Couch, table, and lamp with words underneath reading The Salon, Lynch Room, Fogler Library

The Salon is a re-envisioning of the Lynch Room as a place for our community to congregate, discuss, and collaborate on ideas. We hope that the newly minted multidisciplinary Salon Series, with rich topical themes, will foster the kind of conversations and action that will be remembered for a lifetime. Please join our (hybrid) Salon Series for interesting conversation and refreshments.

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors and our co-sponsors:

The University of Maine Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

The University of Maine Honors College

The University of Maine Office of International Programs

The University of Maine Student Life Counseling Center

Salon YouTube Playlist

YouTube Playlist

Parking

Daytime events: Public mobile pay stations are available in the Smith Parking Lot for daytime events. You can also request a parking pass good for any black lot and designated visitor space from um.parkingservices@maine.edu or by stopping by the Parking Office: https://umaine.edu/parking/contact-us/.

After 4:00pm events: All blue and black lots are open for public use and do not require a parking pass. If you are parking earlier than 4:00pm please request a parking pass from um.parkingservices@maine.edu or by stopping by the Parking Office. For more information see the Parking website at: www.umaine.edu/parking

Salon Zoom Etiquette

To ensure a positive experience for everyone, we kindly request your cooperation with the following rules during this hybrid event:

Feel free to share your questions in the Q&A section, as this helps facilitate smoother interactions. Our Zoom moderator will present the questions as time allows verbally to the group. Chat discussions may be lengthy and will therefore not be monitored for questions.

Let’s be considerate of each other’s time and contributions, allowing everyone a chance to engage. If you have asked a question, your additional questions will be held until the end so that other participants have a chance to engage in the conversation.

Your respectful participation is greatly appreciated. Assume the best in others’ intentions. If you disagree, rather than rebutting, consider asking “Help me understand more about…” Fogler Library is committed to a welcoming environment and we reserve the right to address any circumstances seen as intolerant or disruptive, up to and including removal from the event.

Thank you for helping us create a friendly and inclusive atmosphere for all.

Salon Feedback Survey

Your valuable input will shape the future of the Salon Series. Please take a moment to share your thoughts:

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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 6–7:30 p.m.

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The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors.

Since the end of the most recent ice age, 11,000 years ago, human ingenuity and adaptability
have led to enormous changes in the way we live. The rapid global expansion of human population and industrialization in the past six decades has led to alarming changes to Earth’s climate, among other things. Now we find ourselves facing serious challenges to present and future generations — challenges that seem overwhelming at times. Please help us explore several reasons for optimism and hope.

Since the end of the most recent ice age, 11,000 years ago, human ingenuity and adaptability have led to enormous changes in the way we live. The rapid global expansion of human population and industrialization in the past six decades has led to alarming changes to Earth’s climate, among other things. Now we find ourselves facing serious challenges to present and future generations — challenges that seem overwhelming at times. Please help us explore several reasons for optimism and hope.

Discussants:

  • Sean Birkel, Assistant Professor & Maine State Climatologist, Climate Change Institute & Cooperative Extension
  • Dan Dixon, Sustainability Director and Research Assistant Professor, UMaine Climate Change Institute
  • Ivan Fernandez, Professor of Soil Science; Distinguished Maine Professor, Climate Change Institute & School of Forest Resources
  • George Jacobson, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Ecology, and Climate Change; and Former Director, Climate Change Institute (Facilitator)
  • Elizabeth Leclerc, Research Graduate Student, UMaine Climate Change Institute
  • Bonnie Newsom, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Maine
Zoom Link

Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 5:30–7 p.m.

Featuring American Refuge author and Guilford College professor Diya Abdo.

Additional information will be available shortly.

Past Events

2024–2025

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 6–7:30 p.m.

Event Recording

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The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors and Honors College co-sponsorship.

Whether they are treated as consumables, research subjects, companions, or family, human civilization relies heavily on the lives of other animals. Given these disparate — and not necessarily mutually exclusive — ways of interacting with nonhuman animals, what does it mean to respect them? Which ideas and practices serve this end? Which cultures and traditions provide relevant insights? How might we treat animals as nonhuman persons?

Discussants:

  • Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, CU Boulder
  • Donald Beith, Associate Professor of Philosophy, UMaine
  • Erik Blomberg, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Department Chair, UMaine
  • Bill Crain, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, CCNY & cofounder, Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary
  • Jake Davis, Staff Attorney, Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc. (“NhRP”)
  • Noah Gittell, Director of Philanthropy, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
  • Clarissa Henry, Professor, Biology and Ecology, UMaine
  • Michael Lang, Associate Professor of History, UMaine (Facilitator)
Zoom Link

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 6–7:30 p.m.

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors.

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This salon discussion will explore the gender dynamics and significant changes in student enrollment and faculty membership in higher education in the United States and Eastern Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Discussants will highlight both progress and ongoing challenges related to gendering curriculum, research, and higher education policy. Through a comparative perspective, the panelists will discuss factors driving these changes within institutions as well as governmental and grassroots initiatives. 

Discussants:

  • Orlina Boteva, Director of International Programs, UMaine (Co-Facilitator)
  • Dr. Kathleen Gillon, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, UMaine
  • Dr. Vjollca Krasniqi, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Pristina
  • Karen Pelletreau, Director of Faculty Educational Development, UMaine (Co-Facilitator)
  • Mackenzie Roeder, Ph.D. Candidate in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at UMaine & member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Zoom Link

Click here to join the event on Zoom. Password: 158423

Tuesday, October 8, 6–7:30 p.m.

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors.

Event Recording

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In our hyper-connected world, where politics pervade life and social media is both a platform for discourse and a battleground for ideologies, maintaining mental well-being can be a challenge. Join us for a discussion around the intricate relationship between mental health, social media, and politics. We’ll explore ways in which social media shapes our political views and, subsequently, impacts our mental wellness. The speakers will share insights in the way groupthink, misinformation, and logical fallacies influence our thoughts and emotional states.

Learn how to “disagree without being disagreeable” by spotting misinformation, groupthink, and logical fallacies. Discover the importance of mindful media consumption and how to create a balance between staying informed and your mental well-being.

Discussants

  • Elizabeth DePoy, Ph.D., Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies, Social Work and Cooperating Faculty, School of Policy and International Affairs and Mechanical Engineering
  • Angela Fileccia, LCSW, Director of the Counseling Center, Facilitator
  • Stephen Gilson, Ph.D., Coordinator and Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies
  • Kevin Hudson, MA, Student Wellness Educator, Facilitator
  • Judith E. Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Chair | Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism
  • Cassandra Rowan, M.A., doctoral student in clinical psychology working in the Peer Relations Lab with Patricia Goodhines, Ph.D.

2023–2024

Planning the Next-Generation University: Parachuting Off the Enrollment Cliff 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 12:00-2:00pm

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors.

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Universities need a new game. Incremental change that doesn’t question trappings like credit hours, semesters, and rigid 4-year majors won’t fix the looming demographic dropoff. Nor will it avert broader threats to universities from online bootcamps and tutorials, generative AI’s power to fabricate content, and a nagging sense that many degrees are increasingly irrelevant in the face of imminent social and ecological perils. Serving students in spite of these concerns may require new delivery modes such as microcredentials and fractional degrees; alternative recognition of academic success beyond peer-review journals; and an unprecedented focus on timely issues and local impact. Dr. Richard Corey, Dean Giovanna Guidoboni, Jon Ippolito, and Dr. Peter Schilling invite university administrators, staff, faculty, and students to this salon to plan the next-generation university.

Back to the Future: The Post-ChatGPT Classroom

Monday, September 18, 2023 12:00-1:30pm 

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors.

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Almost half of college students admitted to using generative AI after its tumultuous arrival last year, and its capabilities and ethical pitfalls will only multiply in the coming year. Fortunately intrepid academics have spent the summer investigating its responsible use in education. This salon will review these emerging recommendations as well as tools for integrating AI into the classroom. Jon Ippolito and Dr. Peter Schilling encourage UMaine instructors and students who have experimented with generative AI to report on their experiences, in the hopes of expanding the knowledge necessary to navigate an educational landscape that continues to be disrupted by AI.

To learn about or share more related resources, please visit Learning with AI.

Protecting Acadia National Park Through Public-Private Partnerships

Monday, October 2, 2023 6:00-8:00pm

Event Recording

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors and Honors College co-sponsorship.

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Join us as University of Maine Professor of Forest Recreation Management John Daigle conducts an armchair conversation about the operational, philosophical and political realities of running Acadia National Park, Maine’s most visited natural destination. Acadia faces challenges ranging from climate change to increasing diversity of its visitors to managing congestion and crowding. Acadia Superintendent Kevin Schneider will speak to the National Park Service mission of providing for visitor enjoyment, education, and inspiration while meeting the legal imperative to leave the parks unimpaired for future generations. Retired President and CEO of Friends of Acadia Ken Olson will lay out the part nonprofits perform in providing philanthropic services that help parks achieve a margin of excellence beyond what government can accomplish alone. All are welcome.

Censorship

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:00-8:00pm

The Salon Series was made possible by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors and Honors College co-sponsorship.

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Join Maine Association of School Libraries VP Beth Andersen, Maine Library Association President Sonya Durney, Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher, and Bangor Public Library Director Ben Treat for a salon bringing together various perspectives on censorship. Library professionals will discuss the history and legal aspects of book banning, national trends and legislation leading up to Banned Books Week, as well as the experiences of different institutions such as academic, public, school, and state libraries in Maine. Be ready to engage! The salon aims to provide a platform for personal experiences with censorship and encourage attendees to share their thoughts on the way forward. All are welcome.

From Surviving to Thriving: Ensuring that We Support the Whole International Student

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:00-8:00pm

Event Recording

Book signing to follow

This salon is supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Affairs/Distinguished Lecture Series Fund, by generous contributions from Fogler Library donors, and the following co-sponsors: CITL (Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning), SPIA (School of Policy and International Affairs) , OIP (Office of International Programs), and the Honors College.

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The global events of recent years — an ongoing pandemic, ruptured education systems, growing nationalism worldwide, and a renewed social justice movement — have called for a sea-change and re-imagining of academia’s mission and work with international students, as well as the central role they play in building global bridges and fostering global engagement. Please join Orlina Boteva, Director of the Office of International Programs, and Dr. Karen Pelletreau, CITL Director of Faculty Educational Development, in a conversation with Dr. Rajika Bhandari, author of the award-winning memoir, America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility, a spring 2024 CITL book club title. Dr. Bhandari will share her extensive experience as an international higher education expert and her personal and professional insights on attracting international students; serving and aligning their needs with campus diversity and inclusion efforts; and positioning them for success.

Up in Smoke: Myths & Facts about Cannabis

Thursday, April 18, 6:00-7:30pm

Let’s Talk Weed

Please join the Counseling Center, Student Wellness Resource Center, and our expert panelists for a lively discussion about cannabis – myths, facts, & how cannabis impacts your brain & mental health. This salon will be moderated by Angela Fileccia, LCSW, Director of the Counseling Center, and Kevin Hudson, MA, Student Wellness Educator.

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Robert Glover, PhD, Political Science & Honors
John Hudak, Director, Maine Office of Cannabis Policy
Krutika Rathod, Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Peter Sparks, PhD, Department of Psychology