Student Announcements

Make an effort to Take your Bottles and Cans to a Recycling Bin and help UMBC take the gold!

UMBC is one of over 400 colleges competing this year from January 27 to April 5 to recycle the most and take the title.

Anyone interested in helping UMBC win RecycleMania can contact umbcrecycles@gmail.com

It's back...

Come support the UMBC men's basketball team as they take on Stony Brook at the RAC Arena on February 6th at 7:00p.m. Come support the team and be a part of this years 'RAC in BLACK' ! FREE t-shirts for all students who attend!!

February 7th
6-8 p.m.
Women's Center

Hey girls--love to sing? Come audition for UMBC'S all-female a cappella group!!

Come prepared to sing 30-60 seconds of your favorite song! Musical experience recommended, but not required!

Attention Shady Grove Students:

Do you want to eat out and support a great cause? Did you know that in Montgomery County alone, over 70,000 people are hungry and are eligible to recieve food assistance? Half of these people are children!

If you eat out at a participating restaurant on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 10% to 20% of the gross reciept of your meal will go to area foodbanks and agencies helping to end hunger. It's part of a program organized by Gaithersburg Help called "Thanksgiving in February".

Participating restaurants include Zio's pizza in Gaithersburg (really great pizza and meatballs - I've been there), Sushi Damo in Rockville (Lunch and Dinner, my gourmet chef sister recommends it), Bacchus of Lebenon in Bethesda (Awesome food), Ledo's Pizza (Dinner Only), Bombay Bistro (Dinner only), and about 20 more. Many restaurants are close to Shady Grove.

Please participate and help this cause!!!

UMBC wants your feedback! Check your UMBC e-mail starting February 18th for a message from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) on behalf of President Hrabowski, and tell us about your undergraduate experience at UMBC. Students who complete the survey by May 1, 2008 will be eligible to win one of four $100 Amazon.com gift certificates.

The NSSE is a survey of first-year and senior-level undergraduate students at both public and private four-year institutions. It gauges the extent to which colleges are providing experiences associated with a quality undergarduate education and the extent to which students are engaging in those educationally meaningful activities.

With sponsorship from the Offices of the President and Provost, UMBC first participated in 2000. The results have been used to makes changes to curriculum, programs, and resources.

This is individual chapter rush for the fraternities of the Inter fraternity council. The chapters are Pi Kappa Phi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Kappa Sigma, and Triangle. Each of these organizations is having an individual rush week the week of February 10th throught the 16th

orgs.umbc.edu/ifc/events.html

Please come out!!!

On Monday February 25th at 7pm, UMBC Alumnus Jeffrey P. Wilkinson, M.D. will present his work on Global Women's Health on the seventh floor of the AOK library.

Dr. Wilkinson is currently Co-Director of the Duke Center for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Clinical Assistant Professor of Urogynecology at Duke University Medical Center.

Sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies Council of Majors
Co-sponsored by the Departments of Africana Studies, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gender and Women's Studies, Mathematics and Statistics, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Political Science, and Psychology, as well as the Honors College.

On February 18, 1943, Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie, members of the student-led resistance movement "The White Rose" were captured as they distributed anti-Nazi flyers at the University of Munich. The students were tried and executed for 'high treason'.

To commemorate the 65th anniversary of this event, the UMBC German Club and MLL's German Area is showing the Oscar nominated German film "Sophie Scholl:The Final Days" (English subtitles) on February 18, 2008, at 8PM. The film is preceded by a lecture by Rebecca Boehling at 7PM (history professor at UMBC and director of the Dresher Center)

Tentatively scheduled to be held in Lecture Hall 7

Do you hunger for a deeper relationship with Christ? Do you desire an authentic Christian lifestyle? Join young adult Catholics Sunday evenings beginning February 10th from 7:30-9 in the Interfaith Center for Following Christ. This exciting course combines praise and worship, testimonies and teachings on Christian discipleship, small group discussion and fellowship. Co-sponsored by the UMBC Newman club and ChristLife.

Are you interested in losing weight or avoiding the freshman 15?Get help with nutrition, weight management, and developing a healthy living plan at University Health Services!

Did you know? All Maryland bars and restaurants will be smoke-free starting Feb 1st! This is a great time to quit smoking! UHS offers free nicotine replacement products and counseling.

Schedule a FREE meeting with the health behavior change specialist by emailing Thais1@umbc.edu or calling (410)455-8408.

Go "alternative" and devote your spring break to helping the children of Baltimore! Learn about nonprofit development while working alongside middle school children in local schools! Full day commitment for March 17-21 is required. Spaces are limited so sign up NOW.

Email Jordanna Spencer at spence2@umbc.edu

Monday, March 10: 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM
Tuesday, March 11: 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday, March 12: 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM
Thursday, March 13: 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM

Shot in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this extraordinary film shatters the silence that surrounds the shocking plight of women and girls caught in this country's intractable conflicte. Since 1998 a brutal war has ravaged the DRC, killing over 4 million people and resulting in many tens of thousands of women and girls being systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army. Until now, the stories of these women have never been told to the rest of the world.

A survivor of gang rape herself, Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Lisa Jackson travels through the DRC to understand what is happening and why. Features interviews with activists, peace keepers, physicians, the indifferent rapists who are all soldiers of the Congolese army, as well as dozens of survivors who recount their stories with an honesty and immediacy pulverizing in its intimacy and detail. (74 minutes)

Film Series Sponsors As Of 1/10/08: Women's Center, Pyschology Department, English Language Center, Gender and Women's Studies Department

Monday, April 14: Every hour on the hour from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday, April 15: Every hour on the hour from 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, April 16: Every hour on the hour from 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Thursday, April 17: Every hour on the hour from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Marilyn Waring is the foremost spokesperson for global feminist economics, and her ideas offer new avenues of approach for political action. With persistence and wit she has succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that GDP has no negative side to its accounts--such as damage to the environment--and completely ignores the unpaid work of women. "Why is the market economy all that counts?" Ms. Waring asks.

Interested in volunteering your Saturday mornings to help at Sarah's Hope Homeless Shelter? Join our team of about a dozen UMBC students who drive to the other side of Baltimore to spend time with the children of Sarah's Hope. Departure from campus is 9am. Estimated time of return is 12:30pm. Transportation is provided. For more information contact Christina Brisco at cbrisco1@umbc.edu.

Monday, May 5: Every hour on the hour from 2:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, May 6: Every hour on the hour from 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, May 7: Every hour on the hour from 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Thursday, May 8: Every hour on the hour from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

A candid and courageous portrait of more than 15 months in the female-to-male (FTM) transition of Jay Snider exploring both the emotional and physical changes of this profound experience--beginning prior to hormones and concluding after top surgery.

CIRC hosts a hands-on software workshop on Optimization Methods in the popular package MATLAB.
URL: http://www.umbc.edu/circ

Have a friend serenaded by members of the Musical Theatre Club for only $2. Simply bring your Valentine to one of the designated places in the Commons at your scheduled time! Buy one during Free Hour on Friday, February 8th on Mainstreet or e-mail us if you cannot make it out at that time!

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Rush Week
February 11-15, 2008

Monday 7pm Chapter Meeting with Dr. Jim Milani, Faculty Advisor, Commons 331
Followed by Appetizers at Applebees

Tuesday 7-10pm Blacklight Pool, Commons Gameroom with FREE Pizza

Wednesday 8:30pm Arena Flag Football at BWI Sandlot
Meet at the Commons Info. Desk at 8pm

Thursday 7:30pm Brotherhood Dinner and Movie
Meet at the Commons Info. Deskt at 7pm

Friday 6pm Phi-Delta Social (Invitation Only)

Contact James Valentine, Recruitment Chairmen, for more information:
(443) 880-2616
jamesv1@umbc.edu

UMBC RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR USE OF BICYCLE RACKS
Effective 4/1/2008

Bicycle racks/pods have been placed throughout the campus for the use and convenience of the campus community. They are to be used for short-term parking of bicycles only and not long-term storage of same. Bicycle owners leave their bicycles at their own risk and the University assumes no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any bicycles left at any time. Please be aware of the following:

1. Bicycles must be parked in bicycle racks/pods and secured using a padlock and/or chain.

2. Parking of bicycles in areas other than bike racks or bike pods is considered unauthorized (e.g., chained to trees, buildings, poles, etc.) and will not be permitted.

3. If left in unauthorized locations as described above, bicycles will be removed immediately.

4. Bicycle racks/pods are for temporary day use only. Any bicycle left in a rack/pod beyond a continuous thirty (30) day period will be considered abandoned. Such bicycles will be subject to padlock and bicycle removal by Facilities Management. The University assumes no liability or responsibility for damages due to removal of the bicycles because of extended parking.

5. Any bicycle removed by Facilities Management will be held in storage and posted on the Campus Police Lost & Found web page until August 1st of each year. All bikes not reclaimed by this time will be donated to a charity to be designated by the University.

6. Removed bicycles may be reclaimed by contacting UMBC Campus Police. Claimants must provide proof of ID, a description of the bike (manufacture & color), and the location on campus that the bicycle was removed from in order to reclaim the bicycle.

Looking for something fun and active? Come play ultimate frisbee! No experience necessary.

Contact kawebb1@umbc.edu for the practice schedule and more information.

Bicycle racks/pods have been placed throughout the campus for the use and convenience of the campus community. They are to be used for short-term parking of bicycles only and not long-term storage of same. Bicycle owners leave their bicycles at their own risk and the University assumes no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any bicycles left at any time. Please be aware of the following:

1. Bicycles must be parked in bicycle racks/pods and secured using a padlock and/or chain.

2. Parking of bicycles in areas other than bike racks or bike pods is considered unauthorized (e.g., chained to trees, buildings, poles, etc.) and will not be permitted.

3. If left in unauthorized locations as described above, bicycles will be removed immediately.

4. Bicycle racks/pods are for temporary day use only. Any bicycle left in a rack/pod beyond a continuous thirty (30) day period will be considered abandoned. Such bicycles will be subject to padlock and bicycle removal by Facilities Management. The University assumes no liability or responsibility for damages due to removal of the bicycles because of extended parking.

5. Any bicycle removed by Facilities Management will be held in storage and posted on the Campus Police Lost and Found web page until August 1st of each year. All bikes not reclaimed by this time will be donated to a charity to be designated by the University.

6. Removed bicycles may be reclaimed by contacting UMBC Campus Police. Claimants must provide proof of ID, a description of the bike (manufacture & color), and the location on campus that the bicycle was removed from in order to reclaim the bicycle.

Summer & Part-Time Job/ Internship Fair

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
12 pm-4 pm
UMBC UC Ballroom/Lounge

Looking to earn some extra money and/or to gain some experience related to your major? Then attend UMBC's Summer and Part-Time Job/Internship Fair where you can meet with employers who are hiring for summer, part-time, temporary and internship positions. All students of all majors are encouraged to attend. Sponsored by the Career Services Center and The Shriver Center.

Bring several copies of your resume and dress professionally!

Learn how to make the most of the fair and/or get your resume critiqued by stopping by during the Career Services Center (CSC) walk-in hours. Questions? Contact the Career Services Center at careers@umbc.edu, 410.455.2216, or stop by Math/Psych 204.

The study C-STARS is part of a large goal to examine the adaptation of immigration Chinese and Korean families in Maryland. We are focusing on Cinese and Korean families with young children. Specifically, we are interested in their acculturation (how they are adapting to the new
culture), how this influences their parenting, and their children's development. We are now looking for research assistants who can interview and interact with these families.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to:
a. earn upper-level research credits;
b. learn more about Chinese/Korean culture and Chinese/Korean families in the U.S.;
c. build up references and/or your resume;
d. learn more about the research process and do hands-on research;
e. be part of a diverse team of undergrads, grads, and professors;
f. understand what other Chinese/Korean do to achieve their success, and have a better plan for your own future.

You don't need to worry much about your busy schedule, because your time working in the lab is very flexible. You can work during either weekdays or weekend.

Please email us back at cstars_project@yahoo.com for more details, or call us back at 410-455-5755 to set up time to meet with the graduate students in charge of the project.

Thanks for your interest and look forward to hearing from you.

Conversation Partners NEEDED!!!!!

If you are interested in learning about other countries/cultures as well as sharing your own; if you can be available 1 hour a week - Conversation Partner program is for YOU!

E-mail Lina Martinez at
conv@umbc.edu

Come volunteer to cheer on athletes in a tournament of Unified Basketball where Special Olympic Athletes partner with other athletes for healthy competition! The tournament will take place RIGHT HERE on UMBC's Campus in the RAC on Saturday, March 1st from 9-1pm.

Volunteers are needed to be referees, time keepers, water boys/girls as well as to make posters and cheer on the athletes. Those who sign up first will be partnered with a special olympian to support throughout the tournament. UMBC is hoping to have a large number of volunteers to show our support for this event happening right here on our campus.

To sign up email Kelly Fahey at kfahey1@umbc.edu

The men's basketball team plays its next to last home game of the season on Sunday, Feb. 17 when they entertain pre-season league favorite Boston University at 4:00 p.m. The game will be televised live by MASN-TV, so come out, wear your black and gold and show your school spirit!

Get money to conduct research! Apply to receive up to $1500 towards a research project or creative work.

Undergraduate Research Awards provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate student recipients to support their work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. Students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will continue at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work. A multidisciplinary faculty review committee chooses recipients on a competitive basis. Recent projects have included building a comprehensive history of the non-pedal steel guitar, characterizing mutations in ribosomal genes, exploring new approaches to acting techniques, and analysing the work of William Blake.

Applications for Undergraduate Research Awards are currently being accepted.
The deadline for proposals is March 5th.

Please contact Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu or 5-5754 with any questions.

Have you conducted research? Are you working on a senior thesis or a creative project? Apply to present a poster, oral, or artistic presentation at this year's Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day on Wednesday, April 23 at locations throughout campus.

The deadline to apply is February 29th
The online student application is available on our website under "Forms"
A faculty statement is required and can also be found on the web.

Contact Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu or 5-5754

What's the LC Program?

* The Leadership Consultants Program is a year-long leadership development program (through the Office of Student Life) that trains UMBC students about leadership and to be leadership educators and facilitators.

What do the LCs do?

* We facilitate interactive, team-oriented workshops for other groups. Our workshops may be requested by organizations, classes, and offices who want us to help them to help themselves. Sometimes the goal is just to help the group to get to know one another better. Other times, groups are experiencing problems and wants us to help them figure out ways they can overcome those difficulties. Our role is not to solve problems, but to help groups solve their own problems and to help develop teamwork through interactive activities.

For more information please visit: http://www.umbc.edu/studentlife/becomealeader/lc.php
...or, contact the LC advisor or the LC Chair (a current student in the LC program):

LC Advisor
Dr. Nick Lennon
Assistant Director for Leadership Development
UMBC, Office of Student Life
Phone: 410-455-2318.
Email: nlennon@umbc.edu

LC Chair
Haley Martin
Leadership Consultant, Chair
Email: hmartin1@umbc.edu

Having difficulties balancing work and studies.....Come to the Transfer Student Network (TSN) workshop on Wednesday, February 20 at Commons 318 from 12-1pm.Representatives from the University Counseling Services will be in attendance to help you.....So be there!!

"Musique Cadienne (Cajun) avec Keeley"
Monday, February 18, 4:30 p.m. in UC 310

An opportunity to listen to Cajun music and to learn about it from someone who did her M.A. research on the subject. Ms. West will perform and offer students who are interested a chance to participate in the music making.

Sponsored by the French Area of MLL, as part of the Espaces series.

UMBC wants your feedback! Check your UMBC e-mail starting February 18th for a message from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) on behalf of President Hrabowski, and tell us about your undergraduate experience at UMBC. Students who complete the survey by May 1, 2008 will be eligible to win one of four $100 Amazon.com gift certificates.

The NSSE is a survey of first-year and senior-level undergraduate students at both public and private four-year institutions. It gauges the extent to which colleges are providing experiences associated with a quality undergarduate education and the extent to which students are engaging in those educationally meaningful activities.

With sponsorship from the Offices of the President and Provost, UMBC first participated in 2000. The results have been used to makes changes to curriculum, programs, and resources.

Wednesday, February 20th

4:00 - 5:45 PM

UMBC Community Members living with cancer or caring for a loved one with cancer are invited to gather for a community support session. This group welcomes all women and men diagnosed with any kind of cancer as well as those providing direct care to persons living with cancer. Questions may be directed to Uta Hussong at uhussong@umbc.edu or Mikhel Kushner at kushner@umbc.edu.

Dear student leaders,

The Offices of Alumni Relations, Career Services, Academic Services, and the Shriver Center are excited to present the 1st annual Career Week at UMBC from March 3 through March 7. This week long endeavor will consist of multiple events each day aimed at informing students on career exploration and development.

The Career Week Committee would like to extend an invitation for all Academic and Professional Student Organizations to represent themselves and their respective majors throughout the week at the Industry Job Fairs. This will give students the chance to explore new majors as they explore careers in a particular industry, as organizations and academic departments will share tables alongside many influential companies coming on campus to recruit UMBC students. Student organizations are encouraged to bring literature on their majors, class or extracurricular projects and demonstrations related to the major, pictures or slideshows of related field trips, or any artifact that may be of interest for students interested in learning more about your major. Organizations can participate in any and all industry fairs through Career Week. A list of events, including industry fairs, can be found at http://www.careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/calendar.php. A list of suggested major participation can be found at http://www.careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/faculty.php.

If your student organization is interested in sponsoring a table at an industry fair, please RSVP (include the name of a contact person, their email address, which fairs you are planning to attend, and the number of members planning to sit at the table) to Kelly Fey at kfey1@umbc.edu or Dr. Ken Barron at kbarron@umbc.edu by Monday, February 18 at 5pm.

Thank you and we hope to see you at Career Week,
Kelly Fey
Career Week Student Advocate
Career Services Peer Advisor
NASPA Undergraduate Fellow

CIRC will host a hands-on workshop on the programming features of the statistical software package SAS.
URL : http://www.umbc.edu/circ

Join UMBC's Kinetic Sculpture Club for an celebration of everything that moves. Request space on main street in the commons between 9 and 2 to show off whatever it is you do. Moving art? Cycling? Juggling? Rube-Goldberg devices? Martial Arts? Engineering Projects? Interpretive Dance? If its cool and it moves, we'd love for you to show it off.

Then as a finale to the art festival and national engineering week, we will be holding UMBC's first kinetic sculpture race. Build a kinetic sculpture and race for the glory. Or if you'd rather, race a drill-powered bicycle, a horse, a unicycle, run in a silly costume; just join the race!

Any questions can be directed to tdcourtney@gmail.com

What: An Open House to attract and indroduce interested indiduals to the UMBC chapter of Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a nationally recognized group that help members master public speaking, leadership skills and gain confidence in a safe and friendly enviornment. At this open house there will be FREE PIZZA and DESSERTS!!! We will play a table topics game and recruit new members! (Please emphasize the free food)
When: Two nights, Monday Feb 25th at 7:00 & Wednesday Feb 27th at 5:30. (Please emphasize both nights)
Where: Commons Room 328

Join the UMBC Women's History Month Committee in welcoming Sister Reginald Gerdes of the Oblate Sisters of Providence to learn about local history, black history, religious history and women's history.

In the spring of 1828 four women of African descent began a womanâ?Ts religious order in Baltimore, Maryland. The Oblate Sisters of Providence became the first sustained order of religious women of African descent in the world. Their headquarters are located 5 minutes from the UMBC Campus in Catonsville.

Brought to the Community by The Maryland Humanities Council , Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Baltimore Branch, The Catonsville Branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the UMBC Student Affairs Diversity Awareness Team and the UMBC Women's History Month Committee

A Reception will follow this lecture.

This lecture is free and open to the public

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 4:30pm
Location : Albin O. Kuhn Library, 7th Floor

All UMBC students, staff, faculty and their guests are invited to join the Division of Student Affairs at their 2008 Black History Month Closing Program:

"Baltimore's Multicultural Past, Present, and Future: Honoring the Legacy of Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism"
featuring keynote speaker, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Council President.
Wednesday, Feb. 27th
4-5 pm
The Commons, Main Street

Light refreshments will be served immediately following the event. There is limited seating, so please arrive a few minutes early. This event is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs Diversity Awareness Team and the Office of Student Life, Mosaic: Culture and Diversity Center.

http://www.umbc.edu/studentlife/mosaic/calendar

UMBC Talks - A Diversity Dialogue Series continues for Spring 2008 on Feb. 27th at Free Hour in the Mosaic: Culture and Diversity Center! Topic: The African American Experience in Baltimore: From the Church to City Hall. Join us to discuss this topic, voice your opinions, and hear those of your fellow community members. Sponsored by the Campus Committee for Culture and Diversity and the Mosaic Center. Contact mosaic@umbc.edu for more information.

UMBC Talks - A Diversity Dialogue Series continues for Spring 2008 on March 5th at Free Hour in The Mosaic: Culture and Diversity Center! Topic: The UMBC Experience - Can Students Really Afford to Participate? Join us to discuss this topic, voice your opinions, and hear those of your fellow community members. Sponsored by the Campus Committee for Culture and Diversity and the Mosaic Center. Contact mosaic@umbc.edu for more information.

UMBC Talks - A Diversity Dialogue Series continues for Spring 2008 on March 12th at Free Hour in The Mosaic: Culture and Diversity Center! Topic: Discussion of the Women's Center Film of the Month, The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. Join us to discuss this topic, voice your opinions, and hear those of your fellow community members. Sponsored by the Campus Committee for Culture and Diversity and the Mosaic Center. Contact mosaic@umbc.edu for more information.

We Are Hip Hop Too! (WAHHT!) is a Baltimore organization that cultivates the success of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans-Gendered, Queer & Questioning (LGBTQQ) hip hop, neo-soul, and spoken word artists. WAHHT! provides workshops and seminars to strengthen both the artistic and business skills needed to thrive in the music industry. WAHHT! also partners with LGBTQQ-allied organizations and provides LGBTQQ-friendly performance venues to the community.

WAHHT will be at Towson University Thursday, March 6 in the University Union PAWS cafe from 7:30-9:00pm. This event is free and open to the community. Attached is the poster for the event. Please post and encourage your students to attend. If you would like a hard copy of the poster or if you have questions please reply to this e-mail.

See you there!
Towson University Women's Studies Department


Lyndsay Soeder
Graduate Assistant
Women's Studies Department
Towson University
8000 York Rd.
Towson, MD 21252

TechUSA recruiters will visit UMBC on Monday, February 25th from 12-1 in the Biological Sciences builidng, room 120, to help aid students in finding jobs in the science field! Learn how to write your resume, interviewing tips, and about job and internship openings!

Hosted by the UMBC Biology Council of Majors.

February 27th, 12-1 pm
Engineering 122

CIRC hosts Software Workshop on COMSOL Multiphysics (formerly known as FEMLAB), a powerful package for the simulation and visualization of partial differential equations

For more information, visit: http://www.umbc.edu/circ

DreamSpark is simple, it's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and design tools at no charge so you can chase your dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on your career.

For more information, visit https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/

Help support the Pep Band by ordering your copy of our first CD. See any band member for details or go to http://www.umbc.edu/pepband

Saturday night (2/23/08) will be a special one at the RAC Arena as the men's basketball team plays its final regular season home game vs. New Hampshire at 7:00 p.m. It will be UMBC's "Senior Night" celebration as we honor UMBC seniors Ray Barbosa, Brian Hodges and Cavell Johnson for their contributions to the university.

UMBC's Orthodox Christian Fellowship is hosting an Orthodoxy Awareness Week March 3-7 to let the world know what on earth is the Orthodox Church and what it has to offer. The week includes a series of programs and free refreshments at every event.

Monday: "Dispelling the Myth" 12pm Mosaic Center
"Continuity of Hope and Love" 7pm Interfaith Center

Tuesday: "Life Complete and Fulfilled" 7pm Interfaith Center

Wednesday: "Heroes of the Early Church" 7pm Interfaith Center

Thursday: Icon Exhibit, 11am-2pm, Commons Main Street
Coffeehouse and Concert, 7pm, Commons Sportzone

April 23
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

URCAD is a campus-wide research conference featuring more than 130 students presenting their research results and creative works to the campus community. It takes about 50 volunteers to manage the process and the large numbers of people (mostly from UMBC) who are attending the event.

Students can sign up for this directly with Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu. This volunteer opportunity offers a large-scale, on-campus, day time opportunity for students to get involved. Volunteers are also right in the middle of the event itself and will see other student presenters, so you gain from the event, too. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks within a variety of time frames that can fit your schedule!

Which fork do I use? What if I spill on myself? How do I give a good handshake? Find answers to all of these questions and more while attending our annual program promoting good business manners and networking skills. This is your opportunity to learn what it takes to make a great first impression and to navigate a formal dinner with style.

The meal is preceded by a networking session where participants will get to practice juggling hors d’oeuvres and punch while greeting people and carrying on a conversation. Mr. Steve Kozak, Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council will be joining us to provide networking tips.

Carol Campbell Haislip, Director of the International School of Protocol, will be on hand to guide participants through the fine dining experience. Seating for this dinner is limited and students must pre-register here.

Visit http://careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/dining.php to register. For additional details, contact the Career Services Center at careers@umbc.edu, 410.455.2340, or stop by Math/Psych 204.
Sponsorship support provided by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life.

Create your "MAJOR" poster!!! Make a group Poster with friends having the same Major. Best 4 posters will win prizes!! So come on, get CREATIVE!!!

Meet, eat and greet peers in your related field. Poster Contest, Gift Certificates, Good Eats, Form Study Groups and lots more.

February 28th
5-7 p.m.
Commons Sport Zone

Being an SGA officer can be a truly amazing and defining experience, as well as a lot of fun. You'll have the opportunity to make a real difference, and to learn, grow and develop great friendships in the process. SGA members represent the diversity of the UMBC campus in every way: different backgrounds, interests, academic majors and career plans. Any undergraduate student is eligiable for any of the 25 elected open positions and all are encouraged to run. Applications are due March 14th and can be found at http://sga.umbc.edu/election/.

The UMBC Department of Education, Residential Life and the Office of
Undergraduate Education are pleased to announce a new living learning
floor for Fall 2008. The “Aspiring Teachers Floor at UMBC” is an
interactive community designed for students who want to become teachers.
Residents of this floor will explore teaching as a profession and
cultivate the courage to become leaders among their peers through
discussion forums on teaching and learning, enrichment activities in the
arts and sciences, social gatherings, community services and development
of an ePortfolio. For more information go to
http://www.umbc.edu/reslife/communities/llc.html or
http://www.umbc.edu/education/announcements/AT_UMBC.htm

Presenting the Prove It! Final Five:

Revamping the UMBC Pond
Student Creative Center
Transforming the "Study Place"
Ropes and Challenge Course
Green Space

It's your turn to Prove It! During March 3-7, the final proposals will be up for your comment via myUMBC.

March 5th
12-1 p.m.
ENGR 122

CIRC Hosts Software Workshop on Microsoft Access, a powerful relational database management system

The UMBC College Bowl Team won the Regional College Bowl Tournament, which was held at California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pennsylvania, this past weekend. The team came in 1st place out of 12 other universities and will be invited to the National Championship at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn in May. The team consists of the following students: Michael Fasulo - Junior, Bryan Wilkinson - Junior, William Krueger - Sophomore, and Marc Zerfas - Freshman.

College Bowl is the longest running academic competition in the country. The UMBC College Bowl program was sponsored by The Commons, SEB, and SGA. This is the second year in a row that UMBC has won the Regional College Bowl Tournament. At the National Championships, UMBC will be facing 15 other universities across the country including the Defending National Champions from University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin, and Washington University - St. Louis.

UMBC's President's Commission for Women is seeking nominations for the 2008 Achievement Award. This year's recipient will be honored during the spring award ceremony and will receive a plaque and $500 to be used for educational purposes. Nominations are open to all UMBC students, staff, and faculty who:

Provide exceptional service to the University and/or wider community;
Work to promote understanding among people of different groups, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds;
Advocate for the elimination of gender inequality.

The nomination form is available online here. Please send forms to Bria McElroy, Center for Women and Information Technology (CWIT), at bmcelroy@umbc.edu or via campus mail to ITE 452. Deadline is March 7, 2008.

UMBC wants your feedback! Check your UMBC e-mail starting February 18th for a message from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) on behalf of President Hrabowski, and tell us about your undergraduate experience at UMBC. Students who complete the survey by May 1, 2008 will be eligible to win one of four $100 Amazon.com gift certificates.

The NSSE is a survey of first-year and senior-level undergraduate students at both public and private four-year institutions. It gauges the extent to which colleges are providing experiences associated with a quality undergarduate education and the extent to which students are engaging in those educationally meaningful activities.

With sponsorship from the Offices of the President and Provost, UMBC first participated in 2000. The results have been used to makes changes to curriculum, programs, and resources.

To improve access to and use of computing resources in the Library, we will be relocating the PC lab in the basement to the 7th floor during Spring Break. The following is the schedule:

March 5 - Some furniture from 4th-6th floors will be swopped with the those on the 7th floor.
March 17-21 (Spring Break) - Basement will be closed for relocation of PCs and furniture.

This will keep Exam Week (March 10-14) free of any noise and activities related to the move. Please contact lcshelp@lists.umbc.edu if you have any questions.

The men's lacrosse team will play its home opener this Saturday, March 1 when entertaining 17th-ranked Denver at UMBC Stadium. The opening face off is set for 1:00 p.m.

Blackboard will be down for weekly scheduled maintenance on Friday, February 29th from 10 PM to 1 AM.

Since 1999, UMBC has used Blackboard which now supports more than 1,000 courses and 350 organizations every semester, making it one of the largest, most mission-critical technology services on campus. Regular weekly scheduled maintenance allows OIT time to install system patches and reboot the server for better performance and reliability.

We appreciate the campus community's support and patience during this brief downtime.

March 5
1-2 p.m.
Commons 332

Interested in making a mark at UMBC? Come out for the first meeting of the Board of Underrepresented Students.

Refreshments will be served.

The UMBC Department of Education, Residential Life and the Office of Undergraduate Education are pleased to announce a new living learning floor for Fall 2008. The "Aspiring Teachers Floor at UMBC" is an interactive community designed for students who want to become teachers. Residents of this floor will explore teaching as a profession and cultivate the courage to become leaders among their peers through discussion forums on teaching and learning, enrichment activities in the arts and sciences, social gatherings, community services and development of an ePortfolio.

For more information go to http://www.umbc.edu/reslife/communities/llc.html or
http://www.umbc.edu/education/announcements/AT_UMBC.htm

April 23
9-4 p.m.

URCAD is a campus-wide research conference featuring more than 130 students presenting their research results and creative works to the campus community. It takes about 50 volunteers to manage the process and the large numbers of people (mostly from UMBC) who are attending the event.

Students can sign up for this directly with Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu. This volunteer opportunity offers a large-scale, on-campus, day time opportunity for students to get involved. Volunteers are also right in the middle of the event itself and will see other student presenters, so you gain from the event, too. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks within a variety of time frames that can fit your schedule!

Location: A Variety of Locations at UMBC

Career Week (sponsored by Career Services and Alumni Services) will be
full of career panels and networking events. These programs will help
students to realize that a choice of major can take them in many
different directions in a variety of industries. Students will be able
to hear UMBC alumni talk about their stories of personal success and the
/not so linear
career paths / that they have taken.

Please spread the word and encourage your students to attend. We are
asking that you consider walking your class over to some of the programs
and even consider giving extra credit for attending any of the events.
Please let me know if you need me to verify your students' attendance.

Below is the link to the Career Week webiste including a calendar of
events and lists of the employers who will be attending the industry job
fairs.

*CAREER WEEK: INDUSTRY CAREER FAIRS*

March 3-6; 3-5pm; UC Ballroom; www.careers.umbc.edu/careerweek
*Networking opportunities and FREE FOOD!*

BUSINESS, SALES, MARKETING, FINANCE, BANKING, & MANAGEMENT CAREER FAIR
-- Monday, March 3
http://careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/fairs/business.php

SCIENCE CAREER FAIR -- Tuesday, March 4
http://careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/fairs/science.php

IT, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY CAREER FAIR -- Wednesday, March 5
http://careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/fairs/tech.php

GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC POLICY, & HUMAN SERVICES CAREER FAIR -- Thursday, March 6
http://careers.umbc.edu/careerweek/fairs/gov.php

Freedom Alliance Safe Space Discussion: All About Gender

The UMBC Freedom Alliance holds biweekly confidential discussions on a variety of topics suggested by members, called Safe Space discussions. March 6's Safe Space is about

GENDER: What it means to us and how it affects us.

March 7th
8-10 p.m.
UC Ballroom

Come share your evening with some of UMBC's best talent! Join us as we celebrate the performing arts community at UMBC, with performances by the Musical Theatre Club, Mama's Boys, Cleftomanics, Ballroom Dance, and others! This one-night-only event is free for all in attendance.

Tea Empire's next meeting is Tuesday, March 4th at 8pm. The location is TBD.
We will be enjoying brown rice tea and barley tea. There will also be delicious treats to accompany the teas.

To learn more about Tea Empire and/or to find out about the location, email ck7@umbc.edu or visit http://orgs.umbc.edu/teaempire/