Black Monologues event amplifies Black voices through poetry
First published Feb. 21, 2023 in Stories Beneath the Shell. By Marissa Yelenik “Some people have the privilege to dress down, to have wilder hair colors, to have visible tattoos and still be perceived as ‘professional enough,’ I do not,” said senior biology and anthropology major Nina St. Hillaire, performing an entry from her journal. …
PSA from then to now: How the group has evolved and what it hopes to achieve
First published Dec. 16, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. By Minnie Stephenson In 2015, McLaine Rich, a University of Maryland student at the time, was sexually assaulted. To make matters worse, she found out that she and someone else she knew had been sexually assaulted by the same person. “I was like, OK, well…
The Nine is overselling luxuries
First published Oct. 15, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Lucy Hubbard A new luxury apartment building for University of Maryland students claims to “redefine luxury living.” But according to some residents, the luxuries are exaggerated – at best. “They definitely tried to sell the apartment as much as they could,” junior marketing major…
UMD restricts scooter parking, causing problems for some
First published May 13, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Kirstin Nichols More than two months ago, the University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services said that Veo e-scooters and e-bikes may only be parked at designated e-scooter parking areas, bike racks, or covered bike parking areas. It enforces that through a new geofence…
How a Labyrinth Helps Terps Destress
First published May 12, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Fatema Hosseini Round and round, I walk through the labyrinth. At each turn of the labyrinth, my mind lets go of a stressful thought, and each turn of it brings in a comforting one. Feeling the wind ruffling through my hair on the University…
David C. Driskell Center unapologetically embraces Black art
First published April 28, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Kirstin Nichols Deep in the heart of the Cole Student Activities Building is a space dedicated to highlighting Black and African Diaspora art, the David C. Driskell Center. “What the Driskell Center does is allows an individual to walk in regardless of their background…
Russian students struggle with identity amid war in Ukraine
First published March 21, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Eve Sampson Julia Kallaur wears a necklace with her Russian name every day. For most of her life, the freshman criminology major struggled to reconcile her Russian identity with her American upbringing. When she found out Russia invaded Ukraine, she was distraught. “I’ve spent…
UMD students hold vigil for Ukraine
FIrst published March 4, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Eve Sampson Over fifty University of Maryland students – some Ukrainian and Russian – gathered in front of McKeldin Library Thursday evening for a vigil in support of Ukraine. The event aimed to bring campus attention to the nation’s plight. “Slava Ukraini!” shouted members…
War in Ukraine hits close to home for some at UMD
First published March 3, 2022 in Stories Beneath the Shell. by Eve Sampson Around 10 p.m. last Wednesday, sophomore computer science major Alan Elbert was preparing for bed. He checked Telegram, a messaging application he uses to stay up to date with Ukrainian news. He would never have imagined what he was about to read:…
The indigenous student experience at UMD
First published Dec. 15, 2021 in Stories Beneath the Shell. By Grace Walker Native American students make up less than 1% of the over 40,000 students at the University of Maryland, according to the university’s Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education. The American Indian Student Union has just five members, president Ayden Allston said. She said…
