Real People Profiles: David Clurman
I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: David Clurman

Hometown: Bowie, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: I began my 6th year last summer.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Assistant Director of Residential Education

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: I help ensure that the residential communities are safe for students.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:  I love working with students.  It is great to see them develop over the course of years and grow both intellectually and socially.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  I learned that you need to find a career that you enjoy, not a job that pays the bills.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A:  The Lord of the Rings

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My favorite spot on the UMBC campus is my office overlooking Erickson Field.  It is great seeing students play sports and hang out there.  

]]> I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/12/real-people-profiles-david-clurman.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10740/guest@my.umbc.edu/9b25b074b54676e4890e5ef2b529a2e6/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 18 4 true Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:27:00 -0500 11 Holiday Gifts I'd Like to Give UMBC I spent part of a weekend day at the Columbia Mall, shopping for holiday gifts and being driven to the edge of insanity.  When I wasn't actively dodging crowds or responding to store greeters with polite evasions, I was distracting myself with a thought experiment: If I could, what would I give UMBC this holiday season?  For all that we have in our community, there are still plenty of things we could use.  Some ideas, in no particular order:
  1. Warm, sunny days and temperate nights for the next 10 Homecoming bonfires and Quadmania carnivals.
  2. At least a dozen new informal gathering spaces like the Student Organizations Space on The Commons' 2nd floor: flexible enough for spontaneity, comfortable enough to lounge around for hours.
  3. For all of the students struggling to make ends meet, my colleagues who have gone years without a salary increase, and potential UMBC donors worried about their savings: an end to this interminable period of economic gloom.
  4. A second ballroom twice the size of the original, with natural light and plenty of room backstage.  And a couple of smaller event venues, roughly the size of the Skylight Room, but with solid floors, and furniture that can moved or stored away.
  5. Chipotle.  24/7.
  6. If we had a Chipotle on campus, we'd also have to have a napping zone with unlimited supplies of clean blankets and pillows. It would make SGA President Catie Collins very happy.
  7. Forty more classrooms of various sizes, each with the latest multimedia technology and cozy, comfortable, movable seats.  Maybe with more room for classes at peak hours, we could do away with 8:00 a.m. classes forever?
  8. Historical markers telling the amazing stories behind familiar features of campus life.  How did the free hour come into being, and who had the idea for a campus pond?  What role did students play in transforming the Student Organizations Space from a storage room into a social hub?  What stately brick building once stood in the shadow of the mighty oak behind Parking Lot 17? (OK, there already is a marker for that one--but I'll bet you haven't noticed it).
  9. A dedicated physical space for free expression and open debate, maybe a little like Towson's Freedom Square.
  10. A state-of-the-art recreational facility open to all members of the campus community, with enough racquetball, squash, basketball and volleyball courts to accommodate every intramural team, sports club and pick-up game anyone wanted to play, 24/7. Plus laser tag. And did I mention the Jamba Juice in the lobby?
  11. Dr. Hrabowski has done a wonderful job of spreading the word about UMBC in recent weeks. To assist in that effort, I'd like to give the UMBC community its first Rhodes Scholarship, MacArthur Foundation Genius Award and Nobel Prize.
Some of these ideas are a little far-out and whimsical. For others, progress might be just a little coalition-building and a Prove It! submission away.  So how about you: What's on your holiday gift list for UMBC?

--
Follow Co-Create UMBC on Twitter

Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook

If you're at UMBC, join the Co-Create UMBC MyUMBC group

Send me an email

]]> I spent part of a weekend day at the Columbia Mall, shopping for holiday gifts and being driven to the edge of insanity.  When I wasn't actively dodging crowds or responding to store greeters with... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/12/11-holiday-gifts-id-like-to-give-umbc.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10702/guest@my.umbc.edu/d0905714c45b5535c1c633a2fb7dcb40/api/pixel thought-experiments Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 90 35 true Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:39:00 -0500 Real People Profiles: Kaitlyn Snyder
I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Kaitlyn Snyder

Hometown: Horsham, Pennsylvania

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: 1 Year.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Student Government Association Senator, First Year Council Peer Advisor, Orientation Peer Advisor, Tour Guide, Sister, Friend, and Student!

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Motivating my peers to engage in student life and better our community.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:  I love playing a part in getting people passionate about something on campus, whether it’s a club, organization, event, or just something that they want to change about UMBC. I’ve found my home at UMBC and I love helping others find theirs.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  For the majority of my life I have followed a predetermined course of action. I took all the right classes, joined all the right extracurricular activities, and rarely ever stood up for what I believed in. Quite honestly, I didn’t know what I believed in; I was, more or less, told what to believe by authority figures. In college I figured out my own personal positions on hot political issues.  I joined clubs and took classes that I was passionate about. I tried everything and went to tons of events until I found something that made me so excited that I couldn’t stand the idea of not being a part of it. Or something else that made my blood boil and felt as though it was my responsibility to do something to change it. I found what I love but it wasn’t easy. No one is going to come knocking on your door (after welcome week) trying to get you to come to events and opportunities won’t just be handed to you; but that shouldn’t stop you. Try something new just for the fun of it! After you leave college when will you have the opportunity to take salsa lessons for free, or take a class about something you love, or get your scuba diving license? This is your time and your life, not your parents, not your professors, not your friends, nor anyone else’s. I wasted so much time doing tedious things I thought I had to do in order to boost my resume or because that’s what my older sister did so I had to as well. But more than anything, I regret not doing things because I thought it wasn’t cool to be passionate about something.  It took me a really long time to figure out that everyone’s measure of success is different and mine doesn’t necessarily have to correlate with anyone else’s. Now, if I don’t absolutely love something I stop doing it (well with the exception of math class and other gen eds). I don’t love every second of every student organization and I get quite frustrated at times, but at the end of the day I love being a part of it all and wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world. You are not going to be good at everything (I certainly am not), but not trying, for fear of making a mistake, may be the biggest mistake of all. Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from doing what you love.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A:  The Phillies, baseball, running, cliff diving, enthusiasm, dancing (badly), singing far too loudly, politics, iced tea, sharks, outdoor adventures, cheeseburgers, and spontaneity!

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My favorite UMBC story is the one about how and why free hour was created. “Forty to fifty college students held anti-war signs and sat on the floor of a classroom-lined hallway. The students were staging a peaceful protest in hopes that their "occupation" would bring to mind in passerbys the American lives in jeopardy half a world away. Across campus, hundreds of student sympathizers took note of the sit-in and several faculty members were fired for taking part in the unfolding events. The Vietnam War was close to its end, but students and faculty at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County were determined to speak out against what they believed to be an unjust war. Few members of the UMBC community today are aware of the school's history of activism. Until the 1980s, UMBC was home to numerous protests. The university's 12-1 p.m. free hour is a direct result of this past, created when student protestors convinced administrators to give them a period during the school day to organize.” http://sixties-l.blogspot.com/2009/05/few-students-aware-of-umbcs-history-of.html It was a time of such passion and the student body came together to do something meaningful that is still seen today.  

]]> I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/12/real-people-profiles-kaitlyn-snyder.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10665/guest@my.umbc.edu/96e743bbdc720e37f7e7a9f42f1a9fc6/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 60 11 true Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:24:00 -0500 Dec. 2, 2011: Three Seminars – “Learning Styles” (UMBC) 12 Noon, “Effective Job Interviews” (UMCP) 2PM, “Addressing Stress” (UMBC) 4:30PM Tomorrow, Friday, December 2, 2011, graduate students have opportunities to attend three seminars. ___________________________________ 12 noon 1) PROF-it (Professors-in-Training) “Learning Styles for Classroom Teaching” — UMBC Join us for an interactive PROF-it Seminar as Drs. Suzanne Braunschweig and Lili Cui lead a workshop on learning styles! A note from the speakers: We look forward to [...] ]]> Tomorrow, Friday, December 2, 2011, graduate students have opportunities to attend three seminars. ___________________________________ 12 noon 1) PROF-it (Professors-in-Training) “Learning Styles... http://promisesuccessseminars.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/dec-2-2011-three-seminars-learning-styles-umbc-12-noon-effective-job-interviews-umcp-2pm-addressing-stress-umbc-430pm/ https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10607/guest@my.umbc.edu/85a4384985bd41f08f9d034aa49735f1/api/pixel agep gradstudents promise promise-marylands-agep seminars workshops Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/original.jpg?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/large.png?1695134616 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/medium.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/small.png?1695134616 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxsmall.png?1695134616 PROMISE @ UMBC: Support for Graduate Students 1 0 false Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:52:54 -0500 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:52:54 -0500 Research and Perspective (featuring Stefanie Mavronis) This is the second of three posts (the first is here) in which I'm featuring accounts from UMBC undergraduates of how participation in scholarly research is expanding their horizons.  Why talk about research in a Co-Create UMBC post?  Because research involves critical thinking and openness to new explanations and possibilities.  A critical perspective is helpful not just for aspiring scholars but also for leaders and change agents.  If you want to make a difference in the world, it helps to be able to recognize the subtle forces that shape situations, imagine alternative futures, and spot openings for action.  

Here Stefanie Mavronis, a Political Science and Media & Communication Studies major and Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, shares her experience and reflections:

I completed a four-month study abroad experience in Bolivia and made a 27-minute long research documentary about the use of audiovisual communication by people in Bolivia as a political and cultural tool, a form of resistance, and a way for the people to reclaim their own image. It's all about the way art and media is being used in the larger context of decolonization. The process was one of the most interesting parts. As I expected, my initial research proposal began to change and take a new shape when I got to La Paz, despite doing the research before I left to craft a well-written proposal. I came close to completely scrapping my project and thinking that I might leave the country without successfully completing my project. However, after happening upon a few great contacts that are now lifelong friends and allowing my investigation to be fluid, I was able to create something really interesting. I followed their lead instead of locking myself into a proposal that turned out to not be as relevant as other happenings in my field of interest.

Participating in this sort of research, especially one that seeks to work with other people instead of "study" them, is relevant to the work that I'd like to engage in in my future. Having the opportunity to conduct research in La Paz, Bolivia was an incredible experience for many reasons. It was a moment where semesters worth of classroom research on the country, its politics, and its landscapes intersected with the place itself. Never before have I created a product over which I feel more ownership. I'm not sure just yet where the future takes me, but I'm leaving my research experience feeling inspired and armed with the right tools to create new understandings at UMBC and in the larger community. Ideally, I'd love to bring back the empowerment tactics I learned from my Bolivian friends to the context of the (North) American urban experience.

--
Follow Co-Create UMBC on Twitter

Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook

If you're at UMBC, join the Co-Create UMBC MyUMBC group

Send me an email

]]> This is the second of three posts (the first is here) in which I'm featuring accounts from UMBC undergraduates of how participation in scholarly research is expanding their horizons.  Why talk... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/11/research-and-perspective-featuring.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10578/guest@my.umbc.edu/851b89283aba9bd9454b28e3a52ee728/api/pixel research Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 12 1 true Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:35:00 -0500 All-Time Top 5 Most Viewed Co-Create UMBC Posts I've been publishing Co-Create UMBC since fall 2007: more than 550 posts in total.  Here are the five most-viewed posts of them all:

1.  The Baltimore Sun Says: Change UMBC's Name (April 2010)(5,000+ views)

2.  When I Was in College, I Didn't Know . . .  (October 2011)

3.  Your UMBC Bucket List (September 2011)

4.  UMBC By the Numbers (March 2009)

5.  Homeless for a Day (March 2009)(2,000+ views)

If you're reading this via MyUMBC, here's where you'll find the complete archive of Co-Create UMBC posts.  Any suggestions for future topics?  Send them my way (via comment or email).

--
Follow Co-Create UMBC on Twitter

Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook

If you're at UMBC, join the Co-Create UMBC MyUMBC group

Send me an email
]]> I've been publishing Co-Create UMBC since fall 2007: more than 550 posts in total.  Here are the five most-viewed posts of them all: 1.  The Baltimore Sun Says: Change UMBC's Name (April... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-time-top-5-most-viewed-co-create.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10546/guest@my.umbc.edu/ff07fc30ad296dd20d051f9ca6594dce/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 6 0 true Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:34:00 -0500 Real People Profiles: Fialelei D.A. Matthews
I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Fialelei D.A. Matthews

Hometown: Largo, Maryland

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: 3 years

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: SGA Senator, Black Student Union President, Student Assistant, Undergraduate Researcher, Impromptu Conversationalist

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Dreamer, Student, Dancer, Poet, Nerd

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:  Experiencing new things and meeting new people.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  I learned that the dreams and aspirations that you have coming into your freshman year can change very quickly, and that's okay.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A:  Humans vs. Zombies

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My friends and I make up games when we have nothing else to do. The best memories are made while playing games.

]]> I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-people-profiles-fialelei-da.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10508/guest@my.umbc.edu/f52fd58f358652ec8911f0ca5b5899e7/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 42 4 true Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:10:00 -0500 The Dubious Wisdom of Sally Brown When I was four or five years old, I got a set of bed sheets featuring characters from the Peanuts cartoons: Charlie Brown, his sister Sally, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Snoopy.  The characters were talking (using speech bubbles), and I read their words over and over again.  The only phrase I can remember was Sally Brown's.  She said: "I hate to go to bed at night and I hate to get up in the morning."

Exactly, I thought.  Sure, I was only five years old, but here was a philosophy I could live by.  My parents believed in something called "bedtime," after which I was supposed to lie in the dark while activity continued elsewhere in the house.  I wanted no such thing, and didn't like being told what to do.  To me, the freedom not to go to sleep appeared to be the essential privilege of adulthood.  Getting up in the morning, on the other hand . . . well, the adults could have it; I wanted no part.  Maybe I was born on a planet with a 27-hour day.

In college and graduate school I came to think of myself as naturally nocturnal.  In a world shackled to the antiquated tradition of getting stuff done during the day, I preferred to start focusing sometime after lunch, and would have been happy to hang out with friends until the wee hours every night.  Who could sleep anyway, what with the anxiety produced by deadlines and exams?  So too often, I let my inner Sally Brown make my choices.  I got my academic work done, but it took a lot longer than it should have, since I was almost always fighting exhaustion.  I felt weak, unhealthy and often deeply unhappy.  That childhood association of late nights with freedom was making me less free, because its consequence was that I was spending my waking hours carrying the burden of unnecessary fatigue.

The amazing thing is that despite my personal education in the consequences of sleep deprivation, I've never completely dispelled my Sally Brown tendencies.  It's so easy give in to the delusion that a choice to delay sleep now is not going to cost me later.  I always want to watch a little more TV, check my email one more time, or give one more glance at my Facebook news feed.  

But several decades in thrall to a cartoonish sleep philosophy is enough.  I already had "go to bed at the same reasonable time every night" on my list of upcoming New Year's resolutions, but I'm going to get an early start.  UMBC is celebrating its first Sleep Awareness Day this Wednesday, November 30th.  Perfect!  I'll do my part by going to sleep by 11:00 p.m. and getting at least 8 hours, and then sticking to it night after night.  How about you?

--

Follow Co-Create UMBC on Twitter

Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook

If you're at UMBC, join the Co-Create UMBC MyUMBC group

Send me an email

]]> When I was four or five years old, I got a set of bed sheets featuring characters from the Peanuts cartoons: Charlie Brown, his sister Sally, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Snoopy.  The characters were... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/11/dubious-wisdom-of-sally-brown.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10481/guest@my.umbc.edu/091c09c17b1f9c1bd170798588400206/api/pixel sleep Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 21 0 true Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:26:00 -0500 Addressing Grad Students’ Feelings of Stress: An End-of-the-Semester “Coffee Break” — Fri. 12/2/11 It is common during this time of year to feel stressed about things that you want to accomplish before the end of the semester. If you’ve experienced  anxiety, irritability, apathy, disinterest in activities that you were formerly involved in, or loss of energy, it’s time to talk.  In an effort to address concerns of stress [...] ]]> It is common during this time of year to feel stressed about things that you want to accomplish before the end of the semester. If you’ve experienced  anxiety, irritability, apathy, disinterest in... http://promisesuccessseminars.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/addressing-grad-students-feelings-of-stress-an-end-of-the-semester-coffee-break-fri-12212/ https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10462/guest@my.umbc.edu/80a2d7333cbd87f94c5dd3e0f88d759f/api/pixel agep coffee-break deluty gradstudents graduate-school graduate-student health-and-wellness isolation promise promise-marylands-agep seminars stress umbc workshops Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/original.jpg?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/large.png?1695134616 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/medium.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/small.png?1695134616 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxsmall.png?1695134616 PROMISE @ UMBC: Support for Graduate Students 4 0 false Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:04:13 -0500 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:04:13 -0500 Real People Profiles: Amday Wolde
I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Amday Wolde

Hometown: Silver Spring, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: 2 years, in my Junior year this fall.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: UMBC SGA Senator. Vice President of the Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: A scholar who harbors his own opinion of a genius.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:  I enjoy all of my roles differently because they all bring me closer to a different group of people. If it wasn't for my involvement on campus I would not be as culturally aware as I am today. 

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  The most important thing I have learned at UMBC is that when you are going through your journey in college you will indulge in many new interests that will captivate you, but you must never lose sight of your original goal. Basically there will be many things to learn and things that will take you off of your path to success but you must always remember why you came to college in the first place. 

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Freshboy Entertainment and SoSo Lo Records. They are my favorite local music groups.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: Well, my favorite spot at UMBC is "The Quad" because that is where I was publicly introduced into the Zeta Upsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. Whenever I walk past it I think of that memorable day. I also enjoy the occasional strawberry and creme frappuccino from the on-campus Starbucks.


]]> I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-people-profiles-amday-wolde.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/10415/guest@my.umbc.edu/aa76ca09688a15632088b6ff0b4c1397/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 27 5 true Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:12:00 -0500