|
 The
Maine Hello is a long standing tradition at the University of Maine. The
modern version of the MAINE Hello began in 1996. On Fall move-in day,
students, faculty and staff provide “A Hearty Maine Hello” to new
students. The entire campus welcomes new students and celebrates their
arrival for the new academic year. This opening day welcome keeps the
tradition of fellowship and community alive at the University of Maine.
 THE TRADITION
Back in the in the days of President Arthur Hauck (1934-1958), the
original Maine Hello was initiated as a part of freshman orientation. In
those days, for the first few weeks of school, whenever first year
students passed by any upperclassmen, they were compelled to give them a
warm and friendly “Hello”. This practice ended in the late 1960s.
Today’s students are no longer compelled to offer the “Maine Hello” or
wear a beanie, but the warmth and friendliness this tradition inspired
continues.
TODAY'S MAINE HELLO
 In today’s version of the MAINE Hello, returning residents (PAWS), Greek
affiliated students (Greek Greeters) and faculty and staff (MAINE Hello
Greeters) volunteer to welcome new students and their families as they
arrive on campus. These volunteers literally assist with directing
traffic, unpacking vehicles and moving students’ items up to the room. They also provide
directions and information to help new students’ first day go smoothly.
This group of volunteers includes everyone from the University of Maine
President, Robert Kennedy, academic deans, faculty, coaches, student
affairs staff, classified staff and more. The Alumni Association and The
Admissions staff are also available at every campus entrance to provide
last minute directions and information. Every year, over 600 members of
the campus community participate in the MAINE Hello.
Everyone involved in the MAINE Hello wears a MAINE Hello blue shirt
which identifies them as willing and able to welcome and assist the
University of Maine new students. These shirts can be seen all over
campus on opening day and are a reminder to our new students that we are
a campus community that is excited about their arrival.
The residence halls are decorated with MAINE Hello banners and the
signage and balloons all over campus are color coordinated to help new
students and their families easily find their assigned residence hall. A
special color coded campus map is available to print and use when new
students arrive on campus. The MAINE Hello map includes some one way
streets and directions which apply to the MAINE Hello only and is
specially designed to help the new students to travel easily around
campus that day.
MAINE Hello Support and Volunteers
The MAINE Hello is a program of the division of Student Affairs. The
MAINE Hello is supported and funded by many University of Maine units
including the President’s Office, the Vice President for Administration
and Finances, the Student Affairs, Residence Life,
Connections, Auxiliary Services, Facilities Management, University Relations and New
Student Programs as well as others. The program could not continue
without funding from these offices and the hundreds of volunteers who
assist every year.
Contact Information
The MAINE Hello is planned and coordinated by Residence
Life and First and Second Year Programs. For more information about
the MAINE Hello please e-mail
Tara Loomis or
contact her at (207) 581-4801 or
EJ Roach at (207) 581 1420. |
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