By Greg Pfeiffer

Affinity groups give back to the school and surrounding community in order to fulfill their responsibilities. They strive to bring together students and citizens through generous displays of service, and McDaniel Unity is no exception.

Comprised of Jenna Filipone, Ashley Dickinson, Ali Morland, Danny Fraider, Ashley Lyles, Sally Grace, and Amy Pierce, the group has tackled various service projects with the betterment of the McDaniel and Westminster communities in mind.

Their latest venture involves “adopting” a soldier currently serving in the Iraq war. This individual, Andy Burrows, is a McDaniel Alumni who graduated in 2004 with a degree in Political Science. He was active in ROTC, a member of the Sig Ep Fraternity, and worked in Admissions as a tour guide. Recently deployed, Burrows is three months into his 15 month tenure, ensuring the safe transport of convoys all over the country.

“Burrows and his fellow troops have one of the most dangerous jobs because their engagements involve improvised explosive devices and roadside bombs that you hear about in the news,” said Filapone.

The group has received one letter from Burrows and has sent him two care packages with another on the way for Christmas. The packages include anything that will help to remind him of home, including letters, candy, magazines, and CDs.

In addition to contacting the soldier, McDaniel Unity has also helped surrounding organizations like the American Legion and the Carroll County Arts Council. Their work includes distributing fliers and newsletters for both businesses to promote upcoming events.

By Juliann Giuffre

Tired of battling technology to get assignments done? Then the new Maggie Lab in Academic Hall, Room 214 will solve your problems.

The Student Web and Technology Team (SWATT), will be available to aid in problems with Microsoft Office Products, Adobe Products like Photoshop and InDesign, Video editing on a PC or MAC, poster printing, and scanning.

Kim Emery, instructional technologist, explained that the SWATT workers are also here to answer computer-related or Blackboard questions from students and faculty.

Steve Kerby, director of instructional technology, said that the main purpose of the Maggie Lab is the “support of technology use in classrooms, to make it easy for faculty to have projects incorporating technology.” He said that the lab is a new home for SWATT, with high-end machines with expensive software that the school can’t afford to put on all computers.

Junior Steven Hirschthal, a SWATT member, said that the poster printer costs $40 per poster, yet he says it would cost around $60-$80 at a place like Kinkos. Lab hours include Sunday and Tuesday.

By Stacey Eyler, Commentary Co-Editor

As reported in the September 27 issue of The McDaniel Free Press, a female McDaniel College student was sexually assaulted by a male McDaniel College student on August 26.

David Daggett, the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney and Legal Supervisor, has confirmed that the case has been suspended at this time.

“At this time, the victim does not want to go forward, and we would not force a victim to go forward,” he said.

According to Daggett, even though the case has been suspended, the victim can still choose to come forward at any time and proceed with charges against the attacker. However, he points out that several issues can arise depending on how long the case is suspended, including the availability of the witnesses and the investigators.

“The longer the case waits, the weaker it becomes,” Daggett said.

English professor Dr. Reanna Ursin takes trapeze lessons in Baltimore

By Ryan Hickey

She stands forty feet above the ground on a platform, clasping a horizontal bar that will be her lifeline when she jumps. To her left is the Atlantic Ocean anticipating her drop; to her right, the eyes of hundreds of people walking by as they view the Inner Harbor, its daily activities and, on this fateful day, the plunge of one McDaniel College faculty member who has discovered that some of life’s best thrlls happen off campus.

For Dr. Reanna Ursin, life has always been about experiencing new challenges and living life to the fullest.

Since her move to Baltimore six months ago Ursin has been embracing this pressure and exhilaration by taking Trapeze lessons at the Trapeze School New York (TSNY) Baltimore, which is located at Baltimore’s Inner harbor at the north end of Rash Field.

“I don’t think ten years ago I would have never pictured myself doing this now,” said Dr. Ursin when asked about her most recent adventure, and with a sly smile said, “But it has been an absolutely amazing experience, I’m living life.”

This is Dr. Ursin’s first year at McDaniel College after transporting herself from Notre Dame University to McDaniel.

She is a professor of English, Women’s Studies, Contemporary African American Literature and she also teaches the FYS class Transition into Adulthood. In her FYS class she often tells her students to, “Consistently challenge themselves, it will only help you grow.”

This is also something that she too is still learning to do she says.

“From this experience I learned a lot about myself, I learn how to confront a fear,” said Ursin.

In trapeze, the acrobat hangs from a horizontal bar and while hanging on leaps from a platform, typically ranging anywhere from 20 to 40 feet tall, hoping to then perform a trick while swinging from this bar.

Ursin usually jumps from a platform closer to 30 feet high.

“Trapeze is something that tests you in ways that you wouldn’t normally challenge yourself,” said Ursin. “It’s something out of the ordinary that makes you build your character but that you can apply to other places in life. I confronted a fear; I had to learn to surpass this fear and just jump. I’m living life.”

For more information on the trapeze School New York, Baltimore, go to
Baltimore Trapeze School. Or, to check out the scene the actual structure and school is located at Baltimore’s Inner harbor at the north end of Rash Field, right next to Baltimore Breach.

To get more information on the trapeze School New York, Baltimore go to Baltimore.trapezeschool.com. Or to check out the scene the actual structure and school is located at Baltimore’s Inner harbor at the north end of Rash Field, right next to Baltimore Breach.

One-of-a-kind store is Westminster’s hidden treasure

By Anna Moffet

When was the last time you took a stroll down Main Street or visited some of the local shops? If you’re like me, I’m guessing it’s been a while. If you need a new outfit or something to wear you just run to the mall or to the plaza at Westminster Crossing. You would never think about heading to Main Street to find something.

But all that is about to change.

Hidden Pearl is a new shop tucked in on the corner of Locust Lane off of Main Street and promises to hold a little something for everyone. Whether it’s nurses who need scrubs, business women who need suits, or students needing a chic sweater dress to throw on with leggings, Hidden Pearl has it.

The shop is a mother and daughter run business with an interesting story behind its founding. When Margo Miller’s grandmother passed away, Miller was left with some money and two choices: either go to school to become a bereavement counselor or open her own shop. She actually went back to school for awhile, but finally decided that it wasn’t for her. So she called up her mother Dawn Schaible and asked if she might want to go into business together to open up a shop. They named the shop in her grandmother’s memory, and Hidden Pearl was born.

When asked to describe her store in one word, Miller summed it up as, “eclectic.” She elaborated saying that her goal with the store is to carry a little something for everyone. And she really does. Hidden Pearl carries a huge selection and sizes to fit all. Miller’s goal is to have a comfortable fit for each customer’s style, age, and size.

“I’m trying to be cautious of different body types and keep that in mind…People need to be able to find clothes that are flattering to their body type,” said Miller. “A lot of stores only carry to a size 7 or 9. We want to carry something for everyone!”

Walking around her store it is clear to see she achieved this. One customer who overheard the interview said about a shirt, “My mother’s 89 and I’m 43. I could see either of us wearing that.”

So how will Hidden Pearl compete with corporate giants like Gap Inc., New York and Company, and Boscovs? Miller says they’re not worried. She is confident that her store can compete and do well in the area and sees her only problem as getting her name out. She has already taken steps to solve this by having her store featured in Carroll County Magazine, the Carroll County Newspaper, and soon in the Baltimore Sun.

“Once people come in and check us out they’ll want to keep coming back,” said Miller.

And looking at their product line it’s not hard to believe. The customer service is also impeccable and unlike anything you would find at other retail stores.

“I’m never too busy for a customer. I want everyone looking good when they walk out of the store…I wouldn’t tell you something looks good if it doesn’t,” Miller said. “Hidden Pearl is a great shop that both mothers and daughters can shop at together as well as grandmothers and granddaughters.”

So the next time you need a cute shrug, shirt, or accessories, check out Hidden Pearl, and see if you can’t find something amazing and one of a kind!