The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) announced that 30-year-old Joshua Leo Black of Olney has been arrested and charged with two assaults that occurred at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Per the University of Maryland Police Department:

The University of Maryland has announced that it will be taking due to a sharp increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases on campus (110 total since Monday).

These actions include the cancellation of all winter commencement activities/ceremonies, the cancellation of any indoor activities where masking cannot be strictly enforced, all campus dining halls transitioning to “grab and go”, RecWell activities closed until January 3, the requirement for students who live on campus to go home after their final on-campus exam, and the requirement for all students/faculty to wear KN95 masks for all in-person finals.

The full letter from UMD President Darryl J. Pines can be seen below:

Dear Campus Community,

As our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos reported yesterday, our campus community – like many communities across the country – is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. 

Earlier today, our COVID-19 dashboard was updated to show 98 positive cases from university testing plus an additional 12 self-reported cases (these results are from tests taken since Monday) and we expect to see another high number of cases from today’s testing. These are the highest case counts we’ve seen this fall semester. Given these numbers and the potential further spread of the virus, we are taking the following actions, effective immediately:

• With a heavy heart, we are canceling all winter commencement activities, including the main ceremony scheduled for December 20 and all college, school and department ceremonies scheduled for December 21 and 22. This decision was not made lightly. We know how important this time is for our winter graduates and their families, but our first responsibility must continue to be the health and well-being of our community. All winter graduates will be invited to the spring ceremony in May.
• All indoor social gatherings where mask-wearing cannot be strictly enforced should be canceled through December 22.
• All dining halls and the Stamp Student Union food court will transition to grab-and-go options only. This went into effect earlier today. RecWell facilities will maintain their Finals Hours of Operation schedule through Dec 21; however, basketball, volleyball and racquetball activities will be suspended immediately. A
• All RecWell facilities will be closed December 22-January 2, with a limited reopening tentatively scheduled for January 3. 
• Students that live in Residence Halls will be required to depart campus 24 hours after their final on-campus exam.

Final examinations will continue as scheduled, but all students and faculty must wear KN95 masks for all in-person finals. You may obtain a KN95 mask from the Stamp Student Union Information Desk.  The data we track show that the risk of transmission in classroom settings is extremely low, which will allow our students to complete the academic semester without further disruption or postponement. However, anyone who is experiencing symptoms should not attend any in-person examinations and should work with their instructor to make alternative arrangements.

I am acutely aware of the impact this virus continues to have on every member of our campus community. Some members of our community are dealing with the virus themselves, or with loved ones who may be sick. We are all grappling with the strain and anxiety of this surge. None of this is easy. 

Our decisions will continue to be informed by diligent tracking of cases, positivity rates and other trends, and guided by health professionals, including Dr. Marinopoulos. Let us all look forward to the start of a new year – and a fresh beginning.

Sincerely,

 

Darryll J. Pines
President, University of Maryland

UMD Announces Contract Extension for Brenda Frese

Per the University of Maryland:

University of Maryland Director of Athletics Damon Evans has announced an agreement with women’s basketball head coach and National Coach of the Year Brenda Frese that extends her contract through the 2026-27 season. Frese’s new six-year contract became effective this month and includes an additional one-year extension for the 2027-28 season.

“Coach Frese has shown consistent excellence on and off the court throughout her 19 years here at Maryland,” Evans said. “Coach Frese’s teams have shown unprecedented success in the Big Ten and have sustained success among the nation’s best. Her program is a model for many because the student-athletes she brings to Maryland are simply the best of the best. We wanted to make sure she is leading our Terrapins for many years to come.”

“First of all, I am grateful that Maryland believes in our program,” Frese said. “Maryland is really a place where student-athletes can have it all. We take great pride in the name on the front of our uniforms and representing an elite university.

“I want to thank President Darryll Pines, Athletic Director Damon Evans and Deputy AD Colleen Sorem for their commitment and support of our team. I am honored and humbled to have led this program the past 19 years and am so proud of the national power we have rebuilt and sustained. I am looking forward to what lies ahead in the future and making some more Maryland magic.”

Frese was named National Coach of the Year by ESPN, the Associated Press and The Athletic after this past season. She is one of just three coaches to be named AP Coach of the Year more than once, joining Geno Auriemma (Connecticut), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Muffet McGraw (former Notre Dame head coach).

Frese’s teams have earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 17 of her 19 seasons at Maryland, advancing to three Final Fours, six Elite Eights and nine Sweet Sixteens. She brought home the 2006 NCAA Championship in her fourth season. Frese’s team’s also own a 100 percent graduation rate in her 19 years in College Park and 16 of her Terrapins have been drafted into the WNBA.

Under Frese, Maryland has won 14 conference championships, including regular season and tournament titles. Her Terrapins have won six of seven Big Ten championships since joining the league in 2014.

After losing five starters from last year’s Big Ten Championship squad, Frese and her 2020-21 staff reloaded with five newcomers and the return of five sophomores. Frese’s Terrapins did not miss a beat this year, earning a record of 26-3 overall, 17-1 in league play and winning the program’s sixth Big Ten title in seven years. The Terrapins advanced to their ninth Sweet Sixteen under Frese.

The 2020-21 Terps were the highest scoring team in program history, averaging 90.8 points per game. The Terps also led the nation in assist turnover ratio (1.7).

This season, Frese won her 500th game at Maryland, making her the winningest coach in program history. She currently owns a record of 512-131 (.796) at Maryland and 569-161 (.780) in her 22 years as a head coach, which includes stops at Minnesota and Ball State.

This year marked Frese’s fourth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor, having previously won in 2002, 2015 and 2019. She was also named ACC Coach of the Year in 2013 and MAC Coach of the Year in 2000.