficiently literate. This means that a staggering number of students across the state don’t have the skills to analyze the texts they’re reading. Through studying test scores and interviewing education professionals, Erik boiled down this problem to three main ideas.

Squire believes that both teachers and local school districts need to be held to a higher standard. All teachers in the state of Maine take classes in order to ensure their teaching is up to snuff, they should also be required to learn ways to engage students in the material.

Requiring teachers to understand what they’re teaching will also ensure their students are receiving the most up-to-date education.

This shortcoming isn’t exclusive to teachers, however. The state of Maine has a standard for what must be taught in order to make sure students have all the tools they need to succeed, but some school districts, especially smaller ones, aren’t following these set of guidelines. So many students Photo Courtesy of Garrick Hoffman are studying more intense topics without the fundamental skills to get the job done. Holding both schools and teachers accountable for not following these standards is essential to making sure every student has what it takes to succeed.

Standardized testing is another big problem. Yes, it’s an efficient way for teachers to find out how their students are doing, but the tests’ infrequency and severity isn’t benefiting anyone. With only one or two massive tests a year, teachers don’t get the results soon to be focused on to help students succeed. enough. By the time they can rework their While these tests do help teachers plan curriculums to better serve their students, coursework for the future, they don’t help the year has ended. Squire wants to shift the students they’re currently working to a more formative process, testing stu- with. These tests are infrequent, normally dents more frequently with less rigorous being given twice a year, so teachers don’t tests. This way teachers can adjust their have access to this information in time to plans on the fly and students can get the help their students. most out of their time in school.

Squire currently works with students Standardized testing plays a huge role on academic probation on the Midcoast in the betterment of Maine’s students, Campus. Through his time there he has but it’s not as functional as it should be. realized that most of the students he Summative assessments are how schools works with have the ability to achieve

greatness, but they don’t have the skills to succeed in a self-reliant system. Erik has found that the biggest issue college students have is time management. Whether it’s because of work, personal life, or just sheer lack of engagement, many students have trouble finding time to get work done. Squire heavily encourages the students he works with to meet with the tutors SMCC offers, telling them, “Even 15 or 20 minutes is enough to help.”

The tutoring centers are a great place to get help with any work you’re struggling with, but what if you’re not having problems with the material? What if you’re struggling with staying focused enough to get the work done? The tutoring centers are also great environments where you can be your most productive. The tutors will make sure you’re staying on task and getting your work done.

Time management is an essential skill, both in an academic setting and out in the real world. That’s why Squire encourages students to get their work done, even if they find it tedious and boring. Most students won’t need to know how to complete linear functions in their day-to-day lives, but they will need to know how to keep focused and do a good job, even when the work is tiresome and frustrating.

Next year Squire will be taking what he’s learned at SMCC, both as a student and a faculty member, to Oakland, California, to teach secondary English. He plans to make sure all his students know there’s an adult who cares about them and wants them to succeed. Students can lose hope and think that they’re destined for failure, and in an underfunded school in the heart of Oakland, it’s not tough to understand why. Squire intends to show his students that success isn’t always about getting an A on a paper, but what writing that paper teaches them. He wants students to learn that being disciplined and hard working is the key to success.

Erik Squire is a genuinely compassionate and caring person. He, like no other person I’ve met, sees potential in every student and has the drive to help them achieve greatness. His work with students, during his time as a student himself and as a faculty member, has truly prepared him for his next position across the country. I believe Erik can change the way people think about schooling, and his work in Oakland is just the start.

Squire is a genuinely compassionate and caring person. He sees potential in every student and has the drive to help them achieve greatness.

10

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

Sports

By THE BEACON SPORTS STAFF

advanced Gunter to second base. The next Wolf batter, Sean Adams would get hit by a pitch loading the bases.

With the bases fully occupied Jack Sawicki singled to center field driving Gunter across

The 3-9 Central Maine Community College Mustangs sit in fourth with a .250 winloss percentage and NHTI trails all conference teams with a 2-10 record that warrants a .167 win-loss percentage.

While the major leagues have started division and league playoffs culminating in the annual fall classic, the World Series, Southern Maine Community College will be hosting the Yankee Small College Conference Round Robin this coming Saturday. Both SeaWolve teams will be taking to the diamonds to play conference rivals in what should be an exciting day for the community college softball and baseball fan.

The SeaWolves baseball team enters the tournament with a 10-4 overall record. Since the last Beacon the squad has gone 5-3. The Wolves swept both New Hampshire Technical Institute (7-5 and 15-6) and Central Maine Community College (5-3 and 11-2), while splitting with Great Bay Community College (18-1 and 4-9) and being swept by the College of Saint Joseph’s of Vermont 1-4 in both games).

On the softball side of the diamond, the Lady SeaWolves will be entering Saturday’s Round Sean Adams been congratulated during the Bridgeton Academy game.

Robin play with a 3-3 record.

While the Lady Wolves have not been able to schedule as many games as the the plate scoring an unearned run while Both St Joe’s and SMCC ride a two-game baseball team has, they ride a three-game leaving the bases loaded. With one out and winning streak into Saturday’s play. The Herwinning streak into the tournament. the bases loaded, the Mustang’s woes would ons will be looking to build upon their oneThe Lady SeaWolves swept Great Bay continue with a wild pitch that would allow game winning streak.

Community College this past weekend (10- Sawicki to take second base and Adams to 2 and 12-11). The previous weekend the advance to third. CMCC would collect the Wolves split an exhibition double header second out of the inning as Lesco would be with the University of New Hampshire club caught trying to steal home plate. team winning the second game 9-1 however SMCC would grab their fourth run of the dropping the opener 6-3. inning when Cole Lawrence would single to Two weekends ago the Lynx of NHTI swept the CMCC shortstop allowing Sean Adams the Wolves in play at SMCC (7-4 and 11-3). to score from third. The inning would end on In the opening game of this past Saturday’s a Cody Bryant fly out to right field. double-header with CMCC, the SeaWolves Individually, sophomore Dylan Francouer baseball team jumped all over the CMCC’s sports a .488 batting average while collecting errors plating four runs in the first inning. 20 hits (two doubles and two home runs).

The Mustangs would chip away at the Wolves Francouer has scored 12 runs, gathered 15 lead in the fourth and fifth innings scoring runs-batted-in 41 at bats. Senior Sean Adthree runs, one of which the Wolves would ams maintains a .311 batting average, colget back in the bottom of the fifth. lecting 8 runs while securing 13 runs-battedIan Westphal started the inning off with a in over 45 at bats. triple to right field and scored when the next This Saturday SMCC will host the Fall SeaWolve batter Peter Stauber reached base Round Robin with the top four Yankee Small on a Mustang fielding error taking second College Conference teams taking to the diabase on the play. Stauber was able to reach mond to play each other. The College of Saint third on a Dylan Francouer ground out to Joseph’s of Vermont sits atop the standings third base and would score when Colby with a .750 winning percentage curtesy of a Gunter reached first on another Mustang 6-2 record. fielding error.

SMCC occupies the second spot with a With one out, the Mustang’s would find 10-4 record and a .714 winning percentage. themselves in the unenviable position of see- The Herons of Great Bay Community Coling a SeaWolve at every plate. Stefan Lesco lege sit in third with a 5-3 record and a .625 would also reach base on an error which also winning percentage.

On the softball diamond, the Lady Lynx of New Hampshire Technical Institute comes into Saturday’s Round Robin looking to continue their dominance of the YSCC field.

The Lady Lynx have taken three out of four against the Seawolves after dropping the season opener to the SeaWolves.

Highlights from that double header include Emily Lashua’s impressive day at the plate which earned her recognition as a YSCC Player of the Week.

Emily went 5-7 for a .714 batting average, recording two runs-batted-in, two stolen bases and earning a trip to first base with a walk.

Over the course of the season, Emily has leveled off to a .538 batting average with seven hits (two of which are doubles), scoring 3 runs and collecting five runs-batted-in over 13 at bats.

Lady SeaWolve veterans Sara Ring and Meranda Martin both sport a .500 batting average and have six hits in 12 at bats. Martin has also scored eight runs while Ring has pushed across seven runsbatted-in.

The Beacon would like to wish both squads good luck in the Fall Round Robin play.

Photo courtesy of Jim Allen

The Scene From the Diamonds

Earn Your Bachelor’s with UMA

Photo courtesy of the Beacon staff

Transfer your SMCC Credits

Merandi Martin at bat against Massasoit during the 17/18 season.

• Dedicated student support • Affordable tuition • Scholarships & financial aid • Seamless credit transfer • 20 degree programs

uma.edu/brunswick

uma.edu/saco

207.442.7736

207.282.4111

The Beacon ◊ October 9, 2018

11

SMCC SPORTS The Scene on the Pitch Soccer Squads Wind Down Regular Season

Photo courtesy of Kris Schussler

Hart scored at 88:13, giving last year’s conference champions the win.

On top of those two games, the Lady Wolves also shut out both Hampshire College and CCRI, the games ending at 4-0 and 2-0 respectively.

The Men SeaWolves have had a long few weeks, as a 0-4 shutout by the Massasoit Community College Warriors marks their

Callie O’Brien faces her opponent. ahead until NHTI’s Madison Parrott scored at the 73:59 mark. Callie O’Brien turned the goose egg over on the big board leveling the score at one a piece five-minutes later with her 57th goal of her career. NHTI’s Maura

Photo by Cassie-Briana Marceau

SMCC’s women’s soccer team took Massasoit Community College’s Warriors to the cleaners on Saturday, October 6 with a dominating 6-1 victory at Wainwright Recreation Complex. This non-conference win was a great confidence boost after last week’s 2-1 loss against NHTI. The SeaWolves came out hot when sophomore Callie O’Brien scored off junior Jessica Haskell’s free kick at the 23rd minute mark. Massasoit came back quickly when Samantha Baston nailed a penalty kick to tie up the game in the first half.

Haskell came out in the second half scoring her 11th and 12th goals of the season back to back, followed by O’Brien with a free kick, giving the SeaWolves a staggering 4-1 lead. O’Brien landed a near-impossible shot from the corner at the 76:13 mark, earning her second hat trick of the season and senior Emily Harris had her moment of glory when she scored her fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick. O’Brien’s hat trick brought with it her 60th goal of her SMCC career, leaping over Hannah Fields record of 57.

Freshman goalkeeper Dana Sirois had eight saves, playing in the entire 90 minute match, helping push SMCC to 8-1-0. Massasoit falls to a 7-3-1 overall record. Our women’s team will be heading up to the University of Maine-Machias for a 1pm kickoff on Saturday, October 13th. On the 8th the Lady Wolves will travel to Quincy, MA, to take to the pitch against Quincy College in a non-conference match. The three-game

road trip ends with the Wolves taking on the CMCC Mustangs on the 18th. Our Lady Wolves will be home again on Saturday the 20th against Unity for Senior Day game.

After the scheduled conference match with NHTI on September 18th was canceled, the SeaWolves were unfortunate weather wise to take on conference rivals NHTI in the rain. Neither team could pull

Jonathan Mukwa controls the ball with his chest.

third consecutive loss.

While the home game on Saturday, October 6 was disappointing, Freshman goalkeeper Camden Labrecque had a staggering 12 saves during his 90 minutes of play.

Labrecque’s performance couldn’t save the SeaWolves, as the Warrior’s Charlie Swann had a hat trick and Junior Pereira added one to that.

Saturday, September 29th’s game against the Community College of Rhode Island was equally discouraging, as the men Wolves suffered a 0-2 loss. On the other hand, Labreque had another great performance with seven saves over the full 90 minutes.

The SeaWolves played Bridgton Academy’s Wolverines back on Wednesday, September 26, results in the first loss that started this steak. Up until this point, SMCC hadn’t let a team score more than twice in a game, but Bridgton’s offense was just too much.

Ending at a 3-6 loss, the game had its highlights. Sophomore Yaroslav Philbrook score his second goal of the season, freshman Jonathan Mukwa scored his first goal with the SeaWolves, and sophomore Hansen Casey scored for the fourth time this season.

Again, Labrecque gave a great show with eight saves over the 90 minutes. Labrecque is really making a name for himself on the field after saving 76 goals for an incredible .809 save percentage this season.

After these three loses SMCC’s men’s team now has a record of 4-4-2 overall, and 3-0-2 in the conference.

Hopefully, the Men SeaWolves will be able to pull out of this tailspin with their away game at Quincy College on Monday, October 8 and their game at University of Maine-Machias on Saturday, October 13.

Photo by Cassie-Briana Marceau

By THOMAS ENG

Syohga Cusumano looks to advance the ball upfield against NHTI.

GOLF

SOFTBALL & BASEBALL

YSCC CHAMPIONSHIP

YSCC FALL ROUND ROBIN

HOSTED BY GREAT BAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

10/13 HOSTED BY SMCC

10/13

GOOD LUCK SEAWOLVES SOFTBALL & BASEBALL TEAMS!

MEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER

CATCH THE LAST HOME GAME VS. UNITY

CATCH THE LAST HOME GAME VS. UNITY

HOST BY NHTI

HOST BY NHTI

10/13

10/13

3.30PM

2PM