EDITORIAL: The University of Maine’s oldest building on campus, Crossland Hall, currently houses the Franco-American Centre and is located near the Harold Alfond Sports Arena, Alfond Stadium and Memorial Gym. It is scheduled for demolition in the upcoming months to make way for a new parking lot near the sports complexes.
The centre is set to temporarily move across the campus to Libby Hall, then to the Environmental Science Laboratory (ESL), one of the five buildings on campus designated for the School of Biology and Ecology.
Samantha Warren, the Chief External and Government Affairs Officer, recently contacted the Maine Campus to emphasize that this project specifically addresses the student demand for additional parking.
UMaine students did not ask for more parking spaces to be created at the expense of a historic building that serves the Franco-American community.
According to the Franco American Programs, “Franco American communities constitute a large percentage of the population of Maine and the Northeast region. It is the mission of Franco American Programs to serve these communities while recognizing that cultural patterns do not stop at national borders. Franco American Programs includes the Franco American Centre as well as Franco American Studies.”
The main objective of the Franco American Centre is to provide support and strengthen the Franco American communities in Maine. The centre aims to promote the richness of Franco history, language and culture and to connect Franco Americans with the university and the broader local community.
Their amenities include a kitchen stocked with food and cooking equipment, complimentary coffee, tea and snacks, comfortable study areas with many chairs and workspaces with tables. Overall, this is a space for studying, socializing, working and enjoying good company.
With UMaine set to begin demolition over winter break starting on Dec. 20, students must act swiftly to oppose the uncalled destruction of Crossland Hall — a space that has long served both the Franco-American community on and off campus.
This student-driven opposition is focused not only on protecting a historic building but also on preserving its legacy as a safe and educational space for the community it serves.
Alex Emery, president of the Franco-American Resource Opportunity Group (FAROG), and Lincoln Tiner, a history graduate student, started a petition on Oct. 20 to save Crossland Hall, which has so far garnered 1,166 verified signatures.
According to FAROG, “We get together to celebrate, learn about, and promote Franco-American culture at the University of Maine and the surrounding community. In doing so, we are realizing the importance of our culture, language, and our heritage, which in turn has helped us form a system of support for each other. We meet monthly at the Franco American Centre for food and activities.”
While UMaine has made efforts to promote Franco-American heritage and preserve the programs despite the challenges of future relocations, it is not enough nor the right thing to do in order to fully support and honor their heritage.
The Franco-American community is the heart of this program, and Crossland Hall has long been their safe space to learn and celebrate their heritage. UMaine must prioritize meeting the community’s needs to ensure the continued protection and success of the Franco-American Centre and its programs.
