In 1935, current UMaine president Arthur Hauck created the first Maine Day: a day set aside for cleaning the campus before students took off for the summer! Classes were canceled so students could give back to the university. Maine Day always kicks off with a parade down Long Road, followed by volunteer opportunities throughout the day. A zero-waste barbeque takes place in the steam lot to feed students and faculty while philanthropy events and an ooze ball tournament takes place. And while some students are doing great charity work and being good citizens, others are dartying in the Ave or the Grove and littering the place with beer cans! Regardless, here are some awesome highlights from Maine Day 2017:
- Around 1500 volunteers completed 74 projects for Maine Day. At the Hungry 100K, over 250 volunteers packed 107,000 meals that were distributed throughout the State of Maine.
- Students raised more than $14,000 for St. Baldricks, an organization that raises money for childhood cancer research.
- There were approximately 10,000 beer cans and bottles scattered throughout the Avenue and the backyard of any houses that held darties.
- At least 500 students blacked out.
- Pi Kappa Phi and Alpha Omicron Pi’s “Pi a Phi” philanthropy event raised $445 for their philanthropies.
- At least one student was arrested, and many more definitely should have been.
- One student climbed a light post while another stole a tree and ran from Orono Police with it.
- Actually no one was at the Grove.
- Surprisingly, not one roof or deck at the Ave collapsed as students flooded both.
- Lastly, no matter how many cop cars rolled up, the parties continued!
If you want a video recap of the day, check out Chris Chervenak’s awesome video here! Also be sure to check out Bangor Waterfront Concert’s vide recap of the awesome Maine Day Concert here!
To everyone who spent the day volunteering, thank you for everything you do for this campus. To everyone who doesn’t remember the day, I hope you recovered well! No matter how great of a day it was, finals season has officially begun. See you all in the library and good luck with exams collegiettes!
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