Grading system soon to be faster
By Dinah DouglasFlash back to December 17, 2008: you've just finished your exams, you packed up all your things, and you're ready to go home and relax, right? Well, sure, until your family and friends start asking, "How were your grades this semester?" And now you get to be nagged about your GPA for the next two weeks, all the while likely being in the dark about how you did. But, maybe you're a little relieved that you don't have to own up to your grades for another few weeks. Or perhaps you have no clue how the semester went, since it ... Read More
Global warming teach-in
By Dinah Douglas
UMBC joined over 800 other institutions to tell Congress and President Obama during the first 100 days of the new administration that global warming is a pressing issue to Americans. Across UMBC's campus last Thursday, there were numerous events related to climate change awareness, reaching across disciplines and working to inform the campus community of what each person can do to reduce their carbon footprint. The National Teach-in for Global Warming Solutions took place on February 5. The Teach-in was kicked off on Thursday morning by Lynne Schaefer, co-chair of UMBC's Climate Change Task Force, and Dannielle Lipinski, president of ... Read More
Students to vote on activities fee increase in April election
By Dinah DouglasCome SGA elections this spring, UMBC students will be asked to decide if they are willing to pay more tuition each year to keep SGA funding of campus life and student organizations at its present level. This April's ballot will contain a slate of candidates, as well as a referendum to raise the yearly $78 student activity fee, which helps SGA fund on-campus student organizations such as the Student Events Board and The Retriever Weekly.According to data provided by SGA treasurer Yasmin Karimian, the activity fee has been frozen at $78 for the past six years. However, other costs on ... Read More
SGA Pres. shares hopes for UMBC
By Dinah DouglasMuch has been said in recent weeks on the SGA shake-up, but little has been heard from the new SGA President, Gabe Rettaliata. Rettaliata is a senior biology education major and has been involved in the SGA since his freshman year. Though his rise to SGA presidency was sudden after the resignation of former president Steve Gilmore, Rettaliata seems enthusiastic and prepared for a successful finish to the year. The Retriever Weekly had the opportunity to interview the new leader of the SGA about his goals for UMBC and what students can expect under a Retalliata administration:The Retriever Weekly: What ... Read More
SGA calls out Chartwells for charging student orgs too much
By Dinah DouglasUMBC organizations have been all too familiar with price increases in this economic downturn. To combat price hikes, particularly in the food service sector, the SGA has been turning student organizations away from Chartwells for on-campus food convenience and toward off-campus vendors with lower prices. James McCauley, the SGA's Vice President for Student Organizations, confirmed on Friday that "at this time, the SGA Finance Board, which allocates money to the 250-plus organizations [on campus], has been actively steering organizations away from Chartwells due to their non-competitive prices relative to outside vendors." McCauley remarked that this policy, though an informal and ... Read More
Measures taken to make textbooks more affordable
By Dinah DouglasThe University System of Maryland's Board of Regents' Policy on Textbook Affordability Measures has received much lip service since its recent unanimous passage, as it advocates for students who must foot sometimes large textbook bills. The Affordability Measures understandably will affect campus bookstores in addition to students and faculty. The UMBC bookstore has been closely watching the textbook legislation that is being considered both on the federal and state levels to ensure that the staff is informed and that bookstore policies are up-to-date. The policy passed by the USM Board of Regents was a likely precursor to imminent legislative passage ... Read More
Recession sends students to less exotic places for spring break
By Dinah DouglasThe usual get-away-and-relax mentality of college spring break is one thing that hasn't disappeared during this recession. However, students are finding less exotic (and, in turn, less expensive) places to unwind from midterms as well as gear up for the end of the semester. Popular spring break destinations south of the border have seen a decline in visitors, particularly to Cancun, Mexico. According to a recent Time article, travel to Cancun is down 22% from previous years, due to the cost of travel outside of the country and travel advisories in place due to increased drug violence throughout Mexico. In ... Read More
Search for academic affairs positions begin
By Dinah DouglasThree open positions in key academic affairs specialties, Vice President for Research, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, and an interim Dean of the Erickson School for Aging Studies, are being vacated at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. A search for replacements is currently underway.The Vice President for Research and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (Dean of the Graduate School) are positions that were open at the end of last academic year and the permanent replacements for these positions are sought. In an e-mail from Provost Elliot Hirshman addressed to the UMBC community, these positions should be filled ... Read More
Students and faculty question cause of rising average GPA
By Dinah DouglasStudents may often joke about UMBC being a "nerd" school, where students would rather study than party, but students work hard for their grades, which reflect their knowledge and skills. However, there are data that suggest that grades are being inflated across the country. Nationally, in the past 50 years, grades have slowly become inflated. According to Stuart Rojstaczer, who researches college GPA trends and is the author of the website www.gradeinflation.com, GPAs have increased 0.1 to 0.2 points per decade. According to his research, for academic year 2006-'07, university averages for both public and private schools was 3.11, up ... Read More
New Fine Arts building to be completed in the summer 2014
By Dinah Douglas
In the summer of 2012, UMBC will see a major change to its campus in the form of a modern and environmentally sustainable Performing Arts and Humanities Facility (PAHF). The UMBC community was given a chance to learn about the PAHF last week when representatives from UMBC's Facilities Management, architecture firms Grimm and Parker Architects, and William Rawn Associates presented the blueprints and models to attendees. This meeting was the fifth in a series of community forums on the progress and construction of the facility, which will house the departments of Ancient Studies, Dance, English, Music, Philosophy, and Theatre. The ... Read More
Campus carnival doesn't please everyone
By Dinah Douglas
Quadmania is UMBC's biggest yearly event, though for some it is also the year's biggest disappointment.The process of planning Quadmania is labor-intensive, driven by members of the Student Events Board and its subcommittees, and financed out of the SEB and SGA budgets. Although the event pleases some of UMBC's diverse campus, not all are satisfied.This is not a profit-turning venture, said SEB President Sameeha Azeez, and according to figures provided by current SGA Treasurer Yasmin Karimian, this year's event cost nearly $80,000. "We spend a lot of money trying to make this event happen, and sometimes, if we are lucky, ... Read More
Two UMBC students elected to Council of State positions at Maryland Student Legislature session
By Dinah Douglas
While most UMBC students spent the first weekend in May relaxing, a group of four young politicians spent it drafting legislation and debating bills at the Annapolis State House. They may not be actual delegates and senators, but members of the UMBC's Maryland Student Legislature (MSL) prepared themselves for politicking in the future through a weekend of networking events with state and local politicians and debate on pertinent issues to the state.UMBC's MSL delegation received a special distinction at this spring's legislative session when two of the six positions on Maryland Student Legislature's Council of State were elected from the ... Read More
Could grade inflation be a cause of rising GPAs?
By Dinah Douglas
Students may often joke about UMBC being a "nerd" school, where students would rather study than party, but students work hard for their grades, which reflect their knowledge and skills. However, there are data that suggest that grades are being inflated across the country.Nationally, in the past 50 years, grades have slowly become inflated. According to Stuart Rojstaczer, who researches college GPA trends and is the author of the website www.gradeinflation.com, GPAs have increased 0.1 to 0.2 points per decade. According to his research, for academic year 2006-'07, university averages for both public and private schools was 3.11, up from ... Read More
Campus carnival doesn't please all of its attendees
By Dinah Douglas
Quadmania is UMBC's biggest yearly event, though for some it is also the year's biggest disappointment.The process of planning Quadmania is labor-intensive, driven by members of the Student Events Board and its subcommittees, and financed out of the SEB and SGA budgets. Although the event pleases some of UMBC's diverse campus, not all are satisfied.This is not a profit-turning venture, said SEB President Sameeha Azeez, and according to figures provided by current SGA Treasurer Yasmin Karimian, this year's event cost nearly $80,000. "We spend a lot of money trying to make this event happen, and sometimes, if we are lucky, ... Read More
20 questions for UMBC's valedictorian and co-salutatorian
By Dinah DouglasWhen UMBC freshman step onto campus for the first time, a lot has to be going through their minds - who is going to be a friend, who is going to be a study buddy, who is going to get them in trouble, who is going to help them cope with their roommate - and the list goes on. Hopefully, all freshmen are thinking about how they are going to make their stay at UMBC a successful one, and a few leaders of the freshly-graduated class of 2009 have some tips.The Retriever Weekly recently got to play twenty questions with ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Traveling to learn about my homeland, my heritage and myself
By Dinah Douglas
Why do we travel? Surely the answers to this question are numerous, but honestly, I had never really asked myself this question before. As a curious person by nature, traveling is something I do in order to learn a lot about a lot. But for all the questions I ask, most specifically for all the times I've asked someone "Why?" after I've been told some fact or theory, I never stopped to ask why I want to travel, or why I chose to study abroad.Many who know me recognize that "adventurous," and "self-assured," and "independent" aren't exactly the three terms ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Edinburgh: The city of literature
By Dinah Douglas
Every day I discover new things about my new town, Edinburgh. What I should have realized sooner as someone who loves books is how crucial this city is to some of the most important works in the English language. On the tours I've taken of the city, as well as of the University of Edinburgh, I noticed that people here love to brag about the rich literary tradition that this city has (for quite good reason).As a student of the university, I follow in the footsteps of famous writers such as J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe), Sir ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Culture shocked, but not ready to go home yet
By Dinah Douglas
Sitting in my flat, I notice that I am surrounded by doors. Of course, they're all fire doors, meant to keep fires from spreading throughout a flat or a building should such an unlucky event occur, but they make me feel a bit claustrophobic at times. I feel like so many doors separate me and the outside world (or just the kitchen) that on days of stress of frustration, I can feel really alone and far from what is familiar or friendly. Not to mention that for a country that seems so concerned with fire that it constructs twice as ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Not a Scot to be found in Edinburgh, Scotland
By Dinah Douglas
Before coming to Edinburgh, I was warned that I wouldn't be meeting a lot of Scottish people because of the large international population in this city. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, "But the whole city is in Scotland! How could I not meet Scottish people?" Now, I believe those warnings. The University of Edinburgh hosts thousands of international students each year, many visiting, but many also who come to complete their full degrees. Fortunately, this means that there is a good deal of support for international students (three different offices, to be precise). Unfortunately, this means ... Read More
Foreign Desk: Girls wear tights even when the weather bites
By Dinah Douglas
During the international students welcome ceremony at the beginning of term, we were all told that British people are obsessed with talking about the weather. Not unlike in the U.S., if you've run out of things to say to someone here in Scotland, a fool-proof (If a bit banal) conversation starter is talk of the weather. This is mainly because the weather is constantly in flux, refusing to let a poor girl determine a sensible outfit to wear that will keep her warm the whole day.Many of my international friends and I have noticed that the British girls somehow manage ... Read More
The tastes, smells, sights & sounds at Edinburgh
By Dinah Douglas
Anyone who has been reading my submissions to The Retriever Weekly these past few weeks (thanks, Mom!) will have an understanding of some of my general, yet personal, experiences in Scotland, but I realize I've not been representing the actual city of Edinburgh well. To help you get an idea of the atmosphere of Edinburgh, I've decided to take you on a sensory tour of my new favorite city on the planet.What do I taste? Indian food is quite popular across Scotland, causing some people to joke about chicken tikka masala being the country's own national dish. You can get ... Read More
Does Scotland deserve its independence from England?
By Dinah Douglas
Before coming to Scotland, I hadn't considered too much what the political climate in the UK is like. I figured I understood how the Westminster parliamentary system worked well enough to get by in conversation… Little did I know, political banter in Scotland is hoppin'!In the U.S., we use the term "British" to refer to the dreamy accents of actors like Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, which are in fact English accents. British is really the term properly used to refer to citizens of the entire union of Great Britain. Studying Scottish identity in class has taught me that one ... Read More
A conversation about Scottish politics and taboo
By Dinah Douglas
Politics is a touchy issue, and though I knew that before (I'm a political science major wont to get into politically-themed discussions anytime and anywhere), I'm finding that talking politics in another country can be even touchier. So, one day over tea, I decided to cross the political barrier with two Scottish friends who could help me understand their point of view on many things to do with those touchy subjects one shouldn't bring up in (normally) polite conversation.Stuart and Stefan are both fourth-years who study law at the University of Edinburgh, so I thought they might have an opinion ... Read More
Facilities Master Plan update presented to campus community
By Dinah Douglas
Anyone who is unsure of the direction in which UMBC is moving for the future needs only to hear about the Facilities Master Plan, which was recently updated and presented to the UMBC community on Monday, March 1. Presented by Joe Rexing, university architect, and Julianne Simpson, Assistant Director for Planning, both of Facilities Management, the Master Plan update projected plans that will be sustainable and accommodating of UMBC's growth potential for the foreseeable future.The Facilities Master Plan (FMP) is submitted every ten years to the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents and is updated every five years, ... Read More
Wallace McMillan of Physics department passes away
By Dinah Douglas
The UMBC community is mourning the recent loss of one of its own, Dr. Wallace McMillan, an associate professor of physics as well as the director of the graduate program in atmospheric physics. Since joining the UMBC Physics department in 1994, Dr. McMillan pursued research interests of air quality, and atmospheric and environmental health, joining the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) two years later. The physics department chair, Michael Hayden, commented on the passing of his colleague, saying, "We are going to miss him dearly; the students really loved him." According to an e-mail announcement of Dr. McMillan's ... Read More
SGA vote provides chance to look ahead
By Dinah DouglasAs per yearly tradition, last week UMBC students once again went to the virtual and real-life polls to cast their votes for next year's batch of student leaders. Nearly breaking the voter turnout record set in the spring 2009 Student Government Association election, UMBC's participants cast 2,368 votes this year. The body electedm11 senators, five finance board representatives, a president and executive vice president team, a vice president for student organizations, and a treasurer, while approving four referenda.Having a quarter of the student body vote may not sound like much, but when compared with nearby schools Towson University and the ... Read More
Black and Gold Council aims to increase school pride
By Dinah DouglasThe Black and Gold Council, composed of student leaders from campus-affiliated groups, is hoping to present a unified front to build school pride at UMBC. The Council put on its first event, Black and Gold Day, on Friday, April 30, at the Commons. The event included t-shirt giveaways, a free barbecue, and other spirit-building revelry.Vandana Bhatt, a senior and president of the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), indicated that Dr. Nancy Young (UMBC's Vice President for Student Affairs) wanted to bring together the student leaders of many organizations on campus so that they might work together in improving campus inclusion and ... Read More
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