UMaine on Celebration Stand-by
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — As Red Sox Nation focuses on Fenway Park for tonight’s World Series Game 2, the University of Maine is making plans for a “healthy, safe and enjoyable” community celebration if the Boston Red Sox win the 2007 fall classic.
In an email message to be delivered to all UMaine students Thursday night, Dean of Students Robert Dana outlines plans for a series of events that will be in place during any evening when the Red Sox are playing the Colorado Rockies with a chance to clinch the best-of-seven series.
All UMaine students are invited to Memorial Union to watch those games on big-screen televisions and enjoy the community atmosphere together.
“If the Red Sox win one of those games, we will move the celebration outdoors to the parking lot between Alumni Hall and Lord Hall,” Dana wrote. “All students are invited and we’ll have a huge bonfire there, along with music and free food. We will celebrate well into the night savoring the victory and coming together as a community.”
Dana’s message also notes that UMaine police are actively patrolling the campus during the World Series to assure the safety of all members of the UMaine community. Working with residence hall staff members and others, Dana says that the UMaine police will work to be sure that “UMaine remains safe and that our celebrations are another moment of great pride for our university.”
These activities follow a successful model that UMaine has employed in similar circumstances for several years, including 2004 for both the final game of the American League Championship Series and game four of the World Series, when the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals to claim their first World Series championship in 86 years. Similar events have been staged at UMaine when Black Bear hockey teams have competed in NCAA semifinal and championship contests.
According to the current World Series schedule, the possible dates for these events are Sunday, Oct. 28; Monday, Oct. 29; Wednesday, Oct. 31; and Thursday, Nov. 1.
The text of Dean Dana’s email message follows:
Dear UMaine Student:
It’s another great fall and our community is excited about the Boston Red Sox’ participation in the World Series. As we saw when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and during several NCAA Tournament appearances by the Black Bear hockey team, events like these create a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate in healthy, safe and enjoyable ways.
We are making plans for campus celebrations in the event that the Red Sox do defeat the Colorado Rockies. In response to student interest we will stage a series of events on the evenings when the Red Sox might clinch the Series.
Once the Red Sox have won three games we’ll provide food and a festive atmosphere in the Maine Marketplace. It is a great time and I invite you to join us. If the Red Sox win one of those games, we will move the celebration outdoors to the parking lot between Alumni Hall and Lord Hall. All students are invited and we’ll have a huge bonfire there, along with music and free food. We will celebrate well into the night savoring the victory and coming together as a community.
Keep an eye on the game results as the Series moves along, and plan to be a part of another great UMaine celebration once the Sox have won the Series.
For your safety, police will be actively patrolling our campus throughout the Series, and they will step in immediately should any issue arise that necessitates a response. All of our residence hall staff will also be on duty and they will help assure that UMaine remains safe and that our celebrations are another moment of great pride for our University.
Working together we can make this another positive memorable occasion, one which you will always recall fondly when you think of your days as a UMaine student.
Sincerely,
Robert Q. Dana