A short reflection by student staff member Shira Devorah ( She/Her or They/Them) 

I really love queer media. I’ve probably watched most of the movies in the “Gay and Lesbian” category on Netflix, as long as they didn’t look too dull or exploitative. There are some really fantastic and challenging shows and movies available at the click of a button. Why am I so drawn to television shows with women kissing, to movies with actual trans actresses playing trans women? I know I’m not the only queer woman who revels in the opportunity to see a new lesbian drama. Why is this?

Well, it all boils down to one thing: The need for representation. The queer community is constantly portrayed by the media through stereotypes and tropes that are incredibly harmful and inconsistent with the realities of our queer lives. This article from the queer- woman’s website Autostraddle recently went viral – because it listed all 162 (and counting) dead lesbian and bisexual women killed on television and how they died.

The post circulated widely using the hashtag “bury your gays,” which was created after a beloved lesbian character from The 100 was killed off as a cheap plot device – a trope all too common in any media that portrays queer women. While I never really watched The 100, I understand what it feels like when a fan favorite lesbian meets an early demise.

I remember the first time I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer all the way through. I had the complete series box set growing up and watched BtVS religiously. I was heartbroken when (spoiler) Tara, one of two lesbians on that show, was killed off. She was shot by a stray bullet, and none of the magic in a supernatural show about vampires was used to bring her back.

I was devastated.

I had clung so hard to Willow and Tara’s relationship. I didn’t yet have the labels that I use today, but I knew that I liked girls. Tara, who I had identified with because she was shy and smart and kind of a dork. Tara, who kissed Willow and held her hand and called her “babe.”  She was killed, all as a plot device. It wouldn’t be the last time a character I loved, who also loved women, would be killed in a similar way.

See the full article HERE 

Positive representation really does matter. When queer shows and films are done in more humanizing ways, they allow queer people who watch to see a reflection of themselves in beloved and complex characters. It’s incredibly validating to see someone like you given substance and meaning beyond hegemonic perception of what it means to be LGBTQ. I want to see more characters like Cosima from Orphan Black, characters who are integral to the plot of their show, have flaws, and are also LGBTQ.

Positive representation doesn’t stop there: There are so many intersecting identities that deserve more and better representation in media that are also commonly overlooked. People of color are rarely cast as anything other than “that one black friend” or “that perceived-as-white love interest.” The moment there are an array of dynamic characters of color on one show, it is labeled as “other” and often dismissed. When LGBTQ people of color do appear in media, writers are often careless when contending with the  multiple facets of their identities.

spoken by one of the few black gay men on television who isn’t a cliche, Captain Holt from Brooklyn 9-9

Often writers don’t come equipped with the ability to write complex queer characters of color – especially when they do not identify alongside their characters. Take the example of Orange Is the New Black. 90% of the writers for the Netflix show are white women, and they write for queer women of color characters. Because there isn’t enough diverse representation on staff, important aspects of identity are left out or altered, letting down major characters and long-time fans. Don’t get me started with how they let down a certain fan favorite this past season…

For a show with so many women of color characters, there sure are a lot of white people in the writers’ room.

Even with all of the negatives, there is still some very positive representation in queer media. Films like Mosquita Y Mari,  Boy Meets Girl and Tangerine are all beautiful movies written by and/or starring queer individuals that explore LGBTQ characters genuinely. TV shows like Steven Universe, Brooklyn 9-9, and Grey’s Anatomy are also really great examples of good writing for queer characters. None of these characters are perfect people, and I wouldn’t want them to be. They are just more human, more three-dimensional, more interesting to watch.

Queer people live just as interesting and complicated lives as everyone else. We deserve to see these lives reflected in the media that we consume. I can’t wait to see how media evolves further and allows for more varied storylines and characters. As viewers, we should continue to be critical of what is and isn’t portrayed on the screen. One day I hope mainstream media will be more inclusive through  authentic representations of queer characters. For now, I say you should go check out some of those titles I mentioned. Continue to demand more from your favorite shows, and don’t settle for tropes.

We’re here, we’re queer, and we deserve better!

***

If you’re interested in checking out any of the movies mentioned here, the title of the films link to YouTube theatrical trailers!

Tangerine, Boy Meets Girl and Grey’s Anatomy are currently streaming on Netflix.

Are you interested in working in the government for the summer or after you graduate? If so, The Career Center would like to tell you about a great opportunity for UMBC Students!

Workforce Recruitment Program
The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is Coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense.WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. 

Eligible students must: 
- have a disability and be eligible under the Schedule A hiring authority 
- be a United States citizen 
- be enrolled in a degree program on a substantially full-time basis OR have graduated with a degree in April 2015, or more recently. 

If you are interested in interviewing with a representative from WRP or learning more about the program, please contact: Caroline Bodnar, carolc@umbc.edu.   

Please visit this link for more information regarding WRP at: www.wrp.gov and click on the student registration button to get started! 

All application materials must be uploaded to the WRP site by October 18^th at 12:00 PST 

The Women’s Center at UMBC turns 25 this year! We’re excited to share our important milestone with UMBC’s 50th Anniversary and will be celebrating throughout the year with the rest of campus! We were inspired by Special Collections archival project Archives Gold: 50 Objects for UMBC’s 50th and decided to do our own digging into the Women’s Center archives. Over the course of the year, we’ll be sharing 25 “Then vs Now” archives to celebrate the origin and evolution of the Women’s Center at UMBC.

This week we’re featuring the marketing and publicity the Women’s Center has created and shared with the UMBC community over the past several years. 

Before smart phones and Snapchat, there were actual hard copy brochures and flyers (pre-PhotoShop) to help spread the word about the Women’s Center. Here’s some examples!

And, before MailChimp there were newsletters printed on actual paper and then ones made on Publisher and emailed to a list-serv.

Today, the Women’s Center still has a brochure and prints flyers but we really shine on our social media platforms. That’s where every one is anyways right? So be sure to like us on Facebook, tweet us at on Twitter, follow us on Instagram, and catch our snaps on Snapchat (@womencenterumbc). You already found our blog so be sure to subscribe! And, of course, there’s our myUMBC group.

One side of the current Women’s Center brochure.

Have you followed us on SnapChat yet?!

What are the memories you have of the Women’s Center over the years that are meaningful to you? What does the Women’s Center mean to you today? Share your memories and pictures with us in the comment section below!

Stay up-to-date with our 25th anniversary on social media using #UMBCWC25. Share your Women’s Center experiences and memories with the UMBC community using #UMBCWC25 AND #UMBC50!

Meet Nick,
He is a Biochemistry major and a URA Scholar. He is a real proponent in developing future researchers. He advises, "If you are really interested in the work you are doing and want the project to succeed, then observing and looking into work that others have done in your field is a truly great thing to do. It will give you great insight not only on your own project, but also on the general knowledge associated with the field in which you are working." Nicholas would ultimately like to become a biomedical researcher to assist on developing cures and vaccines for infectious diseases. 

His research will explore the microscopic world of Nanoscience. Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors can be utilized to detect a multitude of different target molecules in a sample. Current methods, however, are limited to ensemble measurements of a large number of target molecules. Conversely, specific single molecule sensing at low detection limits represents a highly sensitive method of detection of analytes in a sample. In this project, I aim to detect Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a protein that is involved with the immune response in the human body, with specific single molecule sensitivity. 

Read more about his research project here...

Here is a great way to catch up on all our events for the month.

Check out our Mosaic and Interfaith Center Newsletter - December Edition! 

 Savannah Steinly, Chemical Engineering, May 2018

Savannah spent her summer bushwhacking through the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest for science! She wanted to understand the connection between soil properties and vegetation recovery on complex topography after a fire disturbance. A typical day of field research included in waking up before the sun to hike mountains and measure trees, estimate ground cover, and collect soil samples, among other data collection methods. By the end of the day, she is tired and completely covered in dead tree ash, but it’s worth it. Outside of the field, she analyzed data, explored the outdoor recreation of the Methow Valley, and binge-watched House of Cards with her field crew.

Engaging in field ecology research has confirmed her interest in pursuing a conservation career, and possibly a research career. She is excited to combine her passion for environmental science with engineering this semester by taking her first course on the chemE environmental track!

T. Rowe Price is one of the largest employers of UMBC students and graduates from all majors.  If you’re an upcoming December or May graduate ready to begin your career or a student looking to earn while you learn, T. Rowe Price has a career opportunity for you.

You’ll find internships and full-time jobs that span multiple disciplines—such as client services, technology, and investments.

Explore your options, build your skills, collaborate with talented teams, and make your mark—personally and professionally.

BRING YOUR RESUME TO THE EVENT BELOW
T. Rowe Price Connects Day
TODAY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST
11AM TO 2PM, UC 312
Come when you are able, there is no need to stay for the entire event. 
This is your chance to get up close and personal to members of the T. Rowe Price to learn about career opportunities and interact with individuals that may be able to land you that perfect internship or job! 

ALSO APPLY TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

FULL-TIME POSITIONS FOR DECEMBER AND MAY 2017 GRADS
Investment Fellowship- Deadline to Apply for an On-Campus Interview via UMBCworks this WEDNESDAY
T. Rowe Price’s Investment Fellowship Program offers college undergraduate and graduate students within mathematics, engineering, and the sciences a challenging quantitative opportunity to thrive in the financial industry, which is becoming increasingly quantitative and data driven.

Financial Services Representative- open to ALL majors
Deadline to Apply via UMBCworks on 9/23
Do you enjoy helping others identify solutions that help achieve their goals? Do you like problem-solving, digging deeper to understand a situation? If so, your talents are needed at T. Rowe Price!

INTERN POSITIONS
Intern, Undergraduate- DEADLINE TO APPLY THIS MONDAY, OPEN TO ALL MAJORS
Owings Mills, MD - Building 4   |   24160   |  

2017 Summer Intern – Asset Allocation
Baltimore, MD   |   25419   |  
Quantitative or analytical background, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Physical Sciences study

2017 Summer Intern – Portfolio Modeling Group
Baltimore, MD   |   25418   |
3.5 GPA or above, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, Mathematics or Physical Sciences

Summer 2017 Undergrad Internship - Associate Analyst – Equity Research Baltimore, MD   |   MUST apply to this position via UMBCworks
Minimum sophomore status in college with a 3.5 or higher GPA required pursuing an undergraduate degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline

Summer Intern – Technology
Owings Mills, MD - Red Run Boulevard, More...   |   25413  
Work on projects within one of the following teams:
Mobile applications development (iOS, HTML5), Applications development (Java, CSS, .Net, SharePoint, C++), Business Analysis, Project Management, Database/Data Management, Enterprise and Cyber Security, Production Systems Support, Trading Floor Support