All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Lia Purpura, English, in The New Yorker, Orion Magazine

English Writer in Residence Lia Purpura is featured in the November 24 edition of The New Yorker. The magazine published her poem “Study with Melon.” You can read the poem in The New Yorker by clicking here. The full text of the poem is below:

Lia Purpura

Study with Melon

The stem end of a melon
is weblike, form
finding a pattern
that’s thinking itself
a density
a concentration
beginning a line
then casting it out
and moving on from,
an order established,
a gesture complete.
Completion: how
someone at a distance
might see it.

In addition, Purpura’s essay “In The Despoiled and Radiant Now” appears in the November/December issue of Orion Magazine.

Bill Shewbridge, Media and Communication Studies, and Michelle Stefano, American Studies, to Present “Mill Stories” at SVA Film Festival

UMBC professors Bill Shewbridge (Media and Communication Studies) and Michelle Stefano (American Studies) are screening their film Mill Stories at the Society for Visual Anthropology (SVA) film festival. The screening will take place at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 6 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. Below is a description of the film from the SVA Film Festival website:

46-Mill-Stories-640x425

Recently closed, the Sparrows Point Steel Mill in Baltimore, Maryland helped to shape the lives of hundreds of thousands of steelworkers and associated personnel for over 125 years. Mill Stories: Remembering Sparrows Point presents a collection of personal stories based on ethnographic interviews collected at the time on the mill’s final closing. The film seeks to amplify the voices of former workers as a means of helping to safeguard and promote the living heritage of the recently closed mill and its surrounding areas.

To read more about the Mill Stories project, click here. For more information on the SVA film festival, click here.

UMBC: How Sweet It Is!

How Sweet It Is!

The UMBC men’s soccer squad vanquishes No. 4 College Park in NCAA Tournament

UMBC fans who made the trek down to College Park saw history on Sunday night when the Retrievers men’s soccer team snatched a 1-0 victory over the Maryland Terrapins – ranked number four in the nation – in a second-round game of the NCAA tournament.

The win sends UMBC into the third round of the tournament for the first time as a Division I squad. The Retrievers will travel to Kentucky to play the University of Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, November 30 at 6 p.m. EST.

The Retrievers goal was scored in the 70th minute by junior midfielder Malcolm Harris, who coolly slotted home a rebound created by a hard shot by senior forward Kay Banjo that was saved but not controlled by Terrapin goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

A scoreless first half saw both teams feel their way into the match, and only a few scoring chances were created by either team. The game’s second half was a far more open affair, with the Retrievers having the better of the play but failing to capitalize on a number of clear scoring chances.

A strong and energetic traveling contingent of Retrievers fans cheered loudly throughout the match. And when Harris’ dramatic goal stunned and silenced the boisterous Terrapin crowd, UMBC fans filled the stadium with cheers of “We Can’t Hear You!”

The Retrievers defended fiercely for the last 20 minutes of the match, as the Terrapins threw everything they had into an effort to score an equalizer. After the final second of the match elapsed and the referee blew his whistle, exultant UMBC fans stormed the field to celebrate the victory with the players.

The UMBC men’s soccer team extends its current unbeaten streak to eight games, and the Retrievers have yet to be beaten in open play in the NCAA tournament dating back to 2010. (All of their losses have come on penalty kicks.)

The victory also extends the careers of the team’s standout group of seniors, including Banjo, defender Omar Ballo, defender Jordan Becker, midfielder Geaton Caltabiano, midfielder Michael DiCesare, defender Marquez Fernandez, midfielder Stephen Ho, midfielder Mamadou Kansaye, midfielder/defender Zach Wenger, and defender Spencer Williams.

To see video highlights of the historic win, explore detailed game accounts and statistics, and obtain information on tickets to next Sunday’s game in Louisville, head to www.umbcretrievers.com

(Updated 11/23/2014)

Alums in the News: Griner, VanDyke, Doyle, Cangialosi, Clements, and Arthurs

Here at UMBC, we take pride in what our alums accomplish after graduation. Take a moment to see which Retrievers have been on the move and making news!

Anita GrinerFormer UMBC professor and alumna Anita Griner ’99, psychology, was recently appointed Chief Performance Officer of Cognosante. In addition to her work as a graduate professor at UMBC, where she taught advanced program management sciences, Griner has experience with large IT and healthcare programs. Cognosante focuses on aiding healthcare services, specifically dealing with Health Reform initiatives using technology and BPO services. Read full article.

 

photo via washingtonpost.comMaureen Evans Arthurs ’13, gender and women’s studies, recently took to the Washington Post blog with an essay exploring the way in which black women are often profiled as sex workers. The piece, written in response to a recent tweet by Ebony editor Jamilah Lemieux, was titled “I’m a black woman with a white husband. People assume I’m a prostitute all the time.” In it, Maureen shared her own experiences and  sparked conversation around the internet about the reality of racial profiling even in communities that pride themselves on diversity and inclusion. Read the full article.

 

photo via pointandshootfilm.comYou may recall Matthew VanDyke ’02, political science, who was in the news in 2011 due to his fighting and imprisonment during the conflict in Libya. A film based on his experiences recently won Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary, titled “Point and Shoot,” is now in theaters in various parts of the nation and numerous festivals across the world. On November 25, the film will come to Baltimore. Check here for location, dates, and more information.

 

photo via citybizlist.comPatrick Doyle ’10 M.A., applied sociology, ’12 Ph.D., gerontology, recently presented a seminar on dementia at Brightview Arlington, an assisted living facility in Virginia. His talk, titled, “Remembering the Past and Respecting the Present: A Recipe for Successful Interactions with People Living with Dementia,” covered the effects dementia has on the perception of reality. Dr. Doyle shared communication tips to improve connection between family and friends living with dementia. Read more.

Recently, UMBC alumni Greg Cangialosi ’96, English, and James Clements ’85 computer science; ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, were chosen to serve on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In total, 27 people were appointed to work with the NACIE, all focusing on issues relating to the improvement of the competitive workforce. Full list of members.

Have a story of your own to share? Submit a class note.

Round Up: UMBC in the News, 11/21

One of the things that makes UMBC great is how wonderful our alumni, students, faculty, and staff are. Because of these amazing people, UMBC often finds itself “in the news,” so each week, we’ll be sharing with you a round-up of the most newsworthy achievements from our community.

Read more at UMBC Insights!

Tim Gindling, Economics, Interviewed in World Bank Jobs and Development Blog

Tim Gindling, economics, was interviewed for the World Bank Development and Employment blog about his work on self-employment in the developing world.

Gindling joined Gary Fields from Cornell University and David Margolis from the University of Paris in an interview focused on why self-employment is so prevalent in developing economies, and what governments could do to improve the standard of living of self-employed workers in those economies.

Click here to read “A Better Life for the Developing World’s Self-Employed.”

UMBC: Grit & Glory

Grit & Glory

Retrievers win first-round NCAA tournament game against Wake Forest to take on hometown rival College Park.

The UMBC men’s soccer team emerged victorious from Thursday’s match against Wake Forest, with Michael Scott scoring the game-winning penalty kick in overtime. On Sunday, the team will head to College Park to take on hometown rival the Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

With so much on the line, Retriever fans will be out in full force to support our team, just as they were on Saturday, November 15, when UMBC clinched the America East Conference championship with a 2-1 victory over Hartford. That win earned the Retrievers an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the team’s fourth NCAA tournament berth in five years.

Coach Pete Caringi’s crew is unbeaten in the past 25 games against America East foes — a conference record. The Retrievers are also just the second team in America East history to win both regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons. UMBC is now 12-5-4 for the year.

The excitement on campus is palpable and during games it is electric. For those who couldn’t witness the America East championship match first-hand at Retriever Soccer Park, The Baltimore Sun reports, “When the 90 minutes were up, UMBC fans and students stormed the field and celebrated with the players at midfield.”

This level of fan energy is a hallmark of UMBC. Fans fill Retriever Soccer Park for home games and stadiums on the road. UMBC men’s soccer consistently ranks among the top 25 NCAA Division I teams in home game attendance.

The crowd exploded during UMBC’s November 12 America East semifinal tournament game against Vermont when forward Kay Banjo, the league’s Striker of the Year, broke a 1-1 deadlock with a phenomenal back-heel goal. Banjo’s story exemplifies the impact fans have on the game — how the support our student-athletes feel from the UMBC community makes a difference for them on the field.

Faced with the elimination of Towson’s men’s soccer program in 2013, Banjo ’15, media and communication studies, had to decide how to use his final year of collegiate eligibility. Considering his options, he remembered the fan support he saw at Retriever Soccer Park when he attended a contest there in 2013, and this year he is competing for the Retrievers. UMBC, he told The Baltimore Sun, “fits like a glove.”

At the core of “Retriever Fever” is Lot 17, named for the old moniker of the Stadium Lot, where fans have historically gathered before and after games. Lot 17 members make their presence known with gold t-shirts, chants, flags, a beating drum, and unbridled enthusiasm for UMBC.

Lot 17 President Zach Trout ‘15, business technology administration, is plugged into the country’s rapidly growing passion for soccer. He shares, “My main goal is to grow Lot 17 so future students can experience the feeling of attending a professional soccer game right here at UMBC.”

For Retriever fan Margaret Glassman ’16, management of aging services, Lot 17 is about making lifelong friends and memories. She says, “It was great to find a group of people that love watching soccer as much as I do, and I think it definitely gives UMBC a home field advantage.”

Ben Alkon ‘16, history, agrees, saying, “UMBC has a diverse student body culturally as well as socially. If there’s something a student likes to do, I’d bet there are other students at UMBC with the same passion.” For Alkon, that group is Lot 17.

With the Retrievers taking on No. 4 College Park in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Lot 17’s vision of soccer glory is becoming a reality. UMBC will carry the energy and support of a powerful fan community wherever NCAA takes them.

Tickets to Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. match in College Park are available online and fans who want to help support the team in their quest for a national championship can visit UMBC’s GiveCorps site. For additional information on UMBC men’s soccer, visit www.umbcretrievers.com.

(Updated 11/21/2014)

A Message from Liberty Mutual Insurance

You can help the next generation of Retrievers receive a UMBC education.

Support your future alumni! Simply get a free quote on Liberty Mutual Auto, Home, or Renters Insurance between September 1 and November 30, and we will donate $10 to the UMBC Alumni Association Scholarship.1  What’s more, we’ll donate up to $10,000 to the top two alumni associations with the most quotes1!

You, too, can benefit! Liberty Mutual has partnered with your alumni association to provide you exclusive savings up to $427.96 on quality insurance coverage2. We offer benefits such as:

  • Accident and Loss Forgiveness, if you qualify
  • Better Car Replacement™
  • Multi-Policy Discount2

Visit Liberty Mutual or call 855-323-2150 for a free, no-obligation quote and we’ll contribute to your school’s scholarship fund.

[Disclaimers:]
1 No purchase of a policy is required. Limit one quote per policy type per person. Not available to residents in in CT, FL, IA, MA, ME, MO, ND, NM, or PA; or to existing Liberty Mutual Insurance customers. <>
2 Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Figure reflects average national savings for customers who switched to Liberty Mutual’s group auto and home program. Based on data collected between 9/1/2012 and 8/31/2013. Individual premiums and savings will vary.
Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA. © 2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance

Robert Provine, Psychology, in Time

On November 19, an article published in Time examined laughter and if it really has any health benefits. Psychology Research Professor/Professor Emeritus Robert Provine was interviewed for the article and commented on the complexity of laughter’s health benefits. Below is an excerpt from the article:

Robert Provine

Provine calls himself a “reserved optimist” when it comes to laughter’s health-bolstering properties. “One of the challenges of studying laughter is that there are so many things that trigger it,” Provine explains. For example, you’re 30 times more likely to laugh around other people than when you are by yourself, he says. Social relationships and companionship have been tied to numerous health benefits. And so the social component of laughter may play a big part in its healthful attributes, Provine adds.

Here’s why that matters: If you’re going to tell people they should laugh to improve their health, there may be a big difference between guffawing on your own without provocation, watching a funny YouTube clip or meeting up with friends who make you laugh, Provine says.

“That doesn’t mean the benefits aren’t real,” he adds. “But it may not be accurate to credit laughter alone with all these superpowers.”

To read the complete article, click here.

Men’s Soccer Heads Toward National Championship

At UMBC, we’re busy celebrating the men’s soccer team and their America East Championship win over Hartford. This sets the Retrievers on the road to the NCAA tournament–their fourth tournament bid in five years.

The team is truly a “Fan Favorite” and Retriever Fever is catching across campus, from the dedicated supporters of Lot 17 to faculty and staff. In fact, The Baltimore Sun  reported that at the end of the America East Championship game, “UMBC fans and students stormed the field and celebrated with the players at midfield.”

The men’s soccer team is in Wake Forest today for the first round of the NCAA tournament–along with a bus full of dedicated supporters–in hopes of continuing their winning streak.

Do you have Retriever Fever? Support the team on the road to victory!

Internship Opportunity: Spring 2015

umbcjumpDo you know a UMBC student who is a writing rock star? A student who loves connecting with people and telling their stories? A student who isn’t afraid to dive in head first to a fast-paced marketing team?

The UMBC Alumni & Development Communications team is looking to hire that student. We’re excited to offer a hands-on, paid internship for the spring semester. Our interns get real-world experience conducting interviews, writing for online and print publications, and promoting events–the kind of skills that are sought after in the professional world.

Interested or know a UMBC student who might be? Here are the full details:

Communications and Marketing Internship, Spring 2015
The Alumni & Development Communications and Marketing team is seeking an intern. This position is responsible for reporting and writing short stories for the UMBC Alumni and UMBC Giving blogs, as well as helping to compile Class Notes entries for UMBC Magazine. The ideal candidate will be a UMBC student pursuing a major in English, Media and Communication Studies or related area, and have an interest in working in the fields of journalism, marketing, or communications after graduating. The candidate should be a responsible person and a clear writer who feels comfortable contacting alumni or donors, and who holds high personal standards for accuracy.

This position will report to the offices in the UMBC Alumni House 8-15 hours per week for the Spring 2015 semester. To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and 3-5 writing samples (you may include short form, but at least 2 must be long form). Applications may be directed to purvis@umbc.edu.

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