Turner Hall, Room 2101, College Park, MD 20742
Office: (301) 405-4621
www.urhome.umd.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 12, 2012
ABIGAIL JAFFE - PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Phone: (240) 723-2094
Email: abigailjaffe@gmail.com
SEO: University of Maryland minority enrollment increase
University Minority Enrollment Increased 8.7 Percent This Fall
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University enrollment for minorities increased by 8.7 percent this fall,
according to self-reported student data.
“This university has taken a significant step forward. Our many efforts of recent years are
beginning to produce the desired results,” university President Wallace Loh said.
American Indian enrollment increased 22 percent this year, the largest of any minority. Following
American Indians, enrollment increased for three other minority groups:
Asian
7 percent
Hispanic
6 percent
Black
5 percent
“The increase in minority students is a gratifying sight for the many students, faculty and
administrators who have worked for it,” Loh said. “We still have more to do. This is only the beginning.”
Minority enrollment increased nearly 20 percent from five years ago. General campus enrollment
grew less than 1 percent this fall.
For more information, media representatives should contact the Office of University Relations at
(301) 405-1000. To learn more, visit http://www.umd.edu/diversity/
###
Turner Hall, Room 2101, College Park, MD 20742
Office: (301) 405-4621
www.urhome.umd.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 12, 2012
ABIGAIL JAFFE - PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Phone: (240) 723-2094
Email: abigailjaffe@gmail.com
SEO: UMD professor F. Allan Hanson writes book on testing
Most testing should be eliminated, university professor says
Most tests are missing the boat, according to professor’s book
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – American society is addicted to tests, and most of them should be
eliminated, said University of Maryland anthropology professor F. Allan Hanson in his new book.
The book, “Testing Testing: Social Consequences of the Examined Life,” discusses the consequences
of drug tests, intelligence and aptitude tests, and lie detector or integrity tests.
“The American preoccupation with testing has resulted in a panoply of techniques dedicated
to scanning, probing, weighing, perusing and recording every last detail of our personal traits and life
experiences,” Hanson said.
He recommends eliminating much of the testing used to predict behavior and aptitudes.
Hanson said IQ tests can have undesirable consequences, and may become life sentences for children
with very high or low scores. Tests assign people to various categories, and people act based on the
expectations for those categories, he said.
“Decisions are made about people not on the basis of what they have done, or even what they
certainly will do, but in terms of what they might do,” Hanson said.
(more)
Jaffe, Testing, p. 2
Some college admissions offices no longer require scores from traditional aptitude tests such
as the ACT, SAT or the GMAT as application requirements.
Testing for success
Hanson said tests that measure performance are useful, but he recommends eliminating
integrity testing, and only testing for drugs when abuse is suspected or when testing for anabolic
steroids in athletic competition.
Hanson finds lie detectors the lowest form of testing, and compares them to a pornographic
gaze into a person’s private thoughts. He said the test-taker can’t conceal or control anything, and the
results are often unreliable.
The future will likely produce even more detailed knowledge of each individual as new
genetic tests and DNA fingerprinting are developed, Hanson said.
The book is available at local bookstores or can be obtained by contacting Denise
Cicourel at: UC Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720 or at www.amazon.com.
For more information, media representatives should contact University Relations at
(301) 405-1000. To learn more, visit Maryland’s anthropology department at www.anth.umd.edu.
###
TO: Ms. Yasmeen Abutaleb, Editor in Chief of The Diamondback (yabutaleb7@gmail.com)
FROM: Abigail Jaffe, Public Relations Coordinator (abigaijaffe@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: UMD minority enrollment 8.7 percent increase
Dear Yasmeen:
University enrollment for minorities has increased by 8.7 percent for the fall semester,
according to self-reported student data from the Office of University Relations.
The university strives to achieve a diverse student body, and the accomplishment of this
objective is a great news angle for an article. An interview with the Office of University Diversity
would provide insight into why diversity on campus is important. Recording and shooting photos
would be good additions to the article.
Contact:
Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden
 Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President
 301-405-7227
 kshorter@umd.edu
Additionally, interviewing students on campus with video and audio footage would be a great
way to get students’ reactions and opinions about a more diverse campus, and whether they feel there
is enough diversity.
Links to video interviews with students and the Offices of University Relations and Diversity
would be great multimedia additions.
This new information from the university would create a timely news article in The
Diamondback. Details are posted below in a press release.
I’m looking forward to speaking with you,
Abigail Jaffe
Public Relations Coordinator
10709 Huntwood Dr.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
(240) 723-2094
abigailjaffe@gmail.com
###
TO: Ms. Yasmeen Abutaleb, Editor in Chief of The Diamondback (yabutaleb7@gmail.com)
FROM: Abigail Jaffe, Public Relations Coordinator (abigaijaffe@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: UMD professor writes book on testing
Dear Yasmeen:
A UMD anthropology professor, F. Allan Hanson, recently wrote a book about testing. He
concludes that most tests are not good predictors of success, and he recommends eliminating
intelligence and aptitude tests and lie detector tests.
The book’s release and its relevance to the university population is a great topic for a feature
news article. The university’s Office of Admissions should be interviewed, with both audio and
video, to determine whether Hanson’s research will play a role in their admissions policies.
Contact:
(301) 314-8385
um-admit@umd.edu
Additionally, UMD curriculum and education management professionals should be
interviewed to determine whether they will modify university curriculums based on the new research.
Contact:
Mike Colson, Senior Coordinator for Academic Programs
mcolson@umd.edu
(301) 405-5626
After the interview, posting video clips on www.thediamondbackonline.com will give
students quicker access to the information, and enabling comments will help understand students’
opinions to a topic that directly impacts them.
This new research is especially relevant to university life, and will make a great article that
has a wide target audience.
To obtain a copy of the book, contact Denise Cicourel at: UC Press, 2120 Berkeley Way,
Berkeley, CA 94720 or at www.amazon.com.
I’m looking forward to speaking with you,
Abigail Jaffe
Public Relations Coordinator
10709 Huntwood Dr.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
(240) 723-2094
(abigaijaffe@gmail.com)
###