Glover, Kiffy publish Op-Ed article in BDN, asylum seekers in Maine

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

June 22, 2016 Alumni, UMaine in the News

Robert Glover, assistant professor of honors and political science at the University of Maine, and recent UMaine graduate Grace Kiffney, published an Op-Ed article in the Bangor Daily News about asylum seekers’ access to resources and general assistance in Maine.

According to the article, this year, the U.S. immigration court backlog hit 474,322 cases. In Maine, this backlog means that the comparatively small number of asylum seekers — about 1,000 — may wait up to five years for their asylum hearings.

“Asylum seekers face significant challenges upon reaching the United States: completing the complex asylum application process, learning a new language, navigating a new culture and potentially facing discrimination from the receiving community,” the article reads.

Glover is a member of the Maine chapter of the national Scholars Strategy Network, which brings together scholars across the country to address public challenges and their policy implications. Kiffney is a recent UMaine graduate in international affairs.