Good to be Green

Walk past the marquee in The Commons, and you’ll see some new words on the board…. “The hero UMBC deserves. The one it needs. GREEN MAN.” This new mascot is recycling his way through campus, earning popularity, admiration and even respect from students. But the question everyone’s dying to know � who is he?

“He’s just like any mascot,” said Donna Anderson, manager of landscape and grounds in Facilities Management. “He can’t speak with you directly, and his identity will remain a secret until the end of the competition.”

Green Man is helping get the word out about the 2010 Recyclemania challenge, which began in January, and he’s not the only change with this year’s recycling initiative. Student organizations from all across campus are getting involved.

“Several organizations have committed to sponsoring activities throughout the eight weeks of the competition, and our team hopes to see everyone participate in those events,” said Anderson.

One of those activities is capturing Green Man’s presence on campus. If you spot him on campus, take a picture and send it to recycle@umbc.edu. A winner is chosen weekly, and that name will be entered to win a grand prize on March 27, the final day of Recyclemania. 

UMBC has had successful Recyclemania competitions in the past, and Green Man – and his team – are hoping to make this year the best yet. In 2009, the campus captured two second-place awards and was also among the six universities with improved scores with a nine-percent increase in recycled goods from 2007.

“Recycling is so important to this campus, because it helps to keep the campus clean, green and spend less money than if we send to the landfill,” said Anderson. “Recyclemania is a perfect opportunity to really stress the importance of this across campus.”

On Wednesday, March 10, Green Man and fellow students, faculty and staff marched in a parade in honor of Recyclemania. President Freeman Hrabowski marched along the parade route, which went from Albin O. Kuhn Library to the Retriever Activities Center. To see pictures from the event, visit the Sustainability Web site’s Flickr stream.

For more information on the competition, visit www.recyclemania.org.

(2/19/2010)

We’ve all had lots of Mexican food, especially if you grab a burrito from Salsarita’s in the Commons on your way to class multiple times a week. However, it’s nice to eat at a quality Mexican restaurant and it’s even nicer to eat at one with a great atmosphere.

Holy Frijoles has a great name and is located in one of Baltimore’s most well known parts of town, Hampden. Home of hon culture, Hampden is a mosaic of eateries and local businesses, making it a hip hangout, especially for college-aged students. Holy Frijoles is right in the center of it all and offers a wide array of options for all food lovers. The disclaimer at the bottom of their menu reads “ALL OF OUR FOOD IS VEGETARIAN UNLESS IT HAS MEAT IN IT!” So, order your favorites without cheese or meat for some delicious entrees.

Appetizers range from nachos to taquitos and there are a few types of salads on the menu with added Mexican flare. I’ve heard great things about the fish tacos and potato burritos which have potatoes, melted cheese, chopped onions, and homemade picante.

I chose a vegan enchilada, which was just the right amount of spicy and had tons of delicious beans and corn topped with enchilada sauce. The chimichangas are also a crowd pleaser, enormous in size and fried to perfection.

For the 21+ crowd, Frijoles has a friendly bar and offers a creative selection of drinks that’s worth checking out.

ADDRESS:

908 W. 36^th St

Hampden Baltimore, MD 21211

-Stefanie