*Chef's Fare-Wednesday 2/27

Come out to what is called the "Chef's Fare" this coming Wednesday night in the dining hall! The Chef's Fare is a night where other chefs from various schools are invited to compete with UMBC's chef. The idea is you enter the dining hall and the chef's prepare their specialty dish for everyone to sample, and at the end you get a chance to vote on which dish you liked most. Our very own chef has traveled to two other events so far this semester and has come out victorious on both occasions! If you see an item you've never seen before, you're encouraged to try it. It is very important that you go to the dining hall Wednesday night and participate in this event because it could have a beneficial impact on you. If you like what you tried (no matter which chef made it), and whatever was offered becomes popular, then sodexho will add it to their program, and you will see it more often throughout the semester. All of the chefs have culinary degrees, and are qualified to work at hotels and restaurants, so there will be some quality competition to say the least... come HUNGRY!

Sign up for "My D-Txt" Today!

Join Dining Services Text Messaging list!

This newly created feature was discussed today at the food services committee meeting. The idea is that you go online to www.umbcdining.com and click on "Events and Promos." There you will see a picture/link about signing up to get "D-Txts." Fill out the request form provided, and soon you will be receiving text messages on the special being offered by the dining hall that day. They are starting out with only one or two texts a week, and based on feedback will alter the program as necessary. So if you are someone who really looks forward to lobster night or any of the various specials, and are never certain which day it will be on then feel free to sign up for D-Txts! It's especially convenient if you have unlimited texts, otherwise its just a normal text messaging fee to receive one message.

There was a suggestion to send out one text message on sunday listing the specials for the following week just to reduce the number of texts that may be coming out, but its not finalized. The staff would like to test it out first with only a couple of texts a week, but on the day the special will be given to remind you so you don't forget, or to inform you if you were never aware in the first place.

Any comments our feedback you have on this would be greatly appreciated by the dining hall staff and I will make sure I present it to them as an option.

Men's Basketball vs. Stony Brook

Come to the RAC and support the Men's Basketball team tonight February 6th, at 7pm! The first 1000 people to show up will receive free t-shirts. They have been really successful this year and could use the support and a crowd of people cheering them on. There will be an intriguing half time show, filled with talented routines. So come out tonight and show your support, and lead the Men's basketball team to hopefully another victory!!!

Stress Free Zone

I am sure everyone has heard about the Stress Free Zone by now. I went to my first Stress Free Zone today and it was absolutely awesome. There is free food, t-shirts, stress balls ( or paws should I say) and all the games in the world. I did not think it would be much fun, but a ton of people were present. Whether you go alone and just relax for a little while with food and completing a puzzle or go with a group of friends and beat them at "Guess Who", it is a great place to take a load off and forget about all the finals coming up over this next week.

Props to Heather Kopf and Jen Kent (and everyone else who has been working on it) who have been working on the Stress Free Zone for awhile now and were there when I arrived at 7:40 in the morning setting up!

Breaking Boards in FYC!

Except it was only one board at a time!

Hey everyone!

So tonight First Year Council had their last meeting of the semester, and an activity we all participated in was one you may or may not be familiar with. I know SGA students, some SEB students, and many other people have learned how to do this exercise, those of you who havn't experienced it, I really recommend trying it! OSL sponsored or conducted the activity taking us step by step through how to go about breaking the wooden boards that were laying on two spaced out cement blocks. First, we all wrote out goals or a main goal we would like to accomplish here at UMBC on one side of the wooden board. Then, on the opposite side we wrote the obstacles we will have to face upon reaching that goal. Finally, after signing a liability waiver, and getting instructions and demonstrations, each member took a turn busting in half this relatively thick piece of wood (obstacle side up-signifying that we were conquering our obstacles in a sense.) A few of the members being a little apprehensive and doubtful at first fed off of each other's courage, and one by one successfully split the boards into two, or sometimes three sections. Using the palm of your hand, the power of your leg muscles, and going with the grain of the wood this once impossible seeming task, turned out to be not that hard at all. This liberating experience definitely relieved a lot of stress, built up agression, and just provided a sense of self-accomplishment. I definitely suggest you go out and try it... maybe with the assistance or guidance of someone from OSL or someone who has experience and can help you a long.

No Honking Policy

This may be of no importance yet, but it is really annoying to be woken up every night by two people outside honking because of a parking situation. Last night was the third night in a row that both my roommate and I jumped while sleeping because of someone who found it necessary to be honking their horn at 2 in the morning! New York City has a policy, there is a fine of $250 in certain areas where you cannot honk. Why should UMBC not have one? There should be a rule, after 9 p.m. no honking until 9 a.m.. That way, the residents of at least Erickson, where I live, can get a full night's rest.

UMBC Basketball vs. Morgan State TV Game

Hey Everyone!

This is just another reminder to go out and support the UMBC Men's Basketball team this Thursday, November 29th from 7:30 to 9:00pm at the RAC arena. The team is currently 4 and 1 and doing extremely well! Also, this is going to be a televised event that could get our school some publicity and recognition that we deserve.

Check it out!:
UMBC underground posted an article on their website about this event: http://umbcunderground.com/2007/11/26/the-dog-pound/

Basically, the goal is to start a new UMBC athletic tradition. They suggested that everyone meet early at 6pm so that we can get the seats behind Morgan State’s Bench and all sit together cheering loudly with a lot of spirit and intensity!

RSA's Town Hall Meeting

Yesterday was the RSA Town Hall meeting where representatives from ResLife, Food Services, Parking Services, OIT and police department were present. Students were able to ask their burning questions and get insight into how various departments at UMBC plan to address our concerns. Here are a couple topics that were brought up and discussed...

Parking:

-There are no future plans to relocate the satellite lot to give freshman a chance to park on campus.

- Someone proposed adding more levels to the parking garages but that would cost near $20,000-$22,000 per parking space.

- A way of making monthly payments for parking tickets if you have a lot to pay off, because unpaid tickets might may halt registering for classes.

Food Service:

- Looking into healthier food options

-Dietician available to make trips to campus

-Looking into starting new meal plan options next year. Such as...

- Unlimited dining options (you can swipe your card once and visit the dining hall as many times during the day)

- Block plan options

- Many students complained about not being able to use their meals if they knew they would have extra meals left over due to the time restrictions. However, the miss meal factor is taken into consideration when pricing the meal plans. Which means we aren't exactly expected to use every meal so they don't exactly charge us for EVERY meal.

-Planning on having a different food venue open on the weekends at the Commons every other Saturday. Next Saturday will be Sandella's.

ResLife:

- The master plan is being worked on this year and will hopefully be revealed next year.

OIT:

- Looking into getting wireless every where in residential halls.

Police:

-Try to get more blue light phones around campus

Unfortunately I had to leave early and wasn't there for the very last bit but this is what I got from it and hope it answers some of your questions.

UMBC Spirit

Some say we've lost it while others say we have never had it. Yet last weekend, it was both the womens' and mens' basketball opening nights and the spirit was more than present. As I entered the RAC 30 minutes early for the womens' game, I was like a bit worried that my excitement of bringing friends from other schools and showing off my school would be for no good reason. Yet at 7:40 p.m, after the opening routines, the game began and crowd rushed in. This being my very first game attended in the RAC, I sat closest to the team, not realizing we had a "Dawg Pound." Well that section of the stands was completely full with students wearing their yellow and black. As I looked around the crowd, I noticed that nearly all the stands were full with people wearing yellow and black. Both the dance team and the cheerleading team were present the entire night. UMBC played extremely well showing their class and sportsmanship as George Washington was more on the rough side. The game was full of excitement and surprises. It ended with a loss for UMBC by 20 points and a technical foul with numerous other fouls for George Washington.Although a loss, it was a wonderful way to start off the season for the team. Maybe we have lost it or maybe it never existed, but on November 9th, the UMBC spirit undeniably filled the RAC in support of our fellow students.

Diversity Awareness Team

The Diversity Awareness Team is a group of UMBC staff and students that meet up biweekly, raising awareness regarding diversity issues across campus.

It's mission is to support the Division of Student Affairs mission to “foster student success” by providing on-going diversity awareness and cultural competence programs and events for divisional professional, administrative, and student staff as well as the UMBC community through nationally recognized diversity awareness months and religious/ethnic days of observance.

They recently changed the pictures that are on the mezzanine in the Commons so make sure to give it a glance when you have the chance.