All anyone ever seems to be talking about is porn. And of course, we’re no exception.

But this time, our message is different: students prevailed.

Today, the Board of Regents listened to student concerns about a policy that would restrict free speech on campus.  In a unanimous vote, the Regents voted that their policy would be NO POLICY.  According to the recommendation of Chancellor Kirwan, the Board of Regents adopted the policy that the system's universities would abide by the "laws of the land," as detailed in a letter they will send to the state legislature.   Last spring, university officials canceled a screening of the triple-X pornographic film Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge at the Hoff Theater after state senators introduced an amendment to the budget that would withhold funding from the university if the film was shown.  The amendment was introduced by State Senator Andy Harris (R-Baltimore and Harford), and would likely have passed if the university had not canceled the showing.  The state senate then tasked the Board of Regents, the governing body of the University System of Maryland (USM), with developing a policy that would deal with the issue of showing obscene materials for entertainment purposes on campus.  Student activists protested, and held their own showing of the film.  They screened the first 30 minutes of the film, but the main focus of the event had turned to free speech and the ability of the state government to dictate what happens on a university campus.
 
 
 An emergency meeting was held Wednesday night to discuss the reassignment of the university's Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity Dr. Cordell Black. He has held the position for 18 years, and has made a lasting difference on this campus. A walkout in support of the Associate Provost is scheduled for 12 p.m. Thursday starting at the Nyumburu Cultural Center and ending at the Main Administration Building.

Here are some pictures  from the meeting.
 
 
Maryland, behind the efforts of the Student Government Association, won the America's Greenest Campus competition. In addition to receiving $5,000 to continue sustainability efforts on campus, the university is receiving national accolades.
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University press release
 
 
The University of Maryland Student Government Association hosted T. Boone Pickens on Friday, Oct. 16, as the first featured speaker in its speaker series. Pickens spoke about the future of energy in the United States and answered students' questions. Here are some pictures and videos from the event.
 
 

Please note: If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to the Student Government Association by sending an e-mail to  SGAcommunications@gmail.com.

 
 

Recent coverage of the SGA's leadership on the issue of free speech on college campuses

Newspapers:
Front Page of the Baltimore Sun: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.pornography07oct07,0,6048082.story
Metro section of the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/07/AR2009100701577.html?wprss=rss_metro
Front page of The Diamondback: http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/screwing-with-free-speech-1.630408

DC TV Stations:
Channel 4: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Free-Porn-Oh-and-Speech-at-UMD-63677037.html
Channel 7: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1009/666323.html

Baltimore TV Stations:
Channel 2: http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/MD-Working-On-Porn-Policy/9fPBX2qCtkaX-QKMJ0rCfA.cspx
Channel 11: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/21225812/detail.html
Channel 13: http://wjz.com/local/university.of.maryland.2.1232667.html


Radio Stations:
WTOP: http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1780264&nid=25
WBAL: http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=37162&zoneid=3

Other News Sources:
UPI: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/10/07/Maryland-students-oppose-porn-policy/UPI-41631254927394/
 
 
By Joel Cohen and Erin Spiegel

Because of budget cuts from the state, Engaged University, a cooperative extension program through the University of Maryland, could lose its $300,000 of annual funding from the Agriculture School. The Student Government Association, along with other prominent campus groups, is fighting to keep this essential program alive. SGA representatives are uniting to show important decision makers, both here at the University and at the local and state level, that this program is essential to the mission of the university.

So what exactly is Engaged University? Sure, you could say that it has the region's only biodiesel fueling station. Or that it has a community garden that allows neighbors and students to work together toward a common goal. Or you could mention that it hosts a bike repair shop that allows university students and community school children to refurbish abandoned bicycles and then gives the finished products back to the community.
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We made the front page of ABC7's website.
But really, the only way to fully understand Engaged University is to visit the site. So...we did, and we invited the media along with us.

ABC7, NBC4, the Washington Post and The Diamondback participated in our tour. ABC7 and NBC4 ran segments on the Sunday Sept. 6 evening news, while the Washington Post may run a story about it soon. The Diamondback ran a story about it on Sept. 9. Engaged University Director Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, along with Student Body President Steve Glickman, SGA Director of Environmental Affairs Joanna Calabrese and SGA Agriculture School Legislator Jesse Yurow led the tour, which included a stop at the garden, a demonstration of the biodisel fueling station and a visit to the bike repair shop. SGA College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Legislator Shira Silver and SGA South Campus Commons Legislator Lisa Crisalli also attended and shared their unique perspectives with the reporters.

We know that this is just the beginning. We know that more work remains. The SGA will continue its fight to save the Engaged University. The SGA will continue working with leaders here on campus and in Annapolis to keep the Engaged University up and running. There are few programs that have such an influence on our community and the loss of this one would have an unfortunately large impact.
And it's not just the SGA representatives who support this program. In June, House Majority Leader and university alum Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., toured the campus of Engaged University.


He was extremely impressed with the strong community partnerships developed by Engaged University, saying “I was pleased to have the opportunity to tour this facility and learn more about this impressive initiative. Based on what I saw, the effort to bring the University of Maryland and the local community together under a united partnership to improve the surrounding neighborhoods is having a positive impact.”

We hope that this media attention and Hoyer's political support will ultimately lead to the protection of the program's funding.

Here is ABC7's Sept. 6 coverage of the Engaged University:

Here are some behind-the-scenes videos and pictures from the media tour: