deC. 03 - The Retriever Weekly

tHe 

RetRieveR Weekly 

university of maryland, baltimore county’s student newspaper 

12.11.12 VOLUME 47 ISSUE 14 

UMBC nominee finalist for 

USM Student Regent 

Meghan Carpenter was nominated by her peers to be the next Univarsity System of Maryland Student Regent after a year-long application process and is now a finalist for the 

position. 

The Dresher Center for the 

Humanities held a discussion on 

Wednesday, Dec. 5 in the Performing 

Arts and Humanities Building Theater 

during which panelists discussed the 

role of the youth in the Civil Rights 

Movement. Students, faculty and 

guests filled the theater at 4 p.m. to 

listen. 

“As we look back at the past and at 

different parts of our lives, we see 

things differently,” said President 

Freeman A. Hrabowski. As a child in 

the 1960s, Hrabowski participated 

in the children’s march for the Civil 

Rights Movement in Birmingham, 

Alabama. 

“It was a painful and raw 

experience,” said Hrabowski during 

his speech. He discussed topics of 

social class, his privileges in a Deep 

South middle-class neighborhood as 

well as controversies about Dr. Martin 

Luther King Jr. during the movement. 

Joining President Hrabowski on the 

panel was Civil Rights Leader and 

Former Chairman of the National 

Association for the Advancement of 

Colored People (NAACP) Julian Bond, 

author Andrew B. Lewis and Taylor 

Branch, both an author and historian 

who moderated the discussion. 

The ReTRieveR Weekly index: News....1 Opinions....8 Features....10 Technology...14 Sports...17 

Women’s Basketball Smoking Task Force 

Point guard Lauren 

Chase leaves the 

women’s basketball 

team in a precarious 

position. 

> see CIVIL RIGHTS [3] 

UMBC announces 

the formation of the 

Smoke-Free Campus 

Task Force. 

RETRIEVERWEEKLY.COM 

The voice of the students is 

heard through the Student Regent, 

appointed by the governor after nearly 

a year-long application process. The 

Student Regent is part of the USM 

Board of Regents, a 17-member 

group appointed by the governor. 

The Board generates educational 

policies, hires the presidents of USM 

institutions, and runs the system’s 

academic, administrative, and 

financial procedures. 

Each University System of Maryland 

institution nominates a school 

representative to be considered 

for the Student Regent position, 

and this year, UMBC’s nominee is 

junior Meghan Carpenter. Currently 

majoring in political science and 

american studies with a Public 

Administration certificate, Carpenter 

is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar 

and a member of the Honors College. 

She is also the director of the SGA 

Office of Community and Public 

Affairs, is an Honors Forum Team 

Leader and works in the Office of 

the President. She has conducted 

research in the Political Science 

department, served as the UMBC 

representative on the University of 

Maryland Student Council and is the 

student representative for the UMBC 

Neighbor Relations Committee. 

UMBC looks back with civil rights leaders 

By ASHLEy EDOKPAyI 

Senior Staff Writer 

COURTESy MEGHAN CARPENTER 

JOHN JOyCE — TRW 

By SAyRE POSEy 

Staff Writer 

> see REGENT [3] 

President Hrabowski shared his personal experiences with the Civil Rights Movement with the audience at the 

panel discussion.

2 

TIMELINE 

12.02.12-12.08.12 

THE WEEK 

IN REvIEW 

deC. 02 - 

The Pentagon plans to send hundreds 

more spies overseas to transform 

the Defence Intelligence Agency into a 

spy service that is more focused on 

emerging threats and closely aligned 

with the CIA. 

deC. 03 - 

David Oliver Relin, co-author of Three 

Cups of Tea, commits suicide at age 49, 

approximately a year after allegations 

of falsehoods in the book took place. 

deC. 03 - 

Mars Curiosity rover finds organic 

compounds of carbon and and chlorine 

that could be indicative of microbes in 

the soil but are more likely the result 

of contamination from the rover itself 

or from meteorites. 


Oscar Niemeyer, famous Brazilian 

architect, dies at age 104. His cause 

of death has not been released, but 

he was hospitalized in May 2012 for 

pneumonia and more recently for 

kidney failure. 


Gov. Martin O’Malley signs proclamation 

saying same-sex couples can obtain 

postdated marriage licences in some 

Maryland counties. The new samesex 

marriage law will take full effect 

January 1. 


The nurse who took and transferred a 

prank call to Kate Middleton’s private 

nurse is found dead after a possible 

suicide. The Duke and Duchess 

released a statement saying they are, 

“deeply saddened” by the woman’s 

death. 


The annual Z100 Jingle Ball concert 

takes place this year at Madison 

Square Garden, featuring Taylor Swift, 

Justin Bieber, One Direction, and more. 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

NEWS 

UMBC announces Smoke-Free Campus 

Task Force 

By KAITLyN HAKENSON 

Assistant News Editor 

Last week, UMBC sent a campus-wide 

email officially announcing the upcoming 

changes in smoking policies to students and 

staff. 

This policy was created this past summer 

and will be put into effect by July 2013. 

Each institution in the University System of 

Maryland has been asked to tailor this new 

policy to its unique campus environment. 

Accordingly, UMBC has put together a 

Smoke-Free Campus Task Force that will 

discuss communication of the new policy 

and the details of its implementation and 

enforcement. The task force includes 

representative students, faculty and staff from 

UMBC’s shared governance organizations. 

“We have to develop an implementation 

strategy … what does a smoke-free policy 

mean?” said Valerie Thomas, UMBC’s 

Associate Vice President of Human Resources 

and Co-chair of the task force. 

One aspect of the policy that will be under 

discussion is whether or not limited smoking 

areas will be allowed. However, these policies 

and exceptions are still in the very beginning 

stages, and no final decisions have yet been 

made. 

One student noted that allowing limited 

smoking areas could make enforcement 

more difficult. “I think if they’re allowed to 

smoke on campus, they’ll just abuse it… they 

already do,” said Michael Delash, sophomore 

biology and visual arts double major. 

On the other hand, some students feel that 

it would be unfair to students who live on 

campus to eliminate all smoking areas. 

As a result of these concerns, these 

Junior 

Meghan 

Carpenter is a 

finalist for the 

student regent 

position 

> from REGENT [1] 

For Carpenter, the nomination process 

began in early November. Student 

applications were forwarded to a student 

regent selection committee for interviews. 

The committee consisted of Dr. Kim Leisey, 

Associate Vice President for Student 

Affairs; David Hoffman, Assistant Director 

of Student Life for Civic Agency; and 

representatives from the Graduate Student 

Association and Student Government 

Association. 

Based on her outstanding application 

and interview, Carpenter was selected 

to interview with the University of 

Maryland Student Council on December 

9 among students from the 11 other USM 

institutions and two regional centers. 

A small number of the nominees will 

be named finalists and referred to the 

USM Chancellor, who will then send his 

appointment recommendation to the 

governor. The process will not be final 

until April or May 2013. 

FILE PHOTO 

UMBC’s new smoking policy will take effect July 2013 and 

students and staff are encouraged to share any suggestions 

for the policy’s implementation. 

aspects of the new policy will remain under 

consideration. Some USM schools, such 

as Towson, Salisbury and Frostburg, have 

already implemented smoking bans. UMBC 

will be using their strategies as a resource for 

the development of its own strategy, which is 

currently lacking in enforcement. 

COURTESy MEGHAN CARPENTER 

“I’m really proud to be UMBC’s 

representative,” said Carpenter, “I’ve been 

a member of this community for a long 

time and I’ve gotten to see the way the 

campus works from a variety of different 

perspectives. I work at UMBC, I’m a student 

at UMBC and I’m the daughter of a faculty 

member. I have different perspectives that 

a regent needs to bring to the table.” 

Carpenter grew up in Catonsville and 

was a 2010 graduate of Catonsville High 

School. Her father, Dr. Bob Carpenter, is a 

professor in the Economics department. 

Many students are familiar with 

Retrievers for Affordability, UMBC’s 

tuition cost campaign from this past 

spring, at which time the university faced 

a potential 20 percent increase in tuition 

and fees. The campaign was headed by 

“Honestly, there are a lot of people that 

violate the [current] smoking policy … right 

now there is no enforcement, which is the 

problem,” said junior biology major Jason 

Sumpter, student representative on the task 

force. 

Due to differences in campus location 

and size, no one enforcement plan will be a 

perfect fit for UMBC. Thomas said that the 

task force will, “take the best of what different 

places do and create what will be best for our 

environment.” 

The email that was sent out last week was 

designed to inform the UMBC community of 

the changes in policy, and also to encourage 

students and staff to voice their opinions and 

suggestions. The task force will host public 

meetings and forums where people can 

share their thoughts next semester. 

According to Sumpter, this communication 

will be especially important due to the 

general lack of knowledge about the current 

policy. “A lot of students have no idea about 

the upcoming policy, or even the current 

policy,” he said. 

Discussion will continue over the next 

several months while the Smoke-Free 

Campus Task Force decides what actions will 

be best for UMBC. 

Sumpter said, “I think that the main 

purpose is not to strike against smokers; 

the main purpose is to create a healthy 

atmosphere for everyone.” 

Students who have any questions or 

suggestions can send them to smokefree@ 

umbc.edu. 

kaitlyn4@umbc.edu 

After being named a finalist, Meghan Carpenter will be referred to the USM Chancellor, who will then send his appointment 

recommendation to Governor Martin O’Malley. 

Carpenter, who urged students to write 

letters to the Maryland General Assembly. 

Her efforts were successful as UMBC 

students joined other campuses to contact 

their representatives. 

“That experience taught me a lot about 

how to be an advocate for students across 

the state,” said Carpenter. “The campaign 

at the state level brought energy to the 

campus that we really needed in a hard 

time. I’m excited to pursue that further.” 

If appointed as the USM Student Regent, 

Carpenter plans to continue to advocate 

for tuition affordability and focus on 

physical and mental health initiatives, as 

well as course redesign and sustainability. 

sayre1@umbc.edu

NEWS Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Pre-Med group sparks 

interest among minorities 

By KAyvAN vAKILI 

Staff Writer 

The plight of 

underrepresented minorities 

in the healthcare profession 

has urged students at UMBC to 

spearhead a new group called 

the Minority Association of 

Pre-Medical Students. 

The Minority Association 

of Pre-Medical Students, 

or MAPS, represents 

the undergraduate and 

postbaccalaureate students of 

the Student National Medical 

Association (SNMA), which is 

a subdivision of the National 

Medical Association. 

Founded in 1964, during 

the tumultuous period of 

the Civil Rights movement, 

SNMA was established to 

encourage current and future 

medical students, especially 

those of color, in the pursuit 

of careers as physicians. The 

student-run organization 

now consists of over 6,000 

members around the country 

and in the Caribbean. 

The MAPS at UMBC 

organization held its 

inaugural meeting last Friday 

in The Commons, attracting 

around two-dozen potential 

members. This initiative of 

the SNMA was launched in 

hopes of diversifying the field 

of medicine. 

After a visit to Johns 

Hopkins that targeted 

underrepresented minorities, 

Ashleigh Omorogbe, junior 

biology and public health 

double major and president 

of MAPS at UMBC, set her eyes 

on forming a chapter at UMBC 

after discussing logistics with 

SNMA stakeholders. 

“I was inspired to form 

this organization at UMBC 

to create a support group 

of dedicated students who 

are determined to enter the 

medical field and give back 

to their communities”, said 

Omorogbe. 

UMBC currently has groups 

focused on assisting minority 

candidates with interests 

of entering medical fields. 

Junior Blossom Tewelde, 

parliamentarian for the 

group and biochemisty major, 

believes these factions have 

lost the ability to connect 

with their members. 

Tewelde said, “At UMBC, 

there are some groups with 

similar goals as ours, but a 

common complaint has been 

that students can’t relate 

to the leaders or speakers 

because they weren’t 

minorities.” 

UMBC’s chapter hopes to 

tailor its focus on creating 

excellent candidates of color 

for the medical field through 

a series of avenues. Senior 

chemical engineering major 

and Public Relations officer 

for the organization, Dalton 

Hughes, has already begun the 

thinking behind the process. 

“My role is to serve as 

liaison to various chapters 

Bacillus thuringiensis is everywhere. Commonly 

used as a biological pesticide, the bacterium can 

be found in the guts of caterpillars, in soil and in 

Dr. Steven Caruso’s molecular and general genetics 

lab involved with the Phage Hunters research 

program. Between Monday and Thursday of last 

week, the class of 80 students shared the results of 

their work in the Schwartz Hall Atrium. 

Participants spent the semester isolating 

and characterizing bacteriophages, or viruses 

that attack bacteria, to infect a subspecies of B. 

thuringiensis related to the bacterium that causes 

anthrax. They used posters to present their research 

to an audience of peers, graduate students, faculty 

and representatives from the National Institute of 

Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 

(HHMI). 

“An important part of science is sharing your 

results with the scientific community. The posters 

are a class assignment and are graded by my 

teaching assistants and myself,” said Caruso, a senior 

lecturer for the biological sciences department. 

and collaborate with them 

to shape a workable model 

for our vision” said Hughes. 

Hughes also mentioned the 

importance of featuring 

speakers and workshops that 

resonate with the diversity of 

their group. 

Hughes understands the 

group is still in its infancy but 

that this new beginning also 

positions them at a strategic 

vantage point. 

Hughes said, “In our early 

stages we have made an effort 

to speak with local chapters at 

Johns Hopkins and University 

of Maryland at Baltimore. 

This gives us the advantage 

to hear from others who have 

experience and allows us to 

gauge the best possible path 

for our chapter.” 

These partnerships may 

forge a lasting bond and 

strengthen the network 

for all involved members. 

While some partnerships 

are formed naturally, others 

are mandatory for newly 

established chapters. Each 

new chapter requires a 

sponsor and UMBC’s MAPS 

has sought the guidance of 

University of Maryland at 

Baltimore. 

Each year SNMA and MAPS 

members gather for the 

Annual Medical Education 

Conference. The next 

conference will be held next 

year in Louisville, Ky. on 

March 28 through 31. 

kvakili813@gmail.com 

Phage Hunters present 

research last week 

By MICHAEL LOFTHUS 

Staff Writer 

“Each day, 20 students were presenting and viewing 

each others’ posters along with me, two [teaching 

assistants] and visitors.” 

Phage Hunters has been active at UMBC since 

Caruso and recently retired colleague Jim Sandoz 

were approved for a grant by the HHMI’s Science 

Education Alliance (SEA) in 2008. While created 

by SEA to draw new STEM majors to research, 

they ran the program with non-STEM students 

in an attempt to increase science literacy and 

appreciation among non-science majors. 

The new version of the program, which is used 

by biology and related majors, is based on the 

original that completed its scheduled three year 

run last semester with a different bacterium. It is 

funded internally but receives support in the form 

of sequencing from the University of Pittsburgh, 

software and other non-material support from 

HHMI and an annual symposium. 

“I enjoyed presenting to others. It was my first 

experience presenting science since my high school 

science fair and it helped me grasp the concept 

fully,” said senior biology major Diane Won, who 

presented on Monday. “I was also excited to make a 

professional-looking poster with a big UMBC logo 

Hrabowski 

discusses civil 

rights at UMBC 

panel discussion 

JOHN JOyCE — TRW 

The many speakers at the panel spoke to the engagment of young people in civic and 

political issues. 

> from CIVIL RIGHTS [1] 

During his speech, Lewis, author of the book The Shadows of 

Youth: The Remarkable Journey of the Civil Rights Generation, 

explained: “African Americans broke the law in order to be 

arrested and show the immorality of segregation. Young 

people should be inspired by the movement and use it to think 

of new forms of activism.” 

Later on in the discussion, Bond took the time to explain 

the role of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 

(SNCC) which emerged during the 1sit-ins of the 1960s. As a 

founder of the organization, he described how the organization 

evolved and was a key factor in youth involvement in the 

southern movement. 

“I think one of the things we see is that this kind of relative 

prosperity can make people more politically engaged,” said 

Lewis during the panel discussion. All panelists emphasized 

the importance of young people becoming actively involved in 

their communities. 

The discussion came to a close around 5:30 p.m. and was 

followed by a Q&A as well as refreshments in the lobby. “This 

was definitely enrapturing,” said sophomore and economics 

major Valerie Parks. She and many other UMBC students 

were moved by the speakers. “The audience was gripped with 

emotion,” she said. 

aedo1@umbc.edu 

3 

on the top. This made me feel like a real biologist!” 

Won and partner Samantha Chan, biology major 

‘13, are hoping their phage ‘DUDM12’ will be one 

of the four chosen to be sequenced for further 

analysis in the spring. Named after Dudley Farm 

Lane where it was sampled, it could be uploaded to 

the National Center for Biotechnology Information 

database where it would be seen by scientists 

internationally. 

“Being able to participate in genuine research 

and share my findings with faculty members 

and students was a valuable experience,” said 

Chan. “I liked it because I felt like a real scientist 

collecting real data for a scientific databank where 

professionals interested in that particular subject 

could use our class data as a reference.” 

The second part of the two semester experiment 

will continue with BIOL 316L. The class is already 

waitlisted, but students may contact Caruso 

(scaruso@umbc.edu) or the Biology department 

for additional information about the Phage Hunters. 

m72@umbc.edu

4 

NatioN aNd World 

By DIANNA BRITTIAN 

Staff Writer 

Kiev, Ukraine 

In a surprising move that has 

devastated Eastern Europe, the entire 

Ukrainian governmenthas 

resigned. Prime Minister 

Mykola Azarov has 

announced that he will be 

stepping down in addition 

to several cabinet members. 

President Viktor Yankovych has 

accepted Azarov’s request, although it remains 

unclear as to who will occupy the newly vacated spot. 

The Ukrainian government has been faced with many trials 

in the past year. Recent elections have been highly analyzed and 

accused of being rigged, the economy has been balancing on the 

brink of recession and other political scandals have complicated 

political progress. 

Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said, “this resignation is 

linked to a number of economic challenges which Ukraine has 

fallen into thanks to this president and this government.” While 

Ararov and Yankovych have been close allies, the former Prime 

Minister has been seen as a hindrance and unproductive. Ararov 

has yet to comment on stepping down. 

Middle East 

Israeli Prime Minister 

Benjamin Netanyahu has 

come under criticism from 

the European Union over 

plans to build over 3,000 new 

settlement units in the West Bank. 

This development plan is known 

as E-1 and has been continuously 

interrupted over the last two decades. 

France and Britain have made tentative plans to 

withdraw their ambassadors from Israel. Sweden also 

voiced its opposition to the construction of the new settlement. 

While EU members have expressed anger, they have ruled out 

European sanctions on Israel. British Foreign Secretary William 

Hague said, “I don’t believe there would be anywhere near a 

consensus nor is that our approach.” Israeli officials have said they 

will continue with the plans to build 3,400 housing units. 

The United States has criticized Israel, saying that this action 

would compromise peace-planning and regional stability. 

Netanyahu is expected to be faced with harsh criticism from German 

Chancellor Angela Merkel during his official visit to Germany. He 

expressed great disappointment in Germany for having abstained 

from voting in Palestine’s upgrade in the UN from ‘entity’ to ‘nonmember 

observing state’. 

Pyongyang, North Korea 

The already troubled Asian 

state is now plummeting towards 

a major crisis. Since the death of 

former leader King Jong-Il, the nation 

has acquired a $110 million debt. 

After facing floods that left an estimated 

200,000 homeless, 150 dead and millions 

of dollars’ worth of damage, the country is 

expected to turn to others for aid. 

North Korea is known for frivolous 

spending on its elite class while the majority 

of its population is malnourished and goes without 

electricity. South Korean news agency Chosun Illbo says that 

the North Korean government spent $10 million on a 23-foot 

statue of Kim, $20 million to replace portraits of Kim and $1 

million on badges with his face. 

North Korea has been having many economic problems that 

have left the country crippled. The regime of Kim Jong-Un has 

been confronted with EU and US imposed sanctions, poor 

spending and executive level embezzlement. 

britti1@umbc.edu 

Finding home in Siena 

It was a chilly morning, and a 

light fog had fallen over Siena. The 

Campo, which had been bustling 

with vendors and tourists only a few 

months ago, was now quiet with only 

a couple of people scattered here 

and there. Winter has finally arrived 

bringing with it the end of the tourist 

season, and soon, the end of my stay 

in Siena. 

My friends and I were making our 

way to the Palazzo Pubblico to climb 

the Torre del Mangia, one of Siena’s main 

attractions that we had put off until the end. 

Climbing 88m to the top of the tower was 

worth it. The fog had lifted just enough for us 

to take in the beautiful view of the city, our 

city. 

We were able to point out the different 

churches standing tall against the horizon, 

and we could identify our street from among 

the many alleys and roadways. I am glad that 

we saved our trip to the top of the tower until 

our last weekend in Siena because I was able 

to fully appreciate all that the view had to 

offer; I was able to understand where places 

are in relation to The Campo and what their 

significance is. 

It helped me realize that Siena is far more 

Foreign Desk: 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

NEWS 

As Juliana’s trip to Siena comes to a close, she is greatful to have experienced a different culture, and its similarities to our own. 

By JULIANA vENEGAS 

Foreign Correspondent 

than the dozens of shops, restaurants, and 

streets that I know by heart. It is a place 

steeped in history and culture, where 

communities are formed and traditions are 

beginning to change. 

Just as the view from the Torre del Mangia 

helped me understand the greatness of Siena, 

studying abroad has helped me realize that 

the world is much bigger than my backyard 

and yet so very similar. Beyond my backyard, 

beyond campus, there is a world filled with 

different landscapes, architectures, cultures 

and traditions. Eating habits, daily routines, 

education and cultural values can vary from 

town to town and country to country. This 

was easy to notice as I tried to conform to the 

culture of Siena. 

What was a little more difficult to see is 

perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned: no 

matter where I travel, all people are simply 

trying to live. Everyone is eating, working, 

and communicating. Everyone laughs and 

everyone cries. The only differences are in 

how we eat, work, communicate and in what 

makes us laugh or cry. It is because of these 

differences that life is so wonderful, and it 

because of these underlying themes that I 

was able to find a home in Siena. 

juliana6@umbc.edu 

Saving the best for last, Juliana and her friends enjoy their last few days in Siena taking in the sights of the beautiful city 

JULIANA vENEGAS — TRW 

JULIANA vENEGAS — TRW

NEWS Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Apple of the Day: 

The keys to 

surviving finals 

week 

SAM MANAS — TRW 

To survive the stress of studying for finals, students should keep organized, utilize the study 

day, and make sure to take occasional breaks and relax. 

By MICHELLE KUAH 

Health Columnist 

Finals week has arrived, and with it, the immense frustration to 

locate an open study room, patiently wait in line for a decent cup 

of coffee and finish the five assignments your professor graciously 

assigned just two days ago. Whether you’re entering the end of the 

semester with reserved self-confidence or unabashed regret, a nearly 

frenetic energy charges through the air – how will you survive? 

Over the course of this next week, staying in good physical health 

is of the utmost importance and a requirement for your mind to 

perform at its best. This includes staying hydrated, exercising as often 

as possible and eating foods that will provide the energy you need to 

take on the marathon of challenges that lies before you. 

Due to the intensity of your endeavors, you may feel tempted to 

consume an exorbitant amount of caffeine, energy drinks and junk 

food. Be sure to stock up on fresh fruit and bottled water before the 

week begins to help tame those ruthless cravings. Citrus fruit (e.g. 

oranges, grapefruits) can be a great way to help you stay awake 

instead of sending you down a sugar crash. Apples and bananas keep 

you full between meals, freeing up brainpower to concentrate on 

books rather than your stomach. 

Although final schedules are bound to vary, take advantage of the 

days leading up your first final deadline. Double-check all of your final 

times on Tuesday night (including projects, papers, tests and other 

final assignments), scheduling the dates, times and locations into 

your Google calendar, smartphone or a plain old piece of paper. Add 

in 10 - 15 minutes before the time of your actual deadline to account 

for any excess travel time. Getting to your exams early will also give 

you the opportunity to focus yourself before the actual testing begins. 

By utilizing the study day (Wednesday, 12/12) to its maximum 

capacity, you can set yourself up for success even before testing 

begins. Get together with a few classmates to form a study group, or 

hit the gym if you need to de-stress in the middle of the day. 

For some guaranteed stress-free fun, head over to the Student 

Organizations Space in The Commons for the bi-annual Stress Free 

Zone event. This year’s Stress Free Zone will be held this year from 

Wednesday, December 12 to Friday, December 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

each day. Free shirts are available, but only a limited number of shirts 

are handed out each day on a first come, first serve basis. Be sure to 

get there early so you don’t miss out (historically, the lines run pretty 

long). 

Finding a quiet place to rest and relax the night before your final 

is key for good finals health. Try getting at least six to eight hours of 

sleep, so that your brain is well rested and able to handle the highpressure 

challenges of the following day. Starting your morning with 

a wholesome breakfast such as yogurt and whole-grain cereals are 

sure to fuel both your mind and body. 

Make sure to eat well and hydrate often before you go into the 

testing room, and consider doing a quick workout in-between exams 

to keep your energy going throughout the day. For more ways to 

beat the stress of finals, check out the Community Events page on 

myUMBC. 

mkuah1@umbc.edu 

Taking time to compost 

in The Commons 

By ZOE GENSHEIMER 

Green Contributor 

Everyone has heard mutterings of a new 

composting system on UMBC campus this semester, 

but some people are still unsure about the facts. 

What can you compost and where? What are the 

benefits of composting and why should I bother? 

Composting is a system of decomposing or 

breaking down biodegradable materials such as 

lawn clippings, leaves or unwanted food to produce 

rich, nutritious soil that can be used for growing 

plants. 

This process helps to stem the large streams of 

waste that go into landfills and reduces the need 

for fertilizers and pesticides. Compost also can be 

bought and sold, transforming what would once be 

“trash” into a commodity that can help to stimulate 

the economy. 

So how is this system of composting working 

at UMBC? At this point, composting is already 

effective in the True Grits dining hall. When you 

put your dirty dishes with your uneaten food on 

that conveyor belt, it is later scraped into bins by 

the staff and sent a composting facility in Delaware, 

eventually becoming soil. 

This semester, composting has been extended 

to The Commons, but this system is a little more 

complicated because it is up to the student, staff or 

visitor at UMBC to separate your “waste” into the 

correct containers. 

In The Commons, all food scraps can be 

composted from any of the locations. You can also 

compost the new Pepsi cups (made from corn), 

and Fresh Fusions and Wild Greens have switched 

to compostable food containers and eating utensils. 

Large salad containers and parfait cups from 

Outtakes should also be placed in the compost bin. 

So where are the compost bins in The Commons? 

Unfortunately, as of right now, there is only one 

compost bin the Commons. It is located to the 

right of the “Dream Machine” by the doors to The 

Commons near the breezeway. 

At this point, it is just a regular trash can with a 

sign that says “Compost,” but facilities management 

is working on ordering a set of new bins with 

separate containers for the various types of waste. 

These new bins will be divided into three different 

sections: compost (food scraps and specified 

containers from Fresh Fushions, Wild Greens, and 

Outtakes), recycling (bottles and paper products) 

and landfill (trash, everything that doesn’t belong 

in the aforementioned containers.) 

On the morning of Friday, Dec 7, a laundry 

machine vendor discovered vandalism 

and theft in both the West Hill and Terrace 

buildings. The laundry rooms closed for 

weekend repairs at 4 p.m. on Friday. 

According to Douglas Copeland, the 

Community Director of Terrace and Hillside 

Apartments, seven of the dryer coin 

receptacles were broken into and the quarters 

were stolen. 

“UMBC Police were immediately contacted 

and an investigation is underway,” said 

Copeland. “Residential Life has changed the 

lock cores and the rooms will be offline until 

the investigation is concluded and repairs to 

5 

The compost bin for The Commons is located next to the “Dream 

Machine.” 

We will also have new recycling bins in other 

parts of the campus. UMBC’s academic buildings 

are switching from a “single-stream” recycling 

system to a “dual-stream” system. Instead of 

putting all recyclables in one bin, this new system 

will divide recycling items into two separate parts, 

one for paper and one for glass, plastic, and cans. 

This will be helpful in allowing UMBC to gain 

profit from selling cardboard and other materials 

instead of simply paying for waste to be brought off 

campus. 

For now though, stick to using the single compost 

bin by the back doors of The Commons near the 

breezeway. Every time that you make the effort to 

walk over to the compost bin with that last bit of 

your uneaten Salsaritas burrito or to double back 

to The Commons after class to compost your Pepsi 

cup, you’re helping to recreate and rebuild the 

circular systems of nature that work so well. 

gzoe1@umbc.edu 

Vandalism results in 

laundry room closures 

By SAyRE POSEy 

Staff Writer 

SAM MANAS — TRW 

the machines have finished.” 

Although students could request to enter 

the rooms if their clothes were locked in, the 

facilities remained off-limits for the weekend. 

“I was disappointed to hear about the 

vandalism,” said Caitlyn Leiter-Mason, 

junior gender and women’s studies and 

political science double major. “It’s certainly 

inconvenient for those of us who saved all 

of our laundry to do this weekend, but it’s 

also just frustrating that people so misuse a 

common space.” 

Students with information about the 

incident should contact the UMBC Police at 

410-455-5555. 

sayre1@umbc.edu

6 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

NEWS 

Student org expenditures increase over past year 

Amount Spent 

After three months of hearing allocation requests to host events, the Student Government Association Finance Board 

has allocated over half of its allotted budget. 

The Finance Board walked into this fiscal year with $200,000 in their purse; through the month of November, the 

Board allocated $111,398.03. That leaves $88,601.97. 

In actuality, however, $82,505.46 has been spent. The balance is then $117,494.54. 

The difference lies between how much is allocated and how much is actually spent. The Finance Board tracks its progress 

within its budget by the amount of money that is allocated. 

Whether the organization to which the money is allocated spends that amount is not known for sure until after the 

event occurs and receipts are collected. Before the Finance Board collects and considers requests for funds, it requires 

organizations to provide quotes, or projected estimates of costs. 

Information and breakdowns for the months of September, October and November were prepared by Christopher 

Nam, Abigail Israel and Juliet Wilkins of the SGA Financial Support Team. It has been adapted for reproduction by The 

Retriever Weekly production and editorial staff. 

$40,000 

$30,000 

$20,000 

$10,000 

2012 

$11,020.16 

2011 

$15,368.14 

Total expenditures by month 

2012 

$31,046.65 

September October November 

Follow us on 

Twitter: 

@retrieverweekly 

2011 

$30,175.71 

2012 

$40,438.65 

2011 

$34,518.02 

In comparison to last year, 

the Finance Board has 

allocated more funds to fewer 

organizations this semester. 

In the month of September, 

$11,020.16 was spent by 

student organizations to 

which funds were allocated. 

In October, that amount more 

than doubled to $31,046.65. 

Finally, last month, $40,438.65 

was spent by student 

organizations for events and 

meetings held primarily on 

campus. 

This page written and designed by: 

Chris McKinney & Kaitlyn Hakenson 

Editor-in-Chief & Assistant News Editor 

Hey you! Do you enjoy 

writing? Do you want to be 

paid for your work? 

Then join The Retriever Weekly today! 

What are you waiting for? Email me@ 

retrieverweekly.com for more info!

NEWS Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

The 2013 UMBC budget breakdown 

On December 4, some of the senior staff of The Retriever Weekly sat down with Lynne Schaefer, UMBC’s Vice President for Administration 

and Finance, Ben Lowenthal, the Associate Vice President for Financial Services, and Charlene Uhl, the Budget Director, to 

discuss the university’s overall budget for the current fiscal year. 

Schaefer provided a detailed picture of the university’s budget, shown below, and a breakdown of individual components. A brief 

explanation is provided below. 

Restricted Funds: 

These funds are from outside 

sponsors such as the state and 

federal government, outside 

and private companies, etc. 

These funds must be spent on 

a particular project or research 

that is requested. 

Auxiliary Enterprises: 

These funds are not ‘core 

mission’ related, such as 

athletics, food services and 

residential life; they are selfsupported, 

so they essentially 

pay for themselves. The 

$55,342,451 is broken down as: 

University Commons: 

$6,923,933 

VP Admin & Finance: 

$140,869 

Undergraduate Orientation: 

$355,052 

Residential Life: $14,910,214 

Parking & Transportation 

Services: $3,509,175 

Bookstore: $5,729,455 

Food Services/Campus Card: 

$12,015,239 

General University-Auxiliary 

Debt Service: $4,425,527 

Intercollegiate Athletics: 

$7,352,987 

FY2013 Working Budget 

$370,302,852 

Self-Supported Education & General: 

These funds are ‘core mission’ related and these projects are self-sufficient. 

Technology Center: $2,625,741 

Continuing & Professional Education: $7,750,550 

Athletic Scholarships: $2,632,500 

Revolving Funds (created by different departments when they generate business; for example, renting out 

equipment): $1,231,929 

DRIF (Designated Research Investment Fund) and Start-up Funds: $9,738,914 

Total expenditures by program Total revenues by source 

The information provided courtesy of the Office for the Vice 

President of Administration and Finance. 

The FY2013 -- fiscal 

year 2013 -- started 

on July 1, 2012 and 

will end on June 30, 

2013. 

7 

State Supported Education & 

General: 

These funds go to the core operations 

of the university -- for faculty, facilities, 

scholarships, etc. The $204,120,080 is 

broken down further into: 

General University (such as utilities and 

insurance): $19,000,894 

President/General Counsel: $1,887,940 

Office of Information Technology: 

$13,197,792 

Institutional Advancement: $5,205,768 

Administration & Finance (facilities 

operations etc.): $28,549,400 

Student Affairs: $5,839,433 

Scholarships & Fellowships: $13,075,537 

Academic Affairs: $117,363,316 

*Academic Affairs expenditures include 

departments that are part of the core 

mission of the university. That includes 

the different colleges, the Provost’s office, 

the library, and financial aid, among 

other departments.* 

This page written and designed by: 

Chris McKinney & Kaitlyn Hakenson 

Editor-in-Chief & Assistant News Editor

8 

The ReTRieveR Weekly 

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ediToRial STaff 

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Opinions Editor 

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Technology Editor 

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escheerer@retrieverweekly.com 

Features Editor 

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Sports Editor 

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Now Hiring 

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ediToRial Policy 

The Retriever Weekly staff 

editorials reflect the views of the 

editorial board; signed columns 

and advertisements represent the 

opinions of the individual writers 

and advertisers, respectively, and do 

not necessarily reflect those of The 

Retriever Weekly or the University of 

Maryland, Baltimore County. 

The Retriever Weekly publishes 

weekly on Tuesdays during the 

regular school year. The Retriever 

Weekly is an equal opportunity 

employer. 

The Retriever Weekly 

University Center 214 

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1000 Hilltop Circle 

Baltimore, Maryland 21250 

(410) 455-1260 

As we head into finals and another semester comes to a close, 

we at The Retriever Weekly wanted to take a couple of columns to 

remember how far we’ve come in these past four months. 

• We re-elected our President to another four-year term after 

one of the most bitter and ridiculous general elections in 

modern history. 

• We attended a Welcome Week that broke records – from the 

Playfair to RESPECT with Dr. Maura Cullen, new students were 

introduced to UMBC in all the best ways. 

• The Commons opened the healthiest of dining options: Wild 

Greens (finally!) 

• We kicked off the Green Dot program at UMBC. 

• We’ve seen a ProveIT! project in action with the opening of 

Noché Vida in the AOK Library. 

• We survived the torrential Hurricane Sandy, and it certainly 

didn’t dampen our spirits just before Halloween. 

• We welcomed the beginning of a new initiative, BreakingGround. 

• Our very own men’s soccer team made it to the second round 

of the College Cup – a fantastic performance we all can take 

pride in. 

• At homecoming we witnessed some of the most spirited 

individuals and performances this campus has seen. 

• We celebrated (and will continue to celebrate) Dr. Hrabowski’s 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Opinions 

STAFF EDITORIAL 

Another semester at UMBC 

Milestones 

BY ERIK WALKER 

Staff Writer 

Humans like to note the passage 

of time. We mark conspicuous 

occasions with celebration, 

dedication or solemn observance. 

It is in our nature to memorialize 

that which we cherish, 

or if not what we cherish, at least 

what we hope to never forget. 

We also tend to mark the passage 

of distance. We place mile 

markers along highways and 

roads, depth markers in streams 

and rivers, and altitude markers 

on high hills and mountains. 

As people, we seem curiously 

preoccupied with measuring 

things. When it comes to this 

type of measurement, it is not 

primarily for the jealous ambition 

of comparing ourselves with 

others, but for self-reflectively 

evaluating ourselves to see how 

far we’ve come — or if we’ve lost 

our way. We do this both individually 

and collectively. 

It’s interesting that both time 

and space should make use of 

the same vocabulary. In both, we 

go on a journey. We say that we 

can lose track of time and lose 

our way. We remark on how ‘far’ 

we’ve come, and how ‘far’ we’ve 

left to go. We’re always striving 

to ‘get there,’ be it a literal place 

on earth or a conceptual destination 

in the future. 

That is no surprise because 

time and space are linked together. 

Every movement we make 

takes place in a sequence of time. 

With every passing moment, we 

are always moving, going somewhere. 

Even when we’re sitting 

still in our own reference frame, 

we’re hurtling through space on 

a giant rock spinning at 1,000 

miles per hour. It’s our nature as 

humans to be bound by time and 

space; theredore it’s no surprise 

that we value the observation of 

this journeying. 

Our fascination with marking 

the passage of various milestones 

in our lives and in our 

history is related to our natural 

imperfection. Perfect things cannot 

improve. Because we are limited 

beings, we have the capacity 

to always improve. We experience 

joy at the recognition that 

we’ve become better, smarter, 

wiser, more successful, more advanced 

than we were in the past. 

As we look back in time, we impose 

meaning on events that we 

perceive led to changes that directly 

influenced where we find 

ourselves today. 

Commencement is no different. 

As roughly 2,000 of us prepare 

to graduate this spring, and 

more this fall, those students will 

participate in a bit of pomp and 

circumstance put on by the faculty 

of the university in their honor. 

It’s a day like any other, but 

it’s what the milestone they have 

achieved on that day represents 

about their pasts and futures 

that is the focus of the auspicious 

celebrations. We mark this day to 

recognize the effort put in to get 

there, and to express our excitement 

at continuing the journey. 

Keep growing, keep learning, 

and keep improving. It’s a peculiar 

freedom we imperfect people 

have. Enjoy it. 

werik1@umbc.edu 

20 selfless and generous years of dedication to UMBC. 

• We have dealt with the constant construction that continues 

to plague the residential area of campus and around the first 

half of PAHB (although with how PAHB and the new Hillside 

apartments look, we are quite looking forward to the finished 

products). 

• Student outcry and overall displeasure led to the RAC extending 

its hours (let’s just hope they keep the extended hours). 

• The Data Gallery made its debut at the University Retreat in 

August and for two days in the UC in November, allowing for 

UMBC community members to peruse plethora of information. 

• The Hrabowski Fund for Innovation was established to award 

academic initiatives. 

• Our Africana Studies Council of Majors brought Congressman 

Elijah Cummings to campus for a spectacular event on 

empowerment, education and the impending election. 

• Then we’re wrapping up the semester in high spirits: UMBC’s 

nominee for the Student Regent position is now a finalist – one 

of only three students in the university system with that honor. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed your semester here at UMBC as much as 

we have. To the graduating seniors, congratulations and best wishes. 

And to those sticking around, see you in January! 

eic@retrieverweekly.com 

Quotes from the 

Quad 

How has finals affected 

your schedule? 

Don’t nobody own me; 

not even finals week! 

Allie Henn 

Just staying up later and 

getting up earlier to get 

work done 

Just a huge lack of sleep. 

Neil Watson 

Less classes, but more 

stressful because I still have 

to work 

Mark Skopek David White 

Letters to the Editor 

The Retriever Weekly welcomes your comments. Letters to the editor must be submitted before 5 p.m. Friday via e-mail to: eic@retrieverweekly.com or 

delivered to The Retriever Weekly office, UC 214. Please limit letters to 300 words and include your full name, year, and major. The Retriever Weekly retains 

the right to edit submissions for content and length.

Opinions 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 9 

Diversity at UMBC is our 

responsibility to undersand 

BY YASmIn RADBoD 

Senior Staff Writer 

Everyone talks about UMBC being a super diverse campus. 

The usual retort is that, yes, UMBC is a diverse community, 

but that there is not enough interaction between 

the diverse groups on campus. There are so many cultural 

and ethnic student organizations on campus like the 

African Student Association (ASA), Hispanic-Latino Student 

Union (HLSU), Persian Student Association (PSA), 

and a whole host of other organizations. 

Some students say that it is great we have all these organizations, 

but that they act as independent, closed-off 

communities, excluding those who are not of the relevant 

backgrounds or ethnicities. 

Furthermore, too often students complain that UMBC 

is a quiet campus and there is nothing going on during 

the weekends. Both of these assumptions are wrong. 

For starters, one is not required to be a member of 

one of these organizations to attend their meetings or 

their events. If an organization does not welcome new 

members of different backgrounds, then it is probably is 

not worth it, anyway. Most organizations are extremely 

welcoming and love to share their culture and traditions 

with people of different ethnicities. At ASA events, like 

God is destroying the 

Republican party 

BY BEn GARmoE 

Staff Writer 

If you follow any sort of mainstream 

news source, you’ve probably heard 

something about the current struggle 

within the Republican Party. America’s 

conservative movement lacks a cohesive 

identity, as older, religious conservatives 

and younger, more secular party members 

clash over which issues are most important. 

Here’s what fascinates me about this 

divide: it has roots in possibly the most 

iconic Republican President in history. 

Simply put, the religious past of the GOP 

is destroying the party from the inside 

out. 

Back in 1979, prominent Christian 

figures formed what was known as the 

“Moral Majority.” The organization became 

heavily involved in and contributed 

to Ronald Reagan’s victories in 1980 and 

1984. 

Even though the actual Moral Majority 

dissolved near the end of Reagan’s presidency, 

the roots of the relationship between 

the religious right and the Republican 

Party were firmly established. Former 

President George W. Bush, in particular, 

won two terms as President with massive 

support from Christian voters. 

What was once a beneficial partnership, 

however, is now responsible for the 

division forming within the modern conservative 

movement. In the past, Republican 

leaders were willing to conveniently 

embrace religion when it was prudent to 

help win an election. I think it’s fair to say 

that decision is now backfiring. 

Look at the most recent election. By all 

accounts, President Obama was vulnerable. 

He was running on a lukewarm economic 

record and high unemployment, 

and even his signature legislative accom- 

their annual Cry for Help, everyone is up and dancing and 

celebrating African cultures. 

Attending one of these events might seem intimidating 

or uncomfortable if a student does not belong to that 

culture, or does not know anyone in the organization. 

That should not, however, stop anyone from enjoying 

the diversity at UMBC. These events are to benefit the 

UMBC community and celebrate our differences, rather 

than pretend that everyone at UMBC is the same and that 

we all have the same traditions. Stepping out of comfort 

zones and getting to know members of these communities 

is a great way to increase collaboration and understanding 

within the UMBC community. 

Second, maybe 10 years ago it would have been reasonable 

to complain that there was nothing to do at 

UMBC on the weekends. Today, that is not the case. If a 

student is not interested in stepping out of their bubble 

and trying something new, then they should just say so. 

This semester has had an extraordinary number of cultural 

events every weekend. First there was the Arab Student 

Union’s cultural event, “Arabian Nights.” The following 

weekend was HLSU’s annual cultural event, the AIDS 

banquet sponsored by the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student 

Association and ASA’s Cry for Help. Last weekend included 

the Caribbean Student Council’s “X-mas Bashment” 

plishments were controversial. 

Instead of capitalizing on this, the Republican 

party consistently shot itself in 

the foot. For example, Rick Santorum’s 

obsession with “family values “during the 

Republican primaries forced Mitt Romney 

to address these issues. President Obama 

was then able to paint him as an extreme 

candidate during the general election. 

I hear it all the time from my young, 

conservative friends, even those who are 

also religious. They simply don’t see why 

government and personal beliefs need to 

mix at all. We have a looming fiscal crisis, 

major conflicts all over the world, and 

countless issues at home that need government 

attention. 

Instead, politicians spend millions of 

dollars in an attempt to legislate the illusion 

of “traditional values,” completely ignorant 

of the reality that our generation 

is uninterested in having our government 

try to dictate morality. 

We need a vibrant, healthy conservative 

movement in this country to promote 

fiscal discipline and combat the size of 

government. These are difficult principles 

to fight for, but that is precisely why the 

long-term health of the Republican Party 

is so important. 

The reality of the situation is relatively 

simple. At this point, when many of us are 

choosing the political identities we will 

keep for the rest of our lives, the Republican 

Party’s message is dramatically out of 

sync with our values. 

Until the modern conservative movement 

can find a reasoned, unified voice 

that speaks to the actual priorities of our 

nation, they’re going to keep losing young 

voters. That’s an effective way to destroy 

a party, and Republicans are well on the 

way. 

ben.garmoe@gmail.com 

and PSA’s Yalda Night. 

There is so much going on at UMBC, so much diversity 

to celebrate and so much opportunity to increase our 

understanding of other cultures. Dive in and enjoy what 

UMBC has to offer, because this is exactly what makes 

UMBC such a great place. 

yasminradbod1@gmail.com 

Same-sex marriage in 

the courts 

BY CHRIS mCKInnEY 


mAxx GAIGLER— tRW 

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court 

made its way back into mainstream 

media headlines. Not with another 

landmark decision ... yet. 

The Court instead decided to take 

up the apparently controversial topic 

of same-sex marriage. After granting 

judicial review for two cases involving 

same-sex marriage and the extension 

of traditional marriage benefits, 

the Court has positioned itself again to 

make history. 

The case concerning California’s 

Proposition 8 comes to the Supreme 

Court thanks to the Ninth Circuit Court 

of Appeals. 

After California’s constituents approved 

an amendment to the state’s 

constitution, appending the phrase 

“Only marriage between a man and a 

woman is valid or recognized in California,” 

the protests from the minority 

at the time came shortly thereafter. 

Opponents to the amendment then 

challenged the language allowing for 

legal discrimination. 

After a judge struck down Proposition 

8 as unconstitutional nearly two 

years later, proponents of the limitation 

took the case through the state’s 

supreme court, not accepting rejection. 

The second case calls into question 

the primary provision in the Defense 

of Marriage Act. Passed with bipartisan 

asupport and signed into law in 1996 

during the Clinton administration, the 

Act (DOMA) limits the definition of 

marriage to the union of a man and 

woman for two purposes. 

The first is for deciding who can receive 

a range of federal benefits, includ- 

ing social security, federal health and 

pension benefits, and filing joint tax 

returns. Currently, the federal government 

can deny these benefits to legally 

married gay Americans. The second is 

for recognition purposes between the 

states. 

Eight major courts (including the 

First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals) 

have already found section 3 of 

DOMA unconstitutional. The Obama 

administration has ceased defending it 

in court, a task taken up by House Republicans. 

The administration has not, 

however, stopped enforcing the law. 

In either case, a decision from the 

Court to extend rights to same-sex couples 

would be the right move. Striking 

down Proposition 8 and section 3 of 

DOMA would finalize as unconstitutional 

the limitations unfairly placed 

upon marriage. 

The current composition of the court 

has same-sex rights activists concerned. 

Despite the impression that the 

Roberts court leans conservative, the 

ruling on the Affordable Care Act earlier 

this year is evidence that the Chief 

Justice is willing to breach party lines. 

If the justices are willing to stick to 

interpreting the letter of the law as 

originally intended and as some conservative 

judges call for, then this issue 

should be decided easily. 

Though arguments aren’t due for another 

three months and we could wait 

for a decision for another six, taking 

these cases is a major step for the gay 

rights movement. Even so, deciding 

them should be a no-brainer: Separate 

is not equal. 

eic@retrieverweekly.com

10 

A goodbye from 

the TRW staff 

The hardworking staff of The Retriever Weekly that labor 

each week during the semester to inform the UMBC 

community about events on and around campus. We 

would like to say goodbye to those leaving us this semester 

and hope that their futures are bright, and look 

forward to bringing UMBC an even better paper next 

semester. Good job everyone! 

Chris McKinney 


Mayra Ordonez 

Advertising Manger 

Dan Levin 

Sports Editor 

Shawn Linman 

Managing Editor 

Sean Leavy 

Opinions Editor 

Ryan Harrison 

Assistant Sports Editor 

Emily Beveridge 

Production Manager 

Sam Manas 

Assistant Opinions Editor 

Dorthy Stachowiak 

Copy Manager 

Ashley Morrow 

Features Editor 

Emily Scheerer 


Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Hashani Hettiarachchi 

Senior Production Assistant 

Not Pictured: Asghar Zaidi, Assistant Technology Manager; Avraham Gross, Business Manager; Kelley Mason, News Editor 

Features 

Brandon Williams 

Technology Manager 

Julia Celtnieks 

Assistant Features Editor 

Kaitlyn Hakenson 

Assistant News Editor

Features 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Persian culture on display at Yalda Night 

BY CHELSEA GOLDSMITH 

Staff Writer 

The UC Ballroom underwent a 

transformation Saturday night for 

the Persian Student Association’s annual 

Yalda Night. The usual rows of 

chairs were replaced by round tables 

draped with tablecloths and adorned 

with candles and glass vases. The formality 

of the event was accentuated 

by the dim red glow of the side lights. 

The event began shortly after 8 

p.m., with an introduction from Iman 

Huchmand. The event was hosted 

by the Persian Student Association. 

It was kicked off by PSA President 

Arash Eidizadeh who delivered an 

opening speech, which transitioned 

into a poetry reading. 

Hooman Hafezi read a dramatic 

poem from an Iranian author, accompanied 

by traditional music. Though 

Hafezi read the poem in Farsi, those 

not fluent could still follow along; 

his ability to convey the emotion and 

power behind the poem was strong. 

A video featuring interviews with 

UMBC students was played next. It 

showed students in The Commons 

answering various questions relating 

to Iran — questions about the Iranian 

president, geography, and other 

information about the country. 

The cobblestone streets and old-fashioned lamp 

posts of Fells Point give the town’s scene a cozy and 

warm feeling amongst the lines of restaurants and 

boutiques. The multiple-award-winning Alexander’s 

Tavern, located on the side of the neighborhood closest 

to the Harbor, is a scrumptious choice, should you 

ever find yourself there. 

Alexander’s is nestled between two other storefronts, 

and its simple black paint and white windows 

do not jump out and scream for attention. Instead, the 

hoots, hollers and laughter coming from inside are 

what reel you in. 

I decided to try out Alexander’s while looking for a 

place to eat lunch. On the first floor, there’s a bar to 

the right and the actual dining room to the left. If you 

Afterwards, Huchmand introduced 

the next act: two traditional songs 

from Iran. The student performers 

brought several different traditional 

instruments on stage with them. 

They wowed the audience with their 

outstanding performances, filling the 

ballroom with their music and vocals. 

Also in the program were dances 

performed by the PSA Girls Dance 

Team and the PSA Boys and Girls 

Dance team. They danced to several 

clips of Persian music, demonstrating 

traditional dance moves that were 

truly admired by the audience. 

Dinner was provided by the chain 

restaurant Moby Dick. The food was 

as delicious as if it had been prepared 

fresh just before it was served. People 

crowded in line, anxious for food, 

until everyone was served. 

After dinner, there was a Chakavak 

Ensemble, the PSA Boys and Girls 

Dance Team performance, and the 

PSA Board Recognition. Once all of 

the performances came to an end, the 

night was taken over by DJ Ace and 

the ballroom was turned into an open 

dance floor. 

chelsea6@umbc.edu 

head upstairs, you’ll find an assortment of games. The 

restaurant has a welcoming feel, in the sense that everyone, 

employees and customers alike, acts like they 

know each other, laughing and shouting. In here, you 

have to be a little loud if you want to be heard. Make 

no mistake, this isn’t a place where lushes gather to 

entertain one another. Often, the tables where no 

one’s drinking are the loudest. 

The restaurant has the typical tavern atmosphere, 

with rock and roll music playing, tons of different 

beers on tap, dark wooden tables and chairs, and at 

least 10 different sandwiches to choose from. I went 

with the barbeque pulled pork, which came with 

Southern coleslaw and a Caesar salad on the side. 

The toasted brioche bun came overflowing with 

pork, marinated in a barbeque sauce that wasn’t too 

spicy, but had just enough flair to it to make it different 

and entertain my taste buds. The coleslaw was 

creamy and sweet, just as it should be. My Caesar 

11 

Saturday's Yalda Night showcased many different aspects of Persian culture, including poetry, music, 

dance, and cuisine. The event was open to the public and free for UMBC students. 

Alexander’s Tavern: 

full stomachs, full wallets, full service 

BY BRITTNEY ALLEN 

Staff Writer 

JOSH SINN - TRW 

salad was much larger than the average side and was 

made with crisp romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, 

and a smooth, moist dressing poured on top, layered 

with croutons. 

At $9.00, not including tip, the meal left my wallet 

and my stomach full. Service was friendly and efficient, 

and my water was never less than half-full at 

any time. 

In the holiday spirit, many of the servers and customers 

wore Christmas sweaters, and the restaurant 

was decorated with various seasonal accoutrements. 

Alexander’s has also received several awards from 

Baltimore Magazine. The timely service, delicious 

food, and entertaining atmosphere made my experience 

at Alexander’s Tavern a pleasant one. 

allen13@umbc.edu

12 

Cheap and local 

Baltimore events: 

December 11 -18 

TUESDAY, Dec. 11 

Winterfest 2012: 

The Baltimore Clayworks 

hosts a display of utilitarian 

pottery by local artists. Because 

the plates, teapots, and 

more are for sale, the lineup 

will change daily. Visitors 

can purchase holiday gifts or 

home décor, or simply take 

in the beauty of handmade 

objects. 

Location: Baltimore Clayworks, 

5707 Smith Avenue, 

Baltimore 

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Admission: Free 

WENDESDAY, Dec. 12 

Matisse’s Dancers: 

The Baltimore Museum of 

Art hosts a collection of art 

spanning 40 years of Henri 

Matisse’s career. The dancethemed 

exhibit includes 

sculpture, drawings and 

a rare set of lithographs, 

and offers a window into 

Matisse’s way of seeing 

movement and form. While 

there, visitors can also buy 

gifts in the Holiday Shop. 

Runs until February 24. All 

proceeds support the BMA. 

Location: BMA, 10 Art Museum 

Drive Baltimore, MD 



THURSDAY, Dec. 13 

Constellation Thursday 

Nights: 

Not available during the 

day? See the art at night; 

the Walters Art Museum, 

sponsored by Constellation 

Energy, stays open late 

every Thursday through October 

2014. Special exhibitions 

are free at this time. 

Location: The Walters Art 

Museum, 600 N Charles St. 

Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 


FRIDAY, Dec. 14 

Symphony of Lights: 

This winter display is an 

annual Maryland tradition. 

Carloads of people can take 

a half-hour drive through a 

sparkling landscape. Runs 

daily through January 6. 

Proceeds benefit Howard 

County General Hospital. 

Location: Symphony Woods, 

5950 Symphony Woods 

Road, Columbia 

Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Admission: $20 for vehicles 

seating 8 people or fewer 

SATURDAY, Dec. 15 

Holiday Festival of Trains 

& Toys: 

Throughout December, the 

B&O Railroad Museum will 

house displays of model 

trains in a variety of scales. In 

addition to the four monthlong 

displays, this weekend 

an S-Scale layout by the Baltimore 

Area American Flyer 

Club. Event runs daily until 

December 31. 

Location: SB&O Railroad 

Museum, 901 W. Pratt St., 

Baltimore 


Admission: $16 

SUNDAY, Dec. 16 

BIG's Seasonal Suite: 

The Baltimore Improv Group 

will bring unplanned holiday 

hilarity to their audiences 

with this show. Local troupes 

including Doomhilda, The 

Bully Union: Local 128, Pop. 

6, and Plan B are scheduled 

to participate. 

Location: Fells Point Corner 

Theatre, 251 S Anne St., 

Baltimore 

Hours: 7 p.m. 

Admission: $8 for students 

MONDAY, Dec. 17 

Lego Christmas Display: 

Classic Plastic Bricks shows 

what can be done using 

some of their wares with this 

holiday scene. Thousands of 

Lego bricks have been built 

into a miniature landscape. 

Runs all week. 

Location: Taylor’s Antique 

Mall, 8197 Main St, Ellicott 

City 

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 


Comics 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Disconnect & Connect 

Features 

Professor Spotlight: 

Dr. Jason Loviglio, Ph.D. 

BY ERIKA SUROCK 

Staff Writer 

Jason Loviglio, Ph.D., director of UMBC’s Media 

and Communication Studies program, is very 

enthusiastic about his department, program and 

work on campus. “MCS is a great major for students 

who want to read a lot, write a lot, talk a lot 

and learn a lot — now and forever after!” 

Loviglio received his Ph.D. in American Studies 

in 1999 from the University of Minnesota, which 

boasts one of the oldest and most highly regarded 

programs in the country. His first job after college 

was milking cows, and he was also a volunteer 

forest ranger in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of 

California. He taught elementary school for a few 

years, then began to teach courses in literature, 

composition and popular culture at universities 

and colleges all across the country. 

Loviglio is happy that he found his way to UMBC. 

“It was pretty close to my dream job — a public 

university with a diverse student body and a reputation 

for research and scholarship.” 

Loviglio enjoys working with the department 

faculty as much as he enjoys teaching. “My colleagues 

on the MCS faculty are top-notch: they are 

smart, generous, creative and dedicated teachers,” 

he said. “[My students] teach me a lot too...their 

curiosity about the world and their creativity in 

approaching it make it such a joy to come to campus 

every day.” 

Together with Professor Donald Snyder, Loviglio 

developed a new course, Media Literacy (MCS 

101), which debuted this fall. In this class, students 

can be active creators, spending time in the 

media lab in addition to lectures and discussions. 

His research focuses on United States media 

history, specifically radio history, which is the subject 

of his book Radio’s Intimate Public: Network 

Broadcasting and Mass-Mediated Democracy. 

Loviglio has also edited two volumes of international 

scholarship on radio studies, Radio Reader 

and Radio’s New Wave, and is currently working 

on a book about the cultural politics of NPR. 

Loviglio is very active in efforts on campus related 

to “the digital humanities,” which involves 

making sure students and faculty have the tools 

and support they need to learn, teach, research, 

and publish using up-to-date technology. He has 

been involved in the Humanities Scholars program 

since his arrival in 1999. He is also on the 

Shriver Center’s Faculty Advisory Committee and 

the Advisory Committee for the New Media Studio. 

Loviglio plays a big role in the media communication 

realm of UMBC and is glad to be a part 

of the institution, stating: “There are so many 

hard-working, generous, and ingenious students, 

staff, and faculty here [at UMBC]; I learn from 

them every day,” he says. 

erikas2@umbc.edu

Features 

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): 

Pick any number at 

random. Then multiply 

that number 

by 26. That number 

is the number of times you will 

bang your head against the wall 

during finals week. Good luck. 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Sudoku websiteforsudoku.com 

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): 

If you take on a life of 

crime, all your wishes 

this week will come true. 

Get your black catsuit 

dry-cleaned. You can be the next 

Catwoman, except not as hot as 

Anne Hathaway. 

Pisces (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): 

Mythology states that 

all kinds of crazy stuff 

happened. This week you 

will hear a myth that will 

leave you wondering: ARE YOU A 

BELIEBER? 

Solutions to last week’s puzzles 

The Slum Starry Horoscope 

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23): 

I know those peaches that 

person in the Commons 

is eating look tasty, but 

commenting on another 

person’s peaches in public is 

generally frowned upon. Behave. 

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 20): 

Love. Danger. Excitement. 

These are words that 

are often used in movie 

advertisements, but not in your 

life. Instead of studying, make the 

movie of your life. 

Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): 

All the useless website 

awards for you today. 

Four poetry wins and 

a “free laptop” from 

someplace sketchy. You go, Glen 

Coco! 

Taurus (Apr. 21 - May 21): 

Something of startling 

significance will mysteriously 

appear on your 

desk this week. Start 

taking bets on whether it will 

be the answers to your hardest 

exam. 

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): 

Post-it notes will play a 

very important role in 

your life this week. In 

fact, you will wake up 

covered in them on the day of 

your most important exam. 

Gemini (May 22 - June 21): 

Sugar plums, candy 

canes, snowflakes. Usually 

these are the symbols 

of the coming holiday season, but 

they are also the hallmarks of 

your new relationship. Weird. 

Puzzles 

Crossword websiteforcrossword.com 

Across 

1. Damage 

5. Wealthy 

9. Badgers 

13. District 

14. Lazybones 

16. Pearly-shelled mussel 

17. Teller of untruths 

18. Menacing look 

19. Standard 

20. Fertile area in a desert 

22. Promenade 

24. A single time 

Down 

1. Angel's headwear 

2. Diva's solo 

3. Sensible 

4. Sailor 

5. 18-wheeler 

6. Doing nothing 

7. Elegance 

8. Shingles 

9. Convent 

10. Dwarf buffalo 

11. Prepare for action 

12. A few 

15. Museum piece 

21. Fraud 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

A sudoku puzzle consists 

of a 9 × 9–square grid 

subdivided into nine 3 

× 3 boxes. Some of the 

squares contain numbers. 

The object is to fill in 

the remaining squares 

so that every row, every 

column, and every 3 × 

3 box contains each of 

the numbers from 1 to 9 

exactly once. 

Solving a Sudoku puzzle 

involves pure logic. No 

guesswork is needed—or 

even desirable. 

26. A river through Paris 

27. Bloodline 

30. Dung beetle 

33. Scaremonger 

35. French school 

37. Bro or sis 

38. Begin 

41. Spy agency 

42. Beauty parlor 

45. Unnecessary 

48. Lay bare 

51. Venture to say 

23. A Freudian stage 

25. Auspices 

27. Young girl 

28. Homeric epic 

29. Eastern Standard Time 

31. Capable of being reached 

32. African antelope 

34. Buff 

36. Not difficult 

39. Scarlet 

40. Nipple 

43. Performing 

44. Cashews and almonds 

46. Blah 

52. Look at with fixed eyes 

54. Faucets 

55. Blade sharpener 

59. Rectangular block of clay 

62. Emanation 

63. Swelling under the skin 

65. Double-reed woodwind 

66. Haul 

67. To yield or submit 

68. Blackthorn 

69. If not 

70. Satisfy 

71. Scream 

47. Hansen's disease 

49. Old hat 

50. Wears away 

53. Colonic 

55. Walk in water 

56. Throw 

57. Historical periods 

58. Send forth 

60. Not hot 

61. Ship part 

64. Consumed food 

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21 ): 

A terrific thought will enter 

your brain at lunchtime in 

the next couple of days, 

and you will have visions of sugar 

plums and success. It will shortly 

be ruined by food poisoning. 

13 

Cancer (June 22 - July 22): 

Knowing your handspan 

may become useful 

over the next couple of 

days, though we don’t know why. 

Luckily, you’ll be handpalm-ing 

your face a lot. 

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): 

Be playful and 

childlike in your 

heart, and you will 

reap the reward of 

having lots of friends under the 

age of 10. Enjoy those pedophile 

accusations.

14 

Wii U 

hopes to 

drive sales 

with new 

features 

this holiday 

season 

Like every other industry, the video game industry is 

hoping to make money this season. With the release of 

Wii U, Nintendo has made a special effort to step into 

the market in advance. However, that decision may not 

have worked, as studies show that the Xbox is currently 

outselling the Wii U. 

The Wii U is a gamepad system. The signature white 

control box is still a part, but the popular Wii remotes 

have been replaced with small tablets. The initial pro- 

courtESy EngadgEt.com 

By Emily SchEErEr 


Although it looks silly, this is where the Wii U GamePad began. Game researchers 

develop these prototypes to test the usability of their designs before production. 

Verbal conversation is becoming a 

dead form of communication. All it takes 

is a glance around any restaurant, party, 

or public place to see that cellphones 

have joined the guest list as people are 

becoming more engrossed with the 

screens in front of them than the people 

beside them. Even as the holidays 

approach, dinners are accompanied by 

family members who pause to snap Instagram 

pics of their dinner plates or 

whose smartphones join the table like 

fourth utensils. Talking is simply being 

trumped by technology. 

With over 88 percent of U.S. adults 

owning cellphones and a growing generation 

of teenagers who prefer texting 

totype of the Wii U played with this idea, beginning as 

a Wii Zapper with a screen attached. This became a 

screen attachment between two Wii remotes, and was 

ultimately replaced by the entirely new controller that 

is on sale now. 

The Wii U is innovative for Nintendo, allowing users 

to connect multiple network IDs to a 

single system for multi-player game 

play. The new eShop allows users to 

install games the same day they are 

released, and there are rumors of a 

cloud-saving feature in the future. 

However, accounts are still tied 

to the console on which they were 

originally created. There is no way 

to access games anywhere else, only 

on the user’s unique system. This 

makes upgrades a bit of a headache, 

since users can’t just reload their accounts 

to new systems. This could 

be considered a major error on Nin- 

over talking, according to the PEW Internet 

and American Life Project, the ability 

to have a conversation is becoming a 

dying skill. 

“It [conversation] is an art that's becoming 

as valuable as good writing,” 

Janet Sternberg, a professor of media 

and communication studies at Fordham 

University in New York, told the Huffington 

Post. Sternberg went on to say that 

she has noticed that these days her students 

rarely make eye contact with her 

and seem to struggle to articulate themselves 

in even basic conversation. 

As new generations grow up with 

smartphones, tablets, and laptops at 

their fingertips it seems unlikely that 

a resurgence of conversation is in the 

cards. According to a recent study from 

Baylor University and Seton Hall Univer- 

tendo’s part and could account for 

Xbox taking the bulk of sales. 

Additional complaints about the 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Losing the art of conversation in 

By Samantha androSky 

Staff Writer 

a mobile phone world 

sity, 88 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 

use apps and texting. 

“Mobile phones are a part of our consumer 

culture. They are not just a consumer 

tool but are used as a status symbol. 

They're also eroding our personal 

relationships,” James Roberts, Ph.D., a 

professor of marketing at Baylor University, 

said in a statement. 

The study also linked the growing 

urge for cellphone users to compulsively 

check their phones with traits such 

as materialism and impulsiveness. According 

to a study conducted by Mobile 

Mindset, compulsive cellphone usage is 

only getting worse, with 58 percent of 

smartphone users in the United States 

checking their phone at least once an 

hour. 

It’s not just the younger generations 

Technology 

courtESy EngadgEt.com 

The Wii U GamePad began as two Wii Remotes taped to a screen and morphed into a smooth, sleek tablet with lots of features for 

improved game play and the added ability to double as a TVii remote. 

Wii U say that the GamePad drains batteries, running 

out of power after about three hours. However, there is 

a docking station, so users don’t have to buy too many 

extra batteries. 

The Wii U is backwards compatible, so regular Wii 

games can still be played. Also, since the system comes 

with only one GamePad, users can still use their Wii 

remotes. This compatibility allows for two different 

kinds of experience: the individual gamer and the family 

experience. The GamePad is a marketing ploy to 

bring the core gamers back to Nintendo systems, since 

many view the Wii as a casual gaming or family device. 

The Wii U has many upgrades in store, including the 

promise of a Wii Fit U, to be released in 2013. The Wii 

Fit U will come with a strap-on pedometer and other 

innovations for players. 

One of the popular promised features is called “TVii”. 

TVii was released in Japan on December 8, while U.S. 

users have to wait until 2013. The TVii feature is an app 

that allows users to combine TV features into a single 

app. TVii also allows for easy recording. The GamePad 

acts as an all-inclusive remote. 

semily1@umbc.edu 

who are using their cellphones for more 

than calls. According to the PEW Internet 

and American Life Project, 80 percent of 

all American adults use their cellphones 

to send and receive text messages and 

50 percent use their phones to check 

their email. 

The dinner table is a different place 

than it was 20 years ago. Now, mom and 

dad are shooting off emails over appetizers 

and kids are too busy playing Angry 

Birds to bother articulating the events of 

their day. 

In a The Huffington Post article about 

his personal experience of holiday dinners 

digressing into a table of people 

staring at their smartphones, renowned 

author Warren Adler said, “We began to 

feel as if we, in person, were completely 

irrelevant to the lives of some of our 

family members, especially the younger 

folks; and had the distinct feeling that 

we were drifting away from them on a 

sea of indifference.” 

andr2@umbc.edu

Technology Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Using technology for 

holiday shopping 

By imani SpEncE 

Contributing Writer 

The internet was created for 

many things, including to be 

a gift advisor. There is always 

an app, website or blog post 

that will lead users to the perfect 

gifts for their unsuspecting 

loved ones. 

Usually these websites quietly 

fade into oblivion, but there is 

a small and distinct window of 

time in which they prove to be a 

necessity; retailers like to call it 

the “holiday season.” 

Most retailers have their own 

apps, and their circulars can be 

found online. While this may 

seem like the obvious place to 

start, many people do not realize 

the potential in simple sales. 

Stores like Target and H&M alert 

their app users about special 

sales so they can save the most 

money. 

For those who are not into 

commercialism, there’s Etsy. 

The online boutique focuses on 

handmade unique items and 

works with artists individually 

to distribute their goods. Artists 

from around the world display 

their work on Etsy; there is 

something for everyone. 

For the person who doesn’t 

consider himself to be the most 

adept gift-giver, there is Pinterest, 

a new social network that 

allows users to “pin” their favorite 

things. Looking at someone’s 

Pinterest could lead users right 

to the perfect gift. 

This season especially, people 

are trying to find the best gifts 

for the lowest amount of money, 

and websites like Groupon and 

LivingSocial can help them to do 

this well. They are services that 

work with local businesses (users 

are required to provide location 

information upon signing 

up) to give the lowest price pos- 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has everyone 

talking this December. Not only is the relatively short 

story being stretched into three movies, but the film 

has been shot in 48 frames per second, double the usual 

frame rate. 

Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, 

is going out on a limb with his decision to shoot in 

high definition. Some viewers won’t be given the oppor- 

sible. They do this by displaying 

their deals only for a quick moment 

and requiring that a minimum 

number of people buy in 

for the deal to be profitable. 

Groupon offers a service where 

users can purchase “goods” and 

they’ll ship them directly. LivingSocial 

caters to extroverts, 

advertising excursions or fun 

activities to do with friends. The 

discounts are usually upwards 

of 50 percent, and there are new 

deals posted daily. 

Want to buy a shiny piece of 

new technology for someone? 

Cnet.com is a part of CNN that 

delivers cohesive reviews of all 

the newest products so people 

don’t buy the wrong things. 

Surely, the affordable laptop 

mentioned in the circular would 

be perfect for someone’s mother, 

but is it really that affordable? 

Several apps scour the web to 

compare prices and help users 

make the right decision. Amazon 

tunity to see it in 48 frames because some theaters don’t 

support that technology. 

Others are excited about Jackson’s bold choice. Director 

James Cameron, famous for Avatar, is awaiting the 

public’s reaction with baited breath. Cameron says, “If 

there is acceptance of 48, then that will pave the way for 

Avatar to take advantage of it”. 

The general consensus among the crew is that this 

framerate will appeal to younger audiences. Jackson 

said, “It’s the younger audience who kind of think it’s 

cool, and that’s the people we need to get off their iPads 

Price Checker is a great source 

of price comparisons, though it 

does guide users towards Amazon. 

Decide is an app that not only 

checks the best price, but also 

uses data to inform its users of 

whether or not the time is right. 

Should someone buy a new 

tablet the week before a new 

15 

announcement from Apple? Decide 

(and everyone else) will 

probably tell you that it’s not a 

good idea. 

Whether or not someone is 

buying a car or a card, these options 

make finding gifts easier 

for everyone on the list. 

Is The Hobbit’s fast frame rate a great 

By Emily SchEErEr 


innovation, or great mistake? 

courtESy huffingtonpoSt.com 

Peter Jackson and his crew shot the Hobbit in 48 frames per second, a revolutionary approach to filming that has won them both fans 

and critics. 

Don’t know what to get for 

Christmas? The Decide app 

will help you with ideas 

and prices. 

courtESy gotgamES.com 

and back in the cinema. The technology exists, so why 

should we as an industry say that we achieved perfection 

in 1927?” 

Hobbit star Ian McKellen agrees that 48 frames is for 

younger audiences, saying, “It clearly takes some getting 

used to. Probably a young person who’s not seen many 

films will immediately accept it and relish it. I think the 

rest of us may have to get used to it.” 

The Hobbit is also available in 3D. Following the success 

of Avatar, 3D films have risen in popularity, and The 

Hobbit is no exception. However, the faster frame rate 

combined with 3D technology has left some audiences 

nauseous. 

The film has already been released in New Zealand, 

and audiences have complained that the faster frame 

rate is too much to take in, and that they are left with 

migraines and nausea. Other viewers say that the high 

definition frame rate took away from the movie-going 

experience, making the film look like a home movie or 

video game. 

Several UMBC students are looking forward to the film 

and have plans to see it. Alex Markowski, a senior computer 

science major, said, “I would pay the extra money 

to see it in high definition, but I will not see it in 3D … The 

Hobbit has such a good plot and a superb cast; I don’t 

need gimmicky 3D to go along with it … I’m not a fan of 

3D movies”. 

Alec Pulianas is Markowski’s roommate and has a very 

different perspective on the new technology. Pulianas, a 

junior majoring in computer engineering, says, “I refuse 

to see The Hobbit in anything other than its intended 

48 frames per second. I believe any theater capable of 

showing the proper framerate will show it in 3D, so I 

guess I won’t be seeing it with Alex”. 

UMBC’s Student Events Board is taking a bus trip to 

the midnight premiere of the film, so many more UMBC 

students will be given the chance to decide between 3D 

and the silver screen experience they already know. 

semily1@umbc.edu 

ispence1@umbc.edu

16 

Chase leaves women’s 

basketball 

Just nine months after winning America 

East Conference’s Rookie of the Year, women’s 

basketball point guard Lauren Chase 

has “left the team for personal reasons.” The 

team’s leading scorer this season, Chase averaged 

13 points per game for the team before 

leaving prior to the game at VCU. 

“Obviously the timing is not ideal,” Head 

Coach Phil Stern said. “We wish her the best 

of luck, but it’s not easy to replace your best 

player in the middle of the year.” 

Chase leaves at a time when she is aver- 

Chase’s departure comes as a shock to the team who has 

already been decimated with injuries a season after graduating 

three of the best players in school history. This season 

Chase’s 13 points per game led UMBC and she ranked second 

in the conference in assists per game. 

M. Basketball 

@ George Mason 

M. Basketball 

v. American 

By Dan levin 

Sports Editor 

SCORE BOARD 

63-74 

70-73 

M. Basketball 

v. norfolk St. 66-83 

aging 4.3 assists per game, second in the 

America East. Last season she won the 

Rookie of the Year award in the conference 

while racking up 129 assists, the most ever 

for a UMBC freshman and eighth most in 

one season. 

Her departure now leaves an already 

short-handed team with another hole to fill. 

Injuries to junior Dana Lewis (concussion) 

and senior Kim Browning (illness) have 

limited their playing time this year, and senior 

Kristin Coles has not played a minute 

due to an ankle injury. 

“It is unfortunate to lose such a major 

asset to the team but with that being said 

we must move forward,” Coles said. “I wish 

her well in her future endeavors, but right 

now we need to focus on getting better 

with the people that continue to 

come and work hard everyday.” 

Filling in for Chase in the starting 

point guard role will be senior Raven 

Harris, who has started every game 

this season for the Retrievers. Averaging 

9.2 points per game and 2.6 

assists per game, Harris has played 

well for the Retrievers despite battling 

through some injuries of her 

own. 

Freshman Kayla Seymour has 

also seen a huge upswing in minutes 

since Chase left. After averaging 

16.5 minutes through the first nine 

games, she has played 34 minutes 

per game in the two games since 

Chase departed. 

This season has proved to be a 

tough one for the team just one year 

after making an appearance in the 

conference championship game. After 

graduating Michelle Kurowski, 

Erin Brown and Tope Obajolu, the 

loss of Chase means four of the five 

starters from that team that played 

for the title will no longer be on the 

roster. 

Following a tough loss at home 

to Hampton, the team takes a two 

week break before traveling to University 

of Maryland, Eastern Shore. 

The team does not return home until 

after the New Year when they take 

on Albany in a rematch of last year’s 

America East Championship Game. 

“The reason we take such a big 

break right now is for finals so we 

can get away from it a little bit,” 

Stern said. “We’re going to use these 

next two weeks to figure out how we 

want to play and we might have to 

W. Basketball 

v. VCU 

W. Basketball v. hampton 

41-70 

38-81 

Wednesday 12/12 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Lauren Chase earned America East Rookie of the 

Year honors last season after averaging 4.6 assists 

per game and recording 128 assists, the eighth 

most ever in one season for a Retriever. 

be a totally different team than we’re used 

to.” “Hopefully, this all gets us ready for the 

America East and we figure out how we 

want to play over the next couple of weeks,” 

Stern said. “Just keep everybody together 

and we want people that want to play at 

UMBC.” 

As for Chase, there has not been any 

word whether she’ll transfer to another 

university or where she might go. However, 

before coming to UMBC she also looked at 

Richmond, Delaware, George Washington, 

Rhode Island and American. 

The most likely destination could be GW, 

which hired Diane Richardson as an assistant 

in June 2012. Richardson coached 

Chase at Riverdale Baptist High School in 

Upper Marlboro, Maryland. 

“She gave us a great freshman year, she 

was a pleasure to coach and we wish her 

nothing but the best,” Stern said of Chase. 

daniel23@umbc.edu 

ThiS WEEk 

in SpORTS 

W. Basketball v. Coppin State 

7 p.m. 

SPORTS 

SpORTS in 

nUMBERS 

88’9” 

Total height of the men’s 

basketball team. The team’s 

height has helped the Retrievers 

average 3.1 blocks per game, 

good enough for fifth in the 

America East. 

12 

Years since the last time the 

Washington Redskins beat the 

Baltimore Ravens. That year, 

2000, the Ravens went on to 

beat the new York Giants in 

Super Bowl XXXV. The Redskins 

went 8-8 and finished third in 

the nFC East. 

5 

number of games this season 

in which senior guard Ryan Cook 

has scored 20 or more points. in 

UMBC’s loss to norfolk State this 

past Sunday, Cook had a game 

high 22 points. 

19 

number of men and women’s 

basketball games that will 

be played over the winter 

break. The women will begin 

conference play January second 

against Albany. One week 

later the men’s first conference 

match up will be against new 

hampshire at the RAC. 

3 

number of men’s soccer players 

who were selected to the 

national College Soccer Coaches’ 

Association All-northeast Region 

Second or Third Teams. Senior 

Milo kapor and junior pete 

Caringi iii were named to the 

Second Team, while senior 

fullback Liam paddock was 

named to the Third Team.

SPORTS Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

Men’s bball 

prepares for 

conference play 

By Ryan HaRRiSOn 


The men’s basketball 

team has had a rough start 

this season and currently 

sits at 2-8. However, the Retrievers 

have only played one 

third of their games and have 

not begun conference play. 

The men have three games to 

prepare before their America 

East opener against Albany 

on January second. 

Despite have notched 

only two wins so far, the Retrievers 

came within just a 

few points of defeating both 

Central Connecticut and 

American University in overtime. 

Both losses at home revealed 

how major of a problem 

the Retriever’s shooting 

percentage is. 

Despite hitting 62.8 percent 

of free throws as a team, 

UMBC is not converting when 

it counts. Missed free throws 

late in overtime have contributed 

to both overtime losses. 

The Retrievers’ offense has 

played fairly well and is averaging 

67.3 points per game, 

just two points behind America 

East leader Stony Brook. 

Three pointers have been a 

problem though. From behind 

the arc the Retrievers 

have only hit 28.7 percent of 

their shots, the second lowest 

in the conference. 

A strong addition 

to the Retrievers this season 

has been junior center Brett 

Roseboro. The 6’10” transfer 

has 65 rebounds and is 

fifth in the American East in 

blocked shots. Roseboro has 

been contributing on the offensive 

side too, shooting 51 

percent and averaging 9.8 

points per game. 

is this week’s Athlete of the Week 



After sitting out for the entire 

2011-2012 season due 

to NCAA transfer rules, Brett 

Roseboro continues to make 

the most out of his debut as a 

Retriever. The 6’10” center currently 

ranks 10th in the America 

East in rebounding, fifth 

in blocked shots and fourth in 

Senior Ryan Cook is currently 

second in the America 

East in scoring. He is averaging 

17.9 points per game, just 

.4 points behind Binghamton’s 

Jordan Reed. 

In the season opener against 

Penn, Cook put up an amazing 

28-point, 11-rebound game, 

but the Retrievers fell 80-75. 

Cook has been the most consistent 

three-point shooter, 

hitting 84 percent of his shots. 

His efficiency from behind the 

free throw line has been the 

best on the team and will be 

invaluable once conference 

play begins. 

Sophomore Joey Getz has 

been sidelined with an injury 

and has not seen action since 

UMBC’s 66-62 win over local 

rival Towson. Getz was averaging 

18.4 minutes per game 

and was shooting 48.6 percent 

from the field before his 

injury. His accuracy will be 

a welcome addition to a Retrievers 

squad that hit none 

of its three-point attempts 

against Norfolk State. 

Freshman guard Aaron Morgan 

has had a strong start to 

his college career. He currently 

ranks eighth in the America 

East in assists per game and 

has started all ten games for 

the Retrievers. 

Coppin State will travel to 

the RAC Wednesday, which 

will be the final game before a 

ten-day hiatus. The Retrievers 

will then travel to DePaul University 

in Chicago and Mount 

St. Mary’s before beginning 

conference play January 2. 

rhar1@umbc.edu 

Brett Roseboro 

field-goal percentage. Roseboro 

leads the team with 65 

rebounds and has one of the 

highest shooting percentages, 

51 percent, for the Retrievers. 

Over the past week Roseboro 

hit 51 percent of his 

field-goal attempts and averaged 

16 points per game. The 

center averages eight boards 

per game and had a week-high 

12 rebounds in the overtime 

Chattin’ With... 

Anna Plunkett 

W. Swimming & Diving 

TRW: What are you doing 

during the break? 

We get released by our 

coach on December 19th, so i 

will go home to Buffalo for a 

week. Everyone must be back 

on campus though by the 

26th for practice, and then 

we leave for our training trip 

in Florida the morning of the 

27th. 

TRW: Do you have any 

special holiday traditions? 

i come from a huge irish 

Catholic family, so holidays in 

general are a pretty big deal 

for us. We usually have family 

and some friends over at our 

house on Christmas Eve, and 

then we go to a relative’s 

house on Christmas Day. 

TRW: Who’s your favorite 

pro swimmer and 

why? 

people have their opinions 

about Michael phelps, but 

i have nothing but respect 

for the guy. no one will ever 

accomplish what he has! 

thriller versus American University. 

Roseboro’s most impressive 

play of the week came in 

that contest against American. 

With the second period winding 

down, freshman Aaron 

Morgan threw up an alley-oop 

pass for Roseboro, who powered 

through an Eagles defender 

for the dunk. 


interview conducted by Dan Levin 

TRW: Do you have any 

weird pre-race rituals? 

i am extremely OCD about 

my goggles being tight 

enough because i have a 

fear of them falling off. 

TRW: Does everyone 

on the swim team 

know each other since 

it’s such a big team? 

Yes, we are genuinely one 

big family. Since there are so 

many of us, we get together 

every weekend and there is 

always someone to spend 

time with. 

TRW:Are you an nFL 

fan? 

i am a Bills fan by birth, 

although i don’t know 

nearly as much about the 

game as i’d like to 

file photo 

17 

file photo 

TRW: how do you think 

your favorite team is 

doing this season? 

not very well, but i don’t 

think that comes as a 

shock to anyone. 

TRW:Does the swim 

team ever pull 

any pranks on one 

another? 

The swim team has a lot 

of characters on it, and 

we all play pranks on 

one another. The biggest 

pranker of all is [Coach] 

Chad [Cradock]. Over the 

summer we had to train 

at a nearby pool while 

ours was being worked 

on. After practice, i walked 

to my car in the parking 

lot and found my coach 

standing there with a 

few other teammates. 

Alex Moothart held up a 

piece of paper which he 

found on my car and said, 

“Looks like you got another 

ticket, i’m so sorry”. 

Since i was running very 

low on cash at that time, i 

got really upset. After my 

meltdown, Chad and the 

other swimmers finally let 

out their laughter and i 

found out the entire thing 

had been orchestrated by 

my own coach! Turns out, 

the piece of paper was 

actually just an advertisement 

that looked like 

some kind of citation.

18 

Good CAll @ danlevin91 

Top 5 Moments of 

Fall 2012 

By Dan levin 

Sports Editor 

cord set by Kevin Goh in 2001. 

Cross country junior Brandan 

McGee set the school record in 

an 8K race at the Princeton Invi- 

Her career-high 59 assists and 

15 digs helped UMBC defeat the 

5. Men’s soccer drops seven on tational in a time of 24:45.65 en 

Hartford 

route to All-Conference honors. 

Track and field freshman Mercedes 

Jackson continues to do 

nothing but break records; she 

started her season by breaking 

her own 60 meter dash record in 

a time of 7.47 seconds. 

When the UMBC men’s soccer 

team entered its October 24 

game against Hartford, the players 

were in search of their third 

straight America East victory 

and fourth straight overall. The 

Hawks had played well and came 

into Retriever Soccer Park with 

a .500 record. After a tough first 

half, UMBC led 2-0 on two goals 

from Striker of the Year Pete Caringi 

III. Just a minute and half 

into the second period, senior 

Liam Paddock tallied UMBC’s 

third goal. After the Hawks got 

on the board, UMBC rattled off 

four more goals, including two 

more from Caringi, one from Travis 

Dennis and one from Michael 

Scott. Caringi’s four goals are tied 

with Ted Lawler for the most in 

UMBC history. 

4. Record Breakers 

file photo 

Records are made to file be photo broken, 

and this fall many UMBC athletes 

took that to heart, including 

swimming and diving senior 

Mohamed Hussein. Coming into 

the team’s meet against Howard, 

Hussein told Head Coach Chad 

Cradock he wanted a chance to 

break the UMBC Aquatic Center 

record in the 200 individual 

medley. Cradock granted him 

that chance and he took advantage, 

finishing in first place with 

a time of 1:51.92, besting the re- 

3. The first win is the sweetest 

A pair of new coaches earned 

their first collegiate victories 

this fall, starting with the women’s 

soccer program. Following a 

winless season a year ago, UMBC 

released Coach Alyssa Radu and 

hired former Towson coach Leslie 

Wray. On August 31, the team 

exploded for five goals against St. 

Peter’s and defeated the Peahens 

5-0. It marked the program’s 

first victory in almost two years 

and was the only victory for 

the much-improved team this 

season. Just a few months later, 

right before the official start of 

practice, UMBC men’s basketball 

coach Randy Monroe unexpectedly 

resigned, leaving assistant 

Aki Thomas in charge of the program 

this season. After tough 

games against Penn and Central 

Connecticut and a victory over 

Division 3 Eastern (PA), Thomas 

earned his first D1 victory when 

the Retrievers beat Towson on 

December 1. 

2. Volleyball beats Albany 

file photo 

The last time the UMBC volleyball 

team defeated the University 

at Albany, Barry Bonds 

was about to break Hank Aaron’s 

all-time home run record. But on 

November 2, having won three 

conference home games in a row, 

the Retrievers bested the Great 

Danes in four sets led by junior 

Mallory McIntyre’s career night. 

team that had eliminated them 

from the last three America East 

Conference tournaments. UMBC 

hadn’t beaten the Great Danes 

since October 12, 2007, but on 

“Hero Night” at the RAC, the Retrievers 

ended the 13-game losing 

streak against their conference 

foe. 

1. Men’s Soccer AEC Championship 

and NCAA Tourney run 

The lone championship of the 

fall season belongs to the UMBC 

men’s soccer team, which held 

opponents scoreless file in photo the 

America East tournament to 

earn the second berth in the 

NCAA College Cup in three years. 

After earning the number two 

seed in the tourney by defeating 

Stony Brook in the semifinals, 

the Retrievers welcomed New 

Hampshire to the Retriever Soccer 

Park in a rematch of the 2010 

title game. Just like that 2010 

match, the game went to penalty 

kicks during which UMBC secured 

a 4-2 victory. In the first 

round of the College Cup, UMBC 

traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to 

take on Old Dominion. They 

teams finished regulation tied at 

zero, but once again UMBC advanced 

on penalty kicks 4-2. 

Next, the Retrievers faced a titanic 

challenge on the road to face 

defending national champion 

North Carolina. As in the previous 

two games, the Retrievers 

took the Tarheels to penalty 

kicks, but UNC pulled out a 3-2 

victory and ended a magical season 

for Coach Pete Caringi Jr. and 

his Retrievers. 

daniel23@umbc.edu 

file photo 

Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

SPORTS 

Letter to UMBC 

from Coach Chad Cradock 

and the UMBC S&D team 

Dear UMBC Administration, Athletic Administration, All members 

of the Facilities Management, Safety and Health and the UMBC Community, 

The UMBC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving cannot 

thank you enough for completing the indoor pool renovation. Not 

only does it look amazing, but it has brought infinite amounts of inspiration 

to our team. This beautiful new pool deck is just the thing 

our team needed to get back on our feet and head in the right direction. 

After both our men’s and women’s team finished second place 

at the America East Conference Championship meet for the first time 

in 8 years, we were lost and hurt. We needed some new energy and 

inspiration to revamp this swimming and diving program and to start 

doing what we are all used to doing – winning! 

This pool is our new start. Due to this renovation, every day we all 

feel a sense of pride, motivation and spirit that will help us regain our 

spot on top of the podium. Every time one of us walks onto our new 

pool deck we see a teammate instantly brighten with a smile. That 

bright smile brings a positive attitude to our practice and is helping 

us get back on the track we need to not only be as successful as we 

used to be, but helps to take our team to new heights. These smiles 

are a direct result of your hard work. 

During the summer this renovation did not seem possible. After 

our pump room flooded and broke for the second time. We found 

ourselves watching the employees of UMBC come together to help 

us. One early Saturday morning this summer many members of Facilities 

Management and Safety and Health came to our rescue and 

made us a priority. You worked relentlessly for weeks to get our pool 

up and running so that we could continue to operate. We thank all of 

you for that. 

As soon as we were up and running from the flood we started the 

huge renovation of our facility. We once again saw the care you have 

put into our program. Thank you to the Administration of this great 

University who allowed us to move our program in a new direction; 

thank you to our own Athletic Administration for supporting us an all 

the work that went into on your end; thank you to the Project Managers; 

and lastly thank you to all those who care! It means a lot to us. 

All of you clearly showed us all how much you really care about our 

team and we are extremely grateful for this generous gift you have 

given us. Our team has every intention of utilizing this new opportunity 

and plans to put UMBC Swimming and Diving back on top (with 

recruiting and our team). Once again our team gives you our deepest 

thanks for all the people who are behind the scenes. 

Thank You, 

UMBC Swimming and Diving team 

GO RETRIEVERS! 

file photo 

file photo

SPORTS Tuesday, 

Dec. 11, 2012 

file photo 



The UMBC men’s cross 

country team competed in it’s 

second meet of the year this 

past weekend at the Navy Invitational, 

held in Annapolis, 

MD. The Retrievers came in 

fifth out of seven schools. 

Last week’s 5k run was considered 

a warm-up meet for 

the runners. For every subsequent 

meet, beginning with 

the Invitational, all runners 

will now run 8k races. Some 

Spotlight:Brett Roseboro 

courses are labeled as 

being tougher than others; 

many include multiple 

steep and shallow 

hills. 

Junior Brandan Mc- 

Gee ran his way to first 

(13th overall) place on 

the men’s squad, notching 

a time of 25 minutes 

38.11 seconds in the 

team’s second meet of 

the season. 

“I did alright I’d say,” 

McGee said. “I was 

shooting for top-seven 

overall, but [I] wasn’t 

too far off.” 

McGee placed higher 

this year at 13th overall 

than last year when 

he placed 38th overall. Despite 

a solid showing from 

the two year veteran, the 

team as a whole seemed to 

struggle Saturday. Only two 

Retrievers finished in the top 

20, and none finished under 

25 minutes. The Retrievers, 

however, did not appear defeated, 

but relieved and excited. 

“The race ran slow as a 

whole but there [were] still 

some pretty good teams 

there,” McGee said. “We 

didn’t have the best showing 

as a team, but it’s their first 

8k for a lot of them so the 

demeanor wasn’t bad. They 

were just excited to get the 

first real race out of the 

way.” 

Junior Jake Albino (20th) 

finished in 26:06.3, an improvement 

on last year’s 

second time of 26:22.46. 

Albino was followed by 

sophomore Eric Shueler 

(21st), who posted a time 

of 26.06.67. 

Junior Tommy Eldridge 

finished 27th (26:23.63), 

freshman Austin Hayslett 

finished 31st (26:31.15),senior 

T.J. Cowing claiming 

35th (26.39.40), sophomore 

James Beacham 

placed 38th (26:44.89), 

freshman Hassan Omar finished 

41st (26:54.65)and 

freshman Redatu Semeon 

rounded out the group in 

43rd (27:02.18). 

After a less-than-stellar 

performance, UMBC’s 

men’s cross country team 

hopes to turn around it’s 

shaky start to the season. 

The next race is to take 

place at the Towson Invitational, 

in Cockeysville, at 

4:30 p.m. on September 21. 


UMBC Swimming and Diving 

is looking for one more male 

diver to help us win a championship! 

if you have a background 

in diving, a gymnastics 

background or you would just 

like to try please contact Coach 

Cradock at ccradock@umbc. 

edu as soon as possible. 

19 

courtesy umbc athletic department

See you in 

the spring! 

Be sure to check out 

retrieverweekly.com 

throughout winter break 

for updates on all your 

favorite UMBC teams

deC. 03 - The Retriever Weekly

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