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Contact:
Anthony Lane
(410) 455-5793
alane@umbc.edu

Melissa Koskovich
(703) 676-6762
Melissa.l.koskovich@saic.com

Laura Luke
(703) 676-6533
laura.luke@saic.com

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced that SAIC has committed $300,000 to support a new active-learning initiative at UMBC that draws on the latest technology and education research to help students succeed in critical introductory mathematics and science classes.

By providing an environment that engages and supports students as they begin studying these subjects, UMBC's College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) Active Science Teaching and Learning Environment (CASTLE) facility aims to increase the number of students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). More graduates are needed in these subjects to help the U.S. maintain economic strength and an innovative edge.

UMBC made a substantial investment to design and construct CASTLE as part of a broad effort to engage students aspiring to major in STEM disciplines. SAIC's support as founding sponsor will enable faculty and staff to implement the best approaches to active learning and to redesign key courses to make full use of the facility's resources.

"In this age of increasing global competition, it is essential that we support the students who will move our country forward in science and technology," said Larry Cox, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "This commitment to UMBC is an investment in both the number and quality of future scientists and engineers who will be available to work at companies like SAIC."

This collaboration builds on UMBC and SAIC's existing relationship, including SAIC's participation on UMBC advisory boards and the 2010-11 Visionaries in Information Technology Forum. UMBC students are active participants in SAIC's summer internship program.

"We are delighted to collaborate with SAIC to explore innovative ways to help our students excel in introductory math and science courses," said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. "As a leader in technology, SAIC is demonstrating a commitment to preparing more students for careers in these critical fields."

About UMBC

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research, and service. An Honors University with enrollment of 12,800, the campus offers academically talented students a strong foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, community service and leadership. UMBC emphasizes science, engineering, information technology and public policy at the graduate level. For the second year in a row, U.S. News & World Report America's Best Colleges Guide named UMBC the #1 up-and-coming national university. UMBC was also recognized as a place "where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching."

About SAIC

SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company's approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.8 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2010. For more information, visit www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®

Saturday’s shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tuscon, Arizona, shocked the nation.

It seemed within minutes of the incident fingers to started to get pointed.

The tragedy quickly turned into a left-versus-right, who-is-responsible-for-all-this, blame-the-other-guy discussion.

This blogger feels, probably naively, the discussion should have first been one of reverence and thoughtfulness.

Only later, when the time is right, should the thorny issues of gun violence, security of public officials, and American political culture be addressed.

To be fair, this event was hard to comprehend. Even Jon Stewart, whom ForeverPlaid looks to for the right things to say all too often, admitted on his show last night (video here) that he didn’t know how to respond to the tragedy. He did say some necessarily sincere things, which should be appreciated:

If there is any solace in this, I think it’s that for all the hyperbole and the vitriol that’s become a part of the political process, when the reality of that rhetoric, when actions match the disturbing nature of words, we haven’t lost our capacity to be horrified.

In relation to the “rhetoric” that Stewart described, in the past few days, there has been a lot of talk about how Sarah Palin’s “cross hairs” map, which came out last spring to single out Democrats in traditional GOP districts to be “targeted” for their votes for health care reform.

It’s also been well-reported that Congresswoman Giffords herself commented on how the heated rhetoric and imagery like this can be consequential.

Yet, it’s difficult already to know if or how the alleged gunman, Jared Loughner, in particular was affected by gun-related graphics and language like Palin’s and others’. At the same time, mixing guns and political communication shouldn’t be tolerated because of what it stands for implicitly.

H/T TPM

On the other hand, Nick Gillespie wrote for the Reason blog that:

The problem isn’t with the current moment’s rhetoric, it’s with the … politicization of every …  thing not even for a higher purpose or broader fight but for the cheapest moment-by-moment partisan advantage. Whether on the left or on the right, there’s a totalist mentality that everything can and should be explained first and foremost as to whether it helps or hurt the party of choice.

Perhaps it’s difficult not to be a political reactionary or opportunist when violence that is so politically-tinged occurs.

Still, these questions are raised: Can the blame rest solely on the shoulders of an allegedly mentally unstable gunman? Or is there a greater problem with political culture or violence culture in America?

Should such a tragedy be fodder for political posturing?

Update: CBS has released a poll of 673 American adults that indicates:

Overall, 57 percent of respondents said the harsh political tone had nothing to do with the shooting, compared to 32 percent who felt it did. Republicans were more likely to feel the two were unrelated – 69 percent said rhetoric was not to blame; 19 percent said it played a part. Democrats were more split on the issue – 49 percent saw no connection; 42 percent said there was.

Believable, in an unbelievable way: The Westboro Baptist Church will be picketing the funerals of the victims of Saturday’s shooting in Tuscon.

Genuine Ken: The Search for the Great American Boyfriend. Wait, what?

Another crooked politician headed to the jailhouse: This time, it’s Tom DeLay.

Non sequitur alert! Cat video: