By Andrew Mollenauer 

Fall Break Ruffles Feathers:

When President Darryll J. Pines announced last Monday the implementation of an annual fall break beginning next school year, several seniors expressed their displeasure. 

Angelina Ward, a senior criminology and criminal justice and sociology double major at UMD, was irritated when she heard the announcement.

“I’m sure some people are excited for the break and it’ll be nice to have a peaceful day or two in October in the coming years, but I feel that the current seniors and past graduates just find this annoying,” Ward said. She was frustrated because many colleges and universities have already been giving students a fall break for quite some time. 

Pines said the newly implemented two-day break is meant to serve as a restful opportunity for students to pause and prioritize their mental health as exam week quickly approaches. 

Peyton Aronow, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, said she’s frustrated, too, but thinks the break will be beneficial to future students. 

“As a senior, I’m happy for future students because we truly need more breaks for mental health and other reasons,” Aronow said.

The break will extend the weekend and, in addition to providing a rest period, allow students and faculty to observe Indigenous People’s Day. 

Power Hour:

University of Maryland’s chapter of Kesem — an organization that provides outreach to children impacted by their parents’ battles with cancer — held a GivingTuesday event last week, which included a variety of fundraisers and a “Power Hour.”

Camp Kesem co-director Shruti Chauhan, a senior neurobiology and physiology major at UMD, helped run the Power Hour event.

The Terps women’s basketball team made an appearance for the “Pie an Athlete” event and there were various refreshments and dare challenges.

“People do crazy things because they know it’s for a great cause,” Chauhan told Stories Beneath the Shell. “And historically, we always hit our fundraising goal, sometimes a little bit after GivingTuesday, but we’re gonna keep working towards [$47,000], so we can get as many kids to camp.” 

Grace O’Neill was among the students in attendance at Power Hour. The sophomore public health sciences major recently joined the organization due to her personal connection to the cause. 

“I had a parent who had cancer, and when I learned about this, I thought it would be a cool way to use my experiences to give back to other people,” O’Neill said. 

Kesem’s UMD activities for GivingTuesday also included a fundraising event at &pizza in College Park. 

Steiner Lecture:

Linda Steiner, a professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, gave a presentation in a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Lecture on Nov. 21, delving into a conversation that has gained traction in recent years: sex vs. gender. 

Steiner, one of six Distinguished Scholar-Teachers for this academic year, argues that there should be a distinction made between the two terms considered by many to be synonymous. 

“It was insulting to be referred to as a female professor or a female journalist,” Steiner said at the lecture. “When, one, people didn’t really know if I really was a ‘female’ and only know how I ‘present,’ two, when I realized that this left out people who might be women but not females, and especially insulting when, three, men’s biology and gender aren’t marked at all.”

Steiner dissected the politicization of the topic and how politicians have interfered with what she described as more of a human rights issue. 

The professor, writer, and editor is also the associate dean for faculty affairs and diversity, equity and inclusion at Merrill College.

SPOTLIGHT STORY:
UMPD’s Capt. Kenner “Uniquely Positioned” to Bridge Gaps on Diverse Campus

By Andrew Mollenauer

When August Kenner, a 28-year veteran of the University of Maryland Police Department, was promoted to captain in 2022, she assumed the role with a core purpose: community policing. 

“I always encourage our officers to engage in conversations in safe spaces and share stories,” Kenner said. “Everyone’s voice is powerful and necessary to help make change moving forward.”

Kenner is one of four captains at UMPD. She’s one of two who are of color, and she’s the only woman.

But Kenner’s ascension toward the top of UMPD’s leadership structure is notable not because of current staffing demographics. She’s the first woman of color in the force’s nearly 50-year history to serve as captain.

“I am uniquely positioned to build meaningful connections between police and communities of all color,” Kenner said. “Some of the key strategies include visibility and accessibility [and] ensuring we are attending community events, forums, and gatherings in a non-enforcement capacity to show our commitment and support to the community beyond policing.”

The lived experience checking the boxes of two demographics often at odds is complex, and can be challenging yet rewarding, Kenner said.

“Some challenges within my 28 years serving [are] dealing with some implicit biases from community members, carrying the weight of others’ expectations or mistrust on both sides,” Kenner said. “But there are also strengths; my identity and experiences give me empathy and insight that help me connect with diverse communities and push for change.”

David Fields, another of UMPD’s four captains, said Kenner is a “true friend” and a “blessing” to have as a colleague.

Fields said Kenner’s presence as a woman of color in a high position of authority has been impactful both in the department and on the campus she serves. 

“It’s easier for some community members to engage with us when they see an officer that looks like them,” Fields said. “It’s essential for any police department to have diversity within its leadership. Diversity brings different perspectives and unique insights from experiences as a person or woman of color. We value diversity at our police department.”

Kenner said that as a proponent of community policing, she aims to bridge the gap between police and people of color amid the groups’ increasingly strained relationship at the national level. As someone who lives both realities, Kenner said there are things she wishes people of color knew about police, and vice versa. 

“I wish they knew that many officers genuinely want to serve and protect their communities, not harm them,” Kenner said. “Most officers are human beings who care, but unfortunately systemic racism and issues can sometimes overshadow those good intentions. It’s important to engage with police as individuals and hold institutions and police agencies accountable without assuming every officer has malicious or bad intent because of what you might see on news or social media.”

As for police in this country, Kenner said she wishes they would be more educated about history and understanding of the experiences of people of color.

“For police officers, I wish they truly understood and [took] note of the deeply-rooted  historical and personal reasons behind the mistrust people of color often feel toward police,” Kenner said. “It’s not just about individual interactions; it’s a legacy of systematic oppression and harm done in that community.”

Representation is critical, said UMPD Lt. Rosanne Hoaas, who believes Kenner’s presence in a high-ranking capacity is integral to harmony both in UMPD and the surrounding community. 

“Having someone like Capt. Kenner be in a leadership position within the department speaks volumes,” Hoaas said. “It’s more than just saying we value diversity. What she brings to the table, and in the position she serves, it’s just critical across the board.”

Kenner’s unprecedented captaincy at UMPD, from a representation standpoint, is notable considering current University of Maryland demographic data, which indicate the student population is more than 50 percent male and 38.5 percent white. 

Hoaas said UMPD’s commitment to diversity and leadership that includes someone like Kenner will set an example for young people of color who have similar career goals. 

“She’s such an amazing person,” Hoaas said. “In her time here, she’s gotten to know so many people, building those connections and relationships with our community. When we go out and about, when we’re walking, she’s like the mayor of the campus; everyone knows who she is.”

Kenner said her vision for policing is the right balance between exercising authority and realizing that officers are human beings, too, like the citizens they serve. 

“Empathy can go a long way toward repairing and rebuilding relationships,” Kenner said. “Still do your job as a police officer; if someone is breaking the law, enforce the law and maintain your professionalism.”