CAHSS

News and Updates about UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

John Rennie Short, Public Policy, in The Conversation

Feb 12, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

In light of the recent significant snowfall across parts of the Northeast, School of Public Policy professor John Rennie Short wrote an article for The Conversation in which he analyzed the impact of climate change on extreme weather events. In referencing the 60 inches of snow that fell in 30 days on Boston and parts of the wider region, Short wrote: “This is the new normal for weather in the US. Global climate change increases the chances that the once-a-century event is now a once-every-twenty-years occurrence. The country is now experiencing more severe weather events: long droughts in the Southwest, destructive wildfires… Continue Reading John Rennie Short, Public Policy, in The Conversation

Carlo DiClemente, Psychology, in the Baltimore Sun

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

In the wake of three hit-and-run accidents in the Baltimore region, the Baltimore Sun recently published an article addressing the question of what leads someone to flee an accident where another person may have suffered harm? Psychology professor Carlo DiClemente was quoted in the article and discussed how alcohol, a factor in about 30 percent of traffic fatalities nationally, can amplify emotions of fear, shame, and guilt which overwhelm self-control. “Rational decision-making is clearly difficult in an intoxicated state, particularly as blood-alcohol levels increase,” said DiClemente. “Fear and escape motivations kick in and, without good executive functioning, make flight more probable.” DiClemente, who researches… Continue Reading Carlo DiClemente, Psychology, in the Baltimore Sun

Roy Meyers, Political Science, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

On February 9, WYPR’s Maryland Morning hosted political science professor Roy Meyers to discuss education spending in Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s budget. Meyers discussed in-depth what K-12 education spending looks like for schools in the proposed budget. “There are two kinds of cuts in the governor’s budget for all the counties and the cities across the board. One cut is the cut in the Geographic Cost of Education Index which under law he is allowed to make in his budget. That’s about $68 million in savings,” said Meyers. “The other savings, about $76 million, is in proposed changes to the law that… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

Michelle Stefano, American Studies, in City Paper

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

In a recent article published in the “City Folk” section of City Paper, Michelle Stefano, visiting assistant professor of American studies, wrote about Henry Reisinger, the longtime owner of E.M. Fenwick’s Choice Meats in Baltimore’s Cross Street Market. Stefano’s profile of Reisinger traces the history of the business and the hard work Reisinger has put into it for four decades. It also provides a glimpse into how the market business has changed in recent years. “Reisinger tells of the old days, when there were six or seven meat vendors at the market. Now, there remains only Fenwick’s and his competition, Nunnally… Continue Reading Michelle Stefano, American Studies, in City Paper

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show hosted a panel discussion on February 9 on charter schools vs. traditional public schools, school closings, school funding, and the future of education. Kimberly Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies and a founding parent at the Baltimore Collegiate School For Boys, discussed her views on charter schools and the reason she decided to help found the Baltimore Collegiate School For Boys. “Even as I’m someone who is at the table creating a charter school, I’m very cognizant of charter schools are not the panacea,” Moffitt said. “It was more about a mission that was very much tied… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

Humanities Forum: There’s a Crack in Everything: That’s How the Light Gets In (3/4)

Feb 12, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Wednesday, March 4 | 7:00 p.m. There is a Crack in Everything: That’s How the Light Gets in* (*from Anthem by Leonard Cohen) Michael Rakowitz, Professor, Art Theory & Practice, Northwestern University Performing Arts and Humanities Building, Room 132 Artist Michael Rakowitz discusses his work, in the context of hope and antagonism, and at the intersection of problem solving and trouble-making. Rakowitz’s symbolic interventions in problematic urban situations extend from paraSITE (1998 – ongoing), in which the artist custom builds inflatable shelters for homeless people that attach to the exterior outtake vents of a building’s HVAC system, to Minaret (2001-Ongoing),… Continue Reading Humanities Forum: There’s a Crack in Everything: That’s How the Light Gets In (3/4)

Social Sciences Forum: Men are from Earth, Women are from Earth: Science vs. the Media on Psychological Gender Differences (3/4)

Feb 12, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Wednesday, March 4 | 4:00 p.m. Janet Shibley Hyde, Evjue-Bascom Professor & Helen Thompson Woolley Professor of Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies and Director at the Center for Research on Gender & Women at the University of Wisconsin, Madison Albin. O Kuhn Library Gallery The media portray psychological differences between women and men as large and biologically determined—men are from Mars, women are from Venus. Dr. Hyde’s research uses the statistical method of meta-analysis to investigate whether these claims are accurate. The results are surprising. Distinguished Lecture in Psychology, Co-sponsored by the Departments of Psychology and Gender + Women’s Studies

“Without You, There is No Us” – Undercover in North Korea (3/3)

Feb 12, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Asian Studies Lecture and Book Signing Tuesday, March 3 | 7:00 p.m. Suki Kim, Award-Winning Journalist Albin O. Kuhn Library 7th Floor In this talk, Suki Kim, an award-winning journalist, will discuss her book Without You, There is No Us. A New York Times bestseller and already in its sixth printing since its publication three months ago, Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite is an investigative nonfiction work and expose of life in North Korea and one of its elite schools and thus far has received rave reviews from New York Times Book Review, Wall Street… Continue Reading “Without You, There is No Us” – Undercover in North Korea (3/3)

Humanities Forum: A Stirring Song Sung Heroic (2/24)

Feb 12, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Tuesday, February 24 | 4:00 p.m. William Earle Williams, Audrey A. and John L. Dusseau Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Fine Arts, and Curator of Photography, Haverford College Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery A Stirring Song Sung Heroic features the work of photographer William Earle Williams. The history of American slavery is presented across three series of 80 black and white silver gelatin prints. These images document mostly anonymous, unheralded, and uncelebrated places in the New World—from the Caribbean to North America—where Americans black and white determined the meaning of freedom. Archives of prints, newspapers, and other ephemera related… Continue Reading Humanities Forum: A Stirring Song Sung Heroic (2/24)

Arthur Johnson, Political Science, Describes the Sondheim Public Affairs Program in The Faculty Voice

Feb 11, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Arthur Johnson, provost emeritus and political science, penned an article in The Faculty Voice about how UMBC’s Walter Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program contributes to the public good. The Faculty Voice is the independent faculty news source in the University System of Maryland. In the article, Johnson outlines the history of the Sondheim Scholars program, the impact of its alumni, and how the program continues to evolve. He emphasizes that public service is not defined by a career in government, but rather a desire to serve others and inspire social change. Johnson also recounted the program’s connection to Walter Sondheim,… Continue Reading Arthur Johnson, Political Science, Describes the Sondheim Public Affairs Program in The Faculty Voice

Erle Ellis, Accidental Discovery

Feb 9, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Erle Ellis, associate professor of geography and environmental systems was taking a walk down the beach when he found a smooth object. Thinking it was some relic of years of ocean polishing he put it in his pocket only to discover a trash heap a short distance away. Triggered by his accidental discovery, Ellis measured on a global scale how much of Earth has been changed by humans. Using satellite data, he concluded that at least two thirds of the land surface have already been modified for agriculture, cities, mining and other human purposes. The oceans have also become an… Continue Reading Erle Ellis, Accidental Discovery

Dwight Polk, Emergency Health Services, on EMS1.com

Feb 6, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Dwight Polk, paramedic program director and senior lecturer of emergency health services, recently presented at the Arrowhead EMS Conference in Duluth, Minn. about exploring the psychological impact of line of duty deaths (LODD) on EMS organizations. Polk regularly teaches and presents at regional and state EMS conferences around the country. The editor of EMS1.com, a news service for EMS professionals, wrote an article analyzing Polk’s presentation in discussing the inevitability of planning and preparing for a line of duty death in the profession. The article mentioned several key takeaways from Polk’s presentation, including having updated emergency contact forms, protection of evidence… Continue Reading Dwight Polk, Emergency Health Services, on EMS1.com