By Jennifer Baxter
Catch up on our first week of coverage for the semester.
Affordable housing remains a concern for communities along the Purple Line
By Kendrick Brown
The Washington, D.C., Purple Line is continuing to cause concern for affordable housing in lower-income communities in the area, but each day the light rail line proves itself to be a necessary addition.
The Purple Line was created in hopes that it will tremendously improve transportation access between Prince George’s County and Montgomery County. However, the better the transportation access in the suburban area, the more people will want to live there, and property prices are already rising for those who already reside there.
“The Purple Line has already increased single-family housing and multifamily rent prices near expected stations, and it hasn’t even opened yet,” David Bowers, vice president and market leader for the Enterprise Faith-Based Development Initiative at Enterprise Community Partners, said.
Worries that the Purple Line corridor could become surrounded by expensive homes and drown out the ability for low income families to access it are present. This is because similar rail lines such as the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Arlington, Virginia, have become much less accessible over time for this exact reason, according to a 2022 study by the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health.
Many people in the area are already struggling with the cost of homeownership, especially people of color, according to the 2023-2027 Housing Action Plan created by the Purple Line Corridor Coalition.
“I think there’s a real likelihood of building housing that does not fit the needs of middle-income, working-class and lower-income households and therefore prices people out rather than retaining residents across those three groupings,” Steve Brigham, engagement consultant for the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, said.
Despite concern for growing housing prices, many organizations continue to work together to develop ideas that will benefit the communities along the light rail line.
The Purple Line Corridor Coalition, administered by the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth, partners with state and local governments, community organizations, and more, to help members of the community.
YouTuber MatPat captures fans’ inspiration and nostalgia at the SEE All Niter Lecture
By Alicia Colegrove
On Feb. 6 in the Adele H. StampStudent Union Grand Ballroom, YouTuber and former host of The Game Theorists Matthew “MatPat” Patrick, took the stage for a Q&A and meet and greet for his fans at the University of Maryland.
The event, hosted by UMD’s Student Entertainment events programming board, was put together as a part of Terpcon’s All Niter Lecture. Students sold out the free event tickets in under 30 minutes, and many students were also able to join a raffle to receive meet-and-greet tickets.
Students like senior family health major Tabitha Tibbs were ecstatic about the event.
“I was on the computer, I had my phone, iPad [and] computer, and I was like, ‘Yes! I got a lecture ticket.’ I also got a meet and greet ticket, so I’m able to see him. I’m very excited,” said Tibbs.
Patrick answered many questions over the course of an hour, which revealed how his love for video games stemmed from his father, how The Game Theorists started out as a side project while having a full-time job, and the details behind his channel’s road to success.
The audience had high energy that only escalated when Patrick brought up the video game Five Nights at Freddy’s, for which he has posted 69 videos on the series throughout his time on YouTube. Students were filled with a sense of nostalgia as he discussed his hit series.
During the Q&A portion of the lecture, a fan asked Patrick if he would ever run for president. His response hinted that it wasn’t off the table for him to do so. This led freshman chemistry major Roxana Contrera to leave the event, saying, “Let’s go, MatPat for President!”
Since Patrick’s retirement, he has become an advocate for issues in the digital world. He was able to lobby on Capitol Hill to launch the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, which focuses on educating Congress about the digital creator economy.
Buddhist monks’ 109-day ‘Walk for Peace’ concludes on National Mall
By Lillian Gray
Nineteen monks arrived in Washington on Feb. 11 after crossing through nine states, a journey with a simple message of promoting peace, love, kindness and compassion. At the end of their journey, they held a concluding ceremony which allowed spectators to walk with them to the Lincoln Memorial and hear closing remarks from many of the monks and their supporters.
Check out these photos and read more here.
Two Buddhist monks pass by the Washington Monument on their way to the Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A spectator holds a sign that reads “peace and love” at the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
Spectators hold flowers to give to the Buddhist monks who walked 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara addresses the crowd at the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Pannakara led the group of 19 Monks in a single file like during the 15-week journey. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A group of Buddhist monks walk towards the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate their 109-day walk from Texas to Washington. Photo by Lillian Gray 
Bhikkhu Bodhi, a Buddhist monk from Brooklyn, New York, addresses the crowd at the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A Buddhist monk holds flowers gifted by spectators who lined the streets alongside the National Mall. Photo by Lillian Gray 
A Buddhist monk makes his way to the Lincoln Memorial for the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
Thousands of people gather around the Lincoln Memorial to witness a group of Buddhist monks make remarks about their “Walk for Peace.” Photo by Lillian Gray. 
Thousands of people make their way to the Lincoln Memorial for the Buddhist monks’ closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray.
Featured Image: Students walk on campus at the University of Maryland as snow remains on the ground upon the return from a weeklong delay. Photo by Miller Rogers-Tetrick.