The Free Press Vol. 49, Issue No. 7, 10-30-2017
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University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 10-30-2017 The Free Press Vol. 49, Issue No. 7, 10-30-2017 Sarah Tewksbury University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Tewksbury, Sarah, "The Free Press Vol. 49, Issue No. 7, 10-30-2017" (2017). Free Press, The, 1971-. 201. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/201 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Free Press, The, 1971- by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Young Americans for Freedom no longer recognized as a student group on campus Sarah Tewksbury | p 4 OCTOBER 30, 2017 VOL. 49 ISSUE NO. 7 2 OCTOBER 30, 2017 | THE FREE PRESS News News THE FREE PRESS | OCTOBER 30, 2017 3 THE FREE PRESS 92 BEDFORD STREET, PORTLAND, MAINE 04101 You too? (207) 780-4084 Sarah Tewksbury Take Two www.usmfreepress.org Editor-in-Chief words, a sentence, the sexual assault alone in this struggle. There is a silent In the last issue, I published a hotline phone number (which in Maine and underground support system that EDITORIAL heavily edited version of this let- is 1-800-871-7741), or longer anec- will not fail you if you need it. In light ter. I immediately experienced my dotes of their exposure to trauma. I re- of the recent explosion of courageous EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sarah Tewksbury first regret in life. This is the way member reading about struggles in the individuals sharing their stories, here is MANAGING EDITOR Johnna Ossie I want this message read. I am not workplace, on the street, in their own my advice to you. NEWS EDITOR Jess Ward afraid and I am not going to hide. homes, and thinking, is there anywhere Call the hotlines. They’ll answer and ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Mary Ellen Aldrich we are safe? they’ll let you talk to them. Tell your PERSPECTIVES EDITOR Muna Adan Social media and the news are cur- I used to think I was invincible. No- friends, tell your mama, tell someone COMMUNITY EDITOR Dionne Smith rently overflowing with testimonials body and nothing could come close to you trust, just tell someone. Here I am, SPORTS EDITOR River Plouffe Vogel from individuals who have been af- tearing me down. For a surprisingly an extraordinarily private person, tell- fected by sexual harassment or sexual short period of time, I was torn down. ing you how the only way for me to STAFF WRITERS Julie Pike, Jessica Pike, Maverick Lynes, Sarah assault. In 2006, activist Tarana Burke My own experience with sexual assault survive right now is to tell my people O’Connor, Sam Margolin, Kate Rogers, Jordan Castaldo, used the phrase “me too” to encourage Daniel Kilgallon, Cormac Riordan, Ben Theriault was violent, aggressive and unnerving. that I need them. The very, very last females around the world, specifically It silenced me and silenced my brain. thing I ever want to do is to be work COPY EDITORS women of color, to be conscious that Mental paralysis prevented me from for someone, to bother them. I want to Cara DeRose they were not alone in their struggles saying out loud what had happened be the helper and help everyone else. with traumatic incidents. Burke want- for days, but then I did. A stunningly Now, in this moment, I want your help. EDITORIAL BOARD: ed to empower and inspire women compassionate, hilarious and brilliant I’m asking for help from you. Please Sarah Tewksbury, Johnna Ossie and Mary Ellen Aldrich through empathetic understanding. woman that I have known since I was keep listening to each other. Keep tell- Following the exodus of celebrities fourteen saw a bruise on my face days ing each other. Don’t let this week-long BUSINESS MANAGER Lucille Siegler who shared their negative connections after my assault and asked what hap- fad of a hashtag fade to the background with Harvey Weinstein, people all over pened. I had no plans to tell her and because change will not be affected by DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY the world began using the hashtag, no plans not to tell her. It all fell out of one post, though, it is a huge, coura- “me too,” to highlight their own expe- my mouth, start to finish, with a shaky geous start. DESIGN DIRECTOR Orkhan Nadirli riences. voice and watery eyes as I told her I call it courageous because I under- When I first saw the sheer number of what had happened. stand the inability to type the words DESIGNERS people I am connected to on Facebook She said, “I love you so much and “me too” and mean them in a very seri- Dakota Tibbetts posting statuses about this topic, I felt I am here for you, whatever it is you ous way. When I first saw the multi- so many emotions. While I’m certainly want to do next. I’ll be here for you.” tude of posts, many might I add, from DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Bradford Spurr aware of the considerable numbers She didn’t just say those words, she fellow USM students, I wanted to join STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS James Fagan, Lauren Kennedy, Katelyn of individuals who experience sexual acted on them. For days and weeks and in. While I sit here and put my thoughts Rice trauma, there was a grave feeling that months following my confession, right to paper, I realize that I would never FACULTY washed over me as I saw people I know up to today, she has stood beside me waste the space to tell the story of how personally and very well share their and stuck to her word. The pure act of one person thought they took from FACULTY ADVISOR Dennis Gilbert stories. According to the Rape, Abuse being present and active has done noth- me. For me, I don’t really think that’s & Incest National Network (RAINN), ing but keep me alive. My head is held the story. For me, the story is how my ADVERTISING every 98 seconds another American is high because this woman, though she world took in my traumatic experience sexually assaulted. RAINN also reports may not have her own “me too” story, and responded. I say this often, but we To advertise, contact our Advertising Manager at that there is an average of 321,500 sur- used Burke’s method of empathic em- are all just humans walking around the 207.780.4080 x3 and look at out advertising rates on our vivors of rape and sexual assault every powerment to help me stand tall. world together for a short period of website. We reserve the right to reject advertising. We will not single year in America. This particular friend is not the only time, living by our man-made rules. accept discriminatory ads. Before the explosion of the words one who has impacted this situation Let us be kind and care for each other “me too” on social media sites, the significantly. My family, though hard in the face of uncertainty, trauma, and Interested in working with us? pure statistic RAINN released that on them too, listened and learned from violence. Please know that you always states that one in six American women this. One place I found unlikely com- have an ear with the editor of the Free Visit our website at www.usmfreepress.org for a listing of will be survivors of an attempted or available positions or email editor@usmfreepress with a fort was USM. When I feel like I am Press. completed rape in their lifetime is seri- copy of your resume and cover letter to apply directly. drowning and can no longer lift my But yeah. Me too. ous cause for concern. However, once eyes, it seems that there is a kind face The Free Press is a weekly student–run newspaper paid very familiar faces were equated to smiling at me. The Free Press team for in part with the Student Activity Fee. One copy of The the statistical evidence, I realized how never fails to make me laugh. I am sur- Free Press is available free of charge. Up to 10 additional close to home the problem really is. rounded by love. I am so very lucky. copies are available for 25 cents each at the office of The All humans are susceptible to sex- Not everyone knows the support that Free Press, 92 Bedford St., Portland, Maine. ual violence, regardless of any aspect will be granted to them until they start of their personal identification. My talking about their experiences. Saying Facebook newsfeed was full of girls Cover Graphic: Orkhan Nadirli / Design Director “me too” on social media is one way and women sharing simply the two that shows one another that we are not 4 OCTOBER 30, 2017 | THE FREE PRESS News Young Americans for Freedom no longer recognized as a group on campus Maverick Lynes / Staff Writer Sarah Tewksbury from Friday’s meeting. If the group chooses The early semester meeting’s discussion Bussiere reiterated that he was there “to help Editor-in-Chief to submit such a request, it will be voted on with Budicky, Shaffer and Carrier was not and to advise.” by the executive committee for the BSO. pursued by any parties involved. There has However, the notion of an alumnus breath- The USM chapter of Young Americans To be recognized as an official group by been no attendance from YAF members at ing life back into a student organization has for Freedom (YAF) has failed to meet the the university, defunct student groups must BSO meetings or at student senate meetings.