Campus Housing!

I’m surprised no one beat me to blogging about the latest development at UB…(drum roll please…) Campus Housing now available to students! True that UB is not a traditional campus with sprawling acres of space but, to me, that’s all a part of its charm. The surrounding Mount Vernon Cultural Arts District has a ton of character and feels like a safe but lively place to live. So, even though I was surprised to learn upon admission that there was no campus housing available, I considered myself lucky to have a city setting. That is why I was very excited to pick the weekly edition of UB Post and see this story.

Here’s some of the details in case you missed it:
The University has made arrangements with several apartment complexes right in UB Midtown, within a short walk of campus, to provide you with cost-effective, convenient living options. Choose from a variety of living arrangements, from residing solo to sharing space with up to three roommates. (http://www.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=94)

To kick off this new effort, UB will hold Open Housing Fairs on May 16th and July 11th. They will be shuttling and giving tours to parents and students who are interested in being the first to try out UB’s new housing arrangements. Though I have a happy setup near my work in Rockville, I might go on a tour for fun. This is a big step for the school’s growth and I think it will be a huge draw for incoming students.

These lazy days of May

Hey avid readers...

This is my last post of the Spring, so I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your attention over the past few months. So much is happening around UB all the time that it's a little overwhelming sometimes...and often it can be hard to figure out what, exactly, is going to trigger a post.

A lot of good things are in store for UB in the near future. We're getting a new building with a bigger bookstore, the different departments and their faculty and students keep gaining new recognition for the university, tuition is not, at the moment, leaping upward. It's all good stuff. I hear murmurs from other folk that things are well in their parts of UB too -- that the school may be expanding its already significant outreach into the community, that we may be more things for more people.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait. Being school-free this summer is going to be so hard for me, and I'm already getting twitchy about being back next fall. I will spend this summer working on my writing, hoping that next year grad school is as much fun, and as mind-altering, as it was this year, and maybe, just maybe, hitting the road and visiting states more distant than Delaware and Virginia.

Be well, UB folk. Have a safe and excellent summer, and I will see you next year. If you're graduating, go out and take over the world.

Later, avid readers....

Just What is a Welter?

One of the more interesting experiences I had outside the classroom at the University of Baltimore was sending a short story I wrote to Welter. Welter is a literary journal produced annually by the students in the School of Communication Design and contains fiction, essays, and poetry. Now let's be clear: I have no literary talent whatsoever. Really. But I try not to let lack of talent get in the way of doing things.

So back in 2002, I wrote a brief (about four page) short story, set up as a series of journal entries, about how I was building a spaceship in my apartment (then in Silver Spring). I don't really recall why I wrote it. But I kept it around for a while. And then I sent it to Welter in the Spring of 2006. And for some reason they printed it. And then at the issue party, Lydia West stepped up to read it (it was kind of a poetry slam, except a short story). She sounded better than I would have reading it.

So, in all its glory, you can read the story online. Enjoy!

Not enough time...

As a graduate student I sometimes feel that there is just not enough time to do anything... the average graduate student has a fulltime job and may very well have a family. So on top of the work for their job, coming home to prepare dinner and make sure the house is tiddy, we also have to find time to do our assignments... where is the time for just doing you? The social life might as well go out the window, an assignment needs to be revised... AGAIN! and of course htere are times when you work you a$$ off to revise it (doing just about everything the teacher said) and there is still no grade change... wtf is the point is there would be absolutly no change!? At this point in the semester, I'm tired and all I want is a passing grade... once the 4.0 has gone, you kinda stop striving so much to maintain it (cause you really never will get it back to 4)... why go through all the hassle? It's the end of the semester and I just want to chill and be done with it... May 2010 hurry up! I'm tired and I don't want to be in school anymore... All I know is that piece of paper beter pay off in the long run... if not, I'm going to be a little upset... can I get a refund? LOL

Really UB? What the Heck?

So I'm walking out of my class the other day when I overheard these kids talking about some party they went to last night. The one girl commits about how she hooked up with one guy while the other dude can't even REMEMBER what happen because he was so wasted

is that fun for you?

Everywhere I go all I hear is about is sex, drugs, parties and Alcohol. I can't escape this college scene without hearing about this stupid crap

Next thing you know they will be talking about it in thier papers!

O wait they DID!!

i picked up the UB post to find an article about SEXUAL FANTASIES and even gave an example of one in it.

But thats not what my point is today people, my point is that everybody talks and WRITES about this so freely, but when i talk about JESUS; woah dustin, slow your roll there.

I've talked about Jesus to other people and the first thing they do is become socially awkward, or run away as fast as they can because for some reason, JESUS is a forbidden topic on campus.

I CAN'T EVEN BLOG ABOUT JESUS ANYMORE!!!

No, UB I'm done with your stupid crap.

Yes, Jesus was peaceful and loving, but he as also the Most Radical figure in the history of time.

It is time to stand up for him, so if this is my last post, so be it

But Next semester UB, be ready, because you are going to be hearing alot more about Jesus in your lives. I will not go down without a fight to stand for the reason i exist, for the reason i am saved!

I LOVE JESUS!!! Watch out UB, here I come ready to speak up and stand up

FOR JESUS!!!!

Sooo This is What's Its Like?

Okay so my birthday is coming up in June and I'll be turning 23. While I'm excited to be getting "older" I am constantly being reminded that I am getting "old". I'm not exactly afraid of aging or anything like that, but its funny to me that people believe that 23 is old. I'm a youth mentor at my church, and I had one young man put "Miss" in front of my name, which really took me by surprise. I appreciate him being respectful, but at the same time, this is what I have to look forward to-young people putting "Miss" in front of my name at the young age of 23. In my eyes, I still feel like I'm 18, although now I'm much more mature and wise. I remember turning 18 thinking I was "grown" but still behaving like a child. Its amazing to me that I'll be two years closer to 25, which is one of the milestone ages. And like they say, "With age comes responsibility". Here I am, turning 23, about to graduate from college, and worka full-time 9 to 5 job, buy a car, eventually buy a house, and one day be married with children of my own. That's a tough pill to swallow because I'm about to embark upon the life I've always dreamed about as a child. Its somewhat surreal to me, but by no means am I complaining. I guess I'm just starting to realize that the world I live in is much bigger than my little bubble. And as an adult, I'm beginning to see that young people are looking up to me to make conscious decisions and to somehow change the world. Like, its no longer about me, but about the people that look up to me. And believe me when I say, people are definitely watching. So, as my birthday approaches, I won't become too moved by those who feel as though I'm getting "old"...I'll be moved by those looking to me to make a change in the world, even if its a small change.


Until next time UB....

U B Green

The world is obsessed with “Going Green”. Hopefully, it’s not a fad, but a change of awareness. UB is an “urban campus” so truly changing the surrounding area is more difficult for us than say, UMD’s College Park campus, which has acres of tree and grass covered areas. The challenge that faces us is different but I get the feeling that challenge is not something that frightens UB’s student body and faculty. We are a school whose mission is all about overcoming obstacles.

An exciting development which I believe will help the efforts of a green campus is the new buildings at Fitzgerald. Having shops and bookstores like the new Barnes & Noble within walking distance will encourage students and teachers to drive less and walk more. There’s also talk of including green building materials and lighting on the construction of new facilities. Already, the renovation of the 1300 N. Charles Street building included energy-efficient windows and floors made of recycled materials. In addition, recently you may have noticed the new recycling trash bins around campus. Though the labeling could be improved on the bins, since as of now they don’t say what is and is not allowed in the bins, it’s a step in a good direction.

In my Business Ethics class last week, our Professor asked the class for ideas of everyday ways to live more green. The classroom sat in silence. Our Professor then asked us all to do a homework assignment. Bring 2 ideas to class at our next meeting. They could be as simple as using cloth grocery bags for shopping or unplugging your appliances. So, now I pose this assignment to you, UB Students: What are some ways we can all live a little greener? After all, this school will be around long after we graduate and leave campus and I hope to leave a legacy that is a reminder of our consideration for our environment. Don’t you all feel the same?