HEADLINES

McDaniel students represent Nigeria at Model UN
A spring break aiding victims of Hurricane Ivan
College introduces courses in Arabic
College Choir performs 'Love'
A celebration of diversity
Events teach alcohol-abuse prevention
Film club looks beyond mainstream
Get ready for the next edition of The Hill: It's got game
Mixed start to spring for Green Terror
Hill Happenings

The weeks before the Harvard Model UN keep McDaniel's 21-member delegation busy. There's so much to learn and know about the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country the group will represent at the four-day Boston event.

Knowledge indeed is power in this event. And McDaniel's students are among the best prepared. With them at all times is the 70-plus page spiral-bound book they have written and compiled. It is brimming with the statistics, demographics, maps, social and political issues, history – everything and anything they have been able to find out about Nigeria.

When they meet formally in committee at the Model UN and informally in hotel hallways or what one student described as little more than a closet, they must know this West African nation even better than they know their own. Their votes and proposals must align with this most populated of African countries with about 137 million people in an area slightly larger than two Californias.

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The ocean was within sight of the McDaniel students, just a short walk from the house. The air was warm under a bright Florida sun. School work was left five states away in Maryland.

And the sand – well, it was everywhere.

But this wasn't your typical spring break. College students, sun, sand, and sea don't always add up to spring break. In fact, this trip for seven McDaniel students amounted to a lot of work – a lot of rewarding work.

All that sand? Well, in conjunction with the Catholic Campus Ministry, the students cleared sand from the driveways, back doors, garages, lawns and bushes of members of St. Ann's Catholic Church near Pensacola Beach, Florida.

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Students who register for the first class in Arabic will soon discover that there is more to studying language than the language itself.

With Arabic, they will learn a whole new alphabet and how to draw it. Then they will delve into culture, history, music, art, tradition, and lifestyle to better understand the language and the 180 million people in more than 20 countries who speak Arabic.

In the past the College has offered Russian along with the traditional Spanish, French, German and Latin. The new course is the result of discussions among the Foreign Language faculty as to what new language would be appropriate. Interest in Russian has waned, but the college does offer an introduction to Hungarian in keeping with its branch campus in Budapest.

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McDaniel College Department of Music presents the McDaniel College Choir in concert in “Kinds of Love” at 7 p.m. April 10 in Baker Memorial Chapel.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 410-857-2599.

The program includes “Praise the Lord” (Trad. Cameroon) arranged by Ralph Johnson, “Pavanne for a True Musical Prince” by Milcho Leviev, Appalachian folksong “Wild Mountain Thyme” arranged by Garth Baxter, selections from English folksongs "The Sprig of Thyme" arranged by John Rutter, “The Bold Grenadier,” “The Keel Row,” and “Te Quiero.”

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From belly dancers and Arab-Classical music to delectable breads from around the world, Diversity Week at McDaniel College promises a sampling of cultures from far and near.

All events are free and open to the public. For information, call the Office of Multicultural Services at 410-857-2791.

Schedule of Events

McDaniel College will mark National Alcohol Awareness Month with two events geared to educate the campus community about the use and abuse of alcohol.

“National Alcohol Screening Day and the SAVE-A-LIFE Tour are two events that reinforce the importance of alcohol-abuse education and prevention on campus,” says McDaniel College Counselor Kate Moncure, LCPC. “The events will provide an opportunity for the entire McDaniel College Community to become more aware of the dangers of alcohol abuse and the negative consequences that can result from it.

“The events will also provide individuals with educational literature, referral information and resources on where to get help.”

Both events are free and open to the McDaniel College Community. For information, call Kate Moncure in Counseling Services at extension 3305.

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They shun blockbuster movie titles. Instead of popcorn, they prefer to munch on Chinese take-out. Even their meeting time seems slightly off-center: 9:15 on Wednesday nights.

Welcome to the Alternative Film Club, a new student group founded last semester that is so far living up to its name.

“It's a very, very, very casual club,” says Ned Kane '07, who is one of the original members. “Anybody can show up. If you know where it is and you know what time it's at, then you're in.”

Beyond having a club president, Rachel Smith '08, the group has no other officers and decides on each week's film by group vote. Titles are selected from members' extensive DVD and video collections or ordered through one member's subscription to the mail-order rental outfit Netflix. Meetings — which can draw up to 30 people — are held in a “smart” classroom in Lewis Hall of Science, which features a high-tech projector and large screen.

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Some fun-loving students and alumni are benefiting from computer and video games in surprising ways. Open the Winter/Spring issue of The Hill magazine to find out about Greg Street '91, a former oceanographer with a Ph.D., who left his job as a university professor to find his professional paradise as a designer of a blockbuster series of games.

You'll also learn about the Kilowatt, an exercise device developed by Greg Merril '87, that has people pumping up while gaming. And then there are the game boys on campus, who attribute many of their best friendships to the video games that brought them together.

Check the mail next week for your copy. Not on The Hill mailing list? Contact alumni@mcdaniel.edu to sign up.

Postponements and early losses have marked a cold start to spring for some McDaniel teams while other Green Terror athletes have warmed up to victory.

Baseball, softball, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis struggled in opening contests, but members of the men's and women's golf and outdoor track teams wrapped up March with fantastic individual efforts.

Sabrina Putro '06 (left) placed in three field events at the Bridgewater Invitational March 26. The Green Terror thrower took seventh in the shot put and fifth in the discus and javelin.

Pat Hayes '06 won the Gettysburg Invitational March 29. His one-over 73 led to a playoff round and eventually victory for the Green Terror golfer. Kelly Cramp '05 placed second for the women's team at the Golden Isles Invitational in Jekyll Island, Ga., March 19.

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• The McDaniel College Department of Art and Art History presents “Visible Prayer: The Paintings by Deborah Sokolove” March 22 through April 15 on campus in Rice Gallery in Peterson Hall. An artist's reception is 7-9 p.m. April 7. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. Call 410-857-2595 for gallery hours.
  
  
• The Multicultural Services Film Series features "In the Land of Plenty" at 7 p.m. April 4 in Room 108 Hill Hall. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The Westminster Symphony Orchestra, a joint project between McDaniel College and Carroll Community College, performs at 7:30 p.m. April 19 in the Scott Center for the Arts at Carroll Community College. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• McDaniel College Theatre presents "Noises Off" at 8 p.m. April 20-23 on the WMC Alumni Hall Mainstage. For more information, call 410-857-2448.