This fall marks the first time that UMBC has tried using an alternative parking permit method. Instead of the usual hang tags that are placed on your rearview mirror, all commuters and residents have to do now is digitally request and be granted a virtual parking pass. While the number of students with permits has increased greatly, the number of parking spots has not been adjusted appropriately to accommodate all of the new vehicles. This leaves commuters two options: circle the parking lots until they find a space or find an alternative transportation method.

UMBC Parking Services recently posted a short article called “Fall Semester Commuter Student Parking Tips” in the wake of the parking dilemma. Tips include getting your parking permit, getting to campus early to have enough time to find parking, carpooling and a reminder that Lots 22, 25, 29 and the Stadium Lot are good places to find spots when parking is most difficult to find during the day.

One option is taking the UMBC shuttle buses. The buses are free of cost to students, have six routes, run frequently and have extensive operating hours. Routes include Courtney Road, Arundel, Catonsville, Arbutus/MARC, Route 40 and Downtown buses. The buses come, on average, once or twice an hour from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., depending on the route. They also run on weekends, although much less frequently. Not only are the buses useful for commuting to and from campus, but also for leisure purposes, getting groceries and more.

There is also a tracking app for the UMBC buses, Rider, but it is not always accurate, so it must be used in conjunction with the bus timetables.

Another public transportation option is buying an MTA bus pass. Off-Campus Student Services, or OCSS, is located in The Commons and sells monthly MTA passes for $52.90. The MTA All Access College Transit Pass can be used for unlimited trips on the MTA Local Bus, Light Rail and Metro Subway.

Zimride is a ridesharing/carpooling service that exclusively serves UMBC students, staff and faculty. Akin to services like Uber and Lyft, Zimride drivers get paid for their transportation services, riders can “request” a ride and drivers can “post” a ride when they are ready to drive. All carpoolers may park in Lot 4, “Casual Carpool,” before 10:30 a.m.

Zipcar, a better-known name, is a car-borrowing service that has two locations on campus, one at the Administration Drive Garage and the other by Susquehanna Hall. The company charges a per-hour fee, as well as a per-day fee. An upside to the per-day deal is that the cost includes 180 miles per day, gas, and insurance. Their college student program, Students with Drive, offers scholarships, group donations and Zipcar credit.

Electric vehicle users can make use of UMBC’s two charging spots in the Stadium Lot which can be used free of charge. Furthermore, UMBC has numerous bike racks throughout campus along with a bikeshare program, RetrieverFleet. All staff, faculty, and students are eligible for the program, a single-day free bike rental from the RAC. However, each day that the bike is not returned will cost $17.

Community members can find more information about transportation options via UMBC’s website.

The first hints of fall made for a brisk October night this past Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. Eager fans in hoodies and knit beanies filled the Metro Gallery, patiently waiting to see the Boston-based band Crumb.

Lead by singer and guitarist Laila Ramani, the band tastefully mixes freeform indie rock with an intricate variety of keyboard styles. It is all topped off with the soft, fluid voice of Ramani. Her voice melts with the instruments, providing for a smooth sound that pleases the ear with its carefree tone.

The anticipation grew amongst the crowd following an impressive opening set by Orion Sun, whose soulful voice touched the audience. As showtime arrived, Ramani and the rest of the band, bassist Jesse Brotter, keyboardist Brian Aronow and drummer Jonathan Gilad, made their way into the blue lights of the stage — much to the audience’s excitement. Their relaxed clothing made them look like fans themselves, far from the age-old rock musician look. However, their attire reflected their alternative yet genuine style of music.

Ramani spoke few words throughout the performance. She preferred to let the music run near continuously. Her soft voice sang melodic verses, bookended by lengthy instrumental periods. This maintained the soothing flow that ran through the bodies of each fan and set a calm feeling within the venue. The cohesion of the band’s instruments play with Ramani’s voice makes for a unique sound that listeners can find exclusively with Crumb.

The long instrumentals provided jam sessions among the whole band. They turned towards each other on stage, focusing attentively on their craft, while the sound pulsated through the crowd. In a genre filled with lyrics, it was refreshing to hear the instruments independently from the vocals in their pure, intended form.

By the time the end of the show came, the audience stood gazing at the stage. Their mood was completely reset by the music’s pacifying tone, conveying how powerful music can truly be. The satisfied crowd shuffled out of the narrow doorways into the night, feeling as though they got their money’s worth.

Crumb’s uncommon style is celebrated for its rarity, drawing in a growing population of fans that actively follows the band. With a successful tour of the United States, the band will now embark on a European tour this coming fall. Still a young, developing band, there is no telling what success they could have. The demand for performances is promising, as the band nears the release of their first full-length album. Pay close attention to Crumb in 2019. Their different sound has the potential to attract tons of fans as they trail blaze a new style of music.

Performers thrive on audience feedback. There is an energy that comes from putting on a show for people and knowing that they enjoy the finished product after the work it took to get there. On the other side of this experience is an electric feeling one gets from sitting in the audience, watching talented people put everything into a display of passion and drive.

Students should embrace the opportunities to enjoy the artistic performances and displays on campus. There are abundant events, from concerts to shows, displays and performances every semester, and many of them cost very little or are even free.

Engaging with artistic performances allows people to gain insight into the world, to experience positive mental stimulation and even see the human experience reflected through art.

The value of art spans many mediums, and there is something for everyone here on campus; students can attend a workshop with UMBC’s dance group, Major Definition; hear Camerata perform an expansive choral repertoire; or watch a TheatreCOM performance, along with many other experiences. Such variety allows for students to attend the kinds of events they enjoy, and it also means that they can expose themselves to new kinds of art.

Sanjana Taskar, a senior studying acting and sociology, wrote in an email, “Try to go for something that you would never in a million years think you’d be interested in. You see for yourself what your likes and dislikes are, and form the opinions you’d like to make by going out of your comfort zone.”

As members of the audience watching displays of artistic talent, students can support their peers and experience culture without even having to leave the campus. Students are often wanting for entertainment, but sometimes it is staring them in the face and waiting for them to acknowledge it.

“These arts programs provide a release from the daily stress of life. It just takes a few hours to go and expose yourself to these things,” said Corey Wiggs, a senior music technology and computer science double major and member of the Cleftomaniacs, a student a cappella group. “You’re never going to have another point in your life when you’re going to be so close to so many artistic opportunities.”

Wiggs added that there are frequent updates to the music department website and the UMBC tickets website in addition to event listings on myUMBC, allowing ample opportunity for students to learn about what kinds of events are approaching and what they might be interested in.

Sitting in a dorm room and passing the time with friends can be fun, but every once in a while students should step out and experience the amazing opportunities for rich artistic enterprises available at UMBC.

As a friendly reminder, all merit scholarship recipients are required to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) and successfully complete at least 12+ credits (6+ credits for transfer students) each semester. Since mid-terms are quickly approaching, we have provided you the following list of accessible resources on campus to ensure you successfully meet the terms of your scholarship agreement 

●Arrange a meeting with an academic advisor at the Advising Services Department to discuss success strategies.

●Utilize Student Support and Tutoring Services for peer and tutoring resources.

● Visit the Learning Resources Center for learning assistance services.

● Schedule a one-on-one meeting with your professors to validate you are obtaining the accurate information in lectures and/or labs.

At the end of the fall semester, the Merit Scholarship Review Committee will review your academic record and confirm compliance with your scholarship requirements.

If you have any questions regarding your scholarship terms and conditions, please feel free to contact us at: https://scholarships.umbc.edu/contact-us/ or by phone at 410-455-3813.

After the outcry against UMBC’s mishandling of sexual abuse cases and the subsequent protest, UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski spoke to several dozen protesters in his office. At the time, he stressed his belief that the issue at hand was not an actual structural failure of UMBC administration or its policy, but instead a failure to “communicate.”

This position was put in context last Wednesday as Dr. Hrabowski was added to the list of defendants in the lawsuit that sparked the protest in the first place.

Indeed, many across campus are concerned by the calculated response of the university to this controversy — a response that offers no administrative reforms, even as more and more survivors come out and share testimonies that reveal a pattern of administrators dismissing and covering up cases of rape and abuse.

The most notable case of this mishandling is that of UMBC Chief of Police Paul Dillon, who is accused of repeatedly and purposefully misclassifying reports of sexual violence. The allegations tell horror stories of Dillon allowing rape kits to be destroyed, having survivors harassed and having the rapists interviewed at a Chick-Fil-A.

Despite these accusations, the university has never really acknowledged calls for his removal. A comprehensive email sent on Oct. 11 detailed next steps being taken to address the controversy, measures that seemed largely inspired by the protesters’ demands. Conspicuously missing, however, was any talk of replacing the administrators in charge of handling cases of sexual abuse, a request which was given a high priority among those demands.

Frankly, the university can adopt as many new initiatives as it wants, but that tackles only half the problem. What good are these reforms if the people implementing them have a history of covering up rape?

One defense Hrabowski gave in an interview with the Baltimore Sun was that he had not been hearing that students around campus still wanted removals.

However, this seems more indicative of administration wanting to push a narrative than an actual reflection of reality, and this can be seen around campus. Chalk tags calling for reforms and removals have been appearing regularly on buildings around campus. These are removed within hours of being spotted by administration.

For comparison, in 2016 a white nationalist group tagged campus with stickers and flyers calling for violence against non-white students, which were never addressed by campus authorities and were instead taken down by students.

Furthermore, the students with whom administration is deliberating seem handpicked. The “UMBC Accountability Team and Student Partners,” which published the email update on next steps, includes none of the leaders of the protest or the march to the tenth floor of the Administration Building, for instance. One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, was dismissed from the SGA (which is included in the team) for being involved with the protest.

Ultimately, the university is offering reforms that, while in many ways are good, cannot be considered a full solution. Instead of working with students independently to see what the wider student body wants and what survivors on campus need, the university is trying to dictate reforms on their own terms.

Because of that insistence, these reforms are being overseen by an administration that covered up rape instead of by the community that is calling for justice, making the administration at best suspect and at worst a perpetuation of the problem.

The SGA hosted a debate between Baltimore County executive candidates Al Redmer Jr. and Johnny Olszewski Jr. on Oct. 15. In the debate, the two candidates brought different experiences and showed different visions for the county.

Redmer, a Republican, has had 45 years of experience in both private and public jobs. He was a volunteer firefighter, served as the President of the Perry Hall Improvement Association, served as a representative for District 8 in the House of Delegates and served as Maryland Insurance Commissioner. His opponent, Olszewski, spent seven years teaching in Baltimore County public schools and served on the Baltimore County House delegation at the age of 23, making him the youngest chairman to have ever served on the Baltimore County House Delegation.

In his platform, Olszewski promises universal pre-K, two billion dollars to renovate schools, expansion of tuition-free community college and a 20 percent pay raise for teachers. In contrast, Redmer talked about “fixing the problem we already have” and believes Baltimore does not have the money to spend on these new programs while keeping other promises. He also stated that his opponent would have to raise taxes or borrow money to pay for all these new programs. On education, Redmer says, “50 percent of kids that graduate need remedial education and kids with special needs aren’t getting the services they deserve; rather than spending new money on new things, it is better to redouble our efforts and do what we are supposed to do and get it right.” Redmer’s platform promises to fight corruption in the County Council and school boards, stop over-development and promote better services like waste management and code enforcement.

In regards to the issues and sexual assault allegations pertaining to UMBC, the candidates kept their answers short but to the point. Redmer talked about transparency and fighting cronyism. Olszewski went personal with his answer; he talked about having a little daughter and creating an environment where she can feel safe coming forward if something like that ever happens to her.

One highlight of the debate was the candidates’ answer to the question: “Do you support your party’s candidate for Governor?” Redmer, who is endorsed by Governor Hogan, said that Hogan is “engaged and committed to changing Maryland for the better. He avoids partisan battles and finds common sense solutions.” Olszewski began his answer by taking a jab at his opponent and said, “It comes as no surprise; Al supports President Trump and his party … I am a Democrat, so I support Democratic candidates.” 

Overall, the debate gave the two candidates a valuable opportunity to lay out their visions for the county despite the underwhelming turnout for the event. More information on the candidates and their stances are available on their websites.