Maryland Perspectives on the use of the Phrase “Defund the Police”

Karla Press-Porter, American Studies
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Fouts, American Studies

11:20-11:35am UC 312

This research project surveyed 70 individuals across Maryland to explore perceptions of “defund the police” in the context of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and subsequent public opinion shifts. Through a comparative analysis considering race, class, gender, and political identity, the study examines Maryland residents’ evolving perspectives on this phrase from 2020 to 2023. The project generated a map featuring 18 profiles derived from survey responses, offering geographical insights into diverse viewpoints across the state, encompassing rural, suburban, and urban populations. By delving into individuals’ experiences and understanding how perspectives intersect, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of this culturally significant issue. Noting from the data collected, 66 out of 70 responses share the stance on issues relating to how police-to-resident interactions are handled since 2020. This approach offers a nuanced exploration of the topic, shedding light on the complex dynamics shaping public opinion in Maryland regarding the “defund the police” movement.

Public Humanities Department funding.

URCAD is Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Infinite Spectrum: A Queer Self-Portrait Exhibition, Echoes of Mapplethorpe, Muholi and many other Queer Artists

Ousmane Diop, Arts
Mentor: Dr. Julie Oakes, History

Infinite Spectrum is an evocative self-portrait exhibition that draws inspiration from the impactful legacies of Robert Mapplethorpe and Zanele Muholi, bringing forth a deeply personal exploration of the queer experience. This project seeks to amplify individual voices within the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a platform for artists to express the nuances, challenges, and triumphs of their unique journeys. The self-portraits featured in this project will transcend conventional boundaries, employing a myriad of mediums such as photography. Artists are encouraged to delve into the raw authenticity of their lived experiences, embracing the influence of Mapplethorpe’s unapologetic exploration of sexuality and Muholi’s unyielding commitment to documenting black LGBTQIA+ narratives. This research unfolds as a kaleidoscopic journey, reflecting the diversity within the queer community. Each self-portrait serves as a vibrant brushstroke contributing to a larger canvas that honors the multiplicity of queer identities. Infinite Spectrum seeks to create an immersive experience, inviting viewers to navigate the intricacies of queer existence. By channeling the spirit of Mapplethorpe and Muholi, Infinite Spectrum aspires to be more than an art exhibition; it aims to be a celebration, a testament, and a testament to the resilience and beauty inherent in the queer experience.

Ousmane's photography exhibit will be on display in the UC  third floor lobby, all day, and his oral presentation will be in room UC 312 from 10-10:15am.

Dance As Language: A Choreographic Exploration of the Interpretation of Idiomatic Phrases in the English Language

Time and location: 1:35-1:50pm in UC 312

Katelyn O’Connor, Dance
Mentor: Ann Sofie Clemmensen, Dance

This research addressed an interpretation of English idioms on a literal to figurative scale, with the presentation being dance performance. The motivation for this research stemmed from interacting with a variety of people with English as their second (or non-primary) language. There are an estimated 25,000 idioms in the English language, and while there are idioms in other languages as well, research has shown it is not nearly as extensive as in the English language. Through personal interpretations, surveys collected from over seventy native and non-native English-speaking adults, and in-depth choreographic exploration, this research showed that there is a large depth of interpretations when it comes to English idioms, ranging from extreme ends of the scale of literal to figurative. The final presentation included an exploration of body, object, and space, utilizing props and movement in tandem to convey the tension between the literal and figurative language.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Leon Tang, Information Systems

Mentor: Zhiyuan Chen, Information Systems

Mobile Autonomous Systems refer to robots, ground vehicles, drones etc. that can move autonomously. Such a system relies on sensors such as cameras and GPS to learn the states of the system itself as well as its surroundings and often machine learning (such as computer vision) and AI for autonomous decision making (e.g., to navigate). Deception is a serious threat to securing such systems because both the input to sensors as well as the machine learning models used in decision making can be misled by injected deceptive information. This project conducts a comprehensive survey of existing deception-based attacks against mobile autonomous systems and identifies gaps in the existing research. Compared to existing surveys, our survey considers various degrees of sophistication of the attacking strategies and type of data being altered. Our work also identifies gaps of existing research such as relatively little work has been done on multi-stage attacks and attacks that influence long term decision making. Our work can be used to help better understand deception based attacks as well as developing better defense strategies.

Poster presentation, 10-11:30am

UC Ballroom

Film Festival- April 10, 2024

Location: UC Ballroom Lounge

Popcorn, candy, and sodas, just like the movies!!

Morning

“The Politics of Abortion: A Social Work Perspective”- Tessa Cone

10:20- 10:40am

“Context Of Hellenistic Equine Remains In Human Burials”- Jolie Greer

10:40-11am

“A Legacy of Courage: Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Relf “- Scherrie Newton

11-11:20am

“The Amish Project, The Making Of”- Renata  Taylor-Smith

11:20-11:40am

Afternoon

“Celebrating South Asian Culture at UMBC”- Mashaal  Awan, Meghna Chandrasekaran, Manav Vaishnav, Shawn Abraham

1-1:20pm

“What Makes Life Worth Living: The Palestinian Condition”- Salma Abushi

1:20-1:40pm

“Misophonia through the Choreographic Lens: Visualizing Complex Fight or Flight Responses”- Eva McLaughlin

1:40-2pm

“Redefining What It Means To Be a Special Education Student”- Tasnim Rushdan

2:00-2:20pm

URCAD Alumni Keynote Speaker 2024

April 10

UC 312, 12-1pm

Stefanie Mavronis

Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (MONSE), City of Baltimore

B.A., UMBC Political Science, Media and Communication Studies (’12)

MPA, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Domestic Policy - Urban Policy and Planning (’18)

Stefanie M     avronis is a public servant, first-generation college graduate, and lifelong Baltimorean. She serves as Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE). In this role, Stefanie is working on thevrollout  of  the  city's  community  violence  intervention  ecosystem  and  implementation  of  the  city's  first-ever comprehensive violence prevention plan. She previously served as Director of Communication for Mayor Brandon M. Scott, and contributed to his election as Baltimore's youngest mayor in more than a century. Using her education in  politics,  public  policy,  and  media,Mavronis  has  built  a  career  supporting  social  justice  issues  and  progressive campaigns for change.  Stefanie started her career in the legislative branch at City Hall, serving as Director of Civic Engagement for Council member Zeke Cohen, and previously worked in local public radio. Stefanie earned B.A. degrees in Political Science and Media and Communication Studies from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was a Sondheim public affairs scholar and a member of the Honors College. She was a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute Fellow in 2011. In 2018 she completed a Master’s of Public Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs in Domestic Policy with a certificate in Urban Policy and Planning.

At UMBC she was an Undergraduate Research Award (URA) Scholar, and supported by the School for International Training in Cochabamba and La Paz, Bolivia, she produced a documentary film that premiered at URCAD in 2012 titled, “Reclamation and Resistance: Audiovisual Tools in Bolivia,” with Mentor, Dr. Jason Loviglio. She published her research ‘Reclamation and Resistance in Bolivia: An Analysis of Media's Role in Decolonization’ in the UMBC Review. As a lecturer in MCS and American Studies, she led a group of UMBC students      to interview residents and examine important social, political, and economic issues in Baltimore City a year after the death of Freddie Gray and the Uprising that followed. The final product was a radio series that aired on The Marc Steiner Show on Baltimore NPR affiliate WEAA 88.9-FM.      In 2022, she was named a UMBC Alumni “Rising Star”.