In Midst of Shooting Threat, Students Still Prepare for Finals

Yesterday night, at around 11 p.m., someone, presumably a student, allegedly threatened to fire gunshots across the school at 5:30 p.m. on today, April 30th, in an anonymous social network called Yik Yak. After students, faculty, and staff were informed by the University Police, many professors cancelled classes and many students stayed inside of their dorms in fear of their lives.

Nonetheless, students still attended the forum in Lane room 113 called "Preparation for Finals", hosted by Mrs. Terri Massie-Burrell, Ph.D, Assistant Provost for Frostburg State University.

Students filed in one by one, lugging backpacks and holding notebooks, pushing their glasses up on their nose, talking to their friends, and taking their seats in front of the projector and Mrs. Massie-Burrell. They sit patiently and anxiously, texting their friends and family before they listened to what Mrs. Massie-Burrell has to say.

"The schedule says 5:00, so we're starting at 5:00," says Mrs. Massie-Burrell, sporting a stylish fro and a huge smile. She directs her head toward a tall girl with a button up denim shirt and an aquamarine blue hat.

"This is my friend, Katrice. Say hi, Katrice!"

Katrice shyly tips her hat, and the presentation begins. Mrs. Massie-Burrell presents slide after slide of tips on getting prepared for finals such as knowing the date of the finals, studying in a room much like where you will take the final, studying early and often, and eating breakfast before the final.

"Do not procrastinate! Don't start studying on Tuesday for an exam on Wednesday. Be proactive," she informs us. She asks questions about where we study for our tests. Many answer with places such as the library and their lounge with a few people saying they study on their couches or in their beds.

"Study sitting up in a well-lit room so you don't fall asleep. Try to be in the same environment you will test in, because you won't test on your bed." The students laugh, and she ends by wishing the students good luck and passing out evaluations for the students to fill out.

The students exit, some sighing from being tired from class and others walking up to her and asking her about Scantrons and her business card for extra help.

The person who made the anonymous threat was found by the Police and our minds were eased by Mrs. Massie-Burrell's tips. Good luck on finals, Frostburg students.

Lights, Cameria, Runway: Visual Couture Takes Stage

On Sunday, April 27th around 4:00 P.M. students gathered outside of Lane University Center to support Frostburg's very own Visual Couture models. Female and Male students dressed their finest to show the upmost respect to this year’s show. The speakers boomed and the crowd cheered as the lights dimmed and Junior’s Jamal McDaniel and Quinton Brown took stage. “Salute!” Quinton yelled. “Who wants a shout out?” Jamal screamed. “Where my friends at?” The crowd began to cheer and applaud since of course everyone wanted a shout out. “Where my man trippy at?” Jamal yelled. Coming from the center section of the Armah J’monnie Walker replied, “I’m right here Mal. What’s up?” After Jamal and Quinton made a star first appearance they continued back stage and let the models take the runway. A slide show appeared of all model’s presenting what they thought being a Visual Couture model really meant. Some said goofy, while others said diverse. The lights dimmed again and three models in elegant purple gowns strutted their stuff. There was no doubt that they showed everyone what Visual Couture was really about.  Models made the way down the runway one by one and at the end of each run the designer would come out and take a bow, as well as each model one last time. Visual Couture even modeled a student clothing line by the name of DAFT.  They also modeled designers such as, Corjor International, and Dramatic Fanatic.

                The crowd was pleased with Visual Couture’s rather risky outfits this year. The models were poised, professional, and edgy all at the same time. Tons of support from the crowd poured in throughout the entire show. You could hear, “That’s my girl” over and over again. There is no question that the crowd was pleased with what they got. In between each set of designers Jamal and Quinton would once again take stage. During the second half of the show Jamal wanted everyone to “rep” where they came from. He screams, “Where PG County at?” You could hear yells from all over the room. Then he yells. “But where Baltimore at?” Even more noise was made.  Multiple students from the crowd made their way to center stage to show off their dance moves. Shortly after Jamal says, “Happy one year anniversary to Spring 2013 line of Omega Psi Phi, Show them something.” Brothers of the Omega Ps Phi Fraternity Inc. slowly came down and showed everyone their “hops.”  As the show came to an end LaQuasia Burns, president of the organization, brings all models back to the stage, along with the designers to thank everyone for their support. She also announces her appreciation for e hard work and dedication she has received from the models.  Visual Couture made their show classy, sexy, and elegant all in one. They showed how formal runway can stick to its classic ways, but can also be fun and enjoyable.

To support Frostburg’s very own DAFT clothing line you may visit it’s website by clicking here.

The Evolution of Fashion: Visual Couture puts on a show

            On a beautiful spring day in Frostburg, the Lane Center is completely empty except for a tech crew, faculty, and a group of students rehearsing for an event later in the day. Around 4:00 p.m, parents, faculty, and students alike converged upon the building and began lining up outside the Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall while beats boomed from within the solemn, closed doors. This evening, Frostburg State University played host to the annual Visual Couture Fashion Show, where our fellow students of each academic level come together to bring a flare of fashion, and runway modeling to a school much more focused on sports.

            For one time each year, eyes shift left and right, up and down the runway while cheers bellow out from all around the room. What are they cheering for you may ask? The obvious answer is their friends and family participating in the show. After all it’s really about the models right? On one hand yes; everyone wants to see their loved ones looking, and feeling good on stage after months of preparing for tonight.

On the other hand is the fashion itself. Visual Couture needs models to wear the gowns, jackets, pants, and accessories that designers come to flaunt. One such designer is Ean Williams of Corjor International, a real world modeling company.

“Do whatever he says,” yells LaQuasia Burns, president of the organization to her models before sitting down and getting her makeup done. Ean busily runs back and forth backstage fitting models, taking pictures, and deciding how to perfectly display his collection. “Please don’t sit in my clothes,” he snaps again and again throughout his scenes. Despite turbulence in the dressing area, each model goes out into the blinding stage lights, and walks among the screams and jeers, concentrating on presenting the clothes, as well as showcasing their own skills. All in a days work when you’re putting on a fashion show. “Thank you, and great show everyone,” he says before vacating the backroom.

            But the show is only halfway over, and there’s still another designer lined up to showcase his pieces. In comes Dramatik, head of Dramatik Fanatic, another modeling company. Dramatik can proudly claim that he is an accomplished designer, with designs worn by several prominent black celebrities from rapper Lil’ Kim, to singer Fantasia. Tonight, those same designs were worn by young people, aspiring models, and our fellow Bobcats. Much like Ean before him, Dramatik brought two scenes worth of designs. Gowns, jackets, pants, and more are silently removed from his suitcases, and hung up as he contemplates who wears what. “This is your first look,” he quietly says to Laura Cofrancesco. His half of the show displays a more progressive style compared to the revealing, colorful dresses of Ean.

            With both designers collections done, LaQuasia calls the entire staff of Visual Couture on stage with her to thank the audience, and acknowledge the hard work each prospective model has put into tonight. With this years show in the books, and the designers collections fully put on display, the mission to showcase fashion and modeling is accomplished.

Art Exhibition Attracts Many Spectators

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, the senior art exhibition Lighter Than Air took place. There was a variety of different artistic mediums presented, such as oil paint, acrylic paint, ceramics, photography, digital prints, etc. One of the first paintings in the gallery was Sunset, which was an oil painting by Linda Magruder. It is a depiction of  beautiful lake scene with bright pink and yellow reflecting off of the water.

Next to sunset is "Reverie", a photograph by Tommy Markowski, which features a girl with red hair and black lace sleeves who is emitting smoke from her right hand. After that is "Genesis" by Dathan Schline. It is a digital print which features a futuristic looking silhouette of a person with multiple shades of blue. "Premonition" by Tommy Markowski is a photograph depicting a woman with dark hair in the snow and a gossamer white blouse holding a lantern which is emitting black smoke. The values of these particular aforementioned pieces of art all range from "price negotiable" to $125.

When Maureen Scianella, student at Frostburg State University, said she chose to attend this particular event because her friend Sara is in it. She says her favorite piece is Sunset and "I love the use of colour and how the rays of light look so realistic."

Madison Lake, Goucher student, says "I really like those  jewelry box things... I just really like that aesthetic. it kind of looks like an I-Spy book on a box." The jewelry boxes she is referring to are adorned with buttons, pendants, earrings and random small novelties such as a small lock like you would see on a young girl's diary.

Frostburg student Shaunita Johnson says her favorite pieces are the Phoenix painting, the Maryland-themed bowls, Sunset, and the koi fish platters. The Maryland bowls are by Sara Volk, and one has a Maryland flag on the inside, while the other has a Baltimore Oriole and a Black-Eyed Susan flower on the inside.

Photographer Tommy Markowski says there will be two more art exhibitions this semester and that his favorite of his own pieces at the exhibition is "Athena's Gaze", which features a woman in gold dress or cloak holding a staff and gazing intently into the distance.

He says that the senior art majors as a group helped organize the event all together and that there is usually "three or four per semester". Markowski goes on to say that the attendance at Lighter Than Air was higher than what these types of events normally attract, saying "it's usually a third of what what was here tonight."

Phenomenal Women, Phenomenal Poets

Phenomenal Women, Phenomenal Poets

By: Brittney Woods

  Last night, Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7:30 pm in the Lane Center, poets Laura McCullough and Suzanne Parker read some of their most famous poems. Both women are exceptional writers and their poetry left a positive impression on the audience. 

  Suzanne Parker, a Manhattan native, works at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey where she is a creative writing professor. Along with writing her own poetry, Parker spends her time editing other works of aspiring poets. Viral is Parker's most recent book of poetry and she decided to specifically dedicate it to Tyler Clementi. Tyler Clementi was a Rutgers University student who committed suicide after a video of him kissing another man was exposed. Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi, recorded the two young men in the privacy of their room and leaked the video from Molly Wei's computer, another Rutgers student. Clementi ended his life by jumping from the George Washington Bridge which connects New York to New Jersey. Suzanne Parker felt especially motivated to write poems based off of the incident. "I follow young queer cases, males in particular, and the Tyler Clementi case just broke my heart because I'm queer so it just really upset me." Parker goes on to say, "I came out in New York and I just feel I needed to write about Clementi's case although I never knew him." 

  At the reading, Parker read her poems: "Momentum," "Peeping Tom," "Practice," "Splash," "Only Kissing," "Just," and "Stopped." Parker explained "the book is in three sections. The first section is closely related to Tyler's story and then the next section begins to open up. The final section looks at the [homosexual] culture." While reading you could tell Parker is so passionate about poetry and she does a wonderful job taking a heartbreaking topic and turning it into art which takes some of the pain away from this tragedy. 

  Laura McCullough, a New Jersey native, works at the University of Wisconsin-Stout where she teaches creative writing. She also is an editor and enjoys poetry more than anything else. McCullough starts off her introduction, "the strangest place I peed was in Breadloaf. Me and my friend decided we had too many beers so we had to pee. The next day when we went back we realized we were right near a ravine and since that day I took that as a good fortune." 

  Rigger Death and Hoist Another  is McCullough's most recent book and she says it hit here hard after her mother unfortunately passed away two weeks ago. She decided to read the poems that spoke out to her the most and helps her get through her grieving process. These poems were: "They Dreamed of AK47's," "Like Water on Pavement," "And Some Join The Military," and "Scarification."

  McCullough had a tough time speaking to the public about her mother's death and reading her poems; however, her tone towards poetry told the audience she was sincere and wanted to reach out to others if she could. She went on to say, "the only thing I trust is poetry. I trust my poetry more than I trust myself."

  Overall, these two women are truly passionate about poetry and it shows through their writing. They encourage others to do what they are most passionate about and to follow their dreams no matter how outrageous it may seem.

For more information on Laura McCullough click here
For more information on Suzanne Parker click here

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" Explodes on Opening Night

On April 18, Frostburg State University’s (FSU) Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” opened with a bang- or several bangs, rather.

“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” originally written by Alex Timbers with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, is a punk rock musical that tells the story of former President Andrew Jackson’s life and the controversies surrounding it. The show explores Jackson’s conflicts with the British as well as his involvement in the Louisiana Purchase, the Trail of Tears, and the populist movement.

The fast-paced and loud music captures the angst, anger, and emotion of Jackson as he grappled with balancing his political career and personal life. The musical, which felt more like a rock concert, was a non-stop aural assault from start to finish.

Newsday describes the show as “90 thoroughly audacious, politically savvy, politically incorrect minutes,” and few would disagree.'

The racy production elicited wild laughter from the audience. Crude humor and scandalous actions fill the show. Recommended for patrons 18 years and older, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” was unsuitable for a young audience. Despite its audacity, several enjoyed the controversial content.

Sophomore art major Alex Nichols stated that the controversial material was “refreshing.” While admitting that the show was particularly racy, Nichols explained “it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I admire the fact that they weren’t afraid to censor themselves.”

Director Darrel Rushton selected the show because it was “really contemporary” and “a fun show.” The appeal to students played a key role in selecting the show. He explained that students would enjoy the humor, action, and the punk rock music, which he described as sounding like Green Day or The Ramones.

Rushton also mentioned that “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” has a “great political message, and it’s very topical,” implying that the themes from the show relate strongly to today’s political scene.

Playing the lead of Andrew Jackson is Matt Merchant, FSU alum of 1997. Rushton worked with Dr. Tom Bowling, Vice President of Student and Educational Services, to bring Merchant to FSU’s stage. Merchant, who now resides in Los Angeles, has acted professionally for over a decade and has credited appearances in “Valentine’s Day,” “Tessa,” and “Hannah Montana.”

The decision to hire Merchant was met with skepticism at first, as the hire would take an opportunity away from FSU students. However, Rushton explained that bringing in Merchant created a great experience for students.

“I think it’s fantastic for Merchant to work with students,” said Rushton. “Our students have had a great experience working and meeting with him.” He explained that Merchant has participated in an award winning theatre company and has a lot to offer aspiring actors and actresses.

“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” is an exhilarating show with great music, a lot of laughs, and a strong message. The punk rock musical will leave patrons with ringing ears, smiles on their faces, a new perspective of American history.

Remaining performances are on Saturday, April 19, Thursday, April 24, Friday, April 25, and Saturday April 26. All times are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $6 for students. 

How Safe Do Women Feel At Frostburg State?

            Physically safety, especially for women, is always a cause for concern in a college campus environment. It has been a relatively peaceful two years in Frostburg since Kortneigh McCoy was fatally stabbed by a fellow Frostburg State student, Shanee Liggins in November of 2011 right outside of a house party, just a few feet away from campus. However, yesterday's violence at Franklin Regional Senior High School in Pennsylvania may once again be a cause for alarm for students at Frostburg.

 

Samantha Basile, a senior and social work major, feels only relatively safe at Frostburg. Samantha says, "On a scale on 1 to 10, probably a 6 or 7 in terms of safety." Samantha explains that her concern is due to the local break-ins that have been reported in the area. While she feels safe on campus and during the day, at night she is worried about walking around alone. She especially is worried when walking home from the bar, "If I ever walk home alone from the bar sometimes guys and locals yell stuff at me and it's scary."

 

Samantha isn’t the only one who questions their safety at Frostburg State. Sociology major and senior, Courtney Abell, expresses her concern, “At night I don’t feel safe walking by myself. I always walk with a group of friends or a guy.”

 

It seems as though female students at Frostburg State for the most part feel safe during the day, yet are worried about walking around alone, especially at night.

 

Becky Randel for Howard County feels differently though. A senior majoring in psychology, Becky says “I literally feel very safe. Because I feel it’s a tight-knight community. It’s not like a city.” Becky is less concerned with her own physical safety because she feels that by living in a small town like Frostburg, it is easier to trust people, even strangers.

 

While some girls fear for their safety at night, most would agree that during the day and on campus they feel safe and protected. It seems that the recent stabbing spree at the Pennsylvanian High School has not had any dramatic impact on Frostburg’s student body.  

 

 

 

April Event: Women Who Brunch

Women Who Brunch

By Sharron Duncan, ENGL 336.001

FSU’s collegiate section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) held their first annual Women Who Brunch on April 15, 2014 at the Lyric Theatre, located at 20 East Main Street. The event was created so that collegiate women could connect and network with successful, professional, more experienced women. The event kicked off around 11 a.m.  as women of all ages and backgrounds mingled over danishes, tea and coffee. A few young men were also there for support and insight. The atmosphere was full of smiles, laughs and warm greetings. Shortly after, the president of NCNW, LaQuasia Burns, delivered the welcome.

Mary Greene was the first speaker who was introduced. Ms. Greene is the Executive Director of Greater Washington Women Network, an affiliate of National Association for Female Executives.  The organization focuses on educational events, youth development, community projects, and networking. Ms. Greene graced the podium with her over-sized, yet elegant, hat and her even bigger personality. Before she began, she encouraged everyone to applaud one another, not just in a public setting, but in life. She gave a very interactive presentation on Career Strategies for College Women’s Success. Ms. Greene also had some of the Frostburg students read poems and quotes to accompany her A, B, C, D points of success. Those points were: Attitude, Believe, Communication, and Desire. She took time out to acknowledge the young men in the room by saying, “These strategies work for men too. So men, don’t think we’re neglecting you.” Out of everything that Ms. Greene discussed, her “hammer and nail” analogy is what stuck out, and she made sure of it. Ms. Greene held up an actual hammer and a set of nails, asking the audience to repeat the following quote 5 times: “hammer never nail, lead never tail.”  

A hearty brunch of French toast, eggs, bacon and sliced, buttered potatoes was served, and the second speaker took the stage. Ms. Wanda Gibson, Director and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Fairfax County, VA., took a different approach to sharing her success. She began by talking about her early jobs and how those jobs led her to become a CTO. In the middle of talking about being employed at a self serve gas station and at Up Against the Wall, a clothing store in Washington D.C., Ms. Gibson stated, “nowhere in my mind was I headed to be a chief tech officer.” She shared some personal experiences that come along with being on “the top.” Alluding to Ms. Greene’s analogy from earlier about hammers and nails, Ms. Gibson attributed a portion of her success to the nails in her life. Before closing, she gave some very sound and beneficial advice to the young men and women in the room. She said, “If you’re at entry level, you want to be on top of your game because you want someone like me to know your reputation, even without ever meeting you. I have 300 people under me who could be watching you.”

Finally, Ms. Phronie Jackson, Project Coordinator from National Council of Negro Women Headquarters in Washington D.C., came to share her work on the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative. She opened by sharing two minutes worth of her successes and credentials. Then, she hastily showed a brief documentary on her initiative. Her goal is to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the current generation and future generations. She stated, “the women of this generation are open to talking and are open to new ideas. I feel like I can be an agent for change.” Ms. Jackson encouraged everyone to go on Facebook and like NCNW’s HIV Testing Pledge, as well as join FSU's collegiate page for the initiative titled, NCNW Group 10. The collegiate section that earns the most likes and support will be awarded. Ms. Jackson shared information about her initiative not only to spread the word, but to advise the young people in the audience to follow their passions rather than chase dollar signs. She closed with, “set your goals in life, have a passion, and love yourself.”

From left to right: Wanda Gibson, Mary Greene and Phronie Jackson 

FSU Tops Off Warm Weekend With A Carnival

The weekend of Friday April 11 through Sunday April 13 was a rather sunny and hot weekend for Frostburg State University. Temperatures had reached the mid 70's and students across campus made good use of the temperature change. On Sunday, the Residence Hall Association hosted a carnival from 1pm to 4pm on the lower quad of Frsotburg State University to cap off the weekend.

The Greek organization Alpha Phi Omega helped with the coordination of the carnival as well as helping with the various events. Students were treated to lemonade, ice cones, cotton candy, and fried Oreo's for the cost of one ticket per item. Students also had the opportunity to win prizes at the carnival's different events. Each event had various colored stuffed animals to choose from, such as a purple lemur or Nemo from Disney's "Finding Nemo".

The carnival definitely helped top off a rather enjoyable weekend for the Students of Frostburg State University.

Dr. Ben Carson visits Frederick, MD

On April 9, 2014 Dr. Ben Carson spoke at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Carson spoke to a sold out crowd, as well as the fastest sell out of the Weinberg Center’s Speaker Series this season. There was also an opportunity after the show to meet Dr. Carson. The additional fee to meet Dr. Carson went to the Frederick County Public Libraries Children’s Programs.

Before Dr. Carson started his speech, he ran a disclaimer to the audience that he is not politically correct. Dr. Carson retired last June as a neurologist at John’s Hopkins and is now speaking around the country, roughly in four different states every week and getting involved with politics. Dr. Carson has been known for being the first neurologist to displace conjoined twins at the skull in South Africa. He mentioned his retirement was meant to be spent for leisure activities such as learning to golf, but after his attendance at the 2013 Prayer Breakfast, he stated “it became clear the lord had another plan for me.” To watch the Prayer Breakfast of 2013, click here.

During the speech, he spoke about his life, career and plans for the future. Dr. Ben Carson’s speech also pinpointed many flaws and downfalls of our nation today. He stated “We have to concentrate on not thinking about offending people, but speaking about what we believe and building thicker skin.” He mentioned “If two people agreed on everything, then one person isn't really necessary.” Witty jokes were placed throughout the speech to connect with the audience and continue to give a light and entertaining speech rather than a lecture. One audience member, Noel Miller mentioned "Most speakers and shows are riddled with over the top screaming and name calling. Nothing ever gets discussed. He [Dr. Carson] is at ease with waiting his turn and keeping his emotions in check all the while he shows us his passion and commitment to his belief." Another issue he briefed on was poverty and health care. “Don’t let them feel comfortable at the bottom [in poverty] and  feel like they can’t do anything. The cruelest thing you can do to someone is make them feel worthless.” Dr. Carson even brought up his own health care idea that he brought to Congress. He mentioned getting the government completely out of healthcare. Dr. Carson created this idea of a Health Savings Account (HSA) for each individual in the country. It would be a family owned insurance company without a middle man involved. Dr. Carson stated health insurance isn't a right, but a responsibility for us as a passionate country to provide opportunities. People have the opportunity to be responsible with the money provided to them, or misuse it for non-essentials.

Towards the end of the night, a Q and A was implemented. A hot topic was brought u about the rumors of his possible running for President in 2016. He replied stating “Our country is looking for common sense and it needs to be brought back.” He mentioned his hope that it is not the lord’s plan for him to become President, however “if it is, so be it.” Rusty Potts an audience member spoke about his experience that night. "After seeing and hearing him speak in person, I must say I was absolutely blown away... Mr. Carson is someone who the whole country can rally around and depend on to make this once great country great again." For more information on the rising topic of Dr. Carson’s presidential running, click here. 

The speech ended with a standing ovation after his last statement was “We will be one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” During the meet and greet following the speech, many people of all ages lined up to meet Dr. Carson. Light refreshments were served as well as a professional photographer that took each person’s picture with Dr. Carson. When asked, Dr. Carson’s advice to the graduating class of 2014 at Frostburg State, he mentioned “Learn how you learn; everyone learns differently… Stick with it for the rest of your life.”

how physically safe do you feel at Frostburg State University?

Frostburg State University is a small and quite campus located in the rural area of western Maryland. In the past two years there have been two deaths which resulted from off-campus fights between students. Kortneigh McCoy, 19, was stabbed in the head after getting into an argument with another female. Another student, Brandon Carroll was shot during an argument after a party had just ended. Just like all college campuses, Frostburg has its share of unexpected wrongdoings but for the most part it is a place where people can feel safe.

                On campus almost all of the students can agree that they feel safe and out of harms way. Melody Kight, sophomore education major from Hagerstown Maryland said, “on a scale of 1 to 10 of how safe I feel, I’m at like a 9 when I’m on campus”. She explained that the only time she ever feels threatened is when she’s off campus, alone and its nighttime. Another student said that even when its night time she almost always feels safe. After asking about off-campus safety, Katie Staub, senior liberal studies major from Laurel Maryland said, “I never am scared unless it’s 3 A.M, then that’s when I’ll be looking around”

                The town that the college resides in is peaceful and most people keep to themselves. Most of the threats that happen around the university is because of the students. Like a lot of other universities, Frostburg is not located within a high crime area whereas schools like Rutgers or Towson are within some of the worst cities. Ben Pierce, a senior business major said, “The only people I’m ever worried about are the crazy drunk dudes at parties”. Despite the devastating deaths of past students Frostburg can still be thought about as a safe place the only concern is the students not being able to handle their anger.

Frostburg State Has Great Security…Right?

With the increase of safety issues on campus from such recent events as the off-campus house fire and the more recent “masked” man who was groping people, how safe does campus sound? Three male and three female students were asked “How physically safe do you feel at Frostburg State?” and this is what was said.

“Very safe, I feel safe at Frostburg State University.” That was said by sophomore James or “Jc” Ward. He is from Essex in Baltimore county and is majoring in I.T.

“I feel relatively safe depending on the prior day’s interactions while trying to maintain positive relations and my safety.” This was said by Meghan Bernard, a senior at F.S.U. who is studying education and is from Montgomery county.

Then Dillian Brawner, a sophomore here at FSU, said “When I first started at Frostburg I thought that the hill that goes up to Gunter(University Drive), in the middle of campus, that I was going to get shot. Now I feel pretty safe but the ever-present hill is still there.” Dillian is a Art design major and is from Hancock county.

When Danielle McClammy was asked she said “I don't feel safe, people can easily get into other people's dorms. And then these e-mails about people messing with other people, up freakin' security. I don't feel safe at night. Danny is sophomore and Excercise and Sports Science major here at Frostburg State; she's also from the city of Baltimore.

“Safe I feel pretty safe here at night.” said junior Malik Williams. Malik is double majoring with Sociology and Law Society and he lives in Waldorf,MD.

Katie Smith, a junior at Frostburg, said “It's really safe during the day. It's not as safe at night however but safer then my neighborhood at home.” Katie Smith is from Baltimore County, she is also a double major participating in Philosophy and Political Science.

After reading these interviews it can be seen that there are a variety of opinions on the topic “how physically safe do you feel at Frostburg State?” and also good points to be brought up. Should the dorms security be tighter? Should the public themselves become more aware of events that could happen on campus? Although things happen at any and all colleges ours is by far a fair university to be at.

How Students Feel in Terms of Safety at Frostburg State University

With all that his been going on lately, such as the stabbings at a high school in Murrysville, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) just yesterday, the death of Frostburg State University student Lateef Gazal only a few months ago, the fatal stabbing of Kortneigh McCoy (also an FSU student) in 2011, and with it being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is not unreasonable to wonder how safe students feel on campus at FSU.

Freshman International Studies major Persephone Kline says she sometimes feels safe, but "other times, not really." She says this is due to "not a lot of well-lit areas, and sometimes the attitudes of certain people." Kline is from Pylesville, Maryland. Fellow freshman RaQuon Edwards says that he rates how safe he feels on a scale of one to ten (with ten being the most safe, and one being the least safe) with a 6. "I don't feel like there's enough security on campus. Like at night, it's really dangerous," he says. Edwards is a Marketing and Social Justice major, with a minor in Women's Studies. His hometown is Annapolis, Maryland.

Junior and Social Work major Stephanie Billard from Waldorf says that on a scale of one to ten (in reference to how safe she feels), she gives Frostburg State's campus a 7 or 8. She says "I don't ever feel threatened while walking around campus," and that she feels "pretty safe." Senior Wildlife Major (and Ethnobotany minor) Becca Hiller from Middletown, Maryland, says she feels "pretty good" in terms of safety. She adds that she feels slightly more vulnerable than normal due to having an injured right hand, but that it doesn't make a major difference, because she still feels like she can defend herself sufficiently.

 Sophomore and Mathematics major Chris Colwander says "As a 6-foot-3, 300-pound man, I feel pretty damn safe." He rates on campus safety with an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. He is from Rockville, Maryland, which he says is less safe than Frostburg. Finally, junior Wildlife and Fisheries major Sarah Pesi, from Arnold (Maryland), gives her views. She rates safety with an 8, and says "I feel safe", but that "at night it can be a little iffy... Just at night I feel like I need to be more cautious." Overall, students seem to feel relatively safe, except for at night.

Safety: A serious issue or not so serious?

Many students at Frostburg State University have very positive attitudes towards their safety in Frostburg. Brian Carter, the senior, political science major from Silver Spring, MD rated his safety as an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. He says "it's better than where I used to be at an Atlanta school, right in the middle of the hood."
Claudia Ofusu, a junior, biology major from Frederick, MD did not waste anytime answering the question like others. She quotes "I feel safe, what, ain't nobody going to mess with me." Knowing that this assignment was for a class, people still did not hold back on their answers, being as truthful as possible.
 Junior, Diamond Cannon, who is a social work and psychology major from Washington D.C. rates her safety at an 8. She jokingly says "I got weapons" but one can tell from her humorous attitude that she did not feel unsafe at all. A senior, engineering major from Annapolis, MD who would like to remain anonymous rated his safety at an 7.5. He claimed that he is a pessimist and that is the only reason he couldn't give it a 10.
There were two people who actually did admit to not feeling safe at Frostburg State University. Bobby Watford, senior, Mass Communications major from Baltimore, MD quotes "I don't feel safe at all." Bobby, known for being the funny guy on campus, says that he does not trust anyone. This is due to the verbal abuse he deals with on a daily.
Lastly, sophomore Gabrielle Adair from Crofton, MD who majors in psychology rates her safety at an 3 on a 1 to 10 scale. She says the things such as deaths, fights, attacks, etc. that she hears, does and see's are not safe and are very scary. She quotes, "you just never know what someone will do."
I noticed that people who said they felt unsafe were here, or close to the tragedies of deaths that has happened here in Frostburg the past 5 years. The others didn't think safety was too much of an issue, it would be nice to know what they would say a year from now or what they would have said 3 years ago.

Students Comfortable in Frostburg State University

In light of a recent Pennsylvania stabbing and a recent house fire close to campus, physical safety could cause concern for Frostburg State University (FSU) students.

Taylor Whiteman, a sophomore mass communication major from Hagerstown, voiced her concern. She said, “Honestly, I’m a little more worried than I used to be, especially at night. I usually walk with my key between my fingers in dark areas.” Whiteman added that being a female makes her more prone to sexual assault.

Other students, like Chris Colwander are not as concerned. A sophomore mathematics major from Rockville, Colwander said, “I feel pretty safe. I mean, I’m a guy, so nobody’s going to attack me.”

Junior Becca Hiller, wildlife and fisheries major from Middletown, is also unconcerned. She stated, “I’m not too worried here. I feel safe.”

English major Shannon Brown, a senior from Pigtown, MD, said “I didn’t feel safe at first, but now I feel relatively safe.” Brown explained that she does not feel worried about sexual assaults “I’m not too concerned. I trust the people here.” She noted that race could play a role in the threats a student could face. Brown asserted that she’s more concerned with being attacked than being a victim of a fire, stating, “If there’s a house fire, I could be responsible for it.”

Despite recent events, safety is not a pressing concern for FSU students. Factors like sex and race could increase the risks a student could face, but most students seem comfortable in Frostburg. Students feel safe now, but safety could be a growing problem in coming years.

Student Safety at Frostburg State

With the recent house fire and the ever present fear of violence and harrassment, Frostburg State University students feel pretty safe over all. Being a small town, Frostburg can give off a somewhat unsafe vibe to those who are new to the area.

After talking to a few students on campus, it was seen that many students feel safe for the most part. Lauren Roeder, a sophomore early education major from Hagerstown, MD, “feel[s] safe for the most part.” She and senior Erin Radcliffe, a sociology major from right here in Frostburg, both mentioned that they wouldn’t, however, want to be walking alone after dark. With Erin having lived here her whole life, she has a good feel for what is considered to be safe activities around the town.

Austin Gardner, Sophomore from Berlin, PA, felt a little differently. “I’m 6 ft tall, 260 lbs; No one’s going to mess with me!” states Gardner feeling 100% safe. He felt that there was nothing to worry about because he was so intimidating to begin with. Females on the other hand, he wasn’t so sure about. He advises them not to be alone after dark because that is when the creeps come out. Ladies, if you don’t want to be harassed, stay in groups! He also mentioned the safety of the dorms. “I’m glad that not just anyone has access to the building; that wouldn’t be smart on Frostburg’s end.”

Overall, students feel very safe during the day on Frostburg State’s campus. Many feel as though there is nothing for them to be worried about safety wise. Everyone interviewed mentioned the fact that we have public safety officers everywhere and that they definitely add to the secure feeling here at Frostburg State.

Is Frostburg a Safe Place for Students?

With violence so common a phenomenon in the U.S., and indeed the world at large, the question arises, how safe is our campus? The shooting of one student 4 years ago, the stabbing of another student 2 years ago, the accident that took 2 students last year, and the fire that killed Lateef Gazul only a few months behind us, many students may feel that Frostburg is no longer safe. With these accidents scaring many of us, the question needed to be asked, how physically safe is Frostburg State University?
Junior, and psych major, Dominique Davis was quick to answer, making it clear from the beginning that she feels safe here, especially compared to her hometown of Baltimore. "There's not too much to worry about here. It's pretty quiet," she says with a smile. Clearly, despite a few terrible accidents, Frostburg isn't but so bad.
Fellow Junior, and Art major Christine Scullen seems to think so. Though she claims she is never quite comfortable, it seemed obvious that Frostburg poses no serious threats to her. "I'll say 8 out of 10, though there's only one place I really feel safe," she says watching a group of Sigma's walk by. "In my boyfriend's arms, he's in the army." Once again, it appears that Frostburg's level of safety is adequate.
Senior and Psychology/Law major Alex Jones also weighed in, agreeing with her friends Dominique and Christine. "I'm about where Scully is," she says laughing with Christine. "We're just paranoid is all." Despite the humor, they all seemed to be very serious considering the tragedies that many students have been affected by during the past 2 and a half years.
Whether Frostburg is actually safe or not, it sure seems safe according to the students. Things happen everywhere, and our campus is no exception. It isn't always the best place, but it's seemingly always a safe one.

Safety Issues at FSU?

 For the most part Frostburg State University, surrounded by mountains and basically secluded from the outside world, could be assumed to be a safe place for roughly 5,000 of its residents. However as more and more reportings of sexual assault on campus surface, as long with a house fire that claimed the life of one of Frostburg's promising students, the question has arisen whether or not students feel physically safe at our school.

Brina Smith a Biology major from Baltimore, Maryland says that she does feel comfortable and safe walking around campus, even at night.  The Freshman went on to say “ I mean it all depends on the situation. I don’t think it’s safe to walk alone at night by yourself anywhere so I don’t think Frostburg is any different from anywhere else, you just have to be smart about it.”

Monique Mcgill hailing from Prince George’s felt similarly to Brina Smith. However,  Monique felt that because Frostburg is in such a secluded area, she felt more at risk at night than anywhere else. The Social Work major stated “ I feel pretty safe here , except for when it’s night time, then I get uncomfortable. I’m a young black girl walking around in the predominantly white area, sometimes it can get a little spooky because I think that I may become racially targeted and if I’m by myself then I don’t think I could handle an attack to be honest.”

As expected however, when  Devin Ray a recreational and parks management freshmen male from Baltimore Maryland was asked the same question, he had a very different answer. “I feel safe as ever,” the bulky former Frostburg football player stated, “I doubt anyone is going to mess with me, and if they do, I think I can handle myself pretty well.”  

It seems that for the female population of Frostburg State, safety is always at the back of our minds, while the males of this university don’t have much to fear. So the question that may need to be asked next is, if the males aren’t afraid and the females are, then does that mean that the males are the reason for the females unrest?