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In this season of Greek philanthropies, club fundraisers and charitable events I encourage University of Maine students to ask themselves not what their town can do for them, but what they can do for their town.
I first arrived at this conclusion as I was soliciting local Orono businesses for donations to my sorority’s charitable gala. Armed with solicitation letters and unwavering confidence in the importance of my cause, I made my pilgrimage down Mill Street, stopping at every restaurant and shop I passed. My triumphant notions soon turned to guilt, however, as every owner and manager asked me a question I was not prepared to answer: “What has the university done for us?”
This question, at first listen, seemed like an easy one. As college students we consider our campus the center of this community and ourselves its principle residents. While it is true that Orono is a “college town” by nature, we are wrong in assuming we are responsible for the existence of its businesses. In fact, we often fail to support it in spirit and in deed.
Of course establishments like Pat’s Pizza, Bear Brew Pub and Margaritas flourish due in large part to the patronage of college students’ but what about businesses that don’t benefit from the advantage of a well-known name or a liquor license? What about Lissus Pizza or The Store Ampersand? How many students can say they have even glanced at the doorway of one of these businesses, much less walked through it? I would bet that of the few students who have, half only went in to ask for a donation to their own club or cause.
We can’t expect the small businesses of Orono to support us in our endeavors when we continue to overlook them in our daily lives. We grab coffee, order pizza and do our shopping at the same chain stores again and again, even making the trip to Bangor before we will take a chance on a local business. The college students on this campus have the influence and the discretionary income to make a difference in our local economy if we make just the smallest changes in our daily, weekly or monthly routine.
You may be wondering why you have never heard of many small businesses in the Orono or Old Town area. You may even have driven by and wondered aloud to your friend what that Ampersand place is. That can be explained by the banishment of outside advertising from the university campus. Businesses can’t distribute coupons or flyers to students the way they used to, at least not officially. The most successful businesses in the area have found a way to get around it – note the Verve sticker on the laptop, thermos or notebook of the person next to you.
I am not recommending that students stop shopping at Hannaford or eating at Pat’s Pizza, only that we all make a conscious effort to diversify our purchases. Quality goods and services can be found just five minutes from campus, in places you might not expect. Gather a group of friends and try something new together. Stop somewhere different for your morning (or afternoon or evening) caffeine boost. Forget the mall for a weekend and explore downtown Orono or Old Town. You will save some money on gas and do business with people who genuinely appreciate hard-earned cash – it might feel good to be more than the next person in line for once.
I plan on making some changes in my own life and spending habits so that next spring when solicitation time rolls around, I can hold my head high as I fundraise for the causes that matter to me, knowing I will get what I give in life. I hope you will do the same
Jennifer Vincent is a fourth-year communications student and the Features Editor for The Maine Campus.
