This morning, UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski announced the creation of the new UMBC Center for Cybersecurity.

The aim of the center is to provide both Maryland and the nation with academic and research leadership, collaboration, innovation, and outreach in this critical discipline by streamlining UMBC's academic, research, workforce development, and technology incubation activities to advance the University's position as a leading research university in cybersecurity-related disciplines.

CSEE Professor Dr. Anupam Joshi will be the new center's director. Dr. Richard Forno, director of UMBC's Cybersecurity graduate programs, will serve as Assistant Director.

The center is made up of UMBC faculty across many disciplines, including Computer Science, Information Systems, Public Policy, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics. It will expand upon UMBC's pre-existing Cybersersecurity efforts like the Center for Information Security and Assurance (CISA), and the Cync Program run by the Cyber Incubator@bwtech.

In partnership with UMBC's Center for Women in Technology, the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity will also facilitate a new scholarship program called the UMBC Cyber Scholars program. Set to launch this January, the scholarship program is funded by a generous $1 million grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

To learn more about the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity, visit: cybersecurity.umbc.edu and follow the center on Facebook and Twitter.

Courtesy of Politico

Last night the second presidential debate was held at Hofstra University, the largest private college in Long Island, New York. President Barack Obama and challenger Governor Mitt Romney clashed sharply on the economy, and other social issues.

The first question asked during this town-hall styled forum came from a 20-year-old college student regarding the job market and finding a job when he graduates.

Gov. Romney won the coin toss and was the first to answer this question.

He went on to say that his solution would consist of two things.

We have to make sure that we make it easier for kids to afford college. And also make sure that when they get out of college, there’s a job. When I was governor of Massachusetts, to get a high school degree, you had to pass an exam. If you graduated in the top quarter of your airlines, we gave you a John and Abigail Adams scholarship, four years tuition free at the college of your choice in Massachusetts, it’s a public institution.

I want to make sure we keep our Pell grant program growing. We’re also going to have our loan program, so that people are able to afford school. But the key thing is to make sure you can get a job when you get out of school. And what’s happened over the last four years has been very, very hard for America’s young people. I want you to be able to get a job.

President Obama’s answered this question as well by stating

Now, the most important thing we can do is to make sure that we are creating jobs in this country. But not just jobs, good paying jobs. Ones that can support a family.

And what I want to do, is build on the five million jobs that we’ve created over the last 30 months in the private sector alone. And there is a bunch of things we can do to make sure your future is bright.

Number one, I want to build manufacturing jobs in this country again. Now when Governor Romney said we should let Detroit go bankrupt. I said we’re going to bet on American workers and the American auto industry and it’s come surging back.

I want to do that in industries, not just in Detroit, but all across the country and that means we change our tax code so we’re giving incentives to companies that are investing here in the United States and creating jobs here.

It also means we’re helping them and small businesses to export all around the world to new markets.

Number two, we’ve got to make sure that we have the best education system in the world. And the fact that you’re going to college is great, but I want everybody to get a great education and we’ve worked hard to make sure that student loans are available for folks like you, but I also want to make sure that community colleges are offering slots for workers to get retrained for the jobs that are out there right now and the jobs of the future.

Number three, we’ve got to control our own energy. Now, not only oil and natural gas, which we’ve been investing in; but also, we’ve got to make sure we’re building the energy source of the future, not just thinking about next year, but ten years from now, 20 years from now. That’s why we’ve invested in solar and wind and biofuels, energy efficient cars.

We’ve got to reduce our deficit, but we’ve got to do it in a balanced way. Asking the wealthy to pay a little bit more along with cuts so that we can invest in education like yours.

And let’s take the money that we’ve spent on war over the last decade to rebuild America, roads, bridges schools. We do those things, not only is your future going to be bright but America’s future is going to bright as well.

How do would you grade their responses?

The Washington Post poll from last night’s debate reveal that 52% trust President Obama to handle their education. Whereas 34% trust Gov. Romney.

Did their answers satisfy you? Are you still undecided?  Let us know!!

(by Meghan Carpenter)

If you walk down UMBC’s main academic row and ask people if they’re sick of politics, many will say yes without skipping a beat. Understandably, it’s easy to be disenchanted with politics when candidates are constantly asking for contributions so that they can run more attack ads in swing states. In a state like Maryland where our votes don’t often appear to matter, it can be hard to believe that anyone’s solitary vote can make a difference.

On the contrary, voting cannot be more important ... (continue reading)

I EAT THINGS RADIO IZZZZZZZZZZZ BACK...

::::NEW EPISODES EVERY THORSDAY ON WMBC::::

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Reflection

There is an entire industry devoted to aftermarket performance parts for cars. You might buy a big spoiler to make your car look faster and maybe a new exhaust to make it even sound faster. But in the end, no matter how persuasive it looks or sounds, your car isn’t really faster at all. Paul challenges us to consider what we depend on as we minister. We don’t need fancy words, convincing arguments or specific personalities, but we have access to real power. We can know our crucified and risen Lord. We can live each day full of purpose and free of distractions, seeking to respond to God’s great love by loving Him and loving others. And seeing faith springing forth in others as a result of His power in their lives. This is the real power that we depend on as we minister and love this generation.

Response

Let’s pray that our faith will not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power. Let’s come to the cross once again with all of our worldly notions and dependences and confess that its all about Christ alone. May we resolve to know and depend on nothing else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Let’s ask for the Spirit’s power as we minister to others and for hearts to be softened and turned to the Lord.

On Friday, October 13, Kimberly Moffitt, assistant professor of American studies, discussed the vice presidential debate on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks.

Rodricks opened the discussion by asking if the vice presidential debate mattered.  Most viewers found the debate entertaining, but would anything that the vice presidential nominees said change voters’ minds?

“I do think this was a sideshow, but it was a pretty entertaining one for us all,” said Moffitt. “These are two individuals who do matter, but they aren’t the voices we want to hear most significantly in the election.  They made a difference in terms of reenergizing, for both camps, this interest in what’s happening.”

The full conversation can be heard here.