Compiled by the Retriever Weekly Features Staff

Virgo- This week, you’ll feel completely overwhelmed by the number of ants in your apartment. How are you going to remember that many names?

Libra- This week, you’ll goof and forget to write Scorpio’s horoscope.

Scorpio- …

Sagittarius- This week, an amazing piece of French toast will teach you that language is no barrier to love.

Capricorn- You’ll despair this week when Zyrtec doesn’t make you any less allergic to fun.

Aquarius- After much searching, you’ll finally be able to cross off “find to-do list” from your to-do list.

Pisces- You’ll find hanging from a ledge for an hour to be stressful, but also one of the most productive brainstorming sessions that you’ve ever had.

Aries- Going for a brisk run has always made you feel better. But this week, it won’t help, perhaps because that angry German shepard is still right behind you.

Taurus- Although you’ll still have fun, this week you’ll learn that penultimate frisbee just isn’t as good as the real thing.

Gemini- This week you’ll save money and boost your self-esteem when you cancel your gym membership and join a children’s kickball league instead.

Cancer- Your predictions will be confirmed this week when you are reminded that mowing the lawn is such a drag ugggggh.

Leo- This week, you’ll be astounded by how much you can learn about the sun by staring directly at it.

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On April 23, WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show hosted a panel discussion on reaction to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died of a spinal injury a week after being chased and tackled by police officers in Baltimore. The story has drawn national attention and has sparked widespread discussion and debate.

Kimberly Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies, participated in the discussion along with several longtime community organizers and activists, including Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, Pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and Executive Director of Orita’s Cross Freedom School; Tawanda Jones, sister of Tyrone West, a man who died while in police custody in July 2013 in Baltimore; Megan Sherman, Producer at The Real News Network; Tim Wilson, co-Director of On Our Shoulders; and A. F.  James MacArthur, blogger for the Baltimore Spectator, who spent several months in jail in 2013, following a standoff with the police.

During the program, Moffitt discussed her viewpoints on the city’s reaction to Freddie Gray’s death and analyzed some of the language used by city officials in discussing the case. To listen to the powerful segment in its entirety, click here.

Young woman takes part in martial arts and aspires to improve the life of dogs.

What is your name, major, and year?

My name is Rosalind Ramsey, a senior who is majoring in chemical engineering with a focus in biology, and minoring in political science. It may sound cliche, but I consider myself a ‘super senior’ because I have been at UMBC for quite a while.

Where are you from (city, county, state)?

My hometown is the lovely Glenn Dale in Prince George’s County, MD.

Who do you admire and why?

I admire my favorite artist, Alphonse Mucha, because when the Germans took over Czechoslovakia and tried to exterminate their heritage, he fought back to the point where he was captured and released by the Germans multiple times.

What is your career goal and what do you expect of it?

I wish to eventually work in renewable energy or biotechnology. I want a job that I do not feel guilty about when I fall asleep. I would rather have a part-of-the-solution career. Having a job where I am not hurting the earth or any of its creatures would be a fine start for a career.

If you could change one thing around the world, what would it be and why?

I would definitely change the lifespan that dogs live. They could live as long as humans, so you do not have to watch your best friend grow old and die before you finish adolescence. Man’s best friend matters just as much.

Describe something about you that uniquely stands out.

People point out my exuberant personality, which is equally matched by my pixie cut.

What do you like most about UMBC?

I like that it would be great to bunker down in during an apocalypse. It would definitely throw me into survival mode.

What activities do you participate in on campus?

I participate in Wushu-a, modern Chinese martial arts. I am often seen around campus with my black and yellow jacket, which bears the name. Any free events are enjoyable so I can get my breakfast and Bingo on every once and a while.

What piques your interest in martial arts?

I enjoy the discipline that martial arts offers. I believe in the repetition of it because it makes room for improvement. It allows me to let my hair down and forget about my cares, as I practice my moves.

What social issue can you relate to, and why?

The thing that I can identify with are the feminist movements that are currently going on. “HeforShe” and “ThisIsPersonal” campaigns, to be exact, align with my interest in equal rights for women like myself.

Who is the celebrity you would like to meet; what would you do with him/her?

I would like to meet actors Seth Rogan, and do a brunch with him, and also James Franco, to make and write a movie with.

What is/are your favorite thing(s) to do outside of UMBC?

At the moment, I am on a board game frenzy. I have been binging on co-op games, more specifically, Eldritch Horror, a really intense end-of-the-world, role-playing board game. It takes almost six hours to get to the point of even determining if you can win. I also play video games when I have the time.

Where do you want to spend your next vacation?

I want to go to the Philippines, Thailand, Ireland or all three. I am curious about the happenings over there and want to take in all of its beauty.

What is your favorite genre of television (comedy, competition, reality, etc.) and why?

Since I have no cable, I just watch Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead on Netflix. I love all the Netflix originals so far. I just finished Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (good job, Tina Fey).

What kind of music do you like?

I like anything loud, like rap, Indie, rock and anything in between. My favorites include Andre 3000, Childish Gambino, Phantogram, Florence and the Machine, Portugal, the Man and Coldplay. They all manage to put some pep in my step everyday.

Are you musically inclined, and if so, what do you play?

I am not all musically inclined, but I do manage a band called Applefeast since I am more in tune with the managing aspect. Being in charge gives me a sense of liberation.

If you met Dr. Hrabowski (UMBC President), what would you say to him?

If I met him, I would say, “If you are reading this, please write me a recommendation so I can get a good job. Thank you very much.”

Photo: Rosalind R.

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Sorority and fraternities showcase their best talents

Multiple sororities and fraternities made an appearance in the talent show “Greek Factor,” which was held in the University Center ballroom on April 13.

On the night of April 13, the ballroom was teeming with activity, with people dancing up and down the aisles and singing along to Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk.” Six girls dressed in black tank tops and black shorts were rehearsing dance steps in synchronization, much to the surprise of people who stepped into the ballroom and right into their routine. Everyone was chatting lively while awaiting the “Greek Factor” talent show.

At 7:06 p.m., everything went dark, save for a spotlight that illuminated the black platform at the front of the room. That was when Alpha Sigma Kappa took the stage.

The sorority, which is celebrating its ten year anniversary, started the show with a single sister kneeling in the middle of the platform. Two others approached her from either side, singing Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul.” An abrupt switch to Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” revealed a lively dance mash-up. The audience chimed in to sing along to “This **** is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s.”

“It was a lot of fun,” said Halima Doka, a sophomore biology and psychology double major and member of ASK. “We were nervous and exhausted from a lot of practice. It was a blast.” Doka and the other girls who participated in the show developed the idea for the routine and practiced it in less than a week.

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi was another sorority that shared the spotlight that night. The girls, who were practicing their routine in the back of the ballroom prior to the show, took to the stage and told the story of a ninja squad that journeys through trials of “scholarship, leadership and Asian awareness.” This story was accompanied by Carl Douglas’ “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting.” About half way through the song, Flo Rida’s “GDFR” cut in and the girls kicked off their step routine. The audience cheered and cat-called throughout their performance.

The “Greek Factor” talent show was the first of many events to take place during Greek Week. Shelbi Tippett, a freshman mechanical engineering major and another member of AΣK, commented on the talent show, once it concluded. She said, “It was a great mix of talent, a beautiful showcase.”

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Hello Everyone,

I would like to thank everyone for voting in our elections. The new executive board is as follows:

President: Alexander Tancock
Vice President: William "Billy" Davies

Treasurer: Roberto Melgar
Secretary: Pratik Parmar
Public Relations: Jessica Ferris
Human Relations: Samantha Catterton

CUERE Seminar presents Dr. John M. Sharp, Jr. from the National Science Foundation and University of Texas. His talk will be on “Effects of urbanization on shallow hydrogeolic systems.” Friday, May 1, 2015 at 2:00 pm in the TRC Building room 206.

On Wednesday, May 6,  the Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign, Taking Flight, UMBC YouthFIRST team, UMBC Counseling Center, the Department of Psychology, NAMI at UMBC, Maryland Early Intervention Program, and Active Minds are hosting a panel discussion titled, “Students Share Stories: Navigating College with Mental Health Challenges.” The panel takes place at 4 p.m. in the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. Doors to the event open at 3:40 and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

During the event, the student panelists will share their personal journeys through illness and recovery and discuss issues of stigma and mental health advocacy. A community discussion with Q&A and refreshments will follow the panel.

At 12 noon on the same day, a “flash mob” will take place to raise awareness of mental health at the plaza between the University Center and the Math/Psychology Building. The events take place during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Humanities/Social Sciences Forum
Thursday, May 7 | 4:00 p.m.
Lipitz Lecture
Devin Hagerty, Professor of Political Science and Director, Global Studies, UMBC 
Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery 

Recent events and scholarly analysis suggest that South Asia may be trending toward yet another nuclear-tinged Indo-Pakistani crisis. Meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India has stalled, the disputed territory of Kashmir has seen regular exchanges of fire across the Line of Control (LOC), and Indian strategic elites worry about the possibility of another Mumbai-style terrorist attack. This talk assesses the robustness of Indo-Pakistani deterrence stability. More specifically, it analyzes the likelihood that another mass-casualty attack on Indian soil, carried out by terrorists sponsored by elements of the Pakistani state, would escalate to conventional – and perhaps nuclear – war between Pakistan and India. This question is considered in the context of previous Indo-Pakistani crises in 1999, 2001-02, and 2008; recent quantitative and qualitative improvements in Pakistani and Indian nuclear forces; the growing superiority of India’s conventional military forces over Pakistan’s; and the more muscular foreign policy adopted by the new government of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Devin T. Hagerty is a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Global Studies program at UMBC. He teaches on international relations, national security policy, and South Asia. Hagerty is the author of The Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation: Lessons from South Asia (MIT Press, 1998) and co-author (with Sumit Ganguly) of Fearful Symmetry: India-Pakistan Crises in the Shadow of Nuclear Weapons (University of Washington Press, 2005). He edited South Asia in World Politics (Rowman and Littlefield, 2005). Hagerty has published in International Security, Security Studies, Current History,Asian Survey, the Australian Journal of International Affairs, and other journals. He co-edits the journalAsian Security. Hagerty has a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a B.A. from Rutgers University.

Sponsored by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; and the Social Sciences Forum.

In light of the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble telescope, Joseph Tatarewicz, an associate professor of history, was quoted extensively in a Christian Science Monitor article and reflected on the hype and drama surrounding the telescope.

In the article, Tatarewicz called it a ” “Perils of Pauline” saga with emotional highs and lows, such as the botched-mirror episode. From its very beginning, each time Hubble hit a low, it rebounded, Tatarewicz said, “but before it rebounded, to one degree or another, the future of the agency and spaceflight hung on it. It’s just a good story.”

With the telescope’s high expectations to gather crisp images with unprecedented detail, Tatarewicz said he would marvel with his colleagues at the claims the telescope’s supporters were making. “We occasionally would say the hype is getting out of hand,” he recalled. “The irony is that it has exceeded expectations on almost everything you can think of.”

To read the full article in the Christian Science Monitor titled “Hubble: The people’s telescope at 25,” click here.