Back in 1985 and 1986, when I was the editor of UMBC’s literary magazine, Bartleby, one of my professors gave me something I have kept for more than 25 years: a copy of the UMBC literary magazine distributed to students in February 1969. The 1969 literary magazine is a part of the university’s folklore, largely because the inclusion of a series of soft-focus photographs of two nude dancers caused a sensation off-campus among the local community and state legislators. But the magazine’s appearance also kicked off an era of student and faculty protest at UMBC – and provided the first… Continue Reading To You – Winter 2012
CENTER OF ATTENTION When the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) opened in Montgomery County in the fall of 2000, the project was an innovative concept in higher education: a place where part-time students could attend classes offered by a variety of public institutions. UMBC has been a key part of Shady Grove from the beginning, and this fall, UMBC celebrated its 10th anniversary as part of the endeavor, which has grown now into a state-of-the-art center offering more than 60 degree programs in partnership with nine University System of Maryland schools and serving more than 3,650 undergraduate and graduate students.… Continue Reading The News – Winter 2012
It takes a lot of hands to keep UMBC running. Fingers typing in the information to get your transcript in the mail. Gloved hands that keep an experiment in a chemistry or biology lab on course. The fingers of a professor, grasping chalk or a dry-erase pen. Yet there is some work at UMBC that requires a special touch. We’d like you to meet five such employees – members of the university community with jobs that are both surprising and essential to making UMBC a better place. By Jenny O’Grady Photos by Chris Hartlove The Guru of Glass Name: Tony… Continue Reading The Coolest Jobs (You Never Knew Existed) at UMBC
UMBC professor of political science Thomas Schaller’s 2006 book Whistling Past Dixie offered a controversial roadmap for the Democratic Party’s path back to electoral success – and thrust him into the D.C. spotlight. What does he see ahead in an already fractious 2012 electoral cycle? By Richard Byrne ’86 Illustrations by William L. Brown Professor of political science Thomas Schaller is an affable and loquacious fellow – a consistent pick among UMBC undergraduates as one of the university’s top teachers, as well as a fan of the rock band Wilco and the Washington Capitals hockey team. But Schaller has attracted… Continue Reading Primary Colorist
There’s always a pot of coffee brewing at the UMBC Women’s Center, which has made its home on the ground floor of The Commons since 2004. So it seemed like the right place to grab a cup with Jess Myers, acting director of the Women’s Center, and Simmona Simmons ’74, American studies, services development librarian, who helped to found the center 20 years ago. The Women’s Center is marking that landmark anniversary with events throughout the academic year, and the two women took a break from those celebrations to talk about the center’s past, present and future. How would you… Continue Reading Over Coffee – Winter 2012
“There are not that many of me left,” George Vitak ’73, biological sciences, says jovially as we walk together from the Library Pond back to his office in the University Center on a blustery late November day. The “me” in this case is a select group of faculty and staff who have witnessed UMBC’s rise to national prominence almost in its entirety. And at least as far as the University System of Maryland payroll is concerned, today is the day that another “me” bids UMBC farewell. On December 1, Vitak retired from his position as director of campus card and… Continue Reading Leaving a Legacy: George Vitak '73
“There are not that many of me left,” George Vitak ’73, biological sciences, says jovially as we walk together from the Library Pond back to his office in the University Center on a blustery late November day. The “me” in this case is a select group of faculty and staff who have witnessed UMBC’s rise to national prominence almost in its entirety. And at least as far as the University System of Maryland payroll is concerned, today is the day that another “me” bids UMBC farewell. On December 1, Vitak retired from his position as director of campus card and… Continue Reading Leaving a Legacy: George Vitak ’73
SWEET RELIEF? Think of sugar and you likely think of the tasty treats to which they lend sweetness – candies and soda and ice cream – or the way that a spoonful of it helps the medicine go down. But sugars have a potential medical role past helping Mary Poppins get some bitter but healing syrup down the hatch. Certain complex sugars, known as polysaccharides, can also play a role in improving the health of children according to UMBC researchers. Polysaccharides are attached to the outside of bacteria. These polysaccharides come in different types (or flavors, if you like), and… Continue Reading Discovery – Winter 2012
PUZZLE PAIR When Marianne and Don Engel first met and started to date, they assembled a 1000 piece glow-in-the-dark neon jigsaw puzzle of the Eiffel Tower. Now almost three years later, Don, an assistant vice president for research at UMBC, and Marianne, a research scientist at the Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute at Fort Detrick, have moved on to assembling the mother of all puzzles – 10,000 pieces of paper from a shredder. The Engels recently completed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Shredder Challenge, coming in second out of nearly 9,000 teams. The Challenge consisted… Continue Reading At Play – Winter 2012
With David Bobb ’02, Track & Field Head Coach Don’t get us wrong: there’s nothing bad about being slow. We like to relax as we sip our coffee in the morning. We like to take our time ambling down UMBC’s treelined thoroughfare on a cool spring morning. And we like to savor a long, juicy novel word by luscious word. Really, we do. Sometimes, though, you have to be fast. And when that time comes – whether you want to beat a fellow shopper to the last deal on the sales rack, or outstep your buddies on a lunch break… Continue Reading How To Be Fast: David Bobb ’02
UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III takes your questions. Q. UMBC ended its successful Exceptional by Example capital campaign by raising $15 million more than the $100 million target for the effort. What gave you the faith that this target of $100 million could be met? How gratified are you that the goal was surpassed in the end? — Richard Byrne ’86 A. I am very encouraged by the success of the campaign. We appreciate the support that people have given us. This success also lays the foundation for future campaigns. What we’ve been doing at UMBC is developing a… Continue Reading Up on the Roof – Fall 2011
Researchers at UMBC’s newly formed NASA research center wrestle with basic questions about our neighborhood star – and the effects that its weather can create on Earth. By Anthony Lane On the morning of September 1, 1859, a British solar astronomer was using his telescope to look at a projected image of the sun when something strange happened: Two brilliant patches of white light pierced the thicket of sunspots he’d been tracking. Richard Carrington, the astronomer, was astounded by what he saw. He scrambled outside to find someone to join him as a witness to the amazing spectacle, but… Continue Reading Today's Forecast: Stellar
