The real "big city" lifestyle: Clubs and pubs
By Gavin Way
As I sit here writing this at six in the morning after a night in the clubs, I can't help but reflect upon the many amazing experiences I already have enjoyed in South America. Studying abroad in a Spanish immersion program in Buenos Aires, Argentina has so far proven to be one of the best decisions I may ever make. Home to over one-third of Argentina's population, Buenos Aires and its surrounding province contain nearly 13 million citizens. Thankfully, I am being eased into the 'big city' environment: January and February mark their summer holidays, during which time ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Finding real hospitality
By Gavin WaySitting around the subdued fire, huddled as close as we dared to avoid the chill, we struggled to hear each other over the loud music and the sound of the surf crashing on the beach. My friends Alex, Daniel, Tera, Yong Wei, and I were enjoying a reggae beach party in Pinimar, a seaside resort on the Atlantic coast of Argentina.As we sat around the fire, waiting for just the right moment to hit the dance floor, we attempted to smoke our Romeo y Julietta cigars. Containing some of Cuba's finest tobacco, we were none the less having trouble lighting ... Read More
Foreign Desk: The power of immersion
By Gavin WayIt is hard at first. Surrounded by so many people, you still feel so alone. You are reduced to pointing to indicate that you want something, forced to rely on others to translate the signs, instructions, and even menus. Thoughts creep into your head: What if the subway crashes -- will I understand what to do? If I get lost, how can I ever find my way home? History is different down here too: apparently the 1982 defeat at the hands of the British was not enough to discourage Argentina from still claiming ownership of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas, ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Latin America coast to coast
By Gavin WayThough it sounds ambitious, traveling from coast to coast across Latin America is not the hardest thing in the world, even for a group of students who are still learning Spanish. We had two months to plan it and 10 days to do it. Starting with Buenos Aires on the Atlantic coast, my friends and I decided to use our spring break to make a loop all the way to Valpreso on the Pacific coast of Chile.Leaving on a Thursday night, we took a late bus from Buenos Aires to San Rafel, Mendoza. Arriving around 3 a.m. (that made for ... Read More
Foreign Desk: An international football experience
By Gavin Way
With the first goal the crowd went wild. Chanting "Argentina, Argentina," the entire stadium was bouncing on their feet, throwing all sorts of paper scraps into the air creating a crowd of confetti. Even the Venezuelan section appreciated how masterfully the goal was executed. And there I was, in the center of it all: watching the Argentina vs. Venezuela World Cup qualifying match at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires.We knew the game was going to be an incredible experience before we even made it to the stadium. My friends and I had already all purchased Argentine jerseys, but ... Read More
Foreign Desk: You can turn off the red light
By Gavin WayYou can call them whorish, sleezy, or just plain dirty, but to Argentines they are known as 'telos.' One of the most unique aspects of Argentine culture I have yet to hear about, there are no real comparable locations in the U.S., at least to my knowledge. Though their roots are simple and, in a way, honest and a sign of respect, critics will be quick to label them as sinful. However, to most Argentines they are nothing more then a cultural necessity.First though, I'm sure you are all wondering: but Gavin, what is a telo? A telo, or transient ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Iguazu Falls untouched by time
By Gavin WayYou could hear it long before you could see it. It started soft but deep, a faint roar like a plane flying overhead. When we walked around the last bend in the walkway, bursting through a wall of vegetation that breaks up the river, you could see the mist rising from a great chasm in the earth.The scene was prehistoric, raw. Lush, green vegetation divided by a wide crystal-clear river, with the mist of the falls adding an ambiance of danger: in this area, so raw and seemingly ancient, what could be lurking in the mist?It wasn't dinosaurs or other ... Read More
A trip to the southern end of the world: Ushuaia
By Gavin WayWe all know the feeling: classes are over, finals are done, but work has yet to start so now you have a week of down time. Different students come up with different ways of spending that time, many content to waste it away in front of the TV, make a stupid YouTube video, or one of those otherwise useless acts that we all do and still get so much pleasure from. But for those of us in Argentina who had just finished our four-month long intensive Spanish program, it was time to travel. We had one week and like some ... Read More
Getting ahead in today's job market despite the economy
By Gavin WayThe numbers are scary: an unemployment rate at 9.4%, 227,000 jobs lost in July, and over five million Americans out of work for 27 weeks or longer. For current students and recent graduates, there are plenty of statistics that might make you feel like giving up. But never fear, for employers are still hiring and opportunities still exist. Most college students are considering three options when thinking about life after UMBC: keep going for that dream job, take whatever job I can, or go to graduate school. Nevertheless, whichever option you're considering, here are some tips that can help guarantee ... Read More
Police seek to lower thefts on campus
By Gavin Way
Any given issue of The Retriever Weekly's Police Log is likely to contain a number of reports of thefts. By far one of the most prolific crimes on campus, the UMBC Police Department has records of 69 thefts between January and August of 2009.This high rate has not been lost on the department, however. They tailor their tactics and deployment to deter and catch offenders as best they can. Though there have been notable successes, such as the arrest made by detective John Taylor's in the catalytic converter thefts back in February, the police can only be expected to do ... Read More
Senior Success Seminar prepares students for post-college job search with "your thirty-second commercial"
By Gavin WayLast Saturday morning, while their friends were either still asleep or just starting to stir, approximately 50 students sat in the Skylight lounge listening to advice regarding interview techniques, resume building, and other aspects of the job search. These students, attendees of the Career Services Center sponsored Senior Success Seminar were preparing strategies for job hunting success.Asked why she was attending, senior Shelly Klesser said, "I don't want the reason I didn't get a job to be because I didn't try." This full-day event is in its second year of bringing together students and employers' Human Resources staff. Associate Director ... Read More
A day in the life: Rolling with the police of UMBC
By Gavin Way
UMBC is a busy, diverse environment that, like many other universities and colleges, has its own dedicated police force. The Retriever Weekly recently sat with Sergeant Bruce Perry, Jr. to find out what it is they do here on campus.Every shift starts with procedural matters. The first of these is the roll call. It is during this time, when all the officers are together, that the shift supervisor details the day's deployment strategies. This changes daily in response to any patterns of theft, campus events, or whatever other needs may have to be met. In addition to assigning sectors, or ... Read More
Out of disaster comes inspiration: UMBC students raise funds for Typhoon victims in Philippines
By Gavin Way
On September 26th, Typhoon Ketsana devastated the Philippines, an archipelago in southeastern Asia. Over 8,500 miles away, a group of students followed these events closely to learn what they could do to help. These students were members of FASA, the Filipino-American Student Association, a cultural awareness student organization here on campus. Inspired by what they saw their fellow man undergo, the club jumped into gear.With four tenets guiding their group - education, integration, charity, and family - this typhoon encouraged them to take things into high gear. Because of the distance and the resulting shipping times, FASA knew the only ... Read More
Undergraduates take advantage of research grants
By Gavin WayStarting in February, the board of faculty that manages the URA starts accepting applications. By April the board awards winning applications with monetary resources up to $1500 per researcher. These funds, as part of the application process, are designated to allow students access to the resources necessary for their research. For some students, this can include money towards wages they would otherwise earn in employment if they did not have to designate that time to research. Others use the money towards purchasing books that the University of Maryland system does not retain in circulation or paying for transportation and fees ... Read More
SGA Senate passes controversial resolution regarding University System of Maryland's porn policy
By Gavin Way
The UMBC SGA Senate recently passed a controversial resolution condemning requirements imposed on the University of Maryland system that, according to UMBC's SGA, are nothing less than a restriction on students' freedom of expression.Summing up the SGA's argument against these requirements, SGA Senator Stavros Halkias argued that it is "not the place of the state legislature to regulate the student body's freedom of expression by leveraging funds." Outraged by University of Maryland - College Park's plans to show an X-rated film (Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge) in a student theater, state lawmakers sought to limit what material universities that receive state ... Read More
Federal government seeks to recruit UMBC students
By Gavin Way
UMBC has developed a close relationship with many companies and organizations eager to hire our alumni, chief among them being the federal government. Attracted by UMBC's diversity, its strong academic programs and proximity, the government actively recruits students for internships, co-ops, and employment.Recruiters for many government departments and agencies, like the National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Defense (DoD), and National Institutes of Health (NIH), are a common sight around campus. This past September, the Shriver Center hosted a Homeland Security Lunch Panel, bringing recruiters from many security- and defense-oriented agencies. Turnout was high, showing that the students here are ... Read More
Californian Professor debunks climate change myths
By Gavin Way
This past Monday, UMBC hosted Dr. Naomi Oreskes of the University of California, San Diego, as she presented a fascinating selection from her current research and new book, Merchants of Doubt. Focused on the debate over climate change, she was extremely critical of pseudoscience and the self-proclaimed experts who peddle it to Americans who don't know better.To Dr. Oreskes and the respected scientific community, mankind and our greenhouse gases have been judged 90% probable to be responsible for the ongoing and expected climate change. While Dr. Oreskes was not there to prove global warming, she did trace the history of ... Read More
UMBC's growing strength in environmental sciences warrants attention
By Gavin way
In UMBC's annual report submitted to the state legislature, our environmental sciences program was specifically cited for its strength and growing reputation. At a time when President Freeman Hrabowski admits via the legislative report that the school is financially strained, UMBC still maintains a focus on excellence in research. Dr. Sandy Parker, the Chair of the geography and environmental sciences (GES) department, believes the geosciences program has benefited in particular over the past few years, thanks to a confluence of events, hard work, and the hiring of many new, young faculty members.Relating to the environment sciences, UMBC cited existing strength ... Read More
SGA passes resolution on earlier drop date
By Gavin WayThis past Tuesday, November 10 was the last day students could drop a class and receive a "W" for withdrawal. The day before, the Student Government Association (SGA) Senate passed a resolution regarding the ongoing debate over changing the drop date, the one students can use to drop a class with no notation on their academic record. After over five months of deliberations, the resolution supporting the earlier drop date passed with six votes for, one vote against, and four members not voting.The debate started amongst the students back in April, when an error in the enrollment software revealed a ... Read More
Helpful hints for students who are looking to study overseas
By Gavin WayThe Retriever Weekly recently talked with staff and students here at UMBC to find out what students interested in studying abroad can do to capitalize on their adventures overseas.Before you can worry about what you can do while abroad, it is important that students take the time to research what they are getting themselves into. First and foremost, students need to understand that studying abroad entails just that: studying."Study abroad is not a vacation. It is a different type of academic experience," says Dr. Brian Souders, Associate Director of International Education Serves. In addition to being concerned with the country ... Read More
An inside view of jobs and internships
By Gavin WayThis winter break, while many UMBC students played the latest Call of Duty or took a winter class, a small group of busy students got to shadow alumni in various professions. In its second year, the UMBC Student/Alumni Job Shadow Externship Program brings interested students together with willing alumni for a day, giving the student "an insider's view of his/her field of interest."A joint program between the Shriver Center and the Office of Alumni Relations, it provides students another option short of an internship to test the waters. This program was designed with two groups in mind: those who were ... Read More
New CARD Act may put some students in a bind
By Gavin Way
Recent federal legislation has put students in a financial bind; new federal law will prevent anyone, under the age of 21 from receiving a credit card. At a time when more and more parents are unable to support their children all the way through college, students have had one option, however dangerous, removed from their reach. Jerry Welch, CEO of nFinanSe, wrote, "Anxious to make their way in the world and not always aware of the long-term financial consequences of their actions, anyone under the age of 21 will be much more protected from the dangers of credit cards. However, ... Read More
President Freeman Hrabowski visits General Assembly to protect UMBC's STEM programs
By Gavin Way
As the Maryland General Assembly (GA) continues its debate over the pending state budget and tuition increases for the University System of Maryland, President Hrabowski appeared before the legislature to remind the body just how important these funds are to UMBC. Because of UMBC's reputation for being a strong science and engineering research university, the administration fears that cuts to Governor O'Malley's proposed budget would threaten the advancement of the university's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. For those not familiar with the budgeting process, it starts with the governor proposing a budget which is submitted to the state ... Read More
Career Week helps students land jobs
By Gavin Way
With daily coverage in the national news and multiple articles published here in The Retriever Weekly, it should be no surprise to our readers that the employment prospects for students are limited. "In today's economic climate, now more than ever, it is important for UMBC students to begin exploring their career options as early as freshman and sophomore years," the website for Career Week states. "We are committed to helping our students draw the connection between their academic majors and career paths while also engaging alumni in the mentoring process of current students," offers Anne Scholl-Fiedler, director of the Career ... Read More
Collateral murder: can you win a war you perpetuate?
By Gavin Way
What is worse: a war crime or the organized effort to conceal it? This is the question Americans must ask themselves after Wikileaks published a video it has labeled "Collateral Murder." It is purportedly a decrypted video feed from an US Army Apache attache helicopter in Iraq, dated to the summer of 2007. The video's content has ignited a muted storm of anger, active among the blogosphere and human rights campaigners but surprisingly quiet among the domestic American media. More importantly, and dangerously, the video has had a consistent presence on stations like Al Jazeera, a widely-watched news source in ... Read More
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