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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5342" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5342">
<Title>Real People Profiles: Hamza Siddiqui</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><div>
    <div><span><em>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.</em></span></div>
    <div><span><strong><br>
    </strong></span></div>
    <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-9FSi6y-fY/TWGhFy9iliI/AAAAAAAABEk/LIxC20wpxrk/s1600/Hamza+Siddiqui.jpg" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span><img height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-9FSi6y-fY/TWGhFy9iliI/AAAAAAAABEk/LIxC20wpxrk/s400/Hamza+Siddiqui.jpg" width="265" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></span></a></div>
    <div>
    <span></span><span><strong>Name: </strong></span><span>Hamza Siddiqui</span>
    </div>
    </div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span><strong>Hometown:</strong> </span><span>Columbia, MD.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: How long have you been at UMBC?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I'm a second semester…freshman!</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><span><span>A:</span><span> </span><span>I'm currently a First Year Ambassador for SGA Senate and a member of the First Year Council.</span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?</strong> </span></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I work to empower and engage, educate and be educated. And stretchlimitationsasmuchasIcan</span><span></span><span>.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I enjoy the fact that I get the opportunity to interact with so many interesting people; people who are mentors and peers, friends and colleagues. The insights and commentaries I've had a chance to share have been deep and absurd, each enjoyable. And a gratifying part of my role is seeing the tangible impact it has, in the lives of people, be it on campus or community.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?</strong></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I've learned not to take myself too seriously and that, contrary to what I believe, I don't know everything. And, every now and then, a little ridiculousness and spontaneity is necessary.</span></span></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><span><span> </span><span><strong>Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"</strong></span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span><span>A:  </span><span>So many things: Disney movies, The Daily Show, blueberries, chick fil-A milkshakes, David Hoffman, Fifa, adjectives.</span></span></div>
    <div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div>
    <span><span>But I'm a bigger fan of Calvin and Hobbes. It's simply the best.</span></span>
    </div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?</strong></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span><span>A: </span><span> </span><span>I've been here for a little over half a year, and already I've had experiences, friendships and memories that are too numerous to count; I can only hope my brain is prepared for the remaining years at UMBC.</span></span></div>
    <div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div>
    <div><span><span>I believe that the UMBC experience is truly what you make it.  Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and explore a little.  And if you want to do something do it; if you want to stand for something, stand for it; if you want to be yourself, by all means, be yourself.</span></span></div>
    </div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>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...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/real-people-profiles-hamza-siddiqui.html</Website>
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<PostedAt>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:22:00 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5312" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5312">
<Title>Events for March 2011: Dissertation House, Proposals,...</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">Full Title: Events for March 2011: Dissertation House, Proposals, Teaching Portfolios, Lift Up (Haiti) Movie, Career RoundtablesWe have many events lined up for March! Please stay tuned to this post for updates: March 4: Thesis and Dissertation Proposals:  A Ph.D. Completion Project Workshop. UM College Park. Guest Speaker: Christine Feak, English Language Institute, University of Michigan. March 11: PROMISE Mid-Semester Meeting and Networking Social for College Park (Co-hosted by the UMCP [...]</div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>Full Title: Events for March 2011: Dissertation House, Proposals, Teaching Portfolios, Lift Up (Haiti) Movie, Career RoundtablesWe have many events lined up for March! Please stay tuned to this...</Summary>
<Website>http://promisesuccessseminars.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/events-for-march-2011-dissertation-house-proposals-teaching-portfolios-lift-up-haiti-movie-career-roundtables/</Website>
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<Tag>ph-d-completion-project</Tag>
<Tag>prof-it</Tag>
<Tag>promise</Tag>
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<Tag>seminars</Tag>
<Tag>teaching</Tag>
<Tag>umbc</Tag>
<Tag>umbc-grad-school</Tag>
<Tag>wendy-carter</Tag>
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<PostedAt>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:12:11 -0500</PostedAt>
<EditAt>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:12:11 -0500</EditAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5308" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5308">
<Title>Pre-Spring Break Dissertation House: Friday, March 11...</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">Full Title: Pre-Spring Break Dissertation House: Friday, March 11 – Saturday, March 12, 2011<p>UMBC will host a 2 day “Pre-Spring Break Dissertation House” on Friday, March 11 and <a href="http://dissertationhouse.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/dh_umbc_jan10_use.jpg" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><img src="http://dissertationhouse.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/dh_umbc_jan10_use.jpg?w=300&amp;h=210" alt="" width="300" height="210" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></a>Saturday, March 12, 2011.   Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be served daily. This Dissertation House session will be held in lieu of the annual <a href="http://promisecommunitybuilding.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo">Dissertation House and Community Building Retreats at Coolfont and Rocky Gap. </a></p>
    <p>Location: UMBC Commons, Room 331 (<em>changed from 327</em> (Friday)), Room 329 (Saturday). Time: 9:00 AM Sharp – 5:00 PM on both Friday and Saturday</p>
    <p>All interested participants must follow the guidelines for the application: <a href="http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo">http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/</a></p>
    <p><strong>Application period:</strong> Monday, February 21, 2011 – Friday, March 4, 2011.</p>
    <br>Filed under: <a href="http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/category/dissertation-house/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo">Dissertation House</a>         </div>
]]>
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<Summary>Full Title: Pre-Spring Break Dissertation House: Friday, March 11 – Saturday, March 12, 2011 UMBC will host a 2 day “Pre-Spring Break Dissertation House” on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March...</Summary>
<Website>http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/pre-spring-break-dissertation-house-friday-march-11-saturday-march-12-2011/</Website>
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<PostedAt>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:52:10 -0500</PostedAt>
<EditAt>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:52:10 -0500</EditAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5275" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5275">
<Title>PROMISE Spring Opening Dinner Meeting: &#8220;Getting to...</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">Full Title: PROMISE Spring Opening Dinner Meeting: “Getting to Level 10″ — Friday, 2/18/11PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is dedicated to increasing the numbers and diversity of Ph.D.s in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. PROMISE also provides a strong support system for underrepresented students of all fields, and for all graduate students. This UMBC Spring Opening Meeting will be combined with the meeting for the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program [...]</div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>Full Title: PROMISE Spring Opening Dinner Meeting: “Getting to Level 10″ — Friday, 2/18/11PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is dedicated to increasing the numbers and diversity of Ph.D.s in Science,...</Summary>
<Website>http://promisesuccessseminars.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/promise-spring-opening-dinner-meeting-getting-to-level-10-friday-21811/</Website>
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<Sponsor>PROMISE @ UMBC: Support for Graduate Students</Sponsor>
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<PostedAt>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:28:25 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5269" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5269">
<Title>Real People Profiles: Collin Wojciechowski</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><div>
    <div><span><em>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.</em></span></div>
    <div><span><strong><br>
    </strong></span></div>
    <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b2T0VNbkzjE/TUYCWfG6hcI/AAAAAAAABC8/2bau9pjzjpo/s1600/Collin+Wojciechowski.jpg" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><img height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b2T0VNbkzjE/TUYCWfG6hcI/AAAAAAAABC8/2bau9pjzjpo/s400/Collin+Wojciechowski.jpg" width="400" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></div>
    <div>
    <span></span><span><strong>Name: </strong>Collin </span><span><span>Wojciechowski</span></span>
    </div>
    </div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span><strong>Hometown: </strong></span><span>Pasadena, Maryland</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: How long have you been at UMBC?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>This is my fourth semester atop this hill in Catonsville.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div>
    <div><span><span>A:</span><span> </span><span>Director, Office of Government and Community Affairs (SGA)</span></span></div>
    <div><span><span>Opinion Editor, The Retriever Weekly </span></span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?</strong> </span></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I lobby for student issues in Annapolis and ramble about liberal things.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?</strong></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>Fighting for the underdog. Students can sometimes be overlooked in the legislative process and I enjoy doing my best to put them at the forefront.</span></span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><span><span><strong>Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?</strong></span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>Education is the building block of any just society and we would be nothing without it. The candidate for state office that I worked for this fall taught me that. Smart guy, should have won. So I guess the other important thing I learned while here is, politics means unpredictability and sometime disappointment but you never stop fighting.</span></span></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><span><span><strong>Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"</strong></span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A:  </span><span>Arrested Development. If your not watching it, we may have difficulty being friends.</span></span></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span><strong>Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?</strong></span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>If you are coming back to campus on 695 West at sunset, just as you merge with the traffic coming from 95, if you look to the left you can see the top of the library lit up, calling you home. Don't take your eyes off the road though. Distracted driving. Not good.</span></span></div></div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>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...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/real-people-profiles-collin.html</Website>
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<Tag>real-people-profiles</Tag>
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<PostedAt>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:27:00 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5255" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5255">
<Title>Towson's Freedom Square</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><span>Last semester Towson University launched a new free speech space called Freedom Square.  As is described in <a href="http://adpaascu.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/campus-spotlight-towson-university%E2%80%99s-freedom-square/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo">this post on the American Democracy Project blog</a>, the space features chalkboards, electrical outlets, seats and a “public forum area.”  Each week a question is posted on the chalkboards, and students can write their responses.  The first question posted was, “Why is Free Speech important to you?”  The site is also a venue for campus events relating to its mission of promoting free expression, critical thinking and debate.</span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div><span>I’ve thought for a while that UMBC would benefit from such a space, and I’ve been involved in several conversations in the past in which participants imagined where it could be located and what it might contain.<span>  </span>The discussions on <a href="http://my.umbc.edu/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo">MyUMBC</a> provide a valuable outlet for people’s opinions, but I’d love to see a dynamic physical representation of our campus commitment to civic engagement and the free exchange of ideas.<span> </span></span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div><span>The one thing about the Towson’s approach I find slightly off-putting is the posting of those weekly questions.  I love the idea of promoting debate, but there’s something about the fact that the questions aren’t attached to a person—they’re sort of disembodied, coming from nowhere—that leaves me a little cold.  Their appearance hints at a hidden authority controlling things, setting the terms.   I’d like to think we could com e up with a way to establish a free, non-virtual, creative forum for individual expression and community discussions without incorporating the disembodied voice.</span></div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>Last semester Towson University launched a new free speech space called Freedom Square.  As is described in this post on the American Democracy Project blog, the space features chalkboards,...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/towsons-freedom-square.html</Website>
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<Tag>civic-engagement</Tag>
<Tag>social-networks</Tag>
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<PostedAt>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:43:00 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5245" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5245">
<Title>Real People Profiles: Lee Boot</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div>
    <div><span><em>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.</em></span></div>
    <div><span><strong><br>
    </strong></span></div>
    <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b2T0VNbkzjE/TTtLSQj8SNI/AAAAAAAABCQ/B6d_B0OFd0c/s1600/LeeHeadShot3cropped.jpg" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><img height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b2T0VNbkzjE/TTtLSQj8SNI/AAAAAAAABCQ/B6d_B0OFd0c/s320/LeeHeadShot3cropped.jpg" width="265" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></div>
    <div>
    <span></span><span><strong>Name: </strong>Lee Boot</span>
    </div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span><strong>Hometown:</strong> </span><span>Baltimore, now, but grew up in Upstate NY</span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: How long have you been at UMBC?</strong></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>Since the Fall of 2000.</span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?</strong></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span><span>A:</span><span> </span><span>Associate Research Faculty and Associate Director of the IRC.</span></span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span><strong>Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?</strong> </span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I help bring research projects to the Imaging Research Center and work with other faculty, staff and students to carry them out.</span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><strong>Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?</strong></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>That’s a tough one. I enjoy each part of the process for different reasons and in different ways. I enjoy the open-ended inquiry involved in asking how can we make this a better world because it gives me hope. I enjoy giving shape to proposal or plan because it makes an aspiration feel concrete. I love working with other people to see what they can bring to a project and I’m so often amazed at what those contributions are. Finally, I like making stuff. My education prepared me to be an artist and I don’t like to stray to far from that. Artists give form to ideas and are only satisfied when we feel we’ve done that well.</span></span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span><strong>Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?</strong></span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span><span>A: </span><span>That’s a good question because it asks me to rate the value of the many things I’ve learned. I think that what I’ve learned is that institutionalizing innovation is a challenging and multi-faceted problem, and yet, progress can be made with an open heart, diligence and a strong focus.</span></span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span><span> </span><span><strong>Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"</strong></span></span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span><span>A:  </span><span>Fish. Catching them—eating them, watching them—all of the above. I likes me some fish.</span></span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><span><strong>Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?</strong></span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span><span>A: </span><span> </span><span>I like walking through the main corridor of campus, between those brick buildings with the trees in front of them. It is a kind of cloistered space that is quite beautiful. I like to imagine huge bronze relief pieces, celebrating what we care about most, on those brick walls. I can’t help it.</span></span></div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>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...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/real-people-profiles-lee-boot.html</Website>
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<Tag>real-people-profiles</Tag>
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<PostedAt>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:13:00 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5209" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5209">
<Title>Super Human Moments: Taking Feminism Backwards</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><div><em><span>Everyone has had them: moments when things have gone wrong partly because of our own lack of experience or perspective.  In this new series of posts, I'm asking members of the UMBC community to reflect on their own 'super human moments.'</span></em></div></div>
    <div><div><em><span><br>
    </span></em></div></div>
    <div><div>
    <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSnv_KnLeXI/TVwD1WpnXlI/AAAAAAAABEg/CvrYadklIYw/s1600/Lori+Hardesty.JPG" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><img height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSnv_KnLeXI/TVwD1WpnXlI/AAAAAAAABEg/CvrYadklIYw/s320/Lori+Hardesty.JPG" width="320" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></a><span><strong>Name:</strong></span><span> Lori Hardesty</span>
    </div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span><br>
    </span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span>A: Program Coordinator, Service-Learning, K-16 Partnerships, The Shriver Center.  Advisor to Major Inspiration and UMBC's Best Buddies Chapter, staff liaison to the Shriver Living Learning Center.</span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span><br>
    </span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span>A: Coordination with a "strengths-based lens" for meaningful engagement between UMBC and (the greater) community . . . that's 14 words, if you include "the greater" :)</span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: What title would you give your Super Human Moment?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span>A: Taking feminism backwards!</span></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: What happened?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span>A: When I was an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, I played on the Volleyball and Basketball teams and was co-captain of both teams my senior year.  In the fall 1995, I was determined to increase attendance at our volleyball matches.  Keep in mind that this was the era <em>prior to</em> social networking.  The "World Wide Web" was in its infancy and email was such an abstract concept, which at the time felt like you were sending messages to the universe.  Our Volleyball Team was off to a great start.  To get the word out, you had to "pound the pavement" the old-fashioned way.</span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span>I created fliers that read "Hot Girls in Spandex," knowing that would catch people's attention.  Why not?  We were some of the sweatiest people you could find and we wore spandex.  The coach of the Women's Basketball Team, Coach Nancy Funk, pulled me aside one day to ask if I knew who created these fliers around campus.  I remember how surprised she was to learn it was me.  We discussed how this objectified women.  Coach Funk convinced me that there were better ways to increase attendance, which we began to brainstorm.</span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span>I remember feeling very clever and proud of my idea.  I simply ran with the idea without thinking beyond myself and how it might be interpreted.  Through my discussion with Coach, it helped me to see more broadly and the potential implications such a message would send, as a role model to other teammates, reinforcing what to some were negative stereotypes of student-athletes and/or women.  I had a platform, but was not using it to the best of my abilities.  I took each and every flier down ASAP.</span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: How have you applied what you learned?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><span>A: I am typically "slow and methodical."  This is how my now-husband Rob described me years ago to my father (who has since passed away) when he badgered Rob about why we weren't yet engaged or married.  Fifteen years ago as a senior in college, I was careless and immature in my spontaneity, seeing through a "results-only" lens.  Don't get me wrong - being the mother of two young girls, I'm learning how to move faster and be more efficient.  Was I rebelling against my normal state of mind?  Is a good laugh really worth it?  All good questions!  I do know that it reinforced the importance of being a good mentor and "coach."  </span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    <div><span>Over the first weekend in February, Coach Funk celebrated 25 years of coaching at JHU through an Alumni Basketball Weekend Celebration.  Kristie spoke in Coach's honor.  She emphasized the importance of relationships.  Kristie has had the chance to get to know Coach in a different capacity off the court, supporting each other through the highs and lows.  Looking back, I appreciate how Coach took the time to teach me, despite this having nothing to do with Basketball.  I hope to continue that spirit of support for others.  There was an amazing turnout to honor Coach Funk at this celebration weekend, which included one of our biggest turnouts of players for the Alumni Game - I made a few baskets, took a few three-point shots, had some rebounds . . . but who's counting?  Many of our children got to meet each other, quickly bonding over what to little kids was an intimidating Blue Jay mascot.  Over the weekend, we all had the chance to share some of these great stories and recognize that at the end of the day, it is relationships that matter most.</span></div>
    <div><span><br>
    </span></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><strong><span>Q: Do you have any advice you can pass along to others?</span></strong></div></div>
    <div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div>
    <div><div><span>A: When you are unsure about how to tackle a particular challenge, get feedback and input from those that you respect and trust.  It can help "soften" criticism when you know their perspective comes from a place of caring.  They want you to succeed, and want to see that you are giving your best.</span></div></div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
</Body>
<Summary>Everyone has had them: moments when things have gone wrong partly because of our own lack of experience or perspective.  In this new series of posts, I'm asking members of the UMBC community to...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/super-human-moments-taking-feminism.html</Website>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5188" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5188">
<Title>Real People Profiles: Vania Dienzo</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><div><div><div>
    <div><span><em>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.</em></span></div>
    <div><span><strong><br>
    </strong></span></div>
    <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAhJAnLNP0M/TVcljZ87vLI/AAAAAAAABEM/JXSjhtVI_Sg/s1600/DienzoV.png" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><img height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAhJAnLNP0M/TVcljZ87vLI/AAAAAAAABEM/JXSjhtVI_Sg/s320/DienzoV.png" width="249" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></div>
    <div>
    <span></span><span><strong>Name: </strong></span><span><span>Vania Dienzo</span></span>
    </div>
    </div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><span><strong>Hometown: </strong></span><span>Oxon Hill, MD</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><strong>Q: How long have you been at UMBC?</strong></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>This is my fourth and last year at UMBC.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?</strong></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span>A:</span><span> </span><span>I am currently part of two amazing organizations on campus. I am the Recruitment Chair for Alpha Sigma Kappa- Women in Technical Studies, a social and academic sorority. I am also the President of FASA, the Filipino-American Student Association on campus.</span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><strong>Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?</strong> </span></div></div></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I help others become outgoing and excited about ASK, FASA, and UMBC.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><strong>Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?</strong></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>I enjoy planning and hosting events with my organizations. I work with awesome members and it’s great to see general members and the UMBC community having fun with each other. It makes long meetings, numerous e-mails, and phone calls worth it.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><strong>Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?</strong></span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span><span>At UMBC, I learned to just be myself. I know it’s </span></span><span><span>cliché</span></span><span>, but <span>it doesn’t benefit anyone, you or the other person, to act like someone you’re not. Just staying true to yourself and others can make life less complicated.  In being yourself, you can use your talents and skills to help others; it just might inspire someone.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><strong>Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"</strong></span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div>
    <div><span><span>A:  </span><span>MAJOR DEFINITION - UMBC’S HIP HOP DANCE TROUPE, and THE UMBC MAMA’S BOYS ;)</span></span></div>
    <div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div>
    <div><span><span>Major Definition exposed me to a fascinating world of dance I knew very little about. It allowed me to become more confident, not just on stage, but in life. And for UMBC Mama’s Boys…I just love …a cappella groups! Before I entered UMBC as a freshman, I looked up both hip hop and a cappella groups to join, and I chose the hip hop route.</span></span></div>
    </div></div></div>
    </div>
    <div><div><div><div><div><span><br>
    </span></div></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><strong>Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?</strong></span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span><br>
    </span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div><div><div><div><span><span>A: </span><span>One of my favorite spots on campus is the area of tables underneath the flags of nations in the Commons.</span><span>  </span><span>There, I’ve had hundreds of conversations and meals with the most interesting and different kinds of people. </span><span>I also love that just by walking through; one can see the diversity UMBC is known for.</span><span> </span></span></div></div></div></div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
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<Summary>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...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/real-people-profiles-vania-denzio.html</Website>
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<PostedAt>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:35:00 -0500</PostedAt>
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<NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="5176" important="false" status="posted" url="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/llc/posts/5176">
<Title>Goodbye Teeth</Title>
<Body>
<![CDATA[
    <div class="html-content">
    <div><span>As I sat in the fluorescent light of the waiting room last Friday, I thought about how I was going to miss my teeth.  It wasn’t that I was facing a lifetime of difficulty chewing.  Wisdom teeth don’t offer much help in that department.  But I’m a hoarder of artifacts of personal significance.  I have quarter century-old t-shirts I can’t throw away because I wore them on momentous days.  A sudden, violent and permanent separation from two teeth that had been with me through decades of meals and conversations seemed sort of tragic.</span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div><span>These were sober, sentimental thoughts.  I tried to hold onto them as useful diversions from my approximately 29 intense fears.  Fear #4, that I would have an allergic reaction to the general anesthetic and perish during the extraction, was easy enough to suppress because it was so unlikely to happen.  But Fear #12, that I would have skull-splitting headaches for days afterward, seemed all too rational.  And as for Fear #18—that on the drive home Sharon would be distracted by concern for me and crash the car—well, it almost would have been disloyal to her not to be afraid.</span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div><span>Along with my diversions, I was equipped with sage advice from my predecessors in wisdom tooth extraction.  As it turns out, lots of people at UMBC have had their wisdom teeth removed.  I just waited longer than most to have it done.  In the days leading up to my appointment, I learned about pain medications, soft foods and the curious effects of anesthesia from many kind and sympathetic members of our community.  Generally these tidbits raised rather than lowered my blood pressure, but I appreciated everyone’s concern.</span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div><span>My name was called: “David.”  It seemed kind of informal, coming from a stranger who would soon help wrench away pieces of my head.  I was led to a small, white room, and instructed to take my place on a chair that seemed to be sprouting equipment.  The oral surgeon and two attendants got busy searching for veins and laying out instruments of torture.  And then ...</span></div>
    <div>
    <br>
    </div>
    <div>
    <span>Sharon says the whole thing took 17 minutes from the word “David,” followed by 40 minutes of delirious waiting while she paid and received instructions for my care.  Allegedly, during those 40 minutes, I repeated the phrase “I’m really glad I got the general anesthetic” about 7 times, plus 5 more later in the car.  I remember only sipping at a cup of lukewarm Diet Coke, and then the long ride home.  I felt no pain.  Later that night I got a mild headache, but on the whole the experience has been far, far easier than even the best-case scenario I had envisioned during the weeks of anticipation.</span><br>
    <br>
    While I will never see those two teeth again, I do have some new artifacts for my collection: emails and Facebook posts from thoughtful friends.  And though it’s not something I can stash in a drawer, I also get to keep a story that may ease the fears of the next of us in line for a tooth extraction.</div>
    <div></div>
    </div>
]]>
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<Summary>As I sat in the fluorescent light of the waiting room last Friday, I thought about how I was going to miss my teeth.  It wasn’t that I was facing a lifetime of difficulty chewing.  Wisdom teeth...</Summary>
<Website>http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/goodbye-teeth.html</Website>
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