The Sun through Dark Clouds: Optimism in a Challenging Time
by Candace Dodson-Reed, '96
Chief of Staff
Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion
Office of the President
Like many of you in the UMBC community, I am watching the post-election situation with a deep hope that our democratic institutions and calmer heads will carry us through this transition period. It is often said that democracy can be messy and I am truly hopeful that this is one of those messy times that we’ll get through sooner than later.
It is stressful enough to live through the most important election in our lifetime, but we are also living through a once in a century public health crisis that continues to sweep through our country. And as some in our country mourn and protest the murders of Black people due to senseless police brutality and mistreatment of people of color, we continue to reckon with the undeniable truth of systemic racism.
It is a lot to handle. And it is important to acknowledge that. Yet, it is at times like this that we look to our UMBC community to share and be heard, and to find common ground where we can.
I am generally an optimistic person, but this year has tested my brighter nature. The missed family gatherings (including my parent’s 50th anniversary celebration), birthday parties, and time with my family and friends have taken a toll, but I know that these are temporary losses. What has affected me more deeply, because I know it reaches beyond the lifespan of this global health crisis, is the trauma of witnessing continued racial injustice, the loss of so many lives, and my sadness at seeing our country so divided. I am fully vested in everything that is happening and want to do my part while also feeling fatigued by the conflict and chaos I see on my computer and TV screen and cell phone for hours each day.
But even during these challenging times, my optimism somehow finds its way to the surface and I find myself looking for opportunities and solutions to the big challenges that we’re grappling with--like I’m looking for the sun that cracks through the dark skies after a summer thunderstorm. So, I want to share some of the reasons for my optimism and why I remain hopeful.
I remain hopeful because I interact with students, faculty, and staff members who are committed to addressing injustices and solving this country’s big problems.
I remain hopeful because I watch young people of all races, religions, political beliefs, identities, and cultures stand up for what’s right.
I remain hopeful because I watch dedicated scientists work with haste to deliver a safe vaccine.
I remain hopeful because I hear Dr. Hrabowski and Dr. Rous talk about “demonstrating the moral leadership necessary to unite our nation in true pursuit of both liberty and justice for all.”
I remain hopeful because I see our democracy grinding away towards certifying a true and fair election. And then because I think about how many young people in our UMBC community and beyond exercised their right and voted.
I remain hopeful because I talked with my daughter, a college junior, who after standing in line for two hours in 38 degree weather to vote in Pennsylvania said, "We're ready to do our part too, mom.”
I was recently reading an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s new book, “A Promised Land”. He says, “In [a] world—of global supply chains, instantaneous capital transfers, social media, transnational terrorist networks, climate change, mass migration, and ever-increasing complexity—we will learn to live together, cooperate with one another, and recognize the dignity of others, or we will perish.”
I’m committed to doing my part—for my daughter and her future, for our democracy, and for all of you.
And so I encourage you to continue to raise your voices against injustice, continue to stand for the truth and what is right, continue to work on real solutions in collaborative ways with others in our campus community and beyond, and continue to make time to listen to each other.
Let’s strive to live in a world where we can celebrate what makes us unique while acknowledging our similarities. As my favorite poet and activist, the esteemed Dr. Maya Angelou said in her poem, Human Family, “I note the obvious differences in the human family…[but] we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
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by Candace Dodson-Reed, '96 Chief of Staff Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion Office of the President Like many of you in the UMBC community, I am watching the post-election...
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election2020
Center for Democracy and Civic Life
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Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:34:00 -0500
Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:35:08 -0500
POLI 409: Advanced Research
Hey Political Science Students,
Interested in doing political science research in the
Spring? Consider signing up for POLI 409: Advanced Research!
Students in POLI 409 will engage in a semester-long
political science research project of their own choosing. Students will work to
identify a topic, conduct a literature review, pose a specific research
question, and identify sources of information to analyze both quantitatively
and qualitatively. Students taking POLI 409 will also be encouraged to submit a
proposal to participate in UMBC’s URCAD (Undergraduate Research and Creative
Achievement Day). By the end of the semester, each student will have an original
piece of scholarship that can be used as a writing sample or the preliminary
work for graduate school.
Requirement: successful completion of POLI 301 before the
spring term begins.
Course: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10-11:15am
Contact: Carolyn Forestiere, forestie@umbc.edu
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Hey Political Science Students, Interested in doing political science research in the Spring? Consider signing up for POLI 409: Advanced Research! Students in POLI 409 will engage in a...
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Political Science
https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/poli
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Political Science
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Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:10:22 -0500
Two New POLI Courses Added for the Spring of 2021
Hey Political Science Students,
The Political Science Department is in the process of adding
two new courses to the Spring schedule: Russian Politics (POLI 475) and Arctic
Geopolitics (POLI 409). Please see below for a brief description. If you have
any questions, please contact Dr. Grodsky (bgrodsky@umbc.edu)
POLI 475 - Russian Politics
The goal
of this course is to introduce students to Russian politics and, in the
process, provide a detailed case study of independence and democratization
processes that play out across the world. The readings review the social and
historical context of political life in Russia, tracing the country’s
development from the early 20th century to the present.
The first
part of this course is a historical exploration of the making of modern Russia,
beginning with the communist revolution and culminating with the rise of
President Vladimir Putin. We then look at formative elements of the Putin
years, after which we explore several aspects of contemporary Russian politics.
These include: ethnicity and nationalism, political development, economic
reform and post-independence foreign policy construction. This course
integrates broad theoretical issues in the study of political science –
especially with respect to independence and the democratic transition – with
important facts and approaches necessary to make sense of Russia today.
POLI 409 - Arctic Geopolitics
The goal
of this course is to introduce students to the rapidly evolving international
competition over the Arctic. There are currently eight Arctic states that span
from the enormous, including the United States and Russia, to the tiny, such as
Denmark and its dependent territory, Greenland. But as global warming continues
to transform the Arctic, new and formidable powers, from Europe to Asia, are
expressing greater interest in the region. They are drawn by the promise of
newly accessible resources, from oil and gas to shipping lanes. The frozen,
inhospitable territory long overlooked by most of humanity is suddenly
attracting enormous attention.
This course
takes a broad approach to the human experience in the Arctic, beginning with an
overview of the Arctic and its historic place in geopolitics, as well as the
environmental changes that have begun to alter both the land and sea in
profound ways. Next, we explore the central economic draw to the region,
including oil, gas, and transportation networks, before exploring ethical and
legal constraints on human activity there. Finally, we consider individual
country interests and common attempts at international governance of the
Arctic.
UMBC finished in the top 10 nationwide in the
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge voting pledge competition for 2020. ALL IN encourages college students to pledge to vote to promote accountability, based on evidence that when people make public pledges, they are more likely to follow through. More than 600 colleges and universities participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. To view the leaderboard with the top 25 institutions in the U.S. by number of pledges, click
here and scroll down.
The UMBC community will learn how many students actually voted in the 2020 national election when we receive our report from the National Survey of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) sometime next year. In the previous presidential election in 2016, 85 percent of UMBC students were registered to vote, and 75 percent of those actually voted. UMBC’s overall turnout rate in 2016 was 25 percent higher than the national average for colleges and universities (source: NSLVE).
UMBC’s
Cast Your Whole Vote campaign, organized by the
Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with many departments, student organizations, and campus leaders, encouraged members of the UMBC community to learn about issues, engage in civil conversations, and contribute their time and talent to building a better world on Election Day and every day. Cast Your Whole Vote programs (all virtual) included Dinner with Friends (facilitated dialogues), Change Maker Dinners (facilitated small group conversations with local leaders and activists), Debate Watch events, Post-Debate Lunch & Learn programs, and Election Night Extravaganza (a community gathering to watch and make sense of election returns).
Students, faculty, and staff members trained as facilitators have organized more than 20 post-election Together Beyond November programs to help participants renew their connections and support each other in this challenging time. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is continuing to work with campus partners to support opportunities for civic learning and sustained engagement, including the STRiVE leadership for social impact retreat (
apply by 11/15), Alternative Spring Break (
apply by 11/23), and a conversation with Maryland legislators who represent UMBC (
11/18; RSVP required).