I am glad Rep. [Emily] Cain has come around and has publicly chosen the right position in support of marriage equality. But I have to say, claiming it was the “main reason” she ran for office in 2004 appears to be a bit of revisionism.

Perhaps I’m wrong and it secretly was the main reason she ran, but as recently as a debate in fall 2006 when she was running for re-election, Rep. Cain said she was simply “not there yet” on same-sex marriage. I was there and remember it very clearly.

But like I said, I’m glad she has come down on the right side of the issue. I think it is a positive sign when public opinion has changed so much that elected officials like Rep. Cain feel compelled to take positions on the side of marriage equality, even to the extent of embellishment in this instance.

- Derek

Re: Naked green bikers

Isn’t cycling without a helmet unsafe?

- Barney

Andrew Dunn wandered, picking up scattered jeans, bras and underwear. He stuffed backpacks and garbage bags filled with clothes into his car. He paused to marvel at a green ass print left on his driver’s side door.

Moments earlier, a green pack of naked bicyclists took off from the yard in a fury. They hooted and hollered, “Happy Earth Day!”

Nearly 30 University of Maine students, including six men (a new record), had gathered at noon to get naked, paint themselves and ride their bikes through campus – an Earth Day tradition.

“It’s quite a liberating experience,” said Amy Marchessault, a second-year student and organizer of the event.

Bikers left the house on Park Street, cruised down Grove Street and entered campus, where they had permission to parade naked. Associate Dean Angel Loredo had pre-approved the event, as he does every year. The bikers did not have permission to ride through Orono, so the location was key.

They circled around campus, waving to onlookers. High-fives were abundant and well received by supporters.

Groups gathered on the mall to get a peek at the bicyclists.

“It’s amazing. We’re getting a huge tandem bike next year,” joked onlooker Josh St. Hilaire, a second-year student.

St. Hilaire gathered with eight others, waiting for another glimpse of the bikers. As the sound of cheering approached the mall from the MLK Plaza, St. Hilaire and his friends moved out of the way.

Other spectators gawked, some smiling, some surprised. One covered her mouth with a confused look.

Marchessault explained that she could always tell who was expecting the parade and those who weren’t.

“You can tell they’re thinking, ‘Did I really just see a flock of naked people?’” she said.

Marchessault is a tour guide on campus. With spring weather in full swing, many prospective UMaine students are checking out the university. She described an incident last year when her friend – another tour guide – was giving a campus tour when the bikers rode by.

“She just looked at the group and said, ‘Well, that’s UMaine.’”

The bikers passed Stevens, Little and Boardman halls to their final destination – the Memorial Gym – where they cleaned up.

Dunn, a second-year student, was recruited to bring the bikers’ clothes to the gym.

During the painting process, bikers rubbed lotion on their bodies before the layer of sparkly, green paint. Marchessault said this would help the paint come off easier.

The bikers pranced through the backyard, comparing hidden tattoos, tying each other’s hair up and making sure everyone’s back was evenly painted.

“Yah, we’re naked,” shouted Lindsey James, a third-year student.

Some donned homemade white banners painted with images of the Earth and quotes like, “Who’s your mama?”

“I feel strangely invigorated,” one biker yelled as she left the Park St. yard, heading toward the street.

“Next time we’re going blue?” joked Jordan Antonucci, a third-year student, as he covered himself in green paint.

“Yeah, next week,” Ari Horovitz, another biker, shot back, in regards to Maine Day.

As they left the yard, Hannah Pennington, a former organizer of the event, yelled quick announcements.

“If someone falls, we all stop,” she reminded the crowd.

The herd of bikers took off in an adrenaline-rush of a ride, laughing and cheering. Pennington brought up the rear, a veteran of the event. She decided to do the event “because it’s darn fun … UMaine receives it so well.”

Marchessault agreed. “It’s really fun,” she said. “Definitely a tradition worth keeping.”

The organizers of the event were unsure how long the annual ride had been taking place, but Pennington estimated that the tradition is at least eight years old, perhaps as old as 15 years. The ride always takes place on Earth Day.

“It’s just a fun reminder to be a bit more kind to the earth,” Pennington said.

“It’s really just displaying Mother Nature and beauty at its core. It’s the feeling on campus that day. A day of celebration,” Marchessault said.

Everyone who wanted to participate was welcome to join. Announcements were sent out on FirstClass and invitations were forwarded by participants. The bikers had planned no route for their ride and scoured the campus.

“It’s kind of a subjective thing. If we feel like doing another lap, we will,” Marchessault said.

As the bikers tore through campus, the clouds parted. Students, faculty and visitors stood with open mouths and smiles as the rear end of the bike pack rode down the mall, waving and cheering into the newfound sunshine.

Celebrated annually since April 22, 1970, Earth Day has become a way for nature advocates to promote awareness of sustainability and environmental issues.

Just after noon Wednesday, Maine climatologist and UMaine professor George Jacobson spoke about the effects of global warming in the state.

He discussed negative environmental effects from the Industrial Revolution to the present, through carbon dioxide output in the atmosphere which will change the course of climate and temperature over time.

“Even if humans start to change their mitigation, the influences are already large,” Jacobson said. “It’s too late to have no consequences.”

At 2 p.m., students involved in various environmental organizations discussed their recent trip to Washington, D.C. for a conference on clean energy, part of the Power Shift Campaign. They were part of a group of 1,200 students who represented all 50 states to discuss clean energy alternatives through government legislation.

“I liked all that spirit. It’s great to see people who are willing to fight for green energy,” said Sonja Dragovic.

On the final day of the Power Shift conference, the students rallied on Capitol Hill to promote and influence legislation for cleaner types of alternative energy.

Another facet of UMaine’s Earth Day awareness was promoted through the second annual bicycle swap last weekend.

Rows of bicycles lined the Student Recreation and Fitness Center for the bike swap on April 19. The University of Maine Cycling Club and Bicycle Coalition of Maine ran the swap. The money earned from the bike swap will go into educational programs across Maine to teach children about bicycle safety.

The swap included bikes for all ages along with helmets, bike seats, biking clothing and safety information. There was an area where people could test ride bikes before buying them.

The swap began over 10 years ago – the University of Southern Maine held the event on their campus for almost seven years. The Bicycle Coalition recently moved the swap to UMaine for a better fit.

“We are trying to serve members in central Maine to expand the opportunity for people to get bikes,” said Maine Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Allison Vogt.

In one year, the swap doubled in size. Last year’s swap sold 78 bikes – this year over 200 bikes were entered.

“People were picking everything, this [is] just a good deal,” said David Auclair, volunteer and University of Maine Class of 1964 alumnus.

When the doors at the Rec Center opened at 10 a.m., a swarm of people entered.

“At 10, there was a parade of people leaving with bikes,” said Maggie Warren, the event and volunteer coordinator for the Maine Bicycle Coalition.

Warren believes the popularity of the bike swap is in direct connection with the economic downturn.

“At first I thought it would be popular because of the gas prices but even with gas prices down, people still want to bike,” Warren said.

Graduate student Erik DaSilva was looking for a stroller to attach to his bike for his six-week-old daughter, Winn. He found a stroller for $75 and gave a $25 donation to the Bicycle Coalition.

“We prefer to ride instead of driving,” DaSilva said. “This [stroller] just needs a little TLC.”

There has been discussion of the bike swap becoming a fall event, but no final decisions have been made.