Shrijana is a Student Staff Member at the Women’s Center. She is a co-facilitator of Women of Color Coalition and co-leading the Telling Our Stories Project. 

Before starting my statistics class this semester, I was feeling apprehensive due to the fact that I’ve never taken a statistics course before, not even in high school like most students do. However, today, I can say that I thoroughly enjoy my statistics class (nerd alert!). The numbers make sense to me, the formulas light up a bulb in my brain. As an Economics major, I am fascinated by how economists use statistics. But the factor that makes STAT 351 an influential course for me goes beyond the content of the class. This influence is embodied by my STAT 351 professor, Dr. Nandita Dasgupta.

She is an Indian woman, who comes into class every day wearing a silk or cotton saree, a traditional article of clothing typically worn by South Asian women.

The first day I saw her attire, I was shocked; my jaw dropped to the floor. I have never witnessed a person of color, teacher or professor, show up to class in traditional cultural wear in all my years of schooling in the American educational system. I was so moved by what seemed normal to her.

Growing up, I was ashamed to share my background of being Nepalese because I felt like I stood out in a negative way as an outcast. I just wanted to be accepted, and I was too afraid to truly be myself.  When I was little, I was so anxious and embarrassed to walk around in public in the United States with my grandmother because she would be wearing a saree. I would think: will people criticize, are they staring at me, are they being racist in their minds, am I seen as weird? But seeing Dr. Dasgupta has inspired me, she was there to teach statistics, her race and gender did not matter.

Upon this realization, I became sorrowful for my grandmother because she was not given the same educational opportunities as I was. My grandmother was married at the age of sixteen and become a stay at home mom in Nepal. If she was presented with the same academic opportunities as me, I am sure she would have been a very successful woman, possibly a professor like Dr. Dasgupta.

STAT 351 has proven two points to me: math is an intriguing subject and all girls and women should have the right to an education.

After seeing Dr. Dasgupta in an empowering light and reading about her work as an economist and statistician (and to ask her permission to publish this blog), I met with her to get to know her more and explore my own identity.

On a warm, bright Thursday afternoon, we sat outside the RAC at the black tables. Dr. Dasgupta started off the conversation by asking me, “What does Shrijana mean?” And I told her, “Creation.”

Smiling, she replied, “Good. Most people are not even aware what their name symbolizes.” From there, our personal connection was set and the conversation kicked off.

What does the saree symbolize for you?

The saree is a part of me. I have grown up with the saree and have been inseparable from it. I have never worn anything else before. I would love to wear something else; but, somehow, I feel like my personality would be compromised.

Have you had others comment about your saree before? What was it like?

No. No one has made a bad comment. If they have commented, it was always good, never a derogatory comment.

What made you want to pursue economics/statistics? What do you like most about it?

In high school, I took economics and I loved it. I also loved math; therefore, using math was my priority. Economics and math combined really well. Growing up, English was also my favorite subject, I wanted to be an English major. But, my mother who was also a professor influenced me to pursue economics. She said that it was a more economically sound field.

If you feel comfortable sharing, have you experienced any racism or sexism in the academic world?

No. To my knowledge, I have not felt any sort of discrimination. I do not know why I have not felt it, I like to believe that people are good, kind, and open.

What advice would you give young women of color out there? What about women of color economists/mathematicians?

First of all, I do not look at women of color differently from non-color or Caucasian women.

I do not like the idea of one gender being inferior or superior. I am a human being and I look at everyone else as human beings too. I do not believe in any sort of bias or question of bias. I want individuals to be their best selves. But, there must be some bias somewhere, because we still have gender inequality. To everyone and women of color, I would say have dignity, integrity, honesty, and perseverance. Be proud of your culture, embrace the world and try to develop the world. Women are not an end; they are the means to an end. At the end of the day, be a good human being.

After meeting with Dr. Dasgupta, I felt empowered in my confidence as a woman. My conversation with her served as reassurance that I am enough in my abilities and skills. Talking to her also reminded me that I should not run away from my culture, but embrace it with pride. I went to talk to her about her choice of an article of clothing, but I walked away with wisdom about life.

Check out these resources to learn more about the topics that were covered in the blog:

A dispiriting survey of women’s lot in university economics

A Brief History of India’s Traditional Saree

Meet Sharon. She has decided to apply for a URA Award.

"There are three different awards this year," noted Sharon, who was interviewed while blow drying her exquisite fluffy hair. "You've got the usual award, open to all majors and worth up to $1,500 and then you've got the Social Science award and the entrepreneurship award. Pretty amazing opportunity. And the deadline isn't until May 1st, so I've got plenty of time!"

"I'll fill out my application online once I'm done with my hair," she added. "And it's open to all majors!"

URA’s provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Position description available here (text below) and application available here. 
In addition to a completed application, your submission should include a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples. 

All materials are due via email (womenscenter@umbc.edu) or hard copy (deliver to the Women’s Center) UPDATED: no later than Sunday, April 28th @ 9 PM. 

Position Description: Women's Center Staff/Intern Position 

Meet Brian and Larry. They have decided to apply for a URA Award.

"There are three different awards this year," noted Brian, who was interviewed while blow drying his luxurious hair. "You've got the usual award, open to all majors and worth up to $1,500 and then you've got the Social Science award and the entrepreneurship award. Pretty amazing opportunity. And the deadline isn't until May 1st, so we've got plenty of time!"

"Really does help us with our research," added Larry, who was interviewed while combing his mustache. "And you can even apply as a group!"

URA’s provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

URCAD Presentations Featuring 

International Research/Subjects

Come see these presentations at URCAD on Wednesday, April 24th by students who conducted international research or studied international subjects!

Ninja: Japan’s Soft Power And American Appropriation

Crysshelda Kosasih, Asian Studies

Poster, 1-2:30pm, UC Ballroom

Create Freedom: 

Equipping Everyday People to use Art to End Modern-day Slavery

Mia Rickenbach, Theatre

Oral, 11:15am, UC 310

Becoming Survivor: Understanding Human Trafficking through Dance

Alexia Petasis, INDS/Dance

Dance performance, 10:30am, PAHB Dance Cube

Reconciling Nigerian Culture and Values with Western Culture: 

An Intergenerational Perspective

Chiamaka Ugboh, Gender and Women’s Studies

Poster, 1-2:30pm, UC Ballroom

The Shamanic Shaping of Korean Society

Carley MacKenzie, MLLI

Oral, 2:00pm, UC 204

Modern Dualism in Korean Contemporary Art

Sarah Natterman, MLLI

Oral, 9:45am, UC 310

Traveling the Medieval Globe

Nathaniel Litsch, Daniel Choo, Tina-Marie Miller, Crysshelda Kosasih, David, Jessop, Kris Jefferson, History

Oral panel, 11:15am, UC 312

Humphrey Jennings: Voice of the People or Propagandist for The British Empire?

Morgan Miller, History

Oral, 10:30am, UC 3123

Conservative Interest in British Fascism in the 1930s

Adam Ng, History

Oral, 2:45, UC 312

Entrepreneurship in Eighteenth-Century England

Nikki Vietz, Amber Davis, Christian Adams, Anthony Jacobs, History

Oral panel, 1:00pm, UC 310

Ninja: Japan’s Soft Power and American Appropriation

Crysshelda Kosasih, Asian Studies

Poster, 10-11:30am, UC Ballroom

Evaluating the Impact of Early Childhood Malaria on Normal School Progression in Ghana

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, Economics

Oral, 10:00am, UC310

A Comparison Between Social Service Delivery Systems in Ghana and the United States

Rebecca Mann, Social Work

Poster, 10-11:30am, UC Ballroom

Total And Methylmercury Exposure To Individuals In Artisanal And Small-Scale Gold Mining In Madre De Dios, Peru

April Laranang, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Poster, 10-11:30am, UC Ballroom

Geographical Trends In Size And Fecundity Of Japanese Harvestmen

Genevieve Ahearn, Biological Sciences

Poster, 10-11:30am, UC Ballroom

Nest Predation Of The Bahama Oriole (Icterus Northropi) By The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) On Andros

Matthew Kane, Biological Sciences

Oral, 3:30pm, UC 310

Speciation Of Elephant Ivory Tusks From Java Sea Shipwreck To Inform Ancient Trade Routes

Claire Scott, Biological Sciences

Oral, 9:45am, Room TBA

Nest Site Characteristics Of The Bahama Oriole: Habitat Requirements Of A Critically Endangered Species

Briana Yancy, Biological Sciences

Oral, 9:45am, FA Recital Hall

Using Molecular Sexing To Determine The Validity Of In-Field Sexing Methods

Cierra McKoy, Biological Sciences

Poster, 1-2:30pm, UC Ballroom

The Ephemerality of Secondary Forests In Southern Costa Rica

Joshua David Slaughter, Geography and Environmental Systems

Poster, 10-11:30am, UC Ballroom

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Women’s Center is hosting its seventh consecutive Take Back The Night (TBTN) on Thursday, April 13th. Over the years, we’ve had a lot of questions about what Take Back the Night exactly is, why it looks the way it does, and how students can get involved. To help get those questions answered this year, we’ve doing a “What You Need to Know” series focused on TBTN so stay tuned for more posts over the next couple of weeks. This is the fifth post in the series and it focuses on the last part of Take Back the Night which is craftivism and community building.

Hearing and sharing survivors’ stories of sexual violence can be empowering, challenging, and emotional. We know that people process their feelings in different ways, and so following survivor speak out and march, the event continues with Craftivism on Main Street. This portion of the program is intended to provide space for reflection, creative expression, and community building.

When the marchers return to Main Street, there will be tables set up with art supplies for anyone wishing to contribute to one of the community craft projects we’ll have available: sachet bags to fill with scented dried flowers and herbs, the Clothesline Project, and the Dear Survivor scrapbook. We also encourage attendees to check out the resource tables to learn more about various campus and community organizations and services.

All are welcome to add a page to our Dear Survivor scrapbook, which features messages of hope, healing, and solidarity from survivors and allies who have attended TBTN in past years. The scrapbook can be found in the Women’s Center lounge.

Materials for the Clothesline Project will be available for survivors who would like to give voice to their experience by decorating a shirt that will be displayed during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Every April, these shirts are hung shoulder-to-shoulder on a clothesline on Main Street to give public testimony to the problems of sexual and gender-based violence. Please note that while allies are invited to participate in the Monument Quilt and Dear Survivor scrapbook, the Clothesline Project is intended for those who identify as survivors.

For those who prefer a quieter space for reflection, there will be a self-care station set up in the commuter lounge available during the survivor speak out and the rest of the evening. There will be tissues, stress balls, coloring supplies, and other resources for self-care. The station also provides a more private space where attendees can speak with one of the counselors on call, if needed.

For more information about UMBC’s TBTN (check out Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter too by searching the hashtag #UMBCTBTN):

• Stop by the Women’s Center on April 17th to make a rally sign for the march
• A blog post about UMBC’s 2005 TBTN march written by alum, Dr. Grollman.
• The Women’s Center 2018 TBTN roundup
• A BreakingGround post about how the 2013 TBTN came to be – Our Own ‘Take Back the Night’