What’s your name?
Heather Augustine.
Year and major?
I’m a freshman and undeclared.
What brought you to USM?
Basically to go back to school. I was living in San Francisco and wanted to go back to college and I could get scholarships if I go here, so I was able to do that.
What were you doing out there?
Living, dancing. I was (break)dancing with a crew out there.
Like a performing crew?
Not really performing. I was going to a lot of battles out there.
A lot of what?
Battles. A battle is sometimes organized by crew but sometimes you can just show up by yourself and it’s just basically competition, where there’s a.. circle and you go out and battle and basically you front on another person. Say they do something, mess up on something, you go out and do it better. and then they come out and try to beat you and you beat them (until) whoever can’t go anymore.
So you decided to give up breakdancing and go back to school?
Nope, I didn’t give it up. I dance now with Motion Prose. It’s another crew. A lot of them are in Waterville, Augusta and Lewiston.
What brings you to the Multicultural Center today?
I met Rebecca (Sockbeson, director of Multicultural Students Affairs). I started out joining the Council for Indigenous North Americans. We get together every week and talk about issues regarding school and being native and being a multicultural student in Maine, how that’s a challenge at times, but can be really great at times.
Why is it a challenge in Maine?
Well, I think Maine is the whitest state in North America, I think that’s the statistic. When I was in California, I was part of a native drum and dance group. It was really beautiful that every week we’d get together with the elders and the children and everyone and.. celebrate life and dance and sing. I came back here and I didn’t have that same support here. Being around people who are native is something that I really love. So coming here and not having that was definitely a challenge.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Boston and I was raised in Cape Cod and in Maine.
Since in the attacks in New York and D.C. there have been several multicultural and interfaith gatherings. Has this place been busier?
You know, today was the open house and I had a class, so I came a little bit later. But, I was kind of surprised not to see more people here. I haven’t really participated in many interfaith gatherings. I was with my family and I prayed with my family and we made these ribbons today. I went down to donate blood several times but the line was so long that I left. It’s been a struggle feeling powerless and just wanting to help.
Has the mood in here been affected by (this week’s tragedies)?
I think there’s probably been a lot of conversation about it in here. I think the mood has been affected everywhere.
Any advice for other USM students?
I think this is a great place for multicultural students to come. I’d like to see more people here. I know there are a lot of native students that go here, and I don’t know if they just don’t know about this place or just don’t feel comfortable here. But this is a great place for everyone to come together, and I’m really psyched it’s here.
Any chance you’d be available to dance for the camera?
I’m wearing a skirt.