The best way to relieve congestion on Route 32 between Interstate 70 and Route 108 in Maryland is to adopt the State Highway Administration (SHA) plan to widen Route 32 to four lanes, according to a study by graduate students in the UMBC Department of Public Policy.

The study, Maryland Route 32: A Policy Analysis, examined alternatives for addressing the congestion on the heavily traveled, undivided two-lane stretch of road in Howard County. The SHA proposed that the road be widened to four lanes, with interchanges and service roads, and received an exemption from the Maryland's Smart Growth law to allow state funding for the project. However, community activists and environmental groups oppose the SHA plan, and one group has announced that it will file suit to stop state funding for the $220 million expansion.

The students first analyzed projected growth for the region, and determined that population and the number of vehicles in Howard and neighboring Carroll and Frederick counties will continue to grow over the next 25 years. The study concluded that given projected growth rates, traffic on Route 32 will increase regardless of the width of the road.

The study then evaluated three options: keep the road as it is (no-build); convert Route 32 to a limited access highway with interchanges (structural upgrades); or move forward with the SHA plan to widen Route 32 to four lanes (four-lane expansion). The report found that if reducing congestion is the primary objective, the SHA plan to widen Route 32 to four lanes receives the highest ranking.

Recognizing the controversy surrounding major road projects in Maryland, the report also identified drawbacks to the four lane expansion, which include higher costs, negative environmental impacts, more noise and the potential to spur construction and urban sprawl.

"If decision makers place more importance on these criteria than on reducing congestion, then we recommend that the structural upgrade alternative be pursued," the report said. The authors also questioned whether stopping the four lane expansion would actually slow the rate of sprawl in light of local economic development plans, noting: "One county's sprawl is another county's economic lifeline." The study suggested that drawbacks such as cost, environmental impacts and noise will be offset by a widened and improved road with better access and an increased level of safety.

The graduate students analyzed Route 32 expansion alternatives in the state as part of their Public Policy Capstone seminar, a course where students, working with faculty and outside experts in relevant fields, prepare a policy analysis of a current topic.

The Cuban Cyclone, The Polish Magician and The Kiev Killer are headed to Kansas, and they're out for revenge.

Residents of Wichita may feel they aren't in Kansas anymore later this month when the international, intellectual sport of college chess brings top UMBC players from Cuba, India, Poland and the Ukraine to town for the 2004 Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament, the Super Bowl of college chess. The tournament takes place December 27 through 30.

Recruited from around the globe, the Cyclone, Magician and Killer are nicknames for members of the UMBC team, which is determined to recapture its standing as the number one college chess team in the western hemisphere.

At the 2003 Pan Am, UMBC was knocked off the throne by arch-rival University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Dozens of national and international universities participate annually, including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and the Universities of Chicago, Peru and Toronto; still, the only team able to defeat UMBC in recent years is UTD.

If UMBC recaptures the top spot this year, it will be their seventh title in ten years and will break the record for the most wins by one team.

The UMBC Retrievers team includes the number one player in Canada, Pascal "The Frenchman" Charbonneau, as well as the number one player in the U.S., Alexander "The Invincible" Onischuk, who is Ukrainian. Pawel "The Polish Magician" Blehm and and Bruci "The Cuban Cyclone," Lopez complete the Team A roster.

Team B is comprised of Beenish "The Indian Tiger" Bhatia, Katerina "The Kiev Killer" Rohonyan, John "The Maryland Mauler" Rouleau and Battsetseg "The Mongolian Terror" Tsagaan.

Stephen Braude, Philosophy, Receives Research Grant
Stephen Braude, chair and professor of philosophy, has been awarded a research grant from the BIAL Foundation in Portugal. The grant will enable Braude to take a year's leave starting January, during which he will write his next book, tentatively entitled Parapsychological Investigations: Reflections, Adventures, and Cautionary Tales. This project will deal with the conceptual confusions about causality and agency underlying the concept of synchronicity, and with Braude's own investigations into apparently (sometimes only apparently) paranormal phenomena.

Kate Brown, History, Receives Book Award
Kate Brown, assistant professor of history, has won the 2004 Heldt Prize of the Association for Women in Slavic Studies for the best book by a woman in any area of Slavic/East European/Eurasian studies. For more information on Brown's book, A Biography of No Place: From Ethnic Borderland to Soviet Heartland (Harvard University Press), visit www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/BROBIO.html.

Matea Pender Named America East Wilson Co-Player of the Week for Second Time This Season
The America East Conference announced that UMBC Women's Basketball junior forward Matea Pender was named Wilson Co-Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 12. This is Pender's second player of the week accolade this season. As of this week, she leads America East in scoring (18.1 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (63.9 percent) and three-point field goals made (3.29 per game), while ranking third in field goal percentage (58.2 percent). Pender and the Retrievers have two more non-conference games to gear up for the America East Conference: Drexel on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. and cross-town rival Towson on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.umbcretrievers.com.

Public Policy Faculty, Students to Present at Urban Affairs Association Meeting
UMBC public policy doctoral students Bernadette Hanlon, Steve Sharkey and Tom Vicino will present their research with the Center for Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) during several sessions at the Urban Affairs Association Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah in April. Professor of Public Policy and Director of MIPAR Donald Norris will moderate a panel discussion. Professor and Chair of Geography and Environmental Systems John Rennie Short will also present research.

Govind Rao, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, to Speak at Biotechnology Conference
Govind Rao, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, will speak at the NRC-Biotechnology Research Institute's annual symposium in February at the NRC-Biotechnology Research Institute in Montreal, Canada.

Victor H. Aulestia Honored with President's Volunteer Services Award
The President's Volunteer Service Award was presented to Victor H. Aulestia, UMBC's director of instructional technology, on December 3. This award recognizes the many hours Aulestia volunteered to translate, edit and produce a Spanish version of the "ABC's of Protection?--a video presentation designed to educate and empower children of the world by instilling the knowledge and awareness for self-protection and the inspiration to champion others. The Bronze Medal and signed letter from President George W. Bush was presented in a ceremony by a White House representative at the site of the Children Network in Beltsville, Md.

CAVC Traveling Exhibition Opens at International Center of Photography
"White: Whiteness and Race in Contemporary Art," organized by Maurice Berger and the Center for Art and Visual Culture (CAVC) opened December 9 at the International Center of Photography in New York, where it will remain on view through February 27. For more information, visit www.icp.org. Watch a Newsweek feature on the exhibition.

Freshman Michael Knight Named America East Conference Rookie of the Week
Freshman guard Michael Knight was named America East Conference Rookie of the Week in men's basketball for games played on Monday, November 28-Sunday, December 5. Knight's top performance occurred on Saturday, as he led the Retrievers (2-3) with 13 points, leading UMBC to a 63-61 victory over cross town rival Towson. The 6'3? guard hit 5 of 8 shots from the floor and 2 of 5 from behind the arc in 26 minutes of action. In the second half of play, Knight replaced UMBC's injured guard Chris Pugh, and scored 6 points in a 13-7 run which gave the Retrievers a ten-point lead midway through the half. Knight had posted a season high 14 points a week earlier in an 82-70 loss at James Madison. He is averaging 8.2 ppg and is the team's leading free throw shooter at 82.4 percent (14/17).

Amy Rynes and Tom Vicino Nominated to the CPHA Housing Committee
CUERE Assistant Director Amy Rynes and Tom Vicino, public policy doctoral student and CUERE research assistant, have been asked to serve on Citizen Planning and Housing Association's (CPHA) Regional Housing Committee, under the leadership of Michael Sarbanes. CPHA's committee will meet quarterly to create a strategy aimed at developing and promoting environmentally friendly smart growth strategies by promoting communities of opportunity throughoutthe region. This group will bring together policy makers, researchers, practitioners and community stakeholders to discuss regional housing issues and community development.

Sam Williams '99 Named Assistant Athletic Director
Sam Williams, history '99, was recently named UMBC's assistant athletic director for operations. His responsibilities include the coordinating, scheduling and upkeep of all athletic facilities, managing game day operations and supervising the equipment room staff.

Williams has been head equipment manager at UMBC since July 2000 and was recreation/physical education equipment manager for the 1999-2000 academic year. He was on the Game Operations staff at the 2003 and 2004 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships held at M&T Bank Stadium; served as assistant meet director of the NEC Track & Field Championships in 2001 and 2002; and has worked for the Baltimore Orioles as a production assistant since May 2003.

As an undergraduate, Williams was a four-year letter winner in cross country and track and field (1994-98) for the Retrievers, and captained the squads in his senior year.

Widely recognized as one of this nation's premier teachers of the sport of lacrosse, UMBC Head Lacrosse Coach Don Zimmerman will travel to Buenos Aires for eight days to assist in the development of the game in Argentina. Zimmerman departs from Baltimore on December 12.

This is not Zimmerman's first venture in the international development of the sport?-in fact, when he returns, the Retriever mentor will have taught the game in four different continents. He has spent time in Great Britain and Japan, and UMBC has hosted Keio University in fall competition in both 2002 and 2004.

Zimmerman and Tom Gill, head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, were tabbed by Tom Hayes of the International Lacrosse Federation to head to Argentina, which, according to Zimmerman, is in the "initial stages? of developing its program.

"The game of lacrosse is the best game out there and I would love to see it played in the Olympics,? said Zimmerman. "It's incumbent upon us to introduce and develop the game when opportunities like this occur in order to reach that goal.?

Zimmerman enters his 12th season at UMBC and 19th overall as a collegiate head coach in 2005. He earned three national titles with Johns Hopkins University in 1984, 1985 and 1987, and was a 2003 inductee into the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

UMBC announced that three new tenants have agreed to move into the second building in bwtech@UMBC, the University's on-campus research and technology park. The new arrivals include the award-winning information technology firm BDMetrics, Inc.; the $148 million NASA Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center; and all UMBC departments related to technology transfer and entrepreneurship education.

BD Metrics has leased approximately 7,000 square feet of office space in the recently completed, 60,000 square-foot, multi-tenant facility developed by Grosvenor. BDMetrics, which provides software and services to aid technology companies with business development, was previously located at techcenter@UMBC, the university's high-tech business incubator. Earlier this year, BDMetrics was named the Best New Incubator Company by the Maryland Business Incubation Association.

"UMBC's wealth of brainpower and convenient location makes bwtech@UMBC an excellent place to grow our company," said Rick Geritz, CEO of BDMetrics. "UMBC is a thriving, entrepreneurial institution that embraces collaboration with business, which makes it an attractive environment for nurturing cutting edge technologies."

The Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) Center--a $148 million, 10-year research collaboration with NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center to study the atmosphere, oceans and climate change--is the second addition to the building. GEST is one of four major NASA-related research centers--along with the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, Center for Advanced Studies in Photonics Research and the Joint Center for Astrophysics--at UMBC, which is ranked 16th nationally in NASA funding. Elements of JCET will share office space with GEST in the new building.

All UMBC departments engaged in technology transfer and entrepreneurship education will also move into the new building, including the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship.

"This proves that our campus commitment to economic development is serious and strong," said Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of the UMBC Research Park Corporation. "We hope it will also make it more likely for future research park tenants to emerge from the growing number of bioscience tool and service firms located in techcenter@UMBC," Hemmerly said.

bwtech@UMBC is being developed by Grosvenor, one of the largest private real estate companies in the world with a global property portfolio of $7 billion. The park's 62,000 square-foot first building has been leased by the information technology firm RWD Technologies since 2001.

UMBC's research park and incubator have received public and private sector funding from the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, Baltimore County, the U.S. Department of Commerce, The Abell Foundation, and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation. In 2003, bwtech@UMBC became part of Baltimore County's Southwest Enterprise Zone, making companies moving to the park eligible for credits on real property and income taxes, as well as credits for creating new jobs.

Please note: Some newspapers require registration in order to read articles.

Stephen Auvil, Office of Technology Development, in the Business Monthly
"UMBC Trains Women "Techpreneurs',? by Stephen Auvil, director of the Office of Technology Development, appeared in the December issue of the Business Monthly. Auvil discussed UMBC's new ACTIVATE program.

Center for Art and Visual Culture (CAVC), in the News
A Baltimore Sun story on "White: Whiteness and Race in Contemporary Art,? an exhibit originally organized by CAVC and currently displayed at the International Center of Photography in New York, was picked up by the Associated Press and featured in publications across the country, including:

Black America Web, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Centre Daily Times, Pioneer Press Times Picayune, Myrtle Beach Sun News, MLive.com, Modesto Bee, Grand Forks Herald, Biloxi Sun Herald, Ocala Star Banner, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sun Herald, Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, Plain Dealer, Kansas City Star, Mercury News, Akron Beacon Journal, Anchorage Daily News, Monterey County Herald, Lexington Herald-Leader, San Jose Mercury News, New York Newsday, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Tuscaloosa News, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Newsday, Duluth News Tribune, Charlotte Observer, Contra Costa Times, Victoria Advocate and Flint Journal.

Dennis Coates, Economics, in Cato.org
Dennis Coates, professor of economics, was quoted in a Dec. 14 Cato Institute online news feature about the likelihood that city funds will be allocated for the construction a new baseball stadium in D.C.

David Fink and Ellen Hemmerly, techcenter@UMBC, in MX
David Fink, Venable biotech entrepreneur-in-residence at techcenter@UMBC and Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of techcenter@UMBC, were quoted in the November/December issue of MX in, "Site Selection: Start-Up Support,? a story about the advantages of using incubators for startup medtech firms.

Freeman Hrabowski in Newsweek
President Freeman Hrabowski was quoted in a Dec. 20 Newsweek story, "Stirring up Science,? about efforts being made to improve science education in the U.S.

Senior Mike Keller and Lisa Gambino, Athletics, in the Baltimore Sun
Mike Keller, a senior in sociology, was highlighted in a Dec. 13 Baltimore Sun story about his participation in a mentoring program for students at Hillcrest Elementary, co-developed by Lisa Gambino, community outreach coordinator for athletics.

Music Department in the Baltimore Sun
UMBC's Faculty Recital Series was mentioned in a Dec. 14 Baltimore Sun story about upcoming holiday concerts in the Baltimore area.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was a guest on Maryland Public Television's "State Circle? Dec. 10 to discuss the latest political issues, including the Baltimore Sun's lawsuit vs. Gov. Ehrlich.

Schaller was also a guest host on WBAL Radio's Rob Douglas Show December 15 and 16.

Colette Searls, Theatre, in the Puppetry Journal
Colette Searls, assistant professor of theatre, published an article, "Disposable Object Puppetry--Discovering the Aesthetics of the Ordinary,? in the Fall issue of the Puppetry Journal.

techcenter@umbc, in MX
UMBC's techcenter was highlighted in "Beltway Close,? a story in the November/December issue of MX about the Center's growth since its inception in 1989.

Tiffany Williams, Sophomore, in the Baltimore Sun
Sophomore Tiffany Williams was quoted in a Dec. 12 Baltimore Sun story, "NAACP'S future holds conflict between old, new attitudes,? about the group's struggle to revitalize its organization and attract young leaders.

The story also ran in the Boston Globe, Newsday and NY Newsday.

Louis Cantori, Political Science, in the Christian Science Monitor
Louis Cantori, professor of political science, was acknowledged in the Dec. 8 Christian Science Monitor "Reporters on the Job? feature as lending inspiration for the story, "In Iraq, "Lawrence' is a Must Read,? about British colonel Lawrence of Arabia's experience in Iraq.

Center for Art and Visual Culture (CAVC), in Newsweek
"White: Whiteness and Race in Contemporary Art,? a current exhibit at the International Center of Photography in New York, was organized by CAVC and can be previewed in Newsweek's audiovisual gallery.

Center of History Education in the Baltimore Sun
The Center of History Education, headed by Associate Professor of History Daniel Ritschel, was mentioned in the Baltimore Sun's Dec. 5 "Education Notes? as one of the key organizations chosen to help train Anne Arundel County teachers in a program supported by a national Teaching American History grant.

Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Daily Illini
Dennis Coates, professor of economics, was quoted in a Dec. 6 Daily Illini story about his research on the economic impact of building sports stadiums and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's plan to build a new ice arena.

Christopher Corbett, English, in the Baltimore Sun
English Lecturer Christopher Corbett's review of Larry McMurtry's Loop Group appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Dec. 5.

Stephen Holden, Information Systems, in FCW.com
Assistant Professor of Information Systems Stephen Holden was quoted in a Dec. 6 Federal Computer Week online story, "Best of Times for the IRS?,? about the current success of the IRS's efforts to modernize tax processing methods.

Model United Nations Team, in the Baltimore Chronicle
UMBC's Model UN Team was highlighted in a Dec. 3 Baltimore Chronicle story about the recognition they received at the 15th Annual American Model United Nations International Conference for their representation of the United Kingdom.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Washington Post
Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in a Dec. 8 Washington Post story, "Erlich Discusses Edict on Sun Staff,? about the governor's order barring his administration from speaking to two Baltimore Sun reporters.

Cindy Rehm, Visual Arts, in the Baltimore Sun
Cindy Rehm, visiting associate professor of art studies, was featured in a Dec. 4 Baltimore Sun article, "Cicadas are back, but now they're art,? about a one-day installation she featured in an exhibition space in her home.

Wendy Takacs, Economics, in the Baltimore Sun
Wendy Takacs, professor of economics, was quoted in a Dec. 5 Baltimore Sun story, "Dollar's Drop Delivers a Shock to Our System,? about the drop in the U.S. dollar's value abroad and its effect on our domestic economy.

BD Metrics, in the news
BD Metrics, a start-up based at techcenter@UMBC and soon moving to bwtech@UMBC, was featured in a Dec. 1 Baltimore Business Journal story, announcing former Advertising.com Chief Financial Officer Mike Woosley's appointment as their new CFO. Digital Harbor Online also covered the story.

Dennis Coates, Economics, in Cato.org
Dennis Coates, professor of economics, was quoted in a Nov. 30 Cato Institute news feature, "D.C. Ballpark Vote Expected Today," about the anticipated decision of whether the D.C. Council will fund the construction of a new stadium.

ACTiVATE in the news
ACTiVATE, an entrepreneurial competition for women funded by the National Science Foundation and led by UMBC, was featured in The Baltimore Business Journal and The Daily Record this week. ACTiVATE teams UMBC with six other Maryland universities plus private and public sector partners with the ultimate goal of creating new startup companies using patented technologies from Maryland universities.

Model UN Team in The Baltimore Chronicle
UMBC's Model UN Team, led by Political Science professor and chair Cynthia Hody, was featured in the Dec. 3 Baltimore Chronicle. The team was recognized at the 15th Annual American Model United Nations International Conference as a Distinguished Delegation for their representation of the United Kingdom on five committees.