Over the weekend the President affirmed his commitment to making Chinese takeout a centerpiece of his re-election strategy. House Republicans vowed to block any measure that did not allow for discounts on orders $35 or more. Photo from sfexaminer.com.

In a mere eight months the election will be over and we’ll be anxiously preparing ourselves for either another term of Barack Obama (the next exciting stage of our historically destined achievement of communism) or for a new era of conservative rule (a new-old era, maybe) led by a president who, despite so many expectations and indications to the contrary, managed to overcome the glaring limitations of his appeal in the final eight months of his campaign, vanquished his rivals, simultaneously revitalized his party and galvanized it behind him, and earned the sympathy of sensitive, vulnerable independent voters moved, sometimes to tears, by the justness of his cause, his elegant and old-fashioned statesmanship, and the sheer heroism of his labors to win their support when, not even a year before, he and his fellow candidates were being written off as fratricidal, then suicidal, bozos.

But let’s suppose for a minute that Obama wins.

The Washington Post reports that everyone is in a speculative mood over what a second term for Barack Obama might look like.  From the left’s expectations about same-sex marriage and the environment to the right’s concern over gun legislation, Iran’s nukes, and federal spending, there’s a little something for everybody.

By saying little about specifics, the President has done a lot to allow both sides to fantasize about what lies ahead.

Even after three years in office, Obama remains a political Rorschach test. His friends still project their brightest hopes on him. His enemies still project their deepest nightmares.

What do you expect from the President in his second term, if he gets one? What would you like to see happen – or not happen?

Is he going to do as conservatives have feared (and some liberals have hoped) by moving leftward and pursuing a radical or radical-ish agenda? Or is he going to be more like Bill Clinton and try to settle, modestly, somewhere in the middle (with a little more modesty, perhaps, than President Clinton demonstrated in his second term)?

And couldn’t it be that all this talk about what the President will or won’t do after he wins is a little premature? We’ve still got eight long, long months to go and there’s plenty of opportunity for surprise.

Just in case the President does win, though, we’ve designed a fun game of bingo that you can play over the next four years with your friends and family at home using these cards:

Visit the latest issue of UMBC Magazine online to read some great new stories — and view exclusive web extras! This issue includes features on:

• UMBC professor of political science Thomas Schaller talking about the success of his book, “Whistling Past Dixie,” and putting the 2012 presidential race into perspective.
• The coolest jobs (you never knew existed) at UMBC, including a glass blower, rat caretaker and more. (Plus, video!)
• We’ve also got a story about one of the biggest controversies in UMBC history: the 1969 literary magazine that featured nude photographs from a rising star in the Washington, DC art scene.

We’ve got some great alumni stories in this issue, too, from a really special alumni story told and drawn by comics whiz Monica Gallagher ’01, as well as UMBC employee George Vitak ’73; TV cameraman and children’s television producer George Stover ’73 and distinguished artist Kelley Bell ’06.

We’ve also got stories about everything from our Shady Grove campus anniversary, to tattoos of the new dog logo, to poet faculty member Michael Fallon, to research that may help children’s vaccinations become more effective, to “How to be Fast,” featuring an interview with track coach David Bobb ’02. We even made a  video in which members of the magazine staff put Coach Bobb’s suggestions to the test!

Read the latest issue of UMBC Magazine.

Feeling slightly aggressive today?

Well you need to hang out with Leif Kellenberger, Erik Wunsch and Eric Prumm the founders of

ULTIMATE TAZER BALL.

Apparently they invented a brand new “sport” involving eight men, a medicine ball, and…tazers?

Currently, there are only four professional teams, but the founders hope the sport will spread fast. They even have an official set of rules listed on their website for anyone who is interested.

Check out the video above for a little gaming preview.

Found a new hobby anyone?

Q:  Tell me a little bit about yourself: Major? Hometown? Favorite animals? Random facts?

A: I am an Asian Studies major and a Korean minor, I may change to modern languages though. I was born in Baltimore but raised in Trinidad. I’m a new transfer from Penn State, PSU!  I like giraffes, mustaches, and hotdogs!

Q:     How did you learn about the Diversity Education Internship (DEI)? Did you know right away that you wanted to do it?

A: A friend of mine was working front desk in the Mosaic and she told me about the application and I jumped right on it, what better way to get to know a diverse group of people faster than working in the Mosaic Center?

Q: Have you volunteered in any other diversity positions before you started? How did you learn skills you needed to know for this internship?

A: I had many leadership roles at PSU before attending UMBC; I was President of the Black Student Union and VP of Rainbow Paws, our LGBTQA org, and a student mentor for high school students through a program called Talent Search. Also, the summer before my transfer, I was training to work as an Ethnic Outreach Coordinator in our LGBT office on campus at PSU.

Q: How many hours each week do you work in the OSL Mosaic Center? What do you do during that time?

A: We are required to devote 5 hours of time a week but it always ends being more because the office is so much fun. We spend a lot of time joking around but we take care of business too. I am on the marketing and outreach team with Andrea and we try our best to spread the word about the office and internship. We also facilitate discussions held here and those are always an enriching experience.

Q: What is the most difficult thing you have encountered so far into the internship? What is the most interesting thing you have encountered?

A: Personally, I feel the most difficult thing I have encountered is the use of sensory language. I have a pretty big mouth and always say what is on my mind so it can be difficult to just sit back and listen. I have to say that that is also the most interesting thing I have encountered because when I just listen I learn so much more about a person and the things around me I couldn’t identify myself.

Q: What would you say to other students inquiring about becoming the next generation of DEIs?

A: I would say if you know want to get to know, work, and meet great people then try to become an intern. Not just anyone can come in here and represent the office; you have to have good a work ethic, personality, and most of all, communication skills. You have to know how to communicate because understanding a diverse group of people requires an affinity comprehension.

Q: What are your plans/goals for after UMBC?

A: Graduate school of course because a bachelor’s degree will not take you as far as it used to. I would love to get my PhD in communication because I love conversing and the art of languages. I plan to work in the University system, either as a professor or in Student Life.