As we count down to the Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365 keynote event “Baltimore in Action: Always Rising” on Tuesday, October 20th, we’ll be profiling all of our keynote speakers in our “What You Need to Know” series. 

Kwame Rose 

Kwame Rose is a social activist and hip-hop artist who’s probably best known for his encounter with Geraldo Rivera of Fox News when he called out the mainstream media’s inaccurate representation of the city and the protestors during the Baltimore Uprising. Since then he’s emerged as a leading voice among those demanding justice and an end to racist policing.

There had been almost two weeks of peaceful demonstrations before the mainstream media poured into Baltimore, and it wasn’t until windows started being broken that anybody tuned in and gave a damn. †

Kwame’s passion for social justice advocacy is also evident in his music, particularly his track “State of Emergency,” which talks about the work to be done in Baltimore even after the cameras stop rolling.

As he’s grown into his role as a leader and community organizer at just 21 years old, Kwame has remained outspoken in his commitment to fostering civic engagement among Baltimore youth, and he’s currently developing his own youth-based advocacy group called VOICES (Vocalizing Our Intelligence Creating Effective Solutions).

For more on Kwame, check out:

• His essay “Why I Protest” in City Paper
• His blog and Twitter
• His EP “Active(ist)” on Soundcloud

First, let’s start off with saying that the Women’s Center is stoked about Hannibal Buress making his way to campus this weekend for Homecoming. We very much enjoy his character, Lincoln, on Broad City. More importantly, he called out the rape allegations against Bill Cosby in his stand-up routine back when very few others were because it was “too hard” and “unbelievable” to simply just believe and support the victims coming forward.

But, we’d be remiss if we didn’t share something we’ve noticed when it comes to comedians coming to campus for the annual Homecoming event. They’re all dudes! Nick Offerman. B.J. Novak. Bo Burnham. Donald Glover. Lewis Black. And now, Hannibal.

Now, this just isn’t a UMBC thing. It’s kind of just a thing we call sexism. For example, check out the hosts of late night television:

From Vanity Fair’s October 2015 issue on late-night television.

Then there’s this catalog that was delivered in the mail the other day that shared all the great comedians colleges can book and bring to campus:

Really?! Just four women out of 24 on this list of options?

So, with that in mind, some of the Women’s Center staff has compiled this short round-up of some of our favorite women comedians. In their own words, staff members write about why these women are funny (too).

Tig Notaro – Kayla’s Pick

Tig’s comedy varies from silly, heartfelt, personal, to goofy. She’s made me cry from laughing and actually just made me cry. She’s got a joke where she just moves a stool around the stage for awhile and it might not sound like it but its HILARIOUS.
What you should know: Tig went through C-DIFF (an intestinal infection that can kill people), her mother’s death, a huge breakup, and then got breast cancer. ALL IN ONE YEAR. She is literally one of the strongest people in the world and is definitely one of my heroes (“sheroe” is definitely more apt). Oh and she’s a lesbian which is always a fun and awesome thing to know.
Fun Fact: Tig briefly performed topless in her 2015 HBO special Boyish Girl Interrupted to show her doubles mastectomy scars.

Mindy Kaling – Julia’s Pick

Mindy Kaling is probably my favorite comedian right now. She started acting and eventually became a writer for The Office, and now she has her own show: “The Mindy Project.” It’s clever, hilarious, and heartfelt. Something interesting about her is that she recognizes her responsibility to young women for representation, but she also points out that she often talks about diversity and representations while other white male writers actually get to talk about their shows. She says:

“There are little Indian girls out there who look up to me, and I never want to belittle the honor of being an inspiration to them. But while I’m talking about why I’m so different, white male show runners get to talk about their art.”

Maya Rudolph – Meagé’s Pick 

My favorite comedian is Maya Rudolph. She is best known for her time on Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids. More recently, she has done hilarious impressions of Rachel Dolezal. For a short time she has a self-titled show where she often brought other women of color on to promote solidarity and visibility of women of color in the media.

Janeane Garofalo – Carrie’s Pick

In 1990 there was this funny sketch comedy show on MTV called The Ben Stiller Show.  It is where I first met Janeane Garofalo and fell in love.  She has this amazingly dry sense of humor which I totally latched on to.  After her stint on MTV, she was popping up in movies, usually playing the best friend.  This is what happens to comediennes and actresses who are not considered conventionally attractive by Hollywood standards.  Still, I was lucky enough to make her a coffee one day while I was working at Starbucks and she was in town doing a show and it took all I had not to gush and profess my love for all that she is.  Not only was she kind and funny during our brief interaction, but she was also polite.  A staunch feminist, politically active, this smart woman gets my vote. Now I think I am going to curl up on the couch and watch Reality Bites.

Sasheer Zamata and Leslie Jones – MJ’s Pick 

Both of these women are currently on Saturday Night Live (SNL). I believe this is the first time in 40 years that SNL has had two black women on the show at the same time!!! (Seriously, SNL!?!?) But they are incredibly funny, while tackling racial stereotypes in their skits. They’re amazing!

Leslie Jones

Sasheer Zamata

Elahe Izadi – Jess’ Pick

So, I totally had Leslie Knope as my top pick until last night when I went to Creative Alliance to see W. Kamau Bell perform. Elahe opened up the show for him and she was hilarious! She was wonderfully pro-woman and feminist with each and every joke to the point that after every punch line my friends would literally punch me and say “You’re loving this aren’t you?! You love her don’t you?!” I did a little research on her when I got home and this DC-based comedian also writes for The Washington Post, covered Congress for National Journal, and speaks Spanish and Farsi. Funny AND smart! While Leslie will always and forever have my heart (and yes, I know Lesile isn’t a real person), I wanted to give Elahe a shout-out considering she’s right down the road making her shows and jokes very accessible to the UMBC community.

Not an exhaustive list by any means! Who are the funny women you would add to the list? 

Go Dawgs! Stop by the Women’s Center during Homecoming week to check out all the funny women cheering on the home team!

The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents

Hack, Play, Win: Lessons Learned Running
The Maryland Cyber Challenge

Richard Forno, UMBC

11:15am-12:30pm, Friday, 9 Oct 2015, ITE 231

An oft-cited and prominent concern facing the Internet security community is the need to identify and hire qualified cybersecurity practitioners able to fill critical technical, analytical, and managerial positions within the global technology workforce. A 2014 report from the Education Advisory Board discusses the “exploding” demand for qualified cybersecurity practitioners, noting that cybersecurity jobs grew by 73% between 2007-2012 compared to 6% in all other industry sectors. Similarly, Burning Glass, a national employment research firm, notes that there are nearly 23,000 available cybersecurity positions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Nowhere is this need more evident, or discussed more frequently, than in Maryland, a region some dub the ‘epicenter of cybersecurity’ education, research, and industry.

In response to this concern, events in the cybersecurity discipline, known as cyber competitions” or “cyber challenges” seek to motivate and encourage high school and college students toward careers in cybersecurity by developing their technical and teamwork skills while also allowing more experienced cybersecurity professionals an opportunity to practice their expertise in a challenging venue for professional recognition. The popularity and number of these events as a form of intellectual competition at industry security conferences like the DEFCON CTF or Department of Defense DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge and those within educational communities such as the National Cyber League (NCL), CyberPatriot, or the Collegiate CyberDefense Competition (CCDC) are but a few examples of prominent cyber challenges drawing worldwide participation. Other competitions, both large and small, are under continual development, as is a National Science Foundation-backed effort to create a national federation to support and standardize the rules, activities, and conduct of cyber competitions.

Given the popularity of these events, and the ongoing global desire to launch new ones, this talk will draw upon the experiences of organizing and coordinating the Maryland Cyber Challenge (MDC3) from 2011-2014 in offering advice to current and future cyber competition planners. What lessons from current competitions can help future competition organizers run successful challenges of their own? And are such events enough to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professional? While no event will ever run perfectly, organizers must always strive to “get it right” – or as close to “right” as possible!

(This talk previews a paper accepted for publication in the December 2015 USENIX ;login;)

Dr. Richard Forno directs the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Graduate Cybersecurity Program, serves as the Assistant Director of UMBC’s Center for Cybersecurity, and is a Junior Affiliate Scholar at the Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society (CIS). His twenty-year career spans the government, military, and private sector, including helping build a formal cybersecurity program for the US House of Representatives, serving as the first Chief Security Officer for the InterNIC, and co-founding the Maryland Cyber Challenge. Richard was also one of the early researchers on the subject of “information warfare” and he remains a longtime commentator on the influence of Internet technology upon society.

Host: Alan T. Sherman, Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address.

NASA Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships Virtual Career Fair

Thursday, October 8, 1-4:30 PM EST

This exciting initiative is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and it will provide undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) the opportunity to engage with representatives from all 10 NASA centers.

The online career fair will also allow participants the opportunity to learn about internship, fellowship and scholarship programs at NASA.  There is no cost or travel associated with their participation in this event. As a leading organization in the STEM community, I would like to ask for your help promoting this opportunity among your students and sharing it with other relevant groups that may benefit from participating in this event. 

NASA Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships Virtual Career Fair

Thursday, October 8, 2015 (1:00 – 4:30 PM EST)

Students may register to attend by visiting the following link: https://app.brazenconnect.com/events/nasa-online-fair

This week kicks off UMBC's Homecoming!!! On Saturday, October 10^th, The Shriver Center will host the 12-1pm Reunion Hour in the Alumni Tent at the Homecoming Festival on the Quad. 

Reflective about your transformative experiences through The Shriver Center at UMBC?  Nostalgic about the friendships you made?  Want to reconnect? 

A number of recent UMBC Homepage stories resonated with these themes:

·     “How We Rebuild” – story of Shriver Center-connected Alumni supporting Baltimore communities - http://www.umbc.edu/window/how-we-rebuild.html.

·      “Strength in Partners” - Imagining America Conference highlights the collaboration between local universities, civic leaders, and community groups - http://www.umbc.edu/window/strength_in_partners.php

·      Shriver Center Faculty Advisory Board Member Dr. Tyson King-Meadows examines the implementation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, through which this research prepares a new generation of emerging UMBC political scientists- http://magazine.umbc.edu/rights-and-wrongs/

The Shriver Center has experienced some of its own transition and rebuilding. "Coming home" provides an opportunity for reconnection.  Past Homecoming Shriver Center-sponsored events have included “Stuff a Sienna/Scion” drives (in partnership with Russel Toyota), Cupcakes Wars (many who engage in service also like to bake – Kelly Subramanian and Christy Yao), and a Teal Van Retirement Party (yes, it was finally time).  This year, we are keeping it simple –just come!

There will be lots of free food and goodies and cash bar for 21 and over only.  Current UMBC students can attend; however, it should be noted that at Registration, you should indicate that you are here to network with your Shriver Alum peers.  Additionally, since there is a cash bar, you will not be allowed to enter the tent without a government issues ID (not UMBC ID).  Wristbands will be given accordingly.

For the schedule of events at Homecoming, go to the website below:

Are you ready to stand out?

E-mail your resume to Christine Routzahn, Director of the Career Center, at routzahn@umbc.edu by Thursday, October 15th.  The Career Center will be working with the Alex. Brown Center For Entrepreneurship to help create the four person team(s) and identify great adviser(s).

Requirements: Must be Freshmen-Junior Standing, All majors welcome to apply, All members must be able to travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in March (if selected, all expenses paid)

Why Compete? 

• It's a great resume builder 
• You'll get exposure to Kohl's recruiters and leadership
• Finalists will travel to Kohl's Corporate Office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• The winning team will receive a $5,000 scholarship