On Tuesday, November 11th through Friday, November 14th the Women's Center will be closing at 5pm. Please plan accordingly!

Hours will resume as normal beginning the week of November 17th.

Halloween was this Friday (as if you didn’t already know that– I know, I’m still recovering from my candy coma, too) and I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection on the past year. Most people do their reflecting in January at the start of the new year, but Halloween is my “new year.” I started my medical transition on October 31, 2013, so as Friday rolled around I began thinking about all the things that have happened and who I’ve become since last Halloween.

guhhh…This Halloween definitely paid for my dentist’s vacation.

I am so much happier than I was 18 months ago. I have a group of very dear friends who care about me. I have made my own family and my own home here in Baltimore, and my family’s house back in Frostburg feels much more welcoming. I feel joy again. I’m doing well in school. I feel validated in my work and I feel like I have the ability to make change not just at UMBC, but in the larger community.

If you had told me all of this before I went on testosterone, I would have said, “Wow! It’s amazing all the things testosterone can do for me!” Now, I’ve realized that the testosterone had nothing to do with it. It wasn’t some magical elixir like a Felix Felicis potion. It didn’t fix something that was broken. It didn’t give me friends or make people like me more. All of that was me. I did that.

“Bottled good fortune. Brewed correctly the drinker of this potion will be lucky in all their endeavors…” –J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It’s amazing the things you can discover about who you are and what you’re capable of once you stop putting all your energy into hating yourself. Being on testosterone didn’t make me hate myself less– just like losing 20 pounds isn’t going to make your body image issues go away. It removed the thing I was using as an excuse for hating myself. It’s easy to say, “I’ll love myself once I’m on testosterone,” but I realized that self love doesn’t come in a 10mL vial. You can’t diet your way to self love, either. You have to work towards it and it’s hard, but it’s totally worth it.

What I’ve learned in the past twelve months is that I am worthy of my love unconditionally and let me tell you, that Halloween candy tastes so much sweeter now.

Political Science Internships

The Political Science Department's internship programs combine academic study with practical work experience. 

The Legal Internship Program places selected interns with judges and attorneys. 

The Policy, Politics and Public Administration Internship Program places selected interns with local and state legislators, members of Congress, political parties, interest groups, think tanks, lobbyists, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Interns:

• Work 15 hours per week at their internship placement
• Take a class with other interns
• Earn up to seven (7) 400-level credits
• All internships and courses occur during the spring semester. Students receive credit for course work (POLI 438 or POLI 448), and also for practical work (POLI 401).

Juniors and seniors from all majors with GPAs of 3.0 and higher are eligible. Interested students must apply and be formally accepted into the program.

For application instructions, please download the attached instructions.

Faculty recommenders may compose their own letters (or emails) or complete the form attached here. 

Spring 2014 Internship program applications are due by November 25. 

Exception: Students wishing to intern with Maryland's General Assembly, should apply for the Policy, Politics, and Public Administration Internship Program by 12:00 PM on October 29. 

Students applying for General Assembly internships after this priority deadline should check with Dr. Schaller before applying.

- # of grad programs attending: 60

- Date/Time: October 29 from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

- Location:   Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus 

3101 Wyman Park Drive, 

Baltimore, MD, 21211, US

- Transportation: UMBC's Career Center will provide FREE transportation! An RVSP is 

required. To get a seat, please signup through UMBCWorks (look under "Events").

- Attire: Business Casual! 

- Materials to bring (Strongly Recommended): Business cards.

801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, 

Washington, DC, 20001, US

The second annual Critical Social Justice campaign will be held February 16th-20th, 2015! This year’s theme is “Creating Brave Spaces,” inspired by the essay “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces” by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens.

CSJ 2015 keynote speaker Franchesca Ramsey

Our keynote speaker will be comedian and social justice blogger Franchesca Ramsey (a.k.a. Chescaleigh), who’s perhaps best known for her viral parody video on racial microaggressions “Sh*t White Girls Say…To Black Girls.” Franchesca Ramsey’s keynote lecture “Your Powerful Online Voice: Social Media for Social Change” will be Tuesday, February 17th at 7:30pm in the UC Ballroom.

Several other programs will be held throughout the week which will support interdisciplinary learning and active engagement with social justice, including:

• CSJ 101 roundtable - Mon. 2/16, 12-1pm in Commons 329
• Invisible Privilege (Made Visible) activity & discussion - Tues. 2/17, 1-3pm on Main Street (event sponsored by: Mosaic Center)
• Women’s Center Occupies Main Street interactive exhibit & activities - Wed. 2/18, 11-2pm on Main Street (event sponsored by: Women’s Center)
• Social Justice Pedagogy: Tensions, Triggers & Teachable Moments faculty panel discussion - Wed. 2/18, 3-4pm in Sherman B-wing 220 (event sponsored by: Women’s Center)
• CSJ Reflection discussion - Thurs. 2/19, 3-4pm in the Mosaic Center
• Making Queer Spaces Safe Spaces roundtable - Thurs. 2/19, 7:30-9pm in the Women’s Center
• Feminist Art Gallery - Mon. 2/16 through Fri. 2/27 in the Commons Mezzanine Gallery

CSJ aims to support ongoing engagement with social justice across campus and we encourage all members of the UMBC community to get involved. If your department or organization is planning an event for that week that reflects the mission of CSJ, please fill out this form so we can contact you to find out more.

More details and events will be announced leading up to CSJ 2015, so like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and use the hashtag #CSJ2015 to keep up-to-date with the latest news!

Critical Social Justice is coordinated by the Women’s Center with Student Life’s Mosaic Center.