New Semester, New Us!
Hey everyone! Welcome back to the school year (I know it’s already October, shhh)! Here in the RRC, we’re kicking things off strong with some new staff members, new furniture, and a new jam-packed schedule of events for Coming Out Week!
First off, let’s give a hearty Maine Hello to our new staff members, Dylan (he/him/his) and Adam (he/him/his)! Dylan is a junior in communications and Adam is a first-year art education major. We’re very excited to have them joining our team. In terms of more familiar names, quite a few of us are returning from last year. There’s myself (Hawthorne, he/him/his), Xander (he/him/his), Ciarra (she/her/hers), Faye (she/her/hers), and our grad assistant Jane (they/them/theirs) and staff associate for diversity and inclusion, Rob (he/him/his). Our staff is, once again, very unique, and personally I’m really looking forward to seeing how we all work together.
Second is the new furniture! We are saying goodbye to the old, red couches, and hello to a leather loveseat and a couple chairs! Come check them out on Monday.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, is the Coming Out Week schedule. If you haven’t seen the flyers around campus or on our social media, I’ll give you the highlights here.
We’re kicking things off at 12 on Monday, October 7th, with the Pride Flag raising on the mall. This is always a great time to come out and show your support for the community.
On Tuesday, October 8th, at 9 AM is a Safe Zone Training in the Lown Room of the Union. RSVP to Jane or Rob to ensure that you get a spot.
Wednesday, October 9th has a few things going on. First is the Lunch & Learn in the Multicultural Student Center at 12, then later in the day we have a DIY Drag Workshop from 1-3 where you can make yourself a drag outfit and then show it off at the first every Mx. UMaine Drag Pageant at 6 PM in the North Pod!
Meet by the Fogler Library Steps at 12:15 PM on Thursday, October 10th for our Walk with the Ones You Love event, where you can do a lap of the mall with LGBTQ+ peers and allies and rock your pride merch. Or show up in the Multicultural Student Center at 4-6 PM for the Coming Out Monologues, hosted by Wilde Stein!
On Friday, October 11th, drop by our table by the Starbucks in the Union and check out our social media (@UMaineRRC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for giveaways and coming out tips. Happy National Coming Out Day!
Make sure to check out the full schedule on our website, our Facebook or drop into the center! Thanks for tuning in, we’re looking forward to another semester of thriving here in the RRC!
-Hawthorne, he/him/his