Maine’s post COVID-19 economic recovery depends on a fair and accurate census

This article, by Robert W. Glover and Kevin Fitzpatrick of the University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on April 7, 2020. By Robert W. Glover and Kevin Fitzpatrick, Opinion guest column • April 7, 2020 6:00 am • Updated: April 7, 2020 9:15 am Last week’s unprecedented COVID-19-driven unemployment numbers made painfully clear what we already […]

Spanish flu and Typhoid Mary show that social distancing saves lives

This article, by Priya Shukla of the University of California Davis, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on March 24, 2020. By Priya Shukla, Opinion guest column • March 24, 2020 1:00 am As of 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 23, 107 Maine residents have been confirmed positive for the coronavirus, according to the state. Click here for […]

Want to win an election? Think more like an activist.

This article, by Amber Tierney of The University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on March 10, 2020. By Amber Tierney, Opinion guest column • March 10, 2020 6:00 am The race to seize the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination has given the people what they want: off-script, entertaining political theater, complete […]

Maine making incremental progress on long-term care

This article, by Sandra Butler of The University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on February 25, 2020. By Sandra Butler, Opinion guest column • February 25, 2020 8:07 am Updated: February 25, 2020 8:09 am In this era of deep partisan divides, policy change can be difficult. This is all too […]

How drug decriminalization can help solve Maine’s opioid epidemic

This article, by Hilary Thibodeau of The University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on February 11, 2020. By Hilary Thibodeau, Opinion guest column • February 11, 2020 6:00 am Maine is in the throes of a pervasive public health crisis. Bolder systemic change is needed in Augusta to ensure justice and […]

Why we need to change our assumptions about incarceration

This article, by Jordan LaBouff and Aaron Dustin of The University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on January 21, 2020. By Jordan LaBouff & Aaron Dustin, Opinion guest column January 21, 2020 7:00am • Updated: January 21, 2020 8:20 am After someone has served a sentence in a jail or prison, […]

Why women are still marching in 2020

This article, by Kimberly Simmons of the University of Southern Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on January 14, 2020. By Kimberly Simmons, Opinion guest column • January 14, 2020 5:30 am On Jan. 18, thousands will take to the streets for the fourth annual Women’s March, a moment within a larger movement to expand […]

100 years later, voting and women’s rights still need protection

This article, by Ann Luther and Sheila Kirby of the League of Women Voters of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on December 31, 2019. By Ann Luther and Sheila Kirby, Opinion guest column December 31, 2019 9:00 am Happy New Year! It’s a big one. The year 2020 brings a presidential election, […]

Holidays bring gifts and good cheer — and a lot of trash

This article, by Linda Silka of the University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on December 17, 2019. By Linda Silka, Opinion guest column • December 17, 2019 1:54 pm This time of year we see future trash everywhere. This might seem an odd way to refer to wonderful presents and […]

Childhood trauma can slow academic development. Here’s one way to fix it.

This article, by Andrea Mercado of the University of Maine, was originally published on the Bangor Daily News opinion page on December 3, 2019. By Andrea Mercado, Opinion guest column • December 3, 2019 10:43 am In the last couple of decades, Maine’s schools have felt effects of childhood trauma brought on by the effects of rural […]