One Year After Move to Stamp Student Union, Maryland Dairy Business Soars

Every afternoon the crowds gather. Classes let out and it’s time for lunch. Thousands of students trickle into the University of Maryland’s Stamp Student Union on a hot, sticky, April day while lines form as students crave a cold, sweet sensation at the Maryland Dairy.

On weekdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. the cozy corner in which the Dairy lies is packed. Exactly one year after its move from Turner Hall into Stamp, food service manager Daniel Robertson says the Dairy’s business is better than ever.

“The ice cream sales have multiplied almost four times as much as they were selling [at Turner Hall],” he says.  “We are selling a lot more than what we were expecting. On a busy day we serve probably around 400 to 500 people, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.”

In fact, the Dairy has become so successful that extra storage was needed to hold all the ice cream. An extra closet was built recently that holds an additional 40 tubs of ice cream, with each 4-gallon tub holding 56 servings.

The Dairy went through 20,000 tubs of ice cream this year, which is more than double previous years.

With such a high success rate, the Dairy is looking forward to Maryland Day, where it will be featured in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Ag Day Avenue showcases.

Daniel Robertson talks about the most successful flavors.

Maryland Dairy Will Feature B1G Ice Cream at Maryland Day

Chef Jeff Russo with the ice cream machine

Chef Jeff Russo has been working with University of Maryland Dining Services since 1996 and with the ice cream since 1994. He is the creative mastermind behind the Dairy’s ice cream.

This year, the B1G ice cream is the Dairy's feature at Maryland Day.

"Each year there's something special," says Russo. "This year, for Maryland Day 2015, we're going to have the Big Ten ice cream."

Like most Big Ten universities, Maryland was given the task of creating a B1G ice cream flavor. Unlike other universities in the conference, Maryland chose not to incorporate an ingredient from each school. 

“Ours has three things that are Maryland related,” says Russo. “It’s vanilla ice cream with a raspberry swirl, but what makes it unique is the three pieces of cake. One is the Smith Island, which is the state cake of Maryland. We have compass cake, which is a cake that goes back to the mid-19^th century, and we have a thing called Lord Baltimore.”

Chef Russo explains why ingredients must be cut with a wet knife.

The B1G ice cream is not the only unique University of Maryland flavor at the Dairy. Russo makes several seasonal flavors for different departments at the university, sometimes citing his family for inspiration.

For example, one of his latest flavors, Jordan Almond, was created after having a conversation about how delicious the crunchy snacks are with his wife, who works in the physics department. He decided to combine milky-tasting ice cream, honey from the UMD-kept bees and homemade Jordan almonds, “Which is a job in itself,” he says. Together they helped name the ice cream after Jordan A. Goodman, the former chair of the physics department.

Other special flavors include Strawberry Startup, which ran as a flavor for the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and Rockin’ Randy, which has football coach Randy Edsall’s favorite ice cream toppings in it. 

Consumers Preparing a Bikini Body Can Still Enjoy the Dairy

Daniel Robertson explains low-calorie Dairy options.

For Dairy fans worried about the upcoming bikini season, fear not, as the Dairy still has plenty of options.

“The sherbert and sorbet are the lowest in calories,” says Robertson. “Then, the ones that have the least amount of ingredients added are the lowest in calories, like vanilla. We’ve gotten it down to about 200 to 300 calories per scoop, depending on what flavor you pick.”

The Dairy also offers a “Kiddie Scoop,” which is about 2/3 the size of a normal scoop.

Lastly, for those worried about the rumors that the Dairy ice cream is not FDA approved because of its fat content, think again.

“We just don’t have a license to sell it off campus,” chuckles Robertson. “It is FDA approved, but we don’t have the permit to sell it outside of the university, so that’s why you won’t see it in other locations.”

Be sure to check out the Maryland Dairy’s B1G flavor and many more of Chef Jeff Russo’s creations at Maryland Day this Saturday. 

University of Maryland Police Department Makes Strides to Help College Park Residents Be Aware with New Alert System

College Park, once lovingly referred to as “the livable community,” is starting to get the nickname in a sarcastic way. Many students receive UMD alerts, the technological system in place to notify the community of emergencies, but don’t understand how they work. This uncertainty, combined with a system that did not run smoothly, leads students and residents of College Park to feel unsafe. A new alert system eliminates issues of messages containing unclear abbreviations, being choppy, being sent in multiple messages that sometimes came in the wrong order and receiving "all clear" messages without having received initial alerts. 

Alerts are now streamlined so recipients see them in the same place.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act states all universities that receive federal funding are required to disclose information about crime on and around campus

It is hard to remember a time when people weren’t constantly connected to their cell phones, but Major Marc Limansky, the commander of the technology services bureau of the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) explains the struggle of trying to alert students before SMS was widely used.

Aside from a siren system on campus implemented in 2001, the only other way to alert people at the time was to post fliers all over campus. In the years following, technology was on the rise. UMPD brainstormed ideas for a mass-messaging alert system when tragedy struck the nation.

“All of a sudden [the mass shooting at] Virginia Tech happened and we realized we need this now,” Limansky said. The 2007 campus shooting resulted in 32 deaths and 17 injuries.

With the help of a grant for a Roam Secure Alert Network through Cooper Notifications, UMD alerts were created. The open system allowed anyone to opt in to the alerts.

The old system quickly became overloaded with participants, causing delays in alerts

Last May, UMPD realized there were too many inactive participants in the system. There were over 290,000 devices signed up to receive alerts, many of which included media outlets or people just curious about what was going on in College Park, and only about 37,000 students and 23,000 faculty and staff members.

In order to fix this problem, UMPD switched to a new system called Nixle. The new system narrows the participants down to only UMD affiliates (students and faculty) and clears inactive participants twice a semester. Graduates are in the system for an additional semester after graduation. In addition to UMD affiliates, College Park locals have the option to receive alerts. Business owners and residents are able to receive alerts upon verification of an address in College Park.

Major Marc Limansky clarifies UMPD jurisdiction

UMPD has concurrent jurisdiction with the College Park Police Department, which means officers can patrol Old Town College Park and the apartment buildings in the area where many students live. In comparison, many other university police can only patrol on campus.

Under Nixle, there are three levels of notifications: alerts, advisories and community messages. Alerts are used when people could be in danger and advisories are used to raise awareness about a situation, such as school delays and closings. Community messages are the most lax and are typically used to alert the town of traffic and alternate routes on game days.

Deciding which type of alert to send out is not black and white. Most times, a dispatcher cannot send an alert based off of a phone call because callers do not use proper terminology, such as a robbery versus a burglary, which can change the meaning and severity of an incident. Getting the alert out in a timely matter is important, too.

Now, alerts are formulated using a template that leaves space to fill in the location of an incident to reduce construction time

"The goal is to get [the alert] out within 15 to 20 minutes, but we won't send it out if there is still uncertainy about the incident," Limansky said. Once UMPD has verification of an incident, such as a witness, the alert process can begin. 

Limansky explains the alert process

            While some students feel they don't get the alerts they need, some feel they get too many. In an anonymous survey, one student said alerts make him feel less safe “because they're constant emails about alerts and most of the time the bad people are never caught.” For this reason UMPD recognizes alerts as a double-edged sword.

Limansky states alerts sometimes create a negative perception of the area.

Nowadays UMPD expects students should receive notices less frequently. It strives to send alerts only about situations that are severe in order to reduce the amount of and negative perception surrounding alerts. 

Theft rates decreased by over 14% from 2013 to 2014, but burglary is still an issue in College Park

While overall crime in the community is declining, there was a surge in burglaries last semester in Old Town College Park. Jonathan Fix, a senior at the university and a resident of the 4800 block of Norwich Road, was a victim of one.

Fix came home one morning to find the front door unlocked. Slowly but surely, he and his roommates realized some of their belongings were missing.  After a thorough search of the house they concluded two laptops, five watches and a backpack were stolen. His house was one of three houses broken into that night, which left Fix feeling unsafe.




An alert went out about an hour after officers from UMPD and the College Park Police Department arrived on the scene. For weeks after the incident police parked on the corner of Norwich Road and Rhode Island Avenue, which helped Fix and his roommates feel more secure. The burglar was never caught, but the roommates took comfort in knowing UMPD did its best.

Limansky urges all residents to take advantage of all UMPD's hotlines. He says, "There is no problem too small [to call about]. It is better to be safe than sorry."

UMPD urges students to be proactive with the slogan, "See something. Say something."

Jonathan Fix explains how students can stay safe.

At the end of the day, UMD alerts cannot prevent crime, and it is hard to find evidence showing whether or not they have actually kept anyone safe. What these alerts can do is make the community aware, and from there it is up to the students to take preventative safety into their own hands.

Subscribe to UMD text alerts at alert.umd.edu

For fire/police/rescue/EMS call 911 or (301) 405-3333

For police escorts call (301) 405-3555

Students at the University of Maryland Consider Price When Planning Spring Break Trips

After months of snow and schoolwork, students at the University of Maryland are counting the days until some rest and relaxation. Finally, break is right around the corner and students are getting ready to dive into warmer weather to blow off some steam.

Now or never

Some students, like Amber Langway, jumped on the opportunity to get away as soon as they could.

Langway, a junior, chose to go on a trip composed of mostly seniors because of her friend group. Many of her closest friends will be graduating in May so she wants to spend as much time with them as possible.

This March she will be traveling to Cancun, Mexico with over 500 other students from the university. Student Travel Services (STS) offers an all-inclusive, five-night stay for a base price of $1,200. This price includes a round-trip flight, hotel accommodations, food and drink. 

VIP party packages, which include guaranteed entry and skipping the lines at clubs, can be added to any trip for an extra $300. STS Travel offers trips throughout the year to various destinations, including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and Panama City, Florida.

While this may seem like a steep price for less than a week of travel, “It’s worth it for the memories that will be made,” says Langway. “I’ll never have the opportunity to travel with such a big group of people again. I’ve always wanted to enjoy a ‘typical college spring break,’ and this is my opportunity for it.”

Spring break on a budget

If an all-inclusive spring break plan isn’t in your budget, there’s still hope for a great week. If you’re lucky enough to have friends who live in warm areas, all you really need is money for is a flight. Reilly Dunn plans to visit her friend who lives in Miami for a quick, inexpensive getaway.

“I just wanted to spend a few days away from home without breaking the bank,” says Dunn. “The best way I could think of it was to visit my friend in Florida.”

With over 1,300 miles of coast, Florida is a desirable, yet nearby location. Students can book discount flights using travel search engine websites, and for Dunn this was the best option.

“I don’t have any crazy plans in mind. I look forward to laying in the sun, getting a tan and getting to see another side of [my friend] by getting to know her family,” says Dunn. She hopes to experience her friend’s Latin culture, and save a few bucks, through her mother’s home-cooked meals.  

At the end of the week, spring break should be just that: a break. Take the time to clear your mind and relax, regardless of your budget.

Students at the University of Maryland Use Mobile Apps to Plan a Night Out and More

The University of Maryland is commonly referred to as a “party school.” The students here, for better or for worse, are known to go out rain or shine. It was a Wednesday and we all had class in the morning, but it did not seem to make a difference. It is syllabus week, after all.

Last night I observed my roommates getting ready for a night out in College Park. They were all sitting on couches discussing current plans. They all seemed engrossed in their phones and did not speak much to each other.

The conversation hopped around, ranging from “Did anyone like your post in the group?” to “Did you see that email?”

Then, almost suddenly, they all got up and started walking to their rooms to get dressed. As an observer, I was confused. How did a room of people barely speak to each other and then get up to start getting ready for the same place, without confirming? It was literally unspoken, which baffled me.

I realized cell phone usage caused this. Everyone was too involved with their cell phones to actually converse. Everyone was on WiGo, an app that facilitates students at universities to see where everyone else is going. 

As an observer, it was strange to see. It wasn’t until I finished the assignment and resumed my normal activities that I realized I was exactly the same. I immediately started opening apps to find out what everyone was doing.

I asked my roommate, Alexandra, how her phone enhances her plan-making for a night out. I then asked her what apps specifically help. She mentioned WiGo, Facebook and messages.

Although she didn’t mention it, I observed her using Snapchat a lot. With all of it’s features, especially newer ones, it can essentially serve the same purpose as multiple other apps. 

Other students, who wish to remain annonymous, use Snapchat in a more risque way. Some use it to send private photos.

listen to ‘mobile jour audio 2’ on audioBoom

Snaphat entices users to send photos they normally wouldn't, or photos they may be embarrassed of, because of its feature to "disappear forever." Users know, or think, after the desired amount of seconds has been chosen, that the photo will be erased from all traces.

Students use other apps in a more sexualized manner, too. Tinder, a new-age dating app, allows users to create a profile. You either swipe right or left, and depending on whether the other person swipes you right or left, you could get matched.

listen to ‘mobile jour audio 1’ on audioBoom

While the user willingly puts his/her name and location out there, most users do not broadcast the fact they use the app. Many Tinder encounters end in a one-night stand or hook up, rather than a relationship.

Thus far, whether it be planning a night out or taking a more sexualized route, students at the University of Maryland use mobile devices in more of a social way than a functional way.

Observation of Mobile Use

The University of Maryland is commonly referred to as a “party school.” The students here, for better or for worse, are known to go out rain or shine. It was a Wednesday and we all had class in the morning, but it did not seem to make a difference. It is syllabus week, after all. 

Last night I observed my roommates getting ready for a night out in College Park. They were all sitting on couches discussing current plans. They all seemed engrossed in their phones and did not speak much to each other.

The conversation hopped around, ranging from “Did anyone like your post in the group?” to “Did you see that email?”

Then, almost suddenly, they all got up and started walking to their rooms to get dressed. As an observer, I was confused. How did a room of people barely speak to each other and then get up to start getting ready for the same place, without confirming? It was literally unspoken, which baffled me.

I realized cell phone usage caused this. Everyone was too involved with their cell phones to actually converse. Everyone was on WiGo, an app that facilitates students at universities to see where everyone else is going.

As an observer, it was strange to see. It wasn’t until I finished the assignment and resumed my normal activities that I realized I was exactly the same. I immediately started opening apps to find out what everyone was doing.

I asked my roommate, Alexandra, how her phone enhances her plan-making for a night out. I then asked her what apps specifically help. She mentioned WiGo, Facebook and messages.

Although she didn’t mention it, I observed her using Snapchat a lot. With all of it’s features, especially newer ones, it can essentially serve the same purpose as multiple other apps.

Overall, it was interesting to step out of the bubble and be an observer to a situation I am a participant in all the time.