All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Alums Strike the Right Note with the Dawg Band

DawgBand3112013With the upcoming release of their second CD, we decided to catch up with two alumni members of UMBC’s Down and Dirty Dawg Band (DDDB) (Matt Basch ’08, information systems and ’10 M.S., information systems, Director of the DDDB and Paul Swenson ’06, computer science, Producer) to see why they love being a part of the nationally recognized pep band.

Q: What is the DDDB and why is it important?

Paul: The pep band [also known as the DDDB] is a musical and marching ensemble sponsored by Athletics that provides its members with a chance to perform fun tunes, become engaged with school spirit at UMBC sporting events and even earn some money through part-time employment opportunities.

Matt: The mission is to support the Athletic Department and the university through music and spirit. Whether it’s 20 degrees and snowing during one of the winter basketball games, or 100 degrees with the sun blazing during the Catonsville and Arbutus 4th of July parades, you’ll experience unbridled enthusiasm and exceptional playing from this band.

Q: Why do you (and others) continue to play even as alumni?

Paul: The UMBC Spirit Group [band, drumline, cheerleaders, dance team, fever retrievers and tumbling squad] sponsors an alumni day each year. It’s a great way to connect with past and present members of the group – and to reconnect with a group that played an important role in one’s undergraduate/graduate career.

Matt: Getting to hop on the drumset and play music with the [UMBC Spirit] Group is one of my favorite parts of the season. The Down and Dirty Dawg band is like a big extended family.

DawgBand_GT111913Q: Why is the support of alumni and the rest of the UMBC community so important?

Matt: It’s amazing to see the connection between current members, alumni, parents, faculty, and the community as a whole. The support means the world to the band – and helps validate what we’re doing!

Q: What are some of the benefits of staying involved as alumni?

Matt: The best part about being a DDDB alum is that you get to keep playing with us!

Paul: Having the opportunity to volunteer my time for an organization that I strongly believe in has been truly amazing.  I sincerely hope UMBC is always able to maintain its reputation of having the best pep band and most spirit in America East!

Help the Dawg Band Put Out Their New CD
Consider making a gift to the Down and Dirty Dawg band to help them produce their second CD.

This project is a part of UMBC’s Giving Tuesday campaign.

Support Men’s Soccer on the Road to Victory!

On Saturday, November 16, the UMBC men’s soccer team made the Retriever family proud as they clinched the America East Championship with a 4-0 win over third-seeded Hartford. The team is unbeaten in nine straight contests and you can help them continue their winning streak!

How can you help?

Make a gift: Celebrate our 2013 men’s soccer team members and coaching staff. Make a gift today to show your pride and help the team on the road to victory!

Buy a ticket: Join us on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. as UMBC takes the field for an NCAA tournament game. Get your tickets now!

 

 

Tickets for Men’s Soccer NCAA Tourney Game, 11/24

men's soccer

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament
UMBC faces off against winner of Quinnipiac v. Connecticut
Sunday, November 24, 5 p.m., Retriever Soccer Park
Tickets on sale: http://bit.ly/UMBCNCAA

Get your tickets now! $10 for adults, $7 for faculty and staff, and $5 for seniors 55+/youth 5-14/UMBC students. Children 5 and under free.

Tickets must be picked up at will call. For questions, contact Kristen Alexander at kristen2@umbc.edu.

Jessica Berman, English, Presents Guest Lecture at University of Mysore, India

English professor Jessica Berman recently presented a guest lecture at the Maharani’s Arts and Commerce College for Women, the University of Mysore, India.

Jessica Berman

Berman was in Mysore as part of an extended research trip in India to study the history of a Muslim woman writer, Iqbalunnisa Hussain, who graduated from the Maharani’s College in 1930.

Berman spoke to faculty and Master’s students in English literature on “Modernism in a Post-Colonial Context.” She also interacted with students and discussed her research on Indian authors with the faculty.

The lecture was presented on November 13th.

James P. Clements ’85, M.S. ’91, Ph.D. ’93 Named President of Clemson University

Photo via WVUJames P. Clements, ’85 computer science and ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, was recently selected to be Clemson University’s 15th president. Clements currently serves as president of West Virginia University.

Clements was selected by the Clemson Board of Trustees to succeed James F. Barker, who announced plans to retire in April after serving 14 years as president.

Prior to serving as president of Western Virginia University, Clements held positions as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Towson University.

Of his new position, Clements says:

“We are so excited to be joining the Clemson family. Clemson is one of the greatest public, land-grant research universities in the country. It is highly respected for being a student-centered campus that provides a top-notch, high-quality education while producing world-class research and vital services to the community.”

Read the full announcement from West Virginia University.

Read more about James P. Clements on the UMBC Alumni blog:

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NBC Kennedy documentary featuring Gus Russo ’72, political science

Russo_111913Gus Russo ’72, political science, traces the lesser-known tales of the Kennedy assassination in a new NBC documentary airing on November 22.

Ask Russo where he was on November 22, 1963, and he recalls it instantly. He was a student at Mount Saint Joseph High School, plunged with his fellow Roman Catholic school classmates into a deep communal grief over the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

For the past year, Russo has been asking other people to recount their memories of that tragic day for Where Were You?: America Remembers the JFK Assassination – a new NBC documentary hosted by Tom Brokaw. The interviews for that NBC special have also been compiled and edited by Russo and Harry Moses into a book with that same title published by Lyons Press.

Read more about Russo’s book and documentary on UMBC’s website.

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UMBC Alumnus James Clements named president of Clemson University

West Virginia University president James Clements will become the university’s next leader beginning January 2014 after outgoing President Jim Barker steps down.

Clements earned a B.S. degree in computer science and an M.S. and Ph.D. in operations analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Prior to accepting the role of president at WVU, Clements served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Towson University.

Clemson officials and employees expressed much enthusiasm over the decision and believe his personality and leadership qualities are the “right fit” for the institution.

“We are honored to be coming into a great university that has such a great history and I know it has a great future. So we’re thrilled to be part of the Clemson family,” said Clements.

Read the full release from WVU »

Winter 2013 Commencement Ceremonies

We warmly encourage faculty and staff to participate in UMBC’s winter 2013 Commencement Ceremonies. As you know, these events mean a great deal to our students and their parents and guests. I hope you will make a special effort to share in their celebration.

  • Graduate Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 19 in the RAC
  • Undergraduate Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 20 in the RAC

ORDERING REGALIA: As in the past, UMBC will subsidize the rental of academic regalia for faculty, and administrative and associate staff. The deadline has passed for ordering regalia without a late fee, but it may still be ordered with payment of $25. Please note that it will not be possible to order regalia after December 6. Regalia will be ready for pick-up in the Bookstore beginning December 9 through December 16. (Regalia will not be available for pick-up at the RAC.) Please use the online Commencement RSVP form to place your order. If you have any questions, please call Gail Dupree at the Bookstore, 410-455-3807.

RSVP FOR MARCHING IN THE PROCESSION: Even if you do not order regalia, we need to know that you intend to march in the Commencement procession, so that appropriate seating arrangements can be made. Please give your RSVP on the website response form for Commencement by December 6, 2013.

Thank you for your support of UMBC’s Commencement Ceremonies and graduates.

Susan Hoban Brings the Mars Rover to the UAE

Susan Hoban made the, National, in a story about a science fair in the UAE.

Dr Susan Hoban, associate professor of physics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, introduced students to the wonder of Nasa’s Mars Rover, before allowing them to build their own, albeit smaller, versions.hoban2012

“We want to use Mars as an inspiration to show the students that engineering is a career that they should choose, especially for girls, who maybe do not think that it is something they can do,” she said.

“My hats off to the organisers because it is a great undertaking. We hope that kids leave here thinking that engineering is fun.”

Read the story.

Roy Meyers, Political Science, in International Business Times

With no agreement in sight on a long-term budget deal with a budget conference committee self-assigned deadline coming up next month, some political experts say another U.S. Government shutdown in January is highly unlikely.

Roy Meyers (UMBC)

Political science professor Roy Meyers was interviewed for an article in International Business Times about the likelihood of another shutdown. He said a “small-ball deal” will likely be cut among lawmakers next month, but it won’t be the grand bargain to solidify a long-term deal.

“[It’s] one that would simply set an appropriations level for the rest of this fiscal year and it would make some modifications to the sequestration level that would be in place Jan. 15,” Meyers said.

“In other words, spend more on discretionary appropriations than would be the case if sequestration were to go into effect, and to offset those deficit increases by some small savings elsewhere,” he added. “But I don’t believe anything else will happen. In fact, I don’t know anybody who does,” he added.

After last month’s government shutdown, Congress has a job approval rating of 9 percent according to the latest Gallup poll. When asked if another government shutdown will happen in January, Meyers said there is “zero possibility of that happening.”

You can read the full article in International Business Times here.

Manil Suri, Math and Fashion

Manil Suri was featured in a “Math and Fashion” episode on the
Scholastic website. This is their first episode with the specific aim of
popularizing mathematics among school kids by tying it to a popular
theme.

SONY DSC

Tim Gunn, the super host of the hit TV series “Project Runway” introduced Suri, where he talked about math for about 90 seconds right near the beginning of the 26 minute show. The famous fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg, also talks about how math is useful in her line of work.

Watch the video

Manil Suri, Math and Fashion, Scholastic

Manil Suri was featured in a “Math and Fashion” episode on the
Scholastic website. This is their first episode with the specific aim of
popularizing mathematics amongst school kids by tying it to a popular
theme.

Tim Gunn, the super host of the hit TV series “Project Runway” introduces
Suri, and he talks about math for about 90 seconds right near the
beginning of the 26 minute show. The famous fashion designer, Diane von
Furstenberg, also talks about how math is useful in her line of work.

Watch the video

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