Policy & Society

Ryan Bloom, English, in the New Yorker

English lecturer Ryan Bloom was recently published on the New Yorker’s “Page-Turner” blog. His post, “Lost in Translation: What the First Line of ‘The Stranger’ Should Be” discusses the first sentence of Albert Camus’s book. “Within the novel’s first sentence, two subtle and seemingly minor translation decisions have the power to change the way we read everything that follows. What makes these particular choices prickly is that they poke at a long-standing debate among the literary community: whether it is necessary for a translator to have some sort of special affinity with a work’s author in order to produce the… Continue Reading Ryan Bloom, English, in the New Yorker

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on the Marc Steiner Show

On Monday, May 21, Kimberly Moffitt, assistant professor of American Studies, was a guest on the Marc Steiner show to respond to comments by Maryland State Delegate Pat McDonough on “mobs of roving black youth” in downtown Baltimore.  McDonough was also a guest on the show. “My attitude is that either Baltimore is going to overcome crime, or crime is going to overcome Baltimore,” said McDonough, arguing that his use of “black” in the context was referring to the specific individuals engaged in the crime and not Baltimore’s African American population as a whole. “We could have easily said there’s… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on the Marc Steiner Show

Joe Adewumi ’12 Named to Capital One District 2 All-Academic Squad

UMBC senior tennis standout Joe Adewumi has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District men’s at-large team by the College Sports Information Director of America. Adewumi was one of 15 honorees from District 2 of the NCAA Division I level. He will now be considered for Academic All-America honors, along with those recipients from the other seven districts. The highly-decorated Adewumi was recently selected to the America East Tennis All-Academic squad, earning the honor in each of his three years of eligibility. He is the first UMBC male athlete to earn the distinction of capturing the maximum number of… Continue Reading Joe Adewumi ’12 Named to Capital One District 2 All-Academic Squad

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Why don’t private-sector inefficiencies, which drive up costs, drive us crazy the way public-sector waste does? asks Tom Schaller, professor of political science, in his latest column for the Baltimore Sun. “Hidden costs, inefficiencies, paperwork hurdles, scams and other frustrations are common to everyday business transactions. And these are just the minor irritants. Beyond that are the retail costs — for everything from tuition and clothing to cable and cellphones — that seem to be rising faster than wages,” he writes. “But I get the distinct sense that Americans are too quick to glorify markets and vilify governments… We just… Continue Reading Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Tom Schaller, Political Science, on Salon

“The political dynamics for winning a second presidential term often differ markedly from winning the first. So don’t be surprised by many eerie parallels between Obama’s 2012 reelection bid and Bush’s 2004 campaign,” writes Tom Schaller, professor of political science, in his latest commentary for Salon. Shaller argues that many of the strategies Obama will need to use to win the election – including emphasizing things that could have gone wrong, but didn’t and portraying his opponent as an out-of-touch elitist – are the ones that George W. Bush used against John Kerry in 2004. “The president may be asking… Continue Reading Tom Schaller, Political Science, on Salon

Christopher Corbett, English, in Style Magazine

Christopher Corbett, professor of the practice of English, reflected on his local farmer’s market in his latest essay for Style magazine. “Rain or shine, every Saturday morning, if I am in Baltimore, I swing by the 32nd Street Farmers Market, a habit of city life for me since I moved to Baltimore 32 years ago… I like ritual. And I love the farmers market,” he writes. He says that one of his favorite things about the market is the variety in both people and what you can find there. “People talk a good line about diversity hereabouts. But you rarely… Continue Reading Christopher Corbett, English, in Style Magazine

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on Midday with Dan Rodricks

On Tuesday, May 15, Kimberly Moffitt, assistant professor of American studies, appeared on Midday with Dan Rodricks to discuss President Obama’s recently-announced support of same sex marriage. “It strengthens our nation in many ways, because now we have a clear sense of basic human rights across the board for everyone,” she said. Rodricks pointed out that many people believe that Obama’s announcement was a calculated political move rather than a reflection of his true beliefs.  Moffitt said that she isn’t sure. “I think this might lure some of these swing voters,” she said. “But I also have some concerns that this might… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on Midday with Dan Rodricks

Raphael Falco, English, Named 2012-2013 Lipitz Professor

Raphael Falco, professor of English, has been named the Lipitz Professor of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for the 2012-2013 academic year. Falco is one of the foremost scholars, nationally and internationally, of the English Renaissance. “Professor Falco is a very distinguished and productive scholar, one who brings recognition and distinction not just to himself and his department but to the university. It is thus altogether fitting that he has been named Lipitz Professor,” said John Jeffries, dean of the college of arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Lipitz professorship was established by Roger C. Lipitz and his family… Continue Reading Raphael Falco, English, Named 2012-2013 Lipitz Professor

Matt Courson ’11, Political Science, on CBS Baltimore

After an ATV accident in 2006, Matt Courson was paralyzed from the waist down and given a 1% chance of walking again. Thanks to aggressive physical therapy at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, he was able to walk across the stage to receive his UMBC diploma just five years later—a moment captured by the Baltimore Sun and featured on CNN’s “Human Factor.”Courson attended a celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the Kennedy Krieger Institute this week. He told CBS News, “This place has done so much for me, the therapists, the doctors…they are family to… Continue Reading Matt Courson ’11, Political Science, on CBS Baltimore

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, on ‘The Madeleine Brand Show”

Ellen Handler Spitz, honors college professor of visual arts, appeared on Southern California Public Radio’s “The Madeleine Brand Show” on May 8 to discuss the death of Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak. Spitz is a renowned expert on children’s literature. “It’s hard to think of any other American who did more for children’s literature,” Spitz said. “Maurice Sendak had an uncanny way of seeing into a child’s private world, a child’s world of fantasy. But I think what is most important about his legacy is that he was able to create books and characters that captured the… Continue Reading Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, on ‘The Madeleine Brand Show”

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, in The New Republic

Maurice Sendak, a children’s author best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, passed away on Tuesday, May 8. Ellen Handler Spitz, honors college professor of visual arts, wrote about Sendak for The New Republic in a piece entitled “Remembering Maurice Sendak, Who Brought Loneliness to Children’s Literature,” which appeared on the website on May 9. “Sendak knew from within the profound sense in which every child, from time to time, perceives himself or herself to be alone—an outsider—and feels the need to retreat into some private space, some nook or secret hiding place. Sendak’s books are themselves… Continue Reading Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, in The New Republic

Catie Collins ’12, English Literature and Psychology, Participates in Conference Call with Governor O’Malley and President Obama

Catie Collins ’12, English literature and psychology, participated in a conference call with Maryland Governor O’Malley and President Obama on Monday, May 7. The call, which included elected officials and student leaders from across the country, concerned the the effort to prevent interest rates on student loans from increasing this summer. Collins was joined by Rosa Abraha from College Park. More photos and information about the call can be found on the White House blog. (Photo: MDGovpics)

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