Terps' Opinions on the New President

Image credit: Jenna Cohen for The Campus Trainer

Several University of Maryland students questioned how newly appointed President Darryll Pines will solve campus issues after the controversies President Wallace Loh faced.

After the announcement of Pines’ appointment, we interviewed 26 students in College Park about the challenges Pines will face as he takes office. A few main concerns students cited were diversity on campus, concerns regarding the athletics department and regaining the trust of the campus community.

“The biggest challenges facing him are definitely diversity and inclusion,” said Uchenna Aduaka, a junior information science major. “He definitely has to, like, reshape it so more black people will start to come to the University of Maryland.”

As of fall 2019, 11.5% of undergraduate students are black or African American, according to the University of Maryland Undergraduate Student Profile. For some students, Pines’ race is a positive thing about his appointment.

“I don’t really know how I feel about him, but I am glad that he’s black. That’s all I can say,” said Venia Imel, a junior criminal justice major.

Trust in Loh’s administration varied after several incidents tainted his and the university’s reputation, one of them being the death of football player Jordan McNair. McNair, a former offensive lineman, died in the summer of 2018 while being hospitalized after a team workout.

“I think people have been questioning the state of athletics with the whole Jordan McNair situation last year,” junior communications major Hunter Ramsey said. “I think he’ll [Pines] have to establish integrity within athletics.”

Loh’s administration was also under fire after Olivia Paregol, 18, died from an adenovirus associated illness in November 2018. There were also widespread mold concerns in university housing and classrooms on campus.

“There is still a lot of backlash with all the mold we had to deal with last year,” said Mariam Hashem, a sophomore government and politics major. “I just think there is a lot of distrust among the UMD community and the administration."

While some students had concerns, others said they were hopeful at the prospect of a new president and the change he will bring to the university. Several students know Pines personally, as a longtime professor and dean at the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and are optimistic about his leadership ability.

“I've met him personally,” said Jacques De Beer, a graduate student in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. “He's very interactive and a very down to earth, humble person. So I was very pleased when I heard that he was actually selected.”

While students have varying opinions on the incoming president, the campus community as a whole is hoping for a positive future for Pines and the University of Maryland.