By Nicole Chan
This week at UMD: From campus events to student life, here’s what you need to know.
Teddy the Terp returns to campus to comfort students
By Sophia Yodice
The University of Maryland’s K9 comfort dog, Teddy the Terp, was stationed outside the School of Public Health on Wednesday to brighten up students’ days.
Teddy, a chocolate Labrador, is very popular on campus and can be found interacting with students during final exams, campus events and providing comfort in times of crisis or tragedy.
Though Teddy could not stay for the whole event, a more permanent comfort K-9 was offered in the form of small adoptable stuffed animal puppies of various breeds. People looking for more interactive opportunities were given the chance to sew and decorate their own plush puppy.
For many, the visit simply offered a meaningful pause in the middle of a busy week.
“It’s really nice to just be around an animal. Today, I’m just really tired, but coming here, I feel uplifted,” Shriya Rejeesh, a senior public health science major, said.
This was just one event in the School of Public Health’s fourth annual Welcome Week, which began Sept. 22 and ended Sept. 26.
“These events are to make sure you don’t feel alone, and to make sure you have a way to connect with other people,” Alyssa Maragh, a graduate student studying health administration and the assistant for the student engagement initiative, said.
Henson Day recognizes iconic alum, Muppets creator Henson
By Hannah Harris
On Wednesday, University of Maryland students gathered in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union to celebrate the birthday of Jim Henson,dubbed “Henson Day” by the University, a notable alumnus well renowned as the creator of childhood shows “Sesame Street” and “The Muppets.”
“I like that there’s a whole day dedicated to him because he did have an impact on culture and media,” sophomore communications major Sophia Weise said.
Balloons and party hats decorated the bronze statue of Kermit the Frog, a notable Muppet character, and his creator placed outside the student union, where students had the opportunity to snap a photo to enter a raffle contest.
Terps After Dark also hosted students in the basement of the student union to make felt magnets for both Henson’s characters and Testudo. Jim Henson Day shows the true impact of Henson’s legacy on UMD students’ childhoods.
When asked about Henson’s legacy, sophomore neuroscience major Laila Carroll commented: “I hope that when I have kids–in the very far future–they’ll be able to know about Jim Henson, his work, and all the things I’ve grown up on and all the topics that were discussed in the movies.”
Students upset with the university following recent lice outbreak on campus
By Elizabeth Faragi
Reports of body lice were confirmed on the fourth floor of McKeldin Library and in a restroom at Kirwan Hall on Sept. 17, according to an email from the university sent on Sept. 19.
Some University of Maryland students have expressed concern about the administration’s handling of the situation. The university waited two days after the initial report to disclose how it was treating the lice.
On Sept. 19, the University reported that the lice had been treated and students could continue with regular activities.
Social media played a large role in spreading misinformation prior to the university’s official report, leading students to panic or disbelieve it entirely.
“I wish [the university] would have responded a little bit earlier, at least let it be known, so it wasn’t just this rumor going around,” Max Ladenson, a freshman business major, said. Landerson initially heard that the lice were in Cumberland Hall.
Despite widespread concerns, Dr. Spyridon S. Marinopoulos, Director of the University’s Health Center, explained to SBS that the University’s Pest Control Units treated the lice and assured students that body lice are not generally something to be worried about.
“Regular bathing, and washing clothes and bedding at least once a week are sufficient to prevent and eliminate body lice,” he said.