In March of this year, I convened a university-wide task force and charged it with recommending criteria for deciding whether an individual’s name should be removed from a UMaine facility, and whether to remove Clarence C. Little’s name from the campus building bearing his name. And if recommending replacement names, I asked the task force […]

The University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias join the state and the nation in observing Juneteenth Independence Day. In 2011, Maine became the 38th state to recognize the day that freedom was proclaimed to all slaves in the South — 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. As noted in […]

Today I wish to speak to the continuing unrest in our nation, in Maine, and in the University of Maine communities following the brutal killing of George Floyd and its heartbreaking aftermath.  I am reaffirming my commitment and the commitment of our university communities to the core values of inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism, and I […]

Concerned students and community members alerted the University of Maine to a recent reposting on social media of deeply offensive racial slurs apparently made online four years ago by a prospective incoming UMaine student, who was 14 at the time. These gross, offensive and despicable words are horrific and devalue those they target. As UMaine […]

The University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias join with millions of people across the globe to decry the violent and needless death of George Floyd at the hands of rogue police officers in Minneapolis earlier this week. As a community our anguish is palpable. This act of violence must rally us to […]

I hope everyone had a healthy and safe weekend, with an opportunity to relax, and to reflect on all that Memorial Day means and how to continue to help to shape our rapidly changing world. With the end of the spring 2020 semester, I again offer my heartfelt thanks, appreciation and congratulations to all who […]