Election Night Extravaganza T-Shirt, November 6, 2012. Student Life Archives. Cared for by David Hoffman. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD) 

Three years after UMBC first opened, students and faculty expressed their interest in creating a coat of arms for the developing school. One student, Arthur L. Kahn, wrote to Chancellor Albin O. Kuhn and offered him his own design which included the Maryland coat of arms, the UMBC retriever, and the year in which UMBC was founded (see image above). In his letter to Chancellor Kuhn, Kahn expressed his belief that creating an emblem or coat of arms for UMBC would "serve as a symbol in the college community, helping to display UMBC's individuality among other U of M branches in particular." Unfortunately, UMBC never developed a coat of arms but it has had, and continues to have, official logos and seals that represent the school.  

Letter from Arthur L. Kahn to Albin O. Kuhn, September 19, 1968. Coll 107, UMBC Historic Documents Collection, Folder 14. University Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD) 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage

-UMBC Style Guide: Logos

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

The first dorms on the UMBC campus opened in March of 1970. Each dorm initially housed 150 students and were co-ed, with women on the top two floors and men on the bottom floor. These early dorms were given numbers as their names- Dorm I, Dorm II, and Dorm III- until 1979 when the university, after popular support of the students, decided to change their names. Similar in style to the dorms of University of Maryland, College Park which were named after Maryland counties and cities, the UMBC dorms were renamed after Maryland bodies of water (Susquehanna, Chesapeake, Patapsco, and Potomac Hall).  

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-Article in The Retriever (Volume 4, Number 12) entitled "Dorms to Open March 1" 

-UMBC Magazine: Histories and Mysteries: Dorms 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

The first Stress Free Zone was implemented at UMBC by the SGA in the spring of 2005 to provide an anxiety free space during final exam week. The event provided students with games, activities, music, and food, but more importantly, the SGA intended for the event to serve as a declaration of UMBC students' ability to work together and provide an active space for fun and community. This first Stress Free Zone was an outstanding success, starting an ongoing tradition of a Stress Free Zone each exam period at UMBC.  

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-UMBC Co-Create Blog "Secrets of the Stress Free Zone" 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

UMBC's first Quadmania happened in 1981. Over 600 people gathered together on the Quad to listen to various local bands. The event was meant to be a step towards bringing concerts to UMBC and it proved successful. Quadmania continued to be celebrated on the Quad until it was moved to the RAC where it is now held currently. Performers at UMBC's Quadmania over the years have included Kanye West (2004), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (2013), Snoop Dogg (2011), and most recently, Fetty Wap. 

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-Article in The Retriever (Volume 16, Number 4) on UMBC's First Quadmania 

-SEB Quadmania Webpage 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

STRiVE Leadership Retreat is a UMBC funded program where UMBC students have the opportunity to participate in an off-campus leadership retreat to help them develop leadership skills and abilities. Student Life and the Student Government Association first began STRiVE in 2009 and continue to develop and plan the retreat to this day. While at the retreat students work in teams, develop social change projects, and build community and campus interconnections. 

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-UMBC Breaking Ground on STRiVE 

-STRiVE Information 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold