University Counseling Services Closed (8/17 and 8/18)

The Vice President of Student Affairs has approved the temporary closure of University Counseling Services, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, August 17, and Thursday, August 18, for a department planning retreat. If there is an emergency during the dates and times of closure, call UMBC Police at ext. 5-5555 to reach our on-call counselor. If you have questions about the closure dates and times, call Dr. J. Ingram, director of University Counseling Services, at ext. 5-2472.

Fall 2011 Social Sciences Forum Lectures (9/12-11/15)

The Social Sciences Forum presents topics and perspectives of vital interest to the social sciences community and beyond. Lectures are free and open to the public and will last approximately one hour, followed by a question and answer period and a reception.

Topics of this fall’s lectures include:

• The Constitution and Civil Rights: The Search for Equality in a Multi-Racial America (9/12)
• Better Living Through Economics (9/13)
• US Trade Policy in the Asia-Pacific (9/27)
• Genetics & Personalized Medicine (10/12)
• China Goes Global (11/3)
• Teaching Peace and Nonviolent Social Change (11/15)

If you have any questions, contact Delana Gregg at delana1@umbc.edu or ext. 5-2916.

Social Sciences Forum: Better Living Through Economics (9/13)

The Social Sciences Forum fall 2011 lecture series presents John Siegfried, professor emeritus of economics, of Vanderbilt University, Tuesday, September 13, 4 p.m. at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery.

The Mullen Lecture, “Better Living Through Economics,” is sponsored by the Department of Economics.

The Social Sciences Forum presents topics and perspectives of vital interest to the social sciences community and beyond. Lectures are free and open to the public and will last approximately one hour, followed by a question and answer period and a reception. For more information, call ext. 5-2916.

If you would like to receive announcements about the Social Sciences Forum, email us.

Donald F. Norris, Public Policy, in the Gazette

When Harford County Executive David Craig told Gazette editors that he’s considering running for governor or comptroller of Maryland in 2014, reporter Sarah Breitenbach turned to UMBC public policy chair Donald Norris to make sense of the statement. Although serious campaigning for the gubernatorial race won’t begin until after the 2012 general election, Norris argues that it is wise for Craig to throw his hat into the ring early. “You run other possible candidates out of a primary,” he says. “It’s not just announcing. It’s announcing, getting fundraising going, locking in the donors.” Craig would likely encounter more conservative Republic challengers in a gubernatorial primary, Norris suggests, noting, “It’s conceivable that he’s not conservative enough for [Maryland Republicans].”

Erle Ellis, Geography and Environmental Systems, in Science

Erle Ellis, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, talks about his research in an article recently published in the journal Science looking at the impact of expanding populations on ecosystems.

“The dynamics play out differently, depending on where you are,” Ellis explains.

The article, “Are More People Necessarily a Problem?” appears in the July 29 issue of Science.

Sunil Dasgupta, Political Science, in Foreign Affairs Magazine

“If the people of Mumbai want a safer city, the city must be able to govern itself,” argues Sunil Dasupta, director of UMBC’s political science program at Shady Grove and non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution, in the current Foreign Affairs magazine. In “Why Mumbai Needs a Mayor: The Consequences of India’s Hands-Off Democracy,” Dasgupta writes, “India’s democracy has survived by ruling with a light hand…” He continues, “The light touch was meant to hold a diverse country together and should have protected it from homegrown terrorism by allowing all ethnic and religious groups to flourish politically, socially, and economically. But the recent [terrorist] attacks challenge that notion.” Following on the recommendation of Mumbai businessman Anand Mahindra, Dasgupta suggests a city-level chief executive (such as a mayor) would help Mumbai begin to address security its pressing security needs.

Christine Mallinson, LLC, in the Baltimore Sun

Christine Mallinson, assistant professor of language literacy and culture, was mentioned in an August 5 post on the Baltimore Sun’s “You Don’t Say” blog by John McIntyre. The post discussed podcasts she produced with her graduate students, including one on the word “hon,” which McIntyre said “should be a welcome change from the recent shouting over the word.” The full post can be read here.

Repression and Impunity in Chile (9/12)

Pedro A. Matta, survivor of the Villa Grimaldi detention and torture center operated by the Chilean military between 1974 and 1978, will present an overview of the military takeover that led to the death of democratically elected President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973, and its aftermath. In particular, he will examine the subsequent repression against Chile’s population using the Villa Grimaldi crimes against humanity as a paradigmatic example of the atrocities committed throughout the country, and elaborate on the impunity in which such crimes remain since the military bequeathed power to the Chilean political class 21 years ago.

The lecture is sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication. It will be held Monday, September 12, 2:30-3:45 p.m., in Room 310 of the University Center.

T-REX Training Sessions (9/19, 10/10, 11/21 and 12/12)

T-REX (UMBC’s new financial reporting tool) training sessions have been scheduled for September 19, October 10, November 21 and December 12, 10-11:30 a.m., in ECS training room 025. Users in need of training are encouraged to sign up for one of these sessions as the sessions will be offered semi-annually beginning January 2012. Users may register at my.umbc.edu/groups/training/events. Contact Jean Donohue at donohue@umbc.edu with any questions.

Judah Ronch, Erickson School, in Explore Baltimore County

“The whole idea of, ‘What is a senior?’ is undergoing a major change,” Erickson School Dean Judah Ronch recently told reporter Kevin Rector of Patuxent Publishing, “and that’s based on the experience of people as they age.” The article explores the finding that although the proportion of Baltimore County residents over 65 has remained constant, their physical activity level and how they think of themselves has changed dramatically, compared with a generation ago.

Ronch argues that, essentially, “people who are 65 now are much younger than people who were 65, 40 years ago.” For baby boomers now reaching the 65+ “senior citizen” age group, “being 65 is not that much different than being 55, so a lot of the categories we have used in the past are becoming obsolete.” This change has important implications for the services and programs that new seniors access, and the new resources they seek.