Sheehan Bails on Chapel Appearance

After a brief speech at the Memorial Chapel last night, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan left the venue before being confronted with questions from students and others in attendance.

Sheehan visited the campus to participate in the Democracy Collaborative's discussion on the costs of the Iraq War. She was accompanied by professor Shibley Telhami, who spoke on the consequences of the war on international relations, and Senate candidate Kevin Zeese, who delivered a campaign speech before taking audience questions.

Immediately following her comments on the war, Sheehan left the stage area. Moderator Gar Alperovitz, a university professor, informed the audience that Sheehan would return to answer question, but later announced that she would not be returning due to health issues.

The news of Sheehan's decision to not return encouraged the majority of the audience to leave while the remaining students participated in the scheduled question and answer session with Telhami and Zeese.

Look for full coverage in the upcoming October issue of The Terrapin Times ...

Transfers Banking on New Scholarship $$$ ...

In an effort to become more of a tool of Chevy Chase Bank, the university announced Friday that it has accepted a $2 million donation from the financial institution.

The money will be used to "create an endowment providing scholarships for business students and supporting internships for student leaders," according to a university release.

The donation continues to solidify the relationship between the university and Chevy Chase, which holds numerous ATM cash dispensers on campus and sponsors several athletic-department programs, including the popular $100 giveaway during home games.

But seriously, the increasing corporate sponsorship of universities raises some interesting ethical questions that will undoubtedly be argued in the coming weeks. Expect certain campus activists to complain about the corporatization of the university, just as they did when DOTS suggested selling Metro-bus style ad space on Shuttle-UM buses.

But is any way for the university to pull in funding a bad way?

University to Conduct 'Paper Trail' Tests

The University of Maryland College Park will be conducting studies to determine if "paper trails" are needed for the state's electronic voting machines, according to a report from The Washington Times.

Paper trails provide a printed receipt of the vote cast. The University of Maryland in Baltimore County will also study the pros and cons of paper trails.

The universities will submit findings to the Maryland State Board of Elections in December.

For more on this story, visit The Washington Times.

September Issue Available Now

The September 2005 issue of The Terrapin Times is now on campus. It is also available online in PDF format.

Please use this posting to offer feedback and comments on the issue.

BREAKING: Sheehan To Visit Campus

BREAKING NEWS:

Original Post: September 13, 2005, 11:22 pm
Last Updated: September 14, 2005, 9:58 am

The Terrapin Times has learned that anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan will be speaking on the University of Maryland campus on September 27 at 8:00 pm in the Memorial Chapel. Admission is free and first-come, first-served.

Sheehan attracted media attention over the summer when she erected a campsite outside President Bush's Texas ranch during his vacation. She was protesting the war in Iraq and demanding answers for the death of her son, Casey Sheehan.

Sheehan demanded a meeting with the president. Such a meeting -- which would have been her second with Bush -- was not granted and she departed on an Eastern US bus tour that will end at the White House and culminate in "massive" anti-war demonstrations in the nation's capital.

Sheehan and supporters were later quoted expressing their gratitude that Bush did not grant a meeting, because it would have ended their media-saturated protest.

According to the Democracy Collaborative, which was co-founded by UMD political economy professor Gar Alperovitz, Sheehan will address "the Iraq War and the costs at home." She will encourage students with advice on how they can end the war and bring about political change in Washington.

She will be joined by Alperovitz, Middle East expert Professor Shibley Telhami and activist/U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Zeese.

Several members of the Democracy Collaborative have outwardly expressed support for Democratic candidates and liberal organizations. For information on their giving habits, click on the names:

Alperovitz

Benjamin R. Barber

William A. Galston

Harris Wofford

Sondra Myers


Developing ... stay tuned for updates ...

Brit Takes Issue With Petri Meat

In a September 11, 2005 column in The [UK] Observer, columnist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall criticized the University of Maryland researchers who have discovered the possibility of creating "meat" in laboratories.

"These are short-sighted, power-crazed, intellectually degenerate, self-serving, morally empty imbeciles!," Whittingstall wrote. "They believe they hold in their hands the beginnings of a brave new world of cruelty-free meat. I don't think so."

He went on to say that such advances could "consign to oblivion 10,000 years of a relationship that has shaped civilisation - the contract of good husbandry between man and his domesticated livestock."

He also points to the logical problems with the discovery, such as the fact that scientiest can only create lumps of "meat," and are unabe to reproduce the cuts of steak or chicken breast that come from animals.

Read the entire column HERE.

University to Host Prayer Vigil, Encourages Students to Help

The university has announced that the Memorial Chapel will be holding a prayer service for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on Sunday, September 4 at 9:30 pm.

The prayer service will be "in the Christian tradition," as it is being sponsored by the Episcopal/Anglican Campus Ministry.

We wonder how long it will remain slated "in the Christian tradition." Let's just hope people don't protest this show of spirituality on campus.

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In an e-mail to members of the university community, Provost William Destler announced that the university is considering several options for fundraising for victims of the hurricane.

The administration has also started enrolling Maryland residents who had been attending schools in the flooded areas of Louisiana.

"I hope that all of you will find a way to contribute to those affected
by this natural disaster," Destler said. He added that the university's Web site offers links to several organizations that are accepting donations to help in the recovery efforts.