A blog reflection by Joe Levin-Manning, Graduate Coordinator for LGBTQ Programs

One thing I think we need to see and hear more of is people feeling uncomfortable. While there is a time and a place for the principle of “safe space” it has now become somewhat of a crutch to not have to face challenging issues. I will acknowledge that my introduction to this idea was through this concept of Brave Space (that is hyperlinked, so please check the article out). Last year’s theme for Critical Social Justice introduced this topic to the UMBC community and offered a social justice lens and I hope to take this a little further and throw a little Jewish spin on it as well.

In Judaism we have these things called Torah, Mishnah, and Talmud. Everything talked about in these three books is not always cut and dry. One of the things the Talmud specifically is known for is the debate that occurs between the different rabbis. Even several thousand years ago the rabbis knew that in order to grow you must be challenged. I remember talking with a colleague about studying texts and they said they missed the buzz of a Beit Midrash, a room where people study and struggle with text. Then, I wondered why have we become so content with making everyone pacified, instead of asking someone to acknowledge their bigotry and evolve.

We have begun to fall into a trap of believing that all spaces must be safe spaces. This is a very dangerous trap. This misuse of safe space weakens the understanding of where the need for a safe space came from. If left unchecked more and more people will feel ostracized and shamed any time they learn they offended someone. There is a similar issue with the idea of political correctness. It is a faulty attempt at trying to make people feel better by creating “appropriate language” to put people into boxes and not feel guilty about it. The problem here is that we are trying to equate someone’s identity with boxes and the tension that ensues is electric. 

In Judaism we have this principle called lashon hara (evil tongue). What this basically means is that we are not to speak ill of another person. This principle does not differentiate rumors from the truth, you are to never speak ill of another person. At first this may seem as if we have to ignore the faults that others have. I disagree. I believe is actually charging us all to do our part in being investing in bettering our community by trying to strengthen all the members of it. By talking about someone behind their back we prevent them from having the opportunity to learn. No, not everyone wants to learn or better themselves, but some do. You might be surprised by the fact that some people have good intentions and just did not know how to express themselves. Do not let them become Elphaba, someone who unintentionally caused harm by attempting to do good. Someone who almost completely lost faith in acts of loving kindness.

The goal of most educational institutions is to produce graduates that will become productive members of society. In ancient Greek and Roman societies, being a productive member of society meant that you were involved in the public discourse. (I do acknowledge that these debates/political processes did prohibit certain groups from participating, namely women and slaves.) However there was such an emphasis placed on being a part of your community that there were consequences for something like not voting.

While I am not advocating for whipping those who chose not to exercise their right to vote, what I am saying is that we need to engage more in public discourse. Challenging systems that are not fair to others. Being okay with being uncomfortable because that is how we learn. Something the most important question to ask is not “how did this happen?”, it is “why did this happen?” Once we understand why, we can begin to challenge it and fix it.

To bring this topic home let’s look at Baltimore. Now more than ever we need to revel in our discomfort and tackle these issues in our community. In order to affect change we have to take this discomfort we feel and create an opportunity for productivity. This practice will allow us to rebuild our community from the inside, to tackle the discrimination and oppression that exists in our community. The theme for Critical Social Justice this year, Baltimore 365, aims to do just that. We hope that by bringing in people that are doing this valuable work year round we can keep this conversation elevated in all our lives and keep you inspired you for action. 

Adapted from: Musings by Joe

Below are featured events and internship/employment opportunities that have recently been posted or have application deadline dates that are quickly approaching!  To see all that the UMBC Career Center has to offer YOU, please visit our myUMBC group page or log into your UMBCworks account!

FEATURED EVENTS….

Upcoming On the Roads….check them out and RSVP via UMBCworks!

NEW!  On the Road: Idealist Grad School Fair, Thursday, October 1, 2015, 3:30 – 8:00 pm.  Thinking about graduate school?  This one is for you!

NEW!  GRADUATE and UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS!  On the Road: The Nielsen Company, Friday, October 2, 2015, 9 am – 1 pm

Will you be graduating in December 2015 or May 2016? Do you realize that the heaviest recruitment season will begin in October? Spend a Friday afternoon with us and be prepared to face this critical time with confidence!  Senior Success Seminar– Friday, September 18, 2015 – RSVP is required!

Inside Scoop: Global Careers – Monday, September 21, Noon – 1 pm

UMBC Connects: GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE) – Wednesday, September 23, 11 am – 2 pm
STOP IN WHEN YOU ARE ABLE! No need to stay for the entire event!

****************************************************************************************************

NEW!  On-Campus Interview Deadlines

Tutela Bedside Technologies
Health IT Emerging Tech Web Developer
Deadline to Apply:  September 15, 2015
Interview Date:  September 22, 2015

PNC Financial Services Group
ACCEL Retail Bank Development Program Analyst
Deadline to Apply:  September 16, 2015
Interview Date:  September 30, 2015

McCormick & Company, Inc
Co-Op Engineering (full-time winter through summer)
Deadline to Apply:  September 21, 2015
Interview Date:  October 5, 2015

FEATURED FULL-TIME & PART-TIME JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, AND RESEARCH POSITIONS

NEW!  Engineering Internships with GE for Freshmen and Sophomores
NEW!  Creative Copywriting/Marketing Internship at Mindgrub
NEW!  PAID Positions with the Kennedy Krieger Institute
NEW!  Neuroscience Laboratory Internship at UM School of Medicine

ATTENTION GRAD STUDENTS:  Social Security Admin - Hardy-Apfel IT Fellows Program 

The UMBC CSEE Seminar Series Presents

Optical Measurements and Devices for Biotechnology and Biomedicine

Dr. Yordan Kostov

Assistant Director, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, UMBC

12-1pm Friday, 18 September 2015
ITE 102 (Lecture Hall VIII)

A variety of approaches for measurement of bioprocess and biomedical variables are presented. Classical optical measurements (fluorescence, absorption, decay time, etc.) are employed together with miniaturized versions of benchtop spectroscopy equipment to measure a number of bioprocess variables (pH, DO, protein concentration, etc.).  Similar approach allows for measurement of biomedical parameters (transcutaneous O2 and CO2, glucose). The sensing is made possible by the developed miniaturized versions of lab equipment, use of microfluidics and actuation, as well as the use of proper data processing coupled with customizable user interface. A number of examples will be given.

Dr. Yordan Kostov holds an M.Sc. in Electrical engineering from Odessa Polytechnical Institute (Ukraine) and a combined Ph.D. Degree in ChemE./EE from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He has industry experience as electronic technology engineer. In his doctoral studies, he focused on optical sensing of biomedical parameters, and pursues this line of research ever since. Currently, he is Assistant Director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology at UMBC and Adjunct Professor at CSEE. His main interests are in the area of Biomedical measurements and devices.

Hosts: Professors Fow-Sen Choa (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. ) and Alan T. Sherman (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. )

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be eligible to be granted a security clearance
• Must be a full-time student in an undergraduate or graduate program
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 desired
• Must be available for the entire 12-week program
• Must be available for an operational interview and other applicable processing between May 2015 and March 2016
• Major studies areas of consideration:
• International Affairs/Politics/Relations

• Intelligence/Security Studies
• Regional Studies
• Economics
• Decision/Information/Data Science
• Note: Minors/Certificate programs or multiple courses in computer science, networking, technology, or telecommunications areas are highly sought.

A blog reflection written by Women’s Center staff member Kayla Smith. 

Society tells us that women are too sensitive. We’re crazy emotional creatures who are fragile and people need to tiptoe around us and our sensitive flower petal feelings. Because of this stereotype, I spend a lot of time unpacking my issues with certain comments, blog posts, statements and phrases. Is something truly offensive or am I just being a baby? Is something harmful or am I overreacting?

Recently, I attended the first soccer game of the season here at UMBC. I’m not typically a big sports person but I really like sporting events because of the sense of community, which is especially important at UMBC since we’re often seen as lacking in the school spirit department.

I tend to forget how often sports fans rely on sexism and homophobia in their heckling. While I’m framing my experience in the context of UMBC, no sports game is absent of these things. Unfortunately, it seems to be a part of the culture as a whole because every time without fail every time I go to any type of game I end up having this conversation with a stranger:

Expressive gentleman sitting behind me: “HEY [insert number of player here] YOU SUCK AND YOUR MOTHER IS A WHORE.”

Me (startled): “That’s so mean geez why would you say that?”

Man (with feeling): “It’s a sporting event. Get used to it”

So it goes. 

For some reason I thought maybe it would be different this time, but I was disappointed — though perhaps not surprised — when I was proven wrong less than twenty minutes into the game.  From a few bleachers over I hear:

“HEY! You run like a fairy!” (Fairy?! Are we still using that? What year is this? I didn’t even know that was still a slur of choice.)

And it continued like that for the rest of the game even after joining Lot 17, the unofficial supporters group for the UMBC Men’s Varsity Soccer team. Here are a few more comments:

“Steven shaves his legs!” (Wouldn’t this make him more aerodynamic or something? This could be a good thing.)

“YOU HAVE A VAGINA!” (Do you have any idea how strong vaginas are?)

“Black lives matter! Get more black people on the field!“ (Shouted mockingly even though there were a significant amount of black players on the field…? ಠ_ಠ)

Sigh.

From sexism, to homophobia, to toxic masculinity to racism. All within the span of just a few minutes! Not exactly the safest space for a queer black woman, like me, to be in.

The first couple times I heard these comments I turned to those sitting near me and tried to express my concerns with the problematic nature of the heckles coming from other sports fans. But no one around me really seemed to care, or at least I was the only one to speak up. The overwhelming response was the typical “That’s just sports.” 

“You play ball like a girl!” A quintessential sports jeer rooted in sexism and toxic masculinity.

I’m not shy, and I’m more than willing to speak up when I hear something offensive or upsetting. But when no one else supports me or even acknowledges that there’s a problem it makes me start to wonder if I’m the only one noticing that there’s rampant sexism, homophobia, and racism. I feel silenced and alienated from my peers. It makes me feel like that sense of community that I came to the game for is gone.

As much fun as I was having, it was hard to truly enjoy the game and the atmosphere because almost every comment seemed to follow the same line of thinking. “If I feminize you, liken you to a woman, or attack your manhood, you are bad at sports.” Comparing male athletes to women in a derogatory way reinforces negative stereotypes and equates masculinity with strength and athleticism.

Instead of alienating women, LGBTQIA students, and students of color, we should be building a better more inclusive fan base. There are a lot of things some students did right! The “Where my dogs at?” chants and the spirit fingers whenever there was a penalty kick were definitely highlights of my Lot 17 experience. The crowd demonstrated that there are ways to have fun and effective chants, cheers (and jeers) that don’t rely on denigrating marginalized groups. So I know we can do better.

I want to keep attending the soccer games with my friends and I want to continue supporting our teams. But it’s hard to feel included and part of the community if your peers are very loudly letting you know that your kind isn’t wanted. With inclusivity becoming more of a prominent priority for UMBC, it would be in everyone’s best interest to do what we can do to make this campus a better environment for all of its students.

To combat homophobia in sports there’s the You Can Play campaign, which UMBC currently participates in. (awesome!)

Rebuilding Manhood (a Women’s Center curriculum-based program)  brings together self-identified men as they discuss toxic masculinity, gender norms, and how the patriarchy plays into their daily lives. (applications are closed now but consider applying in the spring!)

This GEM GRAD Lab is free, but please register ASAP! 

See the highlighted link above. 

Huebotics developers Jasmin Martin, Erika Shumacher, Tad Cordle and Michael Leung

Technical.ly Baltimore reports that the HueBots robot-building game made by a four UMBC students has been added to the PC game platform Steam.

“HueBots is a deceptively challenging top-down puzzle game. You control a team of colorful robots that will only interact with objects that match their color; they will also keep moving in one direction until they collide with something that matches their color.”

You can try a demo version of Huebots at http://huebots.com/ and also download the demo version for use on a Mac or PC.  The release trailer will give you an idea of what it’s like.

The UMBC Entrepreneurs group reports that the student team that developed the game includes lead Michael Leung ’16, computer science; Tad Cordle ’16, computer engineering; and Erika Schumacher ’17; and Jasmine Martin ’15, both visual arts students with interactive media concentrations. This summer Graham Dolle ’18, computer science, contributed special visual effects.

CSEE Professor Marc Olano notes that it is the first game to go for sale to the larger public from UMBC’s Game Developer’s Club.

“The Steam greenlight process requires the game to get strong community feedback before it is approved, which it could only have gotten with wider interest than just UMBC,” Olando said in an email to Technical.ly.

The group has already sold about 100 copies of the game and has a mobile version that is waiting for approval from iOS and Android in the coming weeks.

University Health Services is providing flu shots to the students, staff and faculty of UMBC on Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25. The cost of the flu shot is $20.00. Payment can be made by cash, check, UMBC campus card, or billed to your insurance. UHS will provide the vaccines until supplies run out. Please bring your UMBC red ID campus card.

Thursday Sept. 24, 12 noon - 6 pm - The Commons Main Street

Friday Sept. 25, 10 am - 2 pm - The Commons Main Street

If you cannot make it to the clinic days, you are welcome to come to University Health Services to receive your flu shot.  University Health Services is openMonday - Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm and located on the ground floor of Erickson Hall.  UHS also accepts credit/debit cards as a form of payment at the Health Center.

To make an appointment, for questions or concerns about individuals in high risk categories, and/or specific questions about health insurance, please contact University Health Services at (410) 455-2542.