The Baltimore Sun has announced that Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist and UMBC artist-in-residence, will be publishing a new cartoon each week in the paper’s Sunday edition. In the Sun‘s announcement video, KAL describes his recent work at UMBC, where he advises student bloggers in their coverage of current events and politics on USDemocrazy. KAL also shares his experiences speaking to international audiences on freedom of the press and the power of caricature.

UMBC Political Science Professor Roy T. Meyers offered a dissenting voice in PolitiFact’s recent analysis of comments by White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew on President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal. Lew said, “You can’t pass a budget in the Senate of the United States without 60 votes” — a statement rejected by critics who note only a simple majority is needed for a budget vote.

Meyers offers the counterargument that “Lew is absolutely on the mark on the bigger picture” given that the budget resolution requiring a majority vote is just a blueprint and legislation to actually implement the budget’s provisions will likely require 60 votes eventually, to reach the cloture threshold.

From UMBC Magazine Winter 2012, The Coolest Jobs You Never Knew Existed at UMBC, featuring accompanist Ferd Maisel. Video by Meredith Purvis.

From UMBC Magazine Winter 2012, The Coolest Jobs You Never Knew Existed at UMBC, featuring archivist Lindsey Loeper ’04. Video by Gavin St. Ours.

From UMBC Magazine Winter 2012, The Coolest Jobs You Never Knew Existed at UMBC, featuring landscape & grounds manager Donna Anderson. Video by Gavin St. Ours.

From UMBC Magazine Winter 2012, The Coolest Jobs You Never Knew Existed at UMBC, featuring glassblower Tony Baney. Video by Gavin St. Ours.

From UMBC Magazine Winter 2012, The Coolest Jobs You Never Knew Existed at UMBC, featuring former lab animal technician Rosie Mills. Video by Gavin St. Ours.

Congratulations to the newest crop of honorees in UMBC’s Athletic Hall of Fame! The inductees were welcomed into the HOF on February 4. To see a full list of Hall of Fame members from throughout the years, click here.

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air, especially for Yogita Tailor ’05, M13, who just got engaged. Of course, every marriage proposal is special in its own way, but Tailor got an extra special surprise when her boyfriend Dhaval Desai asked her to marry him while they were standing in the crowd outside the “Good Morning America” studio in Times Square. From the GMA video:

“The past two years have been amazing and I want you to know how much I love you. Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you,” Desai, also 29, said on “GMA” today. “So as we stand here in the heart of New York City, in Times Square, on ‘Good Morning America,’ with all of our friends and family watching, there’s something I want to ask you. Baby, will you marry me?” “Oh, my gosh, yes,” she squealed, smiling.

All of us at UMBC send out heartfelt congratulations to Tailor and Desai!

Good Morning America has the full video and story.

–Do you have your own great news to share? Perhaps a new job, an engagement, or a big move? Send in a class note to let us know!

– Read more about UMBC alumni news and events on Retriever Net