When walking around UMBC’s campus, it is not unusual to see a mix of young adults and older individuals. While at another university one might automatically assume that the older individuals were professors or faculty, it is not so easy to distinguish at UMBC.

About 14% of UMBC’s total undergraduate population, roughly 1200 students, are over the age of 25, making UMBC the leader in the University System of Maryland for nontraditional students, also referred to as “adult learners.”

About 300 of those 1200 nontraditional UMBC students are veterans. The university offers a peer mentor program for veterans to ease the transition to life as a new college student. Incoming veterans are paired with experienced veteran students who understand the challenges that they might be going through.

UMBC also actively provides incentives for individuals over the age of 60 to take graduate courses through the Golden ID program. These students, they say, must be at least “60 years young” and work less than twenty hours a week. Participation in the program waives tuition for these students, who instead only have to pay $125 for each course they take.

The university offers a multitude of programs to help adult learners on campus. As the graduate school at UMBC states, “we understand and appreciate the work-life balance that goes into pursuing a degree, raising a family and growing a career.” These programs include Adult Learners Network, Vets 2 Vets, Returning Women’s Support Group, Mother’s Support Group and other sources of assistance for students who may otherwise have a difficult time making connections and supportive networks.

Rhonda Caton, 57, is a psychology major who has been taking courses at UMBC full time for the past two and a half years. If all goes well, she will be graduating this December. She hopes to pursue a career as an addictions counselor.

Her motivation to do this blossoms from the fact that she is five years sober from the use of crack cocaine, an addiction that had plagued her for many years prior. When asked about her experiences at UMBC, she said “I don’t always fit quite in because of my age,” but that she has always felt accepted and has found that teachers have been willing to “bend over backwards” to help her when she has struggled.

The prevalence of older students on college campus is not unique to UMBC. The Center for Law and Social Policy reported that in 2012, four in ten undergraduates were over the age of 25, and that nontraditional-aged student enrollment is expected to grow twice as fast as the enrollment for traditional-aged students in coming years.

Just between 2000 and 2011, the number of nontraditional students in undergraduate programs increased 41 percent, and they comprised 38 percent of all undergraduates in 2011. The addition of older students to the classroom provides invaluable perspectives to students of all ages, giving traditional students access to years of wisdom that can be used to supplement their classroom learning.

While not necessarily distinct, UMBC’s inclusion and encouragement of adult learners is commendable. It benefits all those involved, and such actions should be emulated by other universities in the University System of Maryland.

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Knowledge is power. Human history has repeatedly shown the denial of the pursuit of knowledge for the common person, usually in order to keep the general public ignorant of any information that may usurp the people in power at the time. However, this is quite an impossible task today due to the free reign of internet culture and technology.

Even through early 20th century America, there was a common disconnect between what schools taught, the truth and exposure to any controversial or “sensitive” topics: such as the Native American genocide, the Theory of Evolution, “inappropriate” novels, etc. Although books were not denied to students during the early to mid 20th century, censorship and government control over what students could and could not read were still in effect.

Today, knowledge is everywhere. It cannot be denied to anyone who actively seeks it out in the United States. This is solely due to the internet, google, online forums and other sources – all of which have the potential to enlighten and enrich the minds of students and American young adults.

Close-minded school systems can censor information all they want, if a student wants to learn the truth (or at least several perspectives of the truth) then it only takes a few clicks of a button. Sites like KhanAcademy have sprouted in recent years, which greatly improve a student’s relationship with learning, turning it into something that can happen outside of a classroom or a textbook.

It seems over half of Americans agree with this assertion as well. According to a PewResearch poll, 57 percent of Americans believe technology has had a positive effect on, “information access and sharing, ease, speed and convenience of information.”

Many would exclaim that the current state of affairs concerning technology has created a lazy generation that is overly focused and dependent on the internet as a tool (specifically for schooling). However, technology and the internet is essentially a tool, and tools are meant to help humanity.

Caroline Greer, junior global studies major, had this to say about technology in the classroom, “It definitely gives a student the power to learn despite bad teachers or give them extra help. Also, it allows both students and teachers more flexibility in learning/teaching styles.”

Instead of looking through numerous books for one simple fact you need for an essay, students can simply Google the answer. Instead of just listening to a professor’s lectures, students can go onto YouTube and learn through different perspectives. Instead of memorizing small or insignificant facts, students can quickly look them up. 

Knowledge has never been about knowing everything, it is about having the freedom to access the information you want and compartmentalize it in the most efficient way possible.

The post An age of enlightenment appeared first on The Retriever.

Over the past two seasons, the UMBC men’s hockey team has struggled to win games away from home. That trend continued this year. After defeating the Towson University Tigers 5-4 on Friday, the Retrievers are now 1-4 on the young season.

Among the losses, consecutive defeats to Ohio University Bobcats and a nail biter against the University of Louisville Cardinals. In the second of two games against the Bobcats, UMBC almost overcame a 5-2 first-period deficit, but fell 6-5. The Retrievers tried for another comeback against the high-powered Louisville team. The Cardinals led 4-1 toward the end of the second period. Then, UMBC stormed back with two unanswered goals right before the second intermission and seven minutes into the final frame.

The Retrievers tried another comeback effort against the high-powered Louisville. The Cardinals led 4-1 toward the end of the second period. Then, the Retrievers stormed back with two unanswered goals right before the second intermission and seven minutes into the final frame.

The Retrievers defeated Towson on Oct. 7 to avoid a win-less road trip. UMBC’s victory came on the strength of junior goalkeeper Dylan Knox’s 50 saves.

In that span, the Retrievers have a goal differential of minus seven. The disparity in shots on goal is even larger. Opponents owned a 216-1118 shots on goal advantage over UMBC during the road trip. The Retrievers look to use their nine-game homestand to rebound.

UMBC is showing great improvement at playing at home over the past two seasons. As hosts, the Retrievers have a goal differential of plus 19 since 2014.

UMBC hopes to get back on track Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Virginia Tech Hokies (1-2-0). Virginia Tech comes in for the final game of their five-game road trip. The Hokies have a goal differential of minus one through three games. Half of their 14 goals came in a 7-2 victory over the West Chester University Rams on Sept. 30. The past couple of years on the road were up and down for the Hokies. Virginia Tech is 14-12 away from Blacksburg with a plus 10 goal differential.

If they hope to succeed, the Retrievers need to help out their goalkeeper on defense. Knox’s save percentage is similar to last years rates. His goals against average have skyrocketed from 2.94 to 5.40. Keeping opponents from doubling up the Retrievers in shots on goal is key. Junior forward Colin Edwards looks to continue setting up his teammates with good looks at the net. As of Oct. 2, Edwards leads the team in points (9) and assists (6).

UMBC will look to get off to better starts during their homestand. As of Oct. 2, opponents have outscored UMBC 10-4 in the first period this year. In the other three periods, the Retriever have scored 10 goals and allowed 12.

Despite the change in venue, the Retrievers road to victory will not be easy. Of the seven teams UMBC hosts over the next month, only Saint Joseph’s University has a losing record on the road since 2014. The Hawks are 2-21 on the road since 2014.

Those numbers include a 0-15 road mark in 2014-15. The Hawks have a minus 106 goal differential in that time. This year, St. Josephs has yet to win on the road and have given up twice as many goals as thy have scored.

In order to get back to a .500 record, the Retrievers have to go 6-3 on this homestand. A win in their home opener against Virginia Tech starts them off on the right foot.

The post UMBC Hockey looks to rebound from tough road trip appeared first on The Retriever.

It is not hidden at all that eSports culture is popular on UMBC’s campus, particularly amongst fans of the game League of Legends. However, the UMBC eSports community is not comprised of just fans or casual players, it is also home to some of the best players and coaches collegiately and in the world.

Possibly the most famous of UMBC alumni in the eSports scene is Maria Creveling, who was the first professional female player in the LOL Championship Series for the team Renegades, before having to leave due to personal reasons.

There is also former student Shazeb Khan, who graduated from UMBC last year while playing the game, Counter Strike: Go, professionally. Khan, who spent time playing for the team Cloud 9, one of the best professional eSports teams, frequently had to reschedule exams due to travel commitments.

The Retrievers are even currently being represented at the LOL World Championship by former student and member of swimming & diving, Alexander Haibel, who is the coach of the Brazilian team INTZ.

UMBC is currently ranked as the seventh best collegiate team in the nation. Additionally, UMBC features a team, UMBC Squad, currently ranked 11^th in North American 5v5 Challenger tier teams, meaning outside of LOL’s professional league, they could be considered the 11^th best team in North America. “They are only getting better,” said Amol Bhatia, a senior chemical engineering and math double major.

“Last year, we had to drop out due to some problems we were having,” said Bhatia. “We were one of the top teams last year, but this year we will be even better with the coaches and analysts we have helping us out.”

Bhatia says he has been playing LOL for about five years and was the main competitive program at UMBC, while serving as the main team’s coach. He also has professional experience working as an analyst for professional teams Counter Logic Gaming and Renegades. In addition to coaching UMBC’s own Challenger team, he’s coached others as well.

There has been minor controversy among sports fans since the rise of eSports began, with many people believing it is not a true sport, despite recent coverage by esteemed sports sections from news outlets across the country and even ESPN. Bhatia said even though it does not feature traditional aspects of other sports, it still requires the same amount work, effort and support as other sports.

Bhatia employs several coaches, analysts and psychological coaches to aid in improving his team. He requires at least 30 hours of play time a week, with nine hours coming from the team playing in scrimmages, and 21 on their own online against others, which Bhatia said they typically log in more hours than that. They are also required to meet twice a week as team for live reviews, where they go over past matches.

According to Bhatia, the biggest problem the organization currently faces is the lack of support and recognition on campus. The organization receives some funding from SGA, but the bulk of their funding comes from Bhatia himself, who has put up thousands of his own dollars to help this program reach its potential.

“It’s very hard for us to become an athletic sport, it’s not very useful,” said Bhatia. “Then we have to pay dues, so being a club sport would actually be pretty detrimental to us. Sticking to being a club and getting funding from SGA for events which we can use for fundraisers is what we decided was best for us, but it is also still a problem of receiving recognition, especially since some do not consider it a real sport.”

As Bhatia prepares to graduate, he hopes the club receives the recognition it deserves from the student body, particularly when it comes to funding, since he will no longer be around to help support.

The organization is not just for the university’s competitive team and LOL players though. They have also focused on other games like Hearthstone in the past and serves as a meeting ground for all eSports fans, both competitive and casual players, to help improve their play and enjoy it as a community.

The post In case you missed it: UMBC among the best in eSports appeared first on The Retriever.

Paul Oh for The Retriever

Late night: it’s something that some UMBC students take for granted. Who doesn’t love a tasty (and sometimes nutritious) meal at night? It’s like late night snacking but with more filling food. Not only that, but the late night options offer a variety of foods, from pizza to burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders and occasional late night specials to satisfy the post-sunset craving.

This system has been in place for a while and overall, students have expressed satisfaction with it. But what if UMBC and dining services decided to mix things up and change the late night system? A friend of mine suggested that UMBC should make late night accessible all week.

Tom DeLuca, resident district manager for UMBC dining contractor Chartwells, oversees all of the dining options at the university. While major changes to the late night schedule wouldn’t happen overnight (pun intended), DeLuca does consider them feasible.

“Our hours for late night are outlined in our contract with the university and we make changes and modifications to them annually based on a number of factors like student satisfaction and variety of menu,” said DeLuca. While many students may not know it, Chartwells and UMBC dining services work very hard to ensure student satisfaction.

In fact, while the late night schedule may appear to be set in stone by those who have attended the university for some time, DeLuca stated that they “have received feedback about the current late night schedule. Feedback has included which venues stay open in The Commons and this past year we have received some feedback about changing the days of late night in True Grits.” This means that change is not impossible in coming years.

But what about the idea of having late open seven nights a week? According to DeLuca, “This is a question that has been raised this year and we would like to evaluate and discuss this further with the dining committee and other student groups as we move forward with our dining program.”

Does that mean that this plan could be feasible? Well, not necessarily. According to DeLuca, “To increase hours and days will mean an increase in costs.” When it comes to late night and any changes that may be had, “We have to keep in mind cost that will impact the cost and affordability of meal plans.”

However, if any change occurs, it’s ultimately the students who have a say in the matter, as Chartwells and the faculty at UMBC ultimately aim for student satisfaction. Many students seem to be indifferent, but Michelle Chan, a sophomore environmental science major, had a lot to say. She proposes that the university keep the system it has in place now, but that they rotate the late night options at The Commons every night. “What late night needs is a little more variety,” said Chan. “They already use the machines during the day, so why can’t they use the ones from other places during late night?”

While change to late night is very possible, students shouldn’t expect any major updates immediately. Even if UMBC decides any changes proposed by Chartwells would be in the best interest of the university. However, for those of you that are really tired of what UMBC has in place now, raise your voice and state your discontent, tell UMBC and dining services what you believe should be improved. You might not see it when you go to pick up your late night chicken tenders, but the change you’re looking for may just be around the corner.

The post Late night on Saturday? It could be more likely than you think appeared first on The Retriever.

Courtesy of Bentley Corbett-Wilson

Last week, The Retriever sat down with former SGA vice president, Valerie Parks, and spoke about her time in office. This week, we followed up by meeting with our current SGA president, fifth-year music education major Bentley Corbett-Wilson.

Since his first semester as a freshman, Corbett-Wilson has been noticeably active at UMBC, when he was a part of the Discovery Living Learning Community and the First Year Council. Since then, he has been on numerous teams and projects at UMBC, including (seb), pep band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, Pi Kappa Phi and ODK, a leadership honors society. He was also at one point a Strive coach and Student Director of the pep band.

Corbett-Wilson first explained exactly what he does as SGA president. “My overarching role is to do two things: to represent SGA and the student body to the administration and to set the tone and example for how SGA will be run.” He then elaborated on what purpose SGA, as a whole, serves. “Our job is connecting with any and all students here at UMBC and to further their vision of whatever change they want to see on campus.”

Corbett-Wilson went on to speak about how honored he still feels to be put in the position of SGA president. “The whole experience is so rewarding. I get to hear so many awesome, different ideas from the students and other SGA members. It has been great for building my leadership skills. It is extremely busy and there’s always something to do, but it’s nonetheless an honor,” he said.

“SGA has had a bad rep in recent years for a few reasons. Along with the few individuals who caused all of the drama in the last few years, SGA has only been present and transparent during the election process. After the election process, SGA has always seemed to creep back into the shadows, ” Corbett-Wilson explained. “We are currently in the process of turning that reputation around. We are making it a goal to be more transparent this year. We plan on increasing our presence on social media as well as going out on campus and physically reaching out to students and getting their feedback and ideas on campus involvement.”

Corbett-Wilson is looking forward to a successful and productive term in SGA. He is specifically interested in collaborating with sustainability, mental health and cultural groups across the campus.

He invites anyone to come visit him or any other SGA staff at their office on the second floor of The Commons, to the right of the Mosaic Center. He remarked, “It’s funny, I was talking to another student the other day and they actually told me that a lot of people think I’m intimidating. I promise I’m not. Feel free to swing by my office at any time and say hello or talk about whatever ideas you may have. It’s what I’m here for!”

The post Mr. President and his open door policy appeared first on The Retriever.

The First Year Intervention Program (FYI) is one of the many services that the Learning Resources Center offers to UMBC students. The purpose of the program is twofold: to notify students in their first year at UMBC that they are in danger of receiving a D or F in a certain course and to provide them with resources to improve their grade in that course and preserve their GPA. By alerting students early in the semester, students have the ability to make the necessary changes to improve their grade and become successful in their academic careers. 

When do FYI alerts get sent?

The FYI reporting period for the Fall 2016 semester is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 3, 2016 and end on Friday, November 4, 2016. 

I got an alert, but I’m not in my first year at UMBC

The alert program is designed to notify students in their first year at UMBC; however, instructors have the ability to send alerts to any student who is in danger of receiving a D or F in the course. If you received an alert, it means that your grade is in jeopardy and you should take action immediately.

Help! I got an alert in one of my courses! What should I do?

Your professor sent you an alert because you are in danger of receiving a D or an F in that course. The first thing you should do is to contact your professor to figure out what your exact grade is and what you can do about it. Next, visit our website to see if there’s any services at UMBC that can help you improve your grade.

If I’m in danger of receiving a D or an F, doesn’t that mean I could still be passing?

It is possible, but you could just barely be passing. If you are in a course that has a second level to it (such as MATH 150, or BIOL 141), you MUST receive a C or higher to move on to the next level. If you are trying to fulfill your GEP requirements with a course, you MUST have a C or higher for it to count. This is why we ask professors to let you know if you are in danger of receiving a D.

If you have any further questions about the FYI program, please email us.