Event: Club Fair September 2nd
I walked around the club fair and surprisingly there weren’t as many clubs as I thought there was. I joined club field hockey and convinced two of my friends to do it with me too. I’ve played since seventh grade, and I love it but just didn’t want to join varsity for the time commitment. I was also looking for the rock-climbing club because I was told there was one however, I couldn’t find a table for it, I do hope to join the rock-climbing club at some point as I love to rock climb. I’m excited to outdoor climb as I have only done it once. I’ve been indoor rock climbing since I was about 12 through a program called On Belay. I am also interested in maybe joining the fishing club. Although I am a bit skeptical in joining, I want to push myself to do things that are out of my comfort zone. My grandfather taught me how to fish when I was four years old, and I’ve loved it ever since. I feel as though I need to limit myself on clubs due to the amount of time I have. I don’t want to overload my schedule to where I am too stressed out. I also want to ensure that I have enough time to complete my schoolwork as that takes priority. Ultimately, I definitely plan to play club field hockey and possibly rock-climbing club.
Event: Sexapalooza/Sex Show Sept 2nd
Sexapalooza and sex show were most definitely interesting. I can without a doubt say that I have never attended an event like them before. I walked around with a few friends to all the tables and took in all in. The event all in all shined a very sex positive mindset educating students in a fun and entertaining way. I watched as my friends played pin the clitoris on the vulva and participated in the condom race. We played STD trivia and definitely learned a lot as we went. There were many handouts and a lot of candy as well that the students took full advantage of. After we walked around the tables, we took a break to go to the dining hall to grab some food. We later returned for the sex show. The sex show consisted of a panel of adults who were asked questions about sex, and anything related to it. Audience members were able to scan a QR code and ask anonymous questions that they wanted answered. Throughout the show there were also prizes that you could win if you answered a question correctly. It was funny to see how hardcore the students were over these prizes. Everyone was cheering and having a grand old time.
Event: Field Hockey game Sept 3rd
The first quarter was back and forth both teams making valiant efforts to score goals. UNE defense held their ground making awesome clear outs to the side of the field in order to stop play and allow for their other teammates to reset. This avoids any unwanted goals. There were three defensive corners and two offensive corners however the score at the end of the quarter was zero to zero. Six minutes into the second quarter MIT scored their first goal on a corner. There had been a plethora of defensive corners throughout the quarter, but the defense has successfully put down all attempts of MIT to gain another goal. UNE new however, would benefit from utilizing the entire field and switching sides using both left and right field. They tend to rely heavily on the left side which is the weaker side as the differences on their strong stick side. UNE finished out the first half 0-1 with high hopes of coming back strong for the second half. There wasn’t as many students as expected however, there were a lot of adults cheering on their children and the team as a whole.
The second-half UNE started off strong with an energized spirit however their energy quickly diminished as MIT scored their second goal five minutes in. UNE needs to work on avoiding passing in front of their goal as it is easy for the other team to jump the ball and have an easy shot on goal. MIT did a good job of using the entire space of the field. They are able to utilize efficient passing from the left side of the field all the way to the right side of the field and vice versa to tire out UNE’s offense and elongate their playing area. The game ended with a score of 0-3. UNE played a good game but just couldn’t get past MIT goalkeeper for a goal.
Event: Men’s Soccer Game Sept 6th
The first half of the game started at a fast pace however Bowden was able to sneakily score a goal the first five minutes in. There was a second attempt at a goal for Bowden however it was offsides therefore the goal did not count. Bowden is able to utilize quick passes down the sidelines to make their way up the field and close to UNEs goal. Bowden was able to score another goal ten minutes in despite UNEs defensive attempts to stop it. UNE has made multiple defensive saves ensuring that Bowden does not gain another goal. Although showing good defensive skills, UNEs communication is lacking compared to Bowden. Bowden’s players are constantly talking and marking whereas UNE is struggling to mark and maintain their field positions. Bowden received a penalty kick in result of UNEs foul and gained another goal. Both teams are playing very physical with Bowden and UNE receiving many warnings and cards for physicality and talking back to the referees. UNE had a breakaway, however the player lacked assistance from his teammates and was unable to score a goal. With twenty seconds left in the half Bowden was able to pass UNEs defense and score another goal ending the half zero to four.
UNE started off the second-half strong and reenergized with the go getter attitude. However, Bowden players are quick to pass, tiring out UNEs offense as they tirelessly chase after them. Due to the lack of energy UNE is getting beaten to the ball almost every time. Bowden is able to jump the ball because of their spacing while UNE is clumped and not utilizing the field causing their failed passing attempts. Bowden was able to score two more goals 20 minutes into the second half with one on a penalty kick bouncing off the top post and into the back of the net. The final score was zero to six as UNE just wasn’t able to pull away from the gold deficit to score a goal.
Event: APB Decorations and Donuts Sept 7th
I heard about this event about an hour before it actually happened as my roommate told me about it. I texted one of my friends and asked her to go with me and she said sure. We walked over to the commons and were greeted with a long line as the only thing that gets college students to come to an event is free stuff. We waited in line for about 10 minutes and then the festivities started. I entered a raffle for a free polaroid camera and am hoping to win. We shuffled over in line and next were able to pick out four items of a plethora of free things. There were pictures, whiteboard markers, whiteboards, and lights. My friend and I picked out a bunch of things, each excited about our new items. I chose some aesthetic pictures to hang up in my dorm that I’m super excited about. In addition, I picked out a whiteboard so that I can keep track of all my assignments and the things that I have to do.
All the people running the event were super nice and I talked to them a bit about classes and such. The absolute best part was the donuts at the end. I got a blueberry donut and most definitely enjoyed it. I snapped a quick picture and then we were on our way.
Event: Football Game 9/10/22
UNE has started the game off strong collecting a total of 21 points to a measly 3 that Bridgewater State has put up. UNE has had consistent passes allowing for three touchdowns and the completion of three field goal kicks. UNEs quarterback showcased his power arm with a Hail Mary pass into the end zone allowing UNE to score their third touchdown. With 2minutes left in the quarter UNE punts the ball with Bridgewater stat touching the ball first and UNE recovering the ball. UNE scores yet again on a 20-yard pass into the corner of the end zone. The second quarter ended with a score of 31-3.
During halftime the dance team preformed followed by the cheer team. They successfully energized and scared the crowd with their stunts.
The third quarter started off with a touchdown from Bridgewater state making the score 31-10. Bridgewater State struggles to complete their passes causing turnovers to UNE.
UNE starts the fourth quarter off strong with a touchdown and extra point making the score 38-16. Bridgewater quickly returns the favor with a 60-yard touchdown however it did not count because there was a flag on the play for offensive holding. The final score was 38-23 with UNE pulling away for the win.
Event: Bingo 9/10/22
I went to bingo with some friends, and we definitely had a blast. Right away when you walk in, they draw an x on your hand so you can only get one board. All the prizes were big baskets of a bunch of goodies I was so excited. When they call off a number, they type it on computer which projects on the wall. There is always a chorus of booooos or yays. It gets very loud in the gym and people get extremely competitive. They start off with normal bingo then move on to specific types of bingo. For three different rounds you have to get a letter of UNE. We also played elimination bingo a few times where everyone stands up and if they call a number, you have you have to sit and the last person standing wins. I almost won I was competing against a few other people, but I lost. One of my friends did end up winning a round of bingo and she got the UNE swag basket which was so cool. I do wish they would call out the numbers quicker as it takes forever, I was there for a few hours. However, I did have a good time with my friends and bingo always warrants a smile on my face.
Event: DIY Succulents 9/9/22
APB was hosting a DIY succulent event where we were able to make our own succulents. We stood in line for a bit but then reached the plant table. We picked out which plant we wanted then grabbed a small mason jar. Then we transferred the succulent from its little pot into the mason jar and added some new soil. I don’t think its going to live that long because there are no drainage holes in the mason jar.
I went with my roommate, and we met some friends there as well. My little plant makes me so happy. It sits on my windowsill in the sun, and I water it every so often. My friends and I were excited all week to make our little succulents. I was very surprised that there were a lot of people in line. I met a lot of plant enthusiasts at the event. I thought we were going to be able to pick a variety of plants and make our own little cup. However, I do enjoy my little succulent a lot.
Update its October 2nd and my little succulent is still alive and well. I water it every few days and it is getting a lot of sun in the windowsill.
Event: Study abroad fair 9/28/22
The study abroad fair was very educational and insightful. I enjoyed walking around to each of the different stations and learning about where I could travel to. I am more interested in the travel courses because you go away for one week rather than a whole semester. Iceland, Greece, and Spain interested me the most because I’ve always wanted to go to these places. Morocco would also be super cool to go to maybe in a few years because I don’t think I’m ready to be away for a whole semester just yet.
The professors who organized these courses and trips were awesome to talk to and very informative. I learned that the Spain course would be beneficial if I decide to pursue a major in the business field. However, I learned that any course I take could go towards an exploratory course which I need two of in order to graduate. The only thing I am still a little confused about is if they cost any additional money. I have gotten mixed answers if they do or not.
They also had churros and chocolate which I had never had. Tralee convinced me to try one and I was in love. We most definitely enjoyed that part of the fair.
Event: Grow with the Flow 9/28/22
The Grow With the Flow event was very educational, and I learned a lot from the guest speakers. The event was to learn about the proactive strategies for personal lives, communities, and the environment as well.
The first speaker was Dr. Laurie who spoke about personal life and how to improve one’s life strategies. She explains that we face challenges every day and we cope which shows resilience. However, we can create routines in order to reduce the procrastination and stress that one faces. She also explains how we need to focus on our mindset and how we think of things because having a positive mindset affects our happiness. You are what you think was a powerful statement that she mentioned.
Dr. Pamela Morgan was the second speaker. She spoke about caring for our environment and nature. Furthermore, she explained that nature reduces stress and anxiety. Taking a walk reduces cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate while also improving cognitive function. We are able to use nature to take care of ourselves, but we also need to take care of nature. Dr. Pamela spoke about finding green spaces in our community and finding nature-based solutions. Here at UNE, we have many green spaces which keep our environment in a positive state.
The last speaker was Dr. Hannah who spoke about challenges and problems we face as a society. She spoke about needing to change the way we think about problems. Changing the way we think allows us to deal with wicked problems which are problems with so many factors they seem impossible to solve. She explains that we need to focus on design thinking which makes one question every little thing before facing the problem to come up with a solution.
Event: GUST Class artifacts 10/6/22
Looking at the artifacts was truly interesting as I learned a lot about UNE’s history. I did not know that previously UNE was an all-boys Catholic school called St Francis. It was most definitely interesting to learn out my college’s history. I was close looking at a newspaper that the students wrote when the college was St Francis. Half of it was in French and I was proud of myself for figuring out that it was in French because the people who went there were French Canadian.
I was also looking at Tralee’s artifacts which were an old journal and some pictures. The journal was cool because it was all in cursive, but I wish I would have been able to read it better. I am pretty good at reading cursive, but this writing was very scribbled and hard to read. IT was from the 1800’s which was super cool though. The pictures were very interesting to look at. The fashion was most definitely different, and the pictures were all in black and white. There was even one picture that was of the girls Halloween costumes that was especially creepy. I was able to read the cursive on the back and it was a poem written about the women and their secret society. Overall, I thought looking at these old artifacts was super interesting and I enjoyed learning a little more about my college’s history.
Event: Women’s Rugby Game 10/15/22
I went to watch the women’s rugby game with some friends. It was my first ever rugby game and it was most definitely and experience. One of my freshman friends was starting in the game so I went to support her. When I first walked over to the field, I thought the cheerleading team was there because the players were lifting each other up into a pyramid but I was mistaken. The cheerleading team was not there, the rugby players were just warming up. Their warmups were unlike anything I had seen before, with a lot of interesting drills where most of them looked like they hurt. The game started and I couldn’t hold in my surprise and confusion. I did not know any of the rules and the game was just crazy to me. The fact that these girls were getting fully knocked down and just popped right back up again was crazy to me because I would have been down for the count. Every hit looked like it hurt.
The team played awesome and so did my friend. She had a lot of good runs and gained a lot of yards. Castleton was just not able to keep up with UNE and couldn’t put any points on the board. Overall, the team won 55-0 and it was an awesome game to watch. I was cringing the entire time, but it was very exciting.
Event: Glow Climb 10/22/22
I went with the Outdoor Climb to go indoor rock climbing at Evo Rock Gym. They go weekly but I was never able to go due to scheduling conflicts with field hockey practices. However, I was super excited to go to this event. I’ve previously climbed at Evo before when I was younger, so it was a blast from the past to see the gym again and brought back a bunch of happy memories. The climb was also Halloween themed, so I dressed up as an alien from toy story complete with a tutu and three eyes on my head. Everyone’s costumes were awesome, but my favorite was Bob Ross. We got to the gym and received our equipment. I went to go put on my shoes and I realized he had given me two left feet. I was cracking up in typical fashion and my friends were so confused. Eventually we were all set and started climbing and it was awesome. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed it. About an hour in they turned off all the lights and we had a glow climb in the dark. We were all decked out in glow sticks and a headlamp topping off the outfit. Climbing in the dark was definitely a fun time and different from anything I had done before. It was a bit more difficult because you could see anything except what your headlight was directly point at. However, I’m super glad I went and brought some friends who had never rock climbed before either.
Event: Academic Freedom in a Time of Democratic Decline 10/24/22
The Center for Global Humanities was hosting this event on the Portland Campus however it was livestreamed for us to watch. My professor for Intro to International Relations cancelled class for us to watch the event. It started off with a welcome from Anour Majid the found director and then he introduced Adam Sitze who spoke for the remainder of the program.
Sitze references specific thinkers referencing their views on democratic involvement and their studies. He mentions that scholars believe that there is a direct relation to problem of thought to democratic decline. This is similar to Tocqueville views that thought is the center for democratic decline.
He also mentions that in the Federalist papers Madison writes that the central weakness of democracy is that it is susceptible to divisions called factions. A faction is when a community is separated, and one specific group is opposed to the rest of the community. There are no answers to prevent factions because the only way to take away factions is to take away opinions which rids residents of their democracy.
Overall, through both speakers the view is that public opinion is the source of democratic decline. There were a lot of difficult ideas to wrap my head around. This was a confusing lecture to watch as I am not fully knowledgeable about these particular ideas.
