Citation:
MAC to Millennium, University of Maryland Archives
"M"-among the oldest representations of the "M" that still survive on campus are those on Ritchie Coliseum and Turner Hall
M Club-organization of varsity athletic letterwinners founded in April 1923 by eight men including Dr. H. C. Byrd and seven others representing the current varsity sports. The M Club was instrumental in organizing the University's first Homecoming Day (see also Letterwinner, first female)
M Club, Women's-founded on May 26, 1926, and opened to any woman who had received a letter in either of the major women's sports at the University of Maryland at the time, basketball and rifle. By 1934, hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball, tennis, tenniquoits (ring tennis), riding, and archery had been added.
"M" traffic circle-on Campus Drive with flowers in the shape of
an "M;" the "M" is planted twice a year, once in the fall with pansies
and again in the spring with annuals, usually vodka begonias; created
in 1976 by the Department of Physical Plant to commemorate the bicentennial
of the founding of the United States.
MacArthur Fellows- Liz Lerman (Class of 1970) founder of the Dance Exchange in Takoma Park, MD, and a talented dancer, choreographer, and teacher of dance, received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002. Also selected for a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002 was alumna Karen Hesse (Class of 1975). Ms. Hesse is the author of numerous books for children and young adults and has won many prestigious national awards for her writing. In 1989, Ellendea Profter Teasley (Class of 1966), received a fellowship in recognition of her work as an author, publisher, and translator of Russian literature into English. Another University of Maryland MacArthur Fellow was Peter Miller, an assistant professor of history specializing in early modern intellectual European history; he received his grant in the summer of 1998, shortly before he arrived on campus. In 2004, alumna Naomi Ehrich Leonard (Ph.D., 1994) received a fellowship to support her work on submarines which gather information on environmental conditions beneath the ocean's surface. Two years later, alumnus Kenneth Catania (Class of 1989, B.S. in Zoology) received a MacArthur award to further his research on star-nosed moles and the evolution of mammalian brains. In 2007, Geography professor Ruth DeFries was recognized with a MacArthur award for her wok using satellite images of the earth's surface to map the impact human society has on climate and biodiversity. MacArthur Fellows receive grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to support their continued and enhanced creative work and to establish their optimal working and living conditions.
Mace-ceremonial object carried by the university marshal and used at official convocations and commencement; presented to the university by the Alumni Association on January 20, 1955.
Martin, Glenn L., Wind Tunnel Building-constructed in 1949; named for Glenn L. Martin, aircraft pioneer
Maryland Agricultural College-chartered on March 6, 1856 and opened to students in the fall of 1859; original name for the University of Maryland, College Park, campus
Maryland Book Exchange-not a university building; an alternate source for students to buy books and other Terrapin gear
Maryland Medieval Mercenary Militia-student group interested in medieval times, customs, and battles; recreates the Battle of Hastings on campus
Maryland State College of Agriculture-name for the University of Maryland during the years 1916 to 1920
Maryland Women's Basketball Under the Shell-reality-based 13-episode TV series produced by former Terp football star Jess Atkinson. The show, which debuted on January 9, 2005, on Comcast SportsNet, follows head Maryland Women's basketball coach Brenda Frese and her team from day one of training camp to the last game of the 2004-2005 season.
Mascot-diamondback terrapin nicknamed "Testudo" who is immortalized in a bronze statue, given by the Class of 1933, in front of McKeldin Library; selection of the terrapin as the mascot was originally approved by Harry Clifton Byrd and was made official by the Maryland General Assembly in 1994; the university's athletic teams are known as the Terrapins or Terps, for short (see also Testudo and "Fear the Turtle")
Master's degrees-the first master's degrees given by the University of Maryland after the establishment of the Graduate School in 1919 were awarded to Chunjen Constant Chen and Clarence Bobo Nickels in 1920; both men received the Master of Science. The first master's degrees granted by the Maryland Agricultural College were awarded in 1874. The first master's degree awarded to a female student was to Alma H. Preinkert who received her M.A. in 1923. (see also Graduate Studies)
McKeldin Library-constructed in 1958; designed by Henry Powell
Hopkins & Allan Burton; named for Theodore R. McKeldin, governor of Maryland,
1951-1959. In 2005, there were 1,205,099 books plus 47,967 bound serials
in McKeldin Library. The total number of volumes in the UM Libraries is
3,016,940.
McKeldin Mall-the nine-acre area from Main Administration to McKeldin Library; originally continued to Anne Arundel Hall and was considered to be the largest academic mall in the country; renovated in 1990 when the current configuration of sidewalks and fountain was put into place
McKeldin Mall fountain-16 feet by 250 feet fountain honoring members of the campus chapter of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society; each fountain tier represents one of the leadership qualities found in ODK members; engravings around the fountain include quotations from Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr., the symbol of ODK, and a listing of fraternity members from the university; this installation also features a plaque honoring donors who contributed to the building of the fountain
Medal, University-first awarded to Ms. Mona H. Siddiqui at the May 25, 2000, commencement; given to the graduating senior "who best exemplifies academic distinction, extraordinary character, and extracurricular contributions to the campus or public communities."
Merrill College of Journalism, Philip-In 2001, Philip Merrill, publisher and owner of The Capital (Annapolis) and the Washingtonian magazine, made a $10 million gift to the College of Journalism. In recognition of his generosity, the school was renamed the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
Midnight Madness-Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Maryland's men's basketball coach from 1969 to 1986, is generally credited with coining the term "Midnight Madness." "Midnight Madness" has become a highly anticipated, highly charged, annual event, often featuring fireworks and even a laser light show. Widely covered by the local and national press, the University of Maryland's "Midnight Madness" celebration has even served as a broadcasting site for Dick Vitale, the world-famous college basketball television broadcaster.
Mighty Sound of Maryland-current name for the university's marching band, which was originally organized in 1908 by L. G. Smith, the college bugler. The first Cadet Band consisted of four cornets, two clarinets, three alto horns, a baritone horn, two bass horns, three trombones, a snare and bass drum, and cymbals; during the 2002-2003 season, the band consisted of over 250 members; following every winning home game, the band marches back to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center with their hats on backwards.
Mitchell Building-constructed in 1958; designed by Ted Englehardt; named for Clarence Mitchell, Jr., in 1988; the building features a dedication plaque honoring Mitchell and an oil portrait of the civil rights leader, given by the Black Faculty and Staff Association; originally called North Administration or Administration Annex.
Montgomery Hall-constructed in 1954; named for Montgomery County, Maryland
Morrill
Hall-constructed in 1898; named for U. S. Senator Justin S. Morrill
of Vermont, the father of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862; oldest building
on campus whose facade has remained virtually unchanged
Morrill Land Grant Act-In 1864, the state of Maryland had 2 senators and 5 representatives in the U. S. Congress; thus, according to the formula, Maryland would have received 210,000 acres under the act.
Motto, formal-the university's motto, based on that of the Calvert family, is "Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine" which, loosely translated, means "Manly deeds, womanly words."
Motto, informal- In 1988, the university adopted the informal motto "I'd Rather Be Studying," a phrase which has been translated into more than 30 languages and plastered on bumper stickers, posters, T-shirts, hats, pencils, and other campus gear. The motto is based on the story of Sara Bellum, a student at the university who allegedly died from lack of study; "I'd Rather Be Studying" were the last words that Sara recorded on her final mid-term exam.
"Fear the Turtle" became a popular informal athletic motto with the men's basketball team's trip to the 2001 NCAA Final Four.
Mount,
Marie, Hall-constructed in 1940; designed by Henry Powell Hopkins;
named for M. Marie Mount, dean of the College of Home Economics.
Movies- portions of the movie St. Elmo's Fire, directed by Joel Schumacher, were filmed on campus in October 1984, and alumnus Redge Mahaffey also used the campus as a setting in his 1995 production Life 101. The 2007 production National Treasure: Book of Secrets, directed by Jon Turteltaub used McKeldin Mall and the Special Events Room in McKeldin Library as filming locations.
