Opinions

Horoscopes 

By Nicole Osborne 

Aries (Mar 21-April 19): This week is an excellent chance to practice ignoring bad advice, no matter how confidently it is given. Just do what is right for you and let things naturally fall into place. 

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): This week you should ask yourself if you have outgrown some of the things you used to love, or if your heart craves adventure. If you are dreaming of the unknown, do not be afraid to explore and drive straight in; you never know what awaits you. 

Gemini (May 21-Jun 20): This week you need to let go of the small stuff because it no longer serves you. You are only one person; be gentle with yourself and tend to the important responsibilities rather than overbooking your schedule. Focus on one thing at a time and ensure that the work you produce is something that you will be satisfied and proud of in the future. 

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22): This week you may be feeling a lot of pressure to make the world magical for others, to create the beauty you need and to fix all that is wrong. The most useful course of action is to wait and simply experience all that is happening around you. Trust that there will be time for action but for the present moment, give yourself a well-deserved break. 

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): This week, your big challenge is to stop trying to hide the weird and imperfect sides of yourself. Unburden yourself of shame–  which is easier said than done–  but try to do small things for yourself every day that make you feel happy. Stop hiding and insist on loving yourself no matter what. 

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): This week you may feel tongue-tied or thoughtless but it is most likely deep emotions or complex ideas that make it difficult for you to fully capture what to say or do. Right now, do not put so much pressure on yourself to get the words exactly right; nonverbal communication such as touch, gesture or a simple look can be every bit as effective. Trust that your intentions and purpose will come through. 

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): This week you may feel overwhelmed as you navigate turmoil within your social life. You may fear that your appetite is too wild, greedy or too much but this isn’t true. It only seems that way because you are accustomed to putting yourself last. This week, try to let yourself want without shame. 

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): This week, loosen your grip on your schoolwork and give your mind room to wander. Do not grant your time and energy to just anyone who demands it, but remember that certain interruptions arise not to draw you away from the path you should be on, but to guide you toward it. Step away from the all-consuming homework and remember to hang out with friends or go outside. 

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21): This week, some of that old adventurous spirit will return to you. Losing your way does not have to scare you, because no matter where you end up, you can count on your courage, instincts, wisdom and also the people who cherish you. Right now, getting lost might end up being a better route for you because it can lead to a magical experience that is surely better than sticking to the plan. 

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19): This week, remember that it is okay to move at your own pace; sometimes you race ahead of your peers and sometimes you fall a bit behind. This is not a problem but rather the natural course of things. Surrender to the flow of being human. Life is not meant to be a constant race; focus on yourself and do what you need to do. 

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): This week everything will go better if you tune into your emotions, and understand that they do not have to make sense or be productive. These feelings are genuine and they are yours and that is enough. There is still a part of you that thinks you should be able to transcend the messier aspects of your humanity. You keep avoiding your emotions out of sheer force of will, but make sure that you allow yourself to feel fully and deeply. 

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20): This week, put your energy toward doing what you enjoy and are good at, put energy towards nurturing those things you love about yourself. This is not an excuse to avoid your problems rather it is an opportunity to grow stronger. Make sure that you serve yourself the way that you serve others, you deserve the same amount of love and attention.

The Dove at Calvert Marine Museum (Photo courtesy of Kaley Christman)

By Hannah Yale

There are a few local places that most SMCM students know about. Historic St. Mary’s City is a beautiful place to go on a walk, grab a treat at Enso Kitchen and learn about Maryland history– and it is walking distance from your dorm room! Many SMCM students also enjoy going to St. Inie’s Coffee in Lexington Park to sit down with a pour-over coffee and get their work done or hang out with friends. 

While these are always great places to go, it can also be exciting to expand your comfort zone and explore somewhere new. Here is a list of four fun places that SMCM students like to visit near campus:

1. Fenwick Street Used Books & Music

This recommendation is for anyone who loves looking at and collecting books and music. SMCM senior Ellie Pratt said, “I go to Fenwick books at least once or twice a month with friends or family. My brother is known by name there because he goes [there] so often! My friends and I love to explore the shelves and I love that they offer cool tote bags, candles, bookmarks and other similar things.” 

Fenwick Street Books is open from 10-5 Wednesday through Saturday, 10-4 on Sundays and is closed every Monday and Tuesday. It is approximately 20 minutes away from campus by car, located at 41665 Fenwick St. in Downtown Leonardtown– across the street from Social Coffeehouse! 

2. Historic Sotterley

Historic Sotterley is a historic landmark plantation house located at 44300 Sotterley Lane in Hollywood, MD, about 30 minutes away from SMCM campus. According to their website, Sotterley is “dedicated to being an exceptional educational and cultural resource, with a full range of formal education programs, as well as events and visitor programs.” The plantation is made up of 94 acres with over 20 historic structures.SMCM student Melissa LaCross told The Point “Historic Sotterley is a beautiful way to enjoy the outdoors and learn a little more about Maryland history.”

3. Annmarie Sculpture Gardens 

According to their website, the Sculpture Garden is situated in 30 acres of forests, fields and meadows alongside St. John’s Creek, with a walking path winding through the collection of outdoor sculptures. There is also an indoor gallery with rotating exhibitions. Admission is free for members, and for non-members they suggest a donation of $5 for entry. SMCM student Catherine Wasilko said that she went to Annmarie Gardens “when they had Christmas themed lights up, and it was absolutely beautiful. . . They really put lots of effort into making amazing displays.” 

Student Annilee Hampton explained that not only does Annmarie Garden have “some absolutely gorgeous artwork and wildlife,” it also hosts community events throughout the year. “My favorite is the Fairy and Gnome Home Festival, where fairy houses created by the community are hidden around the park for visitors to find,” Hampton said. Annmarie Sculpture Gardens is located at 13470 Dowell Rd, Solomons, MD and a 25 minute drive from SMCM campus. 

4. Calvert Marine Museum

The Calvert Marine Museum is a maritime museum with three main areas of focus: regional paleontology, estuarine life of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, and maritime history. Annilee Hampton said, “I’ve lived in St. Mary’s County my whole life, and I’ve visited the Calvert Marine Museum quite a few times. My favorite part has always been seeing the otters that live there. They’re always so much fun to watch.”

Hampton told The Point News that the Calvert Marine Museum also offers “sightseeing cruises that are really enjoyable.”

The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10-5, with varying admission fees. The museum is a 25 minute drive from campus, located at 14200 Solomons Island Rd S, in Solomons, MD.

The Blackistone Room Should be Open to Students

By Nathan Villiger

The Blackistone Room is a large sitting room in Anne Arundel Hall North, at the far end of the building closest to Point Lookout Road. At the beginning of the Spring semester, myself and other students were surprised to observe that a notice had been posted on the door to the Blackistone Room. The notice read simply: “The Blackistone Room is only to be used for scheduled events and programs. For casual or walk-in gatherings, please use the seating areas around the building.” Indeed, the door was locked, though there was no event happening that day.

 Put simply, this is a mistake. There is no good reason why the Blackistone Room should be off-limits to the general student body, and its closure ultimately does more harm than good. 

In years past, the Blackistone Room has been left open, and students often used it as a quiet study space to crash between classes when it is not being used for another purpose. It has comfortable leather armchairs, high tables suitable for doing work, and provides a detached room that affords the occupants a bit of privacy if they need a silent workspace. 

Despite the posted sign, no other such space exists on that side of campus that is open to the student body as a whole. In Anne Arundel Hall, the only other options for quiet study space are the St. Mary’s Project rooms – which are reserved for Seniors working on projects in their respective majors – or unoccupied classrooms that are typically only available during the lunch break. Even in Kent Hall, there are no better options; the only available common space is in the lobby, and that is far from quiet. The nearest available study spaces are at the library, but quiet study rooms are often reserved or otherwise occupied. The commuter and Aldom lounges at Campus Center could be an option, but they too are often reserved. Thus, the Blackistone Room filled an important niche by providing a peaceful and secluded work area for students that did not feel like making the trek back to Campus Center. 

While the Blackistone Room is first and foremost a space set aside for events, keeping event spaces open to students when they are not otherwise reserved already has precedence on campus. The “Awesome Room” at the River Center is one such venue – being closed for reserved events but otherwise left unlocked for the student body to use. There is no reason why the Blackistone Room cannot be managed similarly. Simply post a list of all events for which the room has been reserved on the door. That way students know when the room is reserved and can plan their study habits accordingly, being sure to leave before any scheduled events. And, if the school administration is worried about vandalism, they could simply install a OneCard reader to keep tabs on who is accessing the room, or add security cameras inside the room. Keeping the Blackistone Room open for the entire campus community to enjoy is a simple task, hopefully the college will see how important it is for some students and change course.  

Suites, Townhouses, and Apartments (Photo courtesy of Kaley Christman)

By Morgan Babylon

There are a few housing options available for the 2023 semester and choosing the right one can take time and effort. Here is some information that may help make that decision easier between a townhouse, apartment or suite. All additional information can be found on the SMCM Office of Residence Life page. The suites include Lewis Quadrangle (LQ) and a portion of Waring Commons (WC).  

LQ offers two bathrooms and a large common area. You may choose your roommate, and there are no gender restrictions for all housing options. The bathrooms are cleaned twice weekly, but the cleaning falls primarily on the residents.  

The suites are double bedrooms with three to four rooms, two bathrooms and a large common area. You may identify LQ by previous knowledge of where The Pub is located. The Pub is a dining option on campus that takes OneCard for pub-style food.  

WC is the largest and newest residential area. There are 24 apartments and 39 suites in WC for sophomores, juniors and seniors. You may recognize this housing because of its proximity to parking lots R and T. Apartments in WC are a little different from the suites. Apartments are for students with a minimum of 50 credits, and include four bedrooms, one bathroom, a common room and a full kitchen. Since apartments are for juniors and seniors you are expected to clean up after yourselves, including the bathrooms.  Apartments are also meal plan optional. Emery Levin, class of 2024, told The Point News that “the freedom to cook your own meals is nice and I like having my own space, while still having the opportunity to hang out with my roommates in the common room.”

Two areas contain townhouses: the Greens and the North and South Crescents housing 211 students mostly sophomores, juniors or seniors. They are two stories with a living room, full kitchen, dining on the first floor, two double bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. The townhouses are meal plan optional and are cleaned by the residents.  

With this information, I hope it helps you make the right decision for housing next semester. To first get started on housing eligibility for next semester you must have submitted a deposit of $200.00 by February 20 to access the housing contract and the Application for the Housing Selection Processes. The housing contract includes choosing your meal plan for next semester and potentially changing information such as roommate matching preferences (when you go to sleep, how neat you are, etc.), and emergency contacts. The housing applications open on March first for those who have submitted the Housing contract and deposit on time.  

The housing coordinator Danielle Brush told The Point News that if you plan to apply for a housing option with multiple roommates you must apply with your group established on the housing portal. Starting March 1st, the applications for housing selection become available. For those with a six-person suite, the application is due March 27th by 5 p.m. For those seeking housing for a ten-person suite, the application it is due on March 30 by 5 p.m. Townhouses and WC apartments are due a bit sooner on March 22nd by 5 p.m.  

For those needing special accommodations such as a single room, there are plans, according to Brush, to turn some of the isolation rooms into single rooms for students. The process of getting a single-room accommodation is through accessibility services for priority housing. If this does not apply to you then after those with documentation receive housing then others wanting single room accommodations will get their pick of the remaining spaces. Those who receive later acceptance are chosen based on their number of credits; the more credits students have, the more likely they are to be accepted for single-room housing. The single-room housing deadline is March 1st by 5 p.m.