UMBC Parent Preview

QuadMania 2012 is a jam-packed weekend of attractions this year! The Student Events Board (seb) present Saturday, April 21st's festival on the Quad from 12pm-10pm, which will feature performances by UMBC organizations, a few carnival rides, laser tag, food vendors, and a night of live music under the lights. Sunday night is the Gym Class Heroes concert in the RAC. Come enjoy their hits such as "Stereo Hearts," "Life Goes On," and "Cupid's Chokehold." Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Understanding how HIV reproduces is one of the keys to combating AIDS. Michael Summers, an investigator of Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his colleagues have developed a new technique that will allow scientists to better understand an important early step in the HIV reproduction cycle - a development that could eventually lead to new treatments for AIDS.

"The HIV virus is one of the simplest things in nature that can reproduce," says Summers. "The virus' genetic material, RNA, must be packaged into newly formed viruses in order for those viruses to be infectious and reproduce." Summers and his colleagues have now figured out what a key part of the HIV RNA looks like, and how the RNA "changes its shape" in order to promote reproduction.

Until now, scientists have not had good tools for studying the HIV RNA. Some laboratories, including Dr. Summers' lab, previously focused on tiny pieces of the HIV RNA that, by themselves, don't explain how the RNA works. Larger portions of the HIV RNA have also been studied, but the methods used provided incomplete pictures and led to controversial and often incompatible conclusions among different research teams.

The Summers lab has developed a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique for studying the entire region of the HIV RNA that is responsible for incorporating it into new viruses. "It's like performing MRI, except we take pictures of the RNA molecules instead of large objects like the human body," says Summers. One exciting finding, Summers says, is that the RNA molecule actually changes its shape, which enables the RNA to perform multiple functions inside the infected cell and promotes its incorporation into new viruses.

Summers says the development of this new method will allow scientists to find out how the HIV proteins interact with the RNA - research that has implications for drug discovery and the development of new therapies for patients with HIV.

The Department of Theatre presents Incorruptible ("A Dark Comedy About the Dark Ages") by Michael Hollinger, directed by Colette Searls.

Part farce, part grotesque sitcom, Incorruptible takes us to Medieval times Monty Python-style.

Welcome to Priseaux, France, c. 1250 A.D., where the dark ages are looking pretty dark. The river flooded again last week, the chandler's shop just burned to the ground, and the skeletal relics of Saint Foy--patron of the local monastery--hasn't produced a miracle in thirteen years. All eyes turn to the Pope, whose promised visit will surely lure more pilgrims, and restore the abbey to its former glory. That is, until a rival church claims to possess the relics of Saint Foy--and "their" bones are working miracles. All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts

Performances:
Wednesday, April 18th, 8 pm (preview)
Thursday, April 19th, 4 pm (free performance for UMBC students, faculty and staff)
Friday, April 20th, 8 pm (opening night)
Sunday, April 22nd, 2 pm
Thursday, April 26th, 8 pm
Friday, April 27th, 8 pm
Saturday, April 28th, 2 pm

All performances in the UMBC Theatre. $10 general admission, $5 for students and seniors, and $3 for the preview.

To order tickets in advance using a credit card, order online through MissionTix or call 410-752-8950. Patrons who would prefer to pay by cash or check at will call may make a reservation through the online Theatre Box Office or by calling 410-455-2476.

The Princeton Review listed the top schools to study video game design for the year 2012, and UMBC received an honorable mention for its program. This recognition places the university among schools such as Georgia Institute of Technology, UC Santa Cruz and Northeastern University.

UMBC is generally known for its exceptional science programs, so this honor only adds to the diversity of high caliber classes acknowledged at the university.

The Princeton Review list features 50 schools from across the country that excel in video game design. Additionally, the list includes a "top ten" of undergraduate and graduate institutions in the category.

The process for determining the rankings is based on a survey implemented by The Princeton Review during the 2011-2012 academic year that sought considerations from administrators at 150 schools and universities. The criteria used to judge the winning schools comprised quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure, as well as scholarship, financial aid and career opportunities.

"We salute the schools on our list this year for their commitment to this burgeoning field and the innovative programs they offer," Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's Senior VP/Publisher, said in a press release. "For students aspiring to work in this more than $10.5 billion industry and for the companies that will need their creative talents and skills, we hope this project will serve as a catalyst for many rewarding connections."

Students interested in pursuing a career in video game design at UMBC can find opportunities in the Computer Science Department and the Visual Arts Department. There are tracks for both artists and computer programmers. Students can concentrate on animation and interactive media, while others who are more interested in the designing aspect can focus on the game development track within the Computer Science major. Furthermore, for the past four years UMBC's Game Development club has hosted the International Development Association's Global Game Jam.

For more info on Game Design, go to http://gaim.umbc.edu/

Three UMBC swimming and diving athletes have qualified for their respective country’s Olympic Trials and will be attempting to join the national team for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games to be held in London, England.

Junior Mohamed Hussein (Cairo, Egypt/Victory College) has already made the Egyptian squad for the 100-meter freestyle and will swim again in May to attempt to qualify for more events. Recently Hussein broke Egypt’s national record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.49.

Attempting to make the South African team, junior Pierre De Waal (Pretoria, South Africa/Tuks Sport/Cleveland State) will fly back to his home country on April 13 for their Olympic Trials. De Waal will compete for a spot in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle events, in addition to his best event, the 200m butterfly.

Perhaps the most unlikely contender comes from the United States of America. Two years after convincing Cradock to give him a walk-on spot at UMBC, sophomore Patrick Husson (Camp Springs, Md./DeMatha) has qualified for the US Olympic Trials for the 200m breaststroke, while missing the cut for the 100m breast event by less than one second. The time trial meet will be held in June with the top two swimmers, out of a field of over 100 athletes, making the cut for London.

Coming to UMBC in the fall of 2007, Husson was not recruited by any colleges while in high school. He came to Baltimore mainly for the academic possibilities at UMBC, but did not want to give up swimming. Talking to Cradock immediately at the start of his freshman year, Husson earned a one-month trial period to show the coaches he had what it takes to be on the Retriever squad. With no promises made, Husson worked for the month period, and in early October he was rewarded with what he coveted, a spot on the UMBC roster.

Watch WBAL News coverage.