February is known for multiple things, and Black History Month is one of them. In 1926, it started as just one week, and now the whole month of February is dedicated to honor the contributions of African Americans, chosen to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s birthdays. Check out eight “firsts” to celebrate!

ALD & PES PRESS

IN THIS ISSUE:

a spring of self-loveCampus

Study Spotspg. 3

Guide to the 2019 Oscars

pg. 4

Honoring Black History Month By Natalie Lambert

feb 2019 Issue 5

A Mini Gift Guide pg. 2

Jack Johnson was the first African American man to hold the World Heavyweight Champion boxing title in 1908, and he held onto the belt for 7 years!

John Mercer Langston was the first black man to become a lawyer, passing the Ohio bar in 1854.

Thurgood Marshall was the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, chosen by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first black senator, elected to represent Mississippi.

Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the House of Representatives; four years later, she was the first female major party candidate for president of the United States!

Madam C.J. Walker was among the first American women to become a self-made millionaire! She created a line of cosmetics and hair products for black women, going door-to-door to help them style their hair.

Hattie McDaniel was the first black actor to receive an Academy Award — she won Best Supporting Actress in 1940 — for her portrayal of the character Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program in 1987, and she finally went into space aboard the Endeavour five years later.

In 2009, Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States, serving for two terms. The Obamas were also the first to add a piece of art created by a black woman to the White House’s permanent collection.

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Heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson.Source: cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com

44th U.S. President Barack

ObamaSource:

voicesfilm.com

Alphha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society | february 2019 | issue 5 2

Finding the perfect gift for your friend, family member or significant other can be a daunting task, especially if you’re on a budget. What’s something cheap and useful that isn’t a gift card? Whether you’re looking for a belated Valentine’s Day gift, a birthday present or a way to simply show your appreciation, here are a few ideas to help you through your gifting struggles.

One way to save money while showing someone how much you value them is to make a gift with your own two hands. DIY presents are easy to personalize. All the work you put into them exhibits how much you appreciate your friend. Here are a few simple DIY gift ideas:

Food is an easy way to anyone’s heart. Make a batch of your friend’s favorite baked good and wrap it up in a decorative tin or gift box. Or whip up their favorite meal and invite them over for a mini-feast.

For your coffee- or tea-obsessed friend, decorate a mug with fun designs using these guidelines from PopSugar.

Use Sharpies to design your own coffee mugs.Source: popsugar.com

For the book lover in your life who can never remember what page they’re on, make a homemade bookmark like these paint chip bookmarks. Find out how to make DIY paint sample bookmarks here.Source: mamamiss.com

Alternatively, get a Sharpie, some paper or canvas board and some watercolor and make a sign of their favorite inspirational quote to

motivate them when finals week comes around. Make an inspirational quote sign to motivate your friend.

Source: Juliette Pasquini

Finally, just to remind your loved one how important they are, make them a jar full of compliments and pick-me-ups for when they’re having a bad day. Source: theaboutwhatblog.com

A Mini Gift Guide for All Your Gifting Needs By Juliette Pasquini

The DIY Route

Gifts You Can Buy Maybe arts and crafts aren’t your thing. That’s okay! There are plenty of presents you can buy for your friend or significant other that can be just as meaningful as a DIY present.

• For your friend who’s looking for a way to spruce up their laptop, stickers are a great gift. They’re cheap and sites like Redbubble offer a wide variety of stickers, making it easy for you to personalize them according to your friend’s interests. Best of all, if you purchase 10 stickers on Redbubble, you get 50 percent off your purchase!• For the person in your life who could use a little self-care, make a basket filled with bath bombs, lotion, face masks and soap for their own personal spa day.• Hats, scarves, fuzzy socks, jackets and slippers can also be great presents to help protect loved ones from this frigid February weather. If your friend is a big sports fan, get them a hat, scarf, jacket or socks with their favorite team’s logo.• Is your friend a fan of something? Whether it’s a favorite book, TV show, team, videogame or musician, there’s tons of merchandise you can buy online that they’ll probably love. Posters and T-shirts are more common gifts, but there’s also candles, lamps, mugs, blankets and bags related to popular shows, musicians, etc. Get something that matches your friend’s interests and they’re guaranteed to love it.

Alphha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society | february 2019 | issue 5 3

Looking for a new study space? Check out these spots on campus!1. Quantum Café

With a selection of coffees, pastries, sandwiches and much more, finding motivation to study on campus has never been easier! The Quantum Café, located inside the Physical Sciences Complex,

creates the perfect ambience to steer clear from distractions and focus on studies. Surrounded by windows, the second and third floors also provide sufficient natural lighting to set the mood and

help kick-start productivity. The seating arrangement at Quantum Café allows students to study and socialize. Source: dining.umd.edu

2. Chemistry Atrium & CourtyardThe chemistry atrium is a great place to study for students who have class frequently in or near the chemistry building. The atrium overlooks the courtyard, which houses a garden with exotic shrubs, plants and trees. Check out the chemistry courtyard next time you’re seeking a serenic view when studying!The courtyard path leading to the chemistry atrium and the outdoor seating area is surrounded by diverse shrubs. Source: ugst.umd.edu

3. Student Organization Resource Center (SORC)Looking for a study space in central campus? There are plenty of spaces to study at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, including SORC. You can find organizations to

join, register new student organizations and even get access to resources for your club’s needs. SORC also provides plenty of space for students to study and lounge

before heading to their next destination.The front desk at SORC (right) helps provide students with resources for student organizations

and leaders. Source: thestamp.umd.edu

4. Edward St. John Living and Learning CenterThis relatively new building has several huddle rooms and four different cafés, setting up a student-centered atmosphere for studies! Specifically, the huddle rooms can be reserved two weeks in advance and for up to three hours a day. When classes are not scheduled, students may also use the twelve classrooms in ESJ for active learning purposes. There is plenty of seating outside huddle rooms in ESJ for students to work on individual and group assignments. Source: esj.umd.edu

5. Tawes Plaza GardenLooking for a quiet place to relax or study? Consider checking out the Tawes Plaza

Garden! With many benches and canopy tables, this study spot allows students to have study dates surrounded by diverse plant life and calming sounds of water. Next time

you’re near Tawes Hall, check out this study spot!The canopy seating at Tawes Plaza Garden provides students with a place to study and mingle in

rain or shine! Source: flickr.com

6. Memorial Chapel GardenThe Memorial Chapel Garden is a place to free your mind and escape the daily stressors that accompany college life. This garden is made up of many components — the labyrinth encourages meditation and relaxation, while the two garden benches, with a journal and pen each, encourage reflection and expression. The peaceful nature of the garden also makes it a perfect study spot!UMD Students clear their minds as they walk through the labyrinth at Memorial Chapel Garden. Source: thestamp.umd.edu

Libraries to Check Out on Campus: McKeldin Library, Hornbake Library, STEM Library, Art Library

Campus Study Spots By Maya Pillai

Alphha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society | february 2019 | issue 5 4

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are returning fast! They will air live on February 24 on ABC at 8:00 pm. The Oscars is a formal awards ceremony to honor the best achievements in film from the previous year. This is an event you do not want to miss, because it will be held without an official host for the first time in 30 years!

The nominees for Best Picture include Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, A Star is Born and Vice. Black Panther is the only superhero movie on this list — and for good reason. After the death of his father, Prince T’Challa goes back to his African homeland of Wakanda, which is a very special place because of its hidden wealth and advanced technology. The prince assumes the throne and must accept his superhero side as Black Panther

in order to protect Wakanda from numerous enemies. This film was especially wonderful because it nearly had an all-black cast, including a black director and an African storyline. The film shows the beauty, genius and empathy of the people in Wakanda as well as the trauma that they experience. Over its four-day opening weekend, the film made $242 million domestically. Another nominee for Best Picture that is very interesting for its controversy is the movie Green Book. The film, based on a true story, depicts the growing friendship between Donald Shirley, a black classical pianist, and Italian American driver Tony “Lip” Vallelonga as they travel through the deep south in the 1960s for a concert tour. In real life, Shirley emerged as a piano prodigy and Vallelonga became a chauffeur and then went on to star on The Sopranos.

The wonderful Oscars will also feature Best Original Song nominees to perform, including Jennifer Hudson, a former American Idol star who won an Oscar for her supporting role in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. Hudson will perform “I’ll Fight” from the movie RBG. Also, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are set to perform “Shallow” from A Star is Born. Cooper and Gaga are also past Oscar nominees — Cooper was nominated in 2015 for his leading role in the movie American Sniper, and Gaga was nominated in 2016 for her original song, “Til’ it Happens to You,” featured in the documentary The Hunting Ground.

Be sure to check out the Oscars website for yourself to get the latest scoop on the nominees: https://oscar.go.com/. The Oscars will air in just a few days. The clock is ticking and we can’t wait!

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Guide to the 2019 Oscars By Katherine Hillman

The Movie cover for Black Panther is depicted here. Source: marvel.com

The movie cover for the movie Green Book.

Source: Universal

Pictures

Lady Gaga singing in A Star is Born. Source: variety.com