By Nicole Chan
Here’s what you don’t want to miss: Our first week of coverage at SBS.
Campus Joys: The Little Things That Make Terps Smile
By Logan Midler
Our reporter, Logan Midler, asked University of Maryland students what makes them smile, and the answers weren’t always big moments. More often, they responded with small joys like going on walks, getting Maryland Dairy or enjoying a favorite spot that makes them happy.
Some students said the best part of campus is spending time with friends, eating Maryland Dairy or walking around McKeldin Mall.
For Daisy Wang, a freshman economics and finance major, joy comes from creativity and movement. Wang spends time in Prince Frederick Hall’s makerspace. This part of the Design Cultures & Creativity program gives her a place to test ideas hands-on, while going on runs with friends helps her recharge.
Mariam Ukondwa, a sophomore marketing major, highlighted “free things” as her favorite thing on campus.
From seeing friends to spending time on McKeldin Mall, Maryland students find joy in countless ways.
Headphones, Lights, and Long Lines: Silent Disc-Glo Packs the House at NextNOW Fest
By: Clare Roth
One of NextNOW Fest’s most popular traditions, the Silent Disc-Glo, packed The Clarice Performing Arts Center this year with one of the biggest turnouts in its nine-year history.
The annual event, co-hosted by The Clarice and Student Entertainment Events (SEE), gives students wireless headphones and three live DJs to choose from. About 1,200 people attend the disco each year, according to the Co-Director of Artistic Programming for The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Megan Pagado Wells.
This year’s line stretched all the way to Riggs Alumni Center, but students waiting outside passed the time by chatting, playing games and blowing bubbles. For many, the event has become a staple for kicking off the semester.
“I for sure see myself going again. I had so much last year, and this year it was something I was looking forward to. It did not disappoint,” said Arleen Galarza, a sophomore education and Spanish double major.
UMD’s Climate Resilience Network tackles Maryland’s climate crisis
By Rory Cahill
The University of Maryland’s Climate Resilience network, a group composed of leading experts on the climate crisis, is working on projects that directly address Maryland’s most pressing environmental challenges.
“We’re not trying to satisfy a scientific curiosity as much as we are trying to solve a problem,” said senior faculty specialist Michael Maddox on the organization’s efforts.
One of the main effects of climate change in Maryland is an increase in short, intense storms punctuated by droughts, leading to increased urban runoff, lower groundwater storage and increased flooding.
To combat this, the network is developing Hydronet — a system of affordable, solar- powered monitors that measure water levels across the Chesapeake Bay region and provide street-by-street flood warnings.
While the group faced setbacks from federal funding cuts under the Trump administration, it continues to receive key support from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System, which collects data along the region’s coastline. Faculty members say they’re hopeful this stability will continue as they expand flood monitoring and resilience efforts across the state.