Shrijana is a Student Staff Member at the Women’s Center. She is a co-facilitator of Women of Color Coalition and co-leading the Telling Our Stories Project. 

Before starting my statistics class this semester, I was feeling apprehensive due to the fact that I’ve never taken a statistics course before, not even in high school like most students do. However, today, I can say that I thoroughly enjoy my statistics class (nerd alert!). The numbers make sense to me, the formulas light up a bulb in my brain. As an Economics major, I am fascinated by how economists use statistics. But the factor that makes STAT 351 an influential course for me goes beyond the content of the class. This influence is embodied by my STAT 351 professor, Dr. Nandita Dasgupta.

She is an Indian woman, who comes into class every day wearing a silk or cotton saree, a traditional article of clothing typically worn by South Asian women.

The first day I saw her attire, I was shocked; my jaw dropped to the floor. I have never witnessed a person of color, teacher or professor, show up to class in traditional cultural wear in all my years of schooling in the American educational system. I was so moved by what seemed normal to her.

Growing up, I was ashamed to share my background of being Nepalese because I felt like I stood out in a negative way as an outcast. I just wanted to be accepted, and I was too afraid to truly be myself.  When I was little, I was so anxious and embarrassed to walk around in public in the United States with my grandmother because she would be wearing a saree. I would think: will people criticize, are they staring at me, are they being racist in their minds, am I seen as weird? But seeing Dr. Dasgupta has inspired me, she was there to teach statistics, her race and gender did not matter.

Upon this realization, I became sorrowful for my grandmother because she was not given the same educational opportunities as I was. My grandmother was married at the age of sixteen and become a stay at home mom in Nepal. If she was presented with the same academic opportunities as me, I am sure she would have been a very successful woman, possibly a professor like Dr. Dasgupta.

STAT 351 has proven two points to me: math is an intriguing subject and all girls and women should have the right to an education.

After seeing Dr. Dasgupta in an empowering light and reading about her work as an economist and statistician (and to ask her permission to publish this blog), I met with her to get to know her more and explore my own identity.

On a warm, bright Thursday afternoon, we sat outside the RAC at the black tables. Dr. Dasgupta started off the conversation by asking me, “What does Shrijana mean?” And I told her, “Creation.”

Smiling, she replied, “Good. Most people are not even aware what their name symbolizes.” From there, our personal connection was set and the conversation kicked off.

What does the saree symbolize for you?

The saree is a part of me. I have grown up with the saree and have been inseparable from it. I have never worn anything else before. I would love to wear something else; but, somehow, I feel like my personality would be compromised.

Have you had others comment about your saree before? What was it like?

No. No one has made a bad comment. If they have commented, it was always good, never a derogatory comment.

What made you want to pursue economics/statistics? What do you like most about it?

In high school, I took economics and I loved it. I also loved math; therefore, using math was my priority. Economics and math combined really well. Growing up, English was also my favorite subject, I wanted to be an English major. But, my mother who was also a professor influenced me to pursue economics. She said that it was a more economically sound field.

If you feel comfortable sharing, have you experienced any racism or sexism in the academic world?

No. To my knowledge, I have not felt any sort of discrimination. I do not know why I have not felt it, I like to believe that people are good, kind, and open.

What advice would you give young women of color out there? What about women of color economists/mathematicians?

First of all, I do not look at women of color differently from non-color or Caucasian women.

I do not like the idea of one gender being inferior or superior. I am a human being and I look at everyone else as human beings too. I do not believe in any sort of bias or question of bias. I want individuals to be their best selves. But, there must be some bias somewhere, because we still have gender inequality. To everyone and women of color, I would say have dignity, integrity, honesty, and perseverance. Be proud of your culture, embrace the world and try to develop the world. Women are not an end; they are the means to an end. At the end of the day, be a good human being.

After meeting with Dr. Dasgupta, I felt empowered in my confidence as a woman. My conversation with her served as reassurance that I am enough in my abilities and skills. Talking to her also reminded me that I should not run away from my culture, but embrace it with pride. I went to talk to her about her choice of an article of clothing, but I walked away with wisdom about life.

Check out these resources to learn more about the topics that were covered in the blog:

A dispiriting survey of women’s lot in university economics

A Brief History of India’s Traditional Saree

Meet Sharon. She has decided to apply for a URA Award.

"There are three different awards this year," noted Sharon, who was interviewed while blow drying her exquisite fluffy hair. "You've got the usual award, open to all majors and worth up to $1,500 and then you've got the Social Science award and the entrepreneurship award. Pretty amazing opportunity. And the deadline isn't until May 1st, so I've got plenty of time!"

"I'll fill out my application online once I'm done with my hair," she added. "And it's open to all majors!"

URA’s provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Vincent Brown and I am a transfer student from Barry University in Miami, FL where I played on the Men’s Basketball team my freshman year. Now I am a Junior/Senior Premed, Biology major with a minor in Ancient Studies. I have lots of interests in things from Comics, Science-Fiction, and Anime to Ancient Civilizations and Space!

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

Besides tutoring Biology, Organic Chemistry and Physics in the LRC, I am on the E-Board of UMBC’s Premedical Society as the club’s webmaster. I am also a member of the Biology Council of Majors and the Ancient Studies Council of Majors. In addition to this, I am a teaching assistant (TA) for Dr. Eisenmann’s BIOL 302 Genetics class this semester and I am currently trying to become a Conversation Partner for International Students in the English Language Institute.

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

I became a tutor during the Fall 2018 semester after I wanted to find a way to get more involved on campus. I utilized tutoring in many of my classes and found it very helpful so I wanted to be able to help other students just as I have been helped.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

My favorite thing about tutoring is helping students find the way to learn or study that works best for them and seeing the light bulb go off inside their heads. Giving the students the ability to find the right answers on their own and giving them the confidence to do so is also very rewarding.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

Students should use tutoring because it is one of the best resources on campus, plus it’s free! Tutoring is beneficial for all students whether they are struggling with the material or are doing fine in the class. I say this because tutoring offers more than just helping you understand a topic from class. It can help you develop new study habits/techniques and learn how to find answers to your questions on your own, as well as serve as a place to simply get some one-on-one attention.

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

The best way to be prepared for a tutoring session is to have questions already prepared! Some advice for bringing questions would be that you should have at least one specific question/example for every general/broad question that you bring because this will allow the session to happen more smoothly and the tutor will be able to spend more time helping you because you won’t be stuck during the session trying to find a problem to work on.

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

For any student that needs help in BIOL 100, 123, 141, 142, 302, or 303, CHEM 351/352 and PHYS 111/112, I am available on Mondays 11-12, 1-2 and Fridays 12-2. I am also trying to determine if I can tutor any other hours so I may have more availability in the future. You can schedule an appointment through the StudyTree app, online through the LRC website or in person at Sherman 345.

Position description available here (text below) and application available here. 
In addition to a completed application, your submission should include a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples. 

All materials are due via email (womenscenter@umbc.edu) or hard copy (deliver to the Women’s Center) UPDATED: no later than Sunday, April 28th @ 9 PM. 

Position Description: Women's Center Staff/Intern Position 

Each year, up to two new $1,000 scholarships may be awarded. Scholarship recipients are eligible for additional awards for up to four consecutive years, which may include post-graduate studies in engineering. Scholarship recipients also are given priority consideration for WSSC’s paid summer internship positions while enrolled in school. The scholarships and internship opportunities total a potential value of more than $10,000 over four years.

 
New this year, instead of a cover letter, applicants are asked to submit an introductory video telling a little about themselves and why tap water is better than bottled water.
 
To qualify for the 2019 scholarship program, applicants must also:

• Provide proof of permanent residency in WSSC’s service district; students may attend school outside the WSSC district or out of state;

• Be enrolled full time in a degree program at an accredited college or university that leads to an engineering degree in one of the following areas: Civil Engineering (i.e., Environmental, Sanitary, Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Fire Protection, Transportation, Project Management, Construction Management); Electrical Engineering; Material Science and Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science/Engineering. High school seniors who have been accepted into any of these programs are eligible; proof of acceptance/enrollment must accompany application materials; and

• Complete an application and have it received by the WSSC Corporate Secretary by Monday, June 3, 2019.