Christopher Corbett, English, in Baltimore Style Magazine
In the June/July edition of Baltimore Style magazine, Interim Chair of the Department of English Christopher Corbett wrote about the fascination that most Americans have with lawns.
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/backpage/

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest column in the Baltimore Sun discussed the gay rights movement as part of the long tradition of progressive movements such as women's suffrage and the civil rights movement. “Fight for Gay Rights Fits into Long History of Progressive Struggles” was published on June 27.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-op.schaller27jun27,0,5077532.column?coll=bal-opinion-utility

UMBC Alumni Held Launch Party for Third Issue of Locus
Alumni from UMBC’s Department of Visual Arts held a June 23 release party for its third issue of Locus magazine. Based in Baltimore, Locus is an independently published art magazine. Emily Hunter ‘06 is the magazine’s founder, director and editor-in-chief. Emily Hauver ‘06 and Neil Cotterill ’04 are assistant editors.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=574&NewsID=817458&CategoryID=8012&show=localnews&om=1

Visit Locus magazine at http://locusartmagazine.org/.

UMBC in the Catonsville Times
The addition of several bus stops to the UMBC Transit’s newly named Catonsville Route (formerly Red Route) is expected to link UMBC to Catonsville’s downtown area, said Joe Reiger, executive director of The Commons, in the Catonsville Times’ June 25 “Connecting Campus to Catonsville.”
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=351&NewsID=816953&CategoryID=8381&show=localnews&om=1

June 22, 2007

Warren Belasco, American Studies, in Food, Culture and Society
Professor of American Studies Warren Belasco serves as editor of Food, Culture and Society, an international academic journal published by Berg (UK). Publishers for the journal recently released a special issue (Summer 2007, Volume 10, No. 2) on food and war.
http://www.bergpublishers.com/us/food/food_about.htm

Profectus BioSciences, Inc., techcenter@UMBC, in the Baltimore Business Journal
On June 15, Profectus BioSciences, Inc., a techcenter@UMBC company, appeared in the Baltimore Business Journal’s “Profectus to Raise $3M in Private Funds.” According to the article, the company “plans to sell $3 million in notes and securities to private investors to raise funds for its continued research efforts.”
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/06/11/daily39.html?f=et52&hbx=e_du

June 15, 2007

Akshay Java, Computer Science, in New Media Age Magazine (United Kingdom)
An article in the magazine New Media Age (NMA) mentioned the work of Akshay Java, a computer science doctoral student, in analyzing the usage of Twitter, a popular new 'microblogging' system. Using Twitter, people can write and read short blog-like posts that are distributed via mobile phones, instant messaging systems and the Web. NMA is a weekly magazine in the United Kingdom that covers the business of interactive media. As part of his research on social media, Java has constructed the first search engine for Twitter posts.
[Subscription Required.]

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
In Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest Baltimore Sun column, “When Will We Finally Pull the Plug on Mess in Iraq?,” Schaller discussed the need to withdraw American troops from Iraq. The article was published on June 13.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-op.schaller13jun13,0,2652690.column?coll=bal-opinion-utility

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, in the Baltimore Sun
On June 8, Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College professor of visual arts, was mentioned in the Baltimore Sun’s “Slate of Movies Pulls Film Noir Out of the Shadows.” At the Charles Theatre’s Cinema Sundays, Handler Spitz recently introduced Pascale Ferran's “Lady Chatterley,” a film based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-to.moviecal08jun08,1,2996606.story

Manil Suri, Mathematics, in the Washington Examiner
This summer, incoming freshmen and transfer students at Goucher College are required to read the debut novel of Manil Suri, professor of mathematics. Suffused with Hindu mythology, The Death of Vishnu, is set in an apartment building and chronicles the events leading up to Vishnu’s death. For more information on Suri’s novel, visit http://www.manilsuri.com/.
http://www.examiner.com/a-779871~Goucher_makes_UMBC_professor_s_novel_required_reading.html

June 8, 2007

Louis H. Berman ‘77 in the Capital
The Capital published a review of Louis H. Berman’s ‘77 A Clinical Guide to Dental Traumatology, in “Dr. Louis H. Berman's Incredible Guide to Repairing Dental Trauma.” A popular book in the dental trade, Berman expects that between 5,000 to 10,000 copies will be sold worldwide in English. Translations in Japanese and Spanish are being prepared.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/05_27-12/LIF

Schaller, Kallaugher and UMBC Students in the Baltimore Sun
In place of associate professor of political science Tom Schaller’s Wednesday Baltimore Sun column, several of Schaller’s students co-wrote “Md. Students Not Ready for College,” and Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, former cartoonist for the paper and an artist-in-residence at UMBC’s Imaging Research Center, created an accompanying cartoon. Printed on June 6 in the Baltimore Sun, the students explained why many students graduating from Maryland’s public high schools are unprepared for college.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller06jun06,0,963815.column?coll=bal-oped-headlines

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, in India’s The Hindu
On June 3, the Hindu, India’s national newspaper, reviewed Honors College Professor of Visual Arts Ellen Handler Spitz’s book, "The Brightening Glance: Imagination and Childhood.
http://www.hindu.com/lr/2007/06/03/stories/2007060350550600.htm

UMBC’s New Academic Programs in the News
UMBC’s new Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication Studies was listed among the new programs being offered at universities nationwide in Inside Higher Ed’s “New Programs: Nonprofit Management, Environmental Planning, Library Science and History, Higher Ed Administration, Wine MBA, Information Strategy” on June 6.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/06/06/programs

On June 1, the Washington Business Journal’s “UMBC to Offer Master's in Aging Services” reported that UMBC’s Erickson School will offer a Master of Arts in Management of Aging Services, beginning this fall.
http://washington.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/06/04/story10.html

June 1, 2007

Yohance Allette, Biological Sciences, in the Baltimore Times
Yohance Allette, a biological sciences major, is the recipient of UMBC’s John H., Sr. and Alethea Griner Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in the Department of Biological Sciences. Announcement of this recognition appeared in the Baltimore Times.
http://www.btimes.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=79045&sID=4

Andrew Engel, Health Administration and Policy, on NPR
Andrew Engel '07, health administration and policy, appeared on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” with host Robert Siegel on May 25. Archives of “All Things Considered” can be found by clicking on "past shows" at: http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2

The story profiled how Andrew overcame seemingly insurmountable odds after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 1995, early in his freshman year at Rutgers University. After doctors removed the tumor, Andrew made medical history by learning how to convert new information into long-term memory. Twelve years after his diagnosis, Andrew earned his degree from UMBC.

President Freeman Hrabowski in the Chronicle of Higher Education
The June 1 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “What Color is an A?” quoted UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski about the low grades that many minorities earn in school. According to Hrabowski, “College leaders … ‘should be more concerned about seeking the truth and less concerned about what sounds popular or even politically correct.’ "
http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i39/39a02401.htm

In an accompanying article, “What Research Says About Race-Linked Barriers to Achievement,” Hrabowski provided insight on how African-American parents can help their children succeed in education. Hrabowski wrote two books, Beating the Odds and Overcoming the Odds, on the topic of raising successful African-American students.
http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i39/39a02601.htm

Xerxes Mehta, UMBC Theatre, in Broadwayworld.com
Broadwayworld.com’s “Pinter Plays Find Local Mini-Revival” favorably reviewed Harold Pinter’s Two, directed by UMBC’s Professor of Theatre Xerxes Mehta. Also involved in the production of the play were Associate Professor of Theatre Elena Zlotescu (set and costume designer), Chair of the Department of Theatre Lynn Watson (Vocal Director), Alumnus Michael Stebbins (artistic director for Rep Stage) and UMBC Theatre student Steven Fleming (assistant stage manager).
http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=18486

Seth Messinger, Sociology, on WYPR’s "Maryland Morning"
Assistant Professor of Sociology Seth Messinger appeared as a guest on WYPR’s “Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast” to discuss his medical anthropology work with amputee vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
http://www.wypr.org/MD_MORNING.html

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s commentary, “Is Rush Limbaugh Right,” which discussed the Republican Party’s stance on immigration reform, was published on May 23 on Salon.com. On May 29, Schaller appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Joy Cardin Show” to discuss the article.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/05/23/immigration/

In his latest Baltimore Sun column, “Obama's Appeal Strong with Younger Voters, Regardless of Race” Schaller explains why young professionals under the age of 40, who represent various racial backgrounds support presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-op.schaller30may30,0,358922.column?coll=bal-opinion-utility

UMBC in the Washington Post
On May 30, the Washington Post published “A Magnetic Force,” which profiled the growth of UMBC under the 15-year leadership of President Freeman Hrabowski. Also quoted in the article were Diane Lee, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, and the class of 2007 valedictorian, Stephanie Nunez ’07, biochemistry and molecular biology.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/29/AR2007052901791.html?referrer=emailarticle

UMBC Alumni Named Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholars
Matthew Loftus ’07 and Hadi Gharabaghi ’07 were each recently awarded Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarships, which provides up to $50,000 a year for up to six years of graduate or professional study in any field. Loftus and Gharabaghi have captured two of the 34 awards given nationally by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

Loftus, who majored in chemistry, will attend the University of Maryland School of Medicine this fall at the age of 20. He aspires to become a physician practicing in the third world, and he is presently working in Yemen. Loftus is an accomplished guitarist, very active in campus organizations and strongly committed to service here and abroad.

Gharabaghi, who earned a degree in visual arts, will pursue an M.A. in Cinema Studies at New York University's (NYU) renowned Tisch School of the Arts. Upon completing his master’s program, he hopes to begin doctoral study at NYU. Gharabaghi’s has exhibited his artwork, much of which deals with the immigrant experience, in UMBC's galleries and in many other venues.

Loftus and Gharabaghi are both featured in UMBC’s Class of 2007 Web site.
http://www.umbc.edu/classof2007

Michael Summers, HHMI and Chemistry and Biochemistry, Receives Patent
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent (#7,183,300) to Michael Summers, principal investigator of UMBC’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute Laboratory and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, for his work, "Inhibitors of HIV-1 Capsid Formation: Substituted Aryl Aminomethyl Thiazole Ureas and Analogues Thereof." Inhibitors of viral capsid formation, such as the capsids formed by retroviruses including HIV viruses, as well as the HIV-1 virus, are provided in the patent. To view it in its entirety, visit http://www.uspto.gov, and click on Patents. For more information on patents, copyrights or startup companies, visit the Office of Technology Development's Web site at http://www.umbc.edu/otd.

Techcenter@UMBC Companies Receive Honors at ICOY Awards
Three techcenter@UMBC companies were among the 18 finalists for the 7th annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year (ICOY) Awards. The awards recognized the achievements of current and graduate companies within Maryland's incubators. Award recipients from six categories were announced at an evening ceremony on June 19.

Lentigen Corporation and Amulet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., were in the same category - Best Life Science Company. Lentigen won the award.

BDMetrics, Inc. topped the finalists in the Best Graduate Company category.

For more information about the ICOY awards, including a full list of finalists, please visit the Web site at http://www.mdincubatoraward.com/2007/2007finalists.html.

June 15, 2007

Amulet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Receives Phase I SBIR Award
Amulet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research award, which provides $367,554, for one year. The award money will fund Amulet Pharmaceuticals’ research in developing an innovative treatment for diabetic gastroparesis. Read more about the award at http://www.umbc.edu/techcenter/news/060707.htm.

Collaborative Project With Retirement Living TV, UMBC and Charlestown Retirement Community Wins Bronze Telly Award for Outstanding Video Production
A unique and groundbreaking digital storytelling project that involved Retirement Living Television (RLTV), UMBC and Charlestown Retirement Community in Baltimore, Md., has won a Bronze Telly Award. Telly awards honor the world’s best in local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as among the finest in video and film production. Funded by RLTV, Digital Stories from Charlestown is also the nation’s first three-way partnership between a media company, a university and a retirement community.

Using hands-on media technology, undergraduate students partnered with Charlestown residents, who provided autobiographical stories and narratives, to produce 2 to 3 minute video stories. The stories combined narration, animation and photography based on the life experiences of the residents.

The award-winning digital stories can be viewed at : http://www.umbc.edu/oit/newmedia/studio/digitalstories/ctds.php?movie=CT_digitalstoriesatCT.flv or at www.rl.tv/Community/Digital Stories

Kristin Drabyn Wins America East Sportmanship Award
Kristin Drabyn, a member of UMBC’s Women’s basketball team, earned the America East Conference Sportsmanship Award as the conference honored its top team and individual accomplishments at the conference's annual awards dinner. http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/wbball/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=3496

Aris Kalivretenos, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Issued U.S. Patent
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Aris Kalivretenos a patent (#7,229,835) for his work entitled "Amine Detection Method and Materials.” This invention provides a flow-through device for the one-step modification of proteins, peptides and amino groups via acylation reactions. To view this patent in its entirety, visit http://www.uspto.gov and click on Patents. If you would like more information on patents, copyrights or start-up companies, visit the Office of Technology Development's Web site at http://www.umbc.edu/otd.

Cindy Kubiet Awarded Board of Regents' USM Staff Award
Cindy Kubiet, director of sports medicine services, has been awarded the Board of Regents’ University System of Maryland Staff Award for her outstanding service to students in an academic or residential environment. The Staff Awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Regents for achievements of exempt and non-exempt employees from institutions of the University System of Maryland.
http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/news/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=3497

Morgan Little ‘07 Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team
On June 7, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced that UMBC senior cross country and track and field athlete Morgan Little '07 was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II Second Team.

Little, who recently graduated magna cum laude from UMBC with a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies while maintaining a 3.89 G.P.A., captained the cross country and track and field teams during her senior year and was most recently inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society.
http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/track/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=3493

June 8, 2007

Drew Westervelt Drafted by Denver Outlaws
UMBC attackman Drew Westervelt was the fourth player selected in the Major League Lacrosse collegiate draft, held in Stony Brook, N.Y. on May 31. Westervelt, an interdisciplinary studies major, was selected by the Denver Outlaws after that squad acquired that selection from the Long Island Lizards. The Third Team All American was the first attackman taken in the draft and 2006-07 UMBC Male Athlete of the Year will join former teammate Brendan Mundorf in the Mile High city.

Westervelt (35 goals, 36 assists) finished the 2007 season as the fifth-leading scorer in the country with 4.18 per game and placed third in assists with 2.12 per outing. He closed his four-year career with 206 points, which is third in school history.

Tim Nohe, Visual Arts, Presents New Works in Australia
On June 4, Tim Nohe, associate professor of visual arts, presented two new works, "Incised Lines" and "Ama :Story : Time," at a concert organized by composer Warren Burt. The concert was held at the Illawarra Institute of Technology and included works by Warren Burt, Catherine Schieve, WANK and others. Nohe, a Fulbright Scholar, is currently conducting research in Australia’s Botany Bay. (http://www.umbc.edu/window/nohe.html)

"Incised Lines"
This work draws upon a new visual score produced for Percy Grainger's "Electric Eye Tone Tool." Nohe created graphite rubbings directly from chisel-cut sandstone in The Rocks district of Sydney. The "electric eyes" of the instrument read the differences between marked and unmarked areas in the rubbings, sensing the mallet and chisel blows of long dead convict masons, sounding their labor. Variations in the graphite rubbings of the score are translated to shifts in pitches, stereo placement and volume. For more information on "Incised Lines" and to see process photos, visit http://mtod.tumblr.com/.

"Ama : Story : Time"
In this collaborative work, Warren Burt and Nohe will improvise through a movement marked by a candle burning at both ends. Warren will perform invented instruments, and I will perform time processes that range from kitchen science experiments, to the nightly ritual of reading to my daughter Amalie.

He will post MP3 recordings of the concert at http://mtod.tumblr.com/ when they are mastered.

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, to Speak at the Charles Theatre
On June 10, Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College professor of visual arts, will introduce "Lady Chatterley's Lover," a new film by Pascale Ferran based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence. The event is part of the Charles Theatre’s Cinema Sundays.
http://www.cinemasundays.com/film.php

Work by Renee Van Der Stelt, Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, on Display at Maryland Art Place
Maryland Art Place (MAP) will display the works of several artists including Renee Van Der Stelt, projects coordinator for the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, June 12-July 21 as part of its exhibition Obsessive Aesthetics.
A gallery talk (6 p.m.) and reception (7 p.m.) will be held on June 22.

http://mdartplace.org/exhibitions/upcoming.html

June 1, 2007

UMBC’s National Residence Hall Honorary Announces Regional, National Winners
The UMBC chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary is proud to announce the following regional and national winners from UMBC for the month of April: Regional Community Service Program of the Month - Second Annual Gold Ribbon Charity Ball; Regional Student of the Month – Michael Aaron ’07, mechanical engineering and biological sciences; National First-Year Student of the Month - Katie Dix, a political science major. Regional winners were selected from schools in the region, which includes Maryland New Jersey, Ohio, District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. National winners were selected from schools across the United States.

June 7, 2007

TO: The UMBC Community

FR: Freeman Hrabowski
Arthur Johnson

RE: Budget Update

We would like to share information with you about campus budget developments as we end Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 and prepare for FY 2008.

First, we expect to end FY 2007 (on June 30) with a balanced budget thanks to the cost-containment efforts of all divisions and a very conservative approach to hiring.

Over the spring semester, in consultation with deans and vice presidents, we developed an FY 2008 budget based on an expected $6.1-million increase in State general fund support, a projected 100 FTE student enrollment increase, and a tuition freeze mandated by the State. The State allocation included funds to offset the tuition freeze.

In mid-May, however, we received word that USM institutions are being asked to participate in a statewide $200-million base-budget reduction the Governor is initiating as he begins to address the State’s structural budget deficit. The initial proposed reduction for the USM is $20 million, which could result in a reduction in UMBC’s budget of as much as $1.7 million. The System is engaged in discussions with the Governor’s Office regarding the extent of the USM reduction, and we are hopeful it will be a smaller amount. While the possibility of an additional reduction weighs heavily on us and extends our FY 2008 budget planning process, we are able to share with you at this time some important elements of next year’s budget.

• Our FY 2008 State general fund support includes funds for a 2-percent COLA pool and 2.5-percent merit pool for faculty and staff salary increases.

• Students will benefit from a freeze this fall on undergraduate, in-state tuition, and UMBC has taken the initiative to freeze graduate and out-of-state tuition as well. The FY 2008 budget also increases need-based financial aid by $126,000, to a total of $1.38 million.

• The State capital budget for FY 2008 includes $2.7 million in planning funds for our new Performing Arts and Humanities Facility, and architectural design of the building has begun.

As we finalize the FY 2008 budget under challenging circumstances, we will be guided by two principles: preserving the quality of our academic programs and providing resources to support additional student enrollment as the University grows at a modest rate.

We appreciate the interest you have shown in understanding the budget challenges the campus faces and in exploring solutions to reduce costs and enhance revenues. We will continue to keep you informed about budget developments.