Free Presentation -- Rivalry Between Morgan State and UMES Explored

Rivalry between Morgan State and UMES explored

            Just in time for Black History Month and Homecoming, Eric Jodlbauer, library technician at the Frederick Douglass Library, presents a lecture Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. in the Student Services Center Theatre on the long-time rivalry between Morgan State and UMES. 

            “I compare it to a sibling rivalry,” Jodlbauer said.  “They’re like the older brother that you compete against for attention.” 

            Jodlbauer explains that Morgan State and UMES “are all from the same family” since UMES was founded in 1886 by the Centenary Biblical Institute, which later became Morgan State.  The school remained “under their wing” until mid 1930s when the state purchased the school and renamed it Princess Anne College. 

            The year 1947 greatly impacted the Morgan and UMES rivalry in the classroom and on the athletic fields.

            In the wake of the Marbury Report, University of Maryland President Harry C. “Curley” Byrd, unwilling to lose land-grant status, lobbied to keep Princess Anne College, its Eastern Shore branch, and to build up the rural campus.  The rivalry between Morgan State and Princess Anne for state monies and for students had begun. 

            As for athletics, the rivalry took a while to evolve.   For the first half of the 20^th century, Morgan was in a different athletic conference.  Then in 1954, the two were members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA), but avoided playing each other for the first few years, Jodlbauer said. 

            It was at the first game of the 1957 series, known as “The Maryland Classic,” which ended in a 7-7 tie, that the two began to compete athletically on a regular basis.  “That’s when the rivalry really heated up,” said Jodlbauer.

Technology Improvements

New this semester in the Frederick Douglass Library is a 47 inch monitor, which will be located in the front of the library on the first floor.  The monitor will greet our patrons with the latest in library activities and upcoming functions.  It will present slide shows of events that have taken place in the past as well as those happening at the moment.  The monitor’s secondary function serves as a communication device utilized by Campus Police in case of campus emergencies. Campus Police will have the ability to flash emergency instructions across the screen when and if a situation arises.

Also located in the lobby area will be the new 32” TV screen.  The TV screen will televise the current national news via CNN.  Since it is connected thru campus cable services, whenever there are functions on campus that are being televised, they will be shown across this TV screen as well as the 32” TV screen located at the Media Center Desk.

New in the Frederick Douglass Library are two new 42 inch monitors and computers located in the 2^nd floor Group Study Room and the ground floor Group Study Room.  This brings our grand total to 4 Group Study Rooms equipped with large screen monitors and computers.  Also located in the Graduate Group Study room is a similar 42 inch monitor and computer.

So just know that all of these changes and advances here at the Frederick Douglass library are made with you in mind.  Now we can better serve you personally, as we advance globally.

--Tod Armstrong, IT Support Associate