CMJ students explore immigration in free May 8 performance, conversation

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.

May 7, 2019 Outreach

University of Maine communication and journalism students will give a free, public performance and dialogue titled “With~standing! Exploring Immigration and Belonging in Maine” at 2 p.m. May 8 at the Wilson Center in Orono.

This semester, students in the Narrative, Performance and Social Change course partnered with the Maine MultiCultural Center (MMCC) and other area organizations to engage in open conversations and spread awareness about immigration and diversity.

They talked with family, friends and community members to learn about perceptions of, and experiences with, immigration in Maine. Students crafted, and will perform, a collection of “found” poems, based on verbatim data from conversations, from their personal experiences and reactions, and from information from news and other sources. In addition, students will facilitate a dialogue with the audience to further cross-cultural understanding and connection.

This is the second year the class has partnered with the MMCC, which began serving the Bangor area in 2017. The center seeks to encourage Bangor’s economic and cultural development by eliminating barriers to local services, fostering social networks and connections, and providing programs that promote cross-cultural competencies within schools, religious and community organizations, municipal offices and neighborhoods. For more information, visit the MMCC website.

For more information about the performance, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Lily Herakova, liliana.herakova@maine.edu.