THE ETRIEVER EEKLY RUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALtimore W county’s student newspAPER 2.05.13 VOLUME 47 ISSUE 16 RETRIEVERWEEKLY.COM UMBC looks to New SGA Election Board Chair improve campus stresses campus involvement accessibility BY LAUREN o’CONNELL Contributing Writer on their impact, whether or not the improvement is really needed, how successfully the In an open discussion last institution has used money for wednesday, Stephanie Lazarus, past accessibility programs, and UMBC’s human relations whether or not the change will manager, and Celso Guitian, be part of a greater transition accesibility coordinator, met plan. with a group of students and Money is not provided for faculty to discuss recent and installations which cost less upcoming changes to UMBC than $1,000, are part of a campus with accesibility in renovation or five-year capital mind. The event was just one in improvement plan, are located a series of talks which will take in auxiliary facilities, or are place over the next year. being installed for the benefit of FILE PHOTO Guitian opened the talk by only one person. discussing the requirements UMBC has recently undergone placed on public buildings many projects which aim to Pictured above is a scene from last year’s SGA election debate. Newly confirmed Election Board Chair Collin in order to accommodate better accommodate people WojciechowskiBY CHRIS hopes MCKINNE to build offY of last year’s success in voter turnout and in the number of candidates who run. all members of the general with disabilities, and is currently Editor-in-Chief public. New buildings must working on more. A new route to are unsure whether to run, Wojciechowski said. “Look at meet federal requirements, Walker Garage is being planned Fresh off from his Wojciechowski said, “One the Finance Board for example. and existing buildings must which will eliminate the need to thing to make clear is, SGA is How many student realize undergo renovations or other climb the steep hill leading to everyone’s organization. This is there’s a group awarding adaptations to accommodate the garage. confirmation hearings before not a group for an elite facet of thousands of dollars to student the specific needs of inhabitants. Elevator upgrades (including the Student Government students.” organizations – how many Access Maryland is the Braille, voice enunciation and Association Senate and Finance Wojciechowski stressed students don’t know this body state program which oversees position indicators) as well Board, The Retriever Weekly that as a member of the UMBC exists?” construction of new state-owned as restroom upgrades in the sat down for a brief interview community, all undergraduate Drawing on his prior buildings and adaptations Academic IV and Math and with Collin Wojciechowski, the students have the right and experience, Wojciechowski of old ones. It is managed by Psychology buildings are also in newly appointed and approved responsibility to be “an active continued to state that SGA is the Maryland Department of the works. The new Performing Chair of the SGA Election Board. part of the leadership of the for everyone. “Maybe you have Disabilities, which gives the Arts and Humanities Building Currently a senior political university. One of the best, a problem with your dorm; approval to an institution to offers 19 parking spaces which science major, Wojciechowski is straightforward ways is to run maybe you went to STRiVE and begin construction of a building, make the structure more a former director of the Office of for a position in SGA.” are now looking for an active as well as overseeing the project accommodatingRead the rest of this of article disabled online Community and Governmental He continued, “one of the way to be a part of campus… throughout its duration. guests.at: www.retrieverweekly.com Affairs in the SGA and former biggest benefits is that UMBC anybody here can be a part The program decides to grant Opinions Editor for The takes shared governance of this organization if you’re money to institutions based Retriever Weekly. He served in seriously; as a [SGA] member willing.” these posts before his junior you will have a seat at the The application for all elected year, where he stepped up as table in conversations with SGA positions will be online the student member to the staff, faculty and Dr. Hrabowski within the next few weeks, and University System of Maryland about what direction we should information sessions will occur Board of Regents. be taking UMBC in.” before the application closes Collin also brings with him Wojciechowski emphasized right before spring break. the experience of working on that as a member of SGA, “So if this is something you’re three campaigns previously. students will have the interested in, I urge you to As Chair of the Election Board, opportunity to make a real take the initiative now and ask Wojciechowski will lead a team impact. He also stressed that questions, ask questions, ask JOHN JOYCE — TRW responsible for administering there are other positions to questions. We are happy to the election process throughout consider than just President answer any questions anyone the semester. and Executive Vice President. has,” Wojciechowski said. Stephanie Lazarus and Celso Guitian (pictured) discussed plans to When asked what advice “I think every position in improve campus accessibility this past Wednesday. he would give to those who SGA is extremely important,” [email protected] THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY INDEX: News....1 Opinions....4 Technology....6 Features...8 Sports...13 Involvement Fest Check out online - - The Retriever Weekly Residential building ren staff believes Involve ovations are moving into- ment Fest has made its their third phase. mark on UMBC tradition. Find it in the News sec tion on our website! 2 Tuesday, Feb. 05, 2013 NEWS TIMELINE 1.27.13-2.02.13 Farther afield: Studying abroad in THE WEEK Tunisia BY CAITLYN LEITER-MASON IN REVIEW Foreign Correspondent JAN. 27 - India has successfully tested a nuclear-capable, medium-range When I tell people that I’m studying in missile, according to an Indian news Tunisia, they usually respond with one of report. The missile, which was fired three questions: “Where’s that?”, “Is it safe?” from an underwater platform in the or “Why Tunisia?” Bay of Bengal, completes India’s ability The first two questions are simple to to launch from the land, air and sea. answer. Tunisia is a North African country, between Algeria and Libya, bordering the JAN. 28 - Mediterranean Sea on the north. And yes, it’s A group of both Republican and safe there, I promise. Democrat senators unveileda The third question is probably the best framework for transforming the place to start: why Tunisia? nation’s immigration policies. The I have always wanted to study abroad; I statement of principles will include a have an immense desire to see the world new pathway toward citizenship for and learn how other people live. During high illegal immigrants. school, I dreamed of all the places I might go – Ireland, France, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, and Turkey … the possibilities were endless. CAITLYN LEITER-MASON - TRW My answer came in December 2010. A story came on NPR about the Jasmine Revolution. In Tunisia, a young man lit himself on fire and Leiter-Mason looks forward to being immersed in the rich political history and the French language sparked a revolution that quickly traveled during her stay in Tunisia. from its rural origin to the capital city of Tunis and then across the Middle East to re-imagining how their government could social justice values and takes students to Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. function in a totally new way. non-traditional study abroad destinations. The movement became known as the I was inspired by the stories of these young The stars were aligning – I knew that this was Arab Spring, or “le printemps d’arabe.” This women in a region that many Westerners the site for me. JAN. 29 - particular story was about the role that young actively write off as universally misogynistic. Now, two years later, I excitedly await the The United States Senate Foreign women were playing in the protests and the I also knew that I wanted to continue my beginning of my North African adventure Relations Committee unanimously history of women’s rights and activism in language studies in French – and as a former tomorrow. I’ll be immersed in my Tunisian approved Sen. John Kerry as the Tunisia. French colony, Tunisians still speak and teach orientation: learning conversational Arabic, 68th Secretary of State. Kerry was In that moment, I knew Tunisia was French. meeting other students, and getting to know subsequently approved by the entire where I wanted to go. As a double major in As any millennial would, I googled “study my new home. Senate by a 94-3 vote. political science and gender and women’s abroad Tunisia” and found a single program studies, I was mesmerized by the chance to through the School of International Training, [email protected] JAN. 29 - live and study in a country that was actively an American program that is grounded in An Alabama man kidnapped a 5-year- old boy from a school bus and is holding him hostage in a bunker in Alternatives for cold weather fitness Dale County, Alabama. No apparent demands were made, but medicine for the boy was requested and delivered are practiced year-round, many ignored. Just imagine the stale, by authorities. are unrestricted in terms of skill nauseating air inside your JAN. 30 - level and opportunity. Together, local gym, most likely the foul YouTube may be announcing paid family members both young and combination of sweat beads and subscriptions this spring, according old can enjoy the experience of poor air quality from the hordes to sources from the company.