Media Cover UMaine’s Birthday Celebrations in Orono, Augusta
WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on events held in Orono and Augusta in celebration of the University of Maine’s 150th anniversary as the state’s land grant university. Faculty, students and representatives from businesses that partner with UMaine had displays in the Hall of Flags in the State House while a proclamation declaring Feb. 24 as University of Maine Day was read. On that day in 1865, the Maine legislature passed a bill to create the state’s land grant university. UMaine President Susan Hunter spoke to WVII in Augusta about the university’s history and future, as well as planned events to mark the anniversary throughout the year. In Orono, the UMaine community marked the day with a birthday cake and the dedication of the Spirit Room, an exhibition paying tribute to the university’s mascot, Bananas. “The University of Maine is a place for all people of the state of Maine, people nationally and across the world. This is a place where difference matters and we’re making a difference so we’re very excited about it,” Robert Dana, UMaine’s vice president for student life and dean of students, told WABI. The Augusta event also was mentioned in a Bangor Daily News political blog post.